Against The True Gods

Caine had previously lacked direction with his stars. They had been born from a series of luck and coincidences, which meant their structure and potential were likely impeded.

Anything Caine did without deliberate thought was inherently flawed.

But now, this would change.
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WHOOOSH!

All his stars dissipated, breaking apart into streams of chaotic intent. What remained were the countless Elemental God cores that had been fused into them. These crystalline cores pulsed with raw, dormant power, suspended in the void of his Bond Space.

The cores began to move, drawn toward one another by a force of will. They fused and compressed, forming 106,402 singularities—53,201 for the Elements and 53,201 for the Beast Progenitors. Each singularity was a seed of potential, dense and waiting to be refined.

Caine moved according to the stages Elura had explained to him, her words etched into his mind.

Qi Comprehension.

Neutral qi from his Bond Space gathered and swirled around each core. The energy flowed like rivers of starlight, seeping into the depths of the singularities. The cores absorbed the qi eagerly, expanding and becoming denser, growing larger and more potent with each pulse.

Intent Grasping.

The singularities quivered, their surfaces trembling as runes began to snake across them. Each rune was a crystallization of purpose, a symbol of refined intent. A powerful intent bloomed within each singularity, and with a thunderous BOOM!, they ignited into stars. These stars spun in place, their light infused with raw, undeniable meaning.

True Will Forging.

The stars spun faster, their energies intertwining in a celestial dance. They connected, forming a radiant constellation of power. The runes etched upon each star flared brilliantly, mirrored by a new set of runes that flickered within their blazing flares.

BOOOOM!

A tyrannical Will surged from each star, their energies feeding into one another, weaving together to form a singular, overwhelming force. This force concentrated on Caine's central silver True Will star, which blazed brightly at the heart of the constellation.

Without hesitation, the collective force shattered his silver star.

In that instant, all his stars moved in unison, reshaping his central star and pushing it through the same three stages—Qi Comprehension, Intent Grasping, and True Will Forging.

They refined it to absolute perfection, purging any flaws or weaknesses.

Five dragons materialized, their massive forms coiling protectively around the silver star. His nine rings manifested, their radiant forms encircling his winged avatar. Everything connected seamlessly, the power flowing like a perfectly orchestrated symphony. His Bond Space trembled under the weight of his breakthrough.

RUMBLE!

Caine exhaled slowly, as if this monumental feat were as natural as breathing. But he didn't stop.

RUMBLE!

Essence Creation.

The truths of this stage unfolded effortlessly in his mind. It felt so natural, so obvious, that he barely needed to think as his stars breached the barrier of the Essence Creation stage.

They evolved into Essence True Will stars, radiating a deeper and more fundamental power.

After mastering Will, it was time to grasp the very essence of things. Fire qi burned because its fire intent willed it, and that intent was birthed by its Dragon Will.

But why did the Dragon Will exist? Why did the dragon exist at all? Who had created this primal force?

The Heavens.

The Heavens—the world itself—had created dragons to spark the first flame. The Heavens had determined their purpose, their task, their essence.

The Essence Creation stage was about understanding the essence of an element within the context of the world. To know the fire's purpose, its role, and how it fit into the grand design. This comprehension allowed one to guide and manipulate that essence.

Through this understanding, fire could quench thirst, water could burn the sky, and earth could rise above the stars. The lines between all things blurred, unified into a singular mosaic of existence.

It was the ability to tap into the core of an existence itself.

But Caine didn't stop. Why would he stop now?

His stars, fresh from their evolution, trembled violently. They exploded into colossal black holes, devouring all light and logic. Yet within those voids, something wondrous occurred—new stars began to bloom in the darkness, defying all reason.

Quintessence Reckoning Stage.

This stage came to Caine with such ease it felt inevitable. A deep resonance stirred within him, as though he were truly touching his soul for the first time. All complexities fell away, leaving only simplicity—the Self. The raw truth of existence, stripped to its purest form.

The Quintessence Reckoning stage was about embodying defiance and breaking limits.

A flame so intense it could burn the Heavens. Waters so deep they could drown the void. Winds so fierce they could tear the cosmos apart.

A Will so pure it could ascend to godhood.

BOOOOOOM!

The black holes flared with color, transmuting into sheets of white fabric that wrapped around the stars hidden within. These multicolored bubbles compressed, their brilliance intensifying until they blazed like new stars.

The new constructs settled into a tranquil constellation, their energies harmonizing. The constellation trembled and linked, focusing on Caine's silver star.

His silver star imploded into a black hole, from which dragon-coiled silver stars and nine radiant rings emerged. The black hole turned white, transmuting into silvery fabric that wrapped around the stars.

The silver fabric compressed as five enormous dragons reappeared, coiling around it protectively. Nine majestic rings spun into existence, gleaming with a divine light.

WHOOOSH!

The winds of his Bond Space whispered softly, a gentle lullaby after the storm. His winged avatar descended gracefully, taking its place above the final star, a serene guardian watching over the cosmos.

It was calm. How could it be otherwise? Under Caine's absolute [Outer] and [Inner] control, nothing in his body could go wrong.

'This is interesting.' He exhaled slowly, the changes settling within him.

All his stars now stood at the perfect peak of the Quintessence Reckoning stage—except for his own silver star.

It was far more potent than all the others combined, yet it lingered at the Half-Step Quintessential Reckoning stage. He could feel the barrier, elusive yet undeniable.

'If I had to guess, it's related to the Dao Heart Blossoming stage. For the Dao Heart to blossom, it must first exist. To break through, I'll need to forge a Dao Heart, making my two breakthroughs occur simultaneously.'

Caine's mind raced, analyzing the situation at blinding speed. But just as the thought solidified, the skies above stirred and rumbled.

Time froze.

The World Will Eye took shape.