Chapter 192: Dzek's Overwhelming Scam!

Chapter 192: Dzek's Overwhelming Scam!

Prince Derek surveyed the area, his sharp gaze flicking across the empty space where Tessa, Bandel Blue, and Solaris had just vanished. A slow, sinister smile curved his lips as realization dawned— Apart from the lesser gods, there was no one left to challenge his claim to the throne. The weight of victory settled heavily on his chest, filling him with a dark sense of satisfaction.

But before he could savor the moment or declare his triumph, a shift in the atmosphere drew everyone's attention. A golden glow emanated from the center of the temple, intensifying until it became blinding. When the light faded, there stood Priest Dzek, his figure transformed and radiating an immense, almost tangible power.

The crowd gasped in shock. Dzek, once dismissed as a mere priest with a modest Kaelrian energy level of 1,200 Kaelrian Joules, now pulsed with an overwhelming aura of 120,000 Kaelrian Joules. The sheer magnitude of his energy sent ripples through the air, causing the lesser gods and high-ranking nobles to retreat instinctively. Though still far from the 200,000 Kaelrian Joules minimum required for a lesser god, Dzek had ascended to a level that demanded acknowledgment and fear.

His voice, now resonant and commanding, echoed across the temple grounds. "Hear me, Kaelrians! From this moment onward, the Sun Temple shall determine the next ruler of our Base. All candidates aspiring for the throne must submit their names to the temple. The chosen one shall be decided through a sacred voting ritual."

A stunned silence followed his proclamation, the audacity of his words hanging in the air like a blade poised to strike. Murmurs began to ripple through the crowd as the implications set in. The lesser gods, some barely concealing their disdain, exchanged wary glances. While Dzek's newfound power was formidable, it wasn't enough to outright command their submission. Yet, the mention of Solaris's influence made them hesitate. The priest had summoned Solaris, an act that could not be ignored or easily dismissed. It gave him leverage, a force they could not openly defy without risking the wrath of the sun god himself.

Among the assembled gods, a few began to bristle. One of them, a towering figure with a mane of fiery hair, clenched his fists, his energy spiking as though preparing to strike Dzek down where he stood. "Who does he think he is?" the god muttered under his breath, his voice a low growl. "A toothless tiger playing at power."

Another god, cloaked in shadows, smirked but held back, his calculating eyes fixed on Dzek. "Let him play his game," he murmured. "He won't last long without the tiger, Rhopgin, to back him. Once the façade crumbles, so will his newfound authority."

But Dzek stood firm, his gaze unwavering as he met the eyes of the crowd. His voice cut through the whispers like a blade. "Those who doubt the authority of the Sun Temple should remember this—Solaris himself blessed my ascension. To challenge me is to challenge the sun's wrath."

A tense silence followed, as the crowd pondered their next moves. The balance of power had shifted, and while Dzek had yet to prove his dominance, no one dared to openly defy him—for now. The game had changed, and with it, the fate of the Kaelrian throne.

Prince Derek's smile faltered as he took in the scene. His once-assured path to the throne now seemed fraught with uncertainty. His hand clenched into a fist, his nails digging into his palm. No matter what schemes this priest spins, the throne will be mine.

The battlefield had moved from swords and strength to politics and power. And Derek, a master of manipulation, would not go down without a fight.

Dzek's proclamation left the crowd in stunned silence, but the tension in the air was palpable. A couple of lesser gods exchanged dark glances, their disdain for the priest simmering dangerously close to the surface. Dzek's newfound power was impressive, but without Rhopgin, the tiger who once kept them in check, they saw him as little more than a paper tiger—a bold figure with no bite.

Among them, a lesser god with 240,000 Kaelrian Joules of energy decided to act. He stepped forward, his figure radiating arrogance and malice, his aura causing the air around him to ripple like heat waves. "Enough of this farce," he growled. Without waiting for approval or hesitation, he raised his hand and unleashed a bolt of raw, crackling energy. It tore through the air, heading straight for Dzek with devastating force.

For a moment, time seemed to slow. Dzek's plan to rely on Solaris's blessing to intimidate his rivals shattered before it could even begin. His thoughts raced. I had hoped to talk them into submission... but now, words are useless.

