Bastards Ascension: A Playground of Gods

Hewasn’tsomechosenhero.Notthegoldenboyinprophecy.HewasjustKieranMarcoth—aboybornonthewrongsideoffate,Amistake,amisfit.Notblessedbyheaven.Toostubbornforhell.Andnow…Thrownontoabattlefieldmeantforgods.Theworldhadalreadybeenbrokenlongbeforehecameintoit.Peoplesinned,astheyalwaysdo—Andoneday,theskyfinallyanswered.ThedayGodturnedaway,Everythingfell.Citiesburned.Familiesvanished.Thesilenceafterwardwaslouderthananyexplosion.Buteveninwrath,theDivineleftsomethingbehind.Afinalolivebranch—ifyoucouldcallitthat.Awaytosurvivewhatcamecrawlingoutofthedarkness.Talents.Powers.Strange,uniqueabilitiespasseddownlikegiftsfromagodwhonolongercared.AndonthedayKieranstoodinline—quiet,hopeful,alittlescared—Waitingtoreceivehistalent,Hedaredtobelievehislifemightfinallystarttomakesense.Instead…Heawakenedsomethingdifferent.AhiddenSSS-rankedtalent.Thekindwithaconditionattached.Acatch.Andjustlikethat,everythingwentwrong.Laughter.Whispers.Stareslikeknives.Hebecameajoke.Adisappointment.Eventheinstructorsdidn’tbothertohidetheirsneers.Thenthebullyingstarted.Thebeating.Thebetrayal.Andoneday,itnearlykilledhim.Helaythere,bleeding.Angry.Humiliated.Apartofhimstillhopingthiswassometwistedmistake.Butitwasn’t.Andthen—Asound.>[Ding!Conditionshavebeenmet][HosthasbeensuccessfullyselectedasaGodCandidate][Defeattheothercandidates!BecomethenextGodofthisruinedworld]Kieranstaredatthemessageblinkinginfrontofhim.Hedidn’tsmile.Didn’tcry.Didn’tfeeltriumphant.Hejustfelttired.Andthen,somethinginhimshifted.Onethought,sharpandcold,rosetothesurface:“I’mgoingtofuckingkillthosebastards.”Notforpower.Notforglory.Butbecausehewasdonebeingthepunchline.That’showhisjourneybegan.Notasahero.Notyetamonster.Justaboywhohadlosttoomuch—Andfoundsomethingworthfightingforinthewreckage.Thequestionnowis:Willtheworldbreakhimagain?Orwillhebecomethegodwhoremakesit?