Recap
Ethan has shocked Valoria by surviving the opening exchanges with the Goddess's Champion. His system revealed Godslayer's Defiance, letting him resist divine authority for a fleeting 30 seconds. The Champion, angered, now prepares to reveal his true divine form.
The Arena Trembles
The Champion's spear struck the ground, sending cracks racing across the arena floor. Holy fire spilled from the fissures, coiling around him like serpents. His silver armor melted into radiant light, reshaping into wings of blazing energy.
The crowd fell to silence. Even the nobles who despised Ethan bowed their heads, some whispering prayers. This was no longer a duel. This was revelation.
The Goddess's Champion has assumed Divine Form.
Ethan staggered back, chest heaving. His sword shook in his grip. For all his training, all his fury, this was the true gap between mortal and divine.
The Champion raised his spear, voice like thunder. "You have defied fate long enough. Now be erased."
System Interjection
The system's voice cut sharp into Ethan's mind:
[New Quest: Slay the Divine.][Objective: Defeat the Goddess's Champion.][Reward: Champion's Core (Divine Fragment).][Warning: Mortality Probability — 99.1%.]
Ethan barked a bitter laugh. "One percent, huh? Guess I'll take it."
Clash of Gods and Men
The Champion lunged, his wings propelling him faster than thought. The spear came down like judgment itself.
Ethan's body screamed, but his soul flared. He activated Phantom Step, vanishing a hair's breadth before the strike split the earth in two.
Reappearing at the Champion's flank, Ethan roared, his blade glowing with stolen fury. He struck—steel meeting divine fire. Sparks exploded, blinding half the arena.
The force hurled him back across the sand, ribs shattering.
[Skill Triggered: Blood Resonance +30%.][Warning: Cellular collapse imminent.]
Ethan spat blood, but his grin widened. The more he bled, the stronger he became.
The Champion turned, eyes narrowing. "You would destroy yourself to scratch divinity?"
"Not scratch," Ethan growled, forcing himself upright. "Shatter."
The Stand Erupts
In the royal balcony, nobles shouted in chaos. Some demanded the duel be ended—others demanded Ethan's execution.
Kael leaned forward, lips curling in poisonous delight. "Break him, Champion. Reduce him to ash."
But the King's gaze never left Ethan. For the first time, curiosity flickered in the monarch's stern eyes. Could this man truly… defy gods?
The Final Thirty Seconds
The system pulsed in Ethan's mind.
[Godslayer's Defiance: 30-second limit reached.][Emergency Override available — cost: Soul Burn.]
Ethan's vision blurred. He had seconds before the divine aura crushed him utterly. His heart pounded. Soul Burn? If I use it… will there be anything left of me?
He thought of Claire. Of her smile. Of Loki's grin when he stole her fate away.
Ethan clenched his jaw. "Then burn."
[Emergency Override Accepted. Godslayer's Defiance — Forced Extension.][Duration: +15 seconds.][Consequence: Soul Fracture risk 78%.]
Flames erupted around him, not holy, but jagged and black—a chaotic blaze that bent the very air.
The crowd gasped in horror. The Champion's eyes widened. "What are you?!"
Ethan surged forward. "I'm your end!"
The Killing Blow
Time slowed. The Champion thrust his spear, divine flame ripping reality apart. Ethan slipped past it in a Phantom Step, the world twisting around him. His sword ignited with the chaos fire of his fractured soul.
He drove the blade into the Champion's chest.
For the first time, the Champion screamed. Holy light exploded, his wings shattering into fragments that rained down like dying stars.
Ethan roared, forcing the blade deeper. "Tell your Goddess—fate breaks HERE!"
The Champion's body crumbled into motes of divine light, his spear dissolving into nothing. The arena shook with silence.
Aftermath
Ethan collapsed to his knees, gasping, blood pouring from his mouth. The system chimed cold and triumphant:
[Quest Complete: Slay the Divine.][Reward Acquired: Champion's Core.][Level Up: +2.][Warning: Soul Fracture detected. Permanent risk of instability.]
The stands erupted into chaos. Half the crowd screamed in outrage at the blasphemy. Others cheered with wild, fearful awe.
Kael stood frozen, rage boiling behind his mask. This… this wasn't supposed to happen.
The King rose slowly, voice booming across the arena. "Let it be known… Ethan Cross has defied fate and slain a champion of gods. From this day forward, he stands under Valoria's protection."
Ethan lifted his head, vision swimming. He smiled faintly, whispering to himself. "Claire… I'm coming."
End of Chapter 15