As I approached her, the presence that had always been watching me fled, faint hints of pain and sorrow floating down from their high perch. I wondered why.

Still, there was not much room for that with the body in front of me. She was beautiful, with long golden-blonde locks and endless azure eyes, perfectly preserved despite the ages that must have passed. She looked just like me. A blade stuck out of her stomach, one that radiated such power it could cut me from a hundred paces if I wasn't careful. God-Slayer the blade read. It was perfect, just what I need to topple that DAMNED EMPEROR.

I struggled for a second, pushing down the emotions again. It was hard to control them here. In her presence, even dead as she was.

Angelica an Erduk, the plaque on the dias read, progenitor of the Erduks, beloved of God.

I raised my eyebrow at that, but immediately winced as I was struck with another wave of heartbreak and betrayal, and my own control shook precariously.

I could feel the documents, within the dias, a strange mixture of ancient, those likely written by Angelica, and those much more modern.

I wondered why someone would hide them here. Perhaps to hide them from that presence that always followed me?

Still, this was not the time. I would come back later. Right now, I just needed to kill the emperor. And to do that, I needed that sword.

I reached for the hilt, gathering my will and passion to prevent my hand from being shredded as I approached the hilt. With a final grunt of effort I managed to seize it.

And was immediately whisked away.

I saw my hand wielding a hammer, long blonde hair flying around my face as I worked. A man shaped cutout watched, and shouted encouragement. His presence was… endless. He could end both me and Nero with a snap of his fingers.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

He helped me, weaving laws so complicated I could scarcely comprehend their existence. The hammering began to shape the metal into something similar. God-Slayer. The blade I now held in my hand. I watched as it was finished in a flash of endlessness. And I watched as I yelled and screamed, and tried to justify slaying the man I loved. I felt the shift. The moment deliberation became commitment. There was no backing down. I watched as my strike obliterated space itself, only to be stopped by a single hand. I felt the heartbreak run through me at his expression, but my will did not waver for a moment. Even when my vision went dark.

I gasped, opening my eyes to find myself floating in a dark space. At least I was in my own body. I stretched out my senses, finding the edge of this space. I could break it if I wished, but I was curious.

A woman appeared in front of me, the same one the corpse in the vault belonged to.

“You’re dead.” I said.

“Yes.” she replied.

“So, how are you here?”

She looked at me with eyes that stripped me bare. “You should know better than anyone. Death can’t hold us. Not entirely. My soul may be long gone. But I have preserved a portion of my will and mind.”

“So why are you wasting it on me?”

“To warn you.”

“About?”

“You have felt him. Watching.”

I nod.

“He grows tired. Soon, he will wipe the slate clean and start again.”

“You mean…”

“Yes. He will wipe humanity from the universe. You need to stop it.”

“How?”

“Ascend. Embody yourself to the point reality bows to you. Create yourself in the image of your path. And wield that sword. I designed it to kill him. Read the documents below the dais. They contain my insights, as well as those of a few other Erduks.”

“How do I—”

“I must go now. Prepare for the worst.”

In a blink, the reality around me shattered leaving me gripping God-Slayer over the corpse of Angelica. I pulled it out in a single moment, admiring the blade.

In my hands, It could cut anything.

I thought about Angelica's words. I had never felt anything malicious from the presence. Just sad, and hopeful. But the conversation between God and Angelica was fresh in my mind.

I would need to be prepared.

But first NERO.