Chapter 214: The High Gods

The massive citadel loomed before them.

Its walls were carved from condensed divinity itself, layered with runes that pulsed faintly—authority given physical form.

This was the Hall of Judgment.

Two divine officers flew ahead, their capes fluttering lightly as Zane and Eirenyssa followed behind.

Zane glanced up at the towering structure.

“Ohhh,” he said casually.

“So this is the Hall of Judgment.”

Eirenyssa looked around with quiet awe.

“…It’s similar to Everion,” she said. “But not exactly the same.”

They passed through vast corridors of pale gold stone, the air growing heavier with every step. Divine pressure pressed against existence itself, not hostile—but commanding.

Finally, they stopped before an enormous door.

White and gold. Circular. Covered in layered sigils that rotated slowly on their own.

One of the officers stepped aside.

“Please go in.”

The doors opened without a sound.

—

Inside, darkness dominated.

Not the absence of light—but intentional darkness, shaped and maintained. Dim golden lines traced the walls, barely illuminating the chamber.

From Zane’s technowatch, a small hologram flickered to life.

Eira whispered softly,

“For gods, they sure love darkness and trying to look cool.”

Zane smirked.

“I know, right.”

The chamber was vast.

A circular hall wider than any mortal capital city.

Ten thrones formed a ring around the center—each elevated, each forged from a different divine material. Some burned faintly. Others pulsed. A few distorted the space around them.

But something stood out immediately.

Only seven thrones were occupied.

Three massive ones—far grander than the rest—stood empty at the far end of the circle.

Zane glanced at them and thought calmly.

Looks like the big bosses are out.

His gaze then shifted toward the center of the hall.

A familiar figure stood there.

Stormy violet eyes met his.

Zane’s lips curved upward.

“Oh,” he said lightly.

“Hello there, Lilithara.”

The goddess of hexes stiffened.

Her body still bore faint traces of fear from before, but surrounded by the presence of the gods, she forced herself to stand straight—masking terror beneath forced composure.

Here, in the Hall of Judgment…

She believed she was finally safe.

The hall was silent.

From the leftmost throne, still buried in darkness, a woman’s voice echoed—cold, sharp, emotionless.

“So you are the one who prevented the destruction of the mortal realm.”

Zane smiled lightly.

“Yup.”

A second voice rose from the right side.

A man’s voice—deep, heavy with authority.

“State yourself, creature.

Who are you… and why do you wish to become an enemy of the god realm?”

The pressure in the chamber increased.

Then his tone hardened.

“And divine being Eirenyssa of Everion—

you are hereby sentenced to death for your crime against divine authority.”

Eirenyssa stiffened instantly.

Before she could speak—

Zane stepped forward half a pace.

“First,” he said calmly,

“my name is Zane Creed.”

The air rippled faintly.

“Second,” he continued,

“I do not wish to be the enemy of the god realm.”

His purple eyes lifted toward the thrones.

“You are the ones trying to become my enemy.”

A pause.

“And third—”

His voice sharpened slightly.

“Do not decide the fate of my people.”

A subtle pressure spread across the chamber.

“Because if you do,” Zane said quietly,

“you won’t be able to decide your own fate afterward.”

Silence.

Pure, suffocating silence.

Then—

From the left side, light flared.

Heat surged violently through the hall. The temperature rose so suddenly that the divine stone beneath their feet began to glow faintly red.

A voice filled with rage thundered out.

“Zane Creed—

you dare speak to gods in such a manner?!”

The darkness around that throne trembled.

“You do not understand the matter you are involving yourself in. Continue this arrogance and you will die.”

Before the pressure could escalate further—

Another voice spoke.

Soft.

Measured.

Soothing.

“Calm yourself, Primordius.”

The heat receded slightly.

Zane tilted his head.

“…You know,” he said casually,

“you shouldn’t lecture me about rudeness when none of you even bothered to introduce yourselves.”

A faint pause followed.

Then a voice replied.

“So be it.”

Light ignited across the hall.

The darkness peeled back slowly—

But the figures on the thrones remained indistinct, their forms still hidden behind layered divine radiance.

Only silhouettes could be seen.

Zane leaned slightly toward Eirenyssa and whispered,

“They really love being dramatic.”

