Liam's campaign across the eastern wilds had carved his name deep into legend—but with legend came whispers, and with whispers came fear. Not of the demon cult.
But of him.
His miracles, once praised, now stoked unease among monarchs and priesthoods who'd grown comfortable in their dominion.
And none feared him more than the Holy Capital of Artonis.
A towering city wreathed in white spires and divine flame, Artonis was once the center of all lawful worship in the continent. Its High Pantheon governed the teachings of a dozen gods, each with their own shrines, each protected by the Paladins of the Radiant Oath.
But for the past few years, the gods had grown silent.
Their oracles gave no prophecies.
Their miracles were weak.
And yet a boy—not blessed by any of them—walked the land performing acts of divine might.
That made Liam not a hero.
But a heretic.
"We're being summoned?" Rune asked, holding the golden scroll delivered by a winged courier.
Seraphina narrowed her eyes. "Not summoned. Judged."
Kael muttered, "If they try anything, I'll paint their cathedral walls red."
Liam shook his head. "We go. If the gods have truly abandoned them, maybe it's time I took their place."
Thalen frowned. "You plan to challenge an entire pantheon?"
"No," Liam said. "I plan to make them listen."
[System Notification – New Quest Unlocked]Title: "Faith's Reckoning"Objective: Attend the Convocation of Artonis. Defend your right as a Divine Bearer.Rewards: UnknownFailure Consequence: Forfeiture of Dominion Rights in Holy Territories
The road to Artonis was lined with silver stones and prayer trees.
But the people no longer prayed.
They watched.
And when they saw Liam, many averted their eyes. Some knelt. Some ran. One old priest cursed him as a blight upon heaven.
Still, Liam entered the capital through the Gate of Saints, his banner high, his angels flying above.
In the Grand Forum, the Pantheon awaited.
Twelve thrones.
Eleven filled.
The twelfth—the seat of the Sun God, Atrel—remained vacant, cracked and cold.
A woman in gilded armor stood. Her voice boomed.
"Liam Carson. Self-proclaimed god. You stand before the Faith Tribunal to answer for your blasphemies. How do you plead?"
Liam stepped forward.
"I plead guilty to one thing: doing your job better than you ever could."
Gasps echoed.
The armored woman—High Paladin Vireya—drew her greatsword and plunged it into the marble.
"You mock sacred law."
"No," Liam said calmly. "I redefine it."
Suddenly, the sky darkened.
Thunder cracked through divine clouds.
From the cracked sun throne, a figure descended—blazing gold and flame, wings of light, a body made of molten dawn.
Atrel.
The Sun God.
Seraphina stepped back. "He... he lives?"
Rune whispered, "No. That's not him. Not really."
Liam stared up.
The figure's eyes were hollow. Its voice was fractured.
"Usurper. False idol. You claim my power."
Liam's system pulsed violently.
[Warning: Ancestral Divine Fragment Detected – Origin: Sun God Atrel]Threat Level: CataclysmicCombat Mandatory – Retreat Locked]
And then, everything burned.
Flames of holy judgment erupted from the sky, searing marble and metal alike. Paladins screamed. One of the lesser gods fled.
But Liam stood tall.
He raised his hand, calling forth his full divine arsenal.
[System: Activate Godform - Ascendant Lightbringer]Faith Cost: 40,000Duration: 3 Minutes
His body surged with radiance—wings of gold and crimson, armor woven from sacred threads, eyes glowing with pure resolve.
He launched forward—meeting a god head-on.
Their battle shook Artonis.
Beams of light clashed with spheres of annihilation.
Liam wielded the Blade of Heresy with a calm fury, parrying Atrel's flaming halberd, countering with spirals of purified energy.
"You abandoned this world," Liam shouted. "You let them rot!"
Atrel roared, "They turned from me!"
Liam snarled, "They needed you. You turned from them."
Seraphina shielded citizens from falling embers, watching in awe.
Kael said softly, "He's not just fighting. He's teaching."
Thalen added, "Or reminding the divine what divinity means."
In the final clash, Liam summoned all his followers' faith—each belief, each prayer, each soul that trusted in him—and channeled it into a single strike.
The Blade of Heresy burned with truth.
And with one blow, he cleaved Atrel's avatar in two.
The divine form dissipated into golden ash.
The sun throne shattered.
And in the silence that followed, Liam turned to the pantheon.
"This world is no longer yours."
Then he walked down the steps.
No one stopped him.
[SYSTEM UPDATE – Divine Supremacy Achieved]Dominion Unlocked: Holy Capital of ArtonisFaith Points Gained: +62,000Followers Gained: +17,400 (Paladins, Priests, Disillusioned Clergy)]
[LIAM CARSON – STATS]
Level: 89Strength: 412Speed: 400Endurance: 441Intelligence: 445Charisma: 370Divine Energy: 11,000 / 11,000Faith Points: 95,200Followers: 82,500Angels: 4Demons: 2Dominions: 6 Cities
New Ability Unlocked:Godform – Ascendant Lightbringer
Temporarily amplifies all stats by 70%.
Immune to divine suppression and corrupted scripture.
Attacks are considered 'Absolute' during activation.
Faith Cost: 40,000. Duration: 3 minutes.
That night, in the quiet temple ruins beneath the capital, Seraphina found Liam alone.
"You could've destroyed them all," she said.
"I didn't need to," Liam replied. "I only had to prove I could."
She touched his shoulder.
"You're becoming something more than just a god."
He looked at her. "What if I lose myself along the way?"
"Then we'll find you," she whispered.
And for a moment, beneath the bloodstained heavens, Liam smiled.
End of Chapter 57