Location: Astraeus Academy – Ruptured Wing
Smoke coiled through the air like it knew fear. The roof was gone, replaced by a gaping wound in the sky. Rubble trembled beneath burning sigils. And at the epicenter—Kairo stood, shirt torn, blood across his brow, left eye burning crimson like a dying star.
Opposite him hovered Nythra, the silent divine enforcer, wings stretched wide, expression blank behind her blindfold of starlight.
Ten seconds ago, she dropped the headmaster through five floors with a single strike.
Now?
She hadn't moved.
She couldn't.
> [Crimson Domain: Active – Divine Suppression Field: 67%]
[Opponent's Faith-Based Skills: Disabled]
[New Effect: Aura Lock Engaged – "Your presence bends lower wills."]
The gods were watching.
But not from thrones this time—from shadows.
Every Divine House's high seers were locked in, peering through scrying glass, watching the impossible unfold.
"He's walking toward her," one whispered.
"That shouldn't be possible."
"He's making her hesitate…"
---
Kairo's footsteps rang loud. He wasn't running. He wasn't rushing.
He was walking.
Deliberate. Calm. Like he was the executioner.
At his side, the crimson brand bled slowly down his arm, flickering with runes that hadn't appeared before.
"Hey, Nythra," he said, voice low and rough, like gravel under fire.
"You're built to judge mortals. Measure their sin. Deliver their end."
He stopped right in front of her—close enough to see the tremble in her wing joints.
"But you're not here for justice."
The air around him cracked. The temperature dropped ten degrees.
"You're here because they're scared."
He raised a hand.
Nythra struck first.
A beam of holy light slammed down—
—only for it to freeze midair. Crystallized. Shattered.
Kairo stepped through it like it was fog.
He touched her chest with a single finger.
"Time you feared something too."
> [New Skill Unlocked: Apex Echo]
"Your aura now carries the fear of those you've defeated. Passive psychological suppression effect on all divine entities below Tier 3."
Nythra backed away—but it was too late.
Kairo's shadow twisted—and wrapped around her like a serpent.
He whispered:
"Sleep."
The divine enforcer collapsed.
Ten wings.
Broken.
Silence.
And then—
> [CRITICAL ALERT: DIVINE HIERARCHY BREACH]
[PANTHEON EMERGENCY SUMMON: MORTAL LEVEL: KAIRO VALE]
[MANDATE: IMMEDIATE ASCENSION OR TERMINATION]
---
Across the realms, from the Hollow Moon Temples to the Golden Sanctum of House Solmar, the gods stirred.
Kairo didn't flinch.
He turned to the shattered ceiling, eyes glowing red-gold now—brighter than before. His voice echoed through every watching scry-glass, every temple hall.
"I'm not ascending."
Pause.
"I'm coming up there myself."
---