A few years after the Deca Gods disappeared, the Kingdom of Zamorthal had changed.
The wounds left by war were slowly healing, but the people still remembered the ten gods who once protected them.
Everywhere, their stories were told.
Parents spoke of them to their children.
Warriors prayed to become as strong as them.
Old men sat outside their homes, telling stories of the day the Deca Gods saved the kingdom. Young children listened with shining eyes, dreaming that one day they too would become heroes.
The whole world knew them by one name.
The Deca Gods.
Across the kingdom, thousands of humans trained every day.
From sunrise until nightfall, they swung their swords, fired arrows, and strengthened their bodies until they collapsed from exhaustion.
They wanted power.
They wanted to protect their homes.
They wanted to make sure that no enemy would ever destroy Zamorthal again.
But no matter how hard they tried, only ten people managed to rise above F Rank.
Everyone else remained too weak.
Many became discouraged.
Some even gave up their dreams.
One morning, those warriors gathered before the king.
Their faces were filled with worry.
"We need guidance."
"We need someone to make us stronger."
"If another disaster comes, we cannot protect anyone."
The old king looked at the crowd.
His heart was heavy.
He remembered the day the Deca Gods left without looking back.
Slowly, he lowered his head.
"The Deca Gods are gone."
"There is no one left to teach us."
His words filled the crowd with sadness.
The training ground became silent.
Some warriors clenched their fists.
Others lowered their heads in disappointment.
Suddenly...
The sky shook.
The clouds split apart.
Dozens of beams of light fell from the heavens outside the kingdom.
The ground trembled.
A powerful wave of divine energy spread across the land.
Everyone rushed toward the city gates.
Standing there were gods.
New gods.
Their clothes were different.
Their divine energy filled the air.
Even the strongest warriors found it difficult to breathe.
The humans stopped walking.
The new gods also stopped.
Both sides stared at each other.
No one spoke.
The silence lasted for several moments.
The wind blew through the open fields as if the world itself was waiting for someone to speak.
Then the leader of the new gods slowly stepped forward.
He looked at the people of Zamorthal and asked,
"We have searched countless worlds."
"We have searched the universe."
"Our research tells us that ten gods once lived here."
"They were called the Deca Gods."
"It is said they were far stronger than any gods that came after them."
"It is said that even a C-Rank god could defeat an A-Class warrior."
"We have come to ask one question."
"Have any of you seen the Deca Gods?"
The people looked at one another.
An old man finally stepped forward.
His eyes became wet.
"They saved this kingdom."
"They fought for us when no one else would."
"Then they disappeared."
"We have never seen them again."
"They left without telling anyone where they were going."
The leader of the new gods slowly closed his eyes.
He released his divine senses across the entire kingdom.
Nothing.
No trace.
No energy.
It was as if the Deca Gods had vanished from existence itself.
The other gods looked at him.
"What now?"
He slowly opened his eyes and looked toward the endless sky.
"If they cannot be found in this world..."
"Then perhaps..."
"They are hiding somewhere beyond it."
The other gods nodded.
If the legends were true, then finding the Deca Gods would change everything they knew about power.
With one final look at Zamorthal, they turned toward the horizon.
The people watched them leave with mixed emotions.
Some prayed that the new gods would become the kingdom's protectors.
Others still hoped that one day the legendary Deca Gods would return.
High above the clouds, hidden where no eye could ever reach, a secret dimension remained untouched.
Inside that hidden place, ten legendary gods continued their training in silence.
The world searched for them.
The universe spoke of them.
But no one knew that the Deca Gods were watching everything from the shadows, waiting for the day destiny would call them back.