"Just my luck… Omega creatures around here," the god muttered, his subdued tone clashing with the sheer intensity of his presence.
"Run!" Ken shouted.
He didn't need to repeat himself: soldiers, civilians, Invoked, and demi-humans bolted down the second-floor corridor, desperate to reach the exit. Ken cursed under his breath, while Brut and Amelie barely managed to resist the urge to look back at that being.
Daion couldn't comprehend the sensation overtaking him. He grabbed Aelith and hoisted her onto his shoulders; she protested, but this wasn't the time to indulge tantrums. The god raised a hand and, with a bored gesture, closed his fist.
The ground collapsed instantly. Everyone fell into a dark mass that wrapped and tossed them about. When they opened their eyes, they were already on the floor, right in front of the being, who watched them intently, analyzing every detail of those present.
Daion tried to rise, but the god regarded him with curiosity. Aelith remained transformed—her glare sharp as her arms twisted unnaturally and her fur bristled with violence.
"What are you doing here?" asked the god. His voice rattled the mortals' very bones; several civilians nearly fainted. Only the Invoked could hold his gaze, perhaps thanks to their gloves.
Ken lifted his head, searching for the right words.
"We… we just happened to end up here by accident."
The god frowned. With a flick of his finger, a shadow erupted from the ground, solidifying into a black spike that pierced Ken's side. He shuddered, coughing up blood.
"Lying to a god while being mortal… that's stupid." His tongue clicked, and another spike shot up, impaling Ken again. "I've avoided the vital organs, but if you insist on that attitude, the next one will go straight through your heart."
"We were on a mission!" Amelie blurted, tension overriding her fear.
The god glanced at her with curiosity; a third spike emerged and stopped mere millimeters from her throat.
"We had to save the civilians and find out why they were disappearing," she added firmly.
The god tilted his head. The spike dissolved, and the pressure eased. Ken collapsed to the ground, spitting blood, but quickly pulled out a sphere, swallowed it, and managed to halt the bleeding—though the agony was still etched on his face.
"This is troublesome… the scouts weren't supposed to reach a human settlement," the god muttered, almost as if speaking to himself. "I made a mistake. What should I do with these humans?" His eyes flicked toward the Invoked, lingering on their gloves and weapons. "They're low rank… if I kill them, the Omega will notice."
"Hey!" Daion shouted, trying to divert his attention. The god glanced at him briefly. "Can't you just let us go? You don't seem interested in us anyway. Besides, what did you mean when you said you didn't expect an attack on the settlement?"
"And who do you think you are to question me, human?" the god replied, more intrigued than angry.
"I…" Daion drew a deep breath, forcing out the bluff. "I'm the Invoked of the Primordial of Gravity. If you're going to kill me, at least tell me why."
The god's face twisted into a mask of horror. The tension returned, heavier than before. Dark matter spread across the ground, surging directly from his body. It rose, seizing Daion by the neck and slamming him against the floor. Then it gripped his right wrist, raising the hand where the gem gleamed.
The god leaned closer, brushing the bluish stone with his fingers. His expression darkened, suspicion flooding his eyes.
"Indeed… it comes from the Primordial. This is troublesome. If that bastard finds out I'm in this world…" He bit at his nail, unable to think without speaking aloud—an unsettling habit. "If I kill one of his Invoked, he'll know I'm here and earn the right to kill me."
"Hey, while you decide… mind answering me?" Daion challenged.
The god shot him a sidelong glance.
"It's nothing important. A power fluctuation was reported, and I came to investigate." His gaze shifted to a nearby pillar, where a rectangular cavity revealed something crucial was missing. "But the source of that energy is gone. A complete waste of a god's time."
He kicked a rock, pulverizing it. Daion noticed the dark mass seemed to respond to the being's emotions, weakening and flowing in rhythm with his mood.
"You said the scouts weren't supposed to reach humans… what does that mean?"
"Ah, yes. I created them only to explore in my stead. I didn't expect them to get this far." He covered his face with both hands.
Daion lowered his gaze: the matter was weakening. Taking advantage, he swiftly drew his sword. The god's back was turned.
"Will you let us go?" he asked cautiously, calculating the chance to strike.
Ken and the others wanted to stop him, but they knew that if the god chose to kill them, they wouldn't stand a chance.
"If I eliminate the Invoked, I'll attract unwanted attention," the god said solemnly.
