Chapter 24: The False God

The wind howled through the ruined street.
Dust and ash swirled between the broken lampposts as the faint scent of smoke filled the air.

Kanata stood there, his eyes locked on the girl before him — the same girl who, only moments ago, had called his name with such warmth.

Envy.
The Golden Dragon.
The supposed goddess who once nearly destroyed the world.

“Lord Black Dragon,” she spoke softly, her tone innocent, almost human.
“Why do you look at me with such fear?”

Kanata’s heartbeat pounded in his ears.
(Is she truly the monster they warned me about… or just another lost soul?)
There was something calm, almost fragile, about her presence — yet his instincts screamed danger.

A metallic creak broke the silence.
Then—

CLAAANG!

A steel beam slammed into the ground between them, sparks flying. Kanata stumbled back in shock.

Two figures emerged from the haze — one cloaked in azure light, the other in silver.

“Kanata! Get back!”
It was Schwartz Helmut and Erika Lakia.

The air distorted with power; the temperature rose, the concrete began to melt under their combined aura. Even without transforming, the two dragons radiated enough energy to scorch the air.

“You two… what are you doing here?” Envy asked, wide-eyed.

“Don’t play dumb,” Schwartz spat. “We came to stop you. But it looks like we’re too late.”

“You think you can just walk free after slaughtering our kin?” Erika’s voice was trembling with fury, her golden pupils burning with rage.

Envy froze, her expression pained.

“You’re wrong. I didn’t kill them—please, listen to me. It’s all a misunderstanding!”

“A likely story.” Schwartz drew his blade, its edge humming with blue lightning.
“We won’t be fooled again by your sweet words, traitor.”

“I said you’re wrong!” Envy cried out, tears forming in her eyes.
“You don’t know what really happened!”

Her plea went unheard.
The dragons lunged.

Kanata moved on instinct, stepping between them.

“Wait! Stop!”

Erika glared at him.

“Kanata, move! If you stay there, you’ll die with her!”

“At least let her speak!” he shouted.
“You can’t condemn someone without hearing the truth!”

Schwartz’s blade hovered just inches from Kanata’s chest.

“You really are naïve… and stupid. She’s deceived the gods themselves for power!”

Their argument was drowned out by the sudden roar of engines.
Dozens of magic aircrafts and armored trucks surrounded the area, flooding the ruins with bright light.

From within them, armored mages stepped out, their emblems bearing the sigils of the United Mage Division — a joint task force between Earth and Nevantrax.

“This is the Elite Mage Corps!” one of them shouted.
“Target: The False Goddess, Envy! Commence sealing!”

Chains of orange mana spiraled through the air, wrapping around Envy’s body.
She didn’t resist. She simply looked down, whispering—

“So this is how it feels… to be feared again.”

The runes tightened.
But before the final seal activated, a single blade flashed through the night.

SHIIING!
The chains snapped.

A figure in a dark cloak appeared among the soldiers.
His hands glowed with unstable crimson fire, and his voice echoed with cruel amusement.

“Humans never learn.”

“Who are you?!” Kanata demanded.

The man raised his hand.

“<Blast Shockwave.>”

A wave of compressed force erupted from his palm. The explosion tore through the street like a storm — soldiers were thrown aside, walls crumbled, and even Schwartz and Erika were sent skidding backward. Kanata hit the ground hard, his vision blurring.

The cloaked man knelt beside Envy, who was still bound by half-shattered seals.
He pulled a small crystal flask from his robe — pulsing with dark runes — and forced it between her lips.

“W–What are you—!”

A surge of energy burst from Envy’s body, streaming into the bottle like liquid gold.
She screamed once, then fell limp, her aura fading to nothing.

Kanata’s anger erupted.

“What did you just do?!”

The stranger turned, a faint grin under his hood.

“Not your concern, boy. Though I see it now… The Black Dragon’s power rests in you.”

He tossed Envy’s unconscious body aside like a discarded doll.
Then he approached Kanata slowly.

“Join us.”

“…What?”

“Join The ACID. We will rebuild this rotting world — where only the strong rule, and the weak crawl like worms beneath our feet.”

Kanata spat blood, glaring up at him.

“You think I’d ever help someone like you?”

The man chuckled.

“Ah, rebellion. I like that. The ACID always welcomes new talent — especially one like you, Kanata-kun.”

Lightning crackled through the sky.
A bolt struck the ground between them.

“Step away from him.”

Kaname Naomi descended from above, her eyes blazing with electric fury.
The cloaked man merely sighed.

“So the Witch of Lightning finally appears.”

He smiled beneath the hood.

“Another time, then.”

Before Kaname could strike, a sharp SREEEEK! pierced the air — a metal rod impaled Kanata through the abdomen.
Blood sprayed across the cracked pavement.

“KANATA!!” Kaname’s concentration faltered.

The cloaked man opened a shimmering portal behind him.

“Remember this, boy — The ACID never closes its doors.”

He stepped through and vanished.

Kanata stumbled, clutching the rod.
Blood dripped down his fingers, his vision fading.

“Damn it… Envy—she’s still…”

He fell to his knees, trying to crawl toward her.
But before he could reach her, darkness consumed him.

Schwartz and Erika rushed to his side, their energy barely stable.

“Hold on, Kanata! Don’t move!” Schwartz barked, pressing his hands against the wound.
“You fool… you’re not ready to fight monsters like that!”

Kaname knelt beside them, her expression hard but trembling.

“We’re losing him.”

In the distance, soldiers secured Envy’s unconscious body, loading her into a sealed transport truck.
The news spread within hours:

“The False God Envy has been captured.”

And across worlds, in a citadel of blinding light, a man in golden robes stood from his throne.
His name was Solomon Caine Velarius — Archmage of Nevantrax.

“So… the goddess has fallen.”
His eyes gleamed coldly.
“Then it’s time I descended upon Earth myself.”

The announcement echoed through both worlds.
Every mage — human and dragon alike — felt it.

The Archmage was coming.