CHAPTER 140: DIVINITY OF CHAOS

[-1 Intel]

My brows furrowed at the system notification. This meant I had only 8 Intel left, signaling the need to end this battle quickly.

Swoosh!

A strong wind blew, and with it came a soothing sound that calmed my nerves and dulled my senses. For a moment, the pain in my chest vanished, the rage and anger in my heart faded, and even the darkness dancing around me slowly turned ghastly white—like before.

At this point, I didn’t even want to fight this feeling. It was exactly what I needed right now.

Ding!

[Song of Harmony detected]

[Song of Harmony Suppressed]

Swoosh!

Another strong wind came, but this time the soothing sound was blown away, and the world became clear once again.

Pfft!

Only then did I realize several soldiers had pierced my body from all sides with halberds. Two swords were lodged in my neck; they were trying to decapitate me, but it seemed they didn’t have enough strength to cut through my thick muscles.

Just a moment of weakness led me to this situation, causing a smile to crawl up my bloodied lips.

I was genuinely impressed by two things.

One was how easy it was to kill a powerful being like myself. At a certain stage, I believed only armed soldiers of my Earth—with Aether rifles, Aether-powered missiles, and other deadly weapons—could hope to take my life.

But here, these powerless humans relied on subtle tricks and group strength to deal with much more powerful foes.

It was truly admirable.

The second was the harmonious song. Whoever used that Song of Harmony was someone I needed to keep by my side. It was the relief I needed from the pain I suffered due to the Gatekeeper system.

This was a loophole the heavens had failed to take into account. One I have vowed to take advantage of.

"Play time is over!" A vicious grin spread across my lips as I looked toward the heavens.

"By the binding pact of cinder and ash, I call upon the Fourfold Flame.

Ignis velkaran, suros myrr’dan, flamora quintess!

Let the skies tremble and the earth recoil.

Arise—Infernum Quadris!

Pillars of ruin, burn my will into the world!"

"By the binding pact of cinder and ash, I call upon the Fourfold Flame.

Ignis velkaran, suros myrr’dan, flamora quintess!

Let the skies tremble and the earth recoil.

Arise—Infernum Quadris!

Pillars of ruin, burn my will into the world!"

Infernum Quadris: Pillars of Eternal Scorch!

Bang! Bang!

Bang! Bang!

The earth within a 400-meter radius began to bulge rapidly. The surface turned scorching red, and the smell of magma seeped out of the ground.

"What?"

"What’s going on?!"

Soldiers were taken aback by the sudden change, many gazing into my burning orange eyes—their pupils dilating as they realized the truth.

He can use magic!

The Great One can use magic!

"Unbelievers... Die." I laughed with a crazed grin.

BOOM! BOOM!

BOOM! BOOOM!

By the time they reacted, it was too late. Pillars of fire erupted from the ground, illuminating the dark night and filling the entire camp with soul-scarring cries of pain.

Hundreds of soldiers were set ablaze instantly, and their voices blended into a symphony of agony and sorrow.

In the background was laughter—wild laughter that sent chills down the hearts of all who heard it.

I was burning in searing flames that would drive most to madness, but I couldn’t stop laughing. Seeing everyone around me cry out in pain and despair—how could I not be excited?

Maybe I’m already mad.

Maybe that’s why a situation like this was amusing to me.

Beyond the flames was a stench completely different from anything I knew.

It was the stench of burning flesh.

Something familiar.

Something I had perceived time and time again, though I couldn’t quite remember what it was.

Ding!

[Path to Godhood Unlocked: Divinity of Chaos]

My eyes narrowed at the notification, stunned by the words.

’Path to Godhood?’ I muttered in shock.

[Only two paths lead to ascension. One is the Divinity of Faith and the other is the Divinity of Chaos. One feeds on love, respect, and prayers, while the other feeds on fear and terror in the hearts of mortals. One turns man into god, the other turns man into demon.]

[Corruption level: 1%]

My eyes narrowed at the vague explanation, and to make matters worse, I’d increased my corruption level.

"What the hell is going on?" I mumbled in confusion.

However, at that moment I realized the flames had vanished. I was standing alone in the center of hundreds of charred corpses, surrounded by soldiers quaking in their boots.

I was completely naked, exposed to all—but it meant nothing to me.

The stench of fear coming from them was revitalizing.

"Shoot him down!"

"Quickly, archers!"

Cries came from afar, but no one responded. Everyone was frozen in place, trembling like newborns discovering darkness for the very first time.

They were afraid.

Now it all made sense.

I was a being they could not kill—no matter how much they tried.

A being that shrugged off their power of unity like it meant nothing.

To these people, I am not man. I am...

"Demon..." someone whispered, and my eyes narrowed.

Is that why I got corrupted further even though I didn’t use dark talents?

Does this mean I’ll get corrupted more over time?

I had a lot of questions, and the system messages kept popping up, but I was more intrigued by the terror in their eyes.

An idea came to mind, and a vicious grin spread across my blackened face.

"Hand over your kings and I will overlook your transgressions."

My voice was low but loud enough for all to hear. Glances were exchanged, and the voices in the background calling for my death fell silent.

My eyes narrowed at their reluctance.

A god must not repeat himself.

These humans must learn that lesson the hard way.

"DIE THEN..."

"From embers to heavens, I call the sky to burn.

Drel’sa koren val’munth, strike the earth with your scorn."

As I began chanting, the air grew thick with heat, and faint sparks danced upward from the ground across the battlefield.

A glowing fiery sigil formed high above, spinning like a burning halo.

Each word of the incantation caused tiny molten cracks to spiderweb across the air above.

"By flame, by wrath, by roaring storm—Vel’rahk! Vel’rahk! Let cinders be reborn!"

Fire Magic: Infernal Hailstorm!