Daion exhaled in relief and slightly lowered his sword.
"But," the god added, his voice laced with iron, "I cannot leave unpunished the one who dares strike a god from behind."
His words carried the weight of a sentence. The dark matter rose, coiling around Daion's torso. He slashed at the shadow, but his blade bounced off as if striking steel. The god smiled faintly and moved his fingers. The black mass writhed and hurled Daion against the wall, cracking it upon impact.
Ken lifted his gaze, and along with the other Invoked, leapt several meters into the air—just before the ground erupted with jagged spikes of shadow. Demi-humans and civilians fled in terror toward the door.
Ken's eyes shone. As long as that being keeps underestimating us, we'll have a chance to distract him and escape. He raised his sword, cloaked in a golden aura. The god tilted his head, intrigued, as the Invoked unleashed a slash identical to the one that had defeated the guardian. The ground split open at the god's feet—but the wave broke harmlessly against an invisible barrier.
"Nice trick. I want to play too," he murmured. He lifted his fingers, and from nothing a small orb of purple energy formed.
With a flick, the sphere shot forth at impossible speed toward Ken. He barely managed to raise his sword before the explosion engulfed the area in a violet flash.
The impact hurled him against the ceiling, then he slammed to the floor before the others who were still trying to escape. Amelie and Brut exchanged a look, then drew their weapons. Marui struck first: he bent his legs, crossed the distance in a second, and delivered a punch wrapped in Omega energy. The explosion collided against the invisible barrier.
The god regarded him with disappointment, as if to say: Is that all? A moment later, several spikes of dark matter erupted from the shield and pierced Marui's side. With a simple gesture—as though the air itself obeyed—he flung Marui across the hall just like Daion.
Amelie and Brut lunged together in a coordinated assault. The god smiled, raised his hand, and space itself warped—leaving them swinging at nothing, suddenly appearing behind him in inverted positions. Stunned, they barely had time to react before the god snapped his fingers: a whip of shadow coiled around Amelie's neck and limbs, slamming her into the floor.
Brut spun, panic flashing in his eyes. The god observed him with a smile, inviting him to unleash his strongest strike. The Invoked hesitated. The god sighed and twitched his fingers; Amelie let out a choked cry as the dark matter crawled across her armor, slid beneath her clothes, and crept up toward her chest and between her legs.
Brut clenched his jaw, torn. His eyes began to glow.
"Divine Technique: Iron Nullification," he declared.
The god's eyes widened as Brut's hammer cut through the barrier as though it didn't exist. The strike landed with such force that the floor shattered, debris scattering across the chamber. But the weapon froze, lodged against the god's face.
When the dust cleared, Brut froze in horror: the god was smiling, unscathed, the hammer pressed uselessly against his cheek.
"Humans are adorable… they act stupidly for the ones they love, don't they?" he mocked. Brut shuddered. Even Amelie's eyes widened as she struggled against the shadow's grip. "For your little stunt in ignoring my barrier… I won't violate this woman."
The shadows released Amelie. Brut breathed in relief, but had no time to react. The god raised his hand and, with a casual flick of his middle finger, shattered his armor. The impact hurled him against a column with an earsplitting crash.
The Invoked collapsed unconscious, his body racked with hemorrhages already flooding his organs. Amelie screamed, and Ken lifted his head—bloodied, frustrated. The god exhaled in satisfaction, sweeping his gaze across the survivors, calculating his next move.
"We're Invoked. If you kill us, the gods will know you're here," Ken said, spitting blood with every word as he struggled to rise.
The god smiled.
"Why do you think you're still breathing?" he sneered. "But punishment is still due." His eyes turned toward the civilians and demi-humans. "Soldiers, slaves, mere humans… this will be fun."
He raised his hand, but a sword flew straight at him. The blade struck the barrier, bounced, and snapped back into Daion's hand, who stood gasping for breath.
The god was about to mock him—when a fine crack appeared across his defense. His eyes widened in surprise.
"How is this possible…?"
"I can wrap Omega energy around my weapon," Daion explained, advancing with care. He knew he sounded like an idiot for revealing his technique, but he needed time to focus. "That makes it more effective, though not enough to pierce your barrier. Then I thought of Marui: he can do something similar with his fists, and even though he's much stronger than me, it wasn't enough. But then I remembered water under pressure—able to pierce diamonds."
