The flames didn’t stop with Jim. The fiery blast tore through the air, its heat warping the atmosphere. Buildings miles away were scorched clean, their facades riddled with perfectly circular holes as though a god’s spear had pierced them. Those not incinerated crumbled from the sheer force of the blast, collapsing in a cacophony of destruction.Even McCoy, standing far from the epicenter, felt the intense heat lick at his skin. His magically enhanced senses allowed him to track the blast’s trajectory, and what he saw sent chills down his spine.The devastation extended far beyond the city, leaving a trail of ruin in its wake. Streets buckled, trees withered to ash, and the ground itself cracked and smoldered. All of this happened in less than five seconds, yet the aftermath stretched for miles.A cold sweat ran down McCoy’s back as the reality of Typhon’s power sunk in. His hands trembled as he took in the scope of the destruction, but he forced himself to stay composed.“This isn’t

The Celestial Realm was unchanged but a tension in the atmosphere was unmistakable. A subtle shift, like the moment before a storm strikes or before a heartbeat occurs. Jeremy was aware of this feeling before seeing it visually. First, a ripple, then a series of figures appeared from nothingness – ghostly and gradually becoming solid flesh & presence. At the head of the collection stood Noctis. Kade, Jabel, Helena, Mary and all of the others formed on behind. A moment's pause occurred where words were withheld. The only exchange was the potential meaning of all things unsaid being forced upon them. Helena's lips parted slightly as her usual confident self faltered. Jabel's arms were folded with otherwise hidden tension expressed through his eyes. Kade was in the process of studying Jeremy as if trying to read him for something deeper. Mary stared. As for Noctis… Words were out of Noctis’s mouth, but his eye contact lingered longer upon Jeremy than anyone else. Then, with ca

"I'll be with you," Mundan quickly added, as if he sensed Jeremy's resistance, "to help ease any tension between you and the Goddesses." Jeremy did not voice his disapproval. He didn't feel anything positive toward them; no curiosity, no longing, nothing — just distance and some kind of darkness underneath it. "I don't need them. I've got the system. I've got me. I don't need anybody else." He thought. Mundan scrutinized him closely. Then he spoke again. "The darkness in your heart has increased, and it will have a negative effect on your power." He stopped for a moment, "For example, I detect trace amounts of celestial energy within you." Jeremy stared blankly and said nothing; yet, he knew. Mundan continued, "This energy of course was taken from the bodies of celestial beings." The air around them appeared to have gotten colder. "The method by which you take this energy is destructive," said Mundan. Jeremy winced as he felt the tension in his jaw. "But, it works," was al

Ray remained motionless for a moment until he held one hand up to create gold, blinding fire from nothing to smash the two rods together. Rather than anything being reflected or destroyed by this act, they simply ceased to exist.After Ray created fire, the shockwave created by that event shattered the city for as far away as you could see. Four multi-colour chains of fire blasted from the centre of the city to everywhere trees burned.When Soren appeared behind ray, he was compressed red energy; he whipped his arm around and swung.Ray barely turned his head to look at Soren's fist, but it didn’t really matter since when Soren's fist hit the ground, the ground fell apart as if a meteorite hit it, leaving it as a crater.Ray didn’t move from where he was standing, he couldn't; Soren punched him in the chest with no movement relative to Ray."Is this what you have to offer," remarked Ray.Soren's eyes bulged.Then Soren brought more red compressed energy towards himself until he create

The swing came up toward his chest. Toward his heart. McCoy had nothing left to throw. No card, no maneuver, no distance between himself and what was coming. All he could manage, in that fraction of a second before impact, was a look. Just a look, directed at Typhon's eyes. The expression was quiet, and heavy, and said everything words couldn't. *You said you'd keep your promise.* Typhon's eyes flickered. Something passed through them—regret, maybe. Quick and honest. But it was already too late. His arm was in motion, and he was not the kind of being who stopped things mid-course. Except — McCoy's world inverted. He was airborne, flipped sideways in an instant, landing hard but intact several meters to the left. He lay there a moment, chest heaving, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Then he turned his head, scanning the space around him, searching for whatever, whoever, had just pulled him out of death's path. A voice arrived before the figure did. "You still can