Thunder and darkness filled the world; the seas raged as if angry with humanity itself as huge waves smashed into beaches, and tsunamis raged l like a fierce weapon to fulfil that anger.


    "It has been reported that Europa II''s dormant volcanoes have erupted, the death toll is...."


    Since that moment several hours ago, the world has experienced hell like never before.


    At the same time, Zell stood in the basement; this room was built to withstand most disasters, and thankfully, his own country would only experience a light tsunami and earthquakepared to other countries.


    He watched with quiet breaths, worried that things might change.


    ''Tonight, the end shalle for those that didn''t y the game; their chance to adapt is gone forever, thus forced to be half-assed even if they start ying the game.''


    Zell''s heart was racing, worried about the future; no matter how strong he became, like an ant against a hurricane, he felt powerless.


    "It''s funny that even now, the game is perfectly fine, despite millions dying and being killed; why did I never doubt the gods before they abandoned me?"


    Like most humans, Zell never lost those feelings, that slight hope to depend on something or someone else; he was never a hero and couldn''t even protect the things around him, sometimes feeling like a failure.


    However, he would tell himself, ''no, I can do this, all I need to do is fight harder, train more, and I can protect at least those beside me!''


    Meanwhile, in a brilliant white room, oblivious to thementing human race, all began to eat and drink like a banquet.


    These people were the various deities and divines now celebrating the true start of their war; for some reason, all were convinced of their victory while Astra stood at the side, her eyes fixated on the small 3D image in the centre of the world, disying the tragedies on the Asteria.


    ''Why do we celebrate when we are supposed to fight and help these people to survive?'' Her thoughts were drowned out by the various gods and goddesses that began tough and even bet on how many humans would die.


    ''It seems those trying to help the humans too much have been isted and were not included in this party.''


    Astra wanted to leave to visit her close friend in the dungeon while Tellurian and the other council members were busy, but sadly she was forced to attend as an annoying lesser god approached her with two goblets of a red, sticky fluid.


    "Yo, if it isn''t the goddess of fate, tell me, howe you couldn''t foresee this?"


    His sarcastic voice should be seen as rude. However, it wasn''t unknown that Astra supported humanity more than most gods, despite her father being a divine purist.


    A male stood close to Astra, his body tall and muscr, with long blond hair, someone with the title "lesser" god was yet to find their divinity or path, thus didn''t rule over anything and were like lesser nobles and knights,pared to the dukes and counts ifpared to human nobility.


    ''Tsk, what is this clown doing just because my father thinks you have a promise.''


    Astra gave a polite bow out of courtesy, not wanting to draw her father''s ire.


    "Well, if it isn''t Oswald, the nameless god with no talents." Her reply is thorny, still feeling regret at the chain of events, her father discovering her efforts to help a certain male, his blood being mixed with demons, thus causing his wrath, leading to Veronica being "disposed" of.


    The man ignored the fact she didn''t want to speak with him, his fake smile stering across his face like a clown''s mask. He pushed the ss of wine towards her, tilting it as if insisting she drinks.


    "Now, is that any way to speak about your potential spouse?"


    Instantly, the goblin froze before shattering into a thousand pieces of gold and red ice, her face even icier than before while the man''s brows furrowed, not expecting such a severe rejection as he looked back.


    ''Eh? What''s this reaction? Why does she seem so against it? Her father said she loved the idea?'' Oswald thought to himself before feeling a sense of shame.


    Several other young lesser gods pointed towards him,ughing at his mess.


    ''Those damn pricks! Dareugh at the future son-inw of the god of purity and justice! They better wait, and you, Astra, there is no choice for you but to be my wife!''


    The moment the male began to feel pleased with himself, a cold voice sounded directly inside his mind, like Astra''s, but more sinister as he looked upon her, feeling his mind almost shattering at how beautiful and charming she was.


    "You wretched garbage, do you think I would let youe within a metre of me? Don''t think too much of yourself; now vanish for eternity, filthy cockroach!"


    Astra''s eyes glowed goldenly, and her beautiful blue hair swayed like the ocean waves hammering the western nations; as she swiped her hand across the air, a loud crack and slight gasp sounded.


    ''So disgusting!'' Astra thought as she watched the man.


    Oswald didn''t even realise what had happened, he tried to speak, but suddenly small cracks began to form along his arms, crumbling slowly as it revealed his golden blood; slowly, that blood was devoured as if something was stripping away his faint divinity.


