The air of Hollow Vale Village, now renamed Duskgrave, trembled as a terrifying, booming voice echoed through its cursed lands. The very ground quaked, and shadows flickered like ghosts under the pressure of its presence.
"I thought the Goddess would choose a mighty champion," the voice roared, "but you... you are nothing but an insect, Sion. Crushed once, and soon again. This world—your world—will belong to us. When our leader awakens from the slumber forced upon him by the wretched Goddess Aria, we shall tear the heavens asunder, kill the gods, and claim this universe."
Rapheal knelt beside the broken form of Sion, who lay bloodied and trembling, his body bearing the wrath of the demonic titans. Even her healing magic was faltering—the heavy density of demonic mana disrupted divine flow.
But Sion, dragging breath through cracked ribs and torn muscles, stood.
"You speak too much for a coward hiding in the shadows," he said, his voice hoarse but unwavering. "If you're so strong, come face me yourself. Or are you too afraid?"
A cruel laugh burst from the skies.
"You amuse me, mortal. Perhaps you're brave—or just foolish. Either way, this will be entertaining."
Sion turned to Rapheal and smirked.
"Hey... cast that healing spell, will you?"
She hesitated, her hands trembling, but complied. Golden light flickered weakly and wrapped around him.
"Come on, bring it on, you hiding coward!" Sion shouted defiantly.
The voice growled, and a command thundered:
"Kill him, my pets."
Fifteen colossal titans emerged from the shrouded mist—each resembling a fusion of demon and human, with grotesque bodies, some winged, others armored with abyssal scales, each radiating deadly mana.
Sion took a deep breath. He gripped his sword, then whispered a spell.
"Let the stars bear witness. Let the world feel the judgment of the fallen and the divine. Celestivault—Starforged Blade, awaken."
A radiant sword appeared in his hands, shimmering with divine ether and Sion's own blazing aura. Its name: Celestivault, born of a long-lost aura technique from Allen's past.
He soared into the sky, slashing downward. One titan's head exploded upon impact, crashing into the ground with a thunderous quake.
The battle was ferocious. Sion danced between giants, his blade blazing, cutting through dark flesh and resisting impossible odds. But it was a grim fight. After defeating eight of them, he faltered. His body was at its limit—his arm hung limp, bleeding freely. Rapheal tried to heal him, but exhaustion couldn't be mended by magic.
The voice returned, quieter this time, almost amused.
"You're better than I expected. This was... mildly entertaining."
"I'm not done," Sion grunted, standing again, blood dripping into the dirt. "I told you—I don't give up. Not now, not ever. I will not lose to cowards hiding behind monsters!"
The voice paused.
"Perhaps you are worth my attention after all. If you survive... we shall meet in person. Until then, live, Hero of the Gods."
And then, it vanished.
Rapheal threw up a divine shield, but even she struggled—the environment was so soaked in dark magic that even godly spells were failing.
Sion's eyes darkened, his expression fierce.
"Now I'm really mad," he whispered. "Allen died once. But I was given this second life for a reason—to live in peace. I'll destroy anything that dares take that dream away from me."
He turned to Rapheal.
"It's time. I don't know if I'll survive this... but this is my final trump card."
Rapheal's eyes widened in fear.
"No—Sion, don't! You'll destroy your body! We should retreat—please, I beg you!"
But Sion was already moving, his divine magic and mana flaring to 100%, surging wildly like a star about to collapse.
The chapter ends with Sion standing at the heart of the storm, preparing to unleash a power even Rapheal feared.