Chapter 12: The Heir of Lightning

It is said that power is measured not only by the ability to prevail, but by the will to endure.

In a world like GODS, where every glance is a judgment and every step a declaration, it is not enough to have a goal. You must hold onto it. Breathe. Persevere.

Stories of those who fight for justice have echoed for centuries… but few are willing to carry the true weight of that word. Justice. Some believe it lies in strength, others in control. Some seek to destroy what exists… and rewrite it in their own way.

And when two wills collide—burning as fiercely as they are hollow—the world itself trembles.

Today, the question is not simply who is stronger.

It is whether you are willing to burn yourself completely for your beliefs, without guarantees.

For there are encounters you do not seek… but that are destined to change the course of your days.

And this… is one of them.

The classroom was wrapped in a tense calm when Aphrodite entered through the door, as imposing as ever, a faint gleam in her eyes.

—Welcome back, —she announced, her voice clear—. Today you will be divided into four groups. Each will live in a different section of GODS territory and share residence for the rest of the year.

Shu raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
—And what’s the purpose of that?

—We aim to form stable teams, —Aphrodite explained—. In the future, these groups will take on joint missions. We’ve analyzed your compatibility to select the best combinations.

Nodding to himself, Shu muttered:
—Now I get it…

Aphrodite’s voice cut through the low murmur as she began to read.

—Group One: Yohei, Lowa, Sebastian, and Zef.

Shu’s eyes widened slightly.
—That lineup… all the strongest together. That’s going to get intense.

—Group Two, —Aphrodite continued—: Lux, Isaac, Rika, and Jake.

—Not bad, —Isaac smirked, folding his arms.

—Group Three: Roy, Alice, Ryuzaki, and Eris.

Eris rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair.
—Great. Stuck with the loud ones… what a pain.

Roy, on the other hand, tried to hide his excitement.
—Maybe I’ll get lucky with Alice… though Eris is another story.

Aphrodite finished the list with a firm tone.
—And finally, Group Four: Edén, Shu, Yuki, and Violet.

—With these two? —Yuki scoffed, visibly annoyed—. Just my luck…

—Any problem with that? —Edén asked, raising a brow.

—No… none, —she huffed, crossing her arms.

Violet intervened with a light smile.
—It’ll be a pleasure to share the group with you all.

Shu turned toward her, resigned.
—Welcome to this… slightly dysfunctional team.

Aphrodite pulled a small golden key from her jacket and tossed it toward Shu with perfect precision.
—You will be the leader of the group. It’s the most logical choice. I would never entrust responsibility to either of those two.

—See? Aphrodite agrees with me, —Edén remarked with a mocking grin.

—Are you two working together just to annoy me? —Shu growled, catching the key midair.

—The rest of the groups must also choose a leader, —Aphrodite continued—. Tomorrow, meet here as usual. We have to prepare for an important event in the coming days.

The students’ attention shifted to their future teammates, but what each one silently understood was the same: from this moment on, their lives would be bound together—
and with them, their destinies as well.

The sun had barely brushed the horizon when Group Four arrived at the outskirts of the campus. In front of them stood a wide house, surrounded by trees and wrapped in a tranquil atmosphere. Shu pulled a small slip of paper from his pocket and studied it carefully.

—According to Aphrodite’s instructions, —he murmured as he walked toward the main door—, each room is marked with our names. They can only be opened with a rank card.

He slid his card into the slot. A soft click was enough to unlock the door, revealing an interior surprisingly spacious, bright, and elegantly furnished.

—Not bad, —he admitted as he stepped into his room, glancing over the shelves, the wide bed, and the pristine desk.

Edén followed a few steps behind, frowning at the long hallways and high ceilings.
—How is it possible that from the outside it looked so much smaller? —he muttered, wandering down the corridor until he found his name engraved on a metal door.

His card glowed faintly as he held it to the reader. When the door opened, he found a room even larger than Shu’s: soaring ceilings, a panoramic window overlooking the forest, and in one corner, a perfectly wrapped box with his name written by hand.

