I can't move my body... I remember letting myself get captured. Could it be... Did I die? Questions rained into the head of the small child as he tried to recollect everything that transpired. He noticed he was back in the very plane the Numinas brought him after he died.
Welcome back, creator." They bowed their heads. Kiryuu questioned the reason for his return to this place.
"Did I die?" The White Numina nodded confidently. Kiryuu was stunned and unsettled; the Black Numina glared down at the protesting adult soul with clear annoyance.
"You're not truly dead! Your body may appear lifeless to human eyes—pale, cold, and motionless—but in reality, you're in a state where time itself does not register your heartbeats, as if suspended between life and death." The Black Numina explained.
Kiryuu asked casually, a hint of curiosity in his voice, "Is it because of my bloodline?"
"Well... not exactly. Your body's will to live is impressive, but the amount of blood you lost was significant." The White Numina was surprised that he had changed his personality so quickly.
"Is that so? Say what the hell was that back there?" asked Kiryuu, seeming to be confused.
He tightened the repeated explanation, made the system feel more ancient and dangerous, and kept the Path to the Divine and Beast Pathways as the two main categories.
The White Numina gazed at the Twin with a solemn expression. Her eyes lingered on the place where the crystal had vanished, as if some invisible scar had been carved into the air itself.
"The crystal that disappeared was a Genesis Crystal," she said at last. "A rare and powerful gemstone tied to an ancient Ascension, one that was lost to the mists of forgotten eras. Its purpose, origin, and final owner were all buried beneath legend."
Kiryuu blinked.
"Ascension?"
The White Numina nodded.
"Ascensions are specialized pathways of power. They are divided into two great branches: the Path to the Divine and the Beast Pathways."
The words settled heavily over the plane.
The moment she spoke them, the white space around Kiryuu seemed to ripple. For an instant, he saw impossible visions.
A golden sun bleeding holy fire.
A storm pillar wrapped in the shadow of a Kraken.
A beast with countless eyes crawling through the dark between worlds.
A crowned figure sitting on a throne made of laws, prayers, and broken names.
Then the visions disappeared.
Kiryuu narrowed his eyes. "So… divine gods and monsters?"
"That is the simplest way to understand it," the White Numina replied. "The Path to the Divine draws from the authorities of gods, saints, angels, demons, cosmic principles, and sacred domains. These pathways represent concepts such as judgment, war, death, dreams, knowledge, light, madness, fate, and creation."
She raised one pale hand.
A ring of symbols formed above her palm, each one burning with a different color.
"Those who walk the Divine Path do not merely gain abilities. They gradually inherit a Portfolio. A Portfolio is a domain of existence, a law written into reality. The Sun does not simply grant fire. It grants purification, revelation, blessing, and the right to reject darkness. The Judge does not simply punish. It commands law, guilt, verdicts, and consequences. The Visionary does not simply dream. It reshapes thought, memory, illusion, and imagination."
Kiryuu's face twisted slightly.
"That sounds less like gaining powers and more like getting eaten by an idea."
The White Numina looked pleased.
"You understand faster than most."
The Black Numina crossed her arms and gave him a sharp look.
"That is because Ascension is not a costume you wear, Creator. It is a throne trying to decide whether you are worthy to sit on it, or whether it should crush your spine and wear your corpse instead."
Kiryuu stared at her.
"You have a really comforting way of explaining things."
"I try."
The White Numina continued, her voice calm but grave.
"The second branch is the Beast Pathways. These draw power from mythical, primordial, and divine beasts. Dragons, phoenixes, leviathans, krakens, hydras, basilisks, world serpents, celestial wolves, dream-eating beasts, and countless other ancient creatures. Some are born from gods. Some were worshiped before gods had names. Some are older than the first language."
At that moment, the image of Jester flickered behind her.
His silhouette stood beneath a towering storm pillar. Above him, something vast moved beneath an ocean of clouds. A Kraken's eye opened in the sky, enormous and indifferent, its pupil shaped like a storm spiral.
"Jester," the White Numina said, "walked a Beast Pathway tied to the Kraken, a legendary creature from the Storm God's pillar. That pathway grants dominion over pressure, storms, deep waters, crushing force, and abyssal instinct. At lower Arrays, such power may appear as enhanced strength, storm resistance, or water manipulation. At higher Arrays, it becomes authority over calamity itself."
Kiryuu swallowed.
"So every pathway has its own theme?"
"More than a theme," said the White Numina. "A law. A hunger. A direction."
She stepped closer.
