Divine Path System Chapter 1764: A Paradise called Elysium

As the conflict between the God Emperor and the Architect escalated—with the former dismantling the cosmos while the latter utilized it as leverage—the inhabitants of Eden endured the full brunt of the chaos.

These three weeks felt like an eternity of torment.

The descent into disarray began gradually. Initially, there were sporadic deaths and whispers of an impending apocalypse, yet many powerful entities dismissed the warnings outright.

They brushed it off as just another clash between divine rankers, claiming that the residual shockwaves were causing undue panic among the populace.

Only a handful of localized disasters materialized, seemingly validating this dismissive outlook.

By the conclusion of the first week, the situation intensified drastically. Natural disasters surged with exponential force, forcing even the most skeptical observers to acknowledge that something was gravely amiss.

However, the root cause remained a mystery. Why were these calamities occurring? From what source did they emerge? And where could one possibly find safety?

By the end of the first week, 1% of Eden had perished, leaving 99% of the population remaining.

During the second week, numerous powerful races and civilizations scrambled to construct specialized defenses against the six varieties of natural disasters.

Achieving protection against all six proved nearly impossible, with many lucky to mitigate three, and only a select few managing four.

These supposedly formidable civilizations were swiftly obliterated by the very disasters they were unprepared for, as if their fortune had hit an all-time low.

Ultimately, various civilizations across Eden converged to form massive hubs, pooling their diverse strengths to combat the six threats through mastery of Space, Time, Order, Chaos, Life, and Death.

They survived the second week, and these sanctuaries became overnight legends, drawing refugees from every corner of the realm.

Inspired, similar camps began surfacing across all of Eden.

By the end of the second week, 15% of Eden had fallen, with 84% still holding on.

With improved fortifications, hope was high. But the third week brought a terrifying shift.

The very fabric of the laws seemed to fracture, turning erratic and striking with lethal intensity.

The era of mass extinction had truly begun.

The primary gathering camp was devastated overnight by a collision of disasters, failing to hold despite the protection of several divine rankers.

None of those protectors survived; the entire camp was wiped out to the last individual.

As the week drew to a close, every camp—from the most fortified to the most humble—had been reduced to ruins.

This period became known as the week of hell, the week of death, and the week of calamity.

A staggering 83% of Eden perished, leaving only 1% alive.

Of those few survivors, most were wandering in the wilderness, having cheated death through sheer luck.

However, a small faction managed to discover a mysterious sanctuary known only to the most learned beings: Elysium, the final bastion of Eden.

Among those seeking refuge were a young child and their injured father, hailing from a minor province that possessed only a single governed planet.

They had been traveling far from home when disaster struck their world, and the fear of returning to such danger prevented them from ever looking back.

After overcoming unspeakable trials, they reached the legendary city.

Situated between the Andromeda and Milky Way sectors, it was whispered to be the creation of Varian, the Ruler of Eden himself.

The city was a sight to behold, with gleaming walls piercing the clouds and towering gates that exuded an aura of profound security.

The avenues were swept clean, wide, and radiated an air of refinement. Every structure, whether a shop or a residence, possessed a captivating beauty; even the humblest dwellings appeared luxurious.

"Is this truly paradise, Father?" the child asked, their voice trembling with awe.

The father shook off his stupor and nodded. "Yes, son. This is exactly what paradise looks like."

They joined a massive queue outside the gates. Elysium featured multiple entrance points, each with at least five lines, and every line stretched for nearly a million people.

The idea of such a vast crowd maintaining perfect order seemed impossible, yet the sheer authority and advanced systems of Elysium made it a reality.

Under normal circumstances, some arrogant powerhouse would have surely caused a disturbance or demanded special treatment.

But here, no one dared.

Everyone knew that divine rankers stood guard, including the beloved goddess, All Mother Asherah.

The figure who truly inspired fear, however, was the one whose projection hovered above every gate.

Aridam, the Punisher.

As part of the infamous Nexus trio, he was a man unbound by rules, notorious for his crude demeanor and willingness to resort to brutal violence at the slightest provocation.

A few fools still tried to bully their way forward in the queue, only to be vaporized instantly by beams of light descending from the heavens.

The migration moved with surprising efficiency.

