Chapter 30: War End

The impact of the Void Thrust rippled through the Domain like a silent explosion.

A faint vacuum formed where the tip of Aiden's blade had struck, at the same time, the space around Granny Goodness distorted violently as the space-warped strike bypassed her armor's abnormal durability, embedding deep into her shoulder.

Cracks of distorted energy rippled across her form, forcing her to retreat momentarily, her grin replaced with an expression of pain and grim fury.

For a moment, silence reigned in the immediate area.

The Furies, typically unshakable, hesitated as their leader staggered, clutching her side. A faint, jagged crack had appeared in her otherwise impenetrable armor, leaking an ominous black energy.

Granny Goodness snarled, her glowing red eyes narrowing as she straightened, her weapon raised defensively. "You…" she growled, her voice trembling with a mix of fury and disbelief. "You dare wound me?"

Aiden didn't respond, he didn't see a need to do so. His crimson eyes were locked onto hers, the air around him crackling with residual energy from the Void Thrust.

"You're not as fragile as you look," Aiden remarked, his tone detached as he adjusted his stance. However, he was reeling in shock internally.

This was a somewhat upgraded version of Void Reality, a technique that ignored physical and magical defenses, yet Granny Goodness managed to withstand it.

"And you're more trouble than you're worth, mortal!" Granny spat, gritting her teeth in pain as the wound he inflicted on her refused to heal despite her regenerative factor.

Granny Goodness didn't finish her sentence when the Furies moved, instantly leaping toward Aiden in a coordinated formation.

Aiden, however, was already two steps ahead as nothing escapes his perception within his Domain. .

The nearest Fury, a hulking figure armed with dual axes, swung at him with brutal force, but her strikes struck nothing as the space between them stretched momentarily causing her strike to hit empty air, and Aiden seizing the moment, retaliated with a quick slash while activating Void Reality once more.

His blade tore through the distorted space, striking her exposed side causing the Fury to howl in pain as she collapsed on one knee, clutching her wound as black ichor seeped from the cut.

Before he could go for the kill, the second Fury, wielding a whip of crackling energy, lashed out with her weapon which coiled toward Aiden like a serpent.

Aiden clicked his tongue and stretched his hand out to create a shield. The whip struck the shield but was suspended mid-air much to the Fury's confusion, and in her moment of confusion, Aiden released a repulsive force that pushed her away before teleporting.

Just then, the third Fury, a lithe and agile figure with daggers, had darted toward Aiden's assumed blind spot and attempted to go for the kill only to be met with an empty space.

Her speed was unnaturally fast that Aiden barely had time to react, however, within his Domain she still fell short.

Just then, Granny Goodness, having recovered from her initial wound, rejoined the fray as she swung her hammer towards Aiden with an overwhelming force.

Her weapon glowed with a dark energy that radiated a malevolence that even Aiden's Domain struggled to suppress.

Aiden quickly summoned a barrier just as the attack was about to strike, blocking the attack but creating shockwaves that shook the Domain.

Aiden gritted his teeth as his Domain flickered as he struggled to maintain control.

Granny Goodness sneered seeing this. "You are clever, mortal, but you're no God. I will enjoy tearing you apart."

She had already grasped the principles behind Aiden's domain and knew it was something similar to a God's Domain, but not quite at that level, hence her confidence.

A god's domain, when manifested, is a realm unto itself, often limitless within its conceptual reach. It does not flicker, nor does it require active maintenance in the same way Aiden's does. A god's domain is an absolute truth within its boundary.

Aiden's domain requires constant focus and energy to sustain, making it inherently more fragile. It can be disrupted by external forces, such as Granny Goodness's immense strength.

The larger he expands it, the greater the strain on his mind and body.

With a deep breath, Aiden flung the cracked sword flying as another flew into his empty hand. This one, in a much better condition than the last. "I may not be a God," he said, his voice steady. "But I don't need to be one to defeat you."

Granny Goodness scoffed as her massive war hammer gleamed as energy coursed through it. With a roar, she swung the weapon in a wide arc, intent on crushing him.

Aiden didn't retreat. Instead, he stepped into the swing while bending the space around him to make the hammer miss him.

The air whined as her hammer passed inches from his side, the force behind it massive but only enough to ruffle his cloak.

In the same fluid motion, he twisted his body drove his sword upward.

The sword scraped against her weapon, sparks flying as the ground absorbed the brunt of the impact.

But the true power of Aiden's attack wasn't in the blade, it was in the spatial manipulation that followed, and just as she thought that was all, a massive gash was formed on her armour as it was torn from the Spatial force.

