---
**[Scene - Night - Outside the Royal Capital]**
The air was cold, the sky barely lit as the moon was hidden behind thick clouds.
In the shadows of the alleyways, two figures moved silently through the streets: Shujin and Rei, now clad in black cloaks, their masks concealing their identities.
Shujin's hair was dark, his eyes beneath the mask glowing intensely.
Rei's usual cheerful demeanor was replaced by intense focus, her face hidden by a black mask matching Shujin's.
> "The Devil Guild's network is spread throughout this city. Rei, find out as much as you can."
Rei nodded sharply, her voice falling silent.
> "Understood, Shujin-sama. I will return."
She moved swiftly into the night, disappearing into the shadows, leaving Shujin standing alone.
He took a moment to feel the subtle tension in the world—the energy of this place seemed to vibrate. Too many eyes, too much power unseen.
---
**[Scene - The Old Fortress – Outside Valerion City]**
Shujin walked alone far from the city. The path was silent, dark, and barren of people.
He arrived at an ancient fortress, its massive stone walls crumbling and covered in vines. The entrance was unmarked, but Shujin knew this was where he needed to be.
Inside, the darkness was heavy.
The fortress was ancient, the very air humming with energies long forgotten.
Shujin entered the main hall. There, in the center, was a throne—silent and untouched by time.
He sat on the throne, staring into the courtyard, his fingers curled around the armrests.
Deep magical momentum spread within him.
> "Ten percent..."
He pressed his palm against the stone armrest, feeling the magical pulse flow from him.
Then, with a simple snap of his fingers, he released a fraction of his power. (A finger snap)
> *Flash.*
Dark energy exploded outwards, piercing the world with a shockwave.
The air cracked, the ground split, and the entire wondrous world seemed to tear apart at the seams.
As the explosions grew louder, time itself seemed to freeze for an instant.
---
**[Scene: Gods of the Realm – The Shockwave]**
From the heavens, the gods watched from their celestial thrones, gazing down at the world below.
The moment the explosion occurred, the World Goddess Elmyria stood with wide-eyed shock.
The four Elemental Gods—Fire, Water, Earth, Wind—also trembled, their eyes glowing with worry.
> "What is that?!"
> "The world is tearing apart!"
A magical storm surged through the cosmos. The gods tried to restrain themselves.
> "He's not just threatening humans anymore…" one of the gods shouted, his voice trembling. "He surpasses any power we've ever known."
But Elmyria was silent. She closed her eyes and brought Shujin to her domain.
---
**[Scene: Confrontation with the Gods]**
Shujin floated in space—alone, precise, calm.
The throne was falling into an abyss, yet he still sat upon it. Nothing remained of the world.
Suddenly, Shujin let out a terrifying, deep laugh. However, Shujin's intention did not include destroying the Velgrith world.
"Hmm... Impossible... By now, they should understand my power."
Shujin seemed to sense something was about to happen.
Suddenly, small godly figures appeared before him.
The gods had teleported Shujin to the God Realm with teleportation magic.
The Fire God raised his hand, summoning flames hotter than the sun. The Water Goddess called upon tidal waves. The Earth God raised mountains from the ground, and the Wind God summoned a storm.
But their powers did not reach Shujin. His darkness swallowed everything.
> "Gods... Did you really think you could stop me?" Shujin's voice was calm and silent.
The gods attacked in unison.
> "You are a demon. A calamity of this world," the Earth God roared.
> "No god will let you live," the Fire God shouted.
Shujin's eyes burned with cold anger.
> "I am the darkness... something you gods cannot see."
With a mere gesture, the gods were enveloped in shadows, their powers vanishing in an instant. One by one, they disappeared, faded, never to be seen again.
The God Realm fell silent.
Only Elmyria remained—calm and unmoved.
> "Hmm... It seems I'm the only one left. Wasn't this your plan, Shujin?"
Her voice emerged.
Shujin stared at her unmoved.
> "You seem to know me quite well, Goddess Elmyria."
He turned away, his tone cold.
> "Do not interfere with me again, Goddess, or I will destroy more."
"Again??"
Elmyria seemed to grasp something.
"Impossible! You!"
She met his gaze but could say nothing. No anger, no fear—only understanding. She knew the darkness within him.
Shujin raised his hand and looked at the world. His surroundings trembled once more.
Shujin teleported back into space.
Rubbing his wrist, he returned to the fortress, going back to where it all began.
---
**[Scene - The Ancient Clock Face – Time Reversal]**
Shujin took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
> **"Come Out Chronael; The Death Clock."**
Behind him, a giant ancient clock face appeared—its hands moving, approaching midnight. (With Roman numerals)
The clock hands moved slowly but surely.
He used his time magic, turning his hand backwards.
> *Tick… tick… tick…*
The hands moved to eleven.
Shujin reversed time, returning to the moment before the explosion.
> "I haven't destroyed the world yet."
He took a breath, and his power returned to a dormant state.
But there were consequences. The gods had seen his true power. The common gods now knew what he was capable of.
The world now held its breath.
---
✦ **To be continued...**