The atmosphere inside the hall changed.
A terrifying killing intent filled the air.
The flames appeared first.
A small spark.
Then a raging inferno.
Every god immediately stepped backward.
Even the strongest among them understood one thing.
Whoever was arriving was not ordinary.
The fire twisted and expanded until a figure emerged from within.
A man with the same facial features as Nike and Cronac stood before them.
But unlike his brothers, his appearance carried a completely different feeling.
His hair was sharp and crimson.
A burning tattoo covered the left side of his face.
The temperature of the entire hall increased.
The man looked directly at Nike.
"What did you just call me?!"
His voice echoed.
The pressure he released caused the floor beneath him to crack.
Nike remained seated.
He simply smiled.
"Clown."
The pressure increased.
Several gods sighed.
They already knew what was about to happen.
Raqual Kronicson.
The King of the Underworld.
The Nightmare Beast.
And the youngest of the three brothers.
His eye twitched.
His teeth clenched.
"You haven't changed at all."
Nike smiled.
"Neither have you."
That was enough.
Raqual disappeared.
BOOM!
Before anyone could react, his fist was already in front of Nike.
But Nike blocked it.
The collision created a shockwave that spread throughout the hall.
The two brothers stared at each other.
Then...
The entire throne room changed.
The walls expanded.
The ceiling disappeared into the clouds.
The floor transformed into a massive battlefield.
Golden thrones appeared around the arena.
The gods found themselves seated comfortably as spectators.
The hall itself seemed alive.
As if it understood what was happening.
Cronac looked around.
"The palace really does have a mind of its own."
No one disagreed.
Raqual pushed harder.
Nike moved backward slightly.
Then he smiled.
"Still moving like a sissy."
Raqual's expression darkened.
"Sissy god."
The gods watching immediately reacted.
"He started."
"Of course he started."
"Nike really enjoys angering him."
Among the gods, discussions began.
"Who do you think will win?"
"Raqual, obviously."
"Are you sure?"
"Nike is powerful."
"But his Law of Faith is weak."
The conversation became serious.
[Law: Law of Faith]
A divine law obtained through the belief of living beings.
The more beings that believe in a god...
The stronger that god's authority becomes.
The greater the faith.
The higher the divine ranking.
However...
Nike's situation was different.
He was the God of Lightning and Calamities.
During ancient times, when worlds were filled with destruction and bloodshed...
Nike was worshipped by those who feared disasters.
His name represented storms.
War.
Destruction.
Fear.
But as civilizations developed...
As people desired peace instead of destruction...
The number of those who worshipped calamity decreased.
Thus, compared to his siblings...
Nike's Law of Faith was considered weak.
Cronac watched from his throne.
The golden throne beneath him was carved with two dragons facing each other.
He rested his chin on his hand.
Then sighed.
"Raqual really wanted to spar with him."
He paused.
"Come on..."
"I'm older than Raqual."
"I am the second born."
He looked at the battle.
Then quickly changed his expression.
"Actually..."
"Not fighting him saved me a lot of energy."
He watched Nike casually dodge Raqual's attacks.
"I would have ended up looking like a clown chasing the wind."
Cronac shook his head.
Meanwhile...
Nina watched the battle silently.
At first, she had been worried.
But slowly...
Her expression changed.
A smile appeared.
Because she realized something.
Nike wasn't struggling.
He was playing.
The man she loved was simply enjoying time with his family.
Raqual continued attacking.
Punch after punch.
Each strike carried enough power to destroy worlds.
But Nike avoided every attack.
"Come on."
Nike smiled.
"I thought you matured."
That sentence broke the last bit of Raqual's patience.
His flames exploded.
The entire battlefield shook.
"Enough!"
His voice became deeper.
"Nightmare Beast Form!!!!"
BOOOOM!
The flames surrounding Raqual erupted.
His body expanded.
His muscles grew.
His divine presence increased.
The small figure of Raqual disappeared.
In his place stood a massive titan.
A being covered in endless flames.
Even the giant gods looked like children compared to him.
Silence filled the arena.
Nike looked up.
Then smiled.
"Impressive."
The titan looked down.
"You have grown stronger over the years."
Nike's grin widened.
"I am actually surprised."
Raqual laughed.
"Brace yourself, weak brother."
His massive fist moved.
The flames followed.
BOOM!
BAM!
The shockwave spread across the battlefield.
Every god watching became silent.
"..."
The attack landed.
The dust covered everything.
Nobody spoke.
Then slowly...
The dust began clearing.
And standing in the center...
Was Nike.
Completely unharmed.
The gods stared.
Raqual stared.
Cronac sighed.
"Of course."
Nike looked at his younger brother.
"Is that all?"
Raqual's eye twitched.
The reunion had officially become a humiliation.