And Light Was Made

"I am an almighty god!" Zeus's voice thundered like a clap of lightning, his body radiating a blinding light that tore through the shadows surrounding Jake. The darkness that had shielded him until now dissolved like smoke under the sun. Only faint remnants of shadow clung to his fists, but even those fragments seemed weak, insufficient to withstand Zeus's overwhelming power.

"Fool," Zeus said coldly, his gaze brimming with superiority. "Did you really think you could defeat me? From the moment you decided to face me, you were already defeated." His tone softened briefly, almost tinged with admiration. "I acknowledge your perseverance and dedication; you have my respect. But, unfortunately, that will not be enough."

With inhuman speed, Zeus raised his knee, aiming directly at Jake's stomach. The young man reacted instinctively, shielding himself with the remnants of shadow still clinging to his hands. But the force of the impact was devastating. The protection barely cushioned the blow, which reverberated through his body like a hammer strike. Jake doubled over, gasping for air, as Zeus grabbed him firmly by the chest.

Jake struggled to breathe, but his body wouldn't respond. The pressure on his torso was unbearable, and his vision began to blur. Zeus held him aloft, studying him with a mixture of disdain and fascination. "Brave to the end, boy. But you are no match for someone like me. What made you think you could face light with shadows? No one can rival me now that I am perfect."

"Let him go!" The General's command rang out like a gunshot. With swift, precise movements, he drew a uniquely designed pistol—a relic forged from the same advanced materials once stored in the B-12 vault's arsenal. He aimed directly at Zeus and fired a beam of energy so powerful it illuminated the entire scene. For a brief moment, Zeus lost his grip on Jake, who fell backward.

Leila didn't waste a second. With a fluid motion, she used her psychic powers to pull Jake toward her, pulling him out of harm's way. Drake caught him midair and gently laid him on the ground. "Are you okay, Jake?" Drake asked, leaning over him. But the young man didn't respond. His gaze was distant, his body paralyzed by the shock of Zeus's brutal blow.

"Quick, ask Eduard for some of his potions," Drake instructed urgently. Leila nodded and ran to Eduard, who was already prepared. Efficiently, he handed her a small vial filled with a glowing, golden liquid.

She returned to Jake and carefully tried to make him drink it. The concoction went down with difficulty, and for a moment, it seemed like the young man might choke. But then, slowly, color began to return to his face. His eyes fluttered before closing completely. "He's alive," Drake announced after checking his pulse. "Thank goodness," Leila sighed, wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.

Meanwhile, Zeus observed the scene with a mocking smile. "Well, General. So you didn't run away after all. I thought you were a coward, but I see the magic potion from Eduard has done wonders for you. No matter. You will all perish here anyway."

The General adjusted something to his pistol. A numeric counter on the side of the weapon began to rise slowly, accompanied by an electric hum that reverberated through the air. The numbers reached one hundred. "Normally, with this charge, I could kill any super-powered being," the General muttered, his voice heavy with determination. "But with you, I have no other choice."

He aimed again and fired. This time, the beam was different: more intense, more raw, as if the twelve weapons from the B-12 vault's arsenal had been condensed into a single projectile. The impact was cataclysmic. Zeus screamed in pain as his body twisted under the force of the attack, his light flickering like a dying star.

"Wow, General! You've been holding out on us!" Drake exclaimed aloud, though his thoughts were far darker. This damn general has a weapon capable of annihilating anyone. Thank goodness he's still on our side… for now.

Zeus staggered, visibly weakened. The General stepped forward, his posture imposing. "Ha. With that, you won't be able to move anymore. And this time, I've got you." A satisfied smile crossed his face. "I always save the best for myself. Surrender, Zeus. It's over for you."

Zeus's scream of pain faded as quickly as it had begun, replaced by a chilling laugh that echoed in the air like an infernal reverberation. The mocking smirk on his face grew more pronounced as he rose to his feet with insulting ease. "Fool?" His voice was a venomous whisper. "That thing didn't even tickle me. I only pretended to see the looks of satisfaction on your faces… and now, I'll enjoy your expressions of terror even more."

With a simple flick of his index finger, he unleashed an invisible ray that struck the General's pistol directly. The weapon exploded in a burst of light and energy, sending the veteran flying several meters backward. Smoke floated in the air like defeated ghosts.

Zeus surveyed the group with disdain, his towering presence paralyzing them all. "Anyone else feeling heroic?" he taunted. No one responded. His words were an inescapable sentence. The overwhelming might of Zeus, combined with their helplessness against his power, left them petrified. Even the most advanced weapon hadn't managed to stop him. What could they possibly do?

