The news spread like wildfire.
A Celestial Knight had fallen. Not just any knight—Darius Vael, the sentinel. A warrior who had once carved through armies, who had stood at the vanguard of the Celestial Order's crusades. A symbol of divine strength and unwavering faith.
And now?
Defeated,
Slain by Ryojin Kurohane.
The revelation sent shockwaves through the realm of the gods .
In the Grand Citadel of Astraea- in the Realm of the Gods- where the gods' light shone brightest, the High Priests whispered in hushed, fearful tones. The war councils convened, their voices sharp with anger and urgency.
The Celestial Order had suffered losses before—but not like this.
Not to the mortals
Not to him.
The air was thick with tension. Rows of armored warriors stood in silent formation, their weapons gleaming under the ethereal glow of the chamber's sacred torches. Massive stained-glass windows depicted the divine victories of ages past, but tonight, their light seemed… dimmer.
At the head of the chamber, seated on an ornate golden throne, was High Lord Seraphiel. The leader of the Celestial Order. His piercing eyes, cold as the stars, swept across the gathered warlords and high priests before him.
A single word left his lips—calm, but absolute.
"Unacceptable."
The chamber shook with the weight of his voice. The air grew heavy, as if the very walls of the Grand Citadel rejected the idea of defeat.
A warrior stepped forward—Commander Lysara, one of the Celestial Order's finest. Her golden armor glowed with divine inscriptions, and her eyes burned with vengeful fury.
"This is no longer just a battle, High Lord," she declared. "It is a declaration of war."
Murmurs spread through the chamber. " War, Against one man?"
Seraphiel's gaze didn't waver. "Ryojin Kurohane…" he said the name like a curse.
A second figure spoke—a high priest Vetrune , robed in celestial blue. "We should have destroyed him years ago," he muttered bitterly. "While he was still within our reach."
Seraphiel tapped his fingers against the armrest of his throne. "And yet, i failed. And now, the consequence is upon us."
A tense silence.
Then, Lysara stepped forward.
"Give me the order." Her voice was steady. Unyielding. "Allow me to lead the crusade. We will hunt him down and erase his existence before he becomes an even greater threat."
The council chamber was dimly lit, the flickering golden flames of ethereal lanterns casting eerie shadows on the stone walls. A heavy silence filled the air, thick with tension.
Debra, clad in celestial red robes, furrowed his brows, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest of his gilded chair. His voice, deep and measured, cut through the silence.
"That is far too risky, Lysara," he said, his eyes narrowing. "We don't even know the full extent of his abilities. Are they akin to the powers of the Abyssal Clans' Elite Five?"
Jeba, another high priest robed in white, nodded solemnly. His aged hands clasped together as he spoke.
"Debra is right. Sending Lysara is reckless. We cannot afford to lose a warrior of her caliber—not when we still have such limited knowledge of the Nexus Abyss."
A low scoff echoed through the chamber. Seraphiel stood at the edge of the gathering, arms crossed, his eyes sharp with disdain. His fingers curled into a tight fist as he muttered, almost to himself,
"The only thing we do know is that the Nexus Abyss is a wellspring of energy. Those who enter it under the protection of a high-ranking spirit have their abilities awakened." His jaw clenched. "And the worst part? They sacrifice their own kind to the spirits just to gain access—offering up their own people in exchange for power."
Lysara's eyes gleamed with cold determination. "According to the information Darius provided, the power they gain from the Nexus Abyss isn't even permanent. It lasts, what? A week? Two?"
Seraphiel exhaled sharply, his gaze darkening. "And so, they kill. Again and again. Humanity never changes. They always hunger for power beyond their control. They once formed pacts with spirits, but that wasn't enough. Now they sacrifice their own, all for the illusion of strength."
A sharp intake of breath came from the far end of the chamber. Beru, another high priest, leaned forward, his voice laced with excitement and unease.
"What puzzles me the most," he said, "is how Ryojin escaped the Abyss. Many powerful entities that have been imprisoned in the abyss have never escaped yet Ryojin-" His eyes flicked to Seraphiel, curiosity gleaming within them. "When you imprisoned him, you said he had no spirit protecting him. So tell us, Seraphiel—how did he survive?"
