Chapter 28: War Pt 7

A/N: More Explanation on The Force incoming, because I'm about to adopt a writing style that if you're not capable of thinking randomly, you may not be able to follow.)

In the beginning, there was only the Void, an endless expanse of nothingness. Then, from within the silence, a Voice echoed: "Let there be Light."

And so, Light emerged, piercing the Dark Infinitude. At first, imperceptible to the Great Darkness, the Light expanded, growing in brilliance until the Void itself recoiled. 

The Darkness screamed, and in its agony, the perfection of the Light fractured.

From this fracture, energies poured forth, shaped by the duality of Light and Dark. 

Among these were the Greater Energies, the fundamental forces that formed the pillars of existence: the Speed Force, Emotional Spectrum, Life Force, Death Force, Still Force, Sage Force, and the Sphere of the Gods.

Alongside them came Lesser Energies, born as echoes of the Greater Energies, tethered to worlds and beings. 

These energies shaped creation, empowering beings like the Old Gods, who drew upon the Nature, Divine, Elemental, and Abstract Forces of Earth.

But then came Source Energies, rare and powerful manifestations that stood closest to the Source itself. 

The Force, created by Aiden, was one such energy; a direct fragment of the Source, untainted by mortal belief or natural constraints. 

This purity allowed Aiden to defy even the might of the New Gods, beings born from the Source's radiant essence.

Unlike the Old Gods, who relied on their mastery of Earth's forces, or the New Gods, whose power stemmed from proximity to the Source, Aiden wielded a force beyond these hierarchies. 

His magic transcended belief, will, or elemental limits. The Force was pure potential, shaped only by his will and imagination.

Yet, on the battlefield, it became clear that potency of energy alone was not the measure of victory. 

The Old Gods, though weaker in essence, tore through Parademons and lesser New Gods with their mastery of divine combat. Their strategies and techniques, honed over millennia, proved more effective than raw power.

As Aiden stood amidst the chaos, the brilliance of his Source Energy clashing with the brutal might of the Apokoliptian invaders, the truth became evident.

Power was only a foundation. Victory required understanding, adaptation, and precision.

(A/N: Similar to how there's a community in any Divine Realm there is too in Apokalips. So like Zephyr, they also have connection to the source, hence their unique abilities. That they're not known does not mean they don't exist.)

Apollo's light based arrow tore through enemies like a knife cutting through butter. 

This arrow has the capability to penetrate through magical or physical defenses, especially against creatures of Earthly origin, and carry the potency that could harm or weaken foes through light-based searing and burning effects.

Against a New God of Apokolips with strength comparable to Apollo who would have immense physical and cosmic durability, it would be challenging for Apollo's arrows to deliver lasting damage. 

However, the arrows could potentially pierce their skin or armor, especially if concentrated on a single target or if Apollo leverages his focus(mental or spiritual energy) in the attack.

The same was applicable to the other Old Gods. 

Gods like Athena and Ares, embody warfare in one form or the other, so in this battlefield, they were nigh-invincible as they hold dominance over that Abstract Concept. 

Beings like Hades and Poseidon, in addition to their divinity over Death and The Sea, also had Dominion Souls and waves. 

This was an advantage the New Gods didn't have. 

The only thing they had going for them was their Durability and Physical Resilience. 

More powerful and trained New Gods could utilize the energy they gain from the Source. 

Examples included the Zephyr Aiden had just killed, Orion, The Furies, Granny Goodness and Darkseid. (A/N: There might be a few others not mentioned, so don't mind me if I create one.)

This was the reason why every knowledgeable being on the battlefield was shocked at Aiden's feat, simply because it was incomprehensible. 

No human should be able to harm a God, Old or New. 

With Magic, it was possible, but not overly harmful as only potent Magic from an Arch Mage and above could cause considerable harm.

But even then, Aiden's speed of dispatching two New Gods was just…Inhuman. 

Aiden didn't fully comprehend what made this possible but he didn't have the time to ponder on it as the pressure of being stared at by different Godly beings was immense.

Still, maintaining his calm exterior, he turned and gazed at his earlier position and found that both Finn and Jaxon were still alright and were slaughtering every Parademon in sight.

A quick stare at Lorian's camp let him know that they were also alright. 'Seems like even Arch Mages aren't powerful enough.' he thought and then employed his wind magic to transmit his voice over. "Stick with controlling the Parademons. I'll join up with the Gods." 

"What!? No! Aiden!" Lorian, who was holding his ribs in pain while marveling at Aiden's strength, was startled and immediately tried to dissuade only to see him disappear before his voice could reach him.

…

"You must be the Sun God, Apollo," Aiden said as he appeared beside Apollo, sword in hand, his Domain subtly enveloping the space around them.

Apollo's frown deepened as he felt the subtle shift, his connection to the world around him slightly disrupted. His arrow of light, aimed unerringly, halted mere inches from Aiden's face, dissolving harmlessly in midair.