Approaching cautiously, he opened it. Inside were several neatly arranged packages and a letter.

“Hello, Edén,” the note began, in Shun’s unmistakable handwriting. “I received your last letter and was surprised to hear you managed to land a few blows on Yohei. I’m glad you’re crossing paths with prodigies like him…”

As he read, a faint smile tugged at his lips. The message continued with details about the Council of Gods, warnings about suspicious moves from “those people,” and ended with a touch only Shun would add: a formal suit, folded neatly inside.

—So you even send me clothes now… —Edén whispered, running his hand carefully over the fabric—. Damn pink-haired idiot…

A soft knock at the door pulled him out of his thoughts. Opening it, he found Shu leaning casually against the frame, arms crossed.

—Nice room, huh?

—Yeah, they’re actually pretty comfortable, —Edén admitted, still holding the letter.

Shu peeked inside.
—And that box?

—A gift from Shun, —Edén explained—. For the Council meeting.

—Right, that’s coming up soon, —Shu nodded.

—By the way, —he added, curious—, did you know the Gold-rank rooms are three times bigger?

—Seriously? —Edén blinked, surprised—. Some privileges they’ve got…

—That’s why we need to reach that rank as soon as possible, —Shu said with a faint smile.

—We will. Together, —Edén replied without hesitation.

—I hope so.

A brief silence hung before Edén stepped out into the hall.
—I’m going for a walk… I want to see the Gold-rank quarters.

—I’ll pass, —Shu shrugged—. My stuff’s arriving today, I need to get it sorted.

—See you later, then.

—Good luck, —Shu said, and they parted with a casual nod.

The door closed. Edén was left alone in the corridor, gripping the letter tightly in his hand. He didn’t know what the day would bring, but something in the air told him the real trials were only just beginning.

As he moved away from his residence, Edén couldn’t help but feel a sting of curiosity. They had mentioned it countless times: the Golden Wing of the campus, the exclusive residence of the Gold-rank students. And now, here he was, standing at the foot of the hill that separated his world from theirs.

He stopped at the entrance. The building didn’t just shine—literally—under the sunlight; it exuded an imposing presence. Every inch of its walls was carved with mythological motifs, and the double doors were tall enough to seem built for gods themselves.

—Incredible, —he muttered, half awed, half irritated—. Even the floor looks cleaner here.

The inevitable voice came, sharp and hostile:
—What are you doing here, demon?

Edén turned slowly. Yohei was watching him from one of the balconies, arms crossed, brow furrowed.

—Relax. I just came to see if the rumors were true, —he replied, feigning disinterest.

Before Yohei could retort, a female figure appeared behind him.
—Let him through, —Lowa said calmly—. It’ll only take a moment. Besides, not every day does a Bronze-rank have the guts to come this close.

Yohei didn’t look convinced, but he stepped aside without another word. Edén nodded in thanks and entered.

The interior was… another world. Marble columns, floating lights, soft carpets underfoot. Each room was guarded by massive doors, and the silence felt more reverent than comfortable.

—So this is what it feels like to be at the top, —he murmured as he walked past the rooms of Zef and Yohei.

—Impressive, isn’t it? —Lowa appeared at his side with a faint smile.

—It’s more than I imagined, —he admitted without hesitation.

—I trust you’ll have one of these soon enough, —she added, folding her arms—. Don’t disappoint me.

—You don’t hate me? —he asked, without looking at her.

Lowa studied him for a moment before answering.
—I have no reason to. I don’t care that you’re a demon. I’m interested in strength. And from what I hear… you have it.

Edén let out a dry chuckle.
—Hate to disappoint you, but I don’t.

—Don’t fool yourself, —she countered calmly—. Aphrodite and the other gods don’t place their bets on just anyone. And whether they admit it or not, strength is the only thing they value above all else.

Her sincerity threw him off. For a second, he thought about thanking her, but before he could, another voice cut through the moment.

—Demon, Yohei wants you outside.

