The Monarch

"I'm raising a future elite god, not a pathetic mortal," Kayden's eyes burned into the boy. "From this day forward, you are no longer allowed to bring dishonor to my name again." Kayden didn't let the boy respond.

Crack!Crack!Crack!

Kayden shattered both of Kayn's arms entirely—his legs too. It was fast, with no explanation and no mercy. The boy didn't see it coming, and the pain… was muffled by the mental conditioning Kayden had drilled into him.

"How does it feel to be completely powerless?" Kayden smiled. "Pathetic, isn't it? You can't do a thing. You're weak—you lack the strength to react to my power." Kayden wasn't going to drag this out. "You don't need to fear any god in this world as long as you're my apprentice. But if I find out you've bowed to a mortal again, our master-apprentice relationship will end with your death."Kayden kicked Kayn so hard that the boy flew dozens of kilometers."Don't shame me again."

The harshness with which Kayden treated his own apprentice was surreal. Gods shared a general consensus against treating their apprentices so harshly—especially not with physical violence. There was a deep-rooted fear of divine karma among most gods.

Kayden went back to drinking his tea as if absolutely nothing had happened. Meanwhile, two major movements were taking place. In the city, news was spreading like wildfire. Kayden's actions had gone far beyond normal boundaries—this was a completely unprecedented case in the city.

Killing gods wasn't easy—and certainly not trivial. Killing a god was considered an extreme act under normal circumstances. In the context of war or large organizations, it was different—but Kayden wasn't part of any large organization.

The second movement was within the Ody family. Kayden's behavior was a very clear show of power—and not just that, it was extreme. Part of the family was eager to recruit him. Another part wanted to kill him for his actions, committed so brazenly in the city. And Kayden? He just kept sipping his tea, unbothered.

"I didn't expect such harsh actions from you, Kayden," Lucius sat down across from the boy, his emotions visibly conflicted.

"You killed a few too many gods, actually," Yasmim joined the conversation as well. Kayden said nothing, calmly sipping his tea.

"They disrespected me. They simply paid the consequences." Kayden's tone made it clear—he felt no regret. And that was the truth.

"You're in a serious city, Kayden. You can't just do whatever you want here," Lucius wasn't going to let it slide lightly. His family would hold him responsible.

"Lucius," Kayden looked him directly in the eye. "Do I look like an idiot to you?"Lucius didn't understand the question, but answered without thinking too hard.

"No, you don't seem like one." Kayden continued.

"I've seen the power of your ancestor. I've seen the scale of your family," Kayden began listing things calmly. "So what exactly would lead me to ignore all of that?"

Lucius and Yasmim had been part of the Ody family since birth. They lived in a territory where their family ruled absolutely, with no competition whatsoever. That meant they had never encountered a god mad enough to be disrespectful—or indifferent to their family's decisions. They had always been at the top, and anything outside that paradigm didn't fit in their minds.

"You don't fear our family," Yasmim said, trying to figure out who was backing Kayden.

"Where exactly are you from, Kayden?" Lucius asked seriously. A mage he had found by chance in the Great Sea shouldn't have such overwhelming support.

The truth was: Kayden had no great backing. He simply didn't fear any god. The power of karma was far superior to any of them. It was literally the direct force of the celestials against mere gods—they were worlds apart in strength.

"I already told you—I come from a tiny place that doesn't even exist anymore." Kayden didn't pursue the subject further. His confidence was unnerving. It was terrifying to face someone who didn't even fear death.

"In a few minutes, the gods from my family will take you to the Council. Unfortunately, I can't stop that… but I will stand by your side." Lucius was making a gamble. He was going to go against his entire family's order for Kayden. His instincts screamed that this was the right thing to do.

"That's fine. I understand completely," Kayden continued drinking his tea as if nothing mattered. Yasmim said nothing—she wasn't going to take sides in this moment. Kayden attracted her in some ways, but not enough for her to go against her family.

"Master Lucius, the Council summons your ward." A voice called from outside.

Kayden and the two gods stood up and walked outside. A single serpent-god was waiting for them.

"We're coming," Lucius said as he led the way without hesitation. This was a unique situation in his life. His tension was extremely high. It only took a few seconds before they arrived at a kind of temple.

The Council Temple was a colossal structure made of living black stone, pulsing faintly as if breathing. Its columns, twisted like spiraling serpents, reached high into the foggy sky, emanating an aura of absolute authority. In the center, a golden dome floated gently above the building, suspended by pure divine energy. Ancestral symbols glowed along the walls, shifting shape in response to the thoughts of the gods present. The silence there was so deep it crushed everything—as if even time awaited permission to continue.

Kayden didn't need to be ordered or notified to approach the center. He knew that was where he would be judged for his actions. Calmly, without any emotion, he walked to that point. His actions weren't interrupted by any furious god—out of respect for Lucius. But…

"Kayden, the Council will now judge your actions."A voice rang out and echoed from every direction.

Outside, there were thousands of members of the family who had come to witness this event. It was a very unique occurrence. Inside, there were only five gods—representing the peak just below the ancestral level. Their power and identities were complete unknowns.

None of them knew who the others were, making their actions truly impartial. Seeking any information about their identities was considered the highest heresy.Kayden...

Sat down at a floating table, pulled a cup of tea, and crossed his legs.