CHAPTER 53: KANE!

Deus hovered in the air, looking down at the destruction he had caused. Flames still burned below, licking at the shattered ruins, while the stones and heavy bricks that had once been part of the mighty Ileus Temple no longer fell—they had already done their damage.

He raised a hand and sent a message—a telepathic transmission that echoed through the vastness of the universe—directed only at beings of Demi-god cultivation level and above. Gods and angels included.

"To ye and thou art of the Demi-god realm and above, a bounty hath been placed upon the god ’Ileus’. He was once my subordinate... and is now no more. Ye shall recognize him upon sight, for I have marked his soul with my bounty technique. Thou shalt strike only when he regains the strength of a Demi-god. Attack him not in his weakness—for failure shall result in the torture of the soul."

"At that time, thou shalt ensure his soul is destroyed... so that he shall never reincarnate. His killer shall receive a reward most bountiful."

"Be warned and be ready. For this... is an order from thy Lord!!!"

Meanwhile, across the realms, strange telepathic messages rippled through the minds of powerful entities. All around the world, countless mysterious beings paused, disturbed by the divine echo.

Yet among them, only the gods and angels took it seriously. They knew that voice. They knew its weight. And they understood exactly who the message was about.

The rest? They took it as nothing more than a cosmic joke.

A/N

Filler ahead;

In a misty, cloud-veiled world, two winged figures clashed high above a silver forest.

One wielded twin swords, sharp and elegant. The other gripped a greatsword, massive and rough-hewn. Their wings—pure white and grand—flapped gently as they hovered in the sky, their bodies surrounded by surging auras.

Though it seemed like sparring, the intensity made it clear—this was no mere practice. Their blades cut through the air with whooshing gusts, clashing together with metallic shrieks and echoing booms. Every movement was fast and precise. Every strike—measured and calculated.

Waves of Qi burst from their weapons with each swing, painting the air with an overwhelming force—a force steeped in killing intent and thick bloodlust, the lingering echoes of countless lives taken.

Despite their ferocity, they bickered like old friends reunited after eons apart.

"Hmmph! You think those puny attacks can defeat me? I swear those twiggy arms of yours will snap any moment!" the muscular one scoffed with a grin, mocking the lean angel.

The lean angel narrowed his eyes. "Calling me weak again? Tch, looks like I’ve been too soft on you! That oversized meat cleaver you’re swinging is slowing you down more than a mutated tortoise. I’m surprised your spine hasn’t collapsed under the weight of your ego."

The muscular angel laughed, spinning his greatsword in a wide arc. "Speed means nothing! It is strength that wins battles!"

"Hmph."

The lean angel just scoffed coldly—he neither agreed nor disagreed. Deep down, he knew speed wasn’t everything. It was often the crutch of cowards and assassins who ran from every battle they couldn’t win.

Still, he attacked, eyes sharp, testing, waiting—for even the slightest opening in this endless stalemate that had lasted for a millennium.

They continued exchanging blows until their breath began to grow heavy. Even with Qi replenishing their energy, exhaustion finally began to creep in.

Huff... Huff...

"It seems..." the muscular angel panted, resting his massive sword on his shoulder, "...we’re still evenly matched after all these years."

"I secluded myself for a hundred years just to surpass you," he continued, his voice low with frustration. "And yet... here we are. Again. I’ll defeat you someday. That, I swear."

"..."

Then it happened.

The voice.

Deus.

The moment they heard it, the atmosphere froze. A profound silence fell.

"Did you hear it too?" the muscular one asked, expression turning solemn.

The lean angel gave a slow nod, his voice quiet but sure. "I think... that was our creator. The God of Qi and Supreme Dao."

Their eyes widened.

Shock.

They had only ever heard stories. Legends. Of the one who created them. The one who forged the nine angels from pure Qi and set them to guard the balance.

To many, it was myth.

But those at the top—those of high cultivation—knew the truth.

He was real.

And he had spoken.

It hadn’t even been two centuries since he created a tenth subordinate. A new servant god. Ileus. The famous God of Mana—admired, powerful, and said to be the strongest among the ten Supreme Gods.

And now?

Deus claimed he was dead.

Not only dead... but marked. Hunted.

"...Do you think he rebelled? That’s how he died?" the muscular one finally asked, the weight of the thought sitting heavy in the air.

"That’s... the most likely answer," the lean one said quietly.

The muscular angel—Kane—shook his head slowly. "I don’t know if I should call him bold or foolish. I admire the courage. But me? I’m hot-headed. Everyone knows that. Even I wouldn’t have dared rebel."

"You’re right," the lean angel said with a sigh. "If it were any other god... maybe. But this is him. The God of Qi and Supreme Dao. He has strength. He has age. And most importantly, he has wisdom. Maybe the taste of power corrupted the God of Mana."

"There’s a limit to courage," he added, tone sharp. "There’s a line no one should cross. Once you know you stand no chance, that’s where courage should become wisdom. Instead, he chose arrogance. Foolishness. For a god of such rank... I can’t understand it."

Blasphemy.

Had Ileus still been in power, these words would have called down divine punishment.

But Ileus was now prey.

And his soul was fair game.

"So... will you hunt when the time comes?" Kane asked, eyes narrowing slightly, though he chose not to comment further on his comrade’s harsh judgment.

A devilish grin crept across the lean angel’s face.

"Of course."