Cosmic Awakening: Ascension of the Cosmic God-Chapter 31: The End of a Monster 1

The Earth-King's tyranny knew no bounds. With each passing day, his grip on the Tower tightened, his power growing unchecked.

The grand hall of the Explorers' Guild, once a hub of camaraderie and ambition, had become a court of fear and subjugation.

Ethan's ability to charm and manipulate minds had ensured that only the strongest—or the most foolish—dared to oppose him.

A sudden pull, a system notification flashing before his eyes.

[Urgent System Alert: Dimension #44567782 is at Risk of Destruction.]

[You must select the explorers that will defend it.]

[The 10th-floor event time will be changed to 5 minutes more.]

He had known about the fact that the trial on the 10th floor would affect the survival of Earth, but he was less concerned.

Soon enough, light consumed both him and his group, their surroundings dissolving into motes of shimmering dust.

When the blinding radiance faded, they found themselves standing amidst a vast, open grassland. The wind howled through the golden expanse, bending the tall grass in waves. The air was crisp, almost serene, but Ethan felt the underlying malice of the Tower's will.

After reading the rules of the floor. They were just about to start exploring when...

A shriek shattered the deceptive calm.

A monster the system called Razorclaw Raptors. Fast, deadly, and merciless.

The pack emerged from the tall grass, their sickle-like talons gleaming under the artificial sky. Snarling, they moved to strike, but Ethan simply smiled.

He extended his will, his power weaving into the minds of the beasts, bending them to his purpose. In an instant, the raptors stilled, their feral hunger replaced with an eerie obedience.

"Go," Ethan commanded.

With terrifying precision, the raptors scattered, disappearing into the grass to hunt. Five unfortunate explorers, traveling alone on this floor, fell before they even saw their predators. Their bodies vanished, returned to the first floor by the Tower as their trial met an abrupt and gruesome end.

Ethan's group moved forward, now more cautious not because they were weak but because the usual constellation's advice was not coming this time. But not surprising was that the constellation had given him an item that still guaranteed his safety.

The grasslands stretched endlessly, but soon, they spotted movement in the distance. A larger group—twenty strong—stood together, tense and alert.

Then, he saw them.

Two familiar figures. The sisters. The ones who had slipped from his grasp before.

A slow, predatory grin spread across Ethan's face. "No more running," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper but filled with dark promise.

He sent the raptors ahead, their silent approach meant to encircle the group, to cut off their escape. Yet, something was amiss. An unnatural stillness settled over the battlefield.

Ethan's brow furrowed. The constellation that usually watched over him—Whisper of Ruin—was silent today, so he concluded he was only feeling something strange due to their absence.

But a strong presence appeared above them.

The Earth-King's eyes widened as he saw a lone figure floating in the sky, descending effortlessly. He had seen many abilities, many miracles, but this—this was something beyond what an explorer like them should be capable of.

The presence effortlessly defeated the raptors Ethan was controlling while separating them from the 20-team group behind.

"Impressive," Ethan said, his voice calm but inquisitive. "I don't remember seeing you before."

"Same here," the figure replied, disdain dripping from his tone. His expression was one of utter contempt. "You must be the fool dubbed Earth-King."

Ethan's men bristled, anger flashing in their eyes, but with a simple raise of his hand, he silenced them. He studied the stranger carefully, weighing the aura of power that surrounded him.

"You must be the last of the people born with transcendent souls," Ethan mused. "So you think you have the right to disrespect me?"

"I do." The stranger's voice was firm, unwavering. "Do you realize what your actions have caused us?"

Silence fell over Ethan's group.

Seun, as the sisters had called him, did not wait for an answer. His eyes burned with a quiet fury as he continued, "Your stupid role-playing is jeopardizing the chance of our dimension's survival."

Ethan scoffed, his amusement unshaken. "So what? Who cares about those fools on Earth?"

A shift in the air.

The battlefield was silent for a moment, a hushed anticipation settling over the gathered warriors. The air crackled with tension, thick with the promise of violence.

Seun's gaze bore into Ethan, the Earth-King, his expression unwavering, but beneath the surface, he was taking in every detail.

