CHAPTER 108

"I'll ask you this—can mortals kill gods?" Kaius muttered, withdrawing his trembling palm. The divine power within him was nearly exhausted, leaving him with an unfamiliar sense of fatigue.

Ares staggered, his towering form swaying before collapsing to the ground. Blood dripped from his lips, staining the battlefield. The combined might of Diana's divine thunder and Kaius's power had utterly destroyed his physical form. Yet, even as his body crumbled, Ares managed a bloodied grin.

"I cannot believe it," he rasped, his voice a mixture of admiration and resentment. "A mortal has achieved what was thought impossible. But I must tell you…" He paused, coughing up more blood, his eyes burning with a final spark of intensity. "…death is not the end for a god."

Kaius stiffened at those words, his mind racing.

Ares chuckled, his voice weaker but still taunting. "When a god is slain, their godhead—their divine essence—does not perish with them. It is inherited by the one who kills them. From the moment I fell, you, Kaius, have become… a god."

Kaius's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean, inherited your godhead?" he demanded.

Ares saw the confusion in Kaius's expression and continued, his voice dripping with irony. "Kaius… you, with the power of Zeus coursing through your veins, now bear my godhead. You have become the new God of War."

Ares' words hung heavy in the air. Despite his fading strength, his sharp gaze bore into Kaius's soul. "Brother," he said, his tone turning solemn, "when the New Gods return, when Darkseid's forces come for this world, you and Diana must stop them. The gods… must never fall."

With that, Ares' body began to dissolve, turning into ash that swirled into the wind. Despite his disdain for humanity, there was a flicker of reluctant pride in his final moments. For all his arrogance, Earth had been his home, and he could not allow the New Gods to consume it.

As Ares disappeared, a sudden, mechanical voice echoed in Kaius's mind.

"Ding. Unknown energy detected. Analyzing…

Ding. Congratulations, host! You have acquired the Source of Magic (Godhead). You may inherit the original characteristics of the Source or reassign them to suit your preferences."

Kaius closed his eyes, letting the words sink in. The system's explanation clarified what Ares had meant. The godhead wasn't just a title—it was the source of divine power, the essence of a god's existence. It was both their strength and their identity.

In essence, the godhead was tied to a concept: Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, drew power from love; Ares, the God of War, grew stronger through conflict and destruction.

The system's next prompt was clear: Would Kaius inherit Ares' attributes, or create a new one?

Kaius's thoughts raced. If he accepted Ares' original godhead, he would gain strength through war and conflict, perpetuating the cycle of destruction. But that wasn't who he was. Kaius had no interest in starting wars—he preferred stopping villains, punishing evil, and maintaining peace.

His decision crystallized. "System," he said firmly in his mind, "reassign the godhead. Define its attribute as Judgment. From now on, my godhead will be… Punishing the Gods."

The system responded instantly.

"Acknowledged. Reassigning godhead attribute… Completed. You are now the God of Judgment."

In that moment, an overwhelming sensation washed over Kaius. He felt a profound connection to the world, as though the heavens and earth acknowledged his existence. A surge of divine energy coursed through him, reshaping his very being. It was as if the universe itself whispered its secrets, granting him access to the Origin of Power.

As the remnants of Ares' magic flowed into Kaius, he felt the surge of divine energy integrating into his very being. The godhead—the magical source of Ares' power—was now his.

"I now wield a godhead," Kaius thought, clenching his fists. Judgment, the characteristic he had chosen for his divine power, crackled in his palms as silver lightning danced across his fingers.

"My base attributes have reached elite levels, and now, with the godhead, I'll progress toward the hero level even faster." He marveled at the newfound energy coursing through him. His physical strength and durability might not yet rival Superman's, but his magic made him a true force to be reckoned with. "If we fought now, I might not lose to Superman," he mused.

Diana approached cautiously, her eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of apprehension. "Kaius… does this mean you're really Ares' younger brother? My… younger brother?"

Kaius opened his eyes, slightly bewildered by the question. Catching the worried look in Diana's gaze, he couldn't help but chuckle internally. She's genuinely concerned we might be related, he thought.

To ease the tension, he gave her a playful glare. "Of course not. Ares must've been desperate for family, claiming anyone with lightning powers as his sibling. Trust me, Diana, soon enough you'll meet someone who runs with lightning. He even wears it on his chest."

Intrigued, Diana tilted her head. "Who is this person you're talking about?"

"You'll meet him soon enough," Kaius said, smirking. But as he scratched his neck in thought, a sudden realization struck him. "Wait… haven't we forgotten something?"

The two shared a moment of dawning horror before exclaiming in unison, "The nuclear bomb!"

In an instant, both heroes turned into blurs of motion, streaking toward the underground parking lot of the ruined sports center. When they arrived, Bruce Wayne and Fiora were already there. Fiora waved at Kaius while Bruce crouched near the super-reactor, carefully disassembling components.

The reactor's nuclear fusion levels had significantly dropped, no longer an imminent threat. It seemed the situation was under control.

"What happened to Bane, Bruce? Did you catch him?" Kaius asked, knowing Batman's aversion to killing.

Bruce paused, his tools still in hand, before sighing deeply. "Bane… killed himself. He tried to take me with him, but Fiora saved me."

Kaius frowned but nodded. It wasn't an ideal outcome, but it was better than Gotham suffering further chaos. Shifting his focus, he gestured to the reactor. "Bruce, can you shut this thing down completely?"

Bruce turned to face him, his expression weary. "This reactor was built by Wayne Enterprises. I worked on the project myself. It was decommissioned years ago, but… I restarted it recently." His voice grew heavy with regret. "I didn't anticipate it being used for this."

Kaius placed a reassuring hand on Bruce's shoulder. "It's not entirely your fault. If it makes you feel better, you were manipulated—by Ares, the God of War."

Bruce's hands stilled briefly, but his expression remained calm. "Ares," he repeated. "You mean the armored man you just fought?"

Kaius nodded, slightly surprised by Bruce's lack of disbelief. "Yes, he's the one behind all of this. Do you… know anything about the ancient gods?"

Bruce resumed his work, his tone casual. "I've read a lot of myths. Most people dismiss them as legends, but I know better. Magic exists, and many of these so-called gods were just superpowered beings with abilities far beyond ordinary comprehension."

Kaius blinked. "You don't seem surprised by any of this."

Bruce finally looked up, his lips twitching into a faint smirk. "I was surprised… I just didn't show it."

Of course, Kaius thought, his expression blank. Classic Bruce Wayne.

With the nuclear bomb neutralized and Gotham safe for now, the trio stood together, surveying the remnants of the battlefield. Despite the victory, Kaius felt the weight of his new responsibilities as a god.

Diana, sensing his unease, placed a hand on his arm. "You've taken on a great power, Kaius. But I know you'll use it wisely."

He met her gaze, the faint silver glow of divine energy still lingering in his eyes. "I'll try. But if the New Gods come back… we'll need to be ready."

Bruce adjusted his cowl, his voice steady. "Then we prepare. That's what we do."

And with that, Gotham's defenders stood united, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

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