The bright blue sky suddenly darkened, turning into a moonless night. Explosions roared through every corner of Cheongju City—houses collapsed, buildings crumbled, and people ran in all directions, screaming in terror. Amid the chaos, seven gigantic figures stood majestically atop the ruins, gazing down upon the human world with eyes filled with malice and a desire for destruction.
Zarthus, the Archfiend Sovereign (his voice thunderous, shaking the earth):
"FACE IT, HUMANS! THIS WORLD WILL BELONG TO US—THE SEVEN SOVEREIGNS—and NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO STOP US!"
Zargoth, the Beast Sovereign, let out a deafening roar and destroyed a towering building with a single swing of his claw.
Azest, the Aspects Sovereign, released a searing beam of light, turning everything it touched instantly into dust.
Vesperus, the Gloominess Sovereign, spread soul-devouring darkness, turning those caught within it into lifeless puppets.
Vexia, the Scourge Sovereign, sprayed lethal poison, blackening the land and rendering it uninhabitable.
Aetheron, the Void Sovereign, opened a black hole that swallowed an entire residential block.
Jotunn, the Boreas Sovereign, exhaled freezing winds that turned everything into ice in an instant.
The city that was once lively and full of life had become a sea of destruction. Flames consumed everything, screams echoed everywhere, and hope seemed to have completely vanished.
FLASHBACK – 6 YEARS AGO
When Ryu was ten years old, in their small village in Sabah, Malaysia—on a star-filled night—an old man with long white hair and sharp eyes stood in the yard of their home. He was Zephyr Arion, Ryu's grandfather, who rarely appeared.
Zephyr (his voice gentle yet powerful):
"Ryu, come here, my dear. I have something I must give you."
Ryu ran toward his grandfather with a bright smile. Zephyr opened an old wooden box he was carrying. Inside lay a pitch-black katana—its blade gleaming like a night mirror, with faintly glowing star patterns on its sheath.
Ryu (confused):
"Grandpa, what kind of katana is this? It's so beautiful…"
Zephyr (staring at Ryu seriously):
"This is no ordinary katana, Ryu. This is the Aethel Katana—a weapon once owned by our ancestor, Astaroth, the Ruler of Darkness. He possessed the same power as you—limitless power."
Ryu raised an eyebrow, not understanding what his grandfather meant.
Zephyr:
"You are a descendant of Astaroth, Ryu. His blood flows within you. Astaroth's very soul resides within this katana. He will teach you how to properly use your power… but you must be careful."
Ryu:
"Why must I be careful, Grandpa?"
Zephyr (his expression growing even more serious):
"Because your true power has no limits. If you cannot control it, that power will become a nightmare for all of humanity. It can destroy everything—both good and evil."
Zephyr handed the katana to Ryu and brought him to a hidden cave deep within the dense forest—a place that could only be reached by traversing a dangerous, winding path.
Zephyr:
"Keep this katana here, Ryu. Do not tell anyone—even your parents. Only use it when the world truly needs it. When that time comes, Astaroth will awaken and guide you."
One month later, Zephyr passed away peacefully due to old age. Ryu cried all day, but he kept his promise—hiding the secret from everyone and leaving the Aethel Katana in that hidden cave.
BACK TO THE PRESENT
Amid the chaos of the city, Ryu stood atop one of the few remaining buildings. He looked at the destruction caused by the Seven Sovereigns, and his blue eyes darkened. His hand gripped the sheath of the katana his father had made—but he knew that weapon alone was not enough to defeat them.
Ryu (in his heart):
"The time has come, Grandpa. I have to take it."
With incredible speed, Ryu vanished from his spot and reappeared in front of the hidden cave he knew so well. He entered the cave, and in its deepest corner, the Aethel Katana was still there—glowing with a faint black light.
Ryu carefully lifted the katana. The moment his hand touched the hilt, a deep, powerful voice echoed within his mind.
Astaroth (his voice like thunder from within the katana):
"At last, you have come, my descendant. I have been waiting for you."
Ryu (calmly):
"You are Astaroth?"
Astaroth:
"Yes, Ryu Arion. I am your ancestor, once the Ruler of Darkness. Our power is the same—limitless, capable of destroying or saving everything. Now, let us go and face those who wish to destroy our world."
A dense black aura fused with dark blue light erupted from Ryu's entire body. The Aethel Katana shone brilliantly, making the cave look as bright as daylight. Ryu felt an overwhelming power flow into him—power that made him feel as if he could lift the earth itself.
Astaroth:
"There is one more thing you must know, Ryu. You can absorb your enemies' power after they die and make it your own. It is one of our hidden abilities—one that allows you to grow endlessly stronger."
Ryu smiled faintly, his eyes shining with a determination he had never felt before.
Ryu:
"How interesting. Let's start the party, Astaroth."
Ryu reappeared in the middle of the ruined city, standing directly before the Seven Sovereigns. The aura radiating from his body was so overwhelming that the Sovereigns paused their rampage.
Zarthus (shocked but furious):
"Ryu Arion?! You dare face us alone?!"
Ryu (his voice calm yet powerful):
"You've caused enough destruction. Now it's time to pay for it."
Without waiting for a response, Ryu leapt toward Vexia, the Scourge Sovereign—the most ruthless in slaughtering humans. The Aethel Katana sliced through the air, its blade enveloped in black-blue aura.
Vexia (grinning grotesquely):
"You dare attack me, little brat?! I'll inject you with the deadliest poison!"
Vexia unleashed a thick stream of poison toward Ryu, but with a single swift motion of the Aethel Katana, Ryu deflected it, causing it to strike the ground—which instantly decayed into a blackened crater.
Ryu:
"Your poison will never touch me, Vexia."
