The moment Alex saw nearly half of the Grand Mages raising their staffs toward him, he knew he wouldn’t survive their combined attacks.
Yet, he didn’t panic.
Not even a little.
It wasn’t because of [Destiny Shift], though that skill could have saved him.
No, the reason was simpler: [Blessing of the Fox Spirit].
He acquired that from saving the fox tribe from the demons a while ago, and it was still active after all.
It had even saved him back in the [Abyss].
As the spells rained down, explosions of fire, lightning, and void energy consuming the entire area around, the blessing activated.
It could sense whenever the user was about to receive a mortal wound, and immediately protect him.
And that’s exactly what happened: a radiant shield formed around him, absorbing every attack meant to kill him.
The sheer force of the magic sent shockwaves through the room, shaking the walls and cracking the floor beneath him.
Smoke and dust filled the air, and for a brief moment, the Grand Mages believed they had obliterated him.
But then…
Step.
A single footstep echoed through the silence as Alex calmly walked out of the smoke, completely unharmed.
His golden eyes locked onto each mage who had attacked him, his expression unreadable.
The realization hit them all at once.
He had survived.
“Don’t do that again,” Alex said, his voice cold, yet calm, his gaze piercing through them like a blade.
The mages hesitated, their hands still gripping their staffs.
But under his aura, the sheer pressure emanating from him, one by one, they lowered their weapons.
A sigh broke the silence.
“Well,” Isolde muttered, rubbing his forehead, “Your apprentice can tank those kinds of attacks?”
“He can do much more,” Arceus shrugged, unfazed, “Just don’t do anything reckless… He’s stronger than me.”
That sentence alone made every Grand Mage freeze.
Arceus was one of the most powerful Grand Mages.
For him to admit his own apprentice surpassed him?
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Some of the mages gulped, realizing they wouldn’t stand a chance against Alex in a fight.
Yet, among them, Isolde grinned.
“We don’t have a seat for you,” Isolde said, nodding toward Alex, “But you can stand behind Arceus. The meeting is about to start.”
“Very well,” Alex replied, making his way toward Arceus’ seat.
He didn’t rush.
His steps were slow, deliberate, each one reminding the Grand Mages exactly who had just walked out of their combined attack without a scratch.
And once he was set, the real discussion began.
Isolde, the Grand Mage Master, snapped his fingers.
A faint glow surrounded him as his body lifted into the air.
Slowly, he floated above the table, then toward its center, where he gracefully landed.
Isolde held the most power, influence, and respect among all the Grand Mages.
He was the leader, someone that even Alex had never heard of betraying humanity.
If Alex could get him on his side… perhaps the others would follow.
And if they didn’t?
Then he’d do what needed to be done, for the sake of humanity and himself.
He didn’t want to rule by fear, didn’t want to become like the gods, like the Hatred Demon.
But much like he did it with the [Angels], who started following him after realizing his strength, if the Grand Mages chose the wrong side…
He would make them regret it.
Isolde took a deep breath.
“This meeting is the most important one we will ever have,” he began, his tone unusually tense, “And the reason for that is simple.”
Alex looked around.
Some Grand Mages had their eyes closed, already knowing what was coming.
Others shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
Some simply waited, their expressions neutral.
Arceus leaned toward Alex slightly and whispered, “Watch closely. You’re gonna want to hear this.”
Alex gave a slight nod.
Then… snap.
Isolde snapped his fingers again.
This time, glowing panels appeared around him, displaying images of Universal Descent for all to see.
“As you all know,” Isolde said, his voice steady, “for the past twenty-four descents, the gods have taken over each world one by one.”
He sighed.
“But this time… this is the last world.”
A ripple of tension spread through the room.
Whispers broke out among the Grand Mages.
“And apparently,” Isolde continued, his voice sharp, “the gods have now found all their Chosen Ones.”
Silence followed this statement.
“What?”
“No way…”
“What the hell?!”
It seemed like they didn’t know that Alex was one of those [Chosen Ones] they respected so much.
Isolde let them murmur for a moment.
Then he snapped his fingers once more, silencing the room.
“Yes,” he confirmed, “That means that as the last world, the Chosen Games will finally begin.”
“Only the strongest God and Chosen One will survive in the end.”
Another panel flickered, showing the timer.
[1 Month, 10 Days, 6 Hours, 38 Minutes…]
“That… pretty much sums it up.” Isolde exhaled, “And so, you all know what that means, right?”
Alex clenched his fist.
He had no time left to hesitate.
“What does it mean?” he asked, louder than Isolde, making sure everyone in the room heard him.
All eyes turned to him.
Some were shocked that a human had spoken out.
Others looked outright offended.
Isolde, however, simply looked at Alex.
“It means,” he said, “that we will have to wait before starting the destruction.”
Alex’s expression darkened.
…Destruction?
Something was wrong.
He had assumed only a few Grand Mages had sided with the gods.
But now… it seemed far more were involved than he had realized.
The aura around him shifted.
It was dense, suffocating, filled with pure killing intent.
Even Isolde narrowed his eyes.
And yet, Arceus smiled, he was enjoying this.
“Let me get this straight,” Alex said, “Are all Grand Mages aligned with the gods?”
The silence that followed confirmed his worst suspicions.
Isolde scratched the back of his head.
“Not really,” he said.
[LIE]
The [Cursed Eyes of Truth] revealed the reality of the situation.
Alex’s aura didn’t fade.
“In fact,” Isolde continued, “I would rather the destruction not happen.”
[LIE]
“I’d prefer if Earth merged with the other worlds peacefully.”
[LIE]
Alex narrowed his eyes, the more lies he heard, the angrier he got.
“That’s stupid, and you know it.”
He spread his dragon and angel wings and, with a single flap, landed on the table.
Instantly, every Grand Mage gripped their staff.
Alex ignored them.
“Who. Is. With. The. Gods.”
His voice shifted.
A deeper, primordial resonance, like something far beyond human was speaking through him.
Even Isolde took a step back.
“I didn’t lie to you,” Isolde sighed, “For instance, I am not.”
[LIE! LIE! LIE!]
“But you should already know… we cannot defy the gods.”
[Truth]
Alex’s gaze sharpened.
“Why?”
“Because,” Isolde explained, “if a single god dies, all twenty-five worlds will change at once, the consequences would be catastrophic.”
“That’s also stupid.”
Alex took another step forward.
“The God of the Abyss died, and nothing happened.”
“In fact, the angels even thanked me for it.”
The room froze.
The reaction was immediate.
Every Grand Mage’s eyes widened.
Even Isolde’s.
“Kid…” Isolde murmured, “They thanked… you? What? Why?”
Alex met his gaze.
And then, he smiled.
A slow, wide, knowing smile that shifted the entire atmosphere of the room.
At that moment, the Grand Mages realized something terrifying.