Beyond the Apocalypse

Chapter 1154: Godhood

"Loki."

The name itself seemed to carry weight, echoing with layers of meaning that reached far beyond a simple identity. Trickery, deception, transformation—the alteration of the very foundation of reality.

Though many of those aspects were often seen as negative, the True Depravita of Wrath understood a deeper truth. There were no inherently evil Laws. Power, in its purest form, was neutral. It was the will of the one who wielded it that defined its purpose.

A meaningful light flickered in Vlad’s eyes as his consciousness sank deeper into the Divine Domain. He did not rush. Instead, he allowed his mind and soul to expand gradually, carefully probing the essence within. He sought not only to claim the power, but to understand it—because only through understanding could true assimilation be achieved, and only then could he ascend into godhood.

At first glance, the Divine Domain appeared as nothing more than a sphere of radiant golden energy, pulsing with a steady, almost serene rhythm. But Vlad’s perception was far from ordinary. As his awareness sharpened, the illusion peeled away, revealing the truth beneath.

What he saw was breathtaking.

His eyes widened as an entire realm unfolded before him. Space itself was fractured and alive, composed of countless floating shards that drifted in every direction. Reflections overlapped and contradicted one another, showing different positions of the same object simultaneously. Geometry warped and twisted endlessly, refusing to align with any conventional logic. Distances shifted unpredictably, and directions lost meaning altogether.

To an untrained mind, it would appear as pure disorder—a disorganized mess devoid of structure or purpose.

But Vlad saw beyond that.

"Chaos."

His voice echoed softly through the domain as realization dawned. This was not meaningless destruction. This was a higher state of existence, where space had shed its rigid constraints and embraced infinite possibility. It was a realm where collapse and creation coexisted, where instability itself became a source of boundless potential.

That chaos did not weaken reality—it elevated it.

Within that disorder lay the power to reshape existence itself.

A surge of excitement coursed through Vlad’s soul. The more he observed, the clearer it became that Loki’s Divine Domain was not only powerful—it was perfectly compatible with his own mastery of space. Where Vlad controlled structure, this domain offered freedom. Where he enforced order, it introduced limitless variation.

Together, they formed something far greater than either alone.

Hours passed like moments as Vlad continued harmonizing with the domain. His soul resonated with its chaotic rhythm, gradually aligning with its frequency. The transformation was subtle at first, almost imperceptible, but it accelerated with every passing second.

Soon, the aura surrounding Vlad began to shift.

The energy emanating from his body started to mirror the Divine Domain itself, carrying traces of that same unpredictable, ever-changing nature. The boundary between the two weakened, and the golden sphere responded.

Without warning, it moved.

The Divine Domain drifted forward, drawn toward Vlad as if recognizing him as its rightful bearer. It reached his forehead and, without resistance, passed through flesh and bone, sinking directly into his being. It descended into his mind, then deeper still—into his Soul Dimension.

For most beings, the Soul Dimension was a sacred internal space, housing the soul and other ethereal forces. But a True Depravita was fundamentally different. Upon reaching the Lord Rank, their entire existence became an extension of their soul. Every cell, every fragment of their body, was forged from psychic power and emotion.

There was no separation.

Because of that, the Divine Domain did not merely integrate—it expanded freely, merging with every aspect of Vlad’s existence. The process accelerated exponentially.

The domain trembled as it grew, its influence spreading across the entirety of Vlad’s Soul Dimension.

And then the transformation truly began.

Vlad’s body shuddered as waves of Divine Power surged through him. The energy coursed relentlessly through his muscles, bones, and bloodline, strengthening them at a fundamental level. It was not an explosive evolution, but a continuous, steady ascent—one that would only intensify as assimilation progressed.

His flesh grew more resilient. His blood carried greater potency. His very presence began to shift, edging closer to something divine.

And that was only the beginning.

