Rebirth of the Exiled Gods' Pawn: An MMORPG Saga

The Battle for Ethan's Soul

Ethan Vale's existence had been erased. His body, his name, his legacy—all wiped from Eldoria as if he had never existed.

Yet his soul lingered.

Suspended in a void between life and death, Ethan drifted in silence. His thoughts faded, his consciousness unraveling like a thread pulled from a tapestry. He should have ceased to exist.

But two divine beings refused to let him go.

---

Lirion vs. Zerathis – A Clash of Gods

The void trembled as two immense presences clashed over Ethan's fading soul.

One was Lirion, the God of Balance, a radiant figure bathed in golden light. His presence exuded authority, justice, and unwavering order. Lirion upheld the laws of the universe, ensuring that life, death, and destiny flowed according to their proper course.

Opposing him was Zerathis, the Demon Lord, a figure of shifting shadows, crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. A master of chaos and destruction, Zerathis delighted in upending the rules of existence, bending fate to his will.

Ethan's soul, flickering like a dying ember, was trapped between them.

Lirion raised a hand, and the void solidified, stabilizing Ethan's soul. "This one's fate is sealed, Zerathis. He has met his end. His existence is no more."

Zerathis chuckled, his voice rich with mockery. "Fate? What an amusing excuse. I saw what happened to this mortal—betrayed, erased, cast aside like garbage. And you say that's 'fate'?"

Lirion's golden eyes remained steady. "It was the will of the world."

"The will of cowards and traitors," Zerathis corrected, smirking. "And now you expect me to sit back and watch his soul dissolve? How… boring."

Lirion sighed. "You seek only chaos, Demon Lord. You do not care for this mortal."

Zerathis shrugged. "Perhaps. But I do care for a good story. And this one? Oh, he still has a part to play."

Lirion remained silent, watching him.

Zerathis leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "Tell me, Balance Keeper—if fate is so absolute, then why are you here? If his destiny is to be erased, why fight for his soul?"

Lirion's expression remained unreadable, but Zerathis laughed. "Ah… You don't want him erased either. But your hands are tied by your so-called laws." He smirked. "How sad. How pitiful."

Lirion's voice was firm. "The laws exist to prevent chaos."

"And yet, chaos is what makes life interesting." Zerathis tilted his head. "So, I'll make you a deal. Let me take the boy. He will live again, and fate will decide if he rises or falls."

Lirion frowned. "If I let you take him, you will use him for destruction."

Zerathis smirked. "Or maybe he'll make his own choices." He crossed his arms. "Let's be honest, Lirion. The real reason you're hesitating is because you think he deserves another chance."

Silence stretched between them.

Then, Zerathis grinned. "But let's sweeten the deal." His voice dropped into a teasing tone. "I heard a rumor that Seraphina, the Goddess of Light, has been looking particularly radiant these days. Maybe I should pay her a visit."

Lirion's divine aura flared. "You will do no such thing."

Zerathis chuckled. "Oh? But she does look lonely in that grand temple of hers… I wonder, would she prefer roses or something more exotic? Maybe I should visit her in person and find out."

Lirion's expression darkened. "You are trying my patience."

"Then give me the boy." Zerathis smirked. "One soul, in exchange for me leaving your precious goddess alone. Seems like a fair trade, don't you think?"

Lirion glared at him. He despised bargaining with Zerathis, but he knew the demon lord was serious. If left unchecked, Zerathis would undoubtedly cause trouble in Seraphina's domain, and that was a risk Lirion was unwilling to take.

A heavy silence filled the void.

Finally, Lirion sighed. "Fine. Take him. But I will be watching."

Zerathis grinned. "Of course you will."

---

Reincarnation – The Demon's Gift

With a snap of his fingers, Zerathis seized Ethan's soul.

The void trembled as power surged through it, rewriting existence itself. Space folded, time twisted, and reality shattered like glass.

Ethan's soul burned with black flames as the Demon Lord's power engulfed him.

> Reincarnation in progress…

Zerathis' voice echoed in the darkness.

"Wake up, mortal. Your story isn't over yet."

