Sovereign of the Ashes

Unlike the Dark Lady and the Elemental God, the two renowned faction leaders, Poseidon remained an enigma.

In Faeloria, its existence was scarcely known, even to lesser deities like the God of Brute Force.

To be acknowledged by the God of Justice and regarded as an opponent of equal rank spoke volumes about Poseidon’s power.

The title of Poseidon was not one that lesser or intermediate oceanic deities could claim lightly.

Throughout history, there had only ever been one true Poseidon in Faeloria, dwelling beneath the boundless ocean to the south of the continent.

Among the vast and complex pantheon of oceanic gods, only a handful of greater deities had ever heard its name.

According to legend, Poseidon’s true age was even greater than that of the Elemental God.

It was, in every sense, the true living fossil of Faeloria.

At present, in the eyes of the God of Justice, only these three individuals were truly qualified to break through to the realm of Overdeity alongside him.

By contrast, Levon Thorstein, the Bloodwar Monarch of Purgatory, also possessed the strength of a supreme deity.

However, the Bloodwar Monarch was old, burdened by lingering wounds from past battles.

Moreover, his unwillingness to fully assimilate into Faeloria had caused the very laws of the continent to reject his existence.

Under such circumstances, for Levon Thorstein to ascend to the realm of an Overdeity would be nothing short of a miracle!

As for the dragon gods in the eastern sea, the God of Justice hardly regarded them as a significant force.

They were nothing more than oversized lizards—frightening to mortals, perhaps, but ultimately inconsequential in the eyes of supreme powerhouses.

The strongest among them, the Iridescent Dragon, claimed to possess power rivaling that of a supreme deity. But that was just a “claim”—a “comparison”.

In an actual battle, even dragons with unique abilities were unlikely to match the Bloodwar Monarch in combat.

However, what made the dragons particularly troublesome was their cunningness.

In ancient times, dragons roamed the Prime Materia Plane, giving rise to countless legendary dragon-slaying heroes.

In the modern era, however, nearly all dragons had withdrawn to their island stronghold in the outer seas, rarely interfering in the affairs of the main continent.

This tendency to congregate had made the dragon gods an exceptionally difficult target for rival factions to challenge.

Of course, this did not apply to supreme powerhouses like the God of Justice, the Dark Lady, or the Elemental God.

The reason dragons were considered cunning was their strategic alliances.

To maintain their presence in Faeloria and protect their interests, these oversized lizards deliberately sought to align themselves with the wielders of supreme might.

For instance, a significant number of white dragons had already taken up residence within the God of Justice’s divine nation.

White is the symbol of holiness—the God of Justice once said.

Though white dragons were not necessarily embodiments of holiness, within the many temples of the God of Justice across Faeloria, any exarch who was either born with extraordinary potential or had made significant contributions would receive a white dragon as a mount, a gift bestowed by the God of Justice himself.

Within the Dark Alliance, black dragons were just as prevalent.

The dragon gods’ strategy had undeniably ensured their prosperity in Faeloria. Their numbers steadily increased, their influence ever-growing.

In contrast, the purebred demons of the three-level Purgatory were dwindling.

Unlike them, these dragons—despite being outsiders—had effortlessly adapted to this world’s laws, integrating seamlessly and thriving within it.

Beyond the Dark Alliance, the Justice League, the Wings of Nature, the sea gods, the dragon gods, and the demons, Faeloria was home to another faction—the ancient gods.

These beings lurked deep within the frozen wilderness of the distant north.

The God of Justice acknowledged that the ancient gods had once accomplished great deeds. But that was an era long past.

Now, not a single one of them was worthy of his attention.

To him, they were nothing more than specters lingering in a decaying graveyard, clinging to the last vestiges of their dwindling divine power.

At this moment, the God of Justice stood gazing over the Prime Materia Plane.

At the edge of the world, the first light of dawn emerged slowly from beyond the sea, bringing light to the lands below.

Every time he witnessed this sight, a wave of emotion stirred within him.

He turned to the white-robed figure beside him and spoke.

“Muso, as the God of Radiance, what do you think a sun is?”

The deity he addressed was one of the Justice League’s renowned greater deities, as well as the God of Justice’s closest confidant and right hand.

Though he was not a direct follower of the God of Justice, there was no doubt that he was his most trusted friend, ally, and subordinate.

Muso lowered his head slightly in thought, then answered, “The sun... I think it is a manifestation of the laws. The divine power I wield, along with a portion of the radiance law, was comprehended through the power of light contained within the sun.”

The God of Justice listened, nodding at first—then shaking his head.

“It is said that in the ancient era, Faeloria was once home to a deity known as the Sun God. Though he has long since fallen, remnants of his teachings suggest that the sun is not merely a manifestation of laws—it possesses a true, physical form. Yet, we are confined within this crystal barrier, unable to set foot upon the sun and witness the truth for ourselves.”

The God of Justice spoke as he raised his hand and reached toward the sky.

Here, at the highest point of his divine nation, there was seemingly nothing above him. Yet, his palm met resistance, as if there was an unseen ceiling.

His words brought a wry smile to the God of Radiance’s lips.

“Like the Dark Lady, you, too, question the nature of our world?” the God of Radiance asked.

“Dio—the God of Gods—undoubtedly existed. Although I am close to reaching the realm of an Overdeity, I cannot shake the feeling that even if I ascend... I will still be beneath him,” the God of Justice remarked.

“Where has Dio gone? That is the question that lingers in the mind of every deity in Faeloria.”

His voice grew solemn as he continued, “Moreover, the presence of the demons, dragon gods, and other foreign beings only reinforces the possibility that the Prime Materia Plane is not the only world that exists.”

Just as the lesser beings of the Godslayers once struggled to forge their path to godhood, so too did those who now stood at the pinnacle of existence. Their pursuit of the unknown had never ceased.

The God of Justice grew ever more certain that if he could ascend to Overgod, he would finally break free from this world’s shackles and venture beyond.

What lay outside? What was the true nature of the “sun” and “moon” in their skies?

Those were the mysteries that gnawed at his mind.

If the Faelorian deities could one day uncover the true nature of reality and correct their understanding of the world, they would undergo an unimaginable transformation!

After all, deities were beings who mastered the power of laws.

Laws were born from reality itself—they formed the very foundation of the Astral Realm.

The God of Justice’s desire to unveil the truth of the world burned hotter than ever.

It was a calling, a mission bestowed upon him by fate itself.

When that moment arrived, Faeloria would enter a new era and experience an upheaval.

This was why, for nearly a hundred thousand years, the God of Justice had relentlessly expanded his religion and gathered followers.

He would use the faith of countless billions as fuel to propel himself into the realm of Overgod!

And now, the arrival of that fated day was drawing ever closer.