The divine envoy did not attack.
That alone was terrifying.
Golden light receded slightly as the being hovered above the capital, its expression unreadable. The pressure remained, crushing and absolute, as if the heavens were waiting for a verdict.
Below, the city was frozen in fear.
Aurelius lowered his hand—but his aura did not fade. It coiled around him like a sleeping dragon, calm yet lethal.
"You stand before heaven without kneeling," the envoy said coldly.
"Do you understand the meaning of that, Human Emperor?"
"I do," Aurelius replied.
"It means you're unsure you can kill me."
The envoy's wings flickered.
That single sentence echoed far beyond the mortal realm.
In the Celestial Domain, several thrones shook.
Some gods frowned.
Others laughed quietly.
The envoy raised a hand, and symbols of divine law formed in the air—ancient runes capable of erasing kingdoms.
Yet… they hesitated.
Aurelius felt it clearly.
They're testing me.
Not just him—but the limits of humanity itself.
"Withdraw," the envoy finally declared.
"The heavens will observe."
Golden light surged upward as the rift began to close.
The pressure vanished instantly.
People collapsed, gasping for breath. Soldiers trembled, some crying without realizing it. The sky returned to normal—blue, peaceful, innocent.
Too innocent.
Aurelius turned his gaze toward the horizon.
"They won't strike first," he said quietly.
"They're waiting for me to make a mistake."
Behind him, his shadow stretched unnaturally long—splitting, twisting, as if something ancient stirred within it.
Far away, deep beneath the world, sealed beings opened their eyes.
In hidden realms untouched by light, ancient races sensed the shift.
If the gods had moved…
then the era of balance was over.
Aurelius closed his eyes.
"Good," he whispered.
"Let them all wake up."
Because when they did—
this world would learn who truly ruled it.
To be continued…