Chapter 18 – Nirvana and the Dead God's Ambition
(Revised with Gazel Arc)
The Red Legion moved in silence.
At Sam's command, every remaining spy had been deployed—embedded deep within enemy territory, watching, listening, waiting.
They already knew where Master Gogo and his forces were hiding.
But Sam had ordered restraint.
Location meant nothing without understanding intent.
And intent, Sam knew, was always more dangerous than power.
The Tower of Ash
High above the ruined city, the Obsidian Tower stood like a scar carved into the sky.
Once abandoned.
Now reborn as the command center of Team Slaughter.
At its peak sat a throne forged from black stone and ancient sigils.
Sam occupied it without ceremony.
He did not lean back.
He did not relax.
He waited.
Footsteps echoed across the chamber.
Varkhad Obsidian knelt on one knee before him.
"Master," Varkhad said, voice steady.
"As per your orders, the operation has begun. Multiple spies have infiltrated Gogo's base and its surrounding zones."
Sam's crimson eyes lifted slightly.
"Good," he said.
"Tell me what he wants."
Varkhad hesitated.
"There is one constant across all intercepted movements," he said.
"Gogo and his army are searching for something."
Sam's fingers tightened against the armrest.
"…What?"
Varkhad exhaled.
"Nirvana."
What Is Nirvana?
For the first time, Sam's expression shifted.
"Nirvana?" he repeated calmly.
"Why would he need it?"
"And more importantly," Sam continued,
"how did he even learn of its existence?"
Varkhad lowered his head slightly.
"That part remains unclear. However, we confirmed something else."
"Gogo has already performed multiple dark rituals."
Sam's aura grew colder.
"What kind of rituals?"
"Eternity-binding rites," Varkhad answered.
"He drew a wish directly from the Eternal Plane."
Sam's eyes narrowed.
"…A wish."
"Yes," Varkhad said.
"He used it to render himself invincible—temporarily beyond conventional death."
Silence fell.
Then Sam spoke.
"So even now," Sam said quietly,
"he knows."
"No matter how strong he becomes… he cannot defeat me alone."
Varkhad nodded.
"He knows, Master."
"Which is why," Varkhad continued, voice hardening,
"he needs Gazel."
The temperature in the chamber dropped instantly.
Sam stood.
"…Say that again."
Varkhad swallowed.
"Master Gogo's true objective is not just Nirvana."
"It is Gazel—the Dead God you personally erased."
For a fraction of a second—
The entire tower trembled.
Sam's eyes burned crimson.
"You're telling me," Sam said slowly,
"…he wants to resurrect him?"
Varkhad nodded.
"Yes."
The Truth of Nirvana
Before Sam could speak, the doors opened.
A familiar presence entered the chamber.
Sage.
Sage approached the central table and extended his hand.
A holographic sigil burst to life.
At its center floated a sphere of liquid—
silver fused with deep blue, constantly shifting, pulsing as if it were alive.
"Nirvana is not a weapon," Sage said calmly.
Varkhad added, voice low,
"It is condensed divine energy."
Sage nodded.
"A relic liquid," he continued.
"One of the rarest substances in the entire multiverse."
Sam stepped closer.
"So it's just a power amplifier?"
Sage shook his head.
"No, Master."
"The true function of Nirvana—"
He paused.
"—is resurrection."
The air grew heavy.
"Not imitation," Sage continued.
"Not puppets."
"True revival."
"With soul."
"With memory."
"With will."
Sam's jaw tightened.
"And Gazel?" Sam asked quietly.
Sage met his gaze.
"Gazel's soul was never destroyed," Sage said.
"You didn't erase him."
"You sealed him."
The realization struck like a blade.
"Nirvana can unlock sealed divine cores," Sage continued.
"Gogo plans to pour Nirvana directly into Gazel's remains."
"To revive him," Varkhad added, fists clenched,
"as a god—stronger than before."
Images flashed through Sam's mind—
A god who ruled slaughter.
A being who fed on extinction.
A name that once made universes kneel.
"…That's why," Sam said quietly,
"he's erasing the Red Legion."
Sage nodded once.
"He's cleansing the battlefield," Sage said.