"Well," Zeus said mockingly, pacing slowly among the survivors. "I thought you'd put up a bit more of a fight, but I see you've already accepted your fate." A cruel smile spread across his face. "Good. Let's stop playing games. I have things to do. It's time for you to die."

His eyes glowed with supernatural intensity as he gazed at his victims, whose expressions reflected both tension and resignation. With a fluid motion, he drew a gigantic lightning bolt from behind his back, as large as his arm. The static electricity surrounding it crackled, distorting the surrounding air. It seemed to defy gravity as it floated in the air, held effortlessly in his left hand. "Poor fools! Losers!" Zeus bellowed from above, his voice thundering like a storm. "This is the end."

Drake clenched his teeth and muttered urgently, "He's going to destroy this place."

The General, still recovering from the explosion, responded with sorrow, "It's the end for us, boy."

Ezekiel approached Adia, desperation in his voice. "Can't you do something to stop that thing?"

Adia shook her head, her eyes brimming with frustration. "My magic didn't even scratch him before. Besides, he knows all my abilities… And now he's far more powerful after absorbing Geros's powers. I think this is it."

Billy, tears streaming down his face, gazed at the lifeless body of the Galactic Wolf. "I don't want to die so young…" he murmured, his voice trembling. Elena, staring at the massive ray descending slowly, spoke with a tone heavy with regret. "I'm sorry, Aiden. I never got to apologize properly or fix our disastrous date. I thought I'd have another chance."

Maria, with a sad smile, added, "I'm sorry too, Aiden. I wanted to teach you how to ride a bike, but I guess that won't happen now."

The other two boys looked at her in surprise. "You didn't tell us?" they asked in unison.

"Yeah, but it was a little secret," Maria admitted with a shrug. "But since we're about to die… might as well let it out."

Billy sobbed even harder as he remembered Podbe. "Poor Podbe too… He had his moment and reunited with Aiden in the end."

The three boys hugged each other, crying silently.

Drake glanced at Adia, who returned his gaze with a kind yet resigned expression. Her eyes reflected a mix of sadness and acceptance, as if she had already made peace with the inevitable. Everyone exchanged glances filled with conflicting emotions: fear, sorrow, regret. Even Riota and Benjamin, who had always been close friends, embraced in a gesture of silent solidarity. Gat placed a hand on Riota's head, gently stroking it, as if offering one last act of affection before the end.

Choy broke the silence with a whisper barely audible, his voice trembling under the weight of the situation. "This is really it… This is how we'll meet our end."

Michele nodded slowly, her pale face and words heavy with resignation. "I think so. If even the agents with powers can't stop him, we're completely lost. Plus, the escape route is blocked."

Melisa looked up at the incandescent ray descending inexorably, like a sun in freefall. "Is there really no one who can save us?" she asked, though deep down she knew the answer was obvious. Ian and Creg touched her shoulder at the same time, a silent but firm gesture of support, promising to stay by her side until the very last moment.

Professor Kile and Philip shared a brief but meaningful moment. "It was an honor working for you, sir," Philip said solemnly, his voice full of respect and gratitude. The professor gave a faint smile, his eyes weary but calm.

Major Mike attempted to rise from the ground, staggering and leaving trails of blood in his wake. His breathing was labored, but he managed to speak in a hoarse voice, "It was an honor serving under your leadership, General." A trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth, gleaming under the supernatural light flooding the area.

Becky ran toward Adrian, her boss, her eyes shining with one last desperate hope. "Isn't there anything we can do, sir?" Adrian simply touched her head tenderly, his gesture filled with compassion but also acceptance. He knew there was no escape.

"Even if we try to move, that thing will destroy half the continent," Adrian muttered as he activated a device on his wrist. A holographic screen appeared in front of him, displaying alarming measurements of the magnitude of the ray Zeus was about to unleash. The numbers were chilling, confirming what everyone already suspected: they were facing an unprecedented destructive force.

Zeus hovered near the hole through which the General and the others had descended, his figure radiating absolute power that seemed to defy the laws of nature. He looked down with disdain, his eyes glowing like burning embers. "Goodbye," he said coldly, his tone dripping with contempt. "Say hello to your grandson and our father in hell, Draki."

The ray in his hand surged with devastating energy, shining like an artificial sun that illuminated everything around him. With an elegant and calculated motion, he hurled it toward the ground. The impact was cataclysmic. The roar resonated like a thousand thunderclaps in unison, shaking the air and the earth. Everything was bathed in blinding white light, so intense it seemed to consume even time and space itself.