As the blinding light faded, Stanley shielded his eyes, his senses on high alert. When he could see again, the clearing looked entirely different. What had been a calm forest glade now hummed with swirling energy. Floating runes circled the stranger, their staff glowing brighter than before.
The stranger smirked, pointing the staff at Stanley. "Let's see if the stories about you are true."
Stanley frowned. Stories? How did this person know about him? He kept his godly nature hidden, carefully blending in as a regular human. But this stranger seemed determined to pull him out of his quiet life.
"I don't know what you're after," Stanley said, his voice calm but firm, "but you're making a big mistake."
The stranger laughed, the sound echoing unnaturally in the clearing. "Oh, I don't think so. I've spent years searching for someone like you. A god among mortals. It's time we see if you're truly as powerful as the legends say."
Before Stanley could respond, the stranger unleashed a barrage of energy blasts from the staff. They streaked toward Stanley, crackling with raw magical power.
Stanley sighed, stepping forward. He raised his hand, and the blasts froze in mid-air, their energy dissipating harmlessly. "Is that all?" he asked, tilting his head.
The stranger's smirk faltered. "Interesting. But let's turn up the heat."
They slammed the staff into the ground, causing a shockwave that split the earth beneath them. Fiery tendrils erupted from the cracks, surging toward Stanley. This attack was much stronger, a mix of elemental magic and dark energy designed to destroy.
Stanley remained calm. With a casual flick of his wrist, the flames dissolved, leaving only scorched ground where they had once roared.
"Listen," Stanley said, his voice taking on an edge. "I'm not here to fight. Go back to wherever you came from, and we'll pretend this never happened."
The stranger hesitated, their confident demeanor cracking. "You're holding back," they accused.
Stanley smirked faintly. "You have no idea."
Frustrated, the stranger chanted something in an ancient language, summoning a massive sphere of energy above them. It pulsed ominously, its power distorting the air around it.
"This is your last chance, god!" they shouted, their voice tinged with desperation. "Reveal your true strength, or I'll unleash this!"
Stanley stared at the sphere, unimpressed. "You're really testing my patience."
The sphere shot toward Stanley, its energy roaring like a storm. But Stanley didn't flinch. With a single gesture, he raised his hand, and the sphere stopped inches from his face. It trembled under his grip before collapsing into a harmless gust of wind.
The stranger staggered back, dropping their staff. "Impossible… No one should be able to"
Stanley stepped closer, his calm facade replaced by a stern glare. "You don't understand what you're dealing with. Go home before you do something you'll regret."
The stranger scrambled to their feet, fear evident in their eyes. Without another word, they disappeared in a flash of light, leaving the clearing silent once more.
Later That Night
Back in his small apartment, Stanley sat on his bed, deep in thought. The encounter with the stranger weighed on him. They had known too much about him, about his powers. And worse, they weren't the first.
Over the centuries, there had always been those who sought him out, hoping to test their strength or gain his favor. But this was different. The stranger had been armed with ancient magic, the kind that hadn't been seen on Earth in millennia.
"Who sent you?" Stanley muttered to himself, staring out the window at the star-filled sky.
A soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He opened it to find Mia standing there, holding a takeout bag.
"Thought you might need dinner," she said with a grin. "You've been looking kind of stressed lately."
Stanley chuckled, stepping aside to let her in. "You have no idea."
As she set the food on the table, Mia glanced at him curiously. "Seriously, though. You okay? You seem… distracted."
Stanley hesitated before nodding. "Yeah, just… life stuff."
Mia didn't look convinced, but she didn't push. "Well, whatever it is, food always helps. Come on, let's eat."
Stanley smiled, grateful for her presence. For now, he would keep his secrets. But deep down, he knew the peaceful life he had built was beginning to unravel.