Ex rank talent Awakening: 100\% Dodge rate-Chapter 178 - : GOD VS TITAN

Brian, Elizabeth, and Stagnant Water all tensed up at the sound of the familiar voice. The very air around them seemed to thicken, suffocating and cold. A sense of dread slithered into their hearts like a serpent.

"What is he doing here? Is he here to finally claim our lives?" Stagnant Water whispered in a shaky voice, his usual levity replaced by genuine fear. His eyes widened, and his body subtly shifted behind Brian's as though instinctively seeking shelter. He knew—they all knew—that none of them stood a chance against the being in front of them.

"Ha. I see you are with her now. Did you both finally decide to leave the shackles that bind you?" Kodiac said with a low chuckle, walking slowly toward them, each step reverberating like a tolling bell. "That's the right choice."

"If it's a fight you want with me, I'm ready for it," Brian said, his voice steady despite the cold sweat running down his back. He stepped forward to shield the others, arms spread protectively. "But please, allow the others to leave."

He wasn't certain he could win. No—he knew he would most likely lose. The overwhelming pressure Kodiac radiated made that very clear. But if he had to lay down his life to protect them, he would.

> [Give up on trying to fight him. That being in front of you is a monster. Even with so many limitations placed on him, he's still so powerful. You don't stand a chance. Just give up.]

The voice of his Concept, SWORD, echoed in his mind, and for the first time, Brian felt a chill crawl down his spine. His Concept—usually proud, defiant, and never one to suggest retreat—was urging him to run. The warning only made the situation feel all the more hopeless.

Kodiac stopped walking and observed them with a faint smirk.

"I see you still carry that indomitable will of yours, the refusal to cower. Impressive," he said with a hint of genuine respect in his tone. "But I'm afraid today is not the day we fight. Nor any time soon."

Brian's breath caught in his throat. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"I only came to see if you kept your end of the bargain—to grow stronger," Kodiac continued. "You're still subpar, but your growth rate is pleasing. I expect more."

His cold eyes turned to Elizabeth.

"A word of advice for you, Princess of the Empire—do not avoid the coldness trying to creep into your heart. Embrace it… if you wish to manifest your will."

And with that, Kodiac vanished like a shadow slipping beneath the surface of reality.

"…Is he gone?" Stagnant Water asked, still stiff with tension. "We're not fighting him?"

The three of them stood in silence for a long moment, afraid to believe it. But as seconds ticked by and no trace of Kodiac remained, they finally exhaled.

"Phew…" Stagnant Water sighed and slumped to the ground. "That demon scares the shit out of me. I guess we survive today. Seriously, Brian, how do you have such a dangerous target on your back?"

"'Cause I'm talented?" Brian replied dryly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Great. He's arrogant now too," Stagnant Water muttered with a roll of his eyes.

Elizabeth, meanwhile, stood silent and still. She didn't laugh. She didn't even react. The words Kodiac left behind echoed in her mind like a whisper she couldn't silence.

Then, as if to shatter the heavy atmosphere, a loud system notification chimed through the air.

> [World Announcement!]

[A demon wave will begin in two days' time!]

[Players in the Celestial Camp are to prepare to defend with all their might!]

[Players in the Demon Camp are to join the demon wave!]

The announcement was met with roaring cheers across the player base. For many, the demon invasion event had started to feel like a slow burn—skirmishes here and there, but little else. That was about to change.

"Would you look at that, Brian?" Stagnant Water said, suddenly re-energized, his gamer instincts kicking in. "With an event like this, leveling up is going to be sweet. Since we're part of the Celestial Camp, we should prepare. But should we go it alone or join the others? Would the empire's knights attack us if they spot us?"

Brian frowned thoughtfully. "I don't know. But we can't take on a demon wave by ourselves. The numbers will overwhelm us. We need to move and find a group to fight with."

Stagnant Water nodded, already scanning their surroundings. "Makes sense."

Elizabeth didn't respond. Her thoughts were still tangled with Kodiac's cryptic warning.

"Princess? Are you alright?" Brian asked, walking up to her with a concerned look.

"I'm fine," Elizabeth said after a moment, brushing the thoughts aside. "Just lost in thought."

Brian quickly filled her in on the situation. She nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Fine by me. Let's find some teammates. I agree with you."

That small smile did not go unnoticed.

'Looks like he's finally conquering the Ice Princess,' Stagnant Water thought, amused. 'Would I, like, have a game nephew soon?' The idea struck him as ridiculous, but the thought lingered nonetheless.

---

"Zenith! Zenith! Zenith!! ZENITH!!"

The thunderous chant of the spectators shook the amphitheater as thousands of titans screamed in support of their champion. The sound was deafening, the sheer energy enough to rattle the soul.

"I hope the cheers don't intimidate you?" Zenith asked, a towering figure clad in battle-scarred armor. He twirled his long spear with effortless grace—the blade of which was one and a half times Greg's height.

Greg smirked, stretching his shoulders as if warming up for a morning jog. "Nah. I don't know how to feel pressured. The only thing that could intimidate me is that spear—but it won't touch me, not even once. So why would I be scared?"

They stood in the center of a massive arena, easily the size of ten football fields. Towering stands encircled them, rising high like ancient coliseums of legend. It was a work of art, a testament to the titans' dual nature—their love of battle, and their unmatched skill in architecture and engineering. Even their battlegrounds were built to awe.

"Hahahaha!" Zenith roared with laughter. "I'm beginning to love you more and more, ant. That confidence of yours… it earns my respect. Tell me—what is your name?"

"My name is Greg Austin," Greg declared, and his aura began to intensify, swirling around him like a rising storm. "But I prefer to be called Nemesis. For I will bring ruination upon my enemies—and vengeance for those I love."

He drew Heaven Defier, its blade gleaming with divine power.

"And also, I'm not an ant," Greg added, voice rising with power. "I'm a god."

Without waiting, Greg charged, his form a blur as he streaked across the arena.

"I would have asked for your name," he shouted mid-run, "as I would love to know the name of my future subject—but the screams of your underlings already told me!"

"Good! GOOD!" Zenith bellowed, lifting one massive leg and preparing to bring it down with devastating force. "I WISH TO ENJOY THIS FIGHT. DO NOT DISAPPOINT ME, NEMESIS!"

The crowd erupted into chaos. The roars of the titans were so loud they drowned out even the encouraging howl of Tempest in the distance.