"Every action you take influences the rank and compatibility that the Authority Core assigns to you. It watches your choices, your instincts, your fears, your desires, and your contradictions. It does not merely judge what you do. It judges what kind of existence you are becoming."
Kiryuu's eyes sharpened.
"So if I kill a monster, it might push me toward a beast pathway?"
"Not always," the White Numina replied. "Killing a monster out of hunger, dominance, survival, or instinct may resonate with a Beast Pathway. Killing that same monster to protect the weak may resonate with a Divine Portfolio of guardianship, justice, or sacrifice. The act matters, but the meaning behind the act matters more."
The Black Numina gave a faint, humorless smile.
"Two men can swing the same sword. One becomes a hero. One becomes an executioner. One becomes a butcher. One becomes a god of war. The Authority Core sees the difference."
Kiryuu fell silent.
The White Numina lifted her hand again, and the symbols above her palm arranged themselves into a spiral staircase.
"Ascensions advance through Arrays. Each Array represents a locked stage in the Ascension process. You currently stand at the 10th Array, the lowest recognized level. It is the foundation. At this stage, an Ascender is barely above human. They may possess a single abnormal trait, a minor skill, or one strange trick that separates them from ordinary mortals."
"Sounds underwhelming," Kiryuu muttered.
"It is supposed to be," the Black Numina said. "The 10th Array is where the path tests whether you are a seed or fertilizer."
Kiryuu slowly turned his head toward her.
"You always talk like you want me dead."
"I talk like I am realistic."
The White Numina ignored them both.
"Arrays are divided into three broad classifications: Low Arrays, Mid Arrays, and High Arrays."
The spiral staircase shifted. Its lower steps glowed faintly.
"Low Arrays include the 10th, 9th, and 8th Arrays. These are the early stages. Low-Array Ascenders are powerful compared to ordinary humans, but they remain fragile. Magic projectile weaponry, sacred tools, curses, spiritual attacks, and specialized artifacts can still kill them. Their bodies, souls, and minds have not yet fully adapted to the burden of Ascension."
Kiryuu looked down at his small hands.
"So even with an Ascent, I can still die from a bullet?"
"Depending on the bullet," the Black Numina answered. "And depending on the person firing it."
The White Numina nodded.
"Low Arrays are dangerous because they are incomplete. Their powers can be useful, but unstable. A Low-Array Divine Ascender might receive dreams from their Portfolio without understanding them. A Low-Array Beast Ascender might gain monstrous senses but also inherit predatory impulses. Many die at this stage because they mistake the first spark of power for mastery."
The staircase's middle steps brightened next.
"Mid Arrays include the 7th, 6th, and 5th Arrays. This is the transitional stage. Here, the Ascender begins to encounter true madness."
Kiryuu frowned.
"Madness?"
"Psychological, magical, spiritual, and dimensional madness," she said. "At the Mid Arrays, your pathway stops being something outside of you. It begins rewriting you from within."
Her expression became colder.
"A Divine Pathway may fill your mind with prayers that were never spoken. You may hear worship from people who died before your birth. You may dream of sitting on a throne that does not yet exist. A Beast Pathway may alter your instincts, your hunger, your perception of territory, mating, prey, dominance, or survival. You may wake up with memories belonging to something that was never human."
Kiryuu's heartbeat seemed louder in the empty plane.
The Black Numina's voice dropped.
"This is where many Ascenders break. Not because their enemies defeat them, but because their own path starts whispering louder than their own thoughts."
The White Numina continued.
"At the 6th Array, the Authority Core begins providing clearer guidance. It will reveal rituals, advancement conditions, prohibitions, and dangers specific to your pathway. This is also when the path becomes more restrictive. Advancement is no longer achieved by survival alone. You must perform acts that align with your Portfolio or Beast Origin."
She gestured toward the symbols.
"For example, one who walks a Divine Path of Judgment may need to deliver a verdict that changes the fate of many. One who walks a Divine Path of Dreams may need to trap, heal, or destroy something within the dream of another. One who walks the Kraken Pathway may need to survive crushing pressure, command a storm, devour an abyssal creature, or become feared by sailors, monsters, and kings alike."
Kiryuu's eyes narrowed.
"So the pathway decides the ritual?"
"The pathway reveals the ritual," the White Numina corrected. "But the deeper truth is this: the ritual already exists. It is the shape reality demands before it allows you to climb higher."
The staircase's upper steps ignited.
"High Arrays include the 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Arrays. These are the stages where Ascenders cease to be considered merely powerful beings. Ordinary people begin mistaking them for saints, calamities, divine messengers, ancient monsters, or living disasters."
