Against The True Gods

In front of Caine, a golden door appeared—simple and unadorned, yet endlessly elegant.

It radiated an aura of royalty and power, as though it embodied the very concept of dominion.

Without hesitation, Caine pushed the door open and stepped through.

***

Caine reappeared in what seemed to be a vast hall constructed entirely of dark purple marble. The marble gleamed under an unseen light, its surface polished to a mirror sheen. Ahead of him, a throne loomed—an imposing structure forged from pure black void stone. Suspended above the throne, a silver ring floated gently, shimmering with an ethereal glow.

Caine walked forward slowly, his steps echoing in the silent hall. He paused just before the throne, his gaze fixed on the ring. It seemed to pulse with latent power, as though it were alive. He extended his hand and grasped the ring carefully.

Instantly, a screen materialized before him.

[Would you like to appraise this object?]

He nodded.

***

[Name: Ring of Timeless Reign—Velios Heirloom]

[Type: Irregular Defiant God Craft—Natal Treasure]

•Previous Owner: Roman Carnis Velios

>A heirloom passed down through the Velios line since its inception. The mighty seek the crown, and the divine are bound by it—the ring yields only to boundless life.

•Effect (I): Upon first wear, the ring becomes an innate artifact that mutates the wearer's Bond Space, evolving it into a fully-fledged Personal Space.

•Effect (II): Creates a passive qi shield generated by the flowing neutral qi of the Personal Space.

•Effect (III): Gain 90% of the strength of each loyal subordinate. Injuries can be transferred to subordinates, who may be sacrificed to heal or revive the wearer if they have achieved immortality.

•Effect (IV): 300% boost to power for every loyal subordinate. Loyalty must be absolute and unquestionable.

•Effect (V): Upon reaching the Spark realm, unlock an artificial database containing eons of information gathered by Velios Overlords and Scholars. Innate Bonds also gain access to this database to assist the ring-bearer.

Note: Say your name to the wind.

***

Elura's whistle of astonishment rang in his mind as he absorbed the ring's details. To call this a reward was a gross understatement.

'Fascinating. Our lineage must have had quite a few Necromancers among its leaders.'

Without delay, he slipped the ring onto his finger. The moment the band touched his skin, a surge of energy coursed through him, and a profound connection took root. He knew, instinctively, that even if he tried, he wouldn't be able to remove the ring now.

A thin layer of white qi erupted from his body, shimmering briefly before fading into an intangible glow. Apart from that, nothing else happened. The ring's other effects, he realized, would require time and effort to activate.

'Say your name to the wind…?'

Puzzled, he decided to follow the instruction. He spoke his name aloud, his voice steady.

"Caine Lerouge Velios."

The air trembled, and Caine's eyes widened in shock.

A voice, deep and familiar, filled the hall.

"If you see this, it means you've managed to become the Scion."

Before him, seated on the black void stone throne, a figure materialized. The man's long black hair flowed like the fabric of space itself, his jade-white skin luminous against the shadows. His azure eyes sparkled with countless stars, galaxies reflected within their depths.

The resemblance was uncanny—a vision of Caine himself, older, tempered by time and experience.

The man's face was flawless, beyond mortal standards of beauty, his bearing one of quiet strength and majesty. A proud, joyous smile stretched across his lips as he regarded Caine.

"Congratulations, son."

Caine's heart shook. He could scarcely believe what he was seeing. Resting on the man's lap was a baby boy with short black hair and radiant silver eyes. The child giggled, his laughter like the chiming of heavenly bells.

'Is that… me?'

The first few years of Caine's life were hazy, shrouded in an inexplicable fog. Though born with a mature mind, those early years had slipped into confusion, rendering him no different from an ordinary infant. He retained only fragmented flashes of the past—and one clear memory: the faces of his parents.

This man was his father.

"It's unfortunate that I won't be able to see the man you'll become," his father said, his smile tinged with sadness. "But life has its way with things." He paused. "I'm sure we'll see each other soon."

Roman Carnis Velios drew a deep breath. "I don't have much time, so I'll be brief. If my calculations are correct, the world is on the brink of unprecedented chaos. It will be a snowball effect of crisis upon crisis—so relentless that one disaster will arise before you can resolve the last. Life-and-death struggles will stack endlessly."

He sighed, the weight of inevitability in his voice. "We won't be able to stop it. My absence here proves that."

"But you must survive. You must claw your way through. Too much has been taken from you—things that you must reclaim."

He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Focus on Fractured Realities. They will be seeds of hope. They'll provide the time and resources you need to advance quickly. More importantly, they'll help you uncover the history of our lineage."

Roman's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. "Zao might have already hinted at this, but there are things I can't say aloud. Some ears are always listening."

A towering Will radiated from Roman, a regal force that, while harmless, overwhelmed Caine's senses. His own Will trembled in response.

"Build a strong foundation. Power alone won't save you—it must be tempered, refined. Forge bonds with allies you can trust. You can't survive this alone."

He hesitated, his eyes softening. "And no matter how much you want to, don't come looking for us. You won't find us. That doesn't mean we're dead—at least, I hope not. But for now, you're too weak. Focus on surviving."

Roman's jaw clenched slightly. "And be wary of the Renala Clan. Trust them at your peril."

He glanced down at the baby on his lap, a tender smile spreading across his face. He ruffled baby Caine's hair, then looked up. His gaze pierced the recording, as though seeing Caine directly.

"I really wish I could see the man you'll become, little one." His laughter was warm, full of hope. "Your mother and I love you. Always." Experience more content on empire

The figure faded. The recording ended.

Caine stood there, frozen in place, his heart a tumult of emotions. The silent hall stretched around him, but in his mind, his father's words echoed endlessly.