The Emberlands were aptly named.
A wasteland of smoldering rocks, scorched trees, and rivers of warm ash stretched before Liam's party. The sky above was a dull red, thick with smoke, and lightning cracked in the far distance like a warning.
Elira coughed. "It stinks of death here."
"That's because this land is dead," Garran said grimly. "Ashspire burned it centuries ago to power their rituals."
Liam didn't respond. His eyes were fixed on the horizon—on the rising spires of black stone that jutted into the air like a crown of blades.
Ashspire.
He felt it long before he saw it. The pulsing heat. The screams in the air. The faithless energy that coiled around the towers like a viper.
He opened his status panel as they crossed the final ridge.
GOD SYSTEM – STATUS
Name: Liam Carson
Level: 7
Class: Chosen of Divinity
Title:God of Vengeance (Lesser)
Faith Points (FP): 2
Followers: 10
Angels: 1
Demons: 0
STATS:
• Strength: 15
• Speed: 15
• Endurance: 13
• Divine Power: 23
• Willpower: 17
• Charisma: 12
• Perception: 11
Passives:
• Aura of the Godchild – Enemies suffer -10% morale
• Divine Beacon – Allies within 300m gain +10% Strength and Willpower
Abilities:
• Divine Chains [Gift – 1 use remaining]
• Smite [Tier 1]
• Create / Enhance / Destroy [Tier 1]
• Lesser Judgment [Tier 1]
• Divine Brand [Tier 1]
They set up camp in the ruined remains of a burned-out village, half a mile from Ashspire's edge. Liam stood over a shattered well, eyes on the horizon. Elira joined him, brushing soot from her tunic.
"You're going to charge a fortress guarded by warlocks, hellbeasts, and cult fanatics," she said. "Any idea how to do it without dying?"
"Yeah," Liam replied. "Make them believe I'm death itself."
That night, Liam performed his second act of divine creation.
He used the last of his Faith Points to summon a divine banner. A towering sigil of light etched into a steel standard, planted outside the camp for all to see.
[Faith Points -2]
Item Created: Divine Banner of Wrath
• All allied troops within 500m gain +15% resistance to demonic magic.
• Emits a burning aura that demoralizes unfaithful enemies.
• Bannerholder (assigned: Garran) receives bonus strength during battle.
As dawn broke, the army of twelve approached the black gates of Ashspire.
Twelve against hundreds.
But behind Liam, divine light shimmered.
And inside him, wrath burned hotter than flame.
Inside Ashspire
Sarthas stood atop the central tower, watching from a molten balcony.
"He approaches," said one of the Hollow Circle, a woman with ink for skin and spiders for eyes.
"Let him," Sarthas replied. "The boy will face what his god cannot protect him from."
He turned toward the creature chained in the ritual pit behind him—a massive, three-eyed beast of flesh and ash.
"I've been feeding this Abyssal Wretch for months."
The creature snarled, straining against its bindings.
"Release it when he breaks the gates. Let him taste true despair."
At the Gate
Ashspire's gates were twisted iron and bone. Runes glowed red across them—wards of sealing, powered by the blood of innocents.
Liam stepped forward, his voice steady.
"Elira. Break their chant."
The archer nodded and loosed a single arrow through the air.
It whistled straight into the throat of a cultist on the gate wall. The glow around the runes began to flicker.
"Now," Liam said.
Smite.
The sky darkened. A golden bolt tore from the heavens, obliterating the rune lock with thunderous force.
The gate shattered.
Ashspire's defenders surged out, screaming war cries and wielding demonic fire.
Garran roared. "FOR THE GODCHILD!"
Their twelve met the wave of darkness with steel, magic, and divinity.
Rennan soared above them, hands glowing as beams of holy light tore through cult fanatics. Garran carved a path of blood, his body infused by the Divine Banner's strength. Elira danced through the battlefield, each arrow ending a life.
And Liam—
Liam walked through fire.
Every time a blade struck him, it bounced off the aura surrounding his skin.
Every time a warlock whispered a curse, their voice turned to ash.
He was untouchable.
He was wrath incarnate.
System Notification:
Enemies Slain – +2 Followers Converted (Cultists defected mid-battle)
Faith Points: +2
Followers: 12
FP: 2
Suddenly, the ground split open.
From the heart of Ashspire, the Abyssal Wretch emerged.
It stood three stories tall, its body a grotesque mass of limbs, teeth, and glowing wounds.
Sarthas's voice echoed from the tower above:
"KNEEL, GODCHILD! OR BE CONSUMED!"
Liam looked up.
"I don't kneel."
He stepped forward and raised his hand.
"Enhance: Garran."
The warrior's body glowed gold, his sword lengthened with divine light.
"Rennan—support."
The angel soared to his side.
"Elira. Aim for the third eye."
She didn't need to be told twice.
Liam charged straight into the monster's shadow, the battlefield roaring behind him.
The Godchild had come for Sarthas.
And nothing would stand in his way.
[End of Chapter 10]