Zeus sat on his golden throne, towering tens of meters high, his expression exaggerated beyond reason.
He was searching for the God of Magic from Asgard.
Though they had never met, Zeus had harbored a bad feeling about Aaron from the very beginning.
Almighty City had extended invitations to Odin several times before, but Asgard rarely responded—leaving Zeus waiting time and time again.
This greatly displeased him.
How dare Odin ignore the ruler of Almighty City? So many gods and kings showed him respect, yet Odin acted as if he were above it all.
What? You don't want to collaborate with us?
As a top-tier god, Zeus was among the most powerful deities in the galaxy.
His high reputation and many legendary deeds had made him the natural organizer and host of the meetings of the gods.
And through these sacred gatherings, he had achieved remarkable results—whether in debates, projects, or even leisure and entertainment.
Zeus did not believe the baseless rumors floating through the universe, nor did he trust Buster's so-called confirmation.
What did it mean to be a god-king?
It meant being the most powerful deity within a pantheon—standing far above the other main gods.
At the very least, a god-king was an absolute ruler of a planet.
Yet here was the so-called God of Magic—just another main god, barely qualifying as an advanced deity—claiming to have created something that could enhance the gods themselves.
He even had the audacity to claim that his creation could allow all gods to ascend to a higher level.
He went so far as to suggest that it was possible to mass-produce god-kings.
Mass-producing god-kings? Then what would that make them—cheap, factory-made products?
Zeus wasn't alone in his thinking. Many god-kings shared his concerns.
On one hand, they didn't want to believe that the God of Magic had truly invented such a thing. On the other, they definitely didn't want it to exist.
If god-kings could be mass-produced, the existing ruling class would inevitably be challenged.
The relative peace that had lasted for thousands of years would come to an end.
No god-king was willing to accept the idea that lesser gods—or even mortals, whom they regarded as ants—might one day stand as their equals.
Compared to that, they much preferred the subject Zeus had previously brought up—
In the name of the gods, let humans die for their entertainment.
Thousands of lives sacrificed in a mere contest, all so the victors could boast for the next year.
That was the mindset of the god-kings.
But most of the other gods attending the gathering were main gods—intermediate and advanced deities who made up the majority of the meeting's attendees.
If given the opportunity to take a step further and become a god-king, none of them would refuse.
Thus, they were very interested in the magic network.
They were also eager to meet Aaron.
Had he become a god-king through his own creation?
After all, if the magic network could elevate many gods to the level of god-kings—
Then the God of Magic, as its creator, should logically have surpassed the rank of a main god and ascended to the status of a top-tier god-king.
Otherwise, how could he expect anyone to believe him?
As Zeus scanned the assembly for unfamiliar faces, the other gods all turned their attention toward Aaron.
Following their gazes, Zeus did the same.
But Aaron showed no sign of discomfort.
Even knowing Zeus's hostility, he remained unfazed.
These god-kings were not his focus.
His real targets were the many main gods—and the next generation of god-kings.
They would be the ones to spread the magic network.
"Master..."
"Aaron..."
Aaron subtly shook his head, signaling for them not to worry.
Most of the stares directed at him were curious or merely probing. Only a few contained hostility.
But those few gods were a concern.
Especially Zeus—who looked anything but reliable.
"Hmph. If Zeus shows any hostility, Amora, Sif—you two go left. Gwen, Wanda—you go right. We'll take him down together!"
"The so-called God-King Zeus? Let's see just how strong he really is!"
At some point, Jean had transformed into Dark Phoenix.
"And those other gods with ill intentions? It's time they learn that this is not their era."
The others were eager to fight.
The title of god might be intimidating to some—
But not to them.
They had seen Thor. They had seen Loki. They had seen Hela, the Goddess of Death.
Without the magic network, even they weren't particularly impressive.
The real threats were the god-kings.
But with Aaron here, they had no fear.
"You are the God of Magic?"
Zeus looked at Aaron, then at the women beside him.
"I remember only you were invited. Who are these people? This is a sacred gathering of gods. Low-level deities who were not invited have no place here."
"And that seat belongs to Odin. I suggest you follow the order of the gods."
Zeus spoke to Aaron as though he were an elder scolding a child.
"If you have any objections," Aaron replied calmly, "feel free to ask Odin if he minds me sitting in his seat."
Ignoring Zeus's furious glare, Aaron continued, "And if you think they are unqualified to sit here, then why not let the gods you deem worthy challenge them? Let's see who truly deserves a seat at this table—and who should leave instead."
His defiant response sparked murmurs among the gods.
But rather than being angered by Aaron's disrespect, many were delighted.
He dared to stand against Zeus—without Odin present!
This, at the very least, proved one thing:
The God of Magic was not afraid of Zeus.
It was highly likely that he had truly become a god-king—
A god-king who had ascended from the rank of a main god, rather than being born into the title.
"Oh, by the way," Aaron added with a smirk, "none of them are gods."
Zeus's face darkened.
The amused looks from the other gods only fueled his fury.
He could not tolerate such open disrespect.
"Since when do mere mortals have the right to sit among the gods?"
"Gods are gods!"
"A mere mortal dares challenge the divine?"
"Hercules!"
"Father!"
A towering figure stepped forward—a hammer in one hand, an iron rod in the other.
He wore almost no armor, his physique on full display.
He dropped to one knee before Zeus.
"The God of Magic claims that his mortal companions are more qualified to sit here than gods," Zeus sneered. "Perhaps we should test that claim."
