The night sky bled gold.Not from stars — but from a tear in the heavens.
A rift opened above the Black Dunes, spilling divine radiance that seared the sand to glass. The air trembled, reality itself bending as something descended from the wound between worlds.
Hayate, Lyria, and Kael stood motionless beneath the storm of light.
"It's her envoy," Kael whispered, tightening his grip on his twin blades. "A direct summon from Elythra herself."
Lyria's expression paled. "Then… that means she's serious."
From the rift emerged a figure — tall, armored in white and gold, her wings woven from pure light. Her face was serene, almost angelic, yet her presence pressed upon them like a mountain.
"Revenant detected," she said, her voice calm but inhuman. "Designation: Rengoku Hayate. By divine decree, your existence is a sin."
Hayate's red hair shimmered in the glow. "So the goddess sends her executioners now."
[System Alert: Divine Entity Detected – Class: Seraphim Lv. 65][Warning: Power gap detected. Survival chance: 3%.]
Kael muttered, "Three percent…? That's generous."
The Seraphim raised her spear. "Kneel, mortal. The mercy of light allows repentance."
Hayate smirked. "Mercy? You mean obedience."
Black and red light surged from his body, coiling around his arm like chains of flame. The system glyphs glowed across his skin as his Revenant Core pulsed violently.
[Skill Activated: Revenant's Wrath][Effect: All stats +40% for 120 seconds. Lifeforce consumption engaged.]
The Seraphim's wings flared wide. "You defy the divine. Then be unmade!"
She struck — the spear splitting the air in a golden flash. Hayate barely dodged, the ground erupting into molten glass.
Lyria extended her hand. "Aether Shield!"A shimmering barrier flickered around Hayate, but the next blow shattered it instantly.
Kael lunged in from the side, his blades clashing against the Seraphim's armor. Sparks of gold and crimson flew — divine light against cursed steel.
"She's too strong!" Kael shouted. "Her stats are at least double ours!"
Hayate slid back, blood dripping down his arm. "Then we stop fighting her like humans."
He closed his eyes, focusing on the throbbing pain in his chest — the bond between his soul and the System that had saved him from death once before.
"System… show me a path where I survive."
[Request Received.][Analyzing Combat Probability.][New Path Unlocked: Revenant Override Protocol – Risk Level: Fatal.]
Hayate opened his eyes, a crimson glow replacing the pain.
[Skill Unlocked: Revenant Override (Prototype)][Effect: Converts Lifeforce → Power for 60 seconds.]
He laughed under his breath. "Fine. If survival's the cost, I'll pay it."
Black fire exploded around him. The dungeon's sands turned to ash. Even the Seraphim staggered back, her divine armor cracking at the edges.
"Impossible…" she hissed. "You're burning your own soul!"
Hayate dashed forward, his strike blurring through the air. The clash rang like thunder — black and gold energy colliding until both were swallowed by a blinding shockwave.
When the dust cleared, the Seraphim knelt, her wings tattered and dim. Hayate stood over her, panting, his body steaming with dark energy.
"Tell your goddess," he said through clenched teeth, "that I'm coming for her next."
The Seraphim smiled faintly. "Then she will be waiting, Revenant."
She dissolved into golden light, her last words echoing across the desert.
Hayate collapsed to one knee, coughing blood. Lyria rushed to his side, eyes wide.
"Your pulse— it's fading! You can't use that power again!"
He chuckled weakly. "Then I'll have to make sure I don't die before she does."
Kael stared at the fading light above them. "That wasn't just a battle. That was a declaration."
Hayate looked up at the night sky, the stars slowly returning.
"Yeah," he said softly. "The war's started."
[Quest Updated: Survive the Goddess's Envoy – Completed.][New Quest Unlocked: Hunt the Seraphim's Master – Elythra Herself.][Reward: Title – "Defier of Light" Obtained.][Bonus Stat: +15 All Attributes.]