The golden throne pulsed beneath Ochieng, sending waves of terrifying power through his body.
His veins glowed, his bones shook, and his soul felt as if it were being reshaped.
Yet, he didn't resist.
He embraced it.
BOOM!
A golden explosion erupted from the throne, shaking the entire realm. The watching elders staggered, their faces pale.
One of them trembled. "This… this isn't just ascension… this is awakening!"
Another elder, gripping the armrest of his floating seat, whispered:
"The power of the Forgotten Bloodline…"
---
The golden energy twisted around Ochieng, forming symbols—ancient runes unseen for thousands of years.
They etched themselves onto his skin, his arms, his chest… and finally, his forehead.
The mark of the Supreme King.
The throne began to sink into the ground, merging with him.
Ochieng opened his eyes.
And for a moment—
The entire world bowed.
The warriors below, once filled with arrogance and pride, could no longer stand.
Their knees buckled. Their backs bent.
They submitted.
It wasn't a choice.
It was instinct.
A primal reaction to the presence of a true ruler.
---
Suddenly—
CRACK!
The skies above split open.
From the rift, a terrifying black storm surged forward, swirling with crimson lightning.
A voice, deep and ancient, echoed through the realm.
"A mortal dares sit upon the throne of the gods?"
The watching elders gasped.
One of them stammered, "The Heavenly Tribunal… they've come to test him."
Ochieng stood up from the throne.
His golden aura clashed against the approaching storm.
A divine trial.
One that had killed every previous challenger.
But Ochieng?
He grinned.
"Come then. Let's see if the heavens can break me."
--