"And you must be the interesting human," Apollo replied, his voice sharp yet curious.

"Aiden, son of Atlan," Aiden introduced himself, his tone formal yet calm, carrying the poise of nobility. His bearing was unmoved by the cries and wails from the battlefield below. "I've come to employ your aid."

Apollo's eyes narrowed, his pride pricked by Aiden's audacity. Instinctively, he opened his mouth to rebuke the mortal's arrogance but paused. There was something unnervingly composed about this one. "Aid? You seem capable enough. You're already a force to be reckoned with."

Aiden nodded slightly, his expression unreadable as he gestured toward the battlefield, his sword pointing toward Darkseid. "I need to reach him. But as you've undoubtedly noticed, some of the invaders don't seem keen on the idea."

Apollo's lips twitched with a hint of amusement. "Is that…sarcasm?"

Aiden gave a faint shrug, his gaze unwavering.

Still smiling, Apollo shook his head. "You may be stronger than most New Gods here, I'll give you that. But that one?" He pointed toward Darkseid, his voice dropping. "He's far beyond your reach."

Aiden's calm façade cracked, a faint frown tugging at his lips. "And you know this…how?"

Apollo arched a brow. "What?"

"Do you presume to know the full extent of my abilities?" Aiden asked, his voice sharper now. He turned away, clearly unimpressed.

"Wait—"

"Don't waste my time," Aiden interrupted, his tone cold, as he began to walk away. "The only reason I approached you is because, of all the gods, warriors, mages, Amazons, and Lanterns here, only you possess a ranged attack potent enough to matter. If you're too prideful to help, I'll find another way."

Apollo's jaw tightened, his pride warring with intrigue as he watched the mortal stride away, utterly unshaken by his presence.

…

The battlefield stretched endlessly before Aiden painted a chaotic picture of blood, fire, and destruction. 

To his far right, Athena moved with effortless grace, her spear a blur as it pierced through waves of parademons. 

To his left was Ares roaring like a tempest, his axe cleaving through the air with savage precision. 

Behind him, the Archmages strained against the relentless assault, their shields flickering under the pressure of countless strikes from the Parademons.

The Old Gods dominated the battlefield, their raw power twisting the air around them. The ground beneath their feet cracked under the weight of their strikes. 

Apollo's mocking words echoed in Aiden's mind: "Do you mortals ever tire of trying to prove yourselves?"

Aiden's jaw tightened. 'Proving myself isn't the point. Survival is.'

Stepping forward, he extended his hand, letting the Force surge outward. The Domain sprang to life as the air within the radius shimmered, bending to his will as if reality itself acknowledged his command.

Within moments, a radius of ten meters bent to his will.

And then…

Everything changed.

…

A New Perspective

The cacophony of battle dulled as the Domain took hold. The screams of the dying, the clash of weapons, even the distant roars of Darkseid's war engines, all of it receded into a muted hum. 

In its place came clarity.

Aiden's crimson tinted eyes darted across the battlefield. 

Within his Domain, the world unfolded in layers, each detail sharper than the last. 

The parademons moved like wraiths, their distorted forms weaving through the chaos. 

He could see the flicker of failing shields around the mages, their mana reserves dangerously low, and further out, he saw them: Granny Goodness and her Furies.

A suffocating aura of cruelty radiated from the New Gods, twisting the energy around them. 

Their laughter carried over the battlefield, mocking and chilling. Aiden's focus zeroed in on Granny Goodness herself, her hulking frame exuding a malice that seemed to poison the air.

"Granny Goodness," he muttered, his voice cold.

Her presence was unmistakable, a beacon of malevolence that disrupted the spatial flow at the edges of his Domain. 

Around her, three Furies slaughtered anyone who crossed their path, their weapons gleaming with the promise of death. 

'They're too close to the Archmages,' Aiden thought, his heart sinking. 'If they break through, Lorian's camp is finished.'

Aiden's grip on his sword tightened. The Archmages couldn't hold much longer. He could feel their exhaustion.

"I won't let it happen," he said softly.

…

The Weight of Space

Aiden expanded his Domain, pushing its boundaries outward. The battlefield within his ten-meter radius shifted as space itself obeyed his command.

Taking inspiration from the scene he witnessed when the Force fought earlier, he easily assimilated the rampaging energies on the battlefield into his Domain and expanded it. 

For the Allies, time seemed to slow. 

Athena glanced in his direction, her eyes narrowing briefly before a small smirk crossed her lips. Her movements became even more precise, her strikes landing with pinpoint accuracy. 

A nearby soldier stumbled but recovered quickly, moving with newfound agility as the Domain's influence lightened his steps.

For the parademons closest to Aiden, they faltered, their movements sluggish and disjointed. 

One snarled as its claws raked through empty air, the spatial distortion bending its attack away. 

