Victory already belonged to Hades, and with it came a sense of pride.
Koios snorted softly, his calm demeanor unwavering. "Hades, it won't be so easy to win against me."
The two separated again, and Koios realized that his method of defeating Hades with skill had completely failed. The most troubling part was that, as the battle progressed, Hades had become like an ocean, effortlessly absorbing all of Koios' techniques and making them his own.
Now, with skills proving ineffective, Koios opened one hand, revealing a crack from which planets shrouded in black thunder emerged. As these black thunder planets appeared, divine power surged into Koios' body, causing his eyes to narrow slightly. Each god's domain is essentially their own kingdom, yet such domains are rarely utilized in battle.
Now, Koios had injected the essence of his Kingdom of God directly into his divine body without hesitation, unleashing an explosive surge of power.
"Ah!!!"
Koios roared, the sound echoing into the sky as endless thunder surged around him. Hades kept his distance; in this moment, Koios was a formidable threat. The lightning that enveloped him seemed capable of devouring everything in its path.
When the dust settled, Koios appeared unchanged, but the divine energy surrounding him had intensified manifold.
"Hades, it's time to end this."
With that indifferent proclamation, Koios unleashed a burst of radiant divine power. Countless black thunders rushed toward Hades, and a sharp light flickered in Koios' eyes as he thrust his sword forward.
"Black Spike!"
Concentrating his ultimate power into his arm, Koios transformed into a black thunder deity. The speed of this strike transcended even divine power,it was beyond mere speed. His thrusting sword merged into his arm, transforming the attack into a pure punch aimed directly at Hades' heart.
In an instant, Koios was in front of Hades.
"It's over!"
Koios' voice reached Hades' ears even as he moved faster than the sound itself.
Seemingly trapped in a desperate situation, Hades didn't become flustered. "Koios, you've sealed away your memories so thoroughly. It's a shame you cannot comprehend the invincible power at play."
With a single hand, Hades summoned a flicker of underworld flames, which gradually ignited. This flame formed a shield with the magic star and the World Tree, blocking Koios' lethal strike.
Though this defense consumed nearly 60% of Hades' divine power, it was enough. Almost immediately, the underworld flames began to envelop Koios.
"Ah!"
Koios howled in pain as his divine body started to dissolve. Even under the protection of his sword, Chu Zhen, he was being consumed. What kind of power was this?
"God Killing… God Killing…"
Koios suddenly realized. "Hades! You've mastered the God Killing Flame!!!"
His voice, filled with disbelief, carried a resolute tone. Yes, Hades had indeed mastered the God Killing Flame. The power emanating from those underworld flames was not pure; it was something much more potent.
Hades did not respond, instead saying quietly, "Koios, it's a pity. If your memory hadn't been sealed, you might have stood a chance against such power."
"Sealed memory? What?"
The god-killing flames were still incomplete, merely an embryonic form. While it gradually devoured Koios, it wouldn't consume him entirely in an instant.
Yet Koios could not fathom what Hades meant by sealed memory. What had happened? Why was this the most confounding aspect for him?
The God-Killing Flames!
Transformed from the underworld flames, they had devoured an artifact capable of killing gods during the chaos. Although it was a damaged relic, combined with vast divine power and the essence of countless gods, it had gradually given rise to the God-Killing Flame.
"Ah!"
Another wail escaped Koios, but he was not without will. Gripping his thrusting sword tightly, he prepared to strike again.
"The Seal of the Magic Star!"
Dark purple chains surged forth, fully restraining Koios. He could no longer resist; the God-Killing Flames had burned him to the brink. No god could easily escape such a fate.
Koios grew weaker by the second, ultimately becoming ensnared by Hades' magic star. In his daze, he murmured, "Memory? Memory? What is memory?"
"Never mind."
Hades observed the completeness of Koios' memory seal and chose not to press further. Instead, he directed the golden apple within the magic star to absorb Koios' divine power and the ultimate energy that lingered.
Suddenly, a golden lightning flashed in Koios' eyes, restoring his consciousness. "The God Killing Thunder!"
"Ah!"
In the twilight of his life, Koios' memories flooded back, absorbed by the golden apple.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
After the seal of the magic star, the absorption of the golden apple, and under the engulfment of the flames, Koios had come to the end of his life.