"Grr!" Granny Goodness growled at this. The audacity of this ant-like being to push her to this point. Strangely enough though, the strange energy in his earlier Thrust wasn't in this slash.

In lieu of this, her attacks grew more ferocious while Aiden's movements became more calculated, every step and parry carefully orchestrated.

And while this was going on, the Furies regrouped, their wounds healing rapidly as they synchronized their attacks with Granny Goodness.

The battlefield around them seemed to blur, the intensity of the clash drawing the attention of allies and enemies alike.

Those who knew Aiden watched in awe as he held his ground against the overwhelming odds. His crimson eyes glowed with an almost otherworldly menace, as he carefully followed his opponents' every move with a calm that seemed unnatural in the chaos of battle.

With each passing moment, he poured more of the Force into his Domain, expanding its range and amplifying its effects. His strikes grew faster, each one sharper and more devastating than the last as his adaptive ability worked overtime to bring his body strength to the same level as the Furies and Granny Goodness

Within his Domain, energy was not wasted. Every ounce of power he expended was recycled, feeding back into him, granting him an unending reservoir of strength.

The only downside to this was his Focus.

Maintaining the Domain demanded immense focus, and even a moment's lapse could mean death.

For now, Aiden endured. But how long could even he hold against four New Gods?

…

"You fight like a god," she snarled, her voice laced with both grudging respect and unbridled malice. "But you are still human. And that means you will bleed."

"Perhaps," Aiden replied, his eyes scanning the battlefield. Faint cries of battle reached his ears, though his focus remained fixed on the towering figure before him. "But bleeding doesn't mean I will fall."

Aiden's words hadn't even settled when the three Furies moved again. Their approach was seamless in the way they attacked as one.

The first aimed high, her blade arcing toward his neck; the second struck low, her claws raking toward his legs. The third circled, her previous whip now a Spear, poised for a decisive strike.

Aiden pivoted on his heel, and swung his sword upwards intercepting the high slash with a resounding clang, sparks erupting from the clash, and without wasting a moment, he capitalized on the force and pushed himself backward to avoid the claws aimed at his legs, the razor-sharp edges slicing through empty air just inches away.

The third Fury, however, seemed to be waiting for this moment as she capitalized on his movements, thrusting her spear forward with unerring precision.

Should the strike connect, Aiden was sure of his death.

He barely had time to shift to dodge the attack so he simply warped the space between them. The spear slowed as though passing through molasses, giving him the split-second needed to twist his blade and deflect it.

The force behind the clash helped launch him backward, which he used to momentarily distance himself from the three. "Three against one," he mused aloud, his tone calm but edged with calculated disdain. "Cowardly, even for servants of Darkseid."

The Fury with the spear sneered. "Strength lies in unity. You face not three warriors but a single will. You will not survive it."

The energy in Domain surged, the air within its range shimmering with spatial distortions. "Unity?" he asked, his lips curving into a dangerous smirk. "Then let's see how well you work together when the rules are... shifted."

With a subtle wave of his hand, Aiden shifted the gravity within his Domain, causing the Furies to stagger as their footing grew unstable, the pull of the ground seemingly shifting in random directions.

One stumbled to her knees, another lashed out blindly to steady herself, while the third floated momentarily before slamming back to the ground.

Aiden wasted no time and shot forward, his sword slashing toward the Fury with the spear who raised her weapon to block, but his sword phased through it, slicing past her guard and grazing her armor.

The Fury with the claws roared in frustration, regaining her balance and lunging toward him. Aiden sidestepped, his Domain warping the space between them so that her momentum carried her past him.

"You're right about one thing," Aiden said, his voice calm as he prepared his next move. "Unity is powerful. But in my Domain, only one Will prevails. Mine."

…

Elsewhere.

The corridors of the Magic Tower were eerily silent as a figure hurried through them, her footsteps echoing against the cold stone walls. Every mage and apprentice who could wield even the faintest spell had already joined the battle, leaving the halls deserted.

Her chest tightened at the thought, how many would not return?

The Tower stood on the outskirts of the main battlefield, its elevated position offering a clear view of the devastation spreading across the land below.

From here to the battle's epicenter stretched a vast expanse of terrain, a mix of rolling hills, sparse forests, and open fields now riddled with craters and scorched earth.

The battlefield was approximately ten kilometers away, but even at this distance, the scene was harrowing.

Columns of smoke rose like black pillars into the red sky, and the noise of war echoed faintly, a discordant symphony of screams, roars, and the clash of weapons.

