Chapter 48: Ch 48: Triton Oceanus

< I am Triton Oceanus, the 21st Sea God. >

The earlier voice echoed like a tide rolling across eternity.

< It was I who chose you as my heir. As for why I chose you… that answer will come later. For now, listen carefully. What I am about to tell you is the truth of this world. >

The space around Aegis darkened, then formed a translucent screen. There scenes played, alongside Triton’s voice.

< Five hundred years ago, this realm was not called the Eternal Sky Realm. It was known as Eternia. A complete world. Whole. Stable. Alive. >

< Humans and Beastfolk lived under the protection of 7 Land Gods. They were not true creators, but transcended beings entrusted with maintaining world laws, balance, and order. >

< I, the Sea God, was responsible for the oceans and all sea life. >

< Naturally, conflict was inevitable. >

< The Land Gods demanded that the seas submit to their authority. They claimed I possessed too much territory. Too much influence. Too much power. >

< But they did not understand one thing. >

Aegis was still calm as he listened to ancient Secrets.

< The seas exist to restrain the Abyss. If my authority weakened even slightly, the Abyssal Lord would descend and drown the world in calamity. >

< So I refused. >

Triton’s voice turned heavy.

< That refusal enraged those fools. And in their arrogance, they committed an unforgivable mistake. >

< Through negligence and rivalry, they weakened the World Barrier. >

The display shook with his silent rage.

< That single flaw was enough. >

< The world attracted primordial predators. >

< Dragons. >

< Not ordinary dragons… but beings from the Chaos Dragon Lineages. >

Aegis’ heartbeat rose for a second, then slowed.

< Among them was one whose hatred eclipsed all others. >

< The Red Emperor. >

< His goal was simple. >

< He sought the World Core of Eternia. >

Aegis finally spoke:

“World Core… does something like that truly exist? And what would he gain from it?”

< Aegis, You do not yet understand the full scope of the System you possess. >

< The System granted to you and the other otherworlders is only a fragment of a far greater cosmic construct. We gods did not have access to it. >

< Through remnants and forbidden knowledge, we learned that the System spreads across countless worlds and stars. It pushes its chosen toward growth through conquest, conflict, and leadership. >

< The Red Emperor had access to it as well. >

< To him, World Cores are nothing more than nourishment. >

< Each one strengthens him. Evolves him. Pushes him closer to absolute supremacy. >

The voice turned grim.

< His ambition was not limited to Eternia. >

< He wished to conquer the entire cosmos. >

< And that madness led him to launch a full-scale invasion. >

The scene shifted again.

Burning skies. Falling continents.

< At that time, humans and Beastfolk possessed no magic. Only gods wielded power. >

< And when the world needed its guardians the most… the Land Gods fled. >

The previous still sounded so remorseful.

< Along with Ice Goddess Skadi, six other gods abandoned their followers. >

< Humans were slaughtered. Beastfolk were erased. >

< I watched them die. >

< Helpless. >

< Because I was fighting to protect my own people. >

The voice trembled—not with fear, but fury.

< It was I, who stood against the Red Emperor, alone >

< I slaughtered millions of dragons. I chopped their wings. I shattered their bones. >

< But even with all my authority… I was not enough. >

< He tore my body apart. >

< He devoured my followers. >

< He consumed the World Core. >

< Eternia broke into fragments. >

Silence followed.

< After that, the Red Emperor left. He had taken everything he desired. >

< But I was not yet gone. >

< My spirit fled to the Abyssal Domain. >

Aegis’ eyes widened.

“The Abyss…?”

< Yes. >

< There, an impossible truth awaited me. >

< Without the Aquarian Domain, the Abyssal Domain would also eventually collapse >

< Without the Abyss, the seas would lose balance and die. >

< Enemies were forced to become allies. >

< Abyssal Lord and I forged a pact. >

< We fused our god weapons within the Sea God’s Tower. >

< From that fusion, a weapon capable of slaying gods was born. >

< And thus… Aquabyss came into existence. >

The voice softened slightly.

< But power alone was not enough. >

< We needed a successor. >

< A being who could restore the seas… >

< And one day, take revenge >

The pressure returned, heavier than before.

< That successor is you, Aegis >

< You are not merely a chosen one >

< You are the Ultimate Shield of Aquabyss >

< Countless hopes rest upon your shoulders. >

Aegis let out a quiet, humorless laugh.

“So that’s it?… Five hundred years of blood, betrayal, cowardice… and at the end of it all, you ask me to clean up what the gods failed to protect?”

His eyes looked upward mockingly.

“No one ever asked what I wanted. You never asked if I was willing to carry this hatred, this responsibility, this endless war.”

For a moment, the sea of light around him trembled.

“But that doesn’t matter anymore,” he went on, sounding indifferent. “Whether you chose me, used me, or simply had no better option… I’m already walking this path.”

He tightened his grip around the God-Killer Trident.

“That Red lizard took your world, he took my people. He took someone precious to me.”

“So I’ll destroy him.”

He smirked dangerously,

There seemed to be no rage. No madness. Just certainty.

“I won’t do it for revenge,” he added. “And not for the gods either. I’ll do it because he exists… and this universe cannot host another monster besides me.”

The Ocean fell eerily silent.

Even Triton, the echo of the Sea God—did not speak at once.

For the first time since the trial began, the ancient presence hesitated.

<You speak with the confidence of someone who has already accepted the cost. >

Aegis nodded once, the replied:

“I have. And when that day comes, I won’t ask for your help. I won’t beg the system. I won’t rely on fate.”

He casually raised the trident high, declaring domineeringly,

“I’ll stand before the Red Emperor myself.”

After a stretched silence, the echo spoke again.

< Very well. >

Triton’s voice carried something new now.

Not command. Not judgment. Expectation.

< I will wait for that day, Aegis. >

< And when it comes, I want to see whether a human can truly end a god-eater. >

The sea of light shined brighter.

The trial ended.

And somewhere, far beyond worlds and galaxies, a crimson dragon opened its eyes in confusion, unaware that his end had just been promised.

[ End of Volume 1 ]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep