Holding a black-bladed sword that oozed malevolence, Muiren advanced. Luna's arrows flew, but he deflected each one with precise, effortless movements. His gaze never wavered, a smirk etched into his face. I had read plenty of stories back on Earth where the hero fought enemies within a reasonable level gap. But this? This was no fairy tale. There was no conveniently even playing field here—Muiren was a monster of unfathomable strength.

  Ileor, my father, met him head-on, with me flanking to provide support. Despite our teamwork, Muiren’s speed and skill outmatched us entirely. I managed to deflect a few strikes with my axes, redirecting his blows to keep my father standing. Still, the effort left me winded and exposed, my level simply too low to compete with such raw power.

  Emma charged in, her ghostly and draconic powers adding a layer of unpredictability. Luna's arrows rained from above, each shot aiming for a weak spot. Even Grillo’s hammer swung with a force that could topple a mountain. But nothing seemed to phase Muiren.

  He fought with casual ease, treating our every attempt as little more than a nuisance. Desperate, I summoned my elemental magic, calling upon the earth to encase him and the wind to sever his head. A massive blade of compressed air sliced through the battlefield, cleaving trees and rocks alike, but Muiren’s head remained firmly on his shoulders.

  The reason became clear. Around him flowed an unnatural, viscous aura—black and oily, yet alive. It moved like a tide, cycling in and out of his body, and it absorbed every attack like a shield. I was the only one who could see it, and the sight sent a chill through me. This wasn’t mana or aura as I understood them. It was something darker.

  He broke free of the stone bindings with ease and charged at my father. I cast a flash of blinding light, buying us a few precious moments. Annoyed, Muiren muttered a spell, and a dark film covered his eyes, like magical sunglasses.

  “Why are you doing this?” I shouted, desperate to stall him. “Breaking your curse wasn’t intentional—it was an accident!”

  Muiren’s laughter rang out, cold and sharp. “An accident? You think this is about that? No, boy. This is about what you are and what you represent. Your existence threatens everything we’ve built. Your kind—your race—must be extinguished.”

  “What does being an elf have to do with anything?” I demanded, even as I struggled to keep up with his relentless assault.

  “Everything!” he roared. “The prophecy tells of you undoing the very foundation of our power. Left unchecked, you would reshape this world, turning it into a place where we gods have no dominion. That is unacceptable.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “And the system?” I pressed. “You said it wasn’t made by the gods. What did you mean?”

  “The system,” he sneered, “was forged by the High Gods and bound to the Tablet of Creation. But the fools lacked foresight. The tablet took control, severing our influence. We’ve been locked out ever since.”

  “So... the gods aren’t even in charge?” I mumbled, stunned.

  “Not entirely,” he admitted. “But it doesn’t matter. You won’t live long enough to uncover the truth.”

  He hurled a dagger at me, its blade whistling through the air. I barely dodged, the blade embedding itself into a tree. The tree instantly withered, its bark blackening and peeling away.

  Emma erupted onto the battlefield, her red string of fate coiling around her arm like a living flame.

  “Emma, no!” I screamed, but she was beyond reason, her fury driving her forward. Muiren turned to face her, his sword raised.

  With a speed I’d never seen before, Emma’s fist collided with his sword, shattering it in a deafening boom that knocked everyone off their feet. Muiren staggered, his smirk momentarily replaced with shock.

  But Emma couldn’t maintain her stance. She collapsed, her strength spent. My father moved faster than I thought possible, catching her mid-fall. Even as he carried her to safety, Muiren thrust the jagged remains of his sword into my father’s back, the blade piercing through his stomach.

  My mother rushed to stabilize Ileor, her hands trembling as she worked. Rage boiled within me, a primal force erupting from the deepest corners of my being.

  My mana surged, golden light spilling from my eyes. My voice echoed unnaturally, layered with the power of [Soul Speak], and my axes began to glow. One axe trembled in my hand, unstable from the overwhelming energy coursing through it. Knowing it would soon explode, I hurled it at Muiren.

  The explosion tore through his chest plate, leaving him bloodied but still standing. My remaining axe drank deeply of my mana, resonating with my anger.

  Titan’s Heart resonates with your will.

  This weapon has absorbed enough mana to evolve into a Mythical Grade weapon. It is now soul-bound and will return to you if dropped.

  The axe’s form shifted, its edges gleaming with an otherworldly brilliance. It felt alive in my hand, an extension of my fury.

  “Take this, asshat!” I roared, burying the weapon in Muiren’s shoulder.

  For the first time, his aura faltered. He bellowed in rage, his dark power exploding outward. The force launched me across the battlefield, the impact stealing my breath and cracking my ribs.

  Before he could finish me, a glowing hammer materialized, blocking his strike. It shattered instantly, but the blow was deflected. Grillo stood nearby, his face pale but determined. He swung his Adamantium hammer, smashing it into Muiren’s head. The hammer disintegrated on impact, but the strike knocked the dark god back a step.

  Enraged, Muiren retaliated, shattering Grillo’s Elorium gauntlet and sending the dwarf flying.

  Muiren grabbed me by the collar, lifting me effortlessly. “To think I wouldn’t have found you without this mountain nearby,” he sneered.

  A deafening roar split the air, shaking the ground beneath us. The earth itself shifted, and I realized with awe and terror what was happening.

  Zotherg, the living mountain, was waking. The land itself had risen to fight.

  Jerk even managed to bring sunglasses!

  "What does being reborn an elf have to do with anything?" I demanded.

  No! No! No! I screamed in my head. I bashed at Muiren with my ax's but he didn't even look at me anymore. I couldn't pierce his aura and he knew it. All his attention was on the person I loved most in this world!

  Another secret of Grillo's family symbol? I thought.

  Man, these Gods strength is no joke!