Kuina lay on the arena floor, completely unconscious, blood dripping from her forehead.
Piper screamed, "My goddess! James, you bastard! You'll pay for this!"
Mira clenched her fist. "Kuina! Get up! You're not dying on me!"
Lika looked panicked. "Not her too. Molly and Kylie already got crushed, and now Kuina?"
Clara hugged her from the side. "She's still alive. I can feel her heartbeat."
Mortis stood frozen. "Kuina will rise. She's too stubborn to give up to a punk like him."
He took a deep breath. "Come on, loser! Get up already! Entertain us a little!"
Piper smacked him across the face. "Watch your mouth, mutt! Show respect to our sexy goddess!"
Mortis smirked. "The only god I see here is me."
Mira shot a small flame toward him. Mortis yelped, "Ow! You burned my fur! Ugh, fine. I'll just transform anyway."
Mira sighed. "Stop it."
Piper rolled her eyes. "That's what you care about right now? Kuina's about to die and you're thinking about your fur? Gross, Mortis."
"Okay, okay," Mortis muttered to himself. "Time to use my acting skills."
He raised his voice dramatically. "Kuina!! Wake up! Come on! Don't be selfish! We need you here! You're our goddess!"
Mortis looked proud. "So? How was that?"
Everyone just stared at him in disbelief. Even Lika looked like she had secondhand embarrassment. Piper finally broke the silence.
"What… the… fuck… Mortis…"
He winked.
Meanwhile, inside the arena, James stood tall, looking down at Kuina's motionless body. "I told you. It's over, Kuina."
Then something surged behind him — a clone of Kuina. She tried to kick him, but he caught her leg midair and slammed her into the ground.
"Not bad," he said. "But not enough, Kuina Tyorkin."
Kuina spat blood. "Damn it… You're strong. So you really became a god, huh? What happened to the days when you were just a dumb football star?"
James looked indifferent. "That was long ago. Back then I had stupid hobbies and an inflated ego. I'm a different man now."
"Liar! You're still the same rotten bastard who picks on the weak!"
"You want to talk about the past? Fine. But this is a battlefield. We fight here. We don't talk."
"Go to hell! I'll make you pay! I'll kill you!"
James raised an eyebrow. Kuina lunged at him, punching again and again — his face, his chest, his sides — but he didn't even flinch. He stood still like a statue, her fists landing with no effect at all.
She screamed, "Fuck!"
James grabbed her by the neck, choking her effortlessly. "Stop it. You're becoming pathetic."
He headbutted her hard, sending her flying backward.
Kuina wiped blood from her lips and smirked. "Alright. Not with fists then… with magic."
She charged both hands with a mix of black and white energy. "Take this!"
A huge blast fired forward. The explosion filled the arena, but James just stood there. The attack hit him directly, yet he didn't move an inch.
Kuina gritted her teeth, forcing out more power, but nothing worked. James exhaled gently, and the energy dispersed into dust.
Kuina froze, shocked. Then she leaped again, firing another dark sphere. Boom! He deflected it with one finger.
"I'm not great with this," she muttered, "but maybe fire will do it."
She raised her hands and unleashed a storm of flames.
From the stands, Mira shouted, "Yes! Fire! Go baby, burn him up!"
Piper snorted. "Fire? Please. Water's better."
Mira rolled her eyes. "Whatever, water slut."
Piper laughed. "I love when you curse at me."
Mira blushed. "Why do you make me blush all the time?"
Kuina kept attacking, streams of fire lighting the field. James was hit again and again, but still stood unmoved.
"How is this not hurting you?!" she yelled.
Flames roared around her. She released one massive surge, yet James blew gently and the inferno vanished.
Kuina changed tactics. "Then water it is!"
Waves of blue energy crashed forward. James was soaked but remained calm.
"Come on!" she shouted. "Why isn't it doing anything?! Damn it!"
She caught her breath, panting heavily. "He's insanely strong. None of my basic moves work. Maybe Crisis Storm… It worked against Namu. I'll try that!"
Kuina inhaled deeply. Her chest burned as she lifted both arms.
The Crisis Storm erupted outward like a supernova, divine light spreading in all directions.
The sky turned black, thunder crackled, bolts gathering above. "Take this, James!"
James smirked. "Not bad at all."
Kuina screamed, "Just die already!"
The stands shook from the shockwave. The crowd covered their faces from the blinding light.
James raised one finger, touched the incoming blast — and with a simple flick, it vanished.
