ETERNAL INSECT SYSTEM

002 - HEAVEN'S PUNISHMENT

Inggrid's heart was fragile, having just given birth to her baby. She now struggled to think rationally. In her mind, suicide seemed like the only viable option. As she drew her dagger, Artemis swiftly intervened.

"What are you trying to do?! I won't allow it!" the god Artemis exclaimed. He managed to save their baby with his right hand while stopping the dagger with the other. "I will explain everything later, but trust me! Don't be swayed by that woman's words! I love you, and I've never betrayed you, Inggrid!"

As Artemis spoke, Inggrid began to regain a bit of clarity. But as if fate had already drawn its line, a swift, unseen attack penetrated the shield that Artemis had cast, striking Inggrid sharply in the back. 

Blood spewed from her chest, her eyes widened in intense pain. The perpetrator of the attack was none other than the goddess Frigg Asa.

"She wanted to die anyway! I merely helped her, there's nothing wrong with that, right?" Frigg Asa asked without a hint of remorse, her eyes still swollen from her earlier faux tears.

Witnessing this, Artemis's eyes turned a deep black, signaling his intent to unleash his true power—a power that could rival or even surpass the Creator's God. He resembled a raging bull.

"I won't let you die! I will use every means within the Heavenly Throne to revive you!" an emotionally devastated Artemis declared. 

"My love..." Inggrid, now fading, whispered in Artemis's embrace. "Forgive me..." The previous attack had left her on the brink of consciousness. 

"I realize now that I was mistaken. Somehow, deep down, I've always trusted you," she murmured, her eyes slowly closing.

Her last words became a heart-wrenching indicator that she wouldn't open her eyes again, passing away in front of her lover. "Please take care of our child, and until we meet again in the next life, I love you!"

As Inggrid closed her eyes, her body growing cold and limp, she passed away, exhausted by the games of the gods. Yet, in her final moments, she realized Artemis's innocence.

Concurrently, a potent mana explosion emerged, genuinely surpassing the strength of the Creator God. A powerful murderous intent awakened in Artemis, known for his kindness and love for all creatures.

"You've truly tested the limits of my patience, you wretched gods! Now face your demise! I will obliterate the Heavenly Throne and everything within it! PERISH!"

Artemis's shout wasn't just an ordinary threat. It coincided with the formation of a massive energy orb, all while still cradling his baby.

Seeing this terrifying display, the Creator God raised his hand, shouting, "All gods present, activate HEAVEN’S PUNISHMENT!" 

"This bastard's attack is not to be taken lightly, he's conjured an odd energy orb capable of annihilating this world!" he exclaimed, sensing the strange force emanating from Artemis. 

"Use your godly powers before Artemis completely loses control! Do it now, or we will all perish! ACTIVATE IT NOW!" the Creator God commanded loudly. 

"All of you are even more barbaric than the humans you so condescendingly call fools! THERE'S NO MERCY FOR ANY OF YOU!" Artemis roared, directing his gaze to the surrounding gods, drawing them into the massive dark energy orb he created.

As the gods were absorbed into his orb, the essence of their beings began to fade. Their bodies stuck firmly to the surface of the Black Orb, slowly disintegrating. The power of the Black Orb was terrifying.

"Ugh … we can't move! The core of our souls is disappearing, we–" The trapped gods met ghastly deaths one by one. 

They seemed to face an onslaught of limitless energy, brutally thrust upon them, causing both their souls and bodies to vanish entirely.

At the same time, Heaven’s Punishment appeared above Artemis’s massive Black Energy Orb. A magic circle, thousands of times larger than the Heavenly Throne, emerged.

The circle conjured numerous chains, along with flashes of blue-white lightning. Then, it brutally struck Artemis, so much so that his skin began to peel off from sheer force.

In his perilous and enraged state, Artemis still managed to protect the body of his beloved and, of course, the baby he now cradled.

"Surrender, Guardian God of the World! It would be better for you to accept imprisonment within Heaven’s Punishment and rot there!" proclaimed the arrogant Creator God.

"Forget about the deceased woman and the demigod child! At the very least, your soul won't be as wounded by the heavenly punishment!" the Creator God smugly said to Artemis.

The sound of chains binding Artemis grew louder as he was on the brink of losing control of his powers.

Artemis never anticipated that to defeat him, these corrupt gods would use the ultimate divine power.

These chains represented the strength of each god and this was the most potent attack in the world of Magic and Sword.

All proceeded under the command of the Creator God. "Destroy this rebellious God and traitor to the Heavenly Throne! Let his body shatter and be eternally chained in lightning!"

"Don’t let this arrogant god escape your prison, O Heaven’s Punishment! Strike now!" he commanded, as the massive magic circle in the sky rained down upon Artemis.

Artemis could do nothing, having used much of his strength to protect his wife's body and their infant.

The gods' assault persisted, trying to ensnare him with millions of magical seals. This was the most powerful assault ever launched by the gods.

"Ugh … Forgive me, my child. It seems you must navigate this world alone," said a cornered Artemis, drained by the chains.

"I'm sorry I won't see you grow. Please, avenge your mother and me," whispered Artemis, immobilized by the chains but still shielding his baby.

Silently, Artemis bestowed his essence, his memories of these events, and a great secret onto his infant.

"What light just entered that infant?" a distant god wondered, seeing a bright radiance over the baby, Artemis's child.

"Don't let him use his last strength! He's safeguarding that child with his soul's essence!" cried Goddess Frigg Asa, quickly realizing the unfolding events.

"Quickly intensify your attacks, he's also creating a dimensional rift to send that child to the underworld!”

"All gods! Quickly amplify your divine energy to the Magic Circle!" Frigg Asa yelled, taking charge after the Creator God.

"You're all too late," whispered Artemis.