The air grew heavier.
"At these levels, abilities become abstract. A Divine Ascender of the Sun may no longer simply create light. They may declare that darkness cannot exist in their presence. A Divine Ascender of Fate may not merely predict events, but tug on the probability of survival itself. A Beast Ascender of the Phoenix may no longer simply heal, but resurrect through flame, memory, and bloodline. A Beast Ascender of the World Serpent may coil around space, swallow distance, and treat nations as nests."
Kiryuu felt his throat dry.
"And the final Array?"
The White Numina did not answer immediately.
The Black Numina did.
"The 0th Array."
The white plane became silent.
Even the drifting lights above them seemed to dim.
"The 0th Array is not advancement," the Black Numina said. "It is replacement."
Kiryuu stared at her.
The White Numina's voice softened.
"At the 0th Array, an Ascender becomes the complete vessel of their Portfolio or Beast Origin. A Divine Ascender no longer borrows authority from a concept. They become the highest living expression of that concept. A Beast Ascender no longer carries the blessing of a mythical beast. They become the beast's ultimate incarnation, or something that surpasses the original."
Kiryuu's expression darkened.
"So they stop being human."
"Usually," the White Numina said.
"Usually?"
"Some cling to themselves. Some fail. Some become monsters wearing familiar faces. Some become gods who remember crying as children. Some become concepts with names."
The Black Numina leaned forward slightly.
"And some are devoured from the inside before anyone notices the difference."
Kiryuu exhaled slowly.
"Great. Wonderful. Fantastic system. Love the part where power comes with cosmic identity theft."
The White Numina gave him a sad smile.
"That is why Ascension is feared. Power is never free. Each step upward gives you more authority, but it also gives the pathway more claim over you."
A new image appeared before Kiryuu.
Two figures stood on the same road.
One was tall, armored, and radiant.
The other was smaller, trembling, and bleeding from the eyes.
The stronger figure did nothing, yet the weaker one collapsed to one knee.
Kiryuu frowned. "What is that?"
"Pathway suppression," said the White Numina. "Two Ascenders on the same pathway cannot remain equal forever. The pathway desires a single peak. The stronger user naturally suppresses the weaker. Their abilities may weaken. Their thoughts may distort. Their advancement may halt. In extreme cases, the stronger Ascender can absorb the weaker one's authority."
The image changed.
The smaller figure shattered into threads of light, which flowed into the stronger one's chest.
Kiryuu's stomach turned.
"That's cannibalism."
"Conceptual cannibalism," the Black Numina corrected. "Cleaner word. Uglier truth."
The White Numina nodded.
"The Path to the Divine calls this Portfolio Convergence. Beast Pathways call it Origin Devouring. Different names, same hunger. The closer two Ascenders are within the same pathway, the more violently their authorities resonate. At high levels, coexistence becomes nearly impossible."
"So only one person can reach the top?"
"Yes," said the White Numina. "Each complete Divine Portfolio has one throne. Each complete Beast Origin has one crown. Many may walk the path, but only one may become its absolute ruler."
Kiryuu looked at the empty air where the Genesis Crystal had disappeared.
"Then what was that crystal connected to?"
The White Numina's expression changed.
For the first time, something like uncertainty appeared in her eyes.
"The Genesis Crystal was not tied to a normal Divine Portfolio or Beast Origin."
The Black Numina's gaze sharpened.
"It belonged to a lost Ascension that should not have answered anyone."
Kiryuu's small body went still.
The White Numina continued carefully.
"Most Ascensions are born from gods, beasts, concepts, or ancient authorities. But Genesis is different. It is not merely a path of creation. It is the possibility before creation. The first breath before the first law. The blank page before reality decided what could and could not exist."
The white space trembled.
"To possess such a crystal means the Authority Core may assign you to something outside the established pathways. A path that does not belong fully to the Divine. A path that does not belong fully to the Beasts."
Kiryuu stared at her.
"Then what does it belong to?"
Neither Numina answered immediately.
Then the Black Numina smiled, but there was no amusement in it.
"That is what makes this entertaining."
The White Numina gave her a warning glance before looking back at Kiryuu.
"An artifact will be dispatched to aid you on this journey. It will help measure your compatibility, stabilize your early Array, and prevent your mind from being consumed too quickly by whatever authority has chosen you."
"Too quickly?" Kiryuu repeated.
"Yes."
"That means it still might happen."
The White Numina's silence was answer enough.
Kiryuu rubbed his temples.
