Chapter 9: The Gods Descend
The world trembled. From the heavens above the Aurelius Kingdom, golden clouds split apart, revealing a vast light that no mortal eye could fully endure. The gods had seen what Leon Aurelius had done. A mortal had stolen divine essence, bound demons, and seized a throne with greed as his crown.
On the highest tower of the palace, Leon stood silently. His armor shimmered like a living sun. The kingdom below bowed to him, and his system flickered with new alerts.
[System Notification]
Divine Host Detected
Threat Level: Extreme
Gods of Judgment, Purity, and Light descending
Elira stepped beside him, her eyes wide with fear. "They are coming, Your Highness. The heavens themselves will not ignore this."
Leon smiled faintly. "Good. Let them come."
Avaris, the golden fusion, hovered behind him, his four wings spreading across the horizon. "Master, even my strength may not be enough to face all three divine beings at once."
Leon looked up at the sky, unafraid. "Then we make them remember what happens when gods underestimate greed."
The clouds cracked open completely. Three figures descended wrapped in divine light. The first was Seraphiel, God of Judgment, wielding a flaming blade of truth. The second was Velia, Goddess of Purity, her eyes filled with sorrow. The last was Solan, God of Light, the same deity who once blessed Leon's ancestors with the royal bloodline.
Seraphiel spoke first. "Leon Aurelius, mortal king of gold and sin, you have stolen what is sacred. Surrender your throne and your soul."
Leon's crimson eyes glowed brighter. "Surrender? I took what you left lying around. You should thank me for putting it to use."
Solan's voice thundered. "You would mock the divine?"
Leon raised his hand. "No. I'll surpass you."
The ground beneath him pulsed. Golden energy exploded outward as the system responded to his will.
[New Feature Unlocked: Divine Defiance]
Effect: When facing divine entities, power increases by 500 percent for five minutes.
His aura erupted into golden flames that reached the clouds. Even the gods flinched at the sudden surge of power.
"Now then," Leon said calmly, "shall we begin?"
Avaris launched into the air, clashing with Seraphiel in a storm of gold and holy fire. Elira began chanting, weaving protective magic to shield the palace below. Leon faced Solan directly, his voice sharp and cold.
"You once blessed this bloodline," he said. "Now watch as your creation dethrones you."
Solan charged, light bursting from his form, but Leon met it with pure golden force. Their powers collided, shaking the heavens.
Velia wept as she descended lower. "Why do you fight the gods, Leon?"
"Because," he said softly, "I refuse to bow."
He pointed his hand toward the sky, and gold transformed into thousands of shining spears.
[Skill Activated: Golden Judgment - Heavenbreaker Form]
The spears launched upward, piercing through the divine light. The sky itself cracked like glass. The gods' radiance flickered. For the first time in centuries, the divine bled.
Seraphiel's voice echoed across the realm. "Impossible. A mortal cannot "
Leon stepped forward through the swirling light. "I am not mortal."
The gods' forms began to fade, retreating into the fractured heavens. Before they vanished, Solan's voice whispered across the winds. "You have declared war on heaven itself."
Leon looked up at the sky that was now laced with cracks of gold and shadow. "Then let heaven tremble."
The system chimed softly.
[New Quest Unlocked: War of Realms]
Objective: Conquer the Divine Realm
Reward: Godhood
Elira turned toward him, her voice shaking. "You are truly going to war with the gods?"
Leon smiled, his eyes glowing like molten coins. "No. I already started it."