Damien's group had already realized it—the whispers weren't spreading on their own.
This wasn't merely the Holy Order's plotting anymore.It was something larger.
Something was interfering.
The question was: what did that interference mean?
1. More Than the Holy Order's Scheme
"This is too precise to be just the Holy Order," Cain muttered darkly.
"They're not trying to pinpoint us—they're emphasizing us," Iane said, turning the thought over and over.
"Which means someone higher than the Holy Order is involved," Rhaen concluded, calm but sharp.
Kaio opened his mouth—then stopped.
He didn't want to finish the thought.
But Damien already had.
This isn't just the Holy Order's doing.This is… divine interference.
2. The One Beyond the Gods – The "Master God"
"What if…" Damien's voice was quiet, but it froze the air."What if there is something above the gods of this world?"
The group stilled.
Rhaen's breath caught.
"If that's true, then this isn't just a war of faith.It means even the Holy Order's 'God' is just another piece on the board."
"Exactly," Damien said, his gaze narrowing."A being beyond the gods. From now on, we'll call it—the Master God."
3. Gods, Cracks, and the Hand of a Keeper
"Think back," Damien said, his voice low, sharp."The demigod we fought. The Holy Order's proxies. Every time they used divine power—the cracks lit up, and patterns shifted."
Kaio's jaw clenched.
"Then even divine power… can be manipulated."
Rhaen nodded grimly.
"If the Cracks connect to the gods, then whoever made those cracks—whoever set these 'laws' in motion…"
"Isn't a god," Iane cut in, firm."It's whoever's managing all of this."
The realization hit all of them at once.
Even the so-called gods of this world—might simply be bound by someone else's design.
And through the Cracks,they were starting to glimpse the fingerprints of that Master God.
4. Do We Deny the Gods Themselves?
Damien looked out the window.
"Then we're not here to just defy a god," he said quietly."We're here to step outside the law itself."
The words landed like steel.
It meant one thing:they would have to rise to a level even the gods could not touch.
"We are not simple rebels," Damien said, his voice unwavering.
"We are the ones who will cut down the very laws set by the Master God."
Cain gave a thin, humorless smile.
"So now, at last… our goal is starting to make sense."
Iane spun her dagger between her fingers and grinned.
"If this isn't about fighting the gods—but fighting the ones who made them…then this is something the world's never seen before."
Kaio's grip tightened on his weapon.
"Then we can't lose. Not now."
5. In a World Where Even Gods Are Managed—They Chose Freedom
They weren't fugitives anymore.
They weren't just "the ones defying a god."
They were now becoming the ones who would unmake the world's laws.
Because if even gods were shackled to some hidden Administrator—
Then there was only one path forward:
They would not simply cut down gods.
They would cut down the ones who created them.
That was the true meaning of this war.
6. The Messenger of the Divine
Far away, a ripple of power moved across the land.
The Avatar of the God—the vessel they had summoned—stood with eyes closed, sensing the world.
His eyes opened, and his gaze turned.
"...This is not the place."
His voice resonated, and priests and templars alike raised their heads.
"Some of you will follow me," he said."Our target is already chosen."
A templar captain stepped forward.
"Where are we going, Avatar of the Divine?"
The Avatar smiled faintly, eyes lifting to the sky.
"There is someone… who called to me."
And with that, he began to walk.
The templars and priests followed.
They were headed to one place—
Damien.
7. Rhaen's Eyes—Opening Again
Meanwhile, Damien's group moved quietly through the countryside.
But Rhaen hadn't spoken in some time.
His eyes were closed, sensing something—until finally, they opened.
This time, what he saw wasn't like before.
"...I see."
His head tilted, voice shifting—and the words that came from his lips were not his own.
"Damien… there you are."
The air changed.
"I'm coming to you."
Rhaen's body shuddered.His eyes no longer his own, his voice like a vessel possessed.
Kaio stiffened at the wave of divine energy.Iane and Cain both tensed.
But Damien only reached for his sword.
He already knew.
A stronger being was coming.
This wasn't going to be another skirmish.This would be the first true clash.
Damien's hand closed on his blade.
"...The fight we can't escape—starts now."
***
Chapter : The Last Night, at the Hot Springs
1. Silence, and the Tension Beneath It
The air was heavy.Something vast was approaching—something undeniable.
No one spoke.But the silence itself told the story.
Can we even survive what's coming?