In an instant, Ryu vanished and reappeared behind Vexia. He stabbed the katana straight into the Sovereign's chest. Vexia screamed in agony as his body melted and turned into black dust. Before completely disappearing, Vexia's power flowed into Ryu's body.
Ryu felt new strength surge through his muscles—his arms became stronger, his speed increased drastically, and his endurance became unmatched.
Ryu (feeling the change):
"Wow… this feels amazing. Every battle only makes me stronger."
Next, Ryu faced Jotunn, the Boreas Sovereign. Jotunn unleashed freezing winds that turned the entire area into thick ice. But Ryu merely smiled and released tremendous heat from his body—the result of the power he had absorbed from Vexia.
Jotunn (shocked):
"How can you overpower my ice?!"
Ryu:
"Because my power has no limits, Jotunn."
Ryu attacked at a speed invisible to the naked eye. The Aethel Katana sliced through Jotunn's frozen body, shattering it into thousands of ice fragments. Jotunn's power flowed into Ryu, causing his physical strength to skyrocket—allowing him to withstand immense pressure and destroy anything he touched with ease.
Astaroth (within Ryu's mind):
"Excellent, Master. You've grown much stronger. If you absorb the power of all seven Sovereigns, you will rival—even surpass—the Demon God King himself."
Ryu heard those words and let out a deep, slightly sinister laugh. A wicked smile appeared on his face—one no one had ever seen before.
Ryu (softly, yet cruel):
"This is what I've been seeking, Astaroth. Limitless power—the power to dominate everything."
Astaroth (smiling in satisfaction):
"Very well, Master. Let us continue our ascent to the pinnacle of power."
FINAL RESISTANCE – LIMITLESS DOMINION
Ryu then faced Vesperus, the Gloominess Sovereign. Vesperus spread overwhelming darkness, attempting to envelop Ryu and devour his soul. But Ryu simply raised the Aethel Katana, and its black-blue light effortlessly shattered the darkness.
Ryu:
"Your darkness will never defeat the darkness within me, Vesperus."
He struck swiftly, severing Vesperus's neck and making him vanish like smoke. Vesperus's power entered Ryu's body, enhancing his physical abilities to an extreme—allowing him to leap across the city in an instant and shatter massive boulders with a single touch.
Next was Aetheron, the Void Sovereign. Aetheron opened an enormous black hole, attempting to drag Ryu inside and erase him completely. But Ryu stood calmly, planting his feet firmly on the ground, leaving the surrounding land unaffected. He then released the same power, causing Aetheron's black hole to collapse and turn against him.
Aetheron (screaming in fear):
"Impossible… no one can overcome the power of the void!"
Ryu:
"But I am not ordinary, Aetheron."
Ryu killed Aetheron with a single punch, absorbing his power and further enhancing his physical strength—allowing him to crush steel structures with ease and withstand attacks capable of destroying mountains.
Next was Azest, the Aspects Sovereign. Azest unleashed an intensely bright beam of light, attempting to incinerate Ryu into dust. But Ryu raised his hand, caught the beam with his bare palm—unburned—and redirected it back at Azest.
Azest (shocked):
"How can you control and withstand my elemental power with your bare hand?!"
Ryu:
"Because my power can dominate everything, and my body is as unyielding as unstoppable steel, Azest."
He killed Azest effortlessly, absorbing his power and pushing his physical strength to an unprecedented level—every movement now creating shockwaves that devastated the surroundings.
Then came Zargoth, the Beast Sovereign—the largest and strongest among them besides Zarthus. Zargoth roared and attacked with massive claws capable of destroying buildings in a single strike.
This time, Ryu didn't dodge. He stood firm and caught Zargoth's claw with his right hand. With no effort at all, Ryu flipped Zargoth and hurled him toward a distant hill, which instantly collapsed upon impact.
Zargoth (groaning in pain):
"You're too strong… how can a young human possess greater physical strength than me?!"
Ryu:
"Because I am the descendant of Astaroth—the Ruler of Darkness who surpasses you all. Every enemy I defeat only makes me stronger."
Ryu killed Zargoth with a single devastating punch that shook the earth, absorbing his power and elevating his physical strength to absurd levels—allowing him to stand within city-destroying storms without being affected at all.
Finally, Ryu faced Zarthus, the Archfiend Sovereign, leader of the Seven Sovereigns. Zarthus was enraged upon seeing all his comrades slain.
Zarthus (roaring in fury):
"RYU ARION! I WILL KILL YOU WITH MY OWN HANDS!"
Zarthus unleashed his full power—his wings beating violently, generating massive winds that shook the entire city. He attacked Ryu with his massive flaming sword, unleashing relentless, powerful strikes.
Their battle was ferocious—every clash of their blades shook the earth and darkened the sky. Ryu effortlessly evaded each attack using his overwhelming physical power, countering with punches and kicks capable of annihilating everything. The power he had absorbed from the other six Sovereigns allowed him to fight at a speed and strength far beyond Zarthus.
In the end, Ryu's limitless power prevailed. With a final strike from the Aethel Katana, reinforced by his monstrous physical strength, Ryu pierced Zarthus's chest, causing him to dissolve into red light. Zarthus's power flowed into Ryu, making his physical strength so overwhelming that each step caused the ground to tremble, and his aura repelled everything within hundreds of meters.
After all seven Sovereigns were slain and their power absorbed, Ryu stood amid the ruins of the city, radiating an aura more terrifying than any God or Demon King that had ever existed. His body retained a normal human size, yet every part of him exuded unimaginable power—dense muscles, razor-sharp eyes, and movement speed beyond comprehension.
Suddenly, Mikael and Elena ran toward Ryu. They looked at their son, standing there with such overwhelming presence, their faces filled with awe—and deep fear.