Seraphiel chuckled dryly, running a hand through his silver hair. His expression was unreadable.
"What are you implying, Beru?" he asked, amusement flickering in his tone. "I saw it with my own eyes—he had no spirit. And as for why I didn't kill him? Death would not have solved the problem." His eyes narrowed. "If I had slain him, his soul would have merely reincarnated within the Spirit Realm. He would have returned, stronger, more vengeful. Imprisonment was the best option… or so I thought."
The chamber doors creaked open. A shadowed figure strode inside, cloaked in black—a jagged fang emblem glinting on her belt. Seraphis, the Black Fang.
"I know what his abilities are," she said, her voice low, measured. "Or at least, I have an idea."
Seraphiel's gaze snapped toward her. "Then speak."
Seraphis took a slow breath, eyes dark beneath her hood. "When I fought him, his strength was inhuman. His speed and agility surpassed anything I've ever seen. And the aura—" She paused, swallowing. "It was black… tinged with purple. I've battled many who drew power from the Abyss, but this—this was different. He was different."
She hesitated. Something like unease flickered across her usually impassive face.
Darius stepped forward, his body wrapped in bandages, every movement slow and labored. A guard supported him as he limped toward the gathering. His voice was hoarse, but steady.
"It's not just his body," Darius said. "The energy around him moves at his command. It shields him when attacked. It lashes out offensively. But the most terrifying thing I witnessed…" He paused, his fingers twitching involuntarily. "He can erase attacks with a word. His very presence bends reality."
Silence. A ripple of unease spread through the gathered priests.
Debra's voice was barely above a whisper. "What… do you mean by controlling his own existence?"
Darius swallowed. "I don't know, sire. But—"
"Speak clearly, Darius!" Debra snapped, his voice sharp with fear.
Darius inhaled deeply. "There was a moment during our battle when I could not sense his presence. It was as if he had vanished… yet he still struck me down."
Beru's fingers drummed anxiously against his chair. "Perhaps he can conceal his energy," he suggested, though doubt laced his words.
"That's impossible," Vetrune countered quickly. "Only beings of the highest rank—the Demon King, the Celestial Supreme—can achieve such a feat." His voice dropped. "We must inform the Celestial Supreme at once."
"No." Seraphiel's tone was final. His eyes burned with cold determination. "The Celestial Supreme has greater matters to attend to. We will deal with Ryojin Kurohane ourselves." His gaze swept over the gathered priests. "By hunting him, we will force the Abyssal Clans' Elite Five out of hiding. They will come for him. They have no choice and when they do we will wipe them out of existence itself."
Lysara frowned. "And what if he's already working with them?" Her voice was calm, but her hand rested on the hilt of her blade. "The Abyssal Clans would never ignore his return. He was once their strongest warrior."
Darius shook his head. "He's not with them," he said, voice heavy. "He told me himself—he has no intention of returning. The only thing he seeks now is to bring down the gods."
A murmur spread through the chamber. Unease, fear, curiosity—emotions thickened the air.
Then, a warrior clad in silver armor entered the chamber and knelt before Seraphiel. He whispered into the his ear.
"My lord, the Norns wish to see you. It concerns Ryojin."
Seraphiel stiffened. For the first time that night, true tension flickered across his face.
The Norns—ancient beings who wove the web of fate—rarely intervened. If they had summoned him over Ryojin… it meant the situation was more dire than they had imagined.
Lysara took a step forward, her piercing gaze locked onto Seraphiel.
"Well, high lord?" she asked, voice unwavering. "Do I have your approval to go after Ryojin?"
Seraphiel studied her for a long moment.
Then, he nodded. And left the gathering
"So be it."
The decree was made.
The hunt for Ryojin Kurohane had begun.
Elsewhere – Ryojin stood atop a ruined tower, gazing at the stars above. His violet eyes gleamed in the moonlight, reflecting something dark… and inevitable.
He could feel it.
The Celestial Order would come.
And when they did…
He must be ready.
A smirk curled on his lips. "Let's see how bright your light shines," he murmured, "when the Abyss swallows it whole."
The shadows around him coiled, whispering in anticipation.
And far above, beyond the clouds, the heavens themselves prepared for war.