The Last Bargain

Chapter XLVI: The Race Against Time

Shin stood frozen before the altar, the weight of the gods' plan pressing down on him like an immovable force. The revelation hung in the air, heavy and suffocating—the gods had planned to erase all of humanity, to reset the world and start anew. Everything they had fought for, every life they had tried to protect, was at risk of being wiped away in a moment.

The silence in the chamber was thick, the glow from the ancient symbols on the walls casting long, flickering shadows. Zento and Raito stood beside him, equally stunned, their faces pale as they processed the enormity of what they had uncovered.

"They want to erase... everything?" Zento finally broke the silence, his voice barely more than a whisper. His hands clenched into fists as the reality of it hit him. "Everyone we've ever known. Our families. Our clans. Everything will be gone."

Shin's heart pounded, his thoughts racing. It's not just about stopping them now, he thought. It's about saving the entire world.

Raito's sharp gaze remained fixed on the scroll. "This isn't just about us," he muttered. "The gods... they're not just afraid of ability users. They're afraid of the potential humanity has to overthrow their control entirely. In their eyes, it's safer to reset the world than to let us keep growing."

Shin swallowed hard, a wave of dread washing over him. "So, they're erasing the clans as a first step. They started with the most powerful families, but it won't stop there. If they think we're beyond their control... they'll erase all of humanity."

Zento's voice was thick with frustration. "They think we're some kind of threat? Just because we've learned to use the abilities they gave us?"

Raito shook his head, his expression dark. "To them, we've become unpredictable. Abilities were supposed to keep us under their control, but now... they see us as a danger."

Shin closed his eyes for a brief moment, gathering his thoughts. When he opened them again, they were filled with determination. "We can't let them do this," he said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. "There has to be a way to stop the reset."

Raito nodded, his mind already working. "The scroll mentions a failsafe, a way to stop the gods from carrying out their plan. It's possible they built in a way to prevent total annihilation if they were challenged."

Zento's eyes lit up with hope. "Then that's our way in. We find that failsafe and we use it."

Shin moved closer to the altar, staring at the symbols once more. "The failsafe... it has to be hidden somewhere. Somewhere they thought no one could reach."

Raito's gaze flickered with thought. "The gods have their own domain, a place where their influence is strongest. It's possible that's where the failsafe is hidden. We'd have to go there."

Zento frowned, his arms crossed. "So, we have to go into the gods' realm? That doesn't sound like a great idea."

Shin's jaw tightened. "It's our only option. If we don't stop them at the source, there's nothing we can do to protect our world."

Raito stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with resolve. "I can see through the gods' lies—if we go to their domain, I'll know if they're trying to trick us. We just need to find a way in."

Shin nodded, glancing at the symbols on the walls. "There has to be a portal or an entrance here. This is where abilities originated. If the gods had any way of connecting to our world, it would be through this shrine."

Zento's gaze swept the room. "If we're going into the gods' domain, we need to be ready for whatever they throw at us."

Shin's heart raced as he scanned the room, his eyes drawn to a faint light pulsing from beneath the altar. "There," he said, stepping forward. "It's the gateway."