Within hours, the father and son reached the grand, ethereal-looking gates.

A virtual interface depicting a flying sword and shield scanned them, accompanied by a sweeping divine sense.

Moments later, a registration number materialized on their wrists.

"Greetings, I am Imperia, the overseer and the will of Elysium. This number is your official identity. Use it to communicate with me and your fellow citizens."

"You face a choice: enter as a standard refugee or through the judgement gates."

"The first option provides refugee status, including food, clothing, and shelter, in exchange for labor tailored to your innate talents, which I have already scanned."

"The second path, the judgement gates, requires a trial of your soul. Success grants you status as a cadet, with training for the Elysium defense force and opportunities for future advancement."

"B-but we have just completed such an arduous journey..."

"The trial automatically adjusts to the capability and condition of the participant."

The father and son exchanged a look before opting for the judgement gates.

Unsurprisingly, nearly half of the other refugees made the same call.

They were greeted by a massive gate adorned with intricate, cryptic runes.

Even the father, a rank 5 celestial, could make no sense of the ancient symbols.

He had no time to contemplate them, however, as the lines progressed at a rapid pace.

To pass, one only needed to traverse ten steps through the gate. Yet, most failed to complete even the first.

The father signaled to his son in a parallel line, murmuring through his ID link, "Stay in touch, do not wander off."

He took his first step, drawing surprised whispers. Then the second, third, fourth, and fifth.

Reaching five steps effectively placed him within the top 10% of candidates.

The sixth step, however, belonged to an entirely different realm of difficulty.

He felt a crushing pressure—not upon his flesh, but upon his very soul. It felt as if he would collapse at any moment, and though he commanded his legs to move, they refused to obey.

Deflated, he returned to the standard entrance, only to be met by his son, who was beaming with excitement. "Dad, I passed! I actually passed!"

A smile broke out across the father's tired face. "That is wonderful, son!"

A special passage opened for those who succeeded, and the two walked through in high spirits.

Even those who failed felt a sense of relief; finding any sanctuary at all was a blessing.

'So long as Elysium keeps us from harm, I am content,' many thought.

When expectations are shattered, even the smallest scrap of safety feels like divine favor.

While the atmosphere outside the city was cautiously optimistic, the atmosphere within the main headquarters was suffocating with dread.

Asherah drummed her fingers against the table, fixated on the other divine rankers. "Have you found any clues regarding this calamity?"

"None," replied a promising high rank 1 candidate, known for his deep understanding of cosmic phenomena.

"That laughter we heard three weeks ago must be linked to it. It has to be the work of a peak rank 2 powerhouse.

"Has he issued any response?" Asherah asked, posing the daily question without needing to name the individual.

The representatives of the original Elysium kingdom—the loyalists who had followed Varian since the city's inception—looked at one another, searching for any glimmer of good news.

Eventually, they let out a collective, hopeless sigh. There was no word today, just like every other day. They quickly composed themselves.

The meeting was nearing its end when the young nymph Chloe spoke up. "I checked with Lord Oob and Lord Boo. They noted he is currently in deep seclusion for a breakthrough."

Asherah felt a spark of hope at the news, which quickly turned into resignation.

This was disastrous. She had always harbored doubts about his reliability, and now it seemed she was right. Was now truly the time to prioritize his own cultivation instead of preserving the remnants of Eden?

Still, she held no malice. They had survived this long only because Varian, upon reaching peak rank 2, had fortified Elysium’s defenses.

In truth, Varian had already saved them. But could she be blamed for wanting more?

Without his intervention, Eden would surely be emptied of all life.

The realm seemed peaceful on the surface, which led the citizens to believe they were living in a magical, untouchable paradise.

In reality, over a hundred disasters had already struck, only to be neutralized by Varian’s defense systems before they could manifest.

Yet, even those grand systems were beginning to buckle under the accelerating intensity of the catastrophe.

It was only a matter of days before they were completely overwhelmed.

"Summon Lord Boo and Lord Oob. He must emerge from his seclusion. There is nothing more important than this," Asherah declared, rising to her feet.

Chloe winced, looking uneasy. "I have made that request before, and they rejected it."

"Bring them here anyway."

"As you command."

"That will not be necessary. I am here." A voice thundered through the chamber.