CHAPTER 153: REVELATION [1]

Bam!

Shooting in through the window, I crashed to the ground with a loud bang and lay there in silence. Beads of sweat ran down my forehead, and I shivered like I had a cold.

Breathing was difficult, just like when I was hit by the attack, and my vision was a bit blurry.

[I warned you to flee!] the system snapped at me, and I chuckled.

This reminded me of how it graciously gave me all the information I asked for while fighting with Seo-Yun. The selfish system, notorious for hoarding knowledge, became obedient when my life was in danger.

What made this interesting was that Seo-Yun was another Gatekeeper. Why would it be desperate to stop me from dying at the hands of one of my own?

I was already certain this system wasn’t a system. Whatever was responding to my words and giving me all these messages was a living thing that could feel and think like me.

It only revealed itself at moments when my life was at risk. However, that left me confused.

This is the same system that believes the suffering I endure from the Gatekeeper talent is well deserved—so why was it bothered about my survival?

Would something happen to it if I died?

I had a million questions to ask, but I didn’t get the chance. Darkness crept in from the corners of my vision, and a familiar chilling presence followed.

Instantly, I knew I had experienced this feeling before. But I didn’t resist it. I let everything flow as it should, and in a matter of seconds, darkness had completely enveloped my sight—replacing everything with void.

"Here again," I muttered as I found myself in a dark world.

The deafening sound of lightning resonated from everywhere, but there were no flashes. The only source of light was the pair of crimson eyes burning brightly at the center of a black storm.

It was the Abyss.

[No one tastes the power of the Abyss and remains the same. Welcome to the fold.]

Rolling my eyes, I couldn’t help but wonder if all these deities were stupid or something. After reading up on the system’s explanation of divinity and understanding how the power of Faith and Fear worked, I had come to realize one thing:

Power belongs to anyone bold enough to wield it.

This being didn’t own the power of darkness. It was simply an entity that had been in contact with dark powers far longer than anyone else. It had accumulated enough strength—and minions—to spread terror and fear across the universe, further boosting its strength with each realm ravaged.

By bringing everyone using dark powers into its fold, it successfully monopolized the entire power source.

"Welcome to the fold?" I scoffed. "I don’t remember agreeing to be one of your pawns."

The burning crimson eyes narrowed at my words.

[The moment you allowed darkness to corrupt your soul, you became mine to control!] the Abyss declared, and I burst out laughing.

"Those silly talks only work on fools," I chuckled, but slowly, my smile faded and my face turned stern.

"Power belongs to no one. Before you existed, darkness existed. Just because you figured out a way to tap into this power before everyone else doesn’t make you special."

I snapped back coldly.

The Abyss just stared at me in silence for a while before shutting its eyes completely.

Buzz!

There was silence and darkness. Even the lightning strikes vanished.

When the eyes opened again, there was someone standing atop them. A 9-foot-tall being dressed in tight-fitting black armor, entirely made of darkness.

Its frame was slender, and there was no peculiar design to the armor or helmet—just a red scarf tied around its neck while its eyes brimmed with crimson light.

It had no weapon. It just stared at me for a few seconds before floating over.

As it got closer, it felt like I was shrinking. When it finally stood in front of me, I had to look up to meet its gaze.

"Of all the mortals I have come across, you are the only one this persistent and disrespectful—even in the face of the greats."

The Abyss didn’t speak from its mouth. Its voice came from the surroundings, causing the realm to tremble violently.

The Abyss hovered around me with that same unreadable gaze.

"If you had existed at the very beginning, with your resolve, you would have achieved godhood. Unfortunately, you were born late, and all the seats of power are occupied. There is no place for you in heaven, so why don’t you just bow to a superior being and seek its protection in this time of chaos?" the Abyss asked.

Its tone was empty. There was no anger, no hatred—just indifference.

"No seat in heaven?" I was taken aback. "Isn’t God dead?"

The Abyss nodded and leaned forward, stopping only when its face was inches from mine. Its burning gaze was deeper than I thought—like a bottomless pit that was nearly impossible to climb out of.

"The Supreme Deity is dead, but what makes you think death means the same for we higher beings?" the Abyss asked. "Why do you think all the deities, including myself, are desperately trying to take control of more territories?"

I was left dumbfounded and silent. Only now did I realize I knew nothing about what was really going on.

"You’re trying to say... God is not dead?" I had to ask.

The Abyss drifted back a few meters, as if pulled away by an invisible force.

"God is dead—but His seat is not taken because He is still alive. However, before He can return to His throne, the Heavens and Abyss are trying to seize as much of His influence as possible and reduce His grip over the universe.

That is what you Gatekeepers were tasked to prevent."

Buzz!

It felt like my head was spinning at this revelation. I needed nearly a minute to piece my thoughts together before asking another question.

"There are... other deities?" I stuttered, and it calmly nodded.

"The only reason you’ve only heard of Gatekeepers and Dark Keepers is because we are the two strongest beings in this universe—and the battle for supremacy lies between the two of us.

The other, smaller deities are only trying to increase their influence a little. They dare not eye the throne of Heaven like I do."