Mira summoned her mana, weaving it into the soles of her feet and with a burst of speed, she shot forward, the world blurring around her as she dashed across the open land.

The air was thick with the scent of ash and burning vegetation, each breath a reminder of the destruction ahead.

As she neared the battlefield, the sounds grew deafening. Explosions thundered in the distance, the cries of warriors, human and otherwise, mingling with the guttural roars of Parademons.

She could see them now, grotesque creatures swarming like locusts, their leathery wings casting dark shadows over the ground.

Finally, she crested the last hill and stopped, her breath catching as she took in the sight before her.

The battlefield was a nightmare brought to life.

The forces of Earth were scattered, their lines desperately trying to hold against the unrelenting tide of Apokolips' minions.

Warriors clad in armor fought valiantly, their swords and spears flashing in the dim light.

Lanterns illuminated the chaos with their glowing constructs, but even their power seemed strained against the sheer numbers they faced.

The mages stood in small groups, their robes tattered and bloodied as they channeled spells into the horde.

Some conjured walls of fire or ice to halt the advancing Parademons, while others unleashed bolts of lightning and torrents of wind to scatter their enemies.

And amidst it all, the towering figures of the New Gods loomed, their forms radiating an oppressive aura of dominance.

Even from this distance, Mira could feel their presence like a weight pressing down on her chest.

Her gaze fell to the heart of the battlefield, where a massive dome of shimmering energy stood, pulsating with crimson light.

The air around it warped, crackling with raw power, and Mira could feel its oppressive force even from where she stood. Inside, she could just make out the silhouettes a couple figures, moving with precision and unrelenting purpose as they clashed.

She could tell the identity of one of them.

"Aiden," she whispered, her chest tightening a bit. Just when she thought she was strong enough to help him out, he pulls out something mind-blowing.

His Domain stretched across the battlefield like a beacon of defiance, an island of control in the chaos of the battlefield.

But even from here, she could sense the immense strain he was under. The energy radiating from the dome was fierce, but so was the presence of the enemies within it.

Shifting her gaze, she spotted two familiar figures amidst the fray, their distinct fighting styles unmistakable.

Finn darted through the battlefield like a bolt of lightning, his movements erratic and blindingly fast.

Each strike of his was filled with electric energy, sending Parademons flying, but the toll of his constant movement was beginning to show in the slowing of his steps and the strain on his face.

Jaxon, by contrast, was like a fortress in the storm. He stood firm, wielding a massive hammer made from rocks with earth-shaking force, each swing creating shockwaves that threw their enemies off balance.

She knew firsthand that he, like Aiden, also used a sword, but it seemed the pressure was immense if he gave up using it.

However, even his formidable strength was not infinite. The weight of the relentless assault was evident in his labored breaths and the cracks forming in the rocky armor that encased his body.

They were holding their ground, but barely.

Parademons swarmed around them, their numbers overwhelming, their screeches piercing the air.

Mira's heart clenched at the sight. They were fighting valiantly, but it was clear they couldn't endure much longer without reinforcements.

Mira's hands trembled as she reached for the staff strapped to her back. "Hold on," she murmured, her voice steely. "I'm coming."

Without another moment's hesitation, she summoned her mana and surged forward, the battlefield closing in around her with every step.

This wasn't just a battle, it was a slaughter. And yet, she could not falter. She had trained for this moment, had prepared herself for the day her power would be tested.

Taking a deep breath, she whispered to herself, "I won't let them win."

She stepped forward, her spirit roaring to life within her, its energy flooding her veins. The time for fear had passed. Now, she would fight.

…

As Aiden engaged the Furies, the ground trembled beneath him, signaling the arrival of Granny Goodness. Her massive form surged forward like a tidal wave of fury, her war hammer crackling with dark energy, the air around it warping as it descended.

The sheer weight of the blow made the earth itself groan in protest.

Aiden felt the crushing pressure before the hammer even hit the ground. His Domain pulsed, a warning shot vibrating through every fiber of his being, urging him to move and he didn't hesitate and with a burst of speed, Aiden darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the hammer's devastating descent.

The edge of his cloak tore as it skimmed past, the ground exploding where the hammer struck.

A shockwave rippled outward, tearing through the earth, flinging debris into the air and sending Aiden hurtling back, his feet barely skimming the dust before he steadied himself.

"You're persistent," Aiden muttered as he regained his stance, floating above the ground.

"And you're infuriating!" Granny snarled, her voice guttural, her rage palpable as she swung the war hammer again.

This time, the attack was faster, the swing erratic, as if the fury behind it had overcome whatever sense of strategy she once had.

