The Shadow of Divinity

------WSA 2025 ENTRY----- Long ago, the King of one of the Four Great Nations sought to unite humanity under his rule. In his relentless pursuit of power, he conducted forbidden experiments and gained strength rivalling that of the gods. However, he mysteriously disappeared without a trace. Soon after his vanishing, dimensional rifts began to open across the world, bringing with them towering Withering Trees—otherworldly flora that corrupted the land. These trees released a deadly pollen that transformed humans into monstrous creatures known as Withered Ones, beings of immense strength devoid of reason. Yet, some individuals resisted this transformation and instead gained extraordinary abilities, becoming known as Retainers. Kuro, a young boy at the time, was exposed to the pollen. It was believed that, under its influence, he killed his mother and friends, leading to his imprisonment. Branded as a criminal and outcast, whether it was true didn’t matter—the world had already made its judgment. Against his will, Kuro was dragged into the chaotic world of the Retainers, where an unexpected event changed everything. Alongside Arthur, one of the strongest Retainers, Kuro was transported to a different realm—a world ruled by gods. Here, Kuro and Arthur discovered a horrifying truth. The destruction of their world, the emergence of the Withering Trees, the corruption spreading across humanity—it was no accident. It was not fate. It was orchestrated by someone who sat at the very top of the divine hierarchy, a being who had toyed with their world like a mere experiment. If they wanted to save their home, they had no choice but to fight their way through this new world and take on the gods themselves. Together, they carve a path through the gods’ world, pushing forward, battle after battle, He realizes that if he wants to win he willl have to accept the fate, to become one of them, To transcend to become a God, And when he does, he will decide for himself what it truly means to be divine.