Kazuki ran.

  His bare feet pounded against the cold, wet earth as he pushed forward, the freezing night air stinging his torn skin. His breath was ragged, each gasp filled with the raw desperation to live. Behind him, the silhouette of the Astrean Empire’s castle loomed like a monstrous beast, its towers stretching toward the heavens, mocking him.

  But he was free.

  Even though his body ached, even though his stomach growled with hunger, Kazuki refused to stop. He sprinted through the dense forest surrounding the empire, branches clawing at his skin, his wounds reopening, sending fresh streaks of crimson down his arms.

  "I have to keep going."

  The empire wouldn’t let him escape so easily. Guards would be searching for him. If they found him, they would drag him back.

  The very thought sent a cold shiver down his spine.

  After what felt like hours, his legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed onto the damp grass. His vision swam, his body weak from exhaustion. He couldn't move. His breathing slowed as his consciousness began to fade.

  "Damn it… am I really going to die here?"

  Just as the darkness threatened to consume him, a warm light surrounded him.

  A voice, soft yet powerful, echoed through the air.

  “Child of two worlds, awaken.”

  Kazuki’s body felt weightless as everything around him faded into white.

  ---

  When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a vast, ethereal space.

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  The sky above him shimmered with countless stars, and below his feet was a sea of light, glowing with colors he couldn’t name. A presence surrounded him—powerful, ancient, yet comforting.

  Before him stood three figures, each radiating an overwhelming divine aura.

  One was an elderly man with a long silver beard, his golden robes flowing like mist. His eyes were sharp yet filled with wisdom.

  The second was a woman with hair of cascading silver, her beauty otherworldly, her form glowing with soft blue light.

  The third was a warrior, clad in armor forged from the cosmos itself, his presence commanding yet sorrowful.

  Kazuki instinctively knew who they were.

  The true gods of this world.

  The old god was the first to speak. “We have been watching you, Kazuki.”

  The goddess gazed at him with sadness. “We are sorry… for all that you have suffered.”

  The warrior stepped forward. “The kingdom that summoned you… they have twisted the balance of this world. They have enslaved people, stolen lives, and defied our laws. You were never meant to be their tool.”

  Kazuki clenched his fists. “Then why didn’t you stop them?!” His voice cracked with anger. “Why did you let them do this to me?!”

  The gods fell silent.

  The elderly god finally spoke. “We… cannot directly interfere. Not anymore.”

  Kazuki’s rage only grew. “Then what’s the point of all this?! You pity me? That doesn’t change anything!”

  The warrior god narrowed his eyes. “It changes everything.”

  Suddenly, a surge of energy flooded Kazuki’s body. He gasped as knowledge poured into his mind, fragments of ancient power awakening within him. His body felt lighter, stronger—something inside him had been unlocked.

  The goddess placed a gentle hand on his forehead. “We cannot undo your suffering… but we can grant you the strength to forge your own fate.”

  Kazuki’s heart pounded. “Strength…?”

  The gods nodded.

  [You have been blessed by the True Deities.]

  Your soul has been freed from the empire’s control.

  You can now wield magic beyond human limitations.

  Your potential is no longer bound by mortal constraints.

  Kazuki felt something shift within him. His body changed—his hair, once dark, became pure white. His crimson eyes glowed with an unnatural intensity. Power coursed through his veins.

  The warrior god stepped forward. “You are no longer just an outsider. You are now part of this world.”

  The goddess’s voice was firm. “You have the choice, Kazuki. Will you carve your own path… or will you let the empire decide your fate?”

  Kazuki didn’t hesitate. “I’ll make them pay.” His voice was ice. “I swear… I’ll tear down their corrupted kingdom and end their rule.”

  The gods did not smile. They did not cheer.

  They simply nodded.

  “Then go. Begin your journey.”

  The world around him vanished in a flash of golden light.

  ---

  Kazuki awoke with a gasp, his body drenched in sweat.

  He was no longer in the forest. He lay on a soft bed, wrapped in clean sheets. The scent of herbs filled the air.

  His hand shot to his chest—no wounds. His body felt different, as if it had been reforged.

  He slowly sat up, realizing he was in a small wooden room. A candle flickered on a nearby table. He turned his gaze and saw an elderly man in white robes sitting beside him.

  "You’re awake," the man said with a warm smile. "The gods must favor you, young one. You were at death’s door when we found you outside our temple."

  Kazuki’s eyes widened. A temple…?

  The man continued, "You must rest, but when you are ready… I will answer your questions."

  Kazuki stared at his hands. The memories of the Divine Realm were fresh in his mind. The power he had felt there… it wasn’t just a dream.

  He had been reborn.

  A smirk formed on his lips.

  "The empire made a mistake letting me escape."

  "Now… it’s my turn to change everything."