I Level Up by Killing Gods

Kael followed the armed escort down the polished hallway, the sound of their boots ringing out in unison.

He was being paraded deeper into the heart of the Institute to stand before the most powerful figures in the Lightforged hierarchy.

Behind him, Dr. Levi walked in silence. Her heels clicked with steady rhythm on the floor, a sound that was neither comforting nor unsettling—just there.

Her presence lingered in a way Kael couldn't quite ignore.

They finally reached what seemed like a waiting room to something far grander, and was told to halt.

"Before you go in, there's something you need to know," she said, tilting her head slightly to look at him.

Kael frowned, his guard instinctively rising.

"what would that be?"

Her eyes scanned his face, sharp and assessing. "The Lightforged Institute and Black Haven Academy aren't what they seem. Since you're about to stand before them, you should know what you're walking into."

Kael exhaled, his voice laced with suspicion.

"What's the catch?"

A faint smile held her lips. "No catch. Just information. Take it or leave it, but you'll find it useful—unless you'd rather walk in blind."

He studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Fine. Let's hear it."

Dr. Levi paced in front of him as she spoke, her voice steady, calculated. "The Lightforged Institute oversees every aspect of our existence—training, deployment, enforcement. If you're Lightforged, they own you. Or at least, that's how they see it."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Sounds charming."

Her smirk widened slightly. "It gets better. The Institute is governed by the High Council of the Light—seven Zenith-rank Lightforged or higher. These aren't just powerful individuals; they're practically untouchable. Most come from ancient bloodlines or factions that have flourished since Etherion first entered this world."

"And they control everything?" Kael asked, his voice edged with skepticism.

"Everything that matters," she confirmed. "They regulate Etherion distribution, decide who gets access to it, and mediate disputes between cities. They're also the ones who keep the poor outside the forcefields starving while the rich thrive."

Kael's jaw tightened. "And everyone just… goes along with it?"

Levi's tone darkened. "Not everyone. The Tribunal of Governance, a secondary body made up of Radiants and Dawnbringers, is supposed to challenge the Council and enforce policies. In reality, they're little more than a nuisance—an inconvenience the Council tolerates."

Kael's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Sounds like a lot of politics for an organization that's supposed to protect people."

"You're catching on," Levi said, the faintest hint of amusement in her voice.

"Then there are the Inquisitors, an elite group tasked with hunting rogue Lightforged or anyone who misuses Etherion. Their leader, Grand Inquisitor Thalos Veydran, is an Ascendant. His loyalty to the Council is absolute, and his methods… well, let's just say you don't want to cross him."

Kael piecd together the picture Levi painted.

"And you? Where do you fit into all this?"

She stopped pacing, her expression unreadable.

"I'm part of the Etherion Research Division. Officially, we're neutral. Unofficially… our work gives us leverage the Council doesn't like."

Kael narrowed his eyes. "And what are you researching, exactly?"

Her lips curved into a cryptic smile. "Let's just say your survival from an A-rank breach has caught our attention."

Dr. Levi shifted gears, her tone adopting a note of respect. "The Academy is where Lightforged are trained. It's brutal, competitive, and the most prestigious institution of its kind. Graduates often go on to become enforcers for the Council—or challengers of the Nexus Reaches."

Kael folded his arms. "Let me guess—it's run by the Council too?"

"Not entirely," Levi replied. "The Headmaster, Kaelion Duras, is a Zenith-ranked Lightforged. He's famous for surviving the impossible. Sound familiar?"

Kael's expression tightened.

"And he doesn't align with the Council?"

"Not fully," Levi admitted. "He runs the Academy with his own agenda, fostering a faction of students who question the Institute's policies. It's a delicate balance—and a dangerous one."

Kael frowned. "So there's division even here."

"Exactly. The Academy mirrors the larger political landscape. Loyalists vying for Council favor, reformists challenging the status quo… it's a powder keg."

"Sounds like a great place to learn," Kael muttered dryly.

Levi's lips twitched. "Brutal, but effective. Dean Aeryn Velstral oversees combat arts; her training methods kill as many as they elevate. Then there's Veyra Solun, the Dean of Etherion Studies. She's brilliant, controversial, and known for experimenting with techniques most would call forbidden."

Kael tilted his head.

"And the Council allows that?"

Levi shrugged. "They look the other way—until it doesn't suit them anymore."

Kael leaned against the wall, working to piece it all together.

"So, what's the Council's endgame? What do they really want?"

Levi's voice turned blunt. "Control. They maintain their monopoly on Etherion, uphold the class divide, and suppress knowledge about the Nexus. If the truth about its origins—or the beings who predate gods and celestials—ever came to light…"

Kael finished the thought. "It would destroy their power."

"Exactly," Levi said. "But not everyone in the Institute or Academy agrees with them. There are factions—people risking everything to challenge the Council."

Kael studied her carefully. "And you? Where do you stand?"

Her gaze didn't waver. "I stand with the truth. Whatever it may be."

---

Into the Lion's Den

Before Kael could respond, a voice rang out from the chamber. "Kael, step forward."

They had stopped in front of a pair of massive double doors in the waiting room, guarded by two figures formed head-to-toe in enhanced armor.

Without a word, the guards pushed the doors open, revealing a grand chamber bathed in pale, otherworldly light spilling through towering windows. At the far end, a semicircle of seats held, each occupied by stern, calculating faces.

The council.

He turned toward the doors, but Levi's hand gripped his arm. Her voice softened.

"One last thing," she said. "You asked why I'm telling you all this. The answer is simple—I can't study you if you're in prison."

Kael froze, her words hitting him harder than expected. She released his arm, stepping back with a faint smile.

"Good luck, Kael. You'll need it."

Without speaking again, Kael strode into the chamber, his breathing steadying as the doors closed behind him.