Aiden's crimson eyes followed her movements, calculating. Her movements were becoming sloppy, more frantic.

He adjusted the flow of his Domain, subtly manipulating the gravity around him to give him greater agility, to counter her unrestrained power.

The air itself seemed to bend to his will, slowing the hammer's momentum just enough to avoid the worst of its wrath.

He dodged, his movement fluid as he slid behind her, "You rely too much on brute strength," he called, his voice calm, almost clinical. "But strength without precision is just violence."

The words barely left his mouth before Granny whirled, fury boiling over as she swung again, this time with even more force. She was not thinking now. Her anger was her only guide.

Aiden dodged and danced around her blows as he swung his sword in between, striking at her armor's weak points, small, precise cuts that dug into her heavily armored skin and with each strike, the cracks widened.

It was clear she was growing more frustrated, her fury consuming her judgment.

Aiden's patience was the only thing that held him steady. "You're too slow," he taunted as he dodged another swing.

The war hammer swung again, faster this time. Granny Goodness was starting to get desperate. Her strikes grew heavier, the ground buckling beneath the weight of her blows.

Each swing became a miss, but each miss brought the rage back in full force.

Aiden had to admire her persistence.

With that thought in mind, he moved, stepping inside the range of her attack and just as her hammer swung wide, with one perfect, calculated strike, Aiden slashed at her exposed side.

The strike was precise, tearing into the plating just beneath her armpit on the shoulder he had opened with the Void Thrust.

Granny staggered back, groaning in pain, her fury slowly turning to something darker, something far more dangerous. Aiden knew this battle wasn't over yet, but he could feel the tide turning in his favor.

"You'll need more than brute force to beat me," Aiden said, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Because I have a feeling we can do this all day."

…

Despite his dominance, Aiden could feel the strain.

His Domain was a masterpiece of spatial manipulation, but maintaining it at such a scale was taxing.

Every spatial distortion, every gravitational shift, drained his Focus.

'I need to finish this,' he thought, his breathing heavier now.

Granny Goodness seemed to sense his fatigue. She grinned, her confidence returning as she redoubled her efforts.

Behind her, the Furies stood, their battered forms still radiating menace.

Aiden narrowed his eyes, his resolve hardening, he couldn't afford to hold back any longer.

With a surge of will, he pushed his Domain to its absolute limit. The battlefield twisted in response, space warping as reality bent to his command.

Distances stretched and contracted unpredictably, making every movement uncertain. Gravity shifted at random, pulling some enemies to the ground while others found themselves suddenly weightless.

The sheer force of his manipulation sent ripples through the air, distorting everything within reach. Holding it all together took everything he had, his Focus burning like a raging fire.

But he couldn't stop now, not when the battle's outcome hung in the balance.

On the Furies' side, they faltered as their movements were disoriented by the shifting terrain. Even Granny Goodness stumbled, her bulk figure struggling against the unnatural distortion of space.

Seizing the opportunity, Aiden moved, turning into a blur as his sword flashed upon his reappearance, slicing through one Fury's spear and driving her to the ground.

Another, sighting him, lunged at him with her daggers drawn, only to be met with a counter strike that saw her sprawling to the ground.

Granny roared in desperation as she lept towards Aiden despite her massive physique, her hammer swinging in a final, defiant arc as she utilised all her strength into that attack to swat Aiden away.

Aiden didn't panic but calmly ducked beneath it, as his sword rose in a swift upward strike. This strike, mixed with the essence of Void Reality, cleaved through her weapon, splitting it in two, before biting into her shoulder.

"ARGH!" she bellowed, her voice trembling with rage and pain. "Enough of this!"

Aiden merely scoffed but didn't relent. His previously expanded Domain immediately compressed and constricted around her, the space compressing until her massive form was forced to its knees.

"You fight like a god," she rasped, her voice laced with hatred as she tried to withstand the pressure of the Domain. "But you'll never be one."

"Perhaps," Aiden said, his sword poised for the final blow. "But even gods can fall." Saying that, he let his blade descend, the force of the strike augmented by Gravity as he separated her head from her body.

With her head cut off, her body couldn't resist the compression exerted on it and Granny Goodness crumpled, her form collapsing under the weight of the gravitational force of the compressed space.

…

The battlefield fell silent, the sound of war momentarily fading as Aiden stood in the midst of the carnage, his sword dripping with black ichor, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

From afar, the Old Gods watched, their expressions uneasy. A mortal had fought like one of them, and won.

Even killing a New God.

