The massive obsidian gate loomed before him like a monument carved by forgotten gods.Its surface pulsed with faint, rhythmic light—like a living heartbeat under stone. Ancient runes crawled across it in shifting blue patterns, rearranging themselves as if whispering a secret language only time could understand.
Zorahm stood still for a moment, his sharp eyes scanning every glowing symbol. He reached out, brushed his fingers lightly across the door—
And the gate opened.
The sound was soft, eerie, almost reverent. Not a creak, not a groan—just a gentle exhale, as if it had been waiting for him all along.
Beyond it stretched a vast chamber cloaked in darkness. His footsteps echoed through the void. Then—fwsshh!—blue fire flared alive, one torch at a time, tracing a circle of light around him until the entire hall was illuminated in ethereal glow.
Rows upon rows of statues lined the walls—warriors frozen mid-strike, angels with raised swords, beasts snarling, mages with spellbooks open, monsters of impossible form—all carved in perfect, divine precision.
At the far end of the chamber, atop a dais, sat a colossal figure—A kingly statue upon a throne, crown glinting in the blue firelight. Its eyes seemed to watch.
Voice (deep, resonant, echoing): "Welcome… Divine Vessel."
Zorahm's hand went to his katana, his posture calm but ready.
Zorahm: "Who's talking?"G.A.I.D.E.: "Unknown source. Voice reverberates across multiple frequencies. Be advised—possible omnipresence."
The voice chuckled softly, a sound that rolled through the hall like thunder under velvet.
Voice: "I am the Architect… the maker of the Gate… and the balance between chaos and creation."
Zorahm: "Balance? You mean the slaughter outside?"
Architect: "All systems must reset. Humanity… outgrew its equilibrium. The Gate restores what was lost. You, however—" the voice lingered, almost curious "—you are not written in the pattern. An anomaly. But perhaps… a useful one."
Zorahm: "You keep saying 'useful.' Useful for what?"
Architect: "To carry divinity itself. To carry me. The Vessel must be tested first."
Before Zorahm could reply, light condensed in front of the throne.
G.A.I.D.E.: "Energy surge—get clear!"
A beam of radiant energy lanced across the chamber—Zorahm's figure blurred, disappearing in a shockwave that tore the marble apart.
Chunks of molten rock exploded outward. But Zorahm was already in motion—sliding under debris, dashing forward in bursts of blue afterimage.
The katana shimmered—one clean arc.The statue's head rolled, stone cracking like thunder.
Zorahm (mocking): "That your test? Bit easy for a 'god.'"
Architect (low laugh): "Interesting… Let us continue, then."
The ground trembled. Cracks split across the floor as other statues began to move—stone grinding, limbs flexing, weapons clanging against the ground.
A warrior with a massive hammer stepped forward. Beside it, an angel with a glowing bow.
G.A.I.D.E.: "Combat entities—two active. Recommend observation. Stall and gather data."Zorahm: "Sure. Let's see what your 'balance' can do."
The hammer came down with the force of an earthquake.Zorahm dodged—barely—a streak of motion. The floor erupted where he stood.An arrow of blue light followed, slicing through air. He deflected it with the katana, sparks dancing in the dark.
Then came more.
Three statues. Four. Five.
Each one faster, stronger. The chamber turned into chaos—light beams cutting through the air, explosions echoing across stone.Zorahm weaved between them, every movement calculated, smooth, deadly. His blade carved arcs of silver light, slicing through limbs and torsos, but the statues kept reforming—divine power rebuilding them mid-battle.
G.A.I.D.E.: "Voice triangulation in progress. Ninety percent probability: angel statue holding a book, right flank."Zorahm: "Then that's our target."G.A.I.D.E.: "Recommendation: construct heavy ordnance. Fusion-based detonation."Zorahm: "How heavy are we talking?"G.A.I.D.E.: "Stronger than nuclear parameters."Zorahm: "Perfect. Build it."G.A.I.D.E.: "Warning—risk level catastrophic. Detonation radius exceeds safe limit by—"Zorahm (grinning): "I'll manage. Let the nanocytes handle the rest."
