Against The True Gods

Caine sat on the back of his eagle mount, soaring through the skies toward the central continent where the Void Trading Alliance would be holding its famous Millennium Auction.

An auction that occurred only once every generation. It was the event to attend, where treasures of immeasurable rarity were showcased and displayed for all to bid on.

Caine grumbled in annoyance as he inched closer and closer to the location, counting the seconds until he could return home.

'Hopefully, things go fast.'

***

Caine jumped off his eagle, free-falling from the skies, and landed softly on the ground.

Looking around, he raised a brow in confusion.

He had arrived in a vast, empty plain—wide and airy, covered in lush green grass. At its center stood a tall and grand floating palace, its architecture dazzling and otherworldly.

Intricate carvings ran along its hovering walls, and the base shimmered faintly as though supported by an invisible force.

But the palace wasn't what confused him. He had expected grandeur. What perplexed him were the layers of formations that covered the area.

'Why is this place covered in such complex formations?'

Security was normal for such events, but the sheer scale of what Caine was witnessing was almost maddening. Formation upon formation wove through the air and the grass, each pulsing faintly with energy. It felt excessive—more akin to preparation for a war than an auction.

His suspicions were nearly confirmed when he spotted countless pocket spaces in the distance, brimming with armed soldiers. Their terrifying auras oozed forward, heavy and oppressive.

'Whatever. Not my business.'

Caine shrugged and took a step forward, beginning his journey toward the palace. But just as he moved, a man appeared in front of him, blocking his path.

Caine didn't bother to look at him and casually stepped forward, teleporting past him, assuming the man had mistakenly crossed his path.

However, his gaze narrowed when an arm reached out, grabbing his shoulder.

"Excuse me."

A pulse of qi instantly repelled the hand from Caine. He slowly turned around.

"Hm?"

The man before him looked simple—black hair, red eyes, dark robes—

'—Is this a Renala?'

"I am Sire Elderson, missionary of the Chaos Heaven Pagoda, Lords of the Western Continent. Please, come with me. Our Lord wishes an audience with you."

"What's my name?"

Sire was taken aback by the question but answered nonetheless. "Caine Lerouge Velios, Scion of the Northern Forces."

"Knowing this, you still 'require' anything of me?"

The man smiled, a rumbling chuckle echoing from his throat. "Please, young man, do not make this harder than it needs to be."

"Be a good boy and follow me, or else."

"Or else?" Caine blinked, his disbelief turning into amusement. He almost burst out laughing.

Was he being threatened?

Caine shook his head, chuckling to himself, and continued walking toward the auction palace.

Sire sighed as his qi exploded outward. His hand tore through the air, aiming directly for Caine.

BOOM!

In an instant, a formation above activated, reducing Sire to ashes. The defense mechanisms of the plain had been triggered.

Caine barely spared the incident a glance.

Using his Will, he activated one of the many formations scattered around the area, ensuring a smooth journey to the palace.

As he walked, a thought struck him. 'Since when were we on bad terms with them?'

'Also, why the hell do they look like Renalas so much? Even his blood had their scent.'

He shook his head and sighed. 'This is why I didn't want to come.'

***

The auction hall was a marvel of craftsmanship, a vast, towering structure built to accommodate thousands of attendants. Its floors were carpeted in a rich, red velvet that absorbed every footstep, and the walls gleamed with a polished golden sheen, adorned with intricate engravings of past auctions and historical events.

The stage, where all bidding would take place, was constructed from dark, ancient wood that radiated a faint spiritual aura. Heavy, long curtains of crimson velvet hid its surface, embroidered with gold-threaded runes that glimmered faintly in the light.

Directly before the stage were rows upon rows of neatly arranged seats, designed to provide comfort while maintaining elegance. Above, elevated private rooms lined the walls, hidden behind tinted one-way glass. These rooms catered to the nobles and Scions from the five major powers, offering privacy and luxury.

Caine lounged alone in one such boxes, sprawled on a wide sofa, even spacious enough for his tall frame. He lay there comfortably, his eyes half-closed, utterly indifferent to the grandeur of the event.

WHOOSH!

Slowly, the thick curtains parted, revealing a woman standing at the center of the stage.

Her face was obscured by a dark amethyst mask, as was customary for members of the Void Trading Alliance. Her layered black robes, embroidered with silver, flowed elegantly, accentuating her commanding presence.

"Welcome to the…"

Caine's eyes grew heavier as he leaned back and crossed his arms.

"…we are honored to…"

His eyelids drooped further, and he struggled to stay awake. 'Alright, I'll close them, but I'll keep listening. Definitely.'

"…for our first item placed up for…"

He fell asleep.

***

On stage, the presenter stood beside a floating bubble, within which a dozen thick tomes were suspended, each covered in intricate, glowing runes.

"For our nineteenth treasure, I present to you the Arcane Tomes of Liberation!"

"Created by the late arcane cultivator Lord Sermond, considered one of the youngest pioneers of the art, these tomes contain the culmination of his life's greatest project—the Liberation Spell Sets. But that's not all."

"A guide is also included—a guide that takes cultivators step-by-step through a process that allows them to recreate their veins, inextricably linking them to their bones and, indirectly, their flesh."

"This refinement allows for the formation of a completely new body structure—the Liberation Structure Set! A titled structure set standing at the very peaks of the Chaos Grade!"

Gasps of shock and excitement rippled through the audience. The attendees stirred in anticipation, unable to hide their hunger for such a priceless opportunity.

But just as the bidding was about to begin—

Clap! Clap! Clap!

A man strode onto the stage, clapping his hands mockingly. His face was obscured by a stark white mask, and his layered white robes were a sharp contrast to the Void Trading Alliance's black.

Without a word, he waved his hand, and golden qi chains snaked through the air, wrapping around the presenter. She fell limply to the ground, unconscious before she could react.

"Hello," the man's deep voice echoed, sending chills through the room.

Many attendees prepared to retaliate, but before they could act, the man waved his hand again. Most of the crowd was immediately bound by golden chains, leaving only a handful untouched.

"Hello, I am Magnus Carlier, from the White Sea Cult."

Masked figures in white robes suddenly appeared behind him, their presence oppressive.

"It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Magnus said with a chuckle, his gaze directed at one of the private boxes above.

For a moment, the room was silent, the air thick with tension.

BOOM!

All the private rooms exploded simultaneously as countless ancestors and elders from the major factions soared into the air. Their auras clashed violently against those of Magnus and his followers.

Chaos erupted.

***

Caine woke up what felt like hours later, yawning and stretching as he stood from his sofa.

'Should be done.'

He looked around and froze.

Everything was destroyed. His private room floated in the air, the only intact structure amidst the carnage.

Below, countless battles raged. Bodies littered the grassy plains where the auction palace had once stood.

'What the hell happened…?'

Screams, roars, and cries overwhelmed his senses as shockwaves rippled through the air, filling it with chaotic qi.

Just as the chaos and his confusion reached their peak, the formations surrounding the area suddenly activated.
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Caine's [Warp] gift blared warning signs, but it was too late. Before he could react, he and everyone present were sucked into a chaotic spatial storm.

As his sense of direction was torn apart and the world around him began to warp he sighed.

'Of course, things had to go wrong.'

[End of Volume One: Timeless Genesis]

[Volume Two: Blinding Heavenly Light]