Black Genesis

The darkness began to fade.

John looked up, his eyes narrowing as he saw Saidy descending from the sky. But this was no longer the man he once knew. Saidy's form had changed entirely—twisted, grotesque, and inhuman. Two massive horns curled from his forehead. His skin was pitch black, his nails sharp like blades, his body larger and heavier with an overwhelming, corrupt aura.

"This power… what are you now?" John muttered under his breath.

Saidy landed with a thud that cracked the earth beneath him.

"So this… this is how you always felt, John." His voice echoed like thunder. "The overwhelming power—I can feel it coursing through me. Those war orphans… they were never just soldiers. They were fuel. My sacrifices. Raised only to empower me."

He spread his arms wide like a god. "There are six beings in the world who claim to be above S-Rank Eternals. SS-Rank, they call themselves. But I… I've gone beyond even them. Feel this divine pressure, John."

He took a step forward. "Even after you killed my son, I chose to forgive you. But now? Now I'll annihilate you. Once I've torn you apart, I'll meet with Lord Diabolos himself. I know this wasn't his will—it must've been Azazel. That traitor."

John's voice cut in, low and dangerous. "You dared… speak his name in front of me?"

"Oh? Still sensitive, are we?" Saidy smirked. "Let me sweeten it. I know where Basil is. Beat me, and I'll give you his location. Actually, you should know—Basil is—"

A fist slammed into Saidy's face before he could finish. But to John's surprise, Saidy didn't even flinch.

John narrowed his eyes. "You've grown. I'll give you that."

"You haven't seen anything yet," Saidy growled, his wings bursting from his back in a blaze of dark flame.

John scoffed. "Wings? You really think that impresses me? Real Eternals don't need wings to fly."

But in the blink of an eye, Saidy vanished—then reappeared mid-punch, slamming his fist into John's jaw. John staggered back, the sheer speed catching him off-guard.

He was fast. Too fast.

John tried to retaliate with lightning spears, dozens of them conjured from the sky and hurled at Saidy. But Saidy dodged each one with ease and spat out a torrent of flame. John countered with divine water, evaporating the fire, then launched another volley of spears. The sky crackled with electricity.

"You've grown weak, John," Saidy mocked. "Is this really all you've got?"

With a roar, he flew high above the clouds, encasing his body in fire before diving like a meteor. John dropped to one knee and closed his eyes just before impact.

The explosion was massive—smoke and debris everywhere.

As it cleared, Saidy's eyes widened. John stood unscathed, surrounded by a radiant S+ rank barrier. It was the first time he had ever used such a high-tier defense in actual combat.

Saidy grinned. "You look worried."

John said nothing, hurling more lightning spears. Saidy finally had enough. He lunged forward, grabbed John's arm, and flew high, then slammed him into the ground with tremendous force. John lay motionless.

Saidy landed above him and began kicking him.

"This is the so-called king?" he laughed. "Pathetic. I'm stronger. Diabolos will be pleased. I'll end your legacy here."

John's voice rose from the dust. "Your arrogance… will be your end."

Saidy froze. A dark pressure filled the air.

"What… is this power?" Saidy looked around, panicked. "This isn't yours, John. Who's here? Show yourself!"

John stood slowly. "There's no one else here. Just us. Those spears I've been throwing—each one was laced with a seal. I've created a dimension, severing this place from the outside world."

Saidy's eyes widened. "A sealed dimension… No. I've heard of this. From Diabolos himself. You… you made a deal with that devil?"

John's smile was faint. "I did. And since you're about to die, I have no reason to hide it. This is the power Lord Lucifer granted me."

"Lucifer?" Saidy burst out laughing. "I'm strong enough to kill even your precious lord. He's a coward who ran from the war against the angels. This power of yours—it's useless."

Before he could blink again, both his horns were sliced off.

A fist to the face followed. Then a kick to his spine.

Saidy staggered. "Why… can't I follow his movements?"

He flew up, charged another fire blast, and descended again. But John didn't use a barrier this time.

Instead, he wrapped himself in a thick, dark aura—and then split.

Saidy blinked. Dozens of Johns now stood across the battlefield.

"What is this?!"

"They're not illusions," said the Johns in unison. "I've split my body and soul into eight. Each one of us is John. When one falls, the others absorb him."

"Then I'll kill every single one!"

Before Saidy could react, all eight attacked at once. His wings were torn off. Blood poured from his wounds. Desperate, he summoned all his remaining strength and created a gravitational vortex—like a black hole.

But John responded by creating his own black hole, stronger and faster. It devoured Saidy's.

John stood tall. "I won't end you like that. You're finished."

Saidy collapsed to his knees. "You win… I finally understand. You're the one who killed my son. He was even stronger than I am, and you still… What a cruel fate."

He looked up at the sky, lost.

"Are you going to execute me? For my crimes? I don't think I deserve that. Human life means nothing. We all end up in the Astral World. That's the real life. This… is just the waiting room."

"I helped the world," he muttered. "Cleansed it."

He spoke slowly, almost broken. "I once dreamed of being a hero too, you know. My parents were killed by enemy soldiers. My wife raped and murdered by Vikings. My daughter, Stephanie… she was all I had left."

Saidy's voice trembled. "We lived in a village in Spain. One night, they came. Arrows, fire, screams. I told her to run. She refused. They took her. I was imprisoned. Became their translator to survive. When I got out, I found what they'd done to her. Ten men… I couldn't even cry."

He closed his eyes. "Then I found the island. The relics. The ancient words. I summoned Diabolos… or maybe he summoned me. I became his. I gained power. I destroyed those fleets. Drenched myself in blood. Took whatever I wanted. Women. Towns. Lives."

"This world is cruel. I just… adapted."

"You want to know who the most famous Eternal is?" he asked. "It's not you. It's me. Everyone knows my name. Admires me. Fears me."

John's expression didn't change. "You're done talking?"

"I was enjoying your story. But then you had to go and ruin it with all that fame crap."

He stepped forward. "You think I care about being famous? We're Eternals. Our existence has purpose beyond the eyes of mortals. I don't give a damn if the world remembers me."

His eyes gleamed. "But you mentioned Basil. Let's talk about him now."

John turned slightly.

"Sohei. I know you've been watching. Come out."

From the palace shadows, a figure stepped forward.

"The warrior monk has arrived."