Another tried to leap forward, only to find itself floating briefly as gravity inverted, leaving it vulnerable to a swift strike from a human warrior.

To the New Gods, however, the effect was subtler. Granny Goodness who had been swallowed in by the domain halted mid-step, her cruel grin faltering as she scanned the battlefield. "What's this?" she growled, her voice cutting through the air. 

The Furies exchanged glances, momentarily disoriented by the shifting space. One raised her blade, pointing it in Aiden's direction. "There," she hissed.

…

Omnipresence

Within the Domain, Aiden was everywhere. 

Every ripple in the spatial fabric, every shift in gravity, every faltering step of his enemies, he felt it all. 

It wasn't just sight or sound; it was a sixth sense, an awareness that extended to every inch of his Domain.

Granny Goodness loomed in his perception like a storm, her oppressive presence an anomaly within the controlled space. Her Furies moved with lethality, their divine essence partially resisting the distortions.

But Aiden wasn't flustered. He was ready.

With a thought, he adjusted the spatial flow within the Domain, bending distances to his will. 

With a single step, he crossed the battlefield, reappearing ten meters closer to his targets. The air shimmered as he materialized, his crimson eyes locking onto Granny Goodness.

She turned her gaze toward him, her grin returning. "You are that mortal," she said, her tone dripping with disdain and a bit of anger. "How quaint. And here I thought you were a God with an abstract concept."

Aiden didn't reply. His sword flicked upward, its edge gleaming with condensed mana. 

The Domain shifted subtly, the ground beneath the Furies warping to throw them off their balance.

Granny Goodness didn't wait. She had seen him use the Void Reality twice, ending the lives of two of her kind. 

With a bellow, she lunged. Her massive weapon crashed down with terrifying force, splitting the air and shaking the ground beneath her.

Within the Domain, the attack seemed slower, its trajectory crystal clear. Aiden's body moved with precision, sidestepping the blow as the blade missed him by mere inches, cleaving only air.

He countered immediately, thrusting his sword toward her exposed side. Space itself aided the strike, compressing the distance in an instant. But Granny Goodness was no mere warrior. 

She twisted, her weapon snapping back to block the attack with a resounding clang, at that moment, the Furies joined the fray, their movements faster and more coordinated than the parademons. 

Aiden clicked his tongue silently and adjusted his Domain again, bending gravity to weigh them down. 

Two stumbled, their strikes faltering, but the third managed to break through, her blade slashing toward Aiden's chest.

He parried, the force of the blow sending a jolt through his arms. The Fury's strength was immense, but within the Domain, Aiden's control was absolute. 

He spun, twisting space to pull her off balance before delivering a sharp kick that sent her crashing into the dirt.

'Fuck.' Aiden cursed as he looked at his trembling hand. 'And I thought I had gotten stronger.' [Heal] he said and the trembling stopped. 

Clenching his fist, he thought to use [Physical Enhancement] but shook his head. There was no need for that yet. Utilizing this Domain like the Force did was already straining enough. 

Sweat beaded on his brow as he maintained the Domain. 

Each adjustment, every distortion, drained his Focus. 

(A/N: Focus here is similar to Willpower. As long as he retains that Focus, his imagination is his limit within the Domain.)

The strain was mounting, but he couldn't falter. Not with so much at stake.

Granny Goodness laughed, her voice booming. "You think your tricks can stop me, boy? I've broken gods with my bare hands!"

Aiden's eyes narrowed. "I am no God." He said and with a surge of power, he condensed the Domain, focusing its effects entirely on Granny Goodness. "You've also never faced someone like me." He said as the air around her shimmered as space compressed, the crushing force bearing down on her. 

For a moment, she faltered, her knees buckling slightly under the strain.

But then she roared, her energy exploding outward. The shockwave rippled through the Domain, threatening to destabilize it. 

Aiden gritted his teeth, forcing the spatial fabric to hold.

A Turning point. 

That was what Aiden needed now.

Aiden's gaze darted toward the Archmages. Their shields were nearly gone, their faces pale and strained. He didn't have much time.

The Parademons were increasing. 

As long as The Armada brought to Earth by Darkseid remained in the skies, they'd be fighting a losing battle. 

With a deep breath, he pushed his limits, expanding the Domain further. 

One had to understand that like any other energy, the Domain created by Spatial Domination was also energy.

His assimilation of foreign energies, while expanding his Domain made it stronger as long as he didn't lose focus

The battlefield twisted under his control, enemies faltering as gravity shifted erratically. Even Granny Goodness paused, her expression darkening.

Aiden stepped forward, his sword gleaming with power. "This ends now," he said, his voice steady despite the exhaustion creeping into his limbs.

Granny Goodness snarled, raising her weapon once more. The Furies regrouped behind her, their eyes burning with fury. The final clash was inevitable.

And Aiden was ready.

Raising his sword, he made a simple trusting movement. "Void Thrust."