The Earth-King's stance, the way his fingers twitched subtly over the obsidian talisman in his grasp, and most notably, the way his smug confidence faltered for a fraction of a second before he regained composure.

The Earth-King chuckled lowly, the sound grating against the hushed atmosphere. "So, you truly think you can challenge me?" His voice dripped with amusement, but Seun caught the forced undertone.

Seun exhaled. "System," he asked the system out loud, his voice carrying the weight of his resolve. "Is there a way to initiate a duel where no one dies?"

A familiar screen was displayed before everyone's eyes.

[Initiating a Binding Contract for a Non-Lethal Duel between Seun Adebayo and the Earth-King's Group.]

[Damage that will lead to death will be totally nullified.]

[The battle will continue until one side is incapacitated. Do you accept?]

Seun's lips twitched into a dangerous smirk. "Do you have the courage to face me fairly?"

The Earth-King's eyes narrowed, but his arrogance remained intact. "A duel? Hmph. If that's what you want, I'll entertain it. But know this—losing to me means you will submit."

Seun's voice was firm. "I won't lose."

Ethan and his group accepted the contract. Even though they could feel that Seun's strength was the real deal. They also trusted in their teamwork.

[Contract Accepted. The duel begins now.

A golden ring of energy expanded from the system's command, encasing the combatants.

The Earth-King's followers straightened, their eyes glowing with the unnatural loyalty that stemmed from his Charm ability. But something was wrong.

The Earth-King frowned ever so slightly.

He had reached out mentally to the constellation "Whisper of Ruin," but there was no response. His grip on the obsidian talisman tightened.

The object pulsed, promising power, and yet... there was nothing.

Seun was not given time to think.

The first attack came from the Earth-King's followers.

The burly man with the warhammer, a known enforcer among the gang, charged forward, his weapon crackling with earthen energy.

Seun activated a skill as his muscles surged with energy.

But instead of ending it quickly, he dodged effortlessly, letting the warhammer crash into the ground beside him. The enforcer grunted, struggling to pull his weapon free. Seun smirked.

"You rely too much on brute force," he muttered before delivering a sharp kick to the man's wrist.

[76 Damage to Warhammer Wielder]

The warhammer flew from his grasp, embedding itself into a rock. The enforcer, wide-eyed, lunged forward with a desperate punch.

Seun sidestepped and struck his knee, forcing him to the ground.

[76 Damage to Warhammer Wielder]

Instead of finishing him, Seun let him groan in pain, watching as his pride crumbled.

Another enemy lunged—a dagger-wielding rogue aiming for Seun's blind spot. Seun could have ended it instantly, but he let the rogue's blade nick his arm, drawing a shallow cut.

[20 Damage to Seun]

The rogue's eyes gleamed with misplaced confidence, and in that moment of arrogance, Seun curled his fist and sent a punch radiating with energy to his body.

[200 Damage to Rogue]

The rogue shrieked, his body convulsing as the force overrode his motor functions.

Seun stepped back, watching with cold amusement as the rogue twitched on the ground, unable to move but fully conscious of the pain.

"Struggle a bit more," Seun said casually, before kicking the dagger away.

[50 Damage to Rogue]

One by one, the Earth-King's men fell—not instantly, but after suffering.

Seun weaved through the battlefield like a phantom, his attacks precise and drawn-out. He shattered the spearman's ribs but left him gasping instead of unconscious.

[76 Damage to Spearman]

He dislocated the swordsman's shoulder, ensuring he would feel it even after the fight.

[76 Damage to Swordsman]

None of them were spared the agony of realizing just how outmatched they were.

The Earth-King's confidence cracked. He clenched his talisman tighter, willing it to activate.

But something was wrong. The power within it remained elusive, and without the constellation's aid, he was on his own.

Still, he stood firm as the last of his men collapsed, their groans filling the silence. Now, only he remained.

Seun turned to him, his cosmic energy swirling violently. "It's just us now."

The Earth-King's smirk returned, though a shadow of uncertainty lurked beneath it. "You're different from the others."

Seun folded his arms. "Why abandon Earth?"

The Earth-King scoffed. "Abandon? That place abandoned me first."

