Chapter 14: A God’s RegretAsmodeus' Shaking Hands

For the first time in his existence, Asmodeus, the God of Conquest, hesitated.

His divine spear, once steady in his grasp, trembled ever so slightly. His war-forged instincts screamed at him to strike, to unleash his power, to conquer as he always had.

Yet…

Frank Luminous hadn't even moved.

No battle stance. No spells. No weapons.

Nothing.

He simply looked at him.

And in that single moment, an impossible fear gripped the god's heart.

This was not the reaction Asmodeus had expected. He had fought countless wars, razed civilizations, crushed pantheons. He had stood against demonic monarchs, eldritch horrors, and celestial judges alike.

Yet, none of them… none of them had ever made him feel like this.

It was as if he was standing before the end of existence itself.

Asmodeus clenched his jaw, forcing the feeling down. No. No matter what, he was still a god.

And a god does not bow to a mortal.

Elise's Panic

Elise, standing beside Frank, felt her heartbeat quicken.

"Frank," she whispered urgently. "This one is different. I can feel it. He's not like the others."

Frank let out a long sigh, finally placing a bookmark in his novel before closing it. "You said that last time."

Elise bit her lip. She did. But this time, the pressure was on an entirely different level.

The very air itself seemed to be rejecting Asmodeus' presence.

It was as if the world itself knew that his existence was wrong.

And that only meant one thing.

Frank was already rewriting reality.

The War God's Final Attempt

Asmodeus took a slow breath, regaining control of his wavering composure.

He couldn't retreat. Not now. The gods were watching.

"Frank Luminous," he declared again, though his voice lacked the absolute authority it once held. "This is your last chance. Face me in battle, or I will—"

Snap.

Frank lifted his hand and lazily snapped his fingers.

Nothing seemed to happen.

At least, not immediately.

A second passed. Then another.

Then, Asmodeus' spear vanished from existence.

Not shattered. Not broken.

Vanished.

Asmodeus' eyes widened in horror. He staggered backward, his hand grasping at empty air where his weapon had once been.

This… this wasn't possible.

"Impossible… You…" His voice was barely a whisper.

Frank stretched his arms lazily, yawning. "I told you. Too much effort. Just leave me alone."

A Divine Collapse

Asmodeus fell to his knees.

He didn't want to. He never knelt to anyone.

But his body refused to obey him.

The crushing weight of Frank's presence—the sheer authority in his words—was something even the gods could not defy.

His divine power, his status as a god…

All of it meant nothing.

The Gods' Shocked Silence

Back in the Divine Realm, Tyran, Astraea, and Zephiron all watched in absolute silence.

Their most powerful war god… kneeling.

His spear, erased from reality as if it had never existed.

Astraea's lips trembled. "This… this is beyond even divine authority."

Tyran was breathing heavily, his hands gripping the armrests of his celestial throne.

"I refuse to accept this," he growled. "There must be—"

"There is no 'must be,'" Zephiron interrupted, his golden eyes narrowing. "We have been playing with forces we do not understand. And now, we are reaping the consequences."

Tyran's rage burned hotter. "Then what do you suggest?! That we bow to this mortal?!"

Zephiron's gaze darkened. "If he is truly mortal."

Frank's Last Warning

Frank leaned back against the cherry blossom tree, staring at the kneeling war god with boredom.

"I really, really don't like wasting my time," he muttered. "But since you decided to show up, I'll give you one final warning."

His golden eyes flickered—just for a moment.

The world itself cracked.

The sky darkened. The sun flickered. The very fabric of existence screamed in protest.

Frank sighed. "Next time… I won't just erase your weapon."

Asmodeus vanished.

Not by his own will.

Frank had sent him back to the Divine Realm without so much as lifting a finger.

And in doing so, he had sent a very, very clear message.

He was done playing with gods.

The Gods' Second and Final Mistake

In the Divine Realm, Asmodeus reappeared before the other gods.

On his knees.

His divine armor was intact. His body was unharmed.

But his soul was shattered.

He did not move. Did not speak.

Tyran's fists trembled. "Say something. What happened?"

Asmodeus did not respond.

He could not respond.

Because for the first time in eternity…

He had met something beyond the gods.

And it had told him to leave.

And so, he obeyed.