He teleported instantly, punched Kuina in the stomach, and she vomited blood. "The fuck…" she gasped, before he struck her again with his elbow.
She collapsed to the floor, spitting more blood. James stood beside her. "Get up," he said in a calm, mocking tone. "The floor isn't that interesting."
Kuina trembled, her anger rising again. She forced energy through her body, pushing him back slightly. "You're mocking me?! Bastard! You have no right! I'll kill you! I'll use my final form — Form of the Gods!"
James didn't even blink. "Do what you must. I can't promise I'll let you finish it."
Lika screamed from the crowd. "No! I won't let you hurt her! Take my hypnosis instead!"
Kuina turned sharply. "Lika, no! Please! Don't interfere! I'm begging you! This is my fight — my revenge!"
Lika cried. "But you're suffering! You can't even touch him! I want to help!"
Kuina's eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry, Lika. Everyone… I can't let you intervene. Not this time."
She began charging her ultimate power. The system's voice echoed.
"Form of the Gods activating. Warning: misuse may result in death."
Her body shone with light, bolts of divine blue surrounding her. Her armor cracked and shattered away. She stood bare for a brief instant before the radiant energy wrapped around her, forming a new divine outfit — a white battle dress with elegant curves and broad shoulders. Her eyes turned glowing white. Her hair turned pure silver.
From the stands, Lika gasped. "Her hair… it's like mine… It's beautiful."
James smiled faintly. "Well, this might kill a few minutes."
Far away, Ortus and Kylie felt the divine energy. Kylie whispered, "That's my Kuina, isn't it?"
Ortus nodded. "Yes. It's time she becomes a true goddess."
Kylie tried to stand. "Let's go back. I want to see the fight."
"Absolutely not. You need rest. She'll handle herself for a few minutes."
Kylie glared. "I can't handle being away from her. And someone has to make sure she doesn't die. You promised."
Ortus sighed. "Fine. But you stay right beside me, at the gods' platform. Understood?"
"Okay," Kylie said softly.
Ortus snapped her fingers. Both of them teleported back to the arena's divine seats.
Lysia and Arito turned, shocked. "Ortus! You're back! Prestik still hasn't returned."
Ortus muttered, "Prestik can kiss my ovaries, Arito."
He laughed. "Still funny. And you brought Kylie too! Hey there, gorgeous."
Kylie blinked, confused. "Hey yourself, handsome."
Meanwhile, Prestik sat alone near a small church. Behind him lay Molly's body. He sipped coffee, staring at the sunset.
"I don't want to go back to the arena. I'd rather sit here than see those gods and that crowd one more second. Molly, I'll wait. When it's over, I'll bring you back. I owe you that apology."
A few nuns stepped out of the church. Prestik stood instantly, appearing before them in less than a blink. "Hey, ladies."
They screamed. "Who are you!?"
He noticed one older nun and froze. "You… Kila… Molly's mother, right?"
Kila gasped. "Who the hell are you? Leave this holy place!"
"Answer me. Are you her mother or not?"
She turned her back. "Come on, girls. Let's go."
He teleported in front of her, grabbing her collar. "Answer me or I'll crush your skull, you fake nun! Are you her mother?!"
"Yes! I was her mother! She left home and I never saw her again! What do you want from me now?!"
He smiled bitterly. "What a small world. Molly's body is right over there. Dead. And this tiny church happens to be standing here. What are the odds? Maybe it's fate. Maybe it's time for a mother to beg forgiveness for what she did to her daughter."
"You… You're the bastard who poisoned her mind against our faith! You're pathetic! She's not my daughter anymore! Maybe God wanted her dead!"
Prestik slammed her into the wall. The other nuns screamed.
"Listen to me, you ignorant hypocrite. I bet you screw someone every night, so don't talk to me about purity. Your faith says to honor your children, not throw them away. Do you understand that?"
"She was the one who left! I'm just an old bitter woman!"
"I don't give a damn what you are. She's dead, and you're going to face her now. You'll say goodbye properly."
He teleported again, holding her tightly, then threw her to the ground near Molly's body.
Kila's eyes filled with tears. "Molly? My daughter… How did you die like this? Please, tell me what happened to her!"
Prestik stared coldly. "She died in battle. Poison and overload. But she was a real warrior. I'm not giving up on her. She'll fight again, and when she does, you'll get your chance to say sorry."
"Bring her back… please. She betrayed me, but she doesn't deserve this."
