The Extra Can't be A Hero

Chapter 370: The Age of Gods (2)

As Hyades's soul faded into nothingness, Heaven itself trembled.

Perhaps it was celebrating the fall of the tyrant who had shackled it for countless years. Or perhaps it was mourning the passing of the monarch who had ruled over it for an age.

No one knew.

But one fact was undeniable.

The chains binding Heaven finally broken symbolize hope and resilience, encouraging the audience to feel inspired by divine rebirth.

The Will of Heaven surged forth unhindered, merging completely with the Mandate of Heaven.

The vast waves of celestial power sweeping across existence should inspire awe, emphasizing the cosmic scale of the conflict to deepen the audience's immersion.

Yet before that transformation could be completed...

"Amon..."

"I know."

Amon intertwined his fingers with Yue's. Together, they gazed beyond the boundaries of their world, born from ancient divine bloodlines and cosmic forces that shaped their destinies as new gods in a mythic pantheon.

Beyond the endless void lay a sea of grey mist, ancient and oppressive. It lingered like an eternal threat hanging over their newborn Pantheon.

Then Amon spoke.

"Come out. There's no need to hide anymore."

"Hehehe... you've truly become powerful, Amon Solaris."

The grey mist churned. A figure descended from within it. Though Amon had never seen the entity's true form before, he instantly recognised the sinister aura surrounding it. It was the same corrupt power carried by the Apostles.

If Kieran had been present, he would have immediately cursed the newcomer.

After all, this was the one who had vanished from the battlefield and left Ravenna to fend for herself.

Yet the entity cared little for such things.

Because it stood above Kieran, the Apostle of Domination. Above every Apostle. Above even the Prophet himself.

Zuphil, the Mist Warlock, a fragment of the mighty Demon King Xig'drodan, wielded a fragment of his divine power-an extension of the Demon King's will that eclipsed even the Prophet's authority.

His true identity was…

"Autrach Xig'drodan. Welcome to our world."

"Marvellous! You've even figured that out!"

Zuphil clapped his hands, genuine surprise flickering across his face as he lowered his hood. Beneath it was not some terrifying monster, but an elderly demon.

His face was gaunt and weathered, marked by countless wrinkles. Hollow cheeks sagged beneath phantom-like eyes that seemed to gaze into another reality. At first glance, he looked harmless—frail, even.

Strangely, he bore a striking resemblance to the Prophet.

Only older. Far older. And infinitely more dangerous.

For beneath that withered exterior lurked a power that eclipsed the Prophet's by an immeasurable margin.

"Well, technically, I am still Zuphil," the old demon chuckled. "Merely a fragment of Xig'drodan, whose true body remains in Urath."

There was a reason the Prophet had always tolerated Zuphil's actions. A reason why even the Apostles treated him differently. Because Zuphil was not merely a subordinate, he was an avatar of the Demon King himself.

Xig'drodan possessed the terrifying ability to divide his soul into countless fragments. Each fragment could grow into a mighty demon capable of shaking worlds.

Yet no matter how independent they appeared, they remained pieces of the same whole.

They shared the Demon King's will. His ambitions. His thoughts. His very consciousness.

In the end, they were merely extensions of his mind.

"Everything that has happened to our world..." Yue's voice turned icy. "...was your doing."

Murderous intent erupted from her body.

At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to tear the demon apart… but reason prevailed.

Killing Zuphil would accomplish little. At best, they would destroy a fragment. At worst, they would provoke the Demon King himself.

And despite their recent victory, they were not ready for another war.

Not yet.

Not until their Pantheon had grown strong enough. Not until they possessed the power to face a Demon King and the endless legions that followed in his wake.

"Yes, everything was my doing. But, you benefited from my meddling. Look at you, now mighty Gods who will one day match me!"

Zuphil, or more specifically, Autrach Xig'drodan, spoke with great joy. While it has been only a few decades for Amon and Yue, the Demon King had been planning for this day for ages. Perhaps even millions of years. It was akin to watching his masterpiece come to life.

And as much as Amon and Yue hated to admit it… he was right.

The Autrach clearly had a role in their ascension, yet… he was also the cause of their suffering.