It was Iahn who broke the silence.
"Are we just going to sit here? Let's go out. Have a drink."
Her tone was light, as always.But no one could mistake the anxiety beneath her words.
Kane was the first to stand.One by one, the others followed.
"She's right. Sitting in silence won't solve anything.""If not now, when else are we going to drink?"
And so, they went out to greet what might be their last night.
2. A Drink at the Tavern
The tavern buzzed with life—from frothy mugs of ale to sharp-smelling whiskey.
Laughter and drunken singing filled the air,as if there was no looming future, no coming storm.
They drank, too.
Cups clinked.Laughter rang out, softened by drink.
And as the liquor took hold, their words began to flow.
"When I was a kid…"Kane swirled his drink slowly.
"I was always the one running away.Even after I became a hunter, I think I was still just… running.But now? There's nowhere left to run."
Rhaen smirked faintly.
"I see the future.But seeing the future doesn't mean you always make the better choice.One thing I do know though—You all… you're needed in that future."
Kaio drank quietly.
"Back at our temple, when warriors faced their last night,we were told to look up at the sky.To remind ourselves why we fought."
Iahn slammed her glass on the table with a sharp grin.
"Hey, don't drag the mood down.We're all going to survive. We will. That's how this ends."
She smiled like nothing was wrong—but Damian knew better.
He could see it.She was afraid too.
3. The Walk Back
They drank until none could drink more.And in the haze of liquor, they drifted back to their inn.
Iahn walked ahead, whistling.But her steps were heavy.
"Iahn."Damian called.
She didn't look back.
"What is it, boss?"
"Are you all right?"
She snorted softly.
"Me?"
"Yes. You."
A pause.Then, a quiet sigh.
"Can I be honest?"
"Always."
She tilted her head up.
The stars were scattered across the night sky.
"…I'm scared."
"…"
"This time… it feels different."
Her hand trembled slightly.
"Up until now, we always scraped by, somehow.But this time… it feels like that won't be enough."
Damian didn't look away from her.
He didn't dismiss her fear.
He simply reached outand rested his hand gently on her shoulder.
"We'll live. All of us."
The simple words carried a strange weight.
She smiled faintly.
"Yeah. We better."
4. Morning — and the Hot Springs
"...Ughhh…"
The next morning.
They woke with splitting headaches,faces twisted in the misery of hangovers.
"How many drinks did I even have last night…?"Rhaen groaned, clutching her head.
"Don't ask. We shouldn't have had that many…"Kane muttered, pale-faced, gripping his stomach.
Kaio stood by the window, cooling his head in the breeze.
Iahn, of course, looked completely fine.
"Wow, you all look like corpses."She laughed."When you're hungover, there's only one cure.Hot water. Hot springs. Let's go!"
They groaned and muttered,but eventually, they all got up.
And so—they went to the village's hot spring.
5. Men, Women… and One Hot Spring
The hot spring was wider than expected, steam rising thick in the air.
The men headed to the men's side,Iahn to the women's.
But then—
"…Wait."Damian froze, looking around.
"The walls aren't that high. It's practically one shared bath!"
They all stiffened.
The men looked at each other,faces awkward.Should they leave?
And then—
"Hey, what's the holdup?"
Iahn's face peeked over the wall, smirking.
"Everything that needs to be covered is covered.Besides, we've been through hell together—we're comrades, aren't we?"
She grinned playfully.
"Don't worry—I'm sticking to my side."
Her words left them with… complicated expressions.
Should they stay?Leave?
Then—
"…She's right."
Damian's voice cut through their hesitation.
He looked at Iahn and said, firmly:
"You're someone I'd trust with my life.That's not something decided by gender."
His words landed heavy.
He stepped into the water,gesturing for the others to follow.
One by one, awkwardly, they did.
6. The Last Rest
The water was warm,wrapping their exhausted bodies like a blanket.
Iahn smiled her usual mischievous smile,but even she closed her eyes,letting herself sink into the quiet.
Kaio muttered, voice low,
"What does it really mean… to fight gods?What was it that I even believed in all this time?"
No one rushed to answer.
Some just exhaled softly.Others listened to the ripples of the water.
And for this one moment—
They forgot about gods.They forgot about battles.
They just remembered they were alive.
This was their last rest.Their last hot spring.
Soon, they would pick up their blades again.
But for now—
They simply embraced a fleeting moment of peace.