Crack…

A subtle sound rang out but to Void, it was deafening.

"Another Rank 4 being…?" Void asked, stunned.

The angel merely glanced at him.

"You won't survive this," she said softly as an orb appeared at her fingertip. It carried no energy, no intimidation. In fact, if Void hadn't seen her form it, it would have been completely invisible to him.

Flick.

Void couldn't even comprehend it as the orb entered his body.

No pain.

Nothing.

It simply melted into him.

"System… what's this?" Void asked, shocked.

(Decay. Host, you will die slowly. Your power will be sealed bit by bit, and your soul, consciousness, and Origins will be devoured. It is a cruel, painful death.)

Void's eyes widened.

When he looked up, the angel was gone.

"Fuck…" Void muttered, panic flashing across his face.

"System, any solution? This… this can't happen, right?" Void asked, his eyes turning cold.

(Host, thankfully, you only need to break through to Rank 4. Since she cast it at Rank 4, once you advance, you will be free.)

Hearing the system's words, Void grinned.

This was fine.

This was good enough.

All he had to do was go to that multi universe where the Dreadborne Organization resided and destroy it. After all, he was the strongest there.

Void made up his mind and began searching for the location of his slaves, preparing to open a portal.

Just then—

A dreadful chill crawled up his spine.

(Ding. The beacon has been detected. Ding. The beacon has been broken.)

"What the—?" Void froze in shock.

"VOID!!!"

A divine voice filled with rage echoed out. Void's body stiffened instantly, his blood running cold.

That voice…

Why did it feel so familiar?

And why was it filled with such rage?

Void gulped and slowly turned around.

Across from him, a small crack appeared as darkness rolled outward.

A single step—

Void felt his body pinned down completely.

He couldn't move. His pores sealed shut. His body groaned as invisible pressure crushed him.

"System… system, what kind of being is that?" Void asked, shaken.

Crack.

Blam.

Boom.

Space exploded as divinity and darkness flooded outward.

"Wait… that is—" Void's eyes widened.

"A god?" Void whispered, stunned.

How?

Gods were also a race in existence, but they were usually bound to a specific world, realm, or dimension. Leaving it would weaken them.

Yet this god had arrived here and the aura pinning Void down so effortlessly was undoubtedly Rank 4.

So how strong would this god be in his own realm?

"Do I… know you?" Void asked, frowning as confusion twisted his thoughts. Then he remembered the system's earlier reminder.

"Wait… does that mean—no, it can't be…" Void's eyes widened.

"Shen Ye."

Just a name—yet Void felt shaken to his core.

His mind reeled.

How the fuck was Shen Ye already at Rank 4?

What kind of absurd cheat did he use?

And how the hell did he become a god?

"System, scan him."

(Ding)

Host: Shen Ye

Race: God Race (Evil God)

Rank: Rank 4 Early (Rank 4 Peak, sealed due to distance from the Dark Realm)

Strength: Rank 4 Early

Speed: Rank 4 Low

Stamina: Rank 4 Early

Weapon: Scythe of Darkness

Origins: Death, Decay, Destruction, Misfortune, Time, Space (+50)

Laws: All mastered

"Holy fuck!" Void exclaimed, eyes wide.

What the actual fuck?

Shen Ye was this strong?

Void looked as if he'd seen a ghost.

Finally, the being emerged fully. His Darkness Origin rolled outward as that familiar figure appeared once more.

"Finally—hahaha… I found you. And the beacon you placed on me, did you really think I'd break it immediately? No. I used it to find you," Shen Ye said with a low laugh.

"Void… Quasi Rank 4. You demons grow fast, hahaha. If I hadn't become a god, how would I be worthy of fighting you?"

Shen Ye continued rambling, explaining his power, his rise, his journey.

Void rolled his eyes.

Only one thought filled his mind.

"System, you didn't tell me that this stupid Son of Destiny halo would be this strong," Void muttered.

And on top of that, the Decay orb the angel had planted inside him…

Adding Shen Ye to the mix was like rubbing salt into an open wound.

"Finally, Void—I found you! Hahahaha!" Shen Ye laughed, his face filled with twisted joy.

"Say… have you gone mad? " Void asked suspiciously, watching Shen Ye's erratic behavior.

Well, the system did say he was an evil god.

"Blah blah blah… should I kiss you, or do you want to battle?" Void said lazily as the Primordial Demon Body activated.

Void groaned in relief as he finally regained control of his body.

"Huh?" Shen Ye paused, rage flashing across his face.

"Bitch—you killed my sister, destroyed my world, and you think I'm just going to kill you?" Shen Ye clenched his fists.

Suddenly, Void shivered.

"Don't tell me you want my demon body. That's a weird fetish—but hey, I don't judge," Void laughed lightly.

The provocation was too much.

Shen Ye stretched out his hand.

Void instantly lost all control of his body.

He couldn't move.

Only speak.

Only turn his head.

Fuck.

"No… death is too easy for you," Shen Ye snarled. "I'll capture you and make you suffer everything you did to Anya. You'll regret it. You'll beg to die but I won't allow it. I'll make you relive it again and again for eternity."

His eyes burned with rage.

(Host, no. You cannot fight him. He is a Rank 4 being. You have no chance. The gap between Rank 3 and Rank 4 is absolute. Host, are you even listening?)

For the first time, Void heard anxiety in the system's voice.

"I'm sorry… I have to decline," Void replied calmly, then turned his attention back to Shen Ye.

"Is that so? Then how about you show me the true power of a Rank 4 being? Let's battle. If you win, maybe I'll apologize… maybe I'll even feel remorse for your sister's death. But if you lose—there won't be a second chance."

"You will die," Void said as Shen Ye laughed.

Were all demons this cocky…

Or was Void simply built different?

"Very well," Shen Ye said, releasing Void at last.

"I want to see how strong Void truly is."

Immediately, Void was released.

Nameless was brought out, his Primordial Demon body fully revealed.

His origins transformed into floating tendrils, as if they had awakened from the abyss itself.

His entire energy erupted outward. The full might of a Quasi Rank 4 was unleashed to its absolute limit, shaking the surrounding space.

The pressure alone felt suffocating.

"Let's begin then…"