The moment they stepped through the gate, a heavy sky pressed down on them.
The Harnos Forest was nothing like it appeared from afar. The trees were विशाल and dark, their branches almost completely blocking out the sky. A thin rain fell steadily, turning the ground into mud. Each drop felt like a warning of the coming disaster.
Elra looked around. Her eyes fixed on the distance.
"Look…"
She raised her hand and pointed ahead.
Through the trees, stone walls could be seen.
A ruined city… yet still standing.
"Over there… the last human kingdom."
Work narrowed his eyes.
"The walls are weak… they won't last long."
Tara said nothing. His gaze moved through the darkness.
Then he spoke in a low voice.
"We'll go from there."
Ahead of them stood an old bridge. It was made of stone, covered in moss, and slick from the rain. Beneath it, a raging river roared.
The three of them moved toward the bridge.
Their footsteps blended with the sound of rushing water.
They were just about to reach it when—
Tara suddenly stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
"Hey…"
His voice hardened.
"Be careful."
Elra froze.
"What is it?"
Tara lifted his head.
He looked at the sky.
"I feel a powerful aura."
Work stopped as well and gently pulled Elra back.
The air suddenly grew heavy.
The raindrops seemed to slow.
Then—
THUNDER ROARED.
The sky split open.
A blue light descended.
BOOOOOM!
A figure crashed down from the heavens—
right onto the center of the bridge.
Stone shattered.
The bridge split in two.
Elra screamed.
Without hesitation, Work grabbed her in his arms.
"Hold on!"
With a single leap, he cleared the collapsing bridge.
Below them, the river raged wildly.
At that moment, lightning began to strike.
KRAAAK!
A bolt crashed right beside Work.
The ground exploded.
Work clenched his teeth and accelerated.
He dashed into the forest.
Turning left, then right, changing directions to lose the trail.
The lightning kept chasing them—
then finally stopped.
Work burst into a house.
An old, ruined house.
He kicked the door open and carried Elra inside.
Both of them were breathing heavily.
Elra whispered:
"Tara…"
Work clenched his jaw.
"He'll survive."
But even his voice lacked full confidence.
—
Meanwhile…
Tara had fallen along with the bridge.
Cold water slammed into his body.
The river dragged him away.
But Tara grabbed onto a rock.
His fingers slipped—
but he didn't let go.
He gritted his teeth.
And pulled himself up.
Soaked, he climbed onto the shore.
He took a breath.
Then stood up.
His eyes were still calm.
But something inside him was burning.
He began walking slowly toward the city.
Rain streamed down his face.
Then—
someone appeared in front of him.
Three meters tall.
His armor was covered in electricity.
Blue light flowed across his body.
His eyes… glowed.
The Lightning God.
Tara stopped.
He drew his blood sword.
It formed in his hand.
Crimson energy evaporated the falling rain.
The god looked at him.
Then spoke.
"What is your name, young man?"
His voice was like thunder.
Tara raised his head.
His eyes slowly turned red.
"My name…"
He pointed his sword forward.
"Tarataryos."
His aura surged.
"I am a god slayer."
He paused.
"What is your name?"
The god smiled faintly.
"My name…"
Lightning gathered around him.
"Hard."
The ground trembled.
Tara didn't even flinch.
"Why didn't you go after my friends?"
Hard tilted his head.
"I wanted to see you."
His eyes gleamed.
"The blood user…"
"Edrar told me about you."
Tara's gaze changed.
"So you know him…"
Hard shrugged.
"There were rumors about you."
"I was curious."
Tara stepped forward.
"You will not kill the people here."
Hard let out a short laugh.
"We already did."
The rain intensified.
"Without the demigods…"
"It took ten minutes."
Silence.
Tara's head slowly lowered.
Then—
his eyes snapped open.
They were completely red.
"What… did you say?"
Hard remained calm.
"It means your struggle is pointless."
"There's no one left to save."
At that moment—
something inside Tara broke.
Crimson aura exploded outward.
The ground cracked.
Even the river hesitated for a moment.
The rain began to evaporate.
Tara's voice didn't shake.
But it burned.
"Then…"
He gripped his sword tightly.
"The first god to die…"
He stepped forward.
The ground shattered.
"…will be you."
Hard smiled.
Lightning swirled around him.
"It will be entertaining to watch you try…"
He spread his arms.
The sky darkened.
"Blood user."
Lightning gathered in an instant.
Tara lowered his stance.
His muscles tensed.
There was a brief silence.
Then—
THEY MOVED AT THE SAME TIME.
Tara lunged forward.
Hard leapt into the sky.
Heaven and earth collided.
And the battle between god and man began.