Eira’s hologram flickered beside his wrist.

“Boss… they’re definitely overcompensating.”

The gods remained silent.

The soothing voice spoke again.

“Enough.”

The pressure in the hall eased instantly.

Light bloomed—slow and deliberate—around one of the thrones.

Vines of emerald radiance unfurled across the floor, leaves forming from pure mana before dissolving into drifting motes.

A slender figure stepped into view.

Her skin was vibrant green, alive like spring itself. Long pointed ears were pierced with small winding vines, and wild leafy hair framed sharp crimson eyes that carried neither cruelty nor kindness—only balance. Her arms bore faint bark-like textures, and thorns curled subtly at her wrists. Draped over her body were flowing druidic robes woven from leaves and living fibers.

She inclined her head slightly.

“I am Thalira, Goddess of Nature,” she said calmly.

As her voice echoed, more lights ignited.

To her left, flames roared.

A towering, muscular man emerged as fire climbed his body like a living crown. Wild red hair blazed upward from his forehead before cascading down his back like molten silk. His bronze skin glowed faintly with heat, veins pulsing whenever anger stirred. Ash-colored robes smoldered around him, shedding sparks with every breath.

Thalira gestured.

“Primordius,” she said.

“God of Flames.”

Primordius snorted, heat rolling from him in visible waves.

Another throne shimmered.

Frost spread outward, crystallizing the air itself.

A tall woman stood revealed, her translucent blue skin resembling sculpted glacier glass. Long white hair flowed like falling snow, and her eyes—pure white, without iris or pupil—stared forward with eternal cold. Cracks formed and healed across her gown of living ice as the temperature dropped.

“Glacira,” Thalira continued.

“Goddess of Ice.”

To the opposite side, wind stirred.

A lithe elven woman appeared, silver hair flowing endlessly despite the still air. Her pale luminous skin reflected soft light, and sharp gray eyes shimmered like distant storms. A cloak made of condensed gales drifted behind her, whispering constantly.

“Sylphara,” Thalira said.

“Goddess of Winds.”

The ground trembled.

A massive figure stepped forward with a heavy thud.

A lion-beast humanoid stood upright, golden fur rippling over a powerful frame. A thick mane framed his leonine face, amber slit eyes glowing beneath it. His arms ended in deadly claws, his feet in massive paws—and behind him swayed a scorpion tail tipped with venomous light. Armor plates fitted to his fur gleamed with divine polish.

“Drakon,” Thalira introduced.

“God of Beasts.”

Water surged next.

A woman emerged surrounded by flowing tides that hovered without spilling. Her azure-scaled skin shimmered like the ocean under sunlight. Finned ears twitched subtly, gill slits lined her neck, and long tentacle-like hair moved with a will of its own. She wore seashell armor and a necklace of shark teeth, gripping a divine trident tightly.

“Veyra,” Thalira said.

“Goddess of Oceans.”

Finally—

Metal rang.

A heavy clang echoed as the last throne illuminated.

A short, stocky figure stood encased in bronze-toned metallic skin, riveted plates lining his arms and chest. Ember-lit eyes glowed beneath an anvil-shaped helm. His thick beard was braided with glowing runes, and massive mechanical gauntlets hissed softly as gears turned beneath. A leather apron hung over a bodysuit of interlocking mechanisms.

“Korvath,” Thalira finished.

“God of the Forge.”

The chamber now stood fully revealed.

Seven gods.

Each radiating overwhelming divine presence.

For a moment, silence followed their grand display.

Then—

From Zane’s wrist, a small holographic figure flickered.

Eira leaned forward, hands cupped around her mouth.

“…Boss,” she whispered,

“they’re really showing off.”

Zane nodded faintly.

“Yeah,” he replied under his breath.

“I noticed.”

Zane looked around the circular chamber, his deep purple eyes calmly meeting each divine gaze one by one.

“Well,” he said lightly, hands tucked into his coat pockets,

“now that we’ve had our introductions…”

A faint pressure spread—not mana, not divine power—just presence.

“Why don’t we discuss,” Zane continued, his smile thinning just a little,

“exactly why all of you should stay very, very far away from the mortal realm.”

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