-He approached where the other Celestials had alighted, and amidst the palpable silence that enveloped us, one of them finally spoke.

"Seraphiel, can you ever land gracefully?" The deity responsible for Liora's demise was addressed with a hint of reproach.

"Mind your own business, Caelestis," Seraphiel retorted tersely, directing his gaze to the other deity.

"If you two are done with your petty talk, can we proceed with our purpose?" Aetherius interjected, his voice commanding attention.

"We apologize, Lord Aetherius. Please proceed with your speech," another deity acquiesced, acknowledging Aetherius as their leader.

"HUMANS"

As Aetherius spoke a single word, our very cores trembled. It became difficult to draw breath, and people across the grounds fell to their knees. All eyes were fixed upon Aetherius, who stood towering over them, emanating an aura of overwhelming power.

He appeared to be the leader among the other deities who had descended with him. In total, there were five of them, though we only knew the names of three. The remaining two seemed indifferent to the unfolding events, as if they were unconcerned with the mortal realm's affairs.

"We are the gods who fashioned this world you know as earth. although we didn't anticipate that the life on this planet would advance and evolve so much, it is fascinating that you have surpassed our expectations with your puny mortal minds. however, it appears that the moment has finally arrived."

"We, the celestial beings known as the Anshelborn deities, have engaged in eternal duels among ourselves, weary of repetitive battles with the same warriors. We fashioned this earth as a crucible for cultivating stronger champions who might amuse us more profoundly. Yet, our thirst for new challenges has gone unquenched for too long. Therefore, we now bestow upon you certain powers. Be grateful for this divine gift. Only those with the stoutest will shall master this power. Many deemed unworthy will perish instantly, but they are not our concern. Strengthen yourselves, for we deities have descended to find our entertainment."

"As such, the feeble shall not endure. The mighty shall become our new spectacle."

As his words echoed in our ears, a stunned silence gripped the crowd. Faces contorted with fear, tears welled in disbelieving eyes, yet not a sound escaped their lips. Before we could grasp the enormity of the moment, the deities stood in opposition, raising their hands and invoking a chant—a prayer uttered in a language beyond mortal comprehension. 

With their incantations resonating through the air, the sky erupted in a brilliant purple light. The deities themselves glowed with an intense aura that shook the once-peaceful earth to its core, causing the ground to tremble and crack beneath our feet.

Soon thereafter, an explosion of light engulfed every human standing on Earth. The deity's voices resonated through what felt like telekinesis, ensuring that no one on the planet remained unaware of the unfolding events.

As we tried to comprehend the overwhelming events, we felt it—immense power surging into our frail bodies. Lucas and I collapsed to the ground, veins bulging with the strain, surrounded by widespread agony and suffering. Those unable to withstand the influx of power perished instantly, while others with weaker resolve teetered on the brink of death or lay unconscious.

Amidst this turmoil, Lucas struggled beside me. In that moment of anguish, my thoughts fixated on Ashun and Mother, their faces haunting my mind. Rage simmered within me, directed towards the deities I once revered and thanked for my existence—now revealed as embodiments of malevolence, viewing us merely as their playthings.

As I lay there, veins still throbbing with the unfamiliar power coursing through me, a chilling realization dawned: everything had changed irreversibly. The gods, or deities as they called themselves, had descended upon our world with a proclamation of power and domination. What would become of our peaceful existence now?

I couldn't shake the image of Ashun's earnest smile or Mother Aurelia's comforting presence from my mind. They were my family, my anchor in this uncertain world. Would they be safe? Could they handle the consequences of this newfound power?

Fear gripped me as I wondered about the future—what lay ahead for us all, and whether our lives would ever be the same again.

As I struggled to maintain consciousness amidst searing pain, my desperate cry echoed through the turmoil:

"Curse you, gods! What have you done? Why strip away our peace? Why treat us like mere entertainment when we too hold life sacred, just as you do?"

The leader of the deities turned his gaze towards me, his disdain palpable. "You humans, our creations? Why would we deign to heed your feeble demands? Know your place, insignificant insect," his voice laced with contempt, his eyes piercing my resolve.

I teetered on the brink of unconsciousness, the agony threatening to overwhelm me, when another deity, the fourth one, intervened:

"Lord Aetherius, let us not waste time on potential warriors. We must return to Lord Indra."

It felt like a lifeline, a reprieve amidst the chaos. Yet, my bitterness ran deep, clouding any gratitude towards them.

"Child, you are granted a chance. Prove your worth with your will, not your words," the deity continued, their voice carrying a hint of unexpected mercy.

As their words washed over me, consciousness slipped away, my thoughts lingering on Liora and my family.

"Stop... you..." I managed weakly before succumbing to unconsciousness.