Chapter 1
Crackling within the titan's grasp, a vivid blue bolt of lightning flickered.
"How exceedingly foolish of you, Dregn, to harbor the audacious notion of slaying an entire pantheon. Cease this foolhardiness forthwith, and we shall grant you a swift and merciful demise. But should you persist, your fate shall be slow and agonizing."
Dregn shielded his eyes as, with astounding alacrity, eleven radiant beams descended around him, unveiling the remaining gods, evidently prepared for a clash.
"U-ughn."
"Seems I've garnered a bit of popularity. Are all of you here solely for my sake?"
"You impudent fool! How dare you?!"
"Do you perceive us as the feeble, titleless deities you have vanquished?" bellowed the trident-wielding god in fury.
"And where are your lackeys?" Ephara, the queen of gods, inquired of Dregn.
"Hmmmm. I shall indulge your inquiry, for you asked me so nicely. They currently engage in confrontation with the remainder of your children beneath the tower. Fear not, though. I shall dispatch you, Ephara, unaided. I am more than sufficient."
"How dare you besmirch my mother, you insect?!" roared the god, clad entirely in crimson armor, seething with rage.
"I shall slaughter you!"
Undeterred, his heart resolute, he summoned forth a spear imbued with a blood-red hue, hurtling it toward Dregn.
"God armament Thanatiforos... arise."
Obeying Dregn's command, an immense sword shrouded in darkness materialized, nearly matching his towering stature. With this weapon, he nimbly deflected the spear, shattering it in an instant.
"...!"
The armored god retreated a step, hastily conjuring yet another spear, launching it once more—all within a fleeting second.
In the very instant the spear threatened to pierce Dregn, his corporeal form turned illusory, propelling him forward.
The god's eyes widened in disbelief. Dregn had achieved intangibility, a feat of velocity only the god of speed, Phanax, could achieve. The god of speed, renowned for his ability to move with such swiftness as to become ethereal, found himself dumbfounded as Dregn replicated this extraordinary power.
"M-Mogis, dodge!"
Keranos urgently shouted at Mogis, but it was too late.
In the fraction of a second it took Keranos to utter his plea, Dregn had already traversed the distance between them, emerging behind Mogis. The velocity of his movement proved so swift and unforeseen that even Keranos, the storm god, could not react in time.
"You make a lot of noise," Dregn uttered, swinging the colossal sword, "so I implore you to die."
Terror consumed the god's heart, sensing his imminent demise.
"What manner of monstrous being is this?" Mogis pondered.
Yet before the god could even turn his gaze behind him, the sword descended like a bolt of lightning.
Slice!
The blade cleaved through him effortlessly, his feeble resistance futile.
With his severed head, his body crumbled akin to a fragile sandcastle. His head thudded upon the ground, vacant eyes and an open mouth mirroring a silent scream.
"...Ha."
Dregn chortled, flourishing the ebony blade, then abruptly halting it as droplets of ichor cascaded, leaving the weapon pristine. His blade pirouetted through the air with remarkable ease, slicing without the slightest hint of resistance.
"Well, that was
unexpectedly easy, and I have yet to employ my stolen abilities. It appears I may have overestimated all of you."
"...!"
The gods swiftly regained their composure. They had never before witnessed nor heard of such a phenomenon, and were utterly astounded. However, it did not take long for them to fathom the gravity of the situation. As if in perfect accord, their voices resounded thunderously.
"You shall not depart this tower alive, Dregn!"
"You all are endearingly valiant," Dregn smirked as he embedded the god armament into the ground, adopting a poised fighting stance.
"Well, one deity down, eleven remain. Bring it on!" Dregn retorted, a glimmer of madness gleaming in his violet eyes.