At the same time, his understanding of the Laws deepened. The chaotic nature of space revealed new pathways, new possibilities that had been hidden before. His control expanded, no longer limited to rigid manipulation, but now capable of embracing unpredictability itself.

Reality around him began to react.

Space stretched and compressed in rhythm with his breathing, as though the world itself acknowledged the transformation taking place.

Far away, within the heart of his Sacred Kingdom, Odinvaldr remained seated in silent meditation, recovering the energy he had expended. Though he had reabsorbed his incarnation from the Higher Dimension, much of its power had been depleted during the terraforming of Hell’s layers.

Yet even in that state, nothing within his domain escaped his awareness.

His eyes opened suddenly.

A flicker of surprise crossed his gaze as he turned his attention toward Vlad’s residence. Reflected in his vision was the golden figure of the True Depravita of Wrath, enveloped in divine radiance.

"He ascended in less than a week?"

The Primordial God of Bloodshed and Battle could not hide his astonishment. He had expected rapid progress, given Vlad’s extraordinary talent, but this surpassed even his highest expectations. Such speed was rare even within the Divine Realm.

And yet, the surprises did not end there.

Only minutes later, another surge of Divine Power erupted elsewhere in the kingdom.

Odinvaldr shifted his gaze.

In a distant region of his Sacred Kingdom lay a domain shrouded in darkness, its atmosphere heavy and spectral. The land resembled a phantom realm, filled with drifting spirits and an eerie, sepulchral aura that seemed to whisper of forgotten souls.

At its center stood another figure.

Overlord.

The True Depravita of Pride radiated divine energy, his body glowing as he completed his own ascension. Around him, strange ethereal entities began to materialize—some humanoid, others bestial, and many utterly alien in form. They hovered and twisted, bound to his will, manifestations of a power that delved deep into the essence of the soul.

Odinvaldr’s eyes narrowed slightly, though not in suspicion, but in awe.

"His mastery over the Law of the Soul is remarkable."

The Law of the Soul was among the most profound forces in existence, equal in importance to space and time themselves. Yet unlike those more tangible Laws, it was notoriously difficult to harness as a weapon.

And yet, there was no doubt in Odinvaldr’s mind.

Overlord would find a way.

He would refine it, shape it, and ultimately transform it into a force capable of dominating the battlefield. The spirits gathering around him were only the beginning.

"To achieve this level of power so quickly requires more than talent. Just what kind of race are the Depravitas?"

It was not the first time the Primordial God had asked himself that question. They had first caught his attention during their march into Valhalla, when they interfered with the Tournament of Destiny and saved Freya from the schemes of those corrupted by the Eternal Puppetmaster. Even then, he had taken action, sending his power to heal Vlad and later reinforcing Freya’s totems after her transformation into the True Depravita of Lust. He had used that moment to study them carefully.

Odinvaldr had lived for an immeasurable span of time and had witnessed countless races rise and fall, yet he held no doubt in his heart when he concluded that the True Depravitas were something entirely unique—beings not merely influenced by emotion, but forged from it.

"Being emotions made flesh... it makes sense that their connection to the ethereal aspects of reality and Divine Power would be far more natural."

That was the most reasonable explanation he could reach. Still, it did not fully satisfy his curiosity. There were aspects of their existence that defied even his understanding. In the end, however, he chose not to dwell on it. Their nature was advantageous, and that was what truly mattered.

Closing his eyes once more, Odinvaldr returned to his meditation, focusing on restoring his strength. Yet before the day had passed, another surge of Divine Power rippled through his Sacred Kingdom.

"Another True Depravita?"

This time, genuine surprise surfaced.

While the remaining True Depravitas were undoubtedly powerful and talented, there was still a noticeable gap between them and figures like Wrath and Pride. For one of them to ascend so quickly was unexpected.

However, as Odinvaldr focused on the source of the energy, his surprise deepened.

The third individual to achieve godhood was not a True Depravita at all.

It was Altharion—the weakest member of the group.