    Pop!<novelnext></novelnext>


    A thunderous roar filled the room, almost disturbing the entire party.


    The moment Oswald''s body exploded into dust, his mouth could not utter a scream; Tellurian entered, his eyes focused on the moment a divine was killed.


    ''That naughty little girl!? What has she done!''


    Astra didn''t care; looking upwards at her father, seeing the swirling power and rage filling his eyes, caused her to sneer before turning away.


    Tellurian couldn''t even call her back because he was swarmed by potential allies against the neutral factions that were busy trying to help humanity. At the same time, his eyes kept fixated on the disappearing back of his daughter, determined to make her pay for ruining his ns.


    Did she care that Oswald was the son of an influential goddess? No way! To her, there was only one male that could speak to her like that.


    She treated him as a toy, something to tease, yet he managed to grasp her sister''s heart in a month. Now able to make two high-tier goddesses crazy about him, enough to betray Eden easily, Vestia was mouring to meet him again.


    Astra walked along a nk hallway, Eden sounded like a wonderful ce for humans, but for most who lived there, it was nd, boring and tiresome.


    Her delicate hands mmed open a small ck door before entering the woman''s room littered with bottles of makeup, beer and several other things that would never be linked to a goddess.


    "Such a tiresome day; why does Veronica get to be so free, just like mother..."


    The moment she mentioned "mother", Astra dropped onto the ck sofa, stolen from Yinfra''s room when they fought; she held back; otherwise, how could she escape so easily?


    ''I bet you two are already with him again, right? It looks so fun; I am a little jealous.''


    A glistening array of stars began to form around her body, as countless images of events toe that have passed and could have been ying like a movie reel around her.


    Scene of Zell being killed by the first goblin who demonised, the moment Anyamitted suicide, a future image appeared, the moment her eyes set sight on it, all other images shattered as if the power to see fate was gone.


    Inside that image...


    A de pierced her heart.


    The de was ck, with a demonic dragon coiling the hilt.


    Zell''s demonic figure, with his ck armour and ming scales, as they burn everything around him, even his skin; slowly, he pushed the de into her chest, deeper as golden blood flowed from the wound, like petals being scattered.


    Suddenly both the Astra in the image and the Astra viewing opened their lips, talking in sync as if Astra watched this image several times.


    "Finally, released from this cursed role." Her bloody hand reaches out towards Zell, his powerful aura causing her flesh to burn, slightly melting as she touches his helmet''s cheek with delicate fingers. "How d I am it is you setting me free, my only beloved champion."


    Like waking from a dream, the image bes blurry, thest sight of a handsome man with neck-length hair and beautiful eyes staring at her; no emotion or regret''s were seen as the stars faded, the darkness returned to Astra''s room, as several teardrops dripped to her hands.


    "I have seen this image since I was but a mere girl; tell me, Zell Dcroix, will this time be the one you finally set me free?"


    Falling back onto her huge white bed, shended with a dull sound, spreading her arm''s apart as a small screen appeared across her vision.


    "You look so confident this time. Will those words you spouted when we mete true? Even if your sword is destined to pierce me, pleasee and set me free, my little demon knight."


    Unknown, he had been watched from the moment he was born, in endless lives until now; Zell stood half naked in his training room; since he evolved the demon form, just fighting in the game felt like it wasn''t enough as he began to train daily with triple his normal regime when he was a normal human or before his evolution.


    Wiping his body with a towel, the ck scales formed around his body rapidly, something he also began to practise; the speed and rate at which his body became fully armoured increased the more effort and times he repeated these actions.


    Zell walked towards the window, leaving the towel in the washing basket, looking down from the city filled with firefighters, police cars and their loud sirens; today was chaos as many people began to loot ormit violent crimes.


    ''Humans are so stupid; why are they fighting amongst each other when something more sinister is hiding in the darkness, waiting to kill them all?''


    He sighed before the ck scales began to cover his face, making him look more demonic than the demon whelps and imps.


    "Tonight, they wille inrge numbers!" A distorted and evil voice sounded.


    Zell wasn''t going to hunt the monsters to save people or be a hero; he no longer cared enough to bother; this was a perfect evening for him to grind his power to the same stage as a demon brute.


    His visage was truly that of a demon prince, but he didn''t care; cing his hand against the ss, his figure vanished with a gale of wind.