Aiden's domain hadn't gotten unnoticed by the various Old Gods who paid attention to his battle and although it was unique, it didn't have the qualities of a Divine Domain.

A divine domain is an extension of a god's very existence, powered by their divinity and connection to the Source. It is not just a controlled space, it is a realm of absolute law, dictated by the god's will and concept. Within it, reality itself obeys their divine essence.

However, each god's domain is bound by their core nature. A war god's domain cannot suddenly grant healing miracles, for instance. Also, other gods or beings with direct Source access can challenge or weaken the domain's effects.

In this same vein, a Grand Mage also possess a domain. This is what puts them on a similar fighting level as weaker Gods. A Grand Mage's Domain is the manifestation of their mastery over magic, formed through the crystallization of their magical essence.

This domain acts as a territory where their control over magic is absolute, enhancing their spells and allowing for reality-defying feats within its boundaries.

Magic within the domain is heightened, allowing the mage to cast spells with zero cast time or external energy cost. The domain enhances spells but doesn't fundamentally alter space or reality. It relies entirely on magical constructs.

Beings with a direct connection to the Source (like New Gods) or those who wield absolute magic-nullifying abilities can counter its effects. This played a part in why Thalor despite himself, could be held back by a New God.

Aiden paid them no mind. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, where the true battle awaited.

Aiden's domain was not magical or divine. It simply is an extension of his will over space itself, shaped through his mastery of the Force and its unique ability; Spatial Domination.

Unlike the other two, it does not rely on mana or divinity but on his focus and imagination. Unlike magic or divine laws, Aiden directly bends the fabric of reality.

Distance, gravity, momentum, and even the passage of time can shift according to his will. However, unlike gods who channel power from the Source, Aiden must maintain absolute concentration.

The moment his focus breaks, his domain weakens.

Like everything in this universe, all three had their strengths, weaknesses and limitations but now was surely not the time to address them.

Darkseid's presence still loomed, an unrelenting shadow over the world.

"This is getting nowhere," he muttered to himself. He didn't know if it was the world just delaying the clash between the Old Gods and Darkseid or were they intentionally running away from a confrontation.

With a deep breath, Aiden stepped forward, his resolve remained unshaken despite the toll of the fight. The war was far from over and he couldn't afford to entertain unnecessary thoughts, he just needed to kill off a few more New Gods

But just as he took a step forward, he jerked and coughed, the force of it splattering blood on the ground as his Crimson Eyes flickered, his strength faltering as his domain began to waver and cracks appeared on its illusory walls.

A sharp pain tore through his skull, the toll of expanding and maintaining the Domain unbearable. Blood trickled from his eyes, ears and nose. His hands shook, grasping desperately for something as the weight of the domain collapsed upon him.

The Furies saw their opportunity, their predatory instincts flaring with the mix of rage. They moved swiftly, eyes glinting with the promise of death and were poised to strike, but just as their weapons were about to descend, the ground beneath them began to tremble.

A low rumbling growl shook the earth, reverberating through the bones of all who stood on it. The ground cracked open, and from within, a soft, elegant voice rang out.

"[Wood Magic: Deep Forest Emergence.]"

The earth shifted as vines shot out from the cracks in the earth, growing rapidly and weaving around the Furies with an unrelenting force.

The darkened area lit up as bright green energy surged from the earth and caused the vines to expand, growing and spreading with Aiden as its center.

The Furies struggled against the thick vines binding them. Their movements, restricted by the overwhelming force.

However as they struggled, the vines seemed to loosen up.

But just as they thought they could break free, the forest around them seemed to come to life as their energy began to be absorbed from their bodies.

And as it was absorbed, the restricting force turned into a crushing force that none of them could withstand and in seconds, the three Furies were turned into mummified husks of their former self before being absorbed by the trees.

Aiden who was already on the verge of mental collapse couldn't help but smirk at the sight. There were only two people who could use this technique on this scale, and one wasn't in this Universe.

As for the other, the fact that she could use this could only mean one thing.

"It seems I made it in time." A soft voice rang out in the quiet forest created by the trees and vines. "You look worse for wear Aiden, don't tell me those three were the ones to push you to this extent."

"Heh." Aiden chuckled, but just as he was about to continue, he spat out another mouthful of blood and lost his balance. Before he could reach the ground though, branches shot out from the trees surrounding him and caught him before wrapping him in a cocoon.

"Rest now. I'll take it from here." The voice said again.

And before Aiden could gather his thoughts to reply, bright green energies began to suffuse from the cocoon, permeating his body. The feeling was just too comfortable that he couldn't fight against the fatigue and fell into the darkness of unconsciousness.