Against The True Gods

The path had been there all along.

His rings. His bones. His flesh. His stars. His summons.

Everything led to that path.

WHOOOOOOOSH!

The last of Caine's rebirths concluded just as his brain finished its restructuring. Around him, a cocoon of flesh had formed, pulsing rhythmically like a nascent heart, brimming with life and power.

PAH!

A hand tore through the cocoon's surface, and in moments, the entire structure dissolved, disintegrating into dust. A figure emerged, standing tall and unyielding.

Caine looked the same, yet somehow entirely different.

His towering frame was sculpted with tempered, refined muscles that flexed subtly under each slight movement. His jade-white skin blended seamlessly with the falling snow, ethereal runes flashing intermittently across it, pulsing with life and power.

Qis of every type danced across his skin's surface, radiating waves of immense energy.

His long, dark hair flowed freely with the wind, crowning his face, which had been refined to a level that defied mortal standards.

But his eyes—those were different.

An inhuman sheen glinted in their depths, vast and unfathomable. It was as if a World Will Eye had fused with his own, evolving into something greater, something beyond comprehension. Silver, white, and golden-red currents swirled within, cold and mesmerizing, filled with a melancholic apathy that created a strange, fitting contrast.

Caine's finger twitched, and qi materialized into dark robes that majestically draped over him, the fabric whispering with restrained power.

He raised his hand, extending a single finger, and drew a line through the air. SHING! With a sharp sound, his hair was cut, the strands falling gently, now brushing just past his shoulders.

'Finally.'

Caine knew he couldn't step into the final stage of the Blood Realm just yet. Even if he could, he wouldn't. There was too much left to do.

One of his priorities was training in the Scion facilities. He planned to spend a few months there, perhaps a year at most. During that time, he aimed to elevate all his knowledge to the Savant and Virtuoso stages, study his bloodlines thoroughly, and deepen his understanding of his aspects. He also intended to create a multitude of new techniques.

He had reached the stage of Scionhood, and his opponents would no longer be weak or predictable. Many would be as smart and cunning as he was, with talents that rivaled his own. They would wield countless treasures and techniques, and he needed to be ready.

And there was the looming threat of the chaos his father had foreseen—a turbulent age on the horizon. Preparation was essential.

'Cutting your hair now is a bit silly, isn't it?'

Elura's voice echoed through his mind, tinged with a playful giggle. 'By the time you're done training, it'll grow back.'

Caine sighed, a resigned smile crossing his lips. He knew she was right. "I think I'll just stop cutting it. It's whatever." Find more to read at empire

With that, he took a step forward and teleported away, leaving his snow-covered training field empty and silent.

***

Months passed.

Lilith stood on the deck of a sleek, pill-shaped ship zipping through the air at a terrifying speed. The wind whipped around her, but she remained poised, her deep rose-colored eyes locked on the horizon.

After the Scions of the world's major factions were chosen, an event known as the Worldly Scion Meeting took place. This prestigious gathering was held in the Heart Star, a massive construct that hovered above the clouds. Only the world's most powerful and privileged were allowed to enter.

The meeting had one primary purpose: the allocation of resources. The major powers controlled the world's resources, and this event served as a competition to determine how they would be divided. The higher a Scion ranked, the more resources their faction received.

However, the Scions themselves weren't particularly invested in the competition. Most would attend briefly out of obligation before leaving. For now, the real battles were fought between their respective forces, not between the Scions themselves.

BOOM!

Lilith's ship pierced through the final layer of clouds and entered the star-filled void above.

In the distance, the Heart Star loomed—a majestic platform constructed of gleaming metal, streaked with veins of amethyst qi that pulsed like lifeblood through the structure.

Floating above the platform were countless cubes, each of a different color and material, hovering protectively around a grand palace made of gold and silver. These cubes served as defensive hubs, constantly in motion, their surfaces shimmering with protective enchantments.

Lilith's ship descended, landing gracefully on the platform. The vessel's hull peeled away, revealing the legion within.

Behind Lilith stood millions of her servants, all clad in immaculate white robes. Their faces were hidden behind rose-colored veils, men and women alike. At their sides, they carried elegant rapiers and long swords, their demeanor calm and composed.

They formed perfect lines behind their mistress, silent and still, an unbreakable wall of loyalty.

BANG!

A crimson-scaled dragon burst through the clouds, roaring as it ascended into the starry void. On its back rode countless warriors clad in red robes, each radiating a suffocating killing intent.

The Chaos Heaven Pagoda had arrived—the overlords of the western continent.

WHOOOSH!

A ripple of energy heralded the appearance of another group. They teleported directly onto the platform, dressed in flowing light green robes. Arcane artifacts floated around them, analyzing their surroundings with meticulous precision.

This was the Alchemy Haven Hall—masters of the eastern continent.

SHURRR!

Space itself groaned and tore apart as the third faction made their entrance. Cloaked in pitch-black robes and wearing dark amethyst masks, their terrifying auras bled into the surroundings.

The Void Trading Alliance—rulers of the central continent—had arrived.

All four factions stood on the platform, their combined auras towering with unspoken hostility and latent killing intent.

At the forefront of the Chaos Heaven Pagoda's forces stood a young man. Bald, with a face marred by deep, gruesome scars, his presence exuded brutality. His black robes clung tightly to his muscular frame, and a massive axe was strapped across his back.

Taharis the Great, Scion of the Chaos Heaven Pagoda.

Beside Lilith's forces and in front of the Alchemy Haven Hall stood a radiant young woman. Her long golden hair flowed like a river of sunlight, and her emerald eyes gleamed with intelligence. Her beauty was otherworldly, enhanced by a pair of thin, scholarly glasses.

Serena, Heiress of the Arcane, Scioness of the Alchemy Hall.

Facing the Void Trading Alliance was a shadowy figure, identical to the rest of the faction's forces. Shrouded in dark robes, an amethyst mask concealed their features.

Tathamet, Scion of the Void Trading Alliance.

WHOOOSH!

The air crackled with tension as the Scions locked eyes, their auras surging upward, threatening to shatter the skies.

Suddenly, the temperature dropped. A chill seeped into the very bones of those present.

Snowflakes began to fall, mingling with white, silver, and black feathers drifting from above.

The stars dimmed, cloaked in darkness.

All eyes turned skyward, their gazes narrowing.

BOOOOM!

A presence descended, and the world trembled.