Chapter 116: The Final Judgment [I]

Thousands upon thousands of glowing chains descended from every direction, crisscrossing through the darkness like a massive, tangled web. At the very center of the chamber hung a solitary figure. Their wrists, ankles, waist, neck, and shoulders were bound by countless divine restraints. Ancient chains wrapped around their body so tightly that it was impossible to tell where the bindings ended and the prisoner began.

Long, vibrant crimson hair fell forward in a dense curtain, completely obscuring their face as their head hung low. At the sound of the opening gates, the bound figure stirred slightly, the chains rattling against the floor. A faint metallic clink echoed through the darkness.

Slowly, very slowly, the figure raised their head. The crimson hair parted just enough to reveal the shadow of a smile. A low, raspy voice emerged from beneath the curtain of red hair.

"Is it time?" The chains trembled, and the smile widened. "Am I finally free?"

The words drifted through the darkness, followed by a low, raspy chuckle that seemed almost amused by the countless restraints wrapped around the prisoner’s body. For several moments, the two celestial guards remained completely still, their expressions unreadable as they stared at the figure suspended in the center of the chamber. Then, slowly, they exchanged glances. The guard that opened the gate gave a slight nod to the one on his right.

The second guard immediately stepped forward. He raised both hands and began forming a series of intricate gestures, each movement causing golden light to gather around his fingers. The moment his final gesture was completed, a powerful surge of divine energy erupted from his body and spread throughout the chamber. Every glowing chain surrounding prisoner responded at once. Thousands upon thousands of chains began to vibrate violently, their links ringing against one another as the entire prison shook beneath the force of the unleashed power.

Then the first chain snapped. The sound cracked through the chamber like thunder.

A second chain broke. Then, one after another, the thousands of crisscrossing chains began snapping and breaking loose, their glowing links tearing apart throughout the darkness. Within seconds, the darkness erupted into chaos as countless divine chains began breaking loose one after another. Some shattered into fragments of golden light, while others tore free from the walls and pillars with tremendous force. Chains that had remained wrapped around the prisoner for what seemed like an eternity finally loosened and fell away, crashing against the floor with deafening metallic impacts. One after another, thousands of restraints broke apart until the massive web that had suspended him in the darkness was completely destroyed.

With nothing left to support him, he dropped.

His body struck the stone floor with a heavy thud, his long crimson hair spilling across his face as the remaining chains clattered around him. For several seconds, he did not move. Then a groan escaped his throat as he slowly pushed one hand against the ground.

The first guard stepped forward and looked down at him. "Asgorath. You have been summoned before the High Celestial Council to receive your final judgment."

Asgorath let out a low, gravelly chuckle. "It’s about time I faced those uptight old gods."

He tried to rise, but before he could find his footing, the two guards moved toward him and seized him by the arms. Rather than letting him stand on his own, they pulled him upright and dragged him forward, his bare feet scraping uselessly against the cold crystal floor as though he had forgotten how to walk entirely.

Asgorath allowed himself to be dragged for several moments before glancing down at his feet with mild irritation. "You know, I do actually have legs," he muttered. "They’re still functional too. You can stop dragging me around like a sack of divine potatoes."

Neither guard responded.

Asgorath sighed. "Tough crowds."

They continued through the endless corridor, passing beneath towering pillars and ancient murals until they finally reached an enormous golden gate. The doors stretched nearly fifty feet high, their surface covered in intricate celestial carvings depicting the elements, ancient celestial beasts, divine weapons, and the creation of the heavens. Four heavily armored celestial guards stood before the entrance, two on either side of the enormous doors.

They wore the same white robes, golden armor, and ceremonial weapons as the guards escorting Asgorath. The moment they saw who was being dragged toward them, their expressions became noticeably more serious. One of them stepped forward and raised a hand. The enormous golden doors immediately began opening, revealing a vast hall beyond them.

Asgorath was dragged inside.

The chamber beyond was breathtaking in its scale. It was less like a room and more like a colossal celestial court, its ceiling disappearing into a vast expanse of darkness filled with slowly moving constellations. Towering white pillars rose from the polished floor, their surfaces glowing with ancient celestial inscriptions. Massive golden chandeliers floated overhead without chains or supports, each one radiating enough light to illuminate the entire chamber.