Blue light crawled across his skin—his nanocytes activating, plating him in armor-like black steel. His head sealed beneath a smooth morphing helm of living metal.
G.A.I.D.E.: "Defense optimization complete. Brain core reinforced. Core integrity 100%."Zorahm: "Good. Let's end this show."
He lunged again—cutting through a mage statue, flipping over a beast's claws, dodging blasts of holy fire. But they were faster now. One hammer strike clipped his arm, flinging him into a wall. The marble cratered beneath the impact.
G.A.I.D.E.: "Muscle fiber damage at 24%. Regeneration active."Zorahm (breathing hard, smirking): "You're getting better, Architect."Architect: "Do you feel it? The weight of perfection?"Zorahm: "I feel boredom."
The last of the statues roared to life—six, seven, eight—all surrounding him. The air shimmered with divine power. Zorahm blurred into motion, blade flashing, bullets flying in a symphony of precision. Every swing, every strike flowed like water and lightning combined—grace and brutality dancing in perfect sync.
Still, the force pressed harder. He slid back, armor denting under a barrage. Sparks flew off his morphing armor.
G.A.I.D.E.: "Bomb completed. Containment stabilized. Ready to deploy."Zorahm: "About time."
A sphere appeared in his palm—a condensed fist of swirling energy, vibrating with terrifying heat.He broke from combat, sprinting between statues, feinting like he was trying to flee. The warriors gave chase—massive, unstoppable.
Then he vanished.
Reappeared behind the angel statue clutching a book. His hand drove through its back.He placed the sphere inside.
Zorahm (quietly): "Reset complete."
He flickered out of existence, reappearing across the hall.
Then light consumed everything.
A deafening boom shattered the world. Fire swallowed stone, blue lightning webbed through the chamber. The explosion folded air itself—turning everything to molten dust.
Zorahm was caught in the blast, thrown like a meteor into the far wall, pulverizing it to rubble. His armor cracked, skin shredded, blood turning silver as nanocytes worked overtime.
G.A.I.D.E.: "Critical injury detected. Regeneration at 62%. Neural core stable. Energy supply: 28%."Zorahm (groaning, standing): "Still breathing. That's a win."
The smoke began to settle.Only one figure remained standing amid the ruin—the angel statue. Its body destroyed, only half a head and part of the torso remained.
From its cracked mouth came the faint voice:
Architect: "How… did you know?"Zorahm: "Variables are unpredictable."
A pause—then low laughter echoed through the broken hall.
Architect: "There are others watching, Divine Vessel. The game has just begun."
Zorahm reached down, grasped the shattered angel's head, and crushed it into dust.
[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]Congratulations!
Architect Defeated: 1 / 10
Dungeon Collapse Timer: 30:00 Minutes
Level Up → 1
All Attributes +10
Title Gained: God Slayer(+100 to All Attributes | +20% Damage vs Divine Entities)
Skill Gained: Orc Language (Advanced)
[System Message]: "Would you like to equip the title 'God Slayer'?"Zorahm: "Equip it."[System]: "Title equipped. Attributes increased accordingly."
Zorahm's body glowed faintly as the energy of the upgrade surged through him.He could feel his power stretching, evolving—his core humming like a sun.
G.A.I.D.E.: "Zorahm, the dungeon is collapsing. Spatial distortion already reaching outer chambers. Evacuation mandatory."
Something shimmered in his palm—left behind in the aftermath.A glowing relic.
Item Acquired: God's Armor (Rank SSS)Effect: Damage Reduction 99.99% — Indestructible — Invisible to all but the wearer.
Zorahm (low whistle): "This is broken."G.A.I.D.E.: "Correction: statistically, you are now the definition of overpowered."Zorahm (smirking): "Then let's put it to use."
The ground cracked beneath his feet as the chamber began to collapse.Chunks of ceiling fell in fiery rain. The torches went out one by one.
G.A.I.D.E.: "Twenty-nine minutes remaining. Follow corridor route B-17. Exit vector marked."Zorahm: "Copy. Let's go."
He turned, cloak whipping behind him, and sprinted through the collapsing ruin—the newly crowned God Slayer running toward a dying world,and the next trial waiting beyond it.