The sky over Heaven Releam was quiet, almost too quiet, as if the whole realm was holding its breath. Since the student contest, a shadow had settled in Dijun's heart. The rumor of Guran's death and Dik's role in it gnawed at her. But what unsettled her most was not the fight itself, but the lingering doubt: Why did Guran exist as a monster in the first place?
Her mind returned to the old whispers she had heard long ago — whispers of the "House of Death," the sacred place where records of all reincarnated souls were kept. It was a forbidden hall, where even gods dared not tread lightly.
That night, Dijun made her way there. The path was dark, the air heavy with the scent of incense and age-old secrets. The House of Death was a colossal structure carved from black crystal, its walls shimmering faintly with the spirits of past lives. Guards, silent and motionless, watched her every step.
Inside, she found the house master— a being as ancient as Heaven itself, keeper of truth and fate.
Dijun: "house Master, I must know… has that boy been reincarnated as a monster?"
The house Master's eyes glowed faintly, but he remained silent. His voice, when it came, was calm yet burdened.
House Master: "I cannot answer… by order of Heaven, my lips are bound. The truth is forbidden."
Dijun's chest tightened. This was not enough. She stepped forward, lowering her stance. With a deep breath, she bowed before him — a bow so deep it broke centuries of sacred law.
The great hall seemed to shudder. For an Almighty God to bow before anyone — even the house Master was the greatest sin Heaven knew. Such an act was unthinkable, an offense that would stain her name forever.
Dijun: "Please… I beg you. I will bear the sin if it means knowing the truth. Tell me."
Silence stretched between them. Then the house Master slowly turned his gaze away.
The news spread like wildfire across Heaven Releam: Dijun had committed the Sin of Heaven. The Almighty God who had never bowed before anyone had humbled herself.
The punishment was swift. The house Master was sentenced to death for breaking the sanctity of his station, and Dijun was sentenced to Redemption — an arduous path to atone for her crime.
Among the whispers in Heaven, some spoke in pity, others in judgment. To bow before a common soul for the sake of a stranger — it was considered an abomination.
Days later, Dijun sat alone in the Temple of Stars, the weight of her punishment heavy on her shoulders. She could not shake her thoughts of Guran. The battle haunted her and Dik's silence even more so.
In her heart, she carried a question she dared not voice: What drove Guran to become the Beast of Beasts?
The truth, she would learn, was darker than she imagined.
Long before Guran became known as the strongest monster in existence, he had been a boy. A human boy. His life was marked by tragedy. His mother, a simple villager, drowned when he was young. Alone and lost, he became prey to cruelty — bullied, starved, beaten every day.
Pain consumed him. Loneliness became his companion. In that despair, he sought power. Not for justice, not for honor but for vengeance.
He wandered into forbidden paths, drawn to an ancient evil spirit that promised him strength. That spirit granted him his wish, and in return, demanded his soul. Over ten years, his flesh twisted, his heart blackened, and his name became a whisper of terror.
Guran emerged from the shadow as the Beast of Beasts — a creature feared by mortals and gods alike. He fed upon human souls, killing millions without mercy. His power became such that even the Heaven Emperor would tremble at his presence.
Yet there was one he could not harm — Dik. In their battle, Guran had held back his full strength. He knew Dijun would see his restraint as betrayal. He could not let her believe that he had turned against her. That was the silent promise he carried in the depths of his monstrous heart.
Dijun, however, never knew this. She held only one truth in her mind — Dik had slain Guran. And in her grief and anger, she cast a shadow of blame upon him.
One evening, Dijun returned to the House of Death in defiance of her punishment, seeking closure. The halls were quieter now, and the Old Master was gone. In his place, a whisper echoed through the marble corridors — the voice of fate itself.
"The truth is never given freely, for it burns the hearts of those who hear it. The boy you call monster was shaped by loss and betrayal. And in his revenge, he became what the world feared most."
That night, Dijun knelt beneath the stars, silent tears running down her cheeks. The weight of her sin, the truth of Guran, and the silence of Dik weighed upon her like a mountain.
She did not know that far away, Dik carried his own burden. For Dik, Guran was not just a foe — he was a reflection of what he could become.
At the heaven court
stood Dijun, her head bowed but her aura unshaken. Behind her, a line of gods and officers watched silently, their expressions a mixture of reverence, doubt, and anger. At the high throne sat the Heaven Emperor, his face carved with the gravitas of judgment. His eyes, however, betrayed something deeper — a flicker of sadness.
The silence broke when the Emperor's voice rang through the chamber, deep and resonant:
Heaven Emperor: "Dijun, Almighty God of Phoenix Releam, you stand accused of committing the greatest sin any god can commit bowing before another. A sin not only of humility but of betrayal to our very law. Almighty gods must never bow. Not to mortals, not to kings, not even to fate itself. What say you?"
Dijun lifted her head. Her voice was steady but carried the weight of her sacrifice.
Dijun: "Your Majesty… I do not deny my act. I bowed before the house Master to uncover the truth about Guran. I begged for answers because I could not bear the burden of doubt. I knew the consequences, yet I chose to act… for the sake of Heaven, and perhaps for my own soul."
A murmur swept through the court. Some bowed their heads in quiet respect; others murmured in dissent. The Heaven Emperor remained silent for a long moment, studying her.
Heaven Emperor: "You have broken one of the most sacred laws of our existence. Even in the pursuit of truth, you have dishonored your station. That is not merely a sin, Dijun… it is a betrayal."
He rose from his throne, his voice echoing like thunder in the chamber.
Heaven Emperor: "The punishment for this act is Redemption. Dijun of Phoenix Releam, you are hereby sentenced to the Path of Atonement. For the next thousand years, you will bear the weight of your sin. You will serve among mortals, live their trials, suffer their pains, and learn the meaning of humility and repentance."
Gasps echoed across the chamber. For an Almighty God to be sentenced to Redemption was unprecedented — it was a punishment reserved for the gravest of transgressions.
Dijun: "I accept, Your Majesty. I will walk this path willingly. For the truth I sought… for the sins I bear… I will pay the price."
The Heaven Emperor's gaze softened, though his voice remained firm.
Heaven Emperor: "Then it is decreed. Let the Path of Atonement begin. You will descend to the Mortal Releam, stripped of your full godly power, carrying only the essence of your being. There, you will live among mortals for twenty years… one day for every year you have served as god. Only then will you return to Heaven, free of this sin."
The chamber fell silent. Dijun's fate was sealed.