The sky cracked open.
Thunder rumbled like a beast awakening, and the wind howled, thick with the scent of burning ozone. Beneath the roiling heavens, the battlefield stretched endlessly, torn apart by forces no mortal could comprehend.
Three figures stood amidst the destruction, each commanding the power to reshape the world itself.
The God of Lightning and Water hovered above the ground, the storm at his back. Sparks danced across his fingertips, his eyes alight with raw energy. Waves churned behind him, the very sea bending to his will. He exhaled slowly, watching his opponent with narrowed eyes.
The God of Armor stood unshaken. His massive frame, clad in armor that was more than metal—more than anything earthly—radiated an unyielding force. But unlike the others, he did not wait for an attack. His body was built for more than defense.
He was fast. Unnaturally fast.
And the God of Time knew it.
A short distance away, barely making a sound, the Time God's golden eyes flickered. He had foreseen countless battles, but against the Armor God, speed made fate uncertain. His presence flickered at the edges of reality, waiting for the moment he would be needed.
The Lightning God smirked. "Still standing, I see."
The Armor God didn't answer. He simply moved.
A blur of motion. A streak of silver.
One second, he was standing across the battlefield. The next—he was behind him.
The Lightning God's smirk vanished. Instinct kicked in, and he twisted, a bolt forming in his hand. He swung it blindly, knowing he had only a fraction of a second—
But it was too slow.
A fist slammed into his ribs. The force alone shattered the ground beneath them. The Lightning God's breath hitched as he was sent flying, his body skipping across the battlefield like a stone over water.
He crashed into the mountainside, rubble burying him.
The battlefield was silent.
The God of Time let out a quiet breath. Even he hadn't predicted that.
A rumble of thunder. The rubble shifted. Sparks flickered between the cracks. Then, with a deafening boom, the Lightning God burst free, arcs of electricity crackling wildly around him. He wiped his mouth, looking down at the blood on his fingers.
He chuckled.
"You're fast," he admitted, rolling his shoulders. "Didn't think I'd have to take this seriously."
The Armor God clenched his fists. His body vibrated with energy, muscles coiling, waiting for the next move. He didn't need to speak. His actions would be enough.
The God of Time watched carefully. He had seen many battles, but speed was chaos. Speed defied fate. And fate did not like being defied.
The Lightning God's smirk widened. "Let's see how fast you really are."
The storm screamed.
A surge of lightning exploded from his body, racing toward the Armor God with unnatural speed. It wasn't a single strike this time—it was dozens. Bolts rained down like spears, twisting midair, homing in on their target.
But the Armor God was faster.
His body blurred. The ground cracked beneath him as he vanished, reappearing a heartbeat later, dodging each strike with precision. He weaved between the bolts, his movements a dance of impossibility, the storm failing to catch him.
He closed the distance.
In a flash, he was at the Lightning God's throat. A devastating uppercut shot forward—
But this time, the Lightning God was ready.
Water surged up from beneath, catching the Armor God's arm. In the same moment, lightning converged around them, forming a barrier of pure energy.
Trapped.
The Lightning God's eyes gleamed. "Got you."
A direct point-blank blast of lightning erupted between them.
The impact shook the battlefield.
For the first time, the Armor God felt it.
Pain.
His body flew back, crashing through stone and sky, his armor sizzling with lingering electricity. He exhaled sharply, rolling onto his feet, his body aching from the sheer force. He glanced down. A faint burn marked his skin—his armor had taken damage.
The Lightning God lowered his hands, breathing heavily. "That should've done more," he muttered.
But the Armor God was already moving.
The burn faded. His body adjusted, hardened further. He was not so easily broken.
The Lightning God's smirk returned. "That's fine," he murmured. "Because I'm not done yet."
The storm above twisted unnaturally. The sea behind him churned violently, the waves rising higher, sharper.
The God of Time narrowed his eyes. "It's almost over."
And that was when the Armor God realized the truth.
This wasn't about endurance.
It wasn't about power.
It was a distraction.
His instincts screamed too late.
A ripple in time. A whisper of a moment.
Then—pain.
A dagger.
It pierced his side, sinking deep where his armor had weakened.
His breath caught. His vision blurred. The air around him felt wrong.
He turned his head slowly, his body locking up.
The God of Time stood beside him, his golden eyes calm, his hand still gripping the hilt of the blade.
The Lightning God took a step forward, frowning. "You—"
The Time God exhaled softly. "It had to be done."
The Armor God staggered. His fingers twitched.
For the first time… his legs felt heavy.
He looked down at his hands. They trembled. He clenched his fists, forcing them steady.
No.
He wasn't done.
He took a slow breath. His armor cracked, blood seeping through the edges. And yet, he stood firm.
Because he was armor.
He was unyielding.
His voice came, quieter this time, but no less powerful.
"You think this is the end?"
The Lightning God said nothing.
The Armor God lifted his head, eyes burning. Even in death, he would not break.
"Let my will be passed on."
The God of Armor fell.
The storm calmed. The sea stilled. The war was over.
The suns of the world spun a little bit faster, stars shined a little bit brighter. The universe itself began anticipating.
Some order while some chaos.... It was inevitable.
But far beyond this battlefield, beyond gods and time—something new had begun.