The battlefield stood frozen, the weight of the unknown presence pressing down on every soul. Even the divine Executioners—gods sent to eradicate humanity—seemed wary.
The newcomer's blood-red eyes swept across the land, amused yet indifferent, like a predator observing struggling prey. His black divine armor, etched with ancient runes, pulsed with a dark aura that sent chills down mortal spines.
He wasn't like the others.
If the golden-armored gods radiated judgment, this one emanated something worse. Hunger.
Su Chen narrowed his eyes. Another god… but different.
The lead Executioner, his golden armor cracked from battle, took a cautious step forward. His grip on his divine spear tightened. "Why are you here?"
The dark-armored god smirked. "Why wouldn't I be?" He spread his arms as if the answer was obvious. "A mortal, standing against the divine? That's not something we see every day."
His gaze snapped to Su Chen, and for the first time, there was an undeniable weight behind it—interest.
"You intrigue me, mortal. You're not like the others."
Su Chen remained unfazed, gripping his spear tightly. "And you're not like the others either."
The god chuckled, the sound deep and unsettling. "Observant. Unlike these mindless dogs of order, I prefer a good show. And right now, you're the most interesting thing on this battlefield."
The Executioners bristled at the insult, but none dared refute him.
Who was this god, and why were they so wary of him?
---
The Battlefield Resumes
The air crackled with divine tension, but the battle wasn't over.
One of the wounded Executioners, the one Su Chen had sent flying earlier, rose from the rubble. His golden armor was shattered, divine blood dripping from his lips.
"Enough distractions!" he roared, launching himself at Su Chen with a burst of golden flames. His divine sword cleaved through the air, radiating pure judgment.
Su Chen reacted instantly. His spear spun in his grip, intercepting the attack.
CLANG!
The force sent shockwaves rippling outward, tearing apart the battlefield. Soldiers were flung off their feet, struggling to even remain conscious under the pressure.
The two warriors exchanged blow after blow, the battlefield turning into a blur of golden and black streaks.
But unlike before, Su Chen was no longer just a mortal fighting gods.
He had stepped beyond the threshold of humanity.
With each attack, he matched divine strength. With each counter, he overpowered them.
The gods were realizing it now—
Su Chen wasn't just a mortal anymore.
He was something else.
Something… closer to their level.
---
The Dark God's Test
As Su Chen fought, the dark-armored god watched, intrigued. Then, as if making a decision, he raised a hand.
The air shuddered.
A sudden wave of black energy exploded outward, covering the battlefield in an oppressive force.
And then—
Everything changed.
Su Chen blinked.
He was no longer on the battlefield.
Around him was nothing but darkness, an endless void stretching in all directions. The sounds of battle were gone. The weight of divine energy was absent.
He stood alone.
Or so he thought.
A voice echoed through the void. "Let's see how you fare in my world, mortal."
Suddenly, figures emerged from the darkness.
Familiar faces.
Ye Meng, Wang Jun, Luo Qian—his comrades, his family from this life. Their bodies lay broken, lifeless, their eyes hollow.
The scene hit him like a blade.
A memory from his past life, twisted and replayed before his eyes.
His fists clenched. "An illusion?"
The dark god's voice chuckled. "If you say so. But tell me… can you bear to watch it happen again?"
The bodies moved. Their hollow eyes turned to Su Chen. And in a chorus of whispers, they spoke—
"You failed us."
The illusion wasn't just a test of strength.
It was a test of will.
And Su Chen would not lose.
He took a breath, pushing away the phantom pain in his chest. "No."
Flames ignited in his palm. His spear burned with golden divinity.
The moment had come to break free from the illusion—
Or be consumed by it.