His eyes locked onto Aaron, waiting for him to back down.
Hercules was his son—a warrior of incredible strength.
His combat skills earned him a high-ranking place among the gods.
His power rivaled Thor's—even after Thor's Awakening.
Zeus had no doubt in his mind—
Aaron would not win.
"Let me teach him a lesson!"
Without waiting for anyone to respond, Wanda stood up.
"Remember to move fast and don't concern yourself with Zeus' thoughts," Aaron instructed.
Wanda nodded knowingly and soared into the air, looking down at Hercules.
"Hey, big guy over there," she called out. "I'm Wanda Makosmov, a 16-year-old girl from Earth, Sokovia, and I've only been connected to the magic net for two and a half years."
"I am the youngest apprentice of the God of Magic."
"This time, I will be your opponent. I hope you put in a little more effort."
Wanda was clever. She was eager to improve through combat, but she also understood the importance of perception.
Rather than attacking immediately, she cast a small spell that amplified her voice so all the gods could hear her.
She deliberately emphasized that she was an ordinary human.
She also pointed out that she had only been connected to the magic net for a short time—an almost negligible period for the gods, who viewed two years as little more than a brief nap.
If a mere "ordinary" girl, with no divine lineage, could defeat the legendary Hercules after only two years of magical training…
There was no better way to demonstrate the power of her master, the God of Magic.
A mortal girl, without disciples or believers, already wielding combat power on par with the main gods—what would that mean for a true deity with an established following?
Could this be the key for them to break their limits, surpass god-kings, and even rival the Celestials?
Hercules, however, remained indifferent to Wanda's taunt.
He was proud—too proud to take mortals seriously.
To him, mages were weaklings. No matter how powerful their magic, they were still fragile.
One solid punch, and they would crumble.
"Don't disappoint me, Hercules," Zeus growled, his temper flaring. "For the glory of the Olympian gods!"
He had no doubt about the outcome.
Lose? To a human child? Impossible.
Hercules smirked confidently, rising to his feet. Without a word, he began striding toward Wanda.
To him, conversing with mortals was beneath him.
"How rude. You don't even know how to introduce yourself?" Wanda sighed, tilting her head.
"Forget it. I was going to let you lose with dignity, but now… that seems unnecessary."
As she muttered, her magic surged, and in an instant, her outfit transformed.
Her simple leather jacket turned scarlet.
Powerful magic enveloped her entire body.
The harmless teenage girl vanished, replaced by the Scarlet Witch—a being of terrifying might.
Hercules paused mid-step. His once-relaxed expression grew serious.
Yet he remained unworried.
He was the son of Zeus—Hercules!
And in front of the gods, even a minor mistake would be amplified a hundredfold.
He quickly regained his composure, though his grip on his iron club tightened.
"Are you ready?" Wanda asked, tilting her head with a playful smile. "Then let's begin~"
She raised her hand and fired an energy blast.
Hercules scoffed.
He had immense physical and magical resistance—envied even by other gods.
Ordinary magic couldn't hurt him.
But the moment Wanda's energy blast approached, he sensed danger.
Something was wrong.
Without hesitation, he leapt high, avoiding the attack while charging straight at Wanda.
BOOM!
The energy struck the arena, triggering a massive explosion.
A huge crater appeared on the platform, despite it being made of divine materials.
The force behind the blast wiped away Hercules' arrogance.
This place, designed to withstand the power of gods, had been partially destroyed by a single spell.
I have to be careful!
Hercules resolved to end the fight quickly.
Meanwhile, Wanda had received Aaron's instruction: end it fast.
She had many ways to defeat him, but she chose the most impactful one.
Just as Hercules was about to strike—
She raised her hand.
A formless, invisible force gripped Hercules midair.
He struggled, but then he felt it—
A terrifying disintegration force began breaking apart his armor…
And his flesh.
"This is impossible!"
Pain surged through him.
Golden blood seeped from his wounds, shimmering like molten gold.
A god was bleeding.
Not just any god—Hercules, renowned for his strength and resilience.
Even his armor was breaking down under her magic.
Zeus, along with the rest of the gods watching, was in shock.
A mere apprentice, with only two and a half years of training, had injured a god.
"Hercules, fight back!" Zeus roared.
If his son lost, it would be a humiliation beyond measure.
Hercules gritted his teeth, enduring the pain as he struggled to break free.
His immense strength allowed him to resist, forcing his body against the invisible binds.
But Wanda didn't give him the chance.
She could kill him—but not now.
Hercules was still a god. If she took his life, it could trigger a divine war.
And she didn't want to cause trouble for Aaron.
Otherwise, she could have ended this fight countless times over.
Seeing him still struggle, she raised her hand again.
A bolt of Bossat's Thunder struck Hercules' battered body.
The sheer magical force nearly knocked him unconscious.
But he was a warrior—unyielding.
Through sheer willpower, he remained on his feet.
This was a battle he could not afford to lose.
With the eyes of the gods upon them,
The outcome would be carved into history.
A defeat here would be an eternal stain on his name.
But no matter how valiant Hercules was…
Wanda was simply too powerful.
She had mastered the magic of countless divine races, as well as forbidden spells from the Old Gods.
And with her near-limitless magic reserves, she could overwhelm him at will.
Hercules, despite his strength, was only a main god.
At best, he rivaled some weaker god-kings.
But that was his limit.
"It's over."
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