Chapter 28: The Will of Heaven vs The Villain's Authority
.
.
The entire Abyss Realm fell silent.
The golden hand descending from the sky was not a technique.
Not a divine weapon.
Not a cultivator's power.
It was the Will of Heaven itself.
An existence that governed countless worlds.
An existence that decided the rise and fall of civilizations.
Every creature in the Abyss trembled.
Even the ancient beings who had lived for thousands of years lowered their heads.
Because they were facing something beyond their understanding.
Lucien Ardent slowly retreated.
For the first time, the Heavenly General showed fear.
"The Heavenly Dao has personally appeared..."
"This battle..."
"Is no longer ours."
Knox stood alone beneath the golden hand.
His black robe fluttered.
His sword remained in his hand.
Everyone looked at him.
Waiting.
Would the villain finally kneel?
Would he accept fate?
Knox raised his head.
And laughed.
"Hahaha..."
The entire battlefield froze.
The Heavenly Dao's voice echoed.
"You laugh?"
Knox smiled.
"Yes."
"Because this is interesting."
"You are the existence everyone fears."
"The one who controls destiny."
The black mark on his hand began glowing.
"But you made one mistake."
The golden eye in the sky focused on him.
"What mistake?"
Knox pointed his sword upward.
"You let me know you can be challenged."
BOOM!
The golden hand descended.
The entire Abyss Realm shook.
Mountains collapsed.
The sky shattered.
Nyx shouted,
"Knox!"
But before anyone could move...
A black barrier appeared.
Not from Knox.
From the First King's Throne.
The ancient throne behind him released endless darkness.
A voice echoed.
"A ruler does not kneel."
"A ruler stands."
Knox's eyes widened.
The throne was protecting him.
[Ding!]
First King's Legacy Activated.
Condition Met: Host challenged an existence beyond mortal understanding.
Hidden Ability Unlocked.
Effect:
- Allows the host to resist higher laws.
- Reduces suppression from heavenly forces.
- Grows stronger against enemies who control destiny.
The golden hand stopped.
For the first time...
The Heavenly Dao was blocked.
The Heavenly Dao spoke.
"Interesting."
"You carry his rebellion."
Knox smiled.
"Not just his rebellion."
"I carry my own."
The golden eye became colder.
"You believe you can replace him?"
"No."
Knox shook his head.
"I don't want to replace him."
"I want to become someone even he couldn't become."
Silence.
Then...
The Heavenly Dao attacked.
A golden beam descended.
It contained the power to erase existence.
Knox lifted his sword.
Void Emperor Sword Art — Fifth Form
A black sword wave collided with the heavenly light.
BOOOOOOOM!!
The entire Abyss Realm disappeared beneath white and black energy.
Everyone lost sight of the battlefield.
Inside the explosion...
Knox's body was covered in wounds.
Blood flowed from his mouth.
The difference was still enormous.
Heaven was not an enemy like others.
It was the foundation of the world.
The System warned.
[Warning!]
Host body approaching limit.
Current Authority Usage: 78%
Continuing may result in death.
Knox wiped the blood from his lips.
"Death?"
He looked at the sky.
"I already died once."
A cold smile appeared.
"Do you think I'm afraid?"
Suddenly...
A familiar voice echoed.
"Idiot."
Knox froze.
That voice...
Inside his mind.
The Supreme Villain System.
But this time...
It wasn't mechanical.
It was alive.
"You always try to fight alone."
"Even villains need allies."
Knox's eyes widened.
"The System..."
"You can speak?"
"I have always been awake."
"I was waiting."
The darkness around Knox transformed.
A throne appeared inside his consciousness.
The same throne.
But this time...
Someone was sitting on it.
A shadowed figure.
The First Villain.
The First Villain looked at Knox.
"Your problem..."
"Is that you think being a villain means standing alone."
Knox remained silent.
The First Villain smiled.
"A true villain..."
"Is someone who creates a world where his people can stand beside him."
The vision disappeared.
Knox opened his eyes.
Something had changed.
The battlefield returned.
The Heavenly Dao prepared another attack.
But this time...
Knox wasn't alone.
Behind him appeared:
Alexander.
Orion.
Lyra.
Seraphina.
Adrian.
Azrael.
Nyx.
Kael.
And the entire Abyss Army.
Alexander raised his sword.
"You really thought we'd let you fight alone?"
Orion smiled.
"My rival cannot disappear before our rematch."
Lyra's dragon flames burned.
"The Dragon Clan owes you."
Seraphina looked at Knox.
"Stop carrying everything yourself."
Knox stared at them.
For a moment...
He said nothing.
Then...
He smiled.
A genuine smile.
"Annoying."
Alexander laughed.
"But you like it."
Knox didn't answer.
The Heavenly Dao watched.
"You gathered them."
Knox raised his sword.
"No."
"I didn't gather them."
He looked behind him.
"They chose."
The black crown above Knox's head fully appeared.
The First King's Authority awakened.
[Ding!]
New Title Acquired:
Effects:
- Increases ally strength.
- Strengthens Villain Faction.
- Unlocks future faction evolution.
For the first time...
It considered Knox a true threat.
The golden eye slowly disappeared.
"This battle is meaningless."
"Your time will come."
The voice faded.
"But remember..."
"When destiny itself moves..."
"Even your allies may not be enough."
The sky returned to normal.
The war stopped.
Everyone survived.
But everyone understood...
This was only the beginning.
Knox looked toward the heavens.
"Destiny..."
He smiled.
"Come."
"I've been waiting."
End of Chapter 28