Battle at Gate-1

The atmosphere in the town was heavy with the loss of three of the mightiest gods. Whispers spread among the townsfolk, laced with despair and doubt.

"Three of our gods have fallen," one of them muttered, shaking his head. "Only two gods and the Celestial King remain. What chance do we have now? We're done for."

Clara's eyes burned with fury as she turned toward him. "Done for? Are you saying their sacrifice was useless? That their deaths meant nothing?" Her voice echoed with the strength of her conviction.

The man stammered, "N-No, I didn't mean it like that..."

Clara clenched her fists, her determination cutting through the thick despair in the air. "Cyrus, Rufus, and Elesta gave their lives for peace! For us! And you dare to stand here wallowing in fear? No. Their sacrifice will not be in vain. I'll make sure of it."

She stormed off, but she didn't head for the gate. Not yet. Instead, she stopped in the town square, her heart pounding. The weight of her own words settled on her shoulders. She wasn't ready—not yet. She needed a plan, needed strength, but most of all, she needed hope. She looked up at the sky, her thoughts racing.

While Clara wrestled with her thoughts, Toron had already reached the battlefield. The air around him was heavy, the ground beneath his feet cracking as he approached the gate. Beyond it stood the Dark Devil, his towering form radiating chaos, his crimson eyes glowing with malice.

The Dark Devil's laughter echoed across the desolate landscape. "So," he rumbled, his voice like thunder, "a god finally dares to face me. How pitiful. Is this all that remains of your kind?"

Toron's expression was calm but resolute. "Go back to your dark world," he said, his tone steady and commanding. "You do not belong here. Leave now, or you will die here."

The Dark Devil sneered, his grin widening. "You think you can stop me? You're not even close to my power level. I can crush you like an insect."

Toron's gaze didn't waver. "Is that so? Let's see if you can back up your words."

With a sudden burst of speed, Toron charged at the Dark Devil, his fist glowing with divine energy. But before he could reach him, the ground trembled, and a legion of devils materialized between them.

The Dark Devil smirked. "I don't need to waste my time with you.legion and his army will deal with you."

Toron halted, his gaze sweeping over the hundreds of devils now blocking his path. The legion roared, their bloodlust filling the air. But Toron simply raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

The effect was immediate. The pressure of his aura became unbearable, an invisible weight crushing down on everything around him. The entire legion's army dropped to their knees, unable to stand or even breathe under the sheer force of his presence.

"What... What is this?!" one of the devils gasped, his voice trembling.

The Dark Devil's smirk faltered, replaced by a look of genuine surprise. "What an immense aura... You're stronger than my entire devil army combined."

Toron took a step forward, his golden eyes blazing like twin suns. "You underestimated me. That was your first mistake. Now, I'll show you what it means to face a god."

The Dark Devil's smirk widened as he raised his hand. Suddenly, shadows began to swirl behind Toron, and from them emerged the legion of devils. They moved with unnatural speed, surrounding Toron in an instant. Before he could react, their clawed hands gripped him tightly, holding him in place.

"Did you really think you could intimidate me with your aura alone?" the Dark Devil sneered.

Toron's expression remained calm, but before he could summon his power again, the Dark Devil closed the distance in a blink. With a devastating punch to Toron's face, the force of the blow sent him hurtling into the air. The ground beneath the impact cracked violently, sending shockwaves across the battlefield.

As Toron tumbled through the sky, a radiant golden light appeared in the distance. From it emerged the Celestial King, his presence commanding and unshakable. He raised a hand, catching Toron midair with ease.

"Enough," the Celestial King said, his voice echoing with divine authority. The legion below froze in terror, their instincts screaming at them to retreat. Even the Dark Devil momentarily hesitated, his crimson eyes narrowing.

Toron looked at the Celestial King, his pride slightly bruised but his determination unwavering. "I didn't expect you to intervene so soon."

The Celestial King set him down gently. "Your strength is impressive, Toron, but underestimating your opponent is a mistake you cannot afford. I will stand with you against this threat."

The Dark Devil's laughter rang out once again, but there was a trace of unease in it now. "So, the mighty Celestial King decides to join the fray. This should be interesting."

The Celestial King turned his piercing gaze to the Dark Devil. "You've caused enough suffering in this world. Your time ends here."

As the two forces prepared to clash, the air grew heavy, the weight of the impending battle shaking the very fabric of reality.