The abyss had fallen, but I wasn't the same as when I arrived.
The golden energy surrounding me flickered and dimmed as the last remnants of the Abyssal god's essence vanished into the void. The world around me, once an oppressive landscape of chaos and darkness, began to shift. The jagged mountains crumbled away, and the cracked earth slowly mended itself, as if the very fabric of reality was healing from the wound I had inflicted upon it.
I stood alone in the silence that followed, the weight of the battle still hanging heavily in the air. The Abyss was gone. But the questions that had lingered before still remained.
What now? Where do I go from here?
My hand clenched around the hilt of the golden sword, the weight of the divine weapon grounding me in the present. The mirror in my soul pulsed once again, its light soft and steady, guiding me forward as it always had.
A flicker of thought passed through my mind. Could I truly bring an end to all the gods? Was that what I was meant to do? Was I destined to destroy everything in my path, until only I stood atop the ruins of their civilizations?
The answer came swiftly, almost instinctively.
I was no mere pawn. Not anymore. Not after everything I had endured. Everything I had sacrificed.
The mirror pulsed once more, and I could feel the presence of something—or rather, someone—else. Another god.
"You're not done yet, are you?"
I spun around, my hand reaching for the sword instinctively, but there was no immediate danger. Instead, I found a figure standing just beyond the horizon—a woman, cloaked in robes of shifting color, her hair flowing like silver strands of light in the endless dark.
Her eyes gleamed with an ancient, knowing light as she stepped closer. She had the grace of a goddess, but her presence was different from the others I had faced. She radiated power, yes, but it wasn't the crushing, chaotic energy I had become accustomed to. No, this was something... different.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice calm but wary. There was something familiar about her.
"I'm someone who's been watching you, godslayer," she replied, her voice smooth, like a melody that echoed through my very soul. "A being with a purpose. Just like you."
I narrowed my eyes. "What do you want with me?"
Her smile was soft, almost melancholic. "To guide you, if you'll accept it. To show you the way forward."
I took a step back, raising the sword slightly. "I don't need guidance. I know what I'm doing."
She chuckled softly, the sound gentle but carrying a weight of understanding. "Do you, though? You've slain gods. But there is always more to the story. The path you walk now will lead you to even greater challenges. You will face gods who cannot be defeated by mere strength alone. And eventually, you'll be forced to confront the consequences of your actions."
Her words struck a chord deep within me. The mirror pulsed again, as if confirming her words, sending a wave of energy through me. The sense of foreboding was thick in the air, but I couldn't help but feel that this encounter—this conversation—was important.
"What are you saying?" I asked, lowering the sword slightly, though my guard remained up.
"I'm saying that there's a greater war brewing, one that no god or mortal can ignore," she said. "The gods are not just vying for power, they are struggling to maintain their very existence. Some seek to destroy, others to create, but they all fear the one who stands in their way—the godslayer."
I clenched my fists. "I've already killed enough gods."
"You've only begun, Alex," she replied, her eyes gleaming with wisdom beyond any mortal's comprehension. "But your journey is far from over."
Before I could respond, the woman began to fade, her figure melting into the ether, leaving behind only the sound of her voice.
"I'll be watching, godslayer. When the time comes, you'll know what to do. Choose wisely."
And then, she was gone.
I stood in silence for a long moment, trying to process her words. Was this the same voice that had whispered to me in the Dimensional Gap? Had she been the one pulling the strings, guiding me toward my destiny all along?
The weight of her words settled in my chest. She had been right. I had slain gods, but I wasn't done yet. I didn't know what awaited me, but one thing was certain—I would face it head-on. The road ahead would be fraught with danger, but it would also be filled with endless possibilities.
I would decide how this story would end.
And I would do it my way.
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