Shock. Numbness.
Their hearts churned like a storm-tossed sea, unable to calm for a long time.
Gods.
Real gods.
For the first time, they began to truly comprehend what that word meant — not just as a title or a myth, but as something vast and incomprehensible.
Not simply powerful beings with destructive abilities.
Not some higher-tiered species.
But entities so far beyond human understanding that the gap could only be described as dimensional.
This was no longer about strength — it was about existence itself.
"From here on, I will need some time to recover," Balder's voice broke through their daze. "Unless absolutely necessary, do not disturb me."
When they finally came to, his presence had already vanished — just as mysteriously as he'd appeared.
No light, no sound, no trace.
As if the godlike figure had never stood before them at all.
"Yes, my lord," Trump said solemnly, his tone far more reverent than before. "I swear, no one will disturb you."
"Good."
A pause. Then, Balder's voice came again, cool and detached.
"There's one more thing."
"Although I've already slain that creature, the Divine Revelation has not changed. It's possible he left behind another contingency. Search the area again — thoroughly."
Trump's face tightened instantly.
Ivanka's expression shifted as well — alarm flickered in her eyes. She knew what this "Divine Revelation" referred to. It was one of the key reasons Balder had descended in the first place.
"Father—"
Trump raised a hand, stopping her before she could speak further.
She understood at once and fell silent.
Under his lead, the two left the room — father and daughter, one step behind the other.
When they'd gone far enough from the chamber, Trump finally spoke, his expression more serious than ever.
"Ivanka, my dearest and most capable daughter — whatever task that being assigned you, you don't need to tell me."
He drew a deep breath.
"From now on, every asset, every contact, every ounce of influence our family has — you can use all of it. I want everything done perfectly."
Ivanka nodded solemnly, her father's tone leaving no room for doubt.
As she turned to leave, Trump's voice came again.
"Ivanka — make sure you stay close to him from now on."
She hesitated for a split second, then continued walking without another word.
Watching her go, Trump's stern face softened slightly.
He nodded, satisfied. She had understood his meaning.
Once, he'd considered offering his most precious daughter to form some kind of "divine connection" with a god. But now, that thought seemed laughable.
After hearing what Balder had revealed — the scale of power, the unimaginable vastness beyond even a demigod — Trump had understood.
A demigod could command thousands of planets.
And a true god... might rule entire universes.
In the eyes of such a being, even the most beautiful mortal woman was less than dust.
To try to form a "relationship" with a god was beyond foolish.
But an apostle — a divine messenger — that was different.
Someone with First-Class Transcendent power, possibly capable of becoming a demigod in the future?
Now that was a connection worth cultivating.
And so, while Ivanka's steps faded down the hall, Balder watched from afar.
Inside his chamber, a faintly glowing screen of light shimmered before him — projecting the exact conversation between Trump and Ivanka.
A faint, knowing smile curved his lips.
"Hooked."
That was the real reason he had "revealed" so much divine knowledge earlier.
Yes, part of it was to deepen their reverence for the gods —
for if they feared the gods, they would naturally revere him, the gods' messenger.
But that wasn't the true objective.
The true goal was far more cunning — to use the Trump family as a conduit, spreading the whispers of divine truth through the highest circles of power.
Only by letting those secrets spread could he ignite their greed.
And once their greed took hold…
they would walk themselves right into the snare.
Balder's gaze turned distant, thoughtful.
"Humans," he murmured, "only fear what they see — not what they hear. That battle last night may have shaken them, but it wasn't enough to make them truly afraid."
His eyes narrowed.
"To understand terror... they'll need to experience it firsthand."
His gaze shifted, as if piercing the veil of space.
It reached across the distance — to the small, quiet town near the battlefield where gods and demons had clashed.
At a nearby school, three teenagers were huddled together after class.
One was Andrew — timid, quiet, always keeping his head down.
The second, Matt — bright, outgoing, with a laugh that came easily.
The third — a nameless Black youth, cautious but with a gleam of excitement in his eyes.
The Black teen leaned in, lowering his voice.
"Hey, guys... you heard about that god-versus-devil fight last night, right?"
Matt's eyes lit up immediately.
"Of course I did! My God, I even saw some footage! That was insane — I never thought something that real could happen in our world!"
Andrew, usually quiet, perked up too. He didn't say anything, but his ears were wide open.
The Black teen smirked, dropping his voice even lower.
"Well, let me tell you something. I saw more than that. After the battle ended, I swear I saw something — some kind of light — flying toward the mountains."
He paused dramatically.
"So... what do you say, guys? Wanna go treasure hunting?"
His eyes gleamed.
"This could be something divine. Maybe a relic from a god!"
He conveniently skipped over the word demon.
Matt and Andrew both froze — then their eyes widened, caught between awe and excitement.
Forget the details. Forget the risk.
"God," "relic," "power." Those words were irresistible.
They were young — restless — dreamers in the age of the extraordinary.
Who could resist chasing a chance to touch the divine?
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Matt grinned.
"I'm in!" Andrew said, surprising even himself.
The decision was made.
The three boys grabbed their bags and slipped away, hearts pounding with reckless anticipation.
Back at Lakeview Manor, Balder's faint smile returned as he watched them through the light-screen.
"The show begins."
With a flick of his wrist, a massive crystal appeared in his palm — glowing with pulsing, radiant energy.
The Psychic Crystal.
"It's time I began absorbing its power," he murmured.
A bigger stage awaited — and for the act he was preparing, the power he currently possessed... simply wouldn't be enough.