The bolt approached with terrifying speed, leaving him no time for deliberation. Instinct took over. He raised both hands, summoning every ounce of the unfamiliar power coursing through his body. It surged within him like a storm, wild and untamed. He wasn't entirely in control, but years of studying sacred texts and training fledgling lesser gods provided him with a foundation. Drawing on that knowledge, he focused the energy into a single, desperate counterstrike.

A brilliant blaze erupted from his palms, a searing burst of golden energy that collided head-on with the attacker's bolt. The resulting explosion was deafening, shaking the very ground beneath them and forcing onlookers to shield their eyes from the blinding light.

As the attack happened, the crowd gasped. Dzek stood unharmed, his chest heaving, his hands still crackling with residual energy. But something had changed. A palpable shift had occurred within him, his presence now undeniable. His Kaelrian energy Joules, which had been 120,000 moments ago, began to climb rapidly.

The crowd watched in awe and dread as his energy levels surged—140,000... 160,000... 200,000... until they finally peaked at 260,000. A murmur swept through the gathering. He had crossed the threshold. Dzek was no longer a mere priest or even a powerful figure; he had ascended to the rank of a lesser god.

Dzek stood still, his hands trembling slightly as he felt the residual energy pulsing through him like a second heartbeat. He pondered the sudden surge in his power and the ease with which he had overcome the attack. Then it dawned on him—Solaris's energy, which had been bestowed upon him, hadn't fully assimilated into his body until now. The confrontation had unlocked its potential.

A sly smile curled his lips as realization sank in. Though his strength was still on the lower to middle end among the ranks of lesser gods, it was undeniable. His presence now demanded respect, and his power was enough to command attention.

The crowd stared in stunned silence as Dzek's blazing energy tore through the raw bolt of energy hurled by his attacker. The golden flames carved through it with ease, slicing it apart like a blade through brittle parchment. But the energy didn't stop there. It surged forward, colliding with the lesser god who had dared challenge him.

The flames engulfed the god entirely, wrapping around him like a voracious inferno consuming dry wood. He screamed—a sound that pierced through the air and sent chills down the spines of everyone present. The scream was cut short as his form crumbled, his godly energy dissipating into the atmosphere like ash in the wind.

An alarm blared across Base 137, sharp and unrelenting. The sound reverberated through the corridors and open spaces, its tone ominous. This was no ordinary alert—it was the death knell of a Kaelrian lesser god. Such an event was rare, and its significance far surpassed that of an ordinary Kaelrian's demise. The alarm then continued as it echoed across all Kaelrian bases, a grim reminder of the shifting balance of power.

The witnesses shivered, some stepping back instinctively, as the reality of what had just occurred settled in. Dzek, on the other hand, remained indifferent, his expression cool and unyielding. He glanced at the cowering crowd, his eyes glinting with a mix of challenge and superiority.

"Is there any other fool who wants to make a name for himself?" Dzek's voice carried through the silence, sharp and mocking. His words baited the other lesser gods, daring them to test him. None stepped forward. The aura of raw power emanating from him, combined with the remnants of Solaris's energy, was enough to crush any lingering defiance.

He took a deep breath and let his voice boom once more. "I have the legacy of Lord Solaris flowing through my veins! I am a lesser god now, and my word is final." He straightened his posture, projecting an image of absolute authority. Deep down, uncertainty gnawed at him—he wasn't sure if this power was permanent or merely a fleeting gift from Solaris. But he wouldn't let that doubt show. He needed to use the moment to elevate his status before the eyes of the onlookers.

The stunned silence stretched on, broken only by the whispers of witnesses as the news spread like wildfire. The death of a lesser god had drawn attention from all over Base 137. Lesser gods from neighboring regions began arriving at the scene, their curiosity piqued by the unprecedented event.

"What happened here?" one demanded, his eyes scanning the remains of the obliterated god.

"Dzek," another murmured in disbelief. "The temple priest of the Sun Temple... empowered by the legacy of Solaris."

"Impossible," a third whispered. "He was just a priest. And now he's a lesser god?"

Word spread rapidly, carried by messengers and witnesses alike. Within minutes, the story had evolved into legend: Dzek, once a mere temple priest, had been empowered by the divine essence of Solaris. In a single, decisive strike, he had obliterated a rival lesser god, cementing his place among the pantheon of Base 137. His name would now be whispered with both awe and trepidation, etched into the annals of Kaelrian history as one of the most formidable figures to rise from obscurity.