Arthur sat upon the Obsidian Throne of Xerxes, his gaze fixed on the holographic map of the Earth. The violet aurora he had created was still shimmering in the sky, a constant reminder to humanity that their world had changed forever.
[Ding!]
[Global Awakening Status: 98% Complete.]
[Total Mana Density: 10,200% of Original.]
[Planetary Class: Calamity-Level (Ascending).]
"Twenty-eight days," Arthur whispered, his voice resonating through the cold, silent halls of the palace. "The Great Twelve think they are coming to reclaim a farm. They don't realize I've turned this farm into a fortress."
Beside him, Igris stood motionless, his new Deity-grade armor absorbing the dim light of the throne room. "My King," Igris spoke, "The humans are beginning to congregate at the base of the mountain. Representatives from every major nation are seeking an audience. They are terrified, but for the first time, they carry hope."
Arthur stood up, 'The End of All Things'—his Genesis-rank blade—appearing in his hand. The weapon didn't reflect light; it seemed to eat it. "Let them wait. I have something more important to attend to. The Heavens have sent a scout."
Suddenly, the space above the Himalayas ripped open. This wasn't a small rift; it was a massive, golden tear that stretched for miles. From the tear, a fleet of celestial chariots emerged, led by a being whose presence made the very air of the Earth vibrate with holy pressure.
[Warning!]
[Target Identified: The Valkyrie of the Morning Star - Seraphina.]
[Rank: Mid-Tier Deity.]
[Objective: To evaluate the 'Anomaly' and prepare for the Great Harvest.]
Seraphina descended, her silver armor glowing with the light of a thousand suns. She looked at the obsidian city of Xerxes and then at Arthur, who was now standing on the highest spire of his palace.
"Mortal," Seraphina's voice was a chorus of beautiful, yet deadly melodies. "You have played god for long enough. You have awakened the cattle, thinking they can fight. But a sheep with a sword is still a sheep. Return the Source Code now, and the Great Twelve might spare your soul."
Arthur laughed, a sound that was far more terrifying than the Valkyrie's voice. "You gods talk too much. You call us cattle, but you're the ones who were afraid to face me yourselves. You sent a scout because you're trembling in your golden palaces."
Seraphina's eyes flashed with white fire. "Insolence! Witness the power of the Morning Star!"
She raised her spear, and a beam of concentrated starlight struck the palace. The explosion was so powerful it would have vaporized an entire city in the old world. But as the smoke cleared, Arthur was still there, a dome of dark gold energy protecting him.
"My turn," Arthur said. "100x Multiplier... Monarch's Domain: The Infinite Night!"
The sky turned from violet to absolute black. The stars themselves vanished. Seraphina and her fleet of chariots found themselves trapped in a space where light could not exist.
"What is this?!" Seraphina screamed, her divine senses blinded. "This isn't mana... this is something ancient!"
"This is the Void," Arthur's voice came from everywhere. "100x Multiplier... Concept Cut: Divine Law!"
Arthur swung his blade. He didn't target Seraphina's body; he targeted her 'Divinity'. The blade sliced through the air, and suddenly, Seraphina felt her power draining. Her wings turned to grey ash, and her golden spear shattered into ordinary wood.
[Ding!]
[You have deleted the 'Concept of Divinity' from the Target: Seraphina.]
[Target has been downgraded to: High-Rank Human.]
Seraphina fell from the sky, her fleet of chariots exploding in the darkness as the shadow soldiers of Xerxes tore through them like paper. Arthur descended slowly, landing in front of the fallen Valkyrie.
She was no longer a god. She was just a woman in broken silver armor, shaking with fear.
"Go back," Arthur told her, his voice cold and final. "Tell the Great Twelve that their scout failed. Tell them that the Earth is no longer their property. And tell them... that I am coming for their thrones next."
Arthur raised his hand, and a shadow portal opened behind Seraphina, tossing her back into the golden rift.
[Ding!]
[Quest 'Defeat the Scout' Complete.]
[100x Multiplier Activated!]
[Rewards: Divine Core x100, Celestial Steel x100, 500,000,000 EXP!]
[Ding! LEVEL UP! Host has reached Level 750!]
Arthur turned toward the horizon, where the world's leaders were still waiting at the base of the mountain. He felt his power surging, his soul becoming more and more integrated with the 100x Multiplier.
"Igris," Arthur called.
"Yes, My King?"
"Open the gates of the city. It's time to show the humans how a real army trains. We have twenty-seven days to turn every awakened human into a god-slayer."
Arthur looked at his system countdown. The battle was coming, but for the first time in his life, he wasn't the prey. He was the hunter.