Daion shifted into a stance, pointing his sword at the god.
"I see… you come from an industrialized world. They tend to be more creative with their powers," the being said, without moving to stop him. He watched with genuine curiosity. "But perhaps you overestimate the strength of concentrated Omega energy. Why not use a gift from your Primordial?"
Daion gritted his teeth, focusing. A small sphere of energy formed at the tip of his weapon, shrinking until it was the size of the blade itself.
He took a step forward. The god remained still, expectant. Just as Daion had foreseen: he was enjoying himself with mortals. And Daion swore that amusement would end up costing him dearly.
He dashed forward as fast as he could and thrust his blade; omega energy burst as it clashed against the barrier. A gust of wind shook the summoned ones. Daion stomped hard, pushing his sword with every ounce of determination he had left. He had no intention of stopping halfway. He let out a roar that startled the god, and then the barrier began to give way: a pair of cracks split open.
"How is this possible?" asked the god, staring in fascination at Daion, eyeing the blade that now glowed brighter than before. A faint smile crossed his lips. "I see… that blade… that foolish Primordial."
Daion stepped forward and the sword pierced through the defense. He raised the edge and unleashed an upward slash that severed the god's arm.
The impact knocked him down; he rolled across the ground as the severed limb hit the floor with a heavy thud. Ken stared wide-eyed, and the villagers remained frozen between shock and terror.
The god turned. From the wound poured thick black smoke, resembling corrupted matter. Daion lifted his gaze, stunned: he had aimed for the neck, but the momentum had carried him too far, and now he barely had the strength to stay on his feet. He staggered upright, raised the sword, and held it aloft, trying to appear intimidating, though his legs shook from exhaustion and he could hardly keep the weapon steady.
"You… will not harm these people. Just let us go. That way no one will suffer greater consequences," he commanded with insolence. His voice trembled, though it was obvious the god paid him no mind.
The being gave a light chuckle before fixing his gaze on him.
"How insolent. Do you really think that just because you wield such a weapon, you're special?" he mocked. Daion raised an eyebrow, confused. "This isn't even a real wound."
The matter writhed and, like chewing gum, stretched out toward the severed extremity. The god picked up the arm from the ground and reattached it, healing within seconds.
"Seriously?" muttered Daion, the sword feeling heavier in his hands.
"The equivalent of a mosquito bite to me," replied the god. He extended his palm; his arm was coated in matter that shot forward, clamped onto Daion's face, and slammed him against the ground.
Daion groaned, struggling against the viscous substance. The god dragged him close, lifted him up, and forced him to meet his gaze. Daion realized the others hadn't escaped: a mass of darkness blocked the door. The god tilted his head toward him.
Please, no… Daion begged, throwing a futile kick against the barrier that had reappeared. The being watched him for a moment, and to Daion the difference was clear: it was like trying to topple a mountain with his fists.
He hadn't even exerted himself; he was merely toying with ants that happened to cross his path. There was a trace of pity in his eyes, but also the certainty that he would not hesitate to crush them.
"It's a shame these lives will be lost… though, in the end, they'll die anyway in a couple of months," the god said without flinching.
"What are you talking about?" Daion demanded.
"Oh, right. The frontier will be destroyed in two weeks, and that foolish demon king will lay waste to the capital with ease."
The summoned froze at the pronouncement. Daion tried to raise his sword, but two whips of matter seized his arms.
"Why are you telling me this? Isn't it counterproductive? Unless you're lying," Daion challenged, still not understanding.
"Oh, of course… mortals are always so amusing. They see two things that look alike and instantly think they're the same," he laughed. Raising his hand, the matter at the door began to twist and deform. The villagers fled in the opposite direction. "I couldn't care less about the Corrupted, demons, or whatever you call them in this world. We Alphas don't mind who takes it. But if the Omegas lose a world this powerful… now that would be useful."
He smiled again at Daion, who shuddered as the matter tightened around his face.
"Now it's time to punish you for your insolence."
The substance lunged forward, morphing into massive jaws that spread open with a macabre grin. From within sprouted countless spikes that shredded the ground as the maw advanced. Even so, they caught two survivors, impaling their torsos and lifting them into the air as blood poured down in streams.
The soldiers screamed and tried to strike with their weapons, but the matter coiled around the blades, forcing them to drop them. One didn't move in time: the substance wrapped around his hands, lifted him, and shook him violently.
