Grand Ancestral Bloodlines

The entire Armament Guild was lit ablaze. While Ryu and Ryza had been distracted by their own matters, it might as well have been the case that a volcano had erupted. 

The instant they stepped out of the Holy Battle Ground, it became very obvious to the both of them that going to see Supreme Blacksmith Wynhorn right this moment may very well not be possible. 

A boisterous laughter boomed over the main Armament Guild city, a man wielding the skies like a spear standing tall and proud. He didn't seem to notice anyone around him at all, and yet he was easily the center of attention. 

Ryza came to a full stop, her small hand still on Ryu's shoulder. When she looked up, her gaze flickered with surprise. 

"… Aberardus…? That's…"

Ryza felt as though she had had enough surprise for a lifetime this day alone. Though Aberardus was indeed one of the closest to the Sky God Realm, it still shouldn't have happened so soon. In fact, the number of people who were so close but would never cross over that final barrier were all too numerous. 

Ryza would have more easily accepted this if it was someone low profile who she had never heard of before, but for it to be Aberardus… It simply didn't make any sense!

Aberardus had just come back with his son and caused a whole bunch of commotion. It was obvious at a single glance for anyone at her level that he had done all of this with a true body and not an avatar. So, when could he have possibly had the time to break into the Sky God Realm?

"Wait…"

Ryza's pupils constricted into pinholes. This pressure, there was no way she'd mistake it. This was the state of a True Sky God! If she already had a hard time believing it before, right this moment she felt as though her soul might leave her body entirely. 

Aberardus was most definitely not a talent capable of skipping over the False Sky God stage. But, somehow, in a single leap, he had not only become one of the supreme powerhouses of the Armament Guild, he had even surpassed his own Ancestor and entered the top most three. 

The information most had about the Sky God Realm was scarce, but this wasn't the case for an existence like Ryza. 

To put things in simple terms, the divisions between the Sky God Realm weren't as simple as the divisions between previous Realms. Each leap was so large that it might as well have been an all new Realm all together. 

There were two things to consider when it came to the strength of a Sky God. The first was the power their Title held and the second was their stage. 

The first division of power was often arbitrary and couldn't be parsed without a sharp eye or a display of strength. The second division was more straightforward, but often, information about it was gatekeep'd from the public, likely as an effort by lesser Sky Gods to maintain their prestige and title. 

The lowest level Sky God was a Fragmented Sky God. This individual would have formed the weakest of Godhoods. This would be either due to their Title being reliant on several other far more powerful Titles, or because the Godhood was simply far too incomplete. Both of these would be viable reasons to become Fragmented Sky Gods. 

Often, the Supreme Blacksmiths would fall into this category as their Godhoods were all branching from the much larger and sturdier tree of Blacksmithing as a whole. 

The vast majority of Sky Gods were at this level. 

The second stage of a Sky God was the False Sky God. At this stage, a Godhood was slightly more complete or a Title was slightly more powerful, however not entirely perfect. The Title might not rely on many other Titles, but it was definitely be reliant on a few, while the foundation of the Godhood wouldn't be exactly perfect. 

The third stage of a Sky God was the True Sky God. At this stage, a Godhood could be considered whole and self sustaining. While there might be related or similar Titles, this Godhood wouldn't be reliant on them and could be considered to be its own discipline. 

The fourth stage of a Sky God was the Transcended Sky God. The fifth was the Omniscient Sky God. And the sixth was the Origin Sky God. 

These latter three stages were all too enigmatic and difficult to grasp. Even Ryu only had vague inklings of them as he wasn't quite sure if they even existed. In fact, Ryu was almost certain that these latter three stages were either wrong or missing in several steps. He couldn't explain why outside of his own intuition as a Ruin Master and the strength of his Heavenly Pupils after their evolution. 

Of course, Ryu was correct… There were nine stages of Sky Godhood… It was just that the martial world as Ryu knew it had no right to know of these things… 

Regardless, to step into True Godhood in a single step ensured that Aberardus would have a name that rang throughout the martial world. He had all the right to boisterously laugh and stick his chest out in victory. He had become a man who stood above others. 

"Let's go up." Ryu said. 

"Huh? What?" Ryza looked at Ryu as though he was an idiot. 

Not only was she a member of a faction opposing Aberardus, the current her was no match for him. If Ryu pissed him off, or if he chose to use her as an example to establish his power and authority, there would be nothing she could do. 

There were many auras converging onto Aberardus at the moment, many of whom were Sky Gods, so it really seemed like a clash was inevitable. It wasn't smart for Ryu to be there to begin with. 

"He's a friend of mine. I can go myself, but you'll have to let go of my shoulder."

Ryza's expression flickered, suddenly remembering Ryu's threats about how she would find out that she wasn't the only Sky God he could form relationships with. It couldn't be…? How did he know…? 

Ryza's brain felt muddled. Before she realized what was happening, she too was approaching Aberardus.