The stormy sky crackled with lightning, illuminating the city in brief flashes of blinding light. Aziel Stormrider stood atop an abandoned skyscraper, arms crossed, a smug grin curling his lips.
"So, you're the all-powerful being I've heard so much about?" he asked, his gaze locked onto the man before him.
Nyxios, the shapeshifting god, let out a tired sigh. He wore a simple black hoodie and jeans, looking more like an ordinary man than an immortal entity from another dimension.
"Honestly? I just wanted some peace and quiet," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But of course, some overconfident lightning guy had to show up and ruin my break."
Aziel's eye twitched at the dismissive tone.
"Lightning guy?!" he growled. "I am Aziel Stormrider, the world's strongest mage! They call me the Lord of Thunder and Wind!"
Nyxios blinked lazily. "Great. Then maybe you could lower your voice a little? My head hurts."
Aziel didn't even hear him. With a swift motion, he raised his hand toward the sky, and a massive bolt of lightning tore through the clouds. The blinding streak split the heavens like an angry god's sword before crashing down directly onto Nyxios.
The air trembled from the impact. The rooftop's concrete cracked, debris scattered in all directions, and a thick cloud of dust billowed outward. Aziel smirked triumphantly… then froze.
The smoke slowly cleared, revealing Nyxios standing exactly where he had been, completely unharmed.
"Wow," the god murmured, glancing down at his jacket. A small, singed mark had appeared on the fabric. "Shame. This was clean."
Aziel's face burned with frustration. "Impossible…"
Nyxios tilted his head, his expression one of amused curiosity. "You know, maybe you should teach me. Clearly, I don't understand this whole 'magic' thing."
"You're mocking me?!"
"Oh, not at all," Nyxios replied, patting Aziel's shoulder with an easygoing grin. "You're doing that all by yourself."
Aziel's eyes burned with electric fury… and for the first time, he felt a creeping doubt—perhaps he wasn't the strongest in this world after all.