The body of Kael'Rok lay sprawled across the cracked courtyard stones, his crimson hood torn, his face twisted in disbelief and agony. His blood formed a black pool that hissed when it touched Liam's boots—tainted, corrupted, unworthy.
Liam's hand trembled. The light of Divine Chains faded slowly from his fingertips, and a strange silence filled the air.
No more cultists charged.
No more chants.
Just the wind… and the eyes of his followers.
Elira ran toward him, her cheek bruised, her breathing ragged.
"You okay?" Liam asked, still panting, blood trickling from his lip.
"I—yeah," she whispered, then gripped his tunic tightly. "You didn't let him win."
He didn't hug her back.
He couldn't.
The fire burning in his chest wouldn't allow it. This wasn't the end of his rage. It was only the first cut.
GOD SYSTEM – STATUS MENU
Name: Liam Carson
Level: 6
Class: Chosen of Divinity
Faith Points (FP): 9
Followers: 9
Title Unlocked:God of Vengeance (Lesser)
STATS:
• Strength: 15
• Speed: 14
• Endurance: 13
• Divine Power: 21
• Willpower: 17
• Charisma: 10
• Perception: 11
NEW ABILITIES:
• Divine Chains [Gift – 1 Use Remaining]
• Lesser Judgment [Tier 1]
• Create, Destroy, Enhance [Tier 1]
• Smite [Tier 1]
• Divine Brand [Tier 1]
• Passive: Aura of the Godchild – Nearby enemies suffer -10% morale
System Message: You have slain a Named Cultist – Faith surges through your name.
Title Unlocked: God of Vengeance (Lesser)
Passive Bonus: +2 Divine Power, +10% FP generation from enemy kills.
Soldiers moved through the stronghold, clearing out remaining resistance. Smoke drifted from burnt sigils and shattered alters. Garran returned, his blade streaked with blood, and saluted.
"High Cultist's dead. Fort's ours."
"Any captives?"
"Six villagers. Malnourished but alive. Cultists were prepping them for sacrifice."
Liam's jaw tightened. "Send them food. And send word—Black Hollow is under new rule."
"Aye." Garran turned to go.
"Wait," Liam added. "Any cultists left alive?"
"One," he said. "The priest's apprentice. Just a kid. Barely thirteen."
"Bring him."
Minutes later, the boy was thrown at Liam's feet. He was shaking, lips cracked, his robes bloodstained and oversized. His name was Rennan, and his eyes still carried traces of the madness bred by indoctrination.
"You served Kael'Rok," Liam said.
"I—I just followed," Rennan stammered. "I didn't kill anyone! I was just learning! Please!"
"You would've killed for them in time," Garran growled, drawing his sword.
"No," Liam said.
The soldiers stared.
"Your god speaks," he said, crouching in front of the boy. "You can serve death. Or you can serve me."
Rennan looked up. "You're no god."
Liam didn't speak. He simply let his power rise—the glowing system wheel materializing behind him, divine light casting down like a halo. The aura of the godchild hit the boy like a sledgehammer.
He began to cry.
"I—I believe. Please don't kill me."
[Faith Gained – +1 FP]
Follower Status: Converted – Weak Believer (Rennan)
Elira looked uneasy, but she said nothing.
The soldiers didn't cheer. They didn't need to. Fear was more effective than fanfare.
That night, Liam stood at the ruined watchtower overlooking Black Hollow's distant cliffs. The Spirit appeared beside him, her feet not touching the ground.
"You killed your first real enemy today," she said.
Liam didn't respond at first.
"Wasn't enough," he muttered. "It didn't feel like I thought it would."
"You expected closure?"
"I expected something. He was the one who laughed when my sister screamed. I thought… I thought it would quiet the noise."
She looked at him with a rare flicker of emotion.
"The noise doesn't go away, Liam. You just learn to wield it."
He looked down at his hands. "I almost sacrificed Elira."
"And you would've regretted it forever. But you didn't. That's why you got the system—not someone who would burn the world without thinking."
"I will burn it," Liam whispered. "But only the rot."
System Message: New Milestone Quest Available
Milestone Quest: Cleanse the Faithless – Part I
• Destroy 3 Cult Strongholds
• Convert 30 new followers
• Create first Angel or Demon
Reward: Divine Upgrade – Choose one ability to ascend to Tier 2.
Progress: 1/3 Strongholds Cleansed | 9/30 Followers | 0 Ascensions
Liam looked to the stars.
He would become more than just vengeance. He would become the sword of heaven—and the storm of the faithless.
"They took everything from me," he said. "Now I take everything from them."
The war was far from over.
It had only just begun.
[End of Chapter 8]