Journey to Become the Zenith

The Last Promise Beneath a Dying Sky

Years have passed, and Eli as the new God of Death had learned of Azriel’s amazing adventures.

Time did not move for her the way it did for mortals.

Seasons didn’t pass. Years didn’t fade.

Instead, memories accumulated—quietly, endlessly—like falling ash in a windless world.

She sat upon a throne carved from silence, where souls passed like whispers, and even eternity felt... still.

Yet despite ruling over death itself—

Her world had never truly been empty.

Because his name kept reaching her.

Again. And again.

Azriel Ruinous.

The Blood Monarch.

The one who refused to kneel—even before fate.

”...He conquered the forbidden lands.”

She heard it from wandering souls—warriors who died chasing legends, only to become fragments of them.

”...He walked through the Five season Forest alone. The ancient beasts didn’t dare breathe in his presence...”

”...He shattered the stronghold of a necromancer who controlled an entire grave continent... turned their own death mana against them...”

”...He challenged the ancient clan’s ... and broke their sacred pride with his bare hands...”

”...He stood alone against the armies of kingdoms ruled by gods... and when he crushed them, he didn’t burn their lands to ash. He placed his own companion on the throne—king or queen—and raised a new order beneath his banner.”

Eliora’s fingers rested lightly on the arm of her throne.

Her expression didn’t change—

But something inside her shifted.

”...Of course you did.”

A faint breath escaped her lips.

She could almost see it.

That reckless smile.

That unstoppable presence.

And the stories didn’t stop.

”...He defeated multiple War Gods...”

”...Declared war on dragons...”

”...Even the Dragon of Beginning fled from him...”

At that, her lips curved slightly.

”...You always did chase things you weren’t supposed to.”

Then came the story that lingered.

The one that stayed.

”...He created a kingdom.”

That one...

Felt different.

Eliora’s gaze lowered, her fingers curling slightly.

”...Unintentionally, they say...”

A kingdom built not through ambition—but through gravity.

People gathering around him.

Following him.

Believing in him.

His companions.

His... children.

Silence filled the space.

A quiet, heavy kind.

”...You really didn’t stop, did you...”

Then—

Another whisper reached her.

”...He took responsibility for the kingdom he once ignored.”

She froze for a brief moment.

Then slowly—

She smiled.

Soft.

Genuine.

”...Good.”

There was pride in that word.

Warmth.

Because for once—

He stayed.

Not for battle.

Not for conquest.

But for something... human.

And then—

”...He married.”

That one hit differently.

No sound followed.

No breath.

Just stillness.

”...And he has children.”

Eliora closed her eyes.

Her grip tightened ever so slightly.

There was no anger.

No jealousy.

Only something quieter.

Something deeper.

”...I’m glad.”

Her voice was steady.

But her heart—

Wavered.

Because once—

She had dreamed of that too.

Not as a goddess.

Not as a ruler of death.

But as someone... standing beside him.

”...Looks like you found your place.”

A pause.

”...Even without me.”

—

A few more years passed.

Time blurred.

Until—

He returned.

Not as a story.

Not as a rumor.

But as himself.

Standing before her once more.

Azriel.

His presence hadn’t changed.

Still overwhelming.

Still suffocating.

Still... him.

”...Eli.”

Her name, spoken the same way as always.

And just like that—

All those years—

Felt meaningless.

”...You’re late,” she said quietly, though her eyes betrayed her.

A faint glint. A flicker she couldn’t suppress.

He didn’t apologize.

Of course he didn’t.

Instead—

”I found it.”

Her brows furrowed slightly.

”...Found what?”

He looked at her.

That same gaze.

Unshaken.

”The opponent I was looking for.”

Silence.

Then—

”...I see.”

Of course.

It would always come back to that.

But this time—

He didn’t turn away.

”...Come with me.”

A simple request.

But his voice carried something different.

Something heavier.

”...One last adventure.”

Eliora stared at him.

Long.

Quiet.

Then—

She exhaled.

”...You really haven’t changed.”

A faint smile touched her lips.

”...Alright.”

And just like that—

The God of Death stepped down.

The authority she once accepted—

She handed to another without hesitation.

Because some things—

Mattered more than eternity.

—

In this final adventure—

She saw familiar faces.

And new ones.

Azriel stood among them, tall and composed, black hair shifting slightly in the wind, red eyes calm yet sharp. His black leather attire and golden jacket gave him a presence that demanded attention without effort.

Watched from the edges, their emotions far more complicated than words.

”...So this is your world now,” Eliora murmured.

Azriel didn’t respond.

Didn’t need to.

Because soon—

Everything shifted.

The sky cracked.

Reality trembled.

And something—

Descended.

A being—

That claimed to be part of the Universal Emperor.

Its presence alone crushed space.

Time distorted.

Even the air felt unwilling to exist.

”...So this is it,” Azriel muttered, stepping forward.

The battle began.

—

It lasted days.

Not hours.

Not moments.

Days.

Each second carved into existence through blood and destruction.

Even together—

They struggled.

Victor fought like a blade given will.

His companion’s moved like a shadow bound by devotion.

Others gave everything they had.

But it wasn’t enough.

One by one—

They fell.

Until—

Only one remained.

Azriel.

—

His body was broken.

Blood stained the ground beneath him.

His breath came slow.

Heavy.

But—

He smiled.

Fearless.

”...Finally.”

He stepped forward.

Even knowing—

This was the end.

—

The fight that followed—

Wasn’t about winning.

It was about meaning.

Each strike carried his life.

Each movement—his purpose.

And as he fought—

He smiled.

Not out of madness.

But fulfillment.

Because this—

Was what he had always wanted.

—

And in the end—

He won.

The being of the Universal Emperor—

Fell.

But so did he.

—

Eliora crawled to him.

Her hands trembling.

Her breath uneven.

She pulled him into her arms.

”...Azriel...”

His eyes found hers.

Still warm.

Still him.

He lifted his hand—

And touched her face.

Gentle.

”...Heh, this time our situations are reversed. I remember you being in the same situation many years ago. As I was the one holding you, making the same face.”

Even now—

He smiled.

”...Idiot.”

Her voice broke.

Just slightly.

As she felt his life slipping.

”...Heheh, I guess I really am... Hey Eli, do you remember the promise we made when we first met?”

Her fingers tightened around his.

”...Yeah, you promised to show me a place I could call home.”

”...Next I promised to return for you. How about we make a new promise.”

She leaned closer.

”...Sure.”

”...Eli, the next time we meet, I promise to marry you.”

A breath caught in her chest.

Then—

She smiled.

Soft.

Beautiful.

Fragile.

”...Heh, sure I’ll be waiting Azriel.”

His body grew colder.

But her hands didn’t let go.

”I... Love you Eli, you were the most important person to me. You were the one who made me become who I am now. I truly... did... lov...e yo..u E...Li...”

His voice faded.

Piece by piece.

Until—

Nothing remained.

—

...

—

Diana, who remembered that time, felt a sharp, aching pain in her chest.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she stood in silence.

She had tried.

She really had.

But his soul—

Didn’t follow the rules.

Didn’t belong to the natural flow.

Even now, she couldn’t understand how Azriel had once defied death itself to bring Eliora back.

”...You always did things your own way...”

A soft whisper left her lips.

And yet—

Now—

She had found him again.

Different.

Changed.

Reborn into something unfamiliar.

Standing there...

Practicing his swordsmanship in quiet focus.

Not the same man.

Not the same presence.

And yet—

Something remained.

Something undeniable.

Her gaze softened.

A quiet hope rising, fragile but real.

’Will he finally fulfill his final promise?’