Against The True Gods

Caine, covered from head to toe in thick white robes, calmly walked across a snowy plain, alone.

The cold winds brushed against the robes draped over his face, while his silver pupils reflected the snowflakes drifting down from the skies.

Vapors escaped his lips with every exhale as he basked in the peaceful sounds of nature.

The soft crunch of snow beneath his boots provided the only interruption to the quiet serenity.

'So my parents must have known something would happen to them. In preparation, they left certain things with people they trusted.'

'But I've never heard of Theobald—at least not as someone important to us. From that, I can only assume my parents had a private task force, separate and parallel to the Velios.'

'Zao is most likely the head of this private force, the one overseeing all its affairs. After all, he's the one who told me Theobald is a great crafter.'

'But why hasn't he just told me outright? Why all these mental games?'

Caine shook his head. The answer was obvious.

'He has to be careful—he's being watched. But how deep does this surveillance run? I don't know what realm Zao has reached, but it must be near the peak. For him to tread so cautiously means our enemies are just as powerful—or perhaps weaker, but far more cunning.'

As he reached the top of a small hill, Caine stopped, gazing out at the vast, snow-covered plains stretching before him. The endless expanse of white felt suffocating yet freeing—a reflection of his inner turmoil.

His gaze, lifeless yet burning with a deep, savage killing intent, seemed to pierce the horizon. The intensity of his intent was palpable, flickers of crimson dancing in the depths of his eyes. Now that he'd grasped intent, his killing intent had truly become tangible, a force that could be felt by anyone standing too close.

'In the end, all that matters is the size of my fist and the depth of my gaze. A fist strong enough to hold the earth, tear the skies, and face the heavens. Eyes sharp enough to read the tides of fate and calm enough to bear the karma of my actions.'

'A balance of strength and wisdom,' he thought quietly, the words echoing in his mind like a mantra.

Suddenly, his attention snapped upward. A figure stood high in the skies, gazing down at him with a faint smile.

Zao took a deliberate step forward, and beneath his feet, a grand black eagle appeared, its presence commanding. The creature emitted powerful waves of qi, its feathers glinting like polished obsidian in the pale light of the snowy landscape.

Caine remained motionless on the hill, his robes fluttering in the biting wind. Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward into thin air and vanished, reappearing beside his uncle atop the mighty eagle.

With a single flap of its massive wings, the eagle gathered qi and shot forward, slicing through the air at incredible speed. The icy wind howled around them, but neither Zao nor Caine seemed affected.

"You seem annoyed," Zao remarked, his voice calm but probing.

Caine shook his head and sat cross-legged, unfazed by the immense pressure of their rapid movement. "Annoyed? No. Just disappointed."

"Disappointed?"

"Mhm. In myself. Recent events have exposed many of my shortcomings."

"You can't be perfect—"

"But I must." Caine cut Zao off. "I can't, but I must. If I'm to bear the weight of the crown, the foundation I stand upon must be flawless."

"Even if it's vain, I have to chase it—perfection." His voice was calm, his gaze even.

Zao turned away from the horizon to look at Caine. A flicker of worry crossed his face, but he quickly suppressed it. Such was the nature of their world.

Caine had witnessed the world's ruthlessness all his life, but only now, as he truly experienced it for himself, was he beginning to grow—beginning to understand what he was always meant to grasp.

This was the weight of royal blood that coursed through his veins.

"Tell me more about where we're going," Caine said, breaking the silence.

Zao leaned back slightly, his posture as relaxed as it was commanding. "We're heading to the edge of the northern continent, to a region called the Elemental Fields. It's a hazard zone where chaotic elemental qi is at an all-time high."

"Deep within this zone, we discovered the legacy realm of the Five Elemental Lords. Their history is complex, but in essence, they were among the earliest cultivators in our world."

"We don't know if they're still alive, but they left their legacy behind. It's vital to your foundation. I've ensured it's been reserved for you."

Caine nodded, though his expression remained indifferent. "I see. Hopefully, it's worth the trouble. You were also telling me about bloodlines—what's that about? Did the Elemental Lords leave theirs?"

Zao shook his head. "No. The chaotic elemental qi in the zone has mutated the beasts there, flooding the legacy realm with their influence. In response, the realm's defense mechanisms activated, slaughtering the beasts. But it's no ordinary defense system."

"Instead of simply eliminating them, it created a second legacy realm—this one containing countless purified bloodlines."

"These bloodlines are among the most potent you'll find."

"And why do I need them?" Caine asked, his voice tinged with genuine curiosity. "I don't feel like I'm lacking."

Zao looked at him, wide-eyed, as if Caine had just spoken complete nonsense.

"Do…you even realize how important bloodlines are to your foundation? Or how much of an advantage they provide?"

Of course, Caine knew. He just didn't feel it was a necessity. Still, refusing such a gift would be foolish.

"Bloodlines, like innate circles, are graded—from Mortal Grade to Immeasurable Grade," Zao explained. "They represent concentrated, inherited power. For instance, if you never broke past the Blood Realm but refined your blood to its peak, your descendants would inherit that refined bloodline."

"Through it, they'd innately wield the power of a peak Blood Realm expert, possess exceptionally pure Blood Qi, and gain access to Bloodline Abilities. But that's only if you fully refined your blood and imprinted abilities into it."

"Even such a bloodline wouldn't qualify as Mortal Grade. Now imagine the power of an Immeasurable Grade bloodline."

"But beast bloodlines—" Zao's gaze sharpened. "Beast bloodlines are on a completely different level. The difference between a beast bloodline and a humanoid bloodline is like comparing a Golden Craft to a Golden God Craft."

"The gap is vast. Unbridgeable."