A Storm Brews
The tension in the air was suffocating. Su Chen stood in the heart of the military compound, surrounded by his growing army of awakened warriors. Their strength was undeniable, yet an uneasy silence hung over them.
They could all feel it.
Something was coming.
The sky was clear, but the wind had stopped. The birds no longer sang. It was as if the world itself was holding its breath.
A soldier ran up, panting. "Commander! The radar picked up an unidentified flying object approaching at high speed! It appeared out of nowhere!"
Su Chen narrowed his eyes. "Where?"
The soldier pointed toward the northern sky.
A faint glow appeared in the distance, growing larger by the second.
And then—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shattered the sky as a golden meteor crashed into the outskirts of the base, sending shockwaves rippling through the ground.
Dust and debris filled the air, but Su Chen could still see it.
A figure stood at the center of the crater.
Tall, draped in golden robes, with a halo of divine energy pulsating behind him. His features were impossibly perfect, his expression calm and condescending.
A hush fell over the soldiers. They instinctively knew—
This was no human.
The figure stepped forward. His voice rang out, carrying a weight that made the air vibrate.
"I am Valerius, First Oracle of the Divine Pantheon. I bring a message from the gods."
His gaze swept over the gathered warriors, filled with pity and disappointment.
"You mortals have been granted a chance to awaken. A gift from the divine. Yet, you use it to rebel?"
Silence.
Then, Valerius extended a hand. A golden scroll materialized in the air.
He unfurled it, his voice growing solemn.
"By decree of the Gods, all who stand against divinity shall be punished. You are given one final chance."
He lifted his gaze.
"Kneel. Swear your loyalty. Or be erased."
---
Su Chen's Response
Su Chen stepped forward, unfazed by the Oracle's divine presence.
His soldiers watched him anxiously. Even though they had grown stronger, they had never faced a divine being before.
Valerius turned to him, his expression unreadable. "You must be the one they call Su Chen. The gods have taken great interest in you."
Su Chen smirked. "Good. Saves me the trouble of introducing myself."
Valerius tilted his head. "You do not seem afraid."
"Why would I be?" Su Chen's voice was calm but carried undeniable power. "You're just a messenger."
Valerius's eyes narrowed. "A foolish mortal who does not know his place."
A wave of golden energy erupted from his body, pressing down like a mountain. Several Tier 3 awakeners collapsed to their knees, unable to withstand the sheer pressure.
But Su Chen stood unmoved.
Then, with a single step—
BOOM!
His aura exploded outward, instantly negating the divine pressure. The soldiers behind him gasped as the suffocating weight vanished.
Su Chen's voice was cold.
"You came to threaten us with words. Let's see how well you do with actions."
He lifted a hand, and a black flame ignited in his palm.
Valerius's eyes widened slightly. "You dare—"
Su Chen didn't wait.
With a flick of his wrist, the black flame shot forward like a meteor, hurtling toward the Oracle at terrifying speed.
BOOM!
A massive explosion engulfed Valerius, shaking the entire battlefield.
---
The First Battle Between Mortal and Divine
The dust cleared.
Valerius stood unharmed.
His golden robes were untouched, his halo glowing even brighter. But his expression had changed—no longer condescending, but… intrigued.
"Interesting." He raised a hand. "Then let us test your so-called power."
A golden spear manifested in his grip, humming with divine energy.
He vanished.
BOOM!
A sonic boom cracked through the air as he reappeared in front of Su Chen, thrusting the spear forward.
Su Chen twisted his body, barely dodging the strike. The spear grazed his shoulder, and just from that—
A deep wound appeared, blood spraying out.
But instead of retreating, Su Chen grinned.
"Not bad."
Valerius's eyes flickered. "You should be dead from that wound."
Su Chen wiped the blood off. "Guess I'm tougher than you thought."
And then—
His wound instantly healed.
Valerius's expression darkened for the first time.
Su Chen attacked.
His fist cracked through the air, coated in forbidden magic, striking Valerius directly in the chest.
BOOM!
The Oracle skidded backward, leaving deep trenches in the ground.
The entire battlefield fell into stunned silence.
A mortal had just injured a divine being.
Valerius touched his chest. A small scorch mark remained where Su Chen had struck.
His golden aura flared.
"…You are more dangerous than I expected."
---
The Gods' Growing Concern
Far beyond the battlefield, the gods watched through divine mirrors.
They had expected their Oracle to effortlessly subdue the humans.
But instead, Su Chen had injured Valerius.
A god with violet skin and six arms leaned forward. "This mortal is abnormal."
A goddess clad in moonlight frowned. "The False Prophet… he defies fate itself."
The six-winged god from before stood, his eyes blazing. "Enough observation."
His voice thundered across the heavens.
"If he refuses to kneel, then we shall break him."
---
Su Chen's Declaration
Back on the battlefield, Su Chen cracked his knuckles.
Valerius stared at him for a long moment. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he withdrew his spear.
"This battle is over," Valerius announced.
The soldiers behind Su Chen tensed.
But then—
Valerius spoke again.
"You have forced the gods to take you seriously."
His golden eyes met Su Chen's.
"They will not be so lenient next time."
With that, his body turned into golden light and shot into the sky, disappearing.
Silence.
The soldiers looked at Su Chen.
He exhaled slowly, then smiled.
"They're scared."
No one spoke.
Then, someone shouted—
"Commander Su Chen!"
A roar erupted from the awakened soldiers, their battle spirits ignited.
They had stood against the gods.
And for the first time, the gods had backed down.
Su Chen turned to them, his voice carrying across the battlefield.
"This is just the beginning."
His eyes gleamed with unyielding determination.
"We will not kneel. We will not submit."
His voice rang across the training grounds.
"We will make them fear us."
And as the soldiers cheered, Su Chen knew—
The real war had just begun.