The sun rose over the Holy Capital, golden rays piercing the scorched remnants of divine architecture. The sky was clear, but tension lingered like smoke.
Liam stood atop the highest tower of Artonis, watching as thousands of former paladins, priests, and faithful citizens gathered in the ruined Grand Forum. They came not with weapons—but with offerings, prayers, and eyes filled with hope.
For the first time, they weren't worshipping a distant god.
They were worshipping him.
[System Notification – Dominion Loyalty Updated]Artonis Public Faith: 86%Public Order: StableRisk of Rebellion: NegligibleTotal Faith Points Gained Today: +13,500
Rune floated beside Liam, his glow dimmed by a growing unease.
"You're rising too fast. The system... it wasn't meant to elevate someone this quickly."
Liam replied without turning. "The world didn't give me time to grow slowly."
Rune hovered silently, as if hesitating, then said, "There's a stir in the Abyss. I can feel it."
Liam frowned. "The demon cult?"
Rune nodded. "And something worse. Something older than any cult."
Hours later, inside the Heartvault—a chamber beneath the capital cathedral once used to house relics—Liam gathered his closest allies.
Kael leaned against a pillar, arms crossed. "The cult hasn't made a move in weeks. That's not like them."
Seraphina glanced at the flickering warded walls. "They're waiting. Watching. Maybe regrouping."
Thalen unsheathed his knife. "Or planning something suicidal."
Liam opened a black scroll handed to him by a former heretic priest—one now loyal.
The scroll was written in blood.
And it read only:
"The Cradle wakes. The Abyss breathes. Come home, Godspawn."
[System Quest: Abyssal Summons – Optional Quest Accepted]Objective: Locate the Abyssal Cradle hidden beneath the continent's roots.Warning: Power readings suggest Tier 10 Entity activity.Estimated Faith Requirement for Survival: 150,000+
Liam folded the scroll and said, "We're going to the Worldscar."
Seraphina paled. "That place is sealed by twelve ancient barriers."
Rune's voice shook. "The Worldscar was created during the first Godwar. Nothing sane exists within."
Kael grinned. "Sounds like my kind of road trip."
Three Days Later – The Worldscar
A vast canyon of infinite depth split the continent like a wound.
Skies above it were black—even during the day. Winds howled with ghostly voices, and the air reeked of sulfur, rust, and ash. The earth trembled in slow, agonizing pulses, like a dying heartbeat.
Twelve floating monoliths circled the chasm, each etched with ancient runes pulsing faintly. These were the Seals of Binding—crafted by the old gods to contain what lay beneath.
And something had begun to unseal them.
Liam placed his palm on the first monolith.
[System Alert – Seal 1 of 12: Broken]Residual Abyss Energy Detected. Source: Primordial Entity – Name UnknownRisk Level: Apocalyptic
Behind him, a portal opened.
From it emerged a man.
Except… he wasn't a man anymore.
His skin was etched with abyssal runes, eyes glowing red, and a corrupted halo floated above his head. His body radiated both demonic power and divine energy—a failed god.
"Hello, brother."
Liam stiffened. "I don't have a brother."
"You did. Before the system chose you."
Seraphina drew her blade. "Who are you?"
The man smiled, revealing black fangs. "I am Remiel. The one discarded by the system. The one who should've been chosen."
[Hostile Identified: Remiel – Former Chosen Vessel (Rejected)]Status: Abyssal Paragon – Tier 10 ThreatStrength: ??? / Speed: ??? / Unknown Traits Detected
Liam's aura flared. "You sided with the cult."
Remiel's expression twisted. "They offered what you stole. Worship. Power. And purpose."
Liam stepped forward, staff in hand. "I earned every soul who follows me."
Remiel extended his hands, black tendrils curling around him. "Then show me. Prove you're worthy of divinity."
The battle began without a sound.
Remiel launched chains of darkness, slashing toward Liam's throat. Liam countered with a blast of radiant light, shattering them mid-air.
Kael and Thalen rushed in to flank, only to be flung back by a wave of anti-faith energy.
Seraphina called upon angelic fire, shielding Liam from a barrage of shadow spears.
Rune was shaking. "His power... It's like yours. But wrong."
Liam clenched his fists. "System. Override limiters."
[System Warning – Ascension Protocol Unstable]Override Confirmed – 40% Sync]
Light erupted from Liam's body.
He surged forward, clashing directly with Remiel. The earth cracked beneath their feet. The sky ripped open.
And when their blows met, the air vanished—sucked into a vacuum of godly might.
For minutes that felt like eternity, the two demi-gods warred.
And then—Remiel whispered.
"The system is not what you think it is, Liam."
Liam hesitated for a fraction of a second.
And Remiel stabbed him.
Straight through the abdomen.
Blood poured down Liam's side.
Kael screamed. "LIAM!"
Seraphina hurled a flame spear that pierced Remiel's shoulder, forcing him to retreat a few meters—but he only smiled.
"This world isn't yours to save. It belongs to the first gods. And they are waking up."
With a pulse of energy, Remiel vanished—teleporting into the Worldscar itself.
Liam collapsed.
Rune barely caught him mid-fall, eyes panicked.
"Liam—hold on. I can heal this."
But the wound wasn't just physical.
It was divine.
That night, as his allies tended to him inside a warded camp, Liam drifted in and out of consciousness.
He saw visions.
Of vast black temples.
Of the cult kneeling before an abyssal throne.
And of Remiel—standing atop a pillar of bones—whispering to something too large to see.
Something with a hundred eyes.
And a voice that said:
"My child. Feed me the false god."
[System Log Updated – Hidden Data Recovered]
File Fragment: Project GODSEEDOrigin: Unknown. Creator: [REDACTED]Purpose: To select a vessel capable of reestablishing godhood independent of the First Pantheon. Status: Active. Selected Candidate: Liam Carson.
Liam woke, gasping.
Seraphina was by his side, eyes red. "You scared me."
He stared into the fire.
"They didn't just choose me to stop the cult."
She took his hand. "Then why?"
"To end the entire divine order."
[LIAM CARSON – STATS]
Level: 92Strength: 435Speed: 440Endurance: 470Intelligence: 495Charisma: 401Divine Energy: 12,700 / 13,000Faith Points: 104,300Followers: 91,000Angels: 5Demons: 2Dominions: 6 Cities
New Passive Unlocked:Divine Resistance
Reduces damage from divine or abyssal entities by 30%.
Heals minor divine corruption over time.
Allows subconscious access to GODSEED system functions.
Liam sat up slowly.
"Prepare the others," he said.
Rune blinked. "For what?"
Liam looked toward the abyss.
"We're going in."
End of Chapter 58