The world trembled—just slightly—but it was enough.
Ren Zian stood at the edge of a broken cliff, lightning still humming faintly in the air. The storm had passed. Arin—the girl once known as the Stormblood Heiress—lay curled under a wind-cloak, her chest rising with each slow, steady breath.
Lyra knelt beside her, hands weaving flames into warmth.
The time-girl, still nameless, sat silently nearby, fingers brushing the air as if touching moments only she could see.
Three waifus. Three pacts. One rebel bidder.
And now… he was marked.
[System Alert: Chaos Mark Detected][Divine Presence Incoming — Hostile Intent Registered][Estimated Arrival: 43 seconds][Warning: Run or Prepare for Combat]
Ren didn't run.
He rolled his neck, letting the tension crack free from his spine. The Ashspire Edge rested across his back like a loyal beast, glowing faintly.
"So," he muttered, "they finally noticed me."
Lyra looked up sharply. "What's coming?"
Ren didn't answer.
Because he could already see the tear forming in the sky.
It wasn't lightning.
It was something far worse.
The clouds parted like fabric, and a vertical slit of golden light split the heavens.
From it descended a man—or at least, something shaped like one.
He wore celestial white robes that shimmered with embedded constellations. His silver hair flowed to his waist, and a spear carved from starlight hovered behind him. His eyes were gold. No iris. No pupils. Just raw judgment.
The being landed lightly on the earth, hands behind his back.
Lyra flared to her feet, eyes blazing.
"Divine agent," she whispered. "Pantheon-class."
The chrono girl didn't move—but the air around her froze.
Arin stirred, but couldn't rise.
The man didn't look at any of them. Just Ren.
[Name: Jeyun the Judgment Star][Race: Ascended Divine Emissary][Power Class: Archon-tier][Mission: Retrieve Chaos-Claimed Pacts • Erase Illegitimate Bids][Estimated Threat: Fatal]
"Ren Zian," the man said. His voice was calm—too calm. "Your soul is tagged with unauthorized claims. Three pacts. Three divine breaches. You've been marked for reclamation."
Ren tilted his head. "You mean I saved three women from being sold like furniture?"
"You intervened in fate," Jeyun said. "The gods do not forget theft."
"They weren't objects," Ren growled. "They were prisoners."
"They were property."
Ren's hand moved to his blade. Slowly.
"Then come take them."
Jeyun didn't blink.
He raised one hand—and time collapsed.
Ren's body jerked forward. His breath froze mid-exhale. Around him, Lyra was suspended mid-leap. Arin's hair froze mid-whip. Even the chrono girl flinched, caught in a stasis bubble.
Only Jeyun could move.
He walked calmly toward Ren.
"Chaos bidders often scream," he said. "You do not. Why?"
Ren's muscles trembled against the time hold. His blood burned. His soul—pushed back.
[Passive Triggered: Pact Resonance — Triple Sync Detected][Anti-Time Feedback Engaged][Soul Resistance +82%]
He moved.
Jeyun's eyes narrowed.
Ren stepped forward one inch. Then two. His blade lifted.
"You have no right," Ren rasped, breath returning. "Not anymore."
Jeyun raised his hand again—but something flickered.
Lyra moved.
Her flames surged through the stasis like wild rebellion. She broke free, leaping between them with a fiery roar.
"Back. Off," she snarled.
Jeyun blinked. "You are pact-bound. You should be under stasis."
"She's fire," Ren grinned. "You can't freeze that."
Jeyun frowned. "Then perhaps the next one will obey."
He turned to the chrono girl and raised his hand.
Ren's eyes widened. "No—!"
But she… was already moving.
In a blink, she vanished from where she sat—and reappeared behind Jeyun.
She touched the air once—and he stumbled.
[Chrono Instability Triggered: Forced Delay Echo][Effect: Archon's perception delayed by 1 second]
Jeyun's form warped.
"Unacceptable," he hissed.
"She's not yours," Ren said coldly. "None of them are."
"They were chosen by gods—"
"They were saved by me."
[System Triggered: Pact Unification Protocol Detected][You have achieved Partial Soul Convergence — 3 Linked Pacts in Sync][Bonus Skill Unlocked: Pact Shield – Divine Resistance Field (10s cooldown)][HP +250 | Resilience +20% | Emotion Amplification: ON]
Light erupted from Ren's chest.
The three pact symbols—flame, clock, and storm—intertwined in midair.
Jeyun stepped back.
"You're forming a Core," he said. "Impossible. Three pacts should create collapse."
Ren stepped forward.
"I don't follow rules," he said. "I break them."
Jeyun raised his spear. "Then you will die like a heretic."
He thrust it forward—
—but the Pact Shield activated.
A wall of golden flame, crackling lightning, and suspended time shimmered before Ren like a living barrier. The spear struck—and bounced.
Jeyun's eyes widened.
Ren surged forward and punched him.
A god. A real one. And Ren's fist met his jaw.
Jeyun flew back ten feet, skidding across the ground, dazed.
Ren didn't follow. Not yet.
He let the message ring.
[Achievement: First Divine Strike – Chaos Path Confirmed][Ranking Increased. New Status: "Auction Thief" – Global Notification Sent]
Lyra's eyes widened. "You're marked now."
Ren grinned, blood on his lip. "Good. Let them come."
Jeyun stood slowly, rubbing his jaw.
"I underestimated you," he said. "But your power is still stolen. Still false."
"Tell your gods," Ren said, "that the next time they send a messenger—send one with a spine."
[Divine Agent Retreating. Mark Remains.][Global Ranking Triggered: You are now visible to Chaos-tier players.]
Lyra exhaled. "You just made enemies with half the pantheon."
"And probably got myself on a leaderboard," Ren muttered.
Behind them, Arin stirred, rising weakly.
"I felt your pact flare," she said, voice soft. "It… it protected me."
The chrono girl blinked slowly. "You fused us. For a moment."
Ren turned, looking at them both.
"I didn't save you just to lose you to a pretty god with a glowing stick."
He grinned, but his eyes were tired.
"We're not done."