The Change across the World
In the grand chamber of stars, Arthur sat regally on his throne. To his right stood the imposing figure of the Red Commander Igris, and to his left, the radiant Bringer of Light, Uriel. The air was thick with anticipation.
"Master, are you ready?" Igris's voice echoed solemnly, reverberating through Arthur's mind.
"What will happen if I proceed?" Arthur inquired, his voice steady yet curious.
"Unlike the previous sequence advances where there were no significant changes, this time it will be different," Uriel interjected, his voice ethereal and filled with gravitas.
"Why?" Arthur pressed.
"Unlike the other sequences, Sequence 4 grants you divinity. This will bestow upon you a fraction of the gods' authority. The changes will be vast, both within you and in the world around you," Uriel continued, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.
"It also means that you cannot turn back on this path. You must forge ahead, no matter how perilous it becomes," Uriel's voice grew somber.
"The moment you choose to advance, the gods will become aware of your existence. The angels, various organizations, and the world itself will recognize the presence of the King of Nothing," Igris added, his tone unwavering. "You will undoubtedly garner immense attention from the world henceforth. The path ahead will not be as easy as the previous one."
Suddenly, Uriel and Igris knelt at Arthur's feet, their expressions filled with unwavering loyalty. "No matter what you choose, we will always follow you," they declared in unison, their voices resonating with unshakable devotion.
Seeing them like this, Arthur felt a surge of gratitude for his loyal subordinates. They had helped him through countless trials. Did he waver? What a joke. The moment he chose this path, he was fully aware of the consequences. There was no turning back. Not that he wanted to.
With a deep breath, Arthur steeled himself. "Proceed."
[Congratulations to the host for achieving the first step to divinity. The process will begin in 3… 2… 1…]
Suddenly, Arthur's vision blurred as torrents of memories flooded his mind. The chamber of stars trembled violently as if rejoicing in the arrival of its new god. The very fabric of reality seemed to ripple and bend, acknowledging the birth of a new divine being. Celestial light cascaded from above, bathing Arthur in a radiant, divine glow. The air crackled with energy, resonating with the symphony of the cosmos itself.
At that moment, Arthur was no longer just a man. He was transcending, ascending to a state of being that few could comprehend. The stars themselves seemed to bow in reverence, acknowledging the emergence of a new god. The chamber's grandeur was amplified, reflecting the majesty of the transformation taking place within its walls.
As Arthur's consciousness expanded, he felt the weight of his new authority, the divine power coursing through his veins. He was now a beacon of divinity, a force to be reckoned with. The world would never be the same again. The King of Nothing had ascended, and his journey had only just begun.
...
At Backlund at Midnight
Audrey lay in her bed, drifting in and out of a dreamless sleep, when suddenly she awoke with a gasp. "Holy..." Her mouth gaped open, and she couldn't believe her eyes. The night sky, which should have been cloaked in darkness, was instead illuminated by a blinding light that engulfed the entire world. Surprisingly, her eyes weren't affected by the brilliance; it was as if the light welcomed all who witnessed it. Glancing upward, her shock grew even more palpable.
"The stars!" she exclaimed. The stars in the sky were moving in chaotic yet mesmerizing patterns, circling around the earth as if they were dancing in joyous celebration of some grand return.
"What on earth is happening? Is this the apocalypse?" she wondered aloud. Terrified yet fascinated, she felt a rush of emotions as she gazed at the surreal display unfolding outside her window.
...
Elsewhere in Backlund
"Old man! Old man! What's happening?" Leonard shouted, his voice echoing through the neighborhood. He didn't care if his loud cries disturbed the peace.
"Do not shout. I can see clearly too," an old voice responded within him.
"What the hell is happening? Is the earth going to end or something?" Leonard's voice was filled with terror.
"Honestly, even I don't know," the old voice sighed, admitting uncertainty. Despite his long life, he couldn't comprehend the events unfolding.
"What do you mean you don't know? Don't you always know everything?" Leonard retorted, but this time, the voice remained silent, leaving Leonard in uneasy silence.
...
On 15 Minsk Street
"Holy shit! What in the hell am I watching?" Klein shouted, his voice betraying his astonishment. Even his clown abilities couldn't mask his emotions at this moment.
"Is the world going to end? I just arrived here!" Klein's voice was filled with urgency and a sense of injustice.
...
In a Modest House
"Waaaaa!" A baby's cry echoed through the house, but the parents were too preoccupied with the events outside to notice.
"The fates have changed! Damn, all my hard work going down the drain just like that," thought Will Auceptin, the baby. He sighed inwardly. "I don't know if this is a great thing or not. Perhaps nobody knows, not even the gods," he mused as he sucked his thumb.
Across the World
The phenomenon wasn't limited to Backlund. Across the globe, from the Feysac Empire to the Instis Republic, the Feynapotter Kingdom, and even out at sea, people were witnessing the same awe-inspiring sight. The night sky was ablaze with light, and the stars danced in an ecstatic frenzy.
In the Feysac Empire, a man hysterically shouted, "The earth is going to end!"
In the Instis Republic, another person clasped their hands together, tears streaming down their face as they cried, "A miracle! The gods' miracle!"
All around the world, children cried out in unison, their wails blending into a haunting chorus.
The light in the sky was not just a simple illumination; it was as if the heavens themselves had opened up, pouring divine radiance onto the world below. The stars seemed to pulse with life, their movements creating intricate patterns that hinted at a celestial dance known only to the gods. The air was charged with energy, making the hairs on people's arms stand on end. The earth itself seemed to hum with a low, resonant frequency as if acknowledging the cosmic event.
People fell to their knees, some in terror, others in reverence, their faces lit by the ethereal glow. Shadows flickered and danced on the ground, casting strange and beautiful shapes. The seas roared with waves that shimmered under the celestial light, and even the forests seemed to whisper secrets of old.
This night, bathed in otherworldly brilliance, was a night that no one would ever forget. It was a night of terror and wonder, of endings and beginnings. It was a night when the world stood still, awestruck by the majesty of the cosmos and the return of something ancient and powerful.