NOVEL NEXT Chapter 262: Ants
At the Abyss...
The war was still raging. Void rested his finger on his chin, grinning.
Everything that happened in that universe was being watched by him. From the moment he left until now, every sacrifice of Shera and the humans, their deaths, their cries, their prayers—their entire struggle—all was laid bare before his eyes.
"System…" Void said.
(Yes, host?)
"Is this how ants survive?" A grin stretched across Void's face.
(...Host is correct.)
"Hahahahahahaha!" Void clutched his abdomen, laughing madly.
"Wow, wow, wow. What the hell? So weak! Do they really think a god will save them? From me—Void? Which god? Hahahaha! Fuck, this is the funniest shit I've seen in a while!"
He laughed harder.
"System, have you ever seen a universe lay down its life for its creatures? Wow… wow. And that thousand-year love story—pathetic. Maybe she never reached the next realm after Sovereign because her heart was holding her back!" Void waved his hand dismissively, still grinning in delight.
(Host, love is special. It's a feeling that most—)
"Cut the crap. Don't tell me you're trying to convince me love is good. Rubbish! Anyway, those pests are dead and I can feel their energy. Their souls are just drops in the ocean, but damn—the scene I watched was worth it. Watching them lay down their lives for each other, acting all… humane." Void smirked and turned his attention back to the battlefield.
The light of angelic laws clashed with demonic darkness. The cries of anguish, the countless lives lost with every collision—it all thrilled him.
"System, how many angels must I kill to reach Quasi Rank 4?" Void asked.
(One hundred peak Rank 3 angels.)
"Damn." Void's eyes widened. That was a lot, he wouldn't lie.
On any other day, it would've been impossible. But today—
"Well, we have a war now." Void chuckled as his aura flared.
His peak Rank 3 energy was quickly noticed, and a peak Rank 3 angel flew at him. Their battle began.
******
Across Worlds and Planets…
On a planet called Earth, three figures moved through a forest—Kratos, Abornim, and Rose. They were heading toward the demi-god hideout.
"Where are we really going?" Rose asked, brushing aside thick bushes.
"You'll see soon," Kratos replied, his deep voice booming.
Abornim trailed behind, observing the planet. It was so different from the JJK world or even the Abyss. Traveling between worlds was refreshing—new sights, new experiences.
They walked for several minutes.
Just as frustration began to creep in, the forest ended. A new view unfolded before them.
Abornim expected something ordinary. Rose expected a paradise. Kratos already knew what to expect. But what stood before them left them all stunned.
Their mouths hung open.
It wasn't paradise. It wasn't ordinary. It was hell.
Corpses upon corpses. Blood everywhere. Guts scattered across the ground.
Rose's face twisted in disgust. She gagged—and vomited. Her limbs weakened, and she collapsed to her knees before fainting.
Kratos and Abornim exchanged glances. They understood. No normal human could look at this and not break down.
What had happened here?
As they stood in silence, a voice broke through the air.
"You've seen it too…" The voice was smooth, calm, yet heavy. Both Kratos and Abornim tensed, eyes scanning the area.
The metallic stench of blood hung thick. What had once been a glorious training ground was now a massacre.
"Relax, you two." The voice came again—this time, traceable.
At the edge of the cliff, a lone silhouette stood.
Long white hair flowed down his back, reaching his waist. His frame was strong, proud, unyielding.
Kratos's eyes widened the moment he saw him.
Abornim raised an eyebrow. "You know him?"
Kratos's voice trembled, his deep tone carrying both recognition and conflict.
"Zeus. The god of thunder and lightning. Ruler of the skies and the Olympian gods. And my… father."
Abornim turned sharply, staring between the silhouette and Kratos.
His father?!
The aura of overwhelming strength emanating from the figure was undeniable. And to think this was Kratos's bloodline… Abornim had much to learn. Especially about these Olympian gods.
"Son…" The silhouette turned. His face came into view—angular, perfect, divine. The face of a god.
Abornim was impressed, but Kratos's heart was clouded.
This Zeus is stronger than the one I killed in my world. What's going on? First Poseidon attacked us, now this…?
He frowned. In this world, he hadn't even encountered another version of himself. Was Kratos already dead here? Or perhaps he had never existed? Either way, something wasn't right.
"It's been a long time since I last saw you," Zeus said as he stepped forward. His brilliance radiated, majestic and authoritative. He towered over both Kratos and Abornim.
"Yes, Father… how have you been? How's Mother?" Kratos asked cautiously.
Zeus smiled but deflected.
"That aside… you must have come here seeking refuge."
Kratos frowned slightly. He had dodged the question. Still, he didn't press further.
"Yes. Sadly, we found this instead."
Zeus's gaze darkened.
"Yes. Unfortunately, most of the gods' children were here. Now their bodies lie wasted. This entire ground is a graveyard for my bloodline—and the children of the other gods as well."
His voice was calm, but Kratos could sense the fury beneath it.
"Who did this?" Kratos demanded. "Who would dare wipe out the gods' bloodline?"
For even demigods, the children of gods, were protected. Killing them outright was an act of blasphemy.
Zeus's eyes blazed. Lightning cracked across the skies as dark clouds rolled in.
"Outsiders." His voice thundered.
The planet shook under the roar of the storm.
************
In the fitel..
A universe swirling alone in void of nothing but in her here lies a being sitting cross legged ...
Kai was motionless in the void, eyes still shut. His aura was suffocating, yet eerily calm—like a blade pressed against the throat of creation itself.
His voice was low, but every word carried weight, as though the universe itself bent to listen.
"Illusions… dreams… lies… all of you cling to them as if they were truth. But reality is merciless. It does not bend for hope, nor break for despair. It simply is. Eternal. Unyielding. Unforgiving."
"Power, destiny, gods, demons… none of it matters. Strip it away, and what remains? Reality. The one law that even eternity kneels before. And now… it is mine to wield."
Kai's eyes opened. Cold, silver light burst forth—like countless shattered mirrors reflecting infinity.
The void screamed. Realities crumbled, overlapping worlds distorted and collapsed into dust. With a single step, Kai stood above them, as though the boundary between dream and existence had ceased to matter.
A whisper escaped his lips, colder than death itself.
"To defy me… is to defy reality itself."
And the multiverse shook.
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