"Soon," he said. "For now, take care of her body."
Back in the arena, Kuina floated above the ground, shining with pure light.
The system spoke again.
"Level one million reached. Congratulations. You have officially ascended. There are no more levels, but infinite powers remain. Win this battle or die. Failure equals death, either by him or by me."
Kuina smiled faintly. "It's finally time."
From the divine seats, Kylie's eyes sparkled. "She's… she's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
Mira whispered, "Wow… Kuina, that's incredible. Please let it be enough."
Piper's jaw dropped. "My sexy goddess… Damn, you look stunning."
Clara blushed. "Kuina, you're beautiful. Your power feels divine now."
Lika's eyes trembled with emotion. "Wow…"
Mortis burped. "Yep, total goddess."
Mira shouted, "Gross! You just burped on my hair! I'll kill you!"
He grinned. "Relax. Fabric softener will fix it."
"My hair isn't laundry, you idiot!"
Piper burst out laughing, and soon Mortis joined her. Mira glared. "What's so funny, Piper? Clara, help me here!"
Clara giggled. "Come on, Mira. You have to admit, it's a little funny."
"You're all disgusting. Lika? Say something!"
Lika looked distant. "Sorry, Mira. I was focused on Kuina."
The crowd roared. "Go Kuina! Finish him!"
Kuina teleported in a flash, punching with divine energy. James dodged and blocked every strike with his nunchaku, countering fluidly. She gritted her teeth, "Where is he!?"
He vanished, appearing behind her. Kuina spun, forming a massive axe from her divine aura. She blocked his strike just in time.
"Got you!" she yelled.
A clone of James appeared behind her. "Are you sure?"
Then her own clone appeared behind him. "I'm sure."
Boom! She kicked him straight in the head. He crashed down, surprised. "Didn't expect that…"
She dove, trying to strike him with the axe, but he blocked it with one finger. "Nice try. But enough games, Kuina."
He snapped the weapon apart effortlessly, vanished, then drove his fist into her stomach. She spat white blood. She punched back with a sudden burst, making him stumble, blood trickling from his mouth. Instinctively, he swung his nunchaku, striking her head.
"Fuck!" she shouted, staggering sideways.
"How are you so strong?! How?!"
From above, Kylie screamed, "Kuina! Kick his ass already!"
Kuina turned up, wide-eyed. "Kylie?! You're okay?"
She saw Kylie beside Ortus, smiling warmly. "I came because I'll never leave my goddess alone. Win or lose, I'll love you forever. I love you, baby!"
Kuina smiled faintly, trying to reply, but James hit her again from behind. His nunchaku slammed into her back, then his fist struck her chest. "Sunlight Knockout."
Kuina coughed blood. "You hit… a sensitive spot…"
"That spot is called the solar plexus," he said calmly. "A very weak point."
"Fuck it!" she shouted. "I'm not done yet!"
She hurled blasts of energy in every direction, one after another, but James suddenly appeared behind her again. "This time, it's truly over. I'm only using two percent of my power."
Kuina froze. "Liar!"
She spun, trying to strike with her elbow, but he ducked low and thrust his entire arm forward — straight through her body. His hand emerged from her back.
The entire arena went silent.
Kylie screamed, "KUINA!"
Everyone froze. Kuina's eyes widened. Blood poured down her lips.
"It's over," James said quietly. He pulled his hand out.
Kuina dropped to her knees, trembling. "I've paralyzed your power, Kuina. Nothing will help you now. It's really over. But I don't want to kill you. I actually want to talk. You just need to let go of revenge forever."
Kuina whispered through tears, "Mom… Kylie… Mira… girls… I lost. It's over."
Her strength faded. She fell forward, unconscious.
James looked down at her, then turned toward the girls behind the barrier. "She won't die. But don't rely on her anymore. Keep living, without her. That's my advice."
Kylie tried to fly down, but Ortus stopped her. "Stop, Kylie! Calm down! I'll take care of her."
Kylie cried out, "Then go! Do something! Girls, help her!"
Mira tried to run forward, but the invisible wall still blocked them. "Damn it! When will this barrier break?!"
James rose slowly into the air, ready to leave.
Kuina, bleeding heavily, forced herself onto her knees. "No… I can't surrender… I must not…"
James turned, forming a glowing sphere in his hand. "I'm tired. Sorry."
He fired it.
Kylie screamed, "No!"
The girls screamed from the stands. Kuina looked at the incoming sphere. "Shit…"
To be continued.