Chapter 4: Divine Intervention
Ego wiped the sweat from his brow as he stared at his status screen. Grinding levels was a pain, but if he didn't, he'd be an easy target for the other gods lurking in Aetherius.
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[Ego, God of the Void]
Level: 4
Pantheon Rank: Mortal Deity
Followers: 1
Oracle: Elara
Divine Power (DP): 100/200
Faith Generation: +1 DP/min (per follower)
Attributes
Strength: 22
Agility: 21
Vitality: 16
Divine Power: 35
Intelligence: 24
Speed: 21
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"Level 4… Still grinding like it's the opening week. Gotta love the early game struggle," Ego muttered to himself as he flicked through his abilities. "At least Void's Embrace makes farming easy."
He lifted his hand, using Void's Embrace to pull a group of low-level Void Beasts into the air before crushing them into the ground with telekinetic force. Their bodies disintegrated into particles as Ego casually collected their loot.
Ding!
+20 Experience Points
"Ugh, barely moving the needle," Ego groaned, glancing at his XP bar. "I need a boss or something. Grinding mobs is for noobs."
Before he could continue his self-imposed grind, a familiar notification pinged across his screen. It was Elara, his Oracle. He could hear her voice, but this time it wasn't a simple prayer—it was an emergency.
"Lord Ego! We're under attack!"
Ego froze. The connection felt frantic, desperate. He activated Divine Scrying, peering into her perspective. What he saw made his stomach drop.
Silver-clad soldiers with the emblem of the sun were raiding her village, cutting through villagers like they were nothing. His mind flashed back to the emblem—the same one Tauran's forces wore. They were here again.
"You've got to be kidding me! Didn't I stomp him into the ground already?" Ego growled. "Alright, time for round two."
He raised his hand, summoning a Rift Portal and stepping through. The world around him shifted, and he arrived at the burning village. Chaos reigned as villagers ran for their lives, and at the center of it all was a massive, shining figure: Tauran himself.
"Tauran? Seriously? Didn't we go over this already?" Ego muttered, his gaze narrowing at the golden god.
Tauran turned, his eyes locking on Ego. A grin spread across his face. "I underestimated you last time, Voidling. But I'm here to finish what I started."
"Oh please," Ego said, rolling his eyes. "I sent you packing once. What's different this time? You bring a bigger sword?"
Tauran raised his massive blade, which glowed with divine energy. "This time, you die, and your pathetic followers will know the price of crossing the Sun God."
Ego chuckled, casually summoning Void's Embrace and lifting a few of Tauran's soldiers into the air before smashing them into the ground. "You know, you talk a big game, but I've got a decent win rate in these duels."
Without another word, Tauran charged, his glowing sword raised high. Ego barely dodged to the side as the blade slammed into the earth, sending a shockwave of energy rippling through the ground.
"Whoa! Okay, okay, that's new!" Ego said, regaining his balance. "But you're still predictable."
He raised his hand, summoning an Abyssal Rend in front of him. The dark rift crackled with energy, tendrils shooting out to strike at Tauran. But the Sun God moved with blinding speed, dodging the attack and swinging his sword again.
Ego blocked with a telekinetic shield, but the force of the strike sent him stumbling back.
"Geez! You've been grinding, haven't you?" Ego quipped, shaking out his arms. "Alright, no more holding back."
Tauran sneered. "Your cheap tricks won't save you this time."
Ego gritted his teeth. This was bad. Tauran was stronger than before, and his attacks were relentless. If Ego didn't do something soon, the village—and Elara—would be wiped out.
He glanced over to where Elara stood, her hands clasped in prayer. The light of the flames reflected in her eyes as she whispered his name over and over. Her belief, her faith in him—it was what kept him going. He couldn't let her down.
Alright, time to go big or go home.
Ego opened his inventory, his gaze landing on a glowing black orb—the shard he'd taken from Tauran after their last fight. If he used it, he could absorb some of Tauran's power, but it would be risky. Too much divine power could destabilize him.
"Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained," Ego muttered before crushing the orb in his hand.
Instantly, his body surged with energy. The divine power filled him, healing his wounds and increasing his strength. Black tendrils of void energy crackled around him as he locked eyes with Tauran.
"Oh, you're so done," Ego growled, his voice resonating with void energy.
Tauran's eyes widened. "What have you done?!"
"I leveled the playing field," Ego replied with a smirk. He raised both hands, summoning the full power of the void. Abyssal Rend tore open beneath Tauran, and this time, the tendrils wrapped around the Sun God, pulling him into the darkness.
"No! This can't be happening!" Tauran screamed, slashing at the tendrils, but they only tightened their grip.
Ego watched as the Sun God was consumed by the void, his screams fading into silence.
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Achievement Unlocked: "Defender of the Faith"
You successfully defended your followers from a divine raid.
+500 Experience Points
+Divine Shard: Sun's Wrath
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Ego stood in the aftermath, panting as the village fell silent. He had won. Tauran was gone, and the raiders had been defeated. But something felt off.
A sharp pain shot through Ego's chest. He stumbled, dropping to one knee as the divine power he'd absorbed began to destabilize.
"Crap… I took in too much," Ego muttered, clutching his chest. The void energy was tearing him apart from the inside.
Elara rushed to his side, her eyes wide with concern. "My Lord! Are you okay?!"
Ego looked up at her, gritting his teeth. "Nope. I messed up big time."
Before she could respond, Ego's body began to disintegrate, black mist swirling around him as the void claimed him. He gave Elara one last look, his voice barely a whisper.
"Sorry, Elara... Guess I'm logging off early."
And with that, Ego vanished, leaving nothing behind but the faint echo of his power.
Elara knelt where he had been, her hands trembling. "Thank you, my Lord... We won because of you."
As the villagers gathered around, mourning their fallen god, Elara's heart was heavy. Ego was gone—but his legend had only just begun.