"I let myself get captured, lost too much blood, fake-died, came back here, and now I'm being told a rock may have signed me up for godhood, monsterhood, or something worse than both."
The Black Numina looked down at him.
"Correct."
"I hate this place."
"You created it."
"That makes it worse."
The White Numina stepped closer and placed a hand over her chest.
"Creator, listen carefully. Whether your path becomes Divine, Beast, or something nameless, remember this: an Ascent is not merely power. It is a relationship between you and the authority that recognizes you. If you obey it blindly, you become its vessel. If you reject it completely, it may destroy you. But if you understand it…"
Her eyes glowed faintly.
"…then perhaps you may command it."
Kiryuu looked at her.
For the first time since waking in that plane, his expression lost its panic.
Something colder appeared beneath it.
Not confidence.
Not arrogance.
Recognition.
The path ahead was not a gift.
It was a blade held to his throat.
And somehow, somewhere deep inside him, he wondered if the blade was waiting for him to grab the handle.
The being of darkness's last words echoed with ominous finality: "Devour the Crystal."
When he awoke, he was freed by Dolan, who held a broken blade. What the hell did I miss?"
"Oh, you're finally awake…" Xion said softly, her eyes fixed on Dolan, who was bleeding heavily from the chest. His pupils dilated as he stared at the crimson staining his hands, a grim realization dawning. The story rushed forward too quickly—Dolan had sacrificed himself to give Xion a chance to escape.
"Hey now… Don't go dying on me yet," Xion said softly as she gently lifted the injured Dolan, whose body was still trembling from blood loss. "Help… us…" he managed to whisper, his voice faint and hoarse, unable to even scream for help.
Hehehe… HAHAHAHA! It's amusing—destroying a Trinity myself to resurrect the true God," Jester sneered, kicking the boy forcefully, making him release Dolan. "You should have handed over the Genesis Crystal. Now, you'll pay with your life."
Xion and Dolan lay motionless in their pool of blood, their crimson blood mixing like the Yin and Yang symbols, with shattered glass and
torn fabric scattered around them, evoking a scene of chaos and despair.
Was there ever a god to save us or set us free? Even in my own world, I was forced to survive alone—cast out, abused, tortured, and falsely accused. A god should protect their creations from evil and corruption, not stand by and watch them suffer for entertainment. If this is the world I shaped, then I am utterly ashamed of it—I despise it.
He felt his heart pumping from feeling inside, his body pulsing as if something was trying to escape from being chained down. His eyes trailed to Dolan, who had his eyes closed; he seemed so peaceful in his resting state.
Completing this story has always been my goal, but now I must end this corruption. The real question is—am I right? Ever since the Sovereign of Darkness Era, the gods have been silent. If I must eliminate these gods who only watch us suffer, then I have no choice but to manipulate and destroy them, severing the corruption infecting our world. I will become something beyond the gods and madness—an entity that defies them all: I will become a False God.
With his final breath, his body surged once more, and a large dragon eye deep within him flickered open. An overwhelming burst of energy erupted from his form, causing the entire world to tremble. Suddenly, before him appeared the crystal he had believed lost forever.
If you're seeking power, I am ready to grant it to you.
Xion heard the voice from inside the crystal.
I do not seek merely power; I desire the authority necessary to dispel this false narrative.
The crystal pulsed with a radiant glow. Jester, who faced Lucy, suddenly turned towards the crimson light. "No way. That crystal is mine—I alone can wield its power. It's the key to truly controlling the Beast of Apocalypse." With a fierce swing of her mighty blade, Lucy struck, sending the man hurtling into the wall and creating a massive crater. Devour me.
The Beast of Apocalypse?
Xion nodded firmly, opening his mouth as if ready to speak, each muscle tensing with resolve. Xion nodded firmly, opening his mouth as if ready to speak, each muscle tensing with resolve. If this selfless sacrifice is the only
way to save those I care about, then so be it.
Crunch!
He consumed the luminous crystal deliberately. Witnesses were visibly shocked, some gasping or stepping back in astonishment. Marcus's gaze shifted to Xion, who calmly swallowed the shimmering shard.
"Xion..." he said softly, turning to observe Dolan lying unconscious on the ground nearby. What struck him as peculiar was that Xion was using a magical clock to actively heal Dolan's injuries, its intricate gears and glowing runes pulsating with energy.
He carefully lifted him; his eyes were empty and unresponsive. "Father, please take care of him," Xion pleaded softly, as he gently handed Dolan into his father's arms, trembling slightly. "What about you? You're injured," Marcus asked, concern flickering across his face as he examined Xion's bruised ribs and cut forehead.
