After a long and heavy silence, Zhel-Vorah finally broke it.
"Just look at the sky… it's beautiful, isn't it?" His voice was almost gentle. "Do you know why it's so breathtaking today?"
He paused, then smiled—terrifying and triumphant.
"Because this is the day I ascend. Today, I become the True Dragon God."
Solmiras, standing tall in his soul form, shook his head.
"I warned you once. You shouldn't be here."
Zhel-Vorah chuckled darkly. "What will you do? You're in your soul form—you can only use 20% of your full strength."
Solmiras met his gaze with unwavering calm.
"That's more than enough to deal with you."
Without warning, Zhel-Vorah roared and lunged, his claws slicing through the air. Flames and dark mana erupted from his form as he unleashed a devastating barrage. But Solmiras simply snapped his fingers—and the attacks vanished like mist in the wind.
Then they clashed. Blow after blow. Zhel-Vorah struck like a tempest, hurling spheres of annihilation, dragon fire, and shadow spears—each enough to shatter mountains. But none could pierce Solmiras' calm defense.
Then the tide turned.
Solmiras raised his arm. "My turn, Zhel-Vorah."
A beam of searing, divine flame—the Dragon's Breath—erupted from his mouth, engulfing Zhel-Vorah and launching him across the sky like a comet. He vaporized into light.
But it wasn't over.
A deep tremor rippled through the realm as Zhel-Vorah reformed, reborn through his Requiem. But the moment he materialized, Solmiras appeared behind him and gripped his throat.
With merciless strength, he smashed Zhel-Vorah into the ground again and again—each strike cracking the realm until a vast crater spread like a wound beneath them. Zhel-Vorah lay broken, barely conscious.
Solmiras loomed over him. His voice was heavy with sorrow.
"When you were a child, you never sought salvation. Only destruction. I tried to teach you, correct your path, time and again. But your greed... your corruption... turned my lessons to ash. You craved power so deeply that you even killed your own mother to steal her Requiem—Kravlir. And Kravlir choose just because you are strong."
He knelt beside Zhel-Vorah, placing two fingers against his forehead.
"It ends now."
A blinding light erupted. Zhel-Vorah screamed in agony. The power that once defined him was torn away.
"I've sealed your Requiem forever," said Solmiras coldly, "and destroyed your True Abyss."
But Zhel-Vorah, broken and bloodied, whispered,
"When I was a child... all I wanted was love. Attention. From you. From mother. But neither of you gave it. You offered pain… torture… and killed everyone I ever loved. Even her—my heart. Lyn. When I met her, I knew peace for the first time. I didn't want destruction. I wanted love. But mother… she called her 'lesser.' She slaughtered her." His voice cracked. "You know, when someone dies by the Dragon's Breath or the Birth of Destruction, they are erased from history itself. Gone. Forgotten just like Lyn. I vowed then… I would become a god. I would tear through fate itself to bring her back."
Solmiras' expression softened. He placed a hand on Zhel-Vorah's shoulder.
"I know your pain. But this path… is not what she would've wanted."
Zhel-Vorah's eyes filled with madness.
"I don't care what she wanted!"
With a sudden lunge, he grabbed Solmiras by the neck and began draining his soul energy.
"I want her back. I want to see her again. I want to see her smile. So I will do anything! Even if I have to devour the cosmos itself!"
He started to devour his powers. Before Solmiras could break free—a shining blade pierced Zhel-Vorah's back.
He gasped.
" Why The... Time Blade is here?"
A voice echoed above them.
"Because I'm here."
The realm split open like fabric. From the rift, Jin and his companions emerged, silhouetted by divine light.
Zhel-Vorah smirked.
"So… you've finally returned."
Jin's eyes were cold, unyielding.
"I've returned… to kill you."
Without hesitation, both warriors summoned their armies. Shadows and dragons collided. Velka and Lia rushed to heal Solmiras. High above, Jin and Zhel-Vorah engaged in a battle that shook the fabric of reality.
Zhel-Vorah grinned mid-fight.
"You've grown powerful. You're now my equal. A worthy opponent."
Their strikes caused shockwaves that cracked the stars. Even the Eternal Path trembled beneath their fury.
Then Zhel-Vorah halted.
"I have something to show you."
He snapped.
And then.
Three monstrous figures emerged from the shadows—Myrrak'thal, Vyrealis, and Tharagon. Jin's eyes widened.
"But… they're dead! How are they still alive?"
Zhel-Vorah laughed.
"Monarchs are born from darkness. And I—creator of darkness—resurrected them. I stole 5% of our father's divine essence… and that was enough to revive them."
They attacked—but Jin countered effortlessly. He struck Myrrak'thal aside, punched Tharagon in the gut, and sent Vyrealis flying. He activated Omnikinesis, forcing the monarchs to kneel.
More enemies appeared—Nyreth and Bellon—but Lilian and Chris intercepted them.
Lilian smirked. "I'll handle my ugliest sister. Chris, take Myrrak'thal. You two—handle the dog."
Chris, Bellon, and Nyreth saluted. "As you say, ma'am!"
Tharagon snarled, "I'm not ugly, you brat!"
Vyrealis growled, "I'm not a dog!"
Myrrak'thal, ever silent, finally smirked.
"At least I'm handsome."
Chaos erupted as they argued mid-battle.
But Jin's eyes darted back to Zhel-Vorah—who was gone.
Realization dawned.
"It's a distraction!"
Jin vanished in a flash and appeared just in time—behind Zhel-Vorah—who was about to stab Solmiras. Without a word, Jin sliced through him, beheading the dragon king.
Zhel-Vorah fell.
Everyone stared, stunned. Cheers erupted. They didn't believe that they defeated him so easily. Meanwhile Lillian, Chris, Nyreth and Bellon killed their opponents.
But Jin didn't join them. He sensed it—something was wrong.
Before he could react, a blade pierced Solmiras' heart—from behind. That made everyone stunned and even Jin himself.
Zhel-Vorah stood again, blood-soaked and smiling.
"Surprised? My Requiem… wasn't just about resurrection. Its secret ability… is Blood Riddle."
Everyone froze.
"In Blood Riddle, I place my mark on someone. If I die… I return through the Mark Vessel. And in the process… I consume them completely."
He placed his hand on Solmiras' chest.
"Solmiras thought he could hide his real body in Nothingness when he sacrificed himself. He was wrong. I found it. And I devoured it. Now…"
Everyone tried to stop him but it was too late.
Light engulfed the battlefield. Zhel-vorah shouted with joy.
"I have devoured his soul. His body. His power. I… am the New Creator."
When the light faded, Zhel-Vorah stood transformed—glorious and terrifying, now a being of both corruption and divinity.
Jin narrowed his eyes.
"This isn't over."
Zhel-Vorah spread his wings, his aura twisting space.
"No, Jin… this is just the beginning."