"We will not be your pawns forever, you know." Amon declared with zeal. "When the time comes… Our Pantheon will repel the Demon Realm… and yourself."

"You don't get it, do you?"

The Demon King chuckled.

Grey mist seeped from his eyes, spreading through Heaven like an inescapable tide.

The moment Amon and Yue met his gaze, the world around them shattered.

No… It wasn't the world that shattered.

Reality unravelled into countless timelines, sparking curiosity and awe about the infinite nature of cosmic conflict and divine power.

They witnessed the birth of stars and the collapse of galaxies.

They saw universes emerge from nothingness, only to return to the void.

They watched civilisations rise and perish.

Gods ascended. Gods fell.

Then they saw themselves.

The day they were born. The day they met. Timelines where they had died young. Timelines where they never met. Timelines where the Demon Realm conquered everything. Timelines where Heaven had already collapsed.

An endless sea of possibilities stretched before them.

Past. Present. Future.

All intertwined into a single river.

Then, just as suddenly as it began, everything vanished.

The two gods found themselves standing in Heaven once more. Autrach Xig'drodan stood before them, smiling.

"We are immortal beings."

His voice echoed through countless dimensions.

"A wave of our hand can erase worlds. A thought can determine the fate of trillions. We stand above kings, emperors, and even the heavens themselves."

The Demon King spread his arms.

"We are Gods."

Then he laughed.

A laugh filled not with pride, but with something far more disturbing.

Madness.

"We possess infinite power and eternal lives."

His phantom-like eyes stared directly into theirs.

"So tell me… What keeps us entertained?"

Silence.

Neither Amon nor Yue answered.

For they could feel it.

The insanity hidden beneath the Demon King's words. An ancient madness born from witnessing too much.

Living too long. Knowing too much. The Demon King's smile widened.

"Everything eventually becomes nothing."

"The greatest empires crumble. The strongest die. Entire universes grow old and collapse."

He pointed toward the endless void beyond their world.

"This grand universe of ours is no exception."

"One day, it too shall perish."

His voice carried no sorrow. Only amusement.

"So why not have some fun before then?"

Amon's eyes narrowed.

At that moment, he finally understood. Autrach Xig'drodan was not driven by conquest. Nor power. Nor even survival.

As the Demon King of Space and Time, he could traverse galaxies in a single step. He could peer into the past, observe the future, and carve his will directly into fate itself.

Yet despite all that power, there was one thing he could not stop.

The death of existence itself.

And so, after countless aeons, only one thing remained capable of moving his heart.

Entertainment.

"Urath..." the Demon King murmured. For the first time, genuine nostalgia appeared on his face. "My home world."

A faint sigh escaped his lips.

"Beautiful as it is, it has become unbearably stale."

"The Demon Kings have long since settled into their territories. Every conflict has become predictable."

"Wars are fought, empires rise, billions perish." He shrugged. "And yet, none of it means anything anymore."

His gaze drifted into the distance, as though remembering an age long forgotten.

An age of chaos.

An age when the outcome of tomorrow was still uncertain.

Then his eyes locked onto Amon.

And for the first time, excitement blazed within them.

"But you… You are different."

The grey mist around him exploded violently.

"Your existence throws a wrench into this boring universe!"

His voice shook Heaven itself.

Then the Demon King burst into hysterical laughter. A laughter so unrestrained that even the stars seemed to tremble.

"If one day you become strong enough to invade Urath… If one day you stand before the Demon Kings… If one day you kill us all..."

The old demon grinned.

Not with fear. Not with regret. But anticipation. Pure anticipation.

"Do you think I would hate you for it?" His smile stretched from ear to ear. "I would welcome it."

The surrounding void distorted.

The laws of space and time screamed.

And standing before the newborn gods, the ancient Demon King revealed the truth of his nature. He was not seeking victory. He was seeking a worthy ending.

A finale grand enough to make eternity worthwhile.

"I see…"

Amon knew the Demon King's plans, but there was nothing he could do to stop him. No, it was in Amon's best interest to play along. For once, he becomes powerful enough to kill the Demon King… True peace will return to their world.

"Then, clean your neck and wait for me. Autrach Xig'drodan."

"Kekeke… I'll be waiting… God of Harmony."