Far inside the Holy Empire's grand palace, below the cathedral floor, there existed a sealed room known only to a few:
The Chamber of Purity.
But there was nothing pure inside it.
Only five figures sat around a round silver table the most feared manipulators in the Empire.
Their names were whispered only as:
Cardinal Voss Master of Forbidden Holy Arts
Arch-Knight Darion Commander of the Empire's Elite Army
Seer Myra A prophet who sees all monster threats
Grand Exorcist Helvar Slayer of magical beasts
Shadow Bishop Ren Assassin leader hidden inside the church
They had one goal:
Kill Atria.
Cardinal Voss slammed his hand on the table.
"That slime is evolving too fast! If he continues, he will become a threat to humanity!"
Seer Myra's eyes glowed.
"I looked into the web of fate… and saw a future where Atria grows powerful enough to unify monsters. That cannot be allowed."
Arch Knight Darion grinned cruelly.
"Then let me take an army and crush that village."
Ren leaned forward, voice cold.
"I say we burn the entire forest."
Helvar smiled.
Five different ways to destroy him why not use them all.
The room grew colder.
Then Voss issued the order.
"Mobilize ten thousand soldiers. Surround the forest. Leave no goblin alive."
The Empire would move by nightfall.
Back in Atria's village The Threat Approaches
Silva growled first.
Teka rushed into the meeting hut.
"A Atria sama! Humans Thousands! Marching this way!"
Rugo's face went pale.
"Ten thousand Why.
Atria didn't answer.
He felt it in his core:
A storm was coming.
Something massive.
Something deadly.
And something meant for him.
He moved to the center of the village and wrote one word in the dirt:
"Prepare."
As the goblins ran to fortify walls and hide children, Atria stared at the sky.
Why were humans doing this.
He had done nothing wrong.
He had harmed no one.
He had built peace.
But peace wasn't something everyone wanted.
A deep vibration began inside his core.
Warm.
Violent.
Explosive.
The system activated on its own.
WARNING: Overwhelming Hostile Forces Detected
System Response: Forced Evolution Triggered
Atria froze.
Then
BOOOOOOOOM.
A massive wave of energy erupted from his body, lighting the sky with gold, silver, and pure white light.
The goblins fell to their knees.
Silva howled as the shockwave passed over him.
Rugo shielded his eyes.
The system chime echoed like a divine bell:
New Evolution Achieved
Form: DIVINE APEX SLIME
A god-tier evolution.
Atria's body changed:
His slime form glowed like a star.
Runes formed across his surface.
A second core ignited inside him.
The air around him warped like reality was bending in respect.
Then came the new abilities.
God Tier Skill Unlocked: Infinite Nullification
You can erase ANY attack, ability, spell, or force that targets you.
God Tier Skill: Worldbreaker Aura
Your mere presence weakens all hostile beings and amplifies allies.
God Tier Skill: Absolute Authority
Forces below your level must obey your command unless they have a divine resistance.
God Tier Magic: Celestial Burst
A single use beam capable of destroying armies.
Silva fell to the ground, overwhelmed.
Lena whispered:
"A Atria sama… w what are you now.
Atria pulsed softly, reassuring them.
He wasn't a god.
He wasn't a monster.
He wasn't a weapon.
He was their protector.
The Empire Arrives
The ground thundered.
Trees snapped.
Ten thousand soldiers, priests, exorcists, and holy knights surrounded the forest.
Arch Knight Darion stood at the front, raising his weapon.
"ATTACK THE MONSTER VILLAGE!"
Tens of thousands of arrows filled the sky.
Holy magic crackled.
Siege engines rolled forward.
Massive chains for capturing Atria glowed with cursed energy.
The goblins trembled.
Rugo whispered, "There's no way we survive this…"
But Atria moved forward.
Calm.
Silent.
Unshaken.
The sky darkened around him.
His aura expanded like a tidal wave.
Every soldier froze.
Every priest stopped chanting.
Every weapon shook.
Even Darion felt his knees weaken.
"What… is this pressure.
Atria's voice echoed in their minds deep, resonating, absolute.
"Leave. This forest. Now."
The entire army trembled.
Some fainted instantly.
Even elite soldiers stepped back, weapon hands shaking.
But the Five Shadows of the Empire were still watching from afar.
And they would not stop.
Not yet.