He took a step forward, the weight of his past pressing into every syllable. "Do you know what it's like to be born with nothing? To be cast aside before you even had a chance? My parents abandoned me in a house when I was just nine. The world fucked me up and spat me out. I grew up knowing that I was just another body in the overcrowded streets. No future. No name anyone cared to remember."

His fists clenched, his jaw tightening. "I learned quickly that power was the only thing that mattered. When I was arrested and framed for something different from what I had done, no one came to my defense. When I finally got here, I swore—never again." His gaze burned into Seun. "Earth is nothing but a graveyard of broken people. The Tower gave me something real. Strength. Respect."

Seun sighed, shaking his head. "So you think this Tower is your salvation?"

Ethan grinned, though there was no humor in it. "Not salvation. Dominion. The Tower is the only place where strength determines worth."

Seun exhaled and took a step closer. "You're wrong."

Ethan's expression darkened. "What?"

Seun's voice was calm but firm. "You're just blaming Earth for your suffering. Like everything bad that happened to you was its fault. But that's childish."

The 𝘮ost uptodat𝑒 novels are pub𝙡ished on freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

The air between them turned sharp.

Ethan's rage ignited in an instant. His aura flared. "You know NOTHING about suffering!" His voice echoed across the battlefield, his power trembling at the edges.

Seun, surprisingly, nodded. "You're right."

Ethan blinked. "What?"

Seun's gaze was steady. "Compared to you, I've lived a good life. I won't pretend I understand your pain. Our circumstances were different from the start." His voice dropped, more solemn now. "But Ethan, your actions have caused pain to people who had nothing to do with your past. Innocent people. People who were just trying to survive—just like you once were."

Ethan's breath hitched, his grip on the talisman loosening slightly.

Seun stepped even closer. "You're proving that you're no different from the ones who abandoned you."

The words struck deep. Ethan's fury stilled. His lips parted slightly, but no words came.

For the first time, doubt flickered across Ethan's face.

Seun's voice softened. "Swear to stop this. Help us save Earth instead. If you fight to fix what you've broken, even if people you've hurt might not forgive you, you can still have hope to earn their forgiveness in the future. Renounce your status and start afresh; it is not too late yet. The constellation should not be able to interfere here; this might be your only chance."

Ethan's lips trembled. He wanted to scoff, to laugh in Seun's face, but... for the first time in years, someone was offering him a way back. Not power. Not control. A chance at something else.

Maybe he had been wrong. Maybe—

Until a sudden burning sensation seared into his palm.

Ethan's eyes widened as the talisman in his grasp ignited in golden flames. His breath hitched as the system's cold, emotionless voice echoed in his mind.

[Warning: Renouncing your status as Earth-King violates your contract with Whisper of Ruin.]

The air turned suffocating. Another message appeared before his eyes.

[Your patron has remained silent, but your hesitation has been noted.]

Seun saw Ethan's panic. "What's happening?"

Ethan swallowed hard, sweat forming on his brow. "I—I don't know. The constellation... it's watching me again."

The golden flames spread from his talisman, creeping up his arm. The system spoke once more.

[Final Warning: A king does not falter. Choose wisely.]

Ethan's heart pounded. He had made mistakes—terrible ones. He had let his hunger for power consume him. He had even involved others in his stupid quest. But for once, he knew when to stop.

His gaze lifted to Seun, and he let out a shaky breath.

"I've done a lot of stupid things," Ethan admitted. His voice was raw, the weight of his past pressing down on him. "I let my power control me. But I know when to stop."

"I—renounce my position as the apostle of the constellation 'Whisper of Ruin". I am no longer interested in being the earth king. Whatever you do to me, I deserve it, but spare my followers," Ethan said.

Even though Ethan knew the constellation might kill him later. He thought about his loyal supporters, whom he had dragged into this mess, and pleaded for them to be spared.

Seun almost sighed in relief—until the world shattered around them.

A bone-chilling, terrible presence descended upon the battlefield.

[An artifact of the constellation "Whisper of Ruin" has been consumed to satisfy casualty.]

[Constellation "Whisper of Ruin" has descended partially!]