Aelith, meanwhile, unleashed her energy and struck the encroaching matter. Each blow burst with reddish sparks, and her claws tore through the corruption.
"Impressive. A demihuman capable of using corrupted energy… irritating," muttered the god.
Meanwhile, Daion was still struggling to move even his arms. The god smiled. The bodies caught within the matter were engulfed in darkness and dissolved, vanishing completely.
"A nourishing meal, don't you think?"
Daion struggled desperately when the thought of the Primordial crossed his mind. They were connected, weren't they? Maybe the line of communication went both ways. He forced his thoughts with all his might—he needed something clear, something that would provoke a reaction from the god. Alpha God…
He opened his eyes. Nothing.
Aelith was still defending the demihumans, while some villagers tried to draw close to her for protection. Daion caught sight of the father from before, running with his daughter, as the whips came crashing down without mercy. The little girl tripped and scraped her knee. The father froze for a moment, trembling, as the tentacles stopped just before reaching them.
Out of the corner of his eye, Daion noticed the god: he seemed to hesitate.
The man took a few steps back and, in a sudden surge of cowardice, abandoned his daughter, who watched him flee. The little girl cried out through tears a single word:
"Papa!"
Daion's heart trembled. He thought harder, more desperately. He glanced at Ken, the only one still conscious, besides Amelie, who lay sprawled on the ground.
"How pathetic… humans are so…" The god clenched his teeth, seething with contempt. "They're trash."
The whips rose again and targeted the girl who, still sobbing, turned toward the descending mass of darkness. Daion closed his eyes and braced for the crash. When he opened them, he saw Ken holding the girl, standing beside the spikes that had pierced the ground. A deep gash ran down his back.
"Stop this!" Ken shouted, trying to draw the god's attention. "We are not ants, you damned demon! If you're going to kill us, then do it already, you fucking bastard!"
"You're right," the god replied. The tentacles rose once more. That was when Ken seemed to realize what he had done. The only thing on his face was disappointment in himself, fully aware that he had betrayed his own philosophy. "The gods won't notice if a few summoned are missing. I only need the one with gravity."
Daion clenched his teeth.
Please, you idiot… do something!
The air pressure shifted.
The matter vanished instantly. Aelith's eyes widened in surprise before she collapsed to her knees, exhausted. Ken was breathing heavily, still holding the girl in his arms.
"What… just…?" the god stammered. Then the substance binding Daion also dissolved. The god's eyes went wide with terror as he saw Daion coughing, and above his back, the Omega symbol began to rise. "Impossible… you can't!"
A wave of energy tore through the hall. The floor split apart as the god slammed against the tiles without resistance. Daion felt an overwhelming pressure simply by being close to it. He recognized the sensation clearly: gravity made manifest.
He turned his head. The blurry image of a man was taking form in the chamber. His hand extended downward, forcing the god to remain pinned to the ground. His eyes glowed; though his figure lacked definition, the Omega symbol burned brightly within them.
"He answered…" Daion whispered, incredulous, as he collapsed to his knees.
Everyone present shuddered and bowed their foreheads to the floor. Even Ken did so.
"Damn Primordial!" roared the Alpha God from the ground, struggling to rise. The figure tilted its head, and the pressure intensified; the entire structure began to tremble and crack apart. The god spat blood that dissolved instantly under the gravitational force.
"Alkot, Alpha God…" a voice echoed through the chamber, vibrating in everyone's ears. "How dare you, vile Alpha creation, walk through my domain as if it were nothing? You have broken the rules of the peace treaty."
Daion blinked in shock. A peace treaty between gods?
"Look who's talking," Alkot scoffed. "The Primordials are forbidden from interfering. Your presence alone violates those treaties! Once the Ten learn of this, they'll destroy you. Not even the Primordial of Manipulation will be able to protect you."
"My presence?" The Primordial laughed, and Alkot's head seemed on the verge of bursting beneath the pressure. "I am more than sixty million light-years away from this world. This is nothing but a small ripple of energy… more than enough to deal with you."
Daion could barely comprehend it. It was absurd. That idiot god is really fighting against a being this powerful? he thought, forcing himself upright.
"Although I admit it would be irritating… so then—" the Primordial's voice carried absolute certainty, "how about a little bargain?"
End of Chapter 25.