Just a few minutes after the battle began, life had already been extinguished for thousands of kilometers, and all who had the fortune of being far enough from the lightning had fled even farther.
The bird, however, walked toward the eye of the storm, allowing itself to be struck by the divine lightning that burned away its feathers with ease—only for them to regenerate soon after.
After some years he got used to it to the point that lightning couldn't damage him anymore, the bird then advanced to the next location where it was stronger, hurting him again.
He continued to do this over the years. A step after another…then another… and another… Over the years, it continued inching closer to the core of the conflict.
For countless years, its feathers, flesh, organs, and even bones were charred and disintegrated by the divine lightning.
The pain was so intense that any mortal would've died instantly from it, and yet, the bird continued walking endlessly, a flame of unwavering resolve burning deep within its eyes.
After several decades of relentless moving forward, it witnessed a thick cloud of smoke descending from the heavens to the earth. Almost like a chunk of coal, a god of lightning had fallen, dead, after years of endless war.
The bird grinned broadly, approaching the priceless divine flesh of one of the so-called supreme gods. It feasted, and stole from that body a small, seemingly insignificant, yet precious fragment of divinity.
After more years of advancing toward the center, the divine bird encountered yet another fallen deity. This body, too, was horrifically burned, more like a blackened stone than a god, and yet it was still of immeasurable value.
Many mortals would kill their own families just to possess even a sliver of such a weak god's remains.
Still, the real battle was far from beginning. Very far. All these years had merely been the preliminary clashes.
A god of lightning who dies to lightning isn't truly a god of lightning. Just an arrogant impostor.
Decade upon decade passed. The bird kept discovering more dead gods. Their bodies were increasingly intact, and likewise, more of their equipment, crafted from divine steel and bronze, had survived the violent conflict.
The bird began to gather and reshape these sacred relics.
Its purpose at that time was still unclear. Even though it stood within the battlefield destined to decide the supremacy of the multiverse, not a single soul had noticed its presence, not among the thousands of gods who fought, nor those watching from afar.
Hundreds of years went by, and the battle only grew more intense.
The surviving gods were now finally unleashing their true power.
Their full authority over lightning was being tested.
Zeus summoned the full power of his master lightning, transforming the land into a molten pool of lava, and the air itself into searing plasma.
Thor, following his example, shattered colossal mountains larger than titans with his Mjolnir and split the highest world in two.
The gods of life and earth with urge and despair began to try to repair the world faster than it was being destroyed.
Approaching that place became impossible, even for gods of lightning. The impostors began to fall like moths drawn too close to the flame.
Then the gods began to wonder. Could this be the end? Was this truly the final act of the divine conflict?
But it still wasn't the end...
All those champion gods had been exposed to their source element for centuries, and thus had grown more powerful because of it.
They couldn't die from Lightning.
Even the strongest weapon against gods was unable to inflict damage on them.
These gods are supremely powerful.
At long last, only two remained in that hellstorm of lightning.
"It's time," Zeus said with a tired exhale, his body a map of agony, injured and scarred beyond recognition.
"I'll admit you fought well—for a pompous bastard," Thor said, not looking much better than Zeus, but still laughing, confident in his final victory. "After today, I'll drink in your name—and fuck your whore of a wife in your honor."
"You really wanna be a dick until the end." Zeus sneered.
Thor then spun his hammer several times in preparation for the final, decisive blow.
The master lightning began to sparkle and hum as Zeus compressed its power to the utmost extreme.
Shaking Heaven and Earth of countless worlds.
Maybe, in all the cosmos, only the winner would survive after this.
Lightning no longer held meaning in that battle.
Their only hope now was raw, concentrated power pushed to its extreme limit—and then to finish it the old-fashioned way, with fists and kicks.
THUUUMMMMM.
The skies across the entire highest world burst with light, blinding many of those who had waited anxiously for the final strike. But Zeus and Thor only narrowed their eyes, refusing to believe the absurdity unfolding before them.
"Thank you. I waited long enough for this…"
From within the blinding light of the lightning clash, a dark figure ascended into the radiant destruction.
A divine bird emerged alive from the light, wrapping its pitch-black wings — so dark they seemed to swallow the very fabric of reality — around the two most powerful weapons in existence.
Then, it took on its humanoid form.
"Thieving Bird." the two gods muttered in unison, stunned by the impossibility of what they were witnessing.
The hidden bird who stole from the gods. An existence hated by all divine beings, and yet one that no god had ever managed to capture—or even find.
No one believed he was still alive.
Such a bold being should have died long ago.
His boldness knew no bounds!
"I see you've heard of me." The divine bird chuckled playfully. "I imagine you also know what happens to the things that end up in my hands." He looked with growing amusement at the two most priceless relics in all of creation.
"Your death won't be painless! Return them now, you damned thief!" Zeus, overcome with fury, lunged forward to reclaim his sacred authority. That was the only way he could use his divine lightning to its full extent.
Thor followed right behind.
Their mutual hatred was instantly forgotten.
That was their only hope of retaining dominion over lightning. Without Lightning what is a god of Lightning?
"No thanks." He chuckled, vanishing across thousands of kilometers in the blink of an eye.
Zeus, watching helplessly, began to panic as he realized — despite being stronger — he was not faster than the bird! Worst yet, how will he retrieve his authority if he can't reach his opponent?!
"Before I leave." the bird called back with eyes ablaze, seething with rage, "I have one last thing to say to you, Zeus."
"Don't worry, I'll make good use of it… just wait… peacefully in your home." He chuckled amused. "Until I return..."
"You will surely be shocked."Then, just as quickly, he vanished. Without leaving a single trace. Disappearing from the world once more, as though he had never existed at all.
Zeus stared at the blank space with his mouth open in utter shock and regret.
This was the only time Zeus ever felt regret.
***
GIVE POWERSTONES!!!