Chapter 8 - Part 6: The Tyrant of the Seas vs. The Enlightened One Continues

The arena was silent, its floor scarred with the remnants of an intense struggle. Buddha, though bloodied and visibly weary, remained standing, his gaze steady as he faced Poseidon. The God of the Seas was untouched, an image of divine composure, his expression sharp and dismissive. To the audience, the result of the battle seemed inevitable. Buddha, even with his legendary foresight, had been bested.Poseidon looked down at Buddha, his cold gaze unwavering. There was a pause, a quiet anticipation in the air, before he finally broke the silence, his voice low and cutting."Do you understand now, Buddha?" Poseidon's tone was sharp, almost mocking. "Your so-called foresight is nothing but a trick, an illusion of strength against a true god."Buddha, though injured, met Poseidon's eyes without flinching. His silence did nothing to deter Poseidon, who continued, his voice laced with disdain."Your power to see the future... I could see it was limited the moment you relied on it," Poseidon said, allowing a small smirk. "Unlike you, I do not have to guess or wait. You see only a single move ahead, one possibility at a time. And you have to actively activate it, don't you? A pathetic handicap."The crowd shifted, murmurs of surprise rippling through both gods and humans. Poseidon's words cut to the heart of Buddha's ability, laying bare the limitations that the God of the Seas had quickly realized and exploited."You think you can predict my moves," Poseidon continued, his voice gaining a sharper edge, "but I do not give you the chance to keep up. Every time you catch one glimpse of the future, I strike immediately after. By the time you 'see' my next move, I've already changed my attack."He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with deadly intent. "Your foresight may grant you a glimpse," he said, "but that glimpse requires precious time. And against a god, no a God such as me, a split-second delay is fatal."A faint smile flickered across Buddha's face, calm and accepting, yet somehow defiant. Poseidon's gaze darkened at the sight, but he continued, determined to make Buddha understand the futility of his efforts."You thought yourself clever, that foresight would make you untouchable," Poseidon continued, his voice cold and unforgiving. "But I recognized that weakness the moment I faced you. Your limited, mortal power could never rival my adaptability. I attacked without pause, faster each time, ensuring that each of your visions would be a second too slow. And thus, you fell.""I adapted—something that neither you nor your precious foresight could anticipate." He took another step closer, his trident gleaming in the light. "Even Sasaki Kojiro, the human who could see thousands of moves into the future, couldn't survive. And you? You're weaker than him."A ripple of recognition swept through the arena, the gods and humans alike recalling the legendary swordsman who had nearly defeated Poseidon. One of Humanity's greatest warriors had wielded foresight beyond mere intuition, calculating each outcome, each defence. And yet, even he had fallen."Unlike that swordsman, you can only see moments ahead," Poseidon continued, his tone carrying a finality that seemed to close off any hope of victory. "Your foresight, Buddha, is flawed. A human could not best me, and neither can you. I am the sea itself—unpredictable, boundless, and eternal. Your enlightenment? Means nothing to a true God such as me."The gods in the audience nodded, their disdain for Buddha's efforts clear in their eyes, while Zeus watched with a look of pride in Poseidon's ruthlessness. Even Zeus, the supreme god, acknowledged the strength and dominance that Poseidon wielded.Buddha, bloodied and bruised, looked up at Poseidon, his face still calm, an unwavering expression that bordered on defiance. This look, this calmness, seemed to irk Poseidon even further, his pride unable to allow what he saw as disrespect."What is it, Buddha? Is it pride that blinds you?" Poseidon's tone shifted to one of biting curiosity. "Or is it that you're deluded by human ideals, clinging to their misguided hopes and dreams?"Buddha's silence did nothing to dissuade Poseidon, who took it as an invitation to press harder. He tilted his head, studying Buddha as he continued, his tone now calculated and persuasive.He leaned in closer, his gaze piercing, his voice barely above a whisper but carrying to the farthest reaches of the arena. "Join us, Buddha. Let go of this misplaced loyalty to creatures who would turn on you without a second thought. Your true place is with us, with gods who do not need salvation, who are above such petty struggles."Buddha met Poseidon's gaze, his expression contemplative yet unwavering. Poseidon's words, calculated to undermine his faith in humanity, had yet to penetrate the calm, resolute demeanor that Buddha wore like armor.Poseidon, mistaking Buddha's silence for a crack in his resolve, pressed his advantage further, his tone softening slightly, becoming almost reasonable. "Humans are ruled by chaos, Buddha. They create their own suffering, and you should know better than anyone that they do not deserve our protection. They will only betray you in the end."Poseidon straightened, his voice rising as he looked over the arena, addressing gods and humans alike. "Humanity is nothing more than a race of creatures ruled by their own delusions, clinging to dreams of greatness they will never achieve. They will destroy themselves with or without us, and they are fools to believe otherwise." He turned back to Buddha, his trident gleaming as he raised it in a gesture of finality. "Buddha, Cast aside this worthless cause, and remember your place among the gods."The arena was silent, a thick tension in the air. The gods leaned forward, sensing the weight of Poseidon's words, while the humans looked on in despair, fearing their last hope might falter under Poseidon's ruthless logic.But Buddha's expression remained steady, his faint smile an unbreakable line that hinted at thoughts hidden from everyone around him. His eyes gleamed with a quiet, resolute defiance, as though weighing Poseidon's words but standing firm in his own understanding.And as he met Poseidon's gaze, Buddha's lips parted, ready to speak, the unspoken answer that would shape the outcome of their fates lingering on his tongue. Gods and humans alike held their breath, waiting for the answer that would define everything.