Sebastian stood at the doorway, not even bothering to hide the disdain on his face.

Edén sighed, glancing up at the ceiling as if begging for patience.
—And what does he want now?

—Who knows, —Lowa replied, stepping aside—. But don’t let him provoke you.

Outside the residence, he found Yohei waiting in the courtyard, arms crossed, face stern.

—What do you want now?

—I challenge you, —Yohei said flatly.

—What? I don’t have time for this.

—Running away already? —Yohei sneered.

—Can you just tell me what your problem is with me? What did I do to make you hate me this much?

—If you defeat me, I’ll tell you. If not, you’ll never get an answer.

Edén clicked his tongue.
—You’re just trying to act mysterious. Lucky for you, I always carry my sword.

With a swift motion, he drew the blade Tenzak had given him, carefully setting aside his grandfather’s. He still didn’t feel ready to wield it.

—So if I win… you’ll tell me the truth?

—That’s right.

—Then you’d better start preparing your explanation, —he warned, as a dark aura began to coil around his blade.

Yohei’s eyes widened. They had only just learned to channel aura a few days ago.
—Impossible… How fast is he learning?

Edén’s muscles tightened as he struggled to keep the energy stable.
—I may have learned it recently… but this is as good a time as any to practice.

The sky darkened. Clouds swirled above them. Lightning crackled in the distance.

Yohei grinned, raising a hand wreathed in electricity.
—Don’t disappoint me… demon.

—I’m sick of that nickname.

Without waiting another second, Edén launched forward, his body wrapped in a violent, crackling aura of darkness.

The impact was immediate. A lightning bolt crashed straight down like a divine sentence, stopping Edén in his tracks. His body convulsed under the surge, then was hurled violently across the ground, rolling until he lay on his side, smoke rising from his scorched clothes.

—Too slow, —Yohei said, lowering his arm with indifference—. I thought the rumors about you were true… but it seems they weren’t.

Edén groaned in pain. Even with his body paralyzed by the electricity, he managed to push himself up on one elbow.
—I don’t know what you’ve heard… but I don’t care what the gods think, or what you think. I didn’t come here to impress anyone. I came for something you wouldn’t understand. And if you stand in my way… —he lifted his gaze, eyes burning—, I’ll kill you.

A smile crept across Yohei’s face—though it was anything but kind.
—I’d like to see you try.

He raised both hands. From the sky, lightning descended and converged behind him, shaping itself into a monstrous structure: a tree of pure electricity. Its branches crackled, its roots writhed as if hungering for flesh.

—Lightning Technique: Thunderous Roots, —he announced calmly.

Bolts surged through his body like veins, giving him a golden, almost divine glow.

Edén took a step back.
—What the hell is that…?

—Now I’m unstoppable, —Yohei declared.

The first strike shot out. Edén dodged on instinct, spinning to the side. Then came three more—fast, erratic. One grazed him, another struck his shoulder, and the third exploded at his feet, blasting him into a wall.

—It’s useless! —Yohei shouted—. You’ll never match the speed of lightning. You’re slow, demon.

—I’ll admit it… —Edén panted, struggling to rise—. This time… you’re right.

His muscles screamed. His clothes were burned, his sword trembling in his grip as if even his own energy resisted holding steady. But he did not lower his guard.

—Damn it… —he thought, narrowing his eyes—. I don’t stand a chance. Not at long range. Not up close. I can’t even get near him… What do I do?

Yohei advanced, each step cracking with electricity.
—Here’s my advice: leave. This place isn’t for you. You got this far by luck. But those of us in GODS… we aim for more.

—And what’s that lofty goal of yours? —Edén asked, sarcasm in his voice.

—To become a god. One who destroys those who abuse their power. I want to make this world just.

Edén stared at him for a long moment… then laughed.
—That’s it? I expected something crazier. An impossible dream, something truly insane. But I see now… you and I aren’t so different.

Yohei’s expression tightened.
—Don’t you dare compare yourself to me, demon.

—Why not? We’re both idiots.

