Chapter 168: Sword vs. Axe: The Godly Finale

God of Conquest raised its Axe and chanted in a godly voice:

"Judgment of Tyrants: World Rend Annihilation!"
The axe pulsed, tearing open fissures in the sky, pulling in dark matter.

God of Protection held its Sword close to its heart and whispered:

"Will of the Innocent: Soul Bastion Strike!"
The blade shimmered with thousands of golden blue faces—the souls of those they had sworn to protect.

Back in Hellsgate...Ian's camera was nearly fried from the radiation of the clash. Still, he kept filming.

"This is... more than history... This is the soul of our universe being rewritten," he whispered, tears in his eyes.

Jen collapsed to her knees, sobbing.

"Please... win... please..."

Zack placed a hand on her shoulder, glowing faintly, trying to ease the pressure.

Olive, eyes locked on the heavens, muttered:

"Big bro... Big sis... show them what protection really means..."

Tyra gritted her teeth. Darry punched the ground. Vera held Fuga's hand. All were shaking—but all were praying.

Both gods now dove toward one another, finishers ready. They shouted in unison:

God of Conquest:

"Kneel before destruction!"

God of Protection:

"Stand with hope!"

And then—

Their ultimate techniques collided.

The Axe of Conquest, blazing with cosmic rage, met
The Sword of Protection, humming with pure will.

BOOOOOOOOOM!

The blast was so massive, it shattered a nearby moon, sent shockwaves through time, and ripped open a dimensional rift in the sky. Every observer was blown back in Hellsgate. The camera Ian held was scorched. Legend's God Sphere trembled.

For a moment—nothing but silence.

Then...Out of the blinding explosion—two figures dropped from the sky...

One kneeling. One still standing.

_ _ _

The smoke cleared.

At the heart of the crater, stood the God of Conquest, bloodied and breathing heavily, but still on its feet.

Kneeling before them, surrounded by broken darkness and fractured light, was the God of Protection, one knee on the ground, its Sword of Protection stabbed into the soil to keep it upright.

Its wings drooped. Its green-pink glow flickered like a dying candle.

"Tch..." the God of Conquest muttered, panting.
"Even with all that love... all that hope... you still fell."

It raised the Axe of Conquest, corrupted energy swirling around it.
"This is what happens when sentiment gets in the way of power."

_ _ _

Cries echoed from Hellsgate.

Olive stood frozen, trembling.
Jen clutched Zack, whispering, "No, no, no..."
Ian had dropped his camera. Even he couldn't speak.
Darry screamed into the sky.

Legend's voice echoed through the God Sphere, worried.
"Their fusion's weakening... the energy can't hold... no..."

Back To Battle...The God of Protection coughed. Divine blood leaked from its mouth, yet it looked up... eyes glowing faintly.

"You're... wrong," it said quietly.

"This isn't our defeat... this is our stand."

Suddenly, golden light began to pulse from deep within the God of Protection. The faces of everyone they'd fought for—Zack... Jen... Olive... Ian... the prisoners...—flashed before them.

And... each other.
Safari's face. Angeleva's heart.

"Love... is not weakness."

But the God of Conquest roared.

"Then die with your love!"

It raised its axe high—its horns glowing bright, wings spread wide. The final blow, ready to fall.

The skies wept.

And Then—

Suddenly—

A blinding shield of divine energy erupted around the God of Protection.

The energy came from the Sword of Protection, still embedded in the ground. It responded not just to power... but to resolve.

The weapon screamed with radiant fury, the blade expanding into a barrier of darkness and light.

"I told you," God of Protection whispered as it stood.

"We are not defeated."

With the last of their power, they gripped the sword, wings flaring with newfound fire, horns gleaming with vengeance and launched themselves upward—

Straight toward the falling Axe of Conquest.

One last clash. One final judgment.

The cosmos trembled.

The God of Conquest hovered, its Axe of Conquest pulsating with ominous energy, preparing to unleash the devastating "World Rend Annihilation."

Dark tendrils of power coiled around the axe, distorting the very fabric of reality.

Kneeling before this impending doom, the God of Protection—born from the fusion of Safari and Angeleva—felt the weight of the universe pressing down. Yet, within this crucible of despair, a spark ignited. With unwavering resolve, they reached out telepathically to God Legend, their mentor and guardian.

"God Legend, we need the strength of all in Hellsgate. Their energy, their emotions—it's our only hope."

From his celestial sphere, God Legend responded, his voice resonating with divine authority.

"So be it."

_ _ _

In Hellsgate, a beacon of hope flickered. Zack, Jen, Olive, Ian, and the prisoners who had endured countless trials felt the call. They gathered, hearts synchronized, understanding the gravity of the moment.

God Legend manifested a radiant portal, a conduit linking their collective spirit to the battlefield. One by one, they stepped forward, channeling their essence—love, pain, hope, and determination—into the luminous gateway.

As their energies coalesced, a surge of unparalleled power flowed into the God of Protection. The fusion deity's aura intensified, shimmering with hues of sap-green and pink, embodying the unity of countless souls.

Empowered by this newfound strength, the God of Protection rose, eyes blazing with purpose. They clasped the Sword of Protection, now radiating with the combined will of Hellsgate.

"With the unity of all, we stand unbroken!"

They thrust the sword forward, unleashing the Godly Unity Merge—a torrent of radiant shadowy energy infused with the collective emotions and determination of their allies.

Simultaneously, the God of Conquest bellowed, bringing down the Axe of Conquest, releasing the cataclysmic World Rend Annihilation. Darkness surged forth, seeking to obliterate all in its path.

The two colossal forces collided, igniting a maelstrom of light and shadow. The battlefield became the epicenter of a cosmic storm, with energies intertwining, each vying for dominance.

Despite the equilibrium of raw power, the God of Protection felt the strain. The weight of countless hopes and dreams pressed upon them. Yet, within this crucible, they found strength—not just from the energy bestowed upon them, but from the unwavering will of those they fought for.

Drawing upon this indomitable spirit, they pushed forward, step by step, against the torrent of annihilation. The beam of unity intensified, inching closer to the source of darkness.

The God of Conquest faltered, sensing the shift. For all its might, it lacked the profound depth of unity and purpose that fueled its adversary.

"This... cannot be!" the deity of conquest roared, attempting to muster more power.

But it was too late. The Godly Unity Merge pierced through the darkness, striking the God of Conquest squarely. A blinding explosion ensued, shaking the very foundations of existence.

As the light subsided, the God of Protection stood tall, albeit weary. Before them, the God of Conquest fell deep down there fusion wearing off.

The battlefield, though scarred, echoed with a profound silence—a testament to the monumental clash that had transpired.

In Hellsgate, the people felt a wave of relief and triumph. Their unity had not only turned the tide but had reaffirmed the timeless truth:

"Together, we are unstoppable."

The God of Protection looked toward the cosmos, offering silent gratitude to all who had stood with them. The battle was won, but the journey of unity and protection was eternal and then suddenly—

It burned out, depleted—collapsed mid-air as its divine glow began to fade. The fusion weared off, and from the dissipating aura, Safari and Angeleva fell, unconscious and bloodied.

But before their bodies could hit the scorched earth, God Legend raised a hand from the God Sphere, his eyes glowing gold.

With a flash of divine energy, he teleported them safely to Hellsgate, into the center of their people.