Xion chuckled softly, "Don't worry about me," he said, his body already healing itself. His eyes shifted to Lucy, locked in combat with Jester. The unsettling part was how quickly Lucy was falling behind—was this the true power of an Ascender?
"Die! Die! Die?" Jester grew five slimy, tentacle-like appendages from his back. Each tentacle snapped forward in rapid succession, aiming to strike Lucy with deadly accuracy. She was unable to block all of them; some blades cut into her flesh, drawing blood. "You should have stayed out of the fight, Lucy. Now, it's time to meet your children in Heaven," he taunted, his voice dripping with menace. As he wielded a shimmering water blade, he slashed downward with precision, causing the surrounding space to slow—a restrictive, shimmering field that momentarily formed. In that split second, Xion appeared, moving with lightning speed to shove Lucy out of harm's way, her face full of determination.
"It's not nice to harm a lady," Xion said boredly, his voice flat and uninterested. Jester backed up suddenly, fear making his legs tremble
uncontrollably, and sweat beaded on his forehead, dripping down his face. "It can't be… why are you still alive?" he whispered, voice trembling. He was stunned by Xion's appearance; striking purple streaks contrasted with his crimson-red hair, which seemed to shimmer under the dim light. His pupils had slitted like a dragon's when enraged, giving him a feral, intimidating presence that sent chills down Jester's spine.
Xion rolled his eyes in annoyance, his patience wearing thin after enduring Jester's incessant yelling. He had reached his limit and needed
to take decisive action in response to Jester's recent heinous acts—his failed attempt to murder Dolan and the sacrificial offering to an unknown beast. "Jester. You're too loud, shut up," he snapped, his voice sharp and commanding. In a sudden, ghostly motion, he snapped his fingers, and in an inexplicable, fateful moment, Jester's throat was slit open, blood spurting as his eyes widened in shock. Everyone watched in horror, their faces masking disbelief and fear; they would never have expected such cold-hearted brutality from Xion. Yet, even this grim act was not enough to definitively kill Jester, leaving everyone on edge with the tension thick enough to sever.
"Wait! I apologize, but can't we negotiate an
arrangement?" Jester asked, pleading to be spared.
Xion paused to think for a moment.
"Wait, you're not exactly thinking about it?" Asked Lucy who a knight was healing.
"Yeah, think about it. Look what he did to you and Dolan. He did this for an unknown god…" Marcus held Dolan tightly. The words of the two
were taken into consideration.
Xion exhaled softly, a hint of weariness in his posture, before raising his hand, palm deliberately facing Jester's head. "Y'know, you
can tell the gods this when you make it to the heavens. I, Xion Trinity, have awakened as the False God Candidate. Compensation: Tick." He spoke in Vedic Sanskrit, conjured a small, luminous orb whose surface swirled with arcane symbols, and launched it directly at Jester, who let out a piercing scream of agony. The attack manipulated the surrounding time field, creating a distorted vortex infused with his mana—an unstoppable force designed to erase beings weaker than him from existence.
His voice was cold and harsh as he spat, "May your soul rot in the deepest part of hell, swine," before collapsing.
His hair color reverted to its natural shade, and he fainted from mana exhaustion. "He did it." Lucy and the others watched as Jester turned to dust. The group cheered their victory, while Marcus and Lucy let out a sigh as she carefully picked up the exhausted Xion, who knew he had the power to face an Ascender.
…
It had been several weeks since the Cult of Apocalypse was defeated. Most of its members had fled in chaos, leaving behind a trail of destruction and regret. The twenty captives, who had been forcibly taken, were
transported to the Court of Knowledge, a secretive center for interrogation and study. Dolan recovered from his injuries more quickly than anticipated, feeling a mix of relief and lingering guilt, especially for Xion, who had risked everything to save him. Xion himself was healing physically, but he had no memory of the events that led to the confrontation; his mind was blank on that front. All he knew was that he now felt stronger, his body revitalized, and he was glad to see Dolan smiling again, a sign that hope was not lost.
"So Xion, what are you going to do?" Asked Dolan walking by his side.
Xion pondered the question; while he knew that separation was likely inevitable, he had his own objectives to pursue. "I'm heading to the Chanda Institute School," he stated blankly.
"Wait, really? But you're so young."
"I may be ten years old, but I have a purpose and am ready to start my journey. He put his hands in his pockets and gazed confidently at the clear blue sky."
The power of False divinity is now in the palm of your hands
He looked behind him, but saw nothing or nobody there. That voice sounded so familiar, but not even he could remember it.