At the far end of the hall stood an enormous elevated platform. Upon it was a long, magnificent table carved from a single piece of radiant white stone. Eleven celestial beings sat behind it, arranged in a perfect line above the chamber floor. Their elevated position made them appear almost impossibly distant from anyone standing below, much like judges seated above an accused in a court. Behind each of them stood a towering celestial sigil representing the domain they governed, their divine symbols glowing faintly against the darkness.

At the center of the eleven sat Selene, the Moon Goddess. She wore a flowing white gown that seemed woven from moonlight itself, its layers cascading around her like pale mist. Her long, pure-white hair fell gracefully over her shoulders and down her back, shimmering with a faint silver glow. A delicate crescent-shaped crown rested upon her head, while pale eyes watched the chamber with an ancient calm that made her expression impossible to read. She represented the moon, night, dreams, and divine prophecy, and among the eleven celestial rulers, her authority was second only to the highest laws of the Celestial Realm.

To Selene’s right sat Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt and Arcane Magic. She wore a fitted silver-white battle dress beneath light celestial armor, with a longbow resting against the side of her throne. Her dark silver hair was tied loosely behind her head, while sharp violet eyes watched Asgorath with open disdain. Ancient runes covered the armor around her shoulders and arms, marking her as one of the realm’s greatest wielders of divine magic.

Beside Artemis sat Ignis, God of the Sun and Divine Radiance. His golden hair fell around his shoulders like flames, and his skin carried a warm, luminous glow that made the air around him shimmer. A mantle of white and gold rested across his broad shoulders, while a radiant sun sigil burned behind his throne. His expression remained stern, his golden eyes fixed upon Asgorath without the slightest trace of amusement.

Next sat Vespera, Goddess of Life and Creation. Her long emerald-green hair flowed freely around her white robes, which were embroidered with patterns resembling vines and blooming flowers. Small fragments of green light drifted lazily around her like glowing leaves. She was responsible for the preservation of celestial life, the renewal of divine energy, and the creation of new celestial beings.

Beside her sat Aethelgard, God of War and Valor. He was an enormous figure with bronze skin, black hair, and a heavily muscled frame covered in white celestial armor. A massive sword rested against his chair, its blade sealed within a sheath of golden metal. His dark eyes were fixed upon Asgorath with the cold attention of a warrior examining a dangerous opponent.

Next sat Lyra, Goddess of Fate and Destiny. Her appearance was almost ethereal. Long silver-blue hair framed a delicate face, while countless tiny stars seemed to move beneath the surface of her pale robes. Thin strands of glowing light stretched between her fingers, representing the countless threads of fate she was said to perceive. Unlike the others, she did not look directly at Asgorath. Her attention remained focused on the invisible threads surrounding him.

Beside her sat Morcant, God of Death and the Underworld. His presence seemed to drain warmth from the chamber. He wore layered black and white robes, while long charcoal-colored hair framed his pale face. His eyes were an unsettling shade of gray, empty and ancient. A black staff topped with a silver skull rested beside him, its faint glow marking his dominion over death, souls, and the passage into the afterlife.

Next sat Elaria, Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge. Her long platinum-blonde hair was braided intricately down her back, and thin spectacles rested upon the bridge of her nose. Unlike the warriors among the council, she wore simple white robes covered in golden symbols representing ancient knowledge. Hundreds of celestial texts floated silently behind her, turning their own pages without anyone touching them.

Beside her sat Thalassa, Goddess of Storms and the Heavens. Her dark blue hair carried faint streaks of silver that resembled lightning, while pale blue energy occasionally flickered across her arms. She wore a long white coat over dark celestial armor, and her eyes held the restless intensity of a storm gathering beyond the horizon.

Next sat Aurelia, Goddess of Love and Harmony. Her long rose-gold hair fell over one shoulder, contrasting with the elegant ivory gown she wore. Unlike the other council members, her presence felt warm rather than intimidating, though her calm expression revealed little about what she thought of Asgorath. Her domain extended beyond romantic love, encompassing bonds, unity, devotion, and the balance between opposing forces.

At the far end sat Moros, God of Judgment and Divine Law. He was the most severe-looking of the eleven, with short silver-black hair and cold, steel-gray eyes. His white robes were covered by heavy golden armor engraved with ancient laws. A massive set of celestial scales hovered behind his throne, one side glowing with white light and the other with deep crimson. He was the keeper of divine law and the final authority over those accused of crimes against the Celestial Realm.