31

As our bodies collide, a powerful shock wave ripples outward, creating a force field of energy around us. I position myself strategically so that Ciar is safely behind me, both to protect her and obscure her from sight. With my advanced abilities, there are countless powers at my disposal, but the physical clash before us will test my adaptability and provide Ciar with precious time.

Ammit's physical form is not just for show. She fights like an animal, utilizing her godly strength to match my own. Though she may be considered weak in the eyes of others, in this moment she is a formidable opponent.

In the midst of our clash, golden droplets of blood and pieces of flesh fly through the air. Each strike is fuelled by pure instinct, with no room for tactics or strategy.

But as the fight continues, something begins to shift. Not only am I healing at an accelerated pace, but Ammit's attacks seem to do less damage to me as I continue to stack damage upon her. Perhaps she hasn't noticed yet, consumed by the frenzy of battle. But I can feel our roles slowly reversing, and I know that victory may be within my grasp.

With each blow I land, my confidence swells. Ammit's surprise and desperation become apparent as she growls at me, grating like a rusty chainsaw. She throws a punch that I sidestep, countering with a blow to her midsection that doubles her over.

All the while, Ciar chants fervently behind me. My senses are heightened by the adrenaline coursing through my veins, and I can smell the earthy scent of her magic mixing with the ozone-like aroma of my power. Her voice carries no inflection, no emotion; only a cold, methodical detachment indicative of intense concentration.

Now's my chance.

I shove Ammit backward with all the fury I can muster. A yelp escapes her as she tumbles unceremoniously to the ground. The deathly energy absorbing into her flickers like a dying light bulb. She tries to stand but it's too late; she's completely spent.

"Ciar," I call back to her without turning away from Ammit, "NOW!"

Suddenly, a flash of blinding white light engulfs Ammit, momentarily suspending our turmoil. As the illumination fades, my heart throbs in my chest as I behold the transformation first-hand. The form before me is no longer that of the nightmarish creature we had been battling, rather, it has now morphed into a regal human-like figure. She's taller and more muscular than any humans I've seen; her dark skin takes on an ethereal glow under the dim sunlight, and her hair is a cascade of silver waves reaching down to her shoulders. The frenzy in her eyes has faded into something solemn yet fiery.

In the throes of this dramatic shift, Ammit releases an earth-shattering roar, one part fury and two parts incredulity.

"What have you done!" she bellows at Ciar, her voice now possessed of a melodic undertone that lends it a strangely alluring quality.

"I'm not done yet," Ciar mumbles as the Celtic symbols on her staff glow brighter than before, casting an ethereal aura around us all. The ground beneath Ammit rumbles again. This time, however, instead of vines and thorny tendrils, large shards of glistening crystal erupt from the earth beneath her.

Caught by surprise, Ammit lets out a roar of pain and fury as the crystal spikes pierce through her human form, sealing her in the crystal.

Ciar raises her head to the sky, her dark eyes glittering with determination. "As agreed, she is alive," she declares with a commanding tone, "ensure she is never a problem to us again."

A ghostly white Ankh glows and encircles the crystal she is trapped in. "Anubis always keeps his word," a voice that feels like it is suppressing me with just its breath says, "Both to you sorcerer and you new Godling, my thanks for your assistance."

The crystal vanishes into thin air and I feel a wave of exhaustion wash over me as I transform back to my normal form. With a weak motion, I return the space around us to its previous state and slump down onto my chair. All I wanted was a moment's rest.

But then I sense a presence beside me, a gentle aura that settles into the seat next to mine. "Were you a new god when we met just minutes ago?" she asks softly.

I open my one eye and look at her, too tired to respond with anything other than honesty. "Nope," I admit wearily.

"So you became a god the moment she arrived," she remarks, pointing out an interesting fact.

"Yup," I reply with a hint of sarcasm before closing my eyes again. "You decided to deal with me honestly," I hear her say with amusement, "Lord Paragon," she adds.

"You're not funny, you know," I grumble. "I feel like I am outgrowing my pond."

"Oh, you are very far from that," she reassures me with a gentle smile. "But as you are alone, you are the leader of a new pantheon, you should consider what you want to govern within your own realm. As within your own realm, you will be much more powerful."

"Yeah, when I became a God, I suddenly knew a whole bunch of things," I say with a sense of frustration. "All I wanted was to rest for a bit."

"One sec," I close my eyes dramatically and speak to the Island, seeking her guidance and advice. Since everything within this realm is connected and only positive energies exist here, she is more than willing to offer her insight.

"Okay, sentient realm sorted," I announce with a smug smile. "You asked the Island, didn't you?" Ciar says with a knowing grin.

I let out a sigh, feeling slightly disappointed that she saw through me so easily. "No fun," I mutter.

"You know you already booked," I say with a playful smirk. 

"As wife number?" she asks.

I can't help but laugh at her teasing tone. "Goddess of Magic, I assume?" she inquires.

At that moment, I feel a little more affection for this powerful, insightful, and caring woman by my side. "Would you accept?" I ask seriously.

She turns to me, her eyes sparkling with warmth and love. "It would be an honor," she replies sincerely, "but only if it does not interfere with my current responsibilities."

Ciar reminds me sternly, "You must set your own responsibilities before you can take on such a role." His words echo through the large room, adorned with elegant furnishings and golden accents.

I call out to Eve playfully, "Oh, I think we sorted that out a while ago, didn't we, my dear?" The sound of her giggling fills the air even before I see her. She is perched on the edge of Ciar's chair, doubled over in laughter, and holding onto her stomach.

Her amusement only grows when Ciar turns to her with a perplexed look and asks, "I don't mean to be rude, but what exactly are you?" Eve's eyes twinkle mischievously as she responds, "I am incomplete...until now. Isn't that right, Lord Paragon?"

Eve bursts into laughter again while I simply shake my head at her antics. "Actually," I explain to Ciar, "I created Eve. In my naivety, I thought I had simply discovered her. But I later realized that I had unknowingly used mutant energy to bring her into existence."

I glance over at Eve fondly as she proudly kicks her legs back and forth from the edge of the bed. "I apologize for imprisoning you within the realm of speed," I say apologetically. "But fear not, my dear. Soon you will embody my personal force, my 'ace in the hole', if you will. However, this means you will never be able to act against me."

Eve's face lights up with excitement at this revelation. "Silly Paragon," she exclaims, "you gave me life! And now I get to be your most powerful ally." Her enthusiasm is contagious and I can't help but smile at her boundless energy and loyalty.

 "You see Ciar, I was given a gift I really was unsure about, Eve then used my own power to give me another gift, and that one taught me that I could do almost anything I wanted with the energy I absorb."

"Firstly, my own personal power. Eve, if you could accept them into yourself, and allow them to grow stronger in my force dimension?"

Eve salutes and says in a very loli Power Rangers voice, "Blue (Space), Red (Reality), Yellow (Mind), and Green (Time) forces, combine to form … Paragon Force!