—What the hell does that mean?

Before he could answer, Edén vanished from his line of sight.

A single slash. Swift, precise. His blade struck the ground, severing several of the lightning roots that fed into the tree. The technique wavered. Yohei staggered back in shock.
—What?

—All I needed was an opening, —Edén whispered through ragged breaths—. And I got it…

But it wasn’t over. Yohei’s eyes narrowed as he muttered a single phrase under his breath.
—Seal of Electricity.

Edén barely had time to react. An eruption of lightning engulfed him completely. His body convulsed violently, muscles locked in total paralysis. He dropped to his knees, screaming in agony.

—Did you really think such a sluggish attack would catch me off guard?

Thunder boomed overhead. On the ground, Edén gasped for air, his skin still trembling from the shocks.

—You’re pathetic. I told you already. You don’t belong here.

The young man’s eyes darkened.
—You don’t get to decide that!

Suddenly, a different presence swept over the battlefield. A shadow pressed into Yohei’s mind. The aura was dense, primal, terrifying. And within that darkness, a laugh echoed—deep, cruel.

—Insignificant demigod, —a voice hissed, not of this world—. I’ll tear you apart… piece by piece.

Yohei stepped back, eyes widening.
—Impressive…

At that moment, two figures stormed into the field, weapons drawn. Shu and Lowa, eyes locked on Yohei, positioned themselves in front of Edén.

—Release him now, —Shu warned coldly—, or I’ll strike without hesitation.

Yohei studied the scene… and laughed.

—What’s so funny? —Shu asked, blade steady.

But Yohei didn’t answer. He simply deactivated his technique. The tree vanished. The lightning faded. Turning his back, he walked away at an unhurried pace.

—Where do you think you’re going? —Shu shouted, weapon still raised.

—Leave him, —Lowa murmured, kneeling beside Edén—. Right now, he’s what matters.

—Violet, —Shu called, eyes fixed on the fallen boy.

—On it.

The girl appeared at once, kneeling beside Edén. Her hands glowed with a soft blue light as healing energy flowed into his body.

And as the storm faded… silence once again cloaked GODS.

Darkness.
A place without time, without shape, without direction. Only a silent abyss. But within that void, two presences clashed like colliding galaxies.

—What do you think you’re doing? —a deep, reverberating voice growled, echoing as though thousands spoke with it.

The other figure did not respond immediately. Footsteps rang on nonexistent ground, calm, steady, unafraid of being watched.

—I was simply doing my part. He belongs to us, —the second voice finally replied, sharp, mocking—. If you can’t guide him, then I’ll do it my way.

A crack split the air. A crimson bolt ripped across the void, striking just ahead of the speaker. He didn’t even flinch.

—Don’t ever seize control without my permission, —the first voice warned—. If you do… you’ll destroy him from within.

—And what if I do? Do you even care? I thought you stayed here only as a silent observer.

—He isn’t ready.

—And when will he be? —the second figure stepped forward, eyes burning like embers—. While you wait for your so-called “right moment,” he’s being trampled, humiliated, treated like trash.

—That doesn’t justify dragging him into the darkness.

—It’s not darkness I offer him, —the shadow grinned wickedly—. It’s power. The only power strong enough to protect what he loves.

—At that price… it isn’t worth it.

Their silhouettes faced each other. Neither fully formed, only outlines—one wrapped in oppressive, chaotic energy, alive and shifting; the other, steady, imposing, cloaked in a faint but unyielding light.

—He will choose, —the luminous figure said, turning away.

—He will… and by the time he does, it’ll already be too late, —the shadow answered, smiling with unsettling calm.

A dull heartbeat rumbled through the void.

And then, Edén woke up.
He was lying on a bed, bandages wrapped around his arms, a bitter taste lingering in his throat. As he slowly pushed himself upright, a question rose unbidden—one no one had to plant in his mind:

—...Who was that guy?

But no answer came. Only the faint hum of electricity still hanging in the air… and the distant echo of a laugh that didn’t sound entirely his own.