"So when Gazel rises—"
"…the dead will already be waiting."
Why We Can't Attack Yet
Varkhad slammed his fist onto the table.
"Then why are we waiting?" he snapped.
"Why don't we strike now?"
Sam answered without raising his voice.
"Because Gogo is invisible."
Sage confirmed it immediately.
"Master Gogo has layered himself with anti-detection rituals," Sage explained.
"Divine sight. Spirit tracking. Bloodline resonance."
"All blocked."
"Until you unlock more of your sealed power," Sage continued,
"you cannot directly reach him."
Sam's gaze lowered.
"Full access…" Sam muttered.
"…means the Diamond Sword."
The room fell silent.
Everyone understood the implication.
Five godly weapons existed.
And the Diamond Sword—
—was one of them.
End of Chapter Hook
Sam returned to his throne.
His voice was calm.
Cold.
"So that's his plan," Sam said.
"To revive a dead god… using my past."
He looked up slowly.
"Let him gather Nirvana."
"Let him resurrect Gazel."
Sam's eyes glowed faintly crimson.
"When the time comes," he said,
"I'll remind them both—"
"Why gods should stay dead."
Far beyond the tower—
In a forgotten ruin—
Something ancient stirred.
A sealed heart beat once.
And a dead god began to dream.
The room was silent.
Too silent.
Sage broke it first, his voice low and careful.
"Master… you know what the Diamond Sword truly means."
Varkhad stiffened.
He did not speak, but his clenched jaw said enough.
Sam turned slowly.
"Destruction," he said.
"Collateral damage."
"And everything—"
His voice hardened.
"—everything I abandoned."
He looked away, as if the very thought weighed too heavily on his chest.
"I will not lift that sword again," Sam continued.
"That blade exists only for annihilation."
His fingers curled slightly.
"If I use it…"
"…it means I return to my past."
For a moment, his eyes lost focus.
Meera.
Ruhi.
Their faces surfaced in his mind.
"I cannot become that man again," he said quietly.
"Not if it means losing my family."
His tone sharpened.
"I refuse to turn this universe into a graveyard—just to survive."
All he wanted was a peaceful life.
A normal life.
That alone made this decision unbearable.
The Dangerous Choice
Sage stepped forward, looking Sam directly in the eyes.
"Then what will you do, Master?"
He hesitated only briefly before continuing.
"Are you certain your happiness lies only in your family?"
His gaze softened, but his words did not.
"As far as I know… your true love was always your sword."
Varkhad finally spoke, his voice heavy.
"You revered the Diamond Sword."
He took a breath.
"And you know this as well as we do—
without it, we may not be able to stop him."
Sam inhaled deeply.
"Thirty percent," he said.
Both of them froze.
"Only thirty percent of my power."
"Enough to observe."
"Enough to summon."
"Enough to understand."
He shook his head.
"But not to fight."
His eyes narrowed.
"Even if I summon the Diamond Sword…"
"…I cannot wield it at full efficiency in this state."
Varkhad's eyes widened.
"Master—if Nirvana is activated," he said urgently,
"Gazel will reincarnate… far stronger than before."
His voice dropped.
"You know how terrifying he was even without special powers."
A Memory of Defeat
Sam's vision blurred.
A battlefield.
Blood-soaked ground.
His elite force—slaughtered.
Varkhad, wounded.
And Gazel—
Standing alone.
Overpowering them all.
Sam snapped back to the present.
His expression was calm.
Dangerously calm.
"Then there will be no more choices," he said.
Foreshadowing – The Unseen Watcher
Far away—
Inside a hidden chamber—
A black altar pulsed faintly.
At its center, a silver-blue liquid rippled slowly.
A distorted voice whispered:
"God Slayer…"
"You are already late."
Within the liquid—
Dead eyes began to open.
The Calm Before Disaster
Sam turned toward the exit.
"Sage."
"Varkhad."
Both stood straight instantly.
"The past of the Red Legion—"
"…is being dragged back into the present."
He paused.
"This time—"
"I will not run."
Thunder rolled faintly across the sky.
And the universe seemed to understand—
Before Nirvana awakens,
Either the God Slayer will stop it…
Or everything will burn.