Riven stepped heavily onto the stone floor of the church. Inside, a sharp odor hung in the air; a mix of mold, incense, and the decayed echo of prayers.
Elya shivered, Darel remained silent, and Corven instinctively touched his sword.
The priest bowed his head.
"Welcome… are you here for the Divine Eye?"
Riven didn't lift his head, a white glow seeped from beneath his eye band.
"Yes. I want to see… that which even gods fear to witness."
The priest recoiled for a moment, then began to pray. Riven and the others knelt.
Suddenly, a brilliant light filled the room. Dust swirled, and the symbols on the walls began to burn one by one.
And then, when Riven lifted his head…
a shape formed within the light.
A woman with golden hair cascading over her shoulders, her eyes filled with emotion. Elira… his mother.
"Mother…?" Riven's voice trembled.
Elira smiled, her voice soft as the wind:
> "My son… do not lose your way. Trust those by your side. They will be your fortress."
Tears welled in Riven's eyes.
"Mother… why now?"
She took a step back, the lights flickering.
> "One more thing, Riven… your brother and sister are seeking you."
Riven froze for a moment.
"My brother and… sister? What—?"
Before he could finish, the light vanished. The church was plunged into darkness.
At that moment, the priest fell to his knees, his eyes brimming with tears.
> "You… you are a god."
"Our god… has returned to the world!"
Riven remained silent. His hands shook, sweat ran down his forehead.
"I am not a god," he said in a cold voice. "I… am cursed."
But at that moment, something awoke deep within his chest.
The demon inside whispered:
> "What if the gods fear you, Riven? What if you stand above them?"
The church was silent. Only the echo of prayers bounced off the stone walls.
Riven knelt, trying to suppress the white light spilling from beneath his eye band.
Elya leaned closer.
"Riven… are you sure about this?"
His voice was cold.
"The Divine Eye… the power even the gods hide. We cannot win any battle without it."
The priest raised his hands to the heavens.
"The god tests you, cursed child. The Divine Eye can only be awakened at one of two costs:
Sacrifice a soul blessed by the god's grace…
or bring the eye of the Divine Dragon."
Elya stepped back, her face pale.
"The god's grace… you mean… me?"
Riven did not lift his head.
"No."
His voice echoed in the darkness. "I will not sacrifice you."
A silence fell. Then the priest spoke again:
"Seeking the dragon's eye is no simple task. The creature rests at the heart of a mountain unseen for a thousand years. Its eye equals the third eye of the gods. To take it is to invite even the wrath of divinity upon yourself."
Riven stood.
"I was born into the wrath of gods anyway."
His robe brushed the floor as his steps echoed over the stones. "Elya, Darel, Corven. Prepare yourselves.
We are going to the dragon's lair."
Elya was silent, tears glistening in her eyes.
"Riven… is it worth this cost for you?"
He did not turn.
"Those who pay no cost are merely spectators."
Golden light streamed from the church ceiling. For a brief moment, Riven paused — his mother's silhouette appeared once more.
"Elira…" he whispered.
Her voice passed like wind:
> "My son, do not let power consume you. You have made your choice, but remember… every eye blinds a heart."
The light vanished.
Riven remained silent.
Darel drew his sword, Elya bowed her head, Corven muttered:
"Seeking the dragon's eye… it's like challenging the gods themselves."
Riven began to walk, his voice resolute.
"Then we challenge them."
…At the heart of the mountain, the final cry echoed as the Divine Dragon fell to the ground.
Its massive scales shattered, a white light leaking from beneath.
Riven lowered his sword slowly. The third eye beneath his band glimmered faintly.
Silence.
Only the wind and the scent of ashes against stone.
Then the sky split.
A lightning bolt struck, cleaving the earth.
And there — amidst the gray clouds — Vel appeared.
A small child, long white hair billowing in the wind.
The black cat in his arms hissed, and the sky trembled.
Vel's voice rang out, innocent yet terrifying:
> "…My Ejdarya is dead?"
Silence.
"Who… had the audacity?"
Riven stepped back, narrowing his eyes at the child.
"So, you are Vel."
Vel's face twisted with anger.
> "Impudent brat! How dare you kill my Divine Ejdarya!"
Lightning struck the ground with his words, shattering stone.
Riven swung his sword; the shockwave split the lightning in two.
Vel roared with fury. "A cursed one like you cannot meddle in the gods' affairs!"
At that moment, another light descended from the sky.
A massive figure clad in golden armor appeared beside Vel, eyes filled with endless wrath.
> "Vel," the deep voice said.
"We must kill this child. Before he grows even stronger."
Vel lifted his head, grinding his teeth.
> "Yes… his time has come."
The two gods struck simultaneously.
Lightning, light swords, and holy winds clashed.
Riven retreated, defending himself, but each blow hit him like stone.
One strike seared his shoulder, another shattered his knees.
Vel approached, raising his hand.
> "In the name of eternity, I will destroy you now."
At that instant, Riven tore off his eye band.
The third eye opened.
A blinding white light spread — time itself froze.
Lightning hung suspended mid-air, stones hovered, and even the gods' breaths were silenced.
Riven whispered with a trembling voice:
> "Not… yet."
He took a step.
Then another.
Everything was frozen; only he moved.
As the light faded, Riven vanished.
Vel clenched his fist.
> "Run, Riven…" he said through gritted teeth.
"I would burn the heavens for you."
The sky darkened.
The war of the gods had officially begun.
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