The Greatest Sin is Weakness
It was time for me to exact my revenge on the very god who had cursed me.
After exiting my soul sea, I was surprised to find that the beautiful border city I'd once known had transformed into a barren land. I wondered what might have happened while I was away learning about this strange world, but I didn't dwell on it. I was in foreign territory—and because I wasn't native to this plane of existence, the world itself rejected me. Its inhabitants would surely try to expel or kill me, clearly evident by the killing intent I experienced within the bar.
Even without full control over my virtues, I could tear open space with ease. I created a spatial rift and stepped through, returning to my world—this time, for the last.
I emerged near the middle of the World Summit, a massive mountain sprawling over nearly a continent. Before, with my mortal body and limited control over space, I had to ascend the summit on foot. But now, things were different. I could bend space and exert my will upon the world. I opened a portal to the summit's peak. Before stepping through, I activated my superior-divine name: 'The Lord's Resurrection.'
The surge of power was unimaginable. It felt as though a dam inside my soul had burst, flooding me with infinite strength. Though I wasn't omnipotent, I could easily slaughter a few measly gods.
When I emerged at the summit's peak, I was met by three colossal figures—the gods of this universe: Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. Their names, once painful to even think of, no longer affected me.
The gods noticed me immediately and went on high alert. They tried to mask it, but the immense status I radiated caused even them to hesitate.
"It seems an ant has snuck into our mighty palace!" Zeus said, his voice slightly quivering.
"Brother, this ant has some power. Perhaps we could make him our puppet," Poseidon added, arrogantly.
"You've come to the wrong place, little one," Hades said. "Turn back now and you shall not face the wrath of the gods. Stay, and we will eradicate you."
"You three overestimate yourselves," I said, my voice ringing out. "To believe mere ants could ever challenge my greatness."
Silence fell. Shock. Then loud laughter echoed as Poseidon and Zeus mocked me. Hades, however, remained grim.
"Arrogant one," Hades said darkly, "what is your purpose here?"
"To destroy the gods," I answered. "Hades, you cursed me. You shall be the first to die."
Before half a second, weapons were drawn. Zeus readied a thunderbolt, Poseidon his trident, Hades his scythe. But before they could act, I swiftly crossed the space between us and drove my fist—half-strength—into Hades' chest. He flew backward, crashing into a palace wall.
Before he could recover, I appeared again. My next strike, at full force, shattered the space and constraints of time around my arm, seemingly moving in slow-motion. Hades reacted too late. My fist erased the top half of his body as if it was never there in the first place, a side effect of my will being exerted upon the world. Yet, he lived—divine beings could survive such wounds. I didn't hesitate though. I struck him again, this time his soul directly, thoroughly erasing him from existence.
Divine-ranked individual felled. Rewarding 1,000,000 Core Soul Fragments, one random Inferior Divine Name, and one Mythical Name the individual possessed.
Zeus and Poseidon looked on in despair. Their brother, a god, erased before their eyes. They charged, weapons blazing, unleashing their full power.
Both invoked their personal Inferior Divine names, Each their true name, Zeus and Poseidon Respectively. These names were forged through thousands of years of struggle, many, including myself growing up reading their triumph and feats. Despite being two subclasses beneath my Superior Divine name, their combined strength was formidable. They were on the verge of ascending to full Divine tier—an extremely astonishing feat.
But it wasn't enough.
As they rushed me, I searched for a weapon—and found one: a long, dark odachi within a glass case. Beautiful. I smashed the case and grabbed it. A surge of energy quickly dissipated from my body.
Weapon forcibly soul-bound.
No time to inspect it. I raised the blade and faced the gods.
"You!"
"You dare!"
Their voices thundered.
Zeus hurled his thunderbolt. Poseidon thrust his trident. Lightning and water surged toward me.
I responded with my tenth sword technique:
Tenth Sword: Tenth Slash to Destroy All.
Time slowed to a stop. My odachi the only thing moving, sweeping in a plain but oddly beautiful horizontal arc, clean and precise. The world trembled. Space shattered. Roathia, the planet beneath us, was obliterated.
***
When I saw the sword swing, I knew my brother and I were finished. I sacrificed my Inferior Divine name and my life force to unleash a final attack. It wouldn't be enough—but I had to try.
I hurled my thunderbolt into the oncoming darkness.
***
The depths of the ocean and the power of the thunder god were no match for him. I watched the sword aura erase the gods. I knew my time interfering had run out.
Still, I granted the one loved so much by them a gift. I nearly shattered his eternal nightmare and bestowed upon him the memories of the land. He would surely meet his predecessor, maybe picking up a few things.
Times were changing.
A new "Most Ancient Good" had been selected after all.
***
Zeus and Poseidon were promptly bisected and erased from existence, their meager attempts at resistance bearing no fruit.
Divine-ranked individual felled. Rewarding 1,000,000 Core Soul Fragments, one random Inferior Divine Name, and one Mythical Name the individual possessed.
Divine-ranked individual felled. Rewarding 1,000,000 Core Soul Fragments, one random Inferior Divine Name, and one Mythical Name the individual possessed.
The joy of their deaths was immense—yet bittersweet. Something inside me quietly whispered they weren't to blame, though I knew I could never fully accept that feeling.
I then opened a portal back to Roathia—or what remained of it. But then space crackled around me, quickly shattering like a panel of glass. Time froze.
The universe collapsed. Everything unraveled like a fragile paper mâché. I was frozen, unable to move. Only being able to watch as the universe I had spent millions of years living in was destroyed. Perhaps this was my salvation?
***
Starless remained frozen as the universe crumbled. When it was gone, nothing remained—except the black odachi some distance away, slowly floating slowly toward him.
As it reached him, a memory forced its way into his mind.
***
Warning. Hazardous Memory Non-Native to Worldline entering Soul Sea.
Warning. Hazardous Memory Non-Native to Worldline entering Soul Sea.
Warning. Hazardous Memory Non-Native to Worldline entering Soul Sea.
Three large red prompts filled my vision. I was dragged into my soul sea. The once-calm waters raged violently.
Memory Description:You are that which cannot be contained. Bear the weight of the world and return.
Accept Non-Native Worldline Memory?Yes/No
It might not have been smart. But my worldline was destroyed. Time had stopped. I had no choice.
Yes.