Light flashed.

Ethan's consciousness snapped back.

The scent of earth. The warmth of sunlight. The familiar weight of his body.

His eyes shot open.

He wasn't in the void anymore.

He was back—back in Eldoria, back twenty years in the past.

This time, he wouldn't be betrayed.

This time, he would rise again.

A Hidden Agenda – The Gods' True Intentions

As Zerathis prepared to cast Ethan back in time, Lirion suddenly spoke.

"Why are you so interested in this mortal?"

For the first time, the smug grin on the Demon Lord's face faded, replaced by something colder, more calculating. He turned to face Lirion, crimson eyes gleaming in the endless void.

"You already know the answer, Balance Keeper."

Lirion's golden gaze narrowed. "Then say it."

The void trembled as Zerathis' voice dropped into a whisper—one laced with venom and hatred.

"Don't you want to destroy that realm?"

Lirion's divine aura flared in warning, but Zerathis continued, his voice like a dagger cutting through the silence.

"The gods and demons of this world—we—are nothing more than discarded remnants. Banished from the higher realms. Tier 7? Tier 8? Tier 10? They treated us like insects." His expression darkened. "As if we were beneath them."

Lirion remained silent, but his fists clenched at his sides.

Zerathis' smirk returned, but this time, it held no amusement—only cold, ruthless intent. "You can pretend all you want, but we both know the truth. You hate them just as much as I do. You resent being cast aside. Forced to rule over this lower realm while they sit above, watching us struggle like ants."

Lirion's golden aura flickered. "…And you believe this mortal can change that?"

Zerathis' eyes burned with something dangerous. "Not alone. But he is the perfect pawn."

Lirion exhaled slowly. "You intend to use him."

Zerathis' voice was chillingly calm. "Of course. A soul burned by betrayal, driven by vengeance, capable of reaching heights no ordinary player can. If he grows strong enough—stronger than anyone else—he will become our sword. Our weapon to shatter the chains that bind us."

Lirion's expression remained unreadable. "And if he fails?"

Zerathis shrugged. "Then we discard him and try again. Mortals are useful like that."

Silence stretched between them.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, Lirion let out a quiet sigh. "…Very well."

Zerathis' grin widened. "I knew you'd see it my way."

Lirion's golden eyes darkened. "But remember this, Demon Lord—I will not let this world fall into chaos. If you push him too far, I will stop you myself."

Zerathis chuckled. "That's what makes this so fun, Balance Keeper. We'll see how this little gamble plays out."

With a snap of his fingers, the void shattered.

As Ethan's soul was flung back through time, Zerathis chuckled, his eyes gleaming with wicked amusement.

Lirion, who had remained silent, finally turned toward him, his golden aura pulsing with restrained power. "I'll warn you once, Zerathis. If you try to manipulate him beyond what we've agreed—"

Zerathis cut him off with a smirk. "Oh? What will you do, Balance Keeper? Strip me of my power? Banish me deeper into the void?" His grin widened. "Or maybe—just maybe—you're afraid."

Lirion's expression darkened. "Of what?"

Zerathis leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "That you care. That this little mortal intrigues you." His crimson eyes gleamed as he let out a slow, eerie chuckle. "You wouldn't be the first god to take an interest in a human. And if you touch him…" He licked his lips mockingly. "I'll rob you of your divinity."

Lirion's golden aura flared in warning.

Zerathis grinned wider. "I think she likes me." His voice turned sickly sweet and unsettling, almost singsong. "Maybe I should—"

Boom!

Before he could finish, Lirion's foot smashed into his face, sending him hurtling through the void like a comet.

Zerathis crashed into nothingness, tumbling end over end before finally coming to a stop. He groaned, rubbing his jaw. "Hah… Still no sense of humor, I see."

Lirion dusted off his robes, his expression unreadable. "You disgust me."

Zerathis chuckled, standing up and stretching. "And that is why I enjoy our little chats." He flashed his fanged grin. "Well then, let's see what our little pawn does with this second chance, shall we?"

Without another word, the void trembled once more—Ethan's fate was sealed.

And the game had begun.