While the presence itself was invincible, the effect of their existence was not. It was a being not bound by mortality. A higher order being.

The force itself made everyone fall down on their face without exception. They were too weak to stand up in this situation.

The pressure was not something that one can get used to. Seun had once met the gods after his mishap on the first floor.

While it was true that the pressure the gods gave off was also bone-chilling, it was nothing compared to what he was currently feeling. It felt like every cell in his body was afraid.

But it was at this moment he realized they had been merciful to him. If the pressure of a constellation that had descended partially was enough to leave him in this state. They could do better but just choose not to do it.

A shiver raced down his spine as he reasoned that the blacksmith he had met before was also a constellation. Yet he had not really felt any pressure.

'That was probably his human form,' Seun thought. He abandoned the idea of trying to decipher their power at this point.

Seun looked in horror as he struggled to raise his face and look at Ethan.

The system displayed a message he had somewhat seen before:

[System Override Detected. Communication Link Established: Whisper of Ruin.]

[Divine Message: It was fun while it lasted, but I did not really think someone would convince you to give up on your ambitions, Ethan.]

Their voice was a voice that did not portray any gender and was neutrally cold. The words were displayed to him just as the constellation spoke them.

It was then Seun discovered that he could see the constellation. The tower was only acting as an intermediary to protect them and make the constellation invisible to them, but his cosmic energy-enhanced eyes could see through it.

The form they were in was humanoid. But it was a plain body without any organ showing the gender. Divine energy was swirling around them like a cyclone.

Seun looked into the eyes of the constellation.

[Oh, you can see me? As expected of the insect born with a higher order soul, I feel like crushing you.]

He felt hostility from the constellation gaze. At that gaze. Cosmic energy in his body began to move as if out of control but to protect him.

But the rate at which it was consumed was alarming. Even though it was a simple gaze, it was enough to kill Seun at his current level.

Just when Seun thought he was going to die.

A system notification flashed before him.

[System Override Detected. Communication Link Established: Tower Master.]

[Divine Message: Do not forget the rules! Any more interference will result in more penalties!]

[I know that much, but I at least have authority over my apostle right? Hahaha. I wonder how much joy watch his ruin will bring to me.]

At the constellation, Ethan's remaining gang members screamed in agony as golden light flowing from the constellation engulfed them. Their bodies, weapons, and armors arched unnaturally, writhing as their very essence was compressed into golden energy.

Seun's eyes widened. "No—!"

The golden energy surged again, flowing into Ethan's body all at once.

His eyes flashed gold. His breath hitched—then turned into a choked scream. The power consumed him, swallowing his body in a storm of divine wrath.

Seun gritted his teeth as he tried forcing himself to move, but he was unable to do anything.

The battlefield was frozen. No one could move. No one could help.

They could not even watch the horror as Ethan's group was suffering and morphing together.

A scream.

It was not a human scream.

It was something broken. Twisted. A voice clawing against reality itself.

Their form was no longer human.

Golden energy crackled violently around it, searing into its flesh like living chains. Its veins pulsed with molten light, stretching its skin until it split, yet no blood spilled—only more of that divine energy.

Ethan's gang members had fused into him, their features distorted across his shifting body, their agony echoing in fragmented whispers.

Hands sprouted where they shouldn't, clawing at their own melting faces before dissolving into the writhing mass of golden light.

Then Ethan—no, the thing—began tearing at itself.

Its jagged fingers dug into its own body, ripping through flesh, cracking bones, yet it did not stop. It could not stop.

Seun's stomach turned. The constellation wasn't just punishing them—it was forcing them to become something unnatural.

Seun's heard the voice of the constellation, their words as final as death itself.

[Apostle, you who wavered—serve now as my vengeance. Now in your perfect form, slaughter all who stand before you. hahaha]

The constellation presence disappeared with a cruel laugh.

As the body of the monster took a humanoid form with four arms and 4 eyes. It was naked but lacking the symbol of a gender, just like the appearance of the constellation Seun had seen.

It was also holding a different weapon in each hand.

The monster froze—as if listening.

Then, its head snapped toward Seun.

Golden light burned in its eyes.

And then—

It charged.