The Godless Apostle

Author: Sorry for the short chapter, I didn't have many ideas, I tried to focus more on character building. I hope you like the chapter and give me tips on what I can improve. Oh, I think I'll post a Danmachi chapter today, and maybe today I'll have the chapter of the story that will replace Fate. I'll post a notice in Volume 0 of each currently active story.

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While hovering in the sky, feeling the wind against his face, Thiel reflected on his own evolution. He had spent enough time strengthening his body, trying to make it resistant to the pressure of his abilities, but...

He had never specifically trained Status Amplification.

His focus had always been on enduring the side effects of his capabilities, but what about the true potential of this skill? How much could he amplify his strength, speed, or endurance?

"Maybe it's time to truly train this."

The thought came naturally—not as a well-crafted plan, but as a necessary reminder.

With that decision made, he looked down at the city beneath him, seeing the bustling streets and the constant flow of people who didn't even notice his presence in the sky. That was not the right place to test his limits.

He needed space.

He needed a place where he could unleash all his power without restrictions.

The solution came immediately.

The abandoned factory.

It was an isolated place, with no one to interfere, and it had already withstood his Golden Aura before.

With a slight adjustment in the way he manipulated his Telekinesis, Thiel changed his trajectory, cutting through the skies with surprising speed. He distanced himself from the city, leaving behind the noise of civilization and returning to the place that, at least for now, served as his improvised training ground.

Back at the abandoned factory, Thiel began to prepare.

Before anything else, he organized the environment. He moved rubble, stacked debris, and cleared a space wide enough for his training. Even though it was a place forgotten by time, he needed order amidst the chaos.

With everything ready, he activated Status Amplification.

In the same instant, memories flooded his mind.

The first time he used that ability... the dry sound of destruction... the ceiling shattering, the ground collapsing, the head of that man being obliterated with a single strike.

The memory was intense, but it did not awaken regret.

'Remember that feeling...'

The golden aura responded.

It expanded around Thiel, flickering like living flames, before compressing and merging into his body. This time, however, it was not an uncontrolled explosion. Instead of sheer, devastating force, the energy adjusted and adapted, covering his body with a thin, vibrant, and controlled golden layer.

It was different.

Before, his Status Amplification had been a wild storm, an uncontrollable force. Now, he wanted to refine it, to master it.

And so, the training began.

First Test: Strength and Durability.

Thiel stood in front of the concrete blocks, each roughly the size of an adult human. He observed carefully, eyes fixed on the targets, and focused on Status Amplification, trying to channel his golden energy with greater precision. Control and technique were essential.

First, he struck the block with a powerful punch.

The impact was absolute. The concrete shattered like glass hit by a heavy hammer. Particles flew through the air, and dust rose from where the block had stood. No effort, no hesitation.

He wasn't surprised by the result, but he was proud. This ability was already beyond his expectations, yet he knew he needed more.

The durability test was even easier. Thiel positioned himself before the iron bars, and with a simple movement, bent and sliced through them as if they were made of paper. The bars curved effortlessly between his fingers, offering no resistance at all. But what surprised him the most was his sense of invulnerability. He tried to harm himself, striking the bars against his chest, but felt no pain, no damage. He was completely protected by the golden aura surrounding his body. His durability was stronger than he had imagined.

Second Test: Speed and Endurance

With the first results being satisfactory, Thiel decided to test his speed and endurance. He knew that the distance between the factory and the city he had visited was not short—35 km—and he had made this journey many times, both flying and running. But now, he had Status Amplification.

Without hesitation, he burst into a sprint. His body moved with impressive fluidity, his feet barely touching the ground—he was faster than any human could ever dream. The wind cut against his face, and his white hair floated around him. Thiel felt as if he were walking through pure light.

Five minutes passed, and he was already at a distant point, halfway there. Thiel knew that his endurance and speed tests weren't just about covering great distances but also about how long he could maintain such intensity.

He felt no fatigue. His breathing was steady, his body didn't ask for rest. Status Amplification not only enhanced his strength but also his physical endurance. His limit? It no longer existed.

He repeated the test multiple times, reaching the city in less than three minutes and returning to the factory just as quickly, without even worrying about signs of exhaustion. It was as if physics, biology—everything around him—was irrelevant.

Even after the 26th lap, late at night, Thiel showed no signs of exhaustion. He stopped only to reflect, and the feeling of surpassing his own limits left a faint smile on his face.

The test had been a complete success.

He now knew that he was on the right path, controlling his powers, his energy, and his own limits.

...

The city was in ruins. Buildings cracked, dust and smoke rose into the sky, and the sound of explosions echoed through the streets. Thiel observed the scene without showing any emotion. The chaos was absolute.

The so-called "heroes" fought against villains, but their destructive blows completely ignored everything around them. Buildings collapsed, debris fell uncontrollably, and civilians were buried without anyone caring. What was supposed to be a battle for justice was nothing more than a spectacle of raw power and neglect.

And then he saw her.

Among the rubble, partially buried beneath the remains of a building, a young girl lay motionless, only her still-living eyes shining through the suffocating dust. She did not call for help. She did not scream. She did not expect a miracle.

She simply raised her hand, silently.

Thiel approached. Calmly. Expressionless. Unhurried.

The girl's cold fingers touched his skin as he took her hand. Was there hope in that gesture? Or was it merely the final reflex of a body that refused to die?

And then the tears rolled down her eyes.

With a vacant gaze, the young girl murmured in a faint voice:

"I wanted to live..."

These words lingered in the air. And then, the grip loosened.

Her hand slipped from his fingers.

Thiel remained there, staring at the lifeless hand. His heart did not race. His expression did not change. But his golden eyes narrowed, cold and piercing, as they turned toward the individuals still fighting amidst the chaos, oblivious to the destruction around them.

Heroes?

Villains?

To Thiel, there was no difference.

And then…

The impact was brutal.

The explosion of golden aura shone like a rising sun, and in an instant, an invisible force collided with the ground, knocking down both the hero and the villain. The asphalt gave way, forming craters beneath their bodies as they struggled to breathe, feeling a crushing pressure on their chests.

Thiel stepped forward.

His pace was slow, controlled, but relentless. The air around him wavered as if distorted by sheer power. The dust scattered at his command, revealing his silhouette in the midst of the chaos.

His clothes were tattered, torn, almost like a wandering vagrant… but the golden aura surrounding him told a different story.

There was something divine about his presence. Something majestic. Something that did not belong to that decaying world.

His golden eyes shone. His voice cut through the air like a blade.

"What irritating beings..."

The heroes and villains writhed on the ground, unable to move, crushed by an invisible and absolute force.

"You dress like fools, with empty ideals and no real purpose."

Thiel's voice was low, cold, emotionless. And yet, it carried an overwhelming weight, as if each word were a decree reverberating through reality itself.

"I would have preferred to be born as anything else. But since fate made me human..."

He slowly raised his hand, and the space around him seemed to freeze.

His fingers tightened into a firm grip.

And then—

CRACK!

A scream of pain cut through the air.

The hero's arm was crushed by an invisible force, the bones shattering like glass under a hydraulic press.

The villain tried to struggle, but—

CRACK!

His leg was shattered, bending at an impossible angle. The ground was stained red.

Fear gleamed in their eyes. But Thiel merely stared at them, indifferent.

"My job is to punish your miserable lives."

His entire body seemed to shine like a golden sun, his aura exploding uncontrollably. Golden energy leaked from his eyes and spread around him, creating a surreal, inhuman image.

In that moment, he no longer seemed human.

He seemed like a god.