Level Up Legacy

Chapter 1096 Golden Creator

Artemis stood high in the sky like the moon, staring down at them with piercing azure eyes. Her bow appeared in her hand, issuing a blood-thirsty cry that made their bodies tremble. As her aura was unleashed to the world, songs of hunt echoed in their ears as the departing souls of the dead sang for her.

"Mortals of this land," muttered the goddess, letting the moonlight carry her voice to their ears. The fighting lords all froze despite being at each other's throats. "My name is Artemis, Huntress Goddess of the Moon. I came here to stop what you have all heard."

Everyone looked at her stretching her arm with authority as she cast a self-righteous gaze at them. She was talking about the broadcast from earlier, when the blue dragon announced to the entire universe that a king will rise against the gods.

"Devaheim is real," announced the goddess. "I do not stand alone, and many gods stand alongside me. We all serve one entity, the king who created the universe, the Golden Creator. As we pass on his divine judgment, no mortal should stand against us."

"Instead of talking this much, you should have just gone ahead and killed our Demon King," said Seraphine as she rose to meet the goddess with a smile. "You came here with this haughty attitude for a single reason… you cannot handle all of us."

"The hunted should not talk with such arrogance to the hunter," said Artemis with transcending arrogance. "I did not participate in the extermination of your race, but you better not overestimate yourself."

"I know about the barrier separating the Mortal world from Devaheim," said Seraphine with a grin. "Any god that descends to a lower realm must seal their powers in order to do so. On rare occasions, they can release that seal for a short period of time."

"And do you think my weaker version is something you can handle?" asked the Huntress with a slight smile. "This is the reason that you fell from grace although you should have been destined to be a god alongside us, Blood Queen. You are overconfident."

"I do not regret the choices I made," said Seraphine as her blood surrounded her like a cape, carrying her high into the sky. "Even if I face the same choice again that led to the extermination of my world, I shall stand against the gods again!"

"And have you revealed yourself because of this promised king of yours?" asked Artemis with mockery. "I shall bury you next to him."

Seraphine did not say anything more, and she turned her blood into blood spears. They rushed toward the goddess, seeking to kill her. Artemis did not strike back, but she just flicked the bowstring and caused a shockwave throughout space.

Boom!

The blood spears crumbled to ashes before they even found their target, and Seraphine was pushed back toward the ground. Every living creature in the surrounding staggered back from a simple flick of her finger, making them tremble at her might.

"Do not mistaken the difference between us, demon," said Artemis as she looked down at them. "I am still a cut above all creatures in this universe, even in my weakened form. And the reason that I seal myself… is to make sure that this realm does not crumble."

"What do you demand from us, almighty goddess?" shouted Lord Marshal from the ground, seizing this chance to gain favor with her. "How do we appease to Devaheim and the Almighty Creator?"

"You two brothers are alike, knowing which side to choose," said Artemis as she turned her eyes toward him. "Kill the demons and their leader, alongside every human that helped them. If not, then I shall consider your idle attitude toward them as a rebellion against the gods."

The six lords trembled in fear before they turned their attention to Seraphine and the rest. Standing atop the wyvern was Ilia Perli, Seraphine, and Lian. Their eyes changed from greed for the artifacts to instincts for survival.

"I shall excuse myself from this hunt," said an old man with long white hair and beard as he raised his staff. "Although I appreciate what the gods have done for this universe, I cannot help but lament their behavior toward this tower that has entrapped us for generations."

"You are the lord of Crestview," muttered Ilia Perli with surprise as he looked down. "Do you not fear the gods, esteemed sir?"

"I know that she can kill me with a snap of her finger, but I have seen the men who chose to go against her," said the old man with his eyes closed. "This rising is unstoppable, and you don't have what it takes to stop it, dear goddess."

"Kill him as well, mortals," commanded Artemis, and the lords quickly responded to her demands. Marshal Stormblade seized space and created a weapon from it, slashing toward the lord of Crestview.

"As always, Marshal, you act with mountains of insecurities," said the old man with white hair as he stepped to the side. Marshal missed him, and the old man slammed his staff into his throat. "You need to exert patience."

Next to attack was the lord of Elvenheim with azure winds and a diamond sword. Once again, the old man evaded the attack and deflected the sword, causing the azure wind to strike the lord of Blood Keep. The blood mage fell to the ground after trying to summon his creatures.

"These old eyes do not need to see your ugliness to understand your nature," said the old man, turning toward the goddess. "You divide humans and turn them against each other. This is the reason that… I choose the Returning King as well."

"You are quite eager to die," said Artemis as she pulled on her bowstring, creating a flaming arrow before releasing it. "Perish in flames, old man."

The flaming arrow transformed into a meteor, descending with unparalleled speed and tearing through space. It exploded, spreading raging fire everywhere. Although the flames should have engulfed the old man, Artemis seemed dissatisfied. Instead, she turned her gaze toward a different man.

"And who are you?"

Standing a distance from the lords was none other than Dorian Stormblade, with hair as white as the moon. His spear was in his hand, slashing the ground apart. The slash extended toward the tree, allowing the old man to dodge the flaming arrow by slipping into the fissure.

"Dorian?" muttered Marshal with shock as he took a step forward. "What are you doing here? What happened to you?"

lightsΝοvel.cοm "Dorian!" shouted Margery, lord of Ironspire, with delighted tears as she rushed toward him. "You are alive and well! I thought that beast had devoured you!"

"I appreciate the sentiment, Margery," said Dorian with a smile as he greeted her with a bow. "I must confess that the reason I visited Ironspire was not to marry you, but to steal the artifact that you had. That beast is a friend of mine."

"…you deceived me?" asked the iron-clad woman with shock as she slowed her pace. "Then, everything was a lie to steal that stupid artifact?"

"Although my intentions were insincere, I was touched by how kind you were to me," said Dorian with an apologetic face. "After this farce is over, let me apologize to you in person. However, right now, we have a god to hunt."

Dorian turned toward the goddess, his eyes fierce as he stared at her. He ignored two lords seeking answers, making it clear this was not the time.

"A dangerous soul has appeared," muttered Artemis with a frown as she stared at Dorian. "Although the spark within you is minute, you have indeed been touched by wrath. You have the same eyes as demons, but you are a human."

"That makes me a demon as well, doesn't it?" asked Dorian, waving his spear and pushing Lord Marshal back with gales of wind. "Everyone that stands against the gods is a demon. That is the only criterion for this name, so count me as well."

"Do not be foolish, Dorian!" shouted Lord Marshal with confusion, staring at his son. "Your arrogance should have its limits! Do not act this way against a god!"

"You are mistaken, father," said Dorian without averting his gaze. "I have long since forsaken my arrogance, but I chose to carry something else instead!" he declared while aiming his spear against Artemis. "These gods are the root of all suffering in this world!"

"This is just boring," said Artemis with disinterest as she pulled on her bowstring again. "I wanted to show that man how his own race would turn against him, but everyone here… can just perish."

Artemis pulled her bowstring far, turning it into a full moon. Her moonlight transformed into thousands of arrows, each radiating powerful energy aimed at destroying this realm. As her skin turned white and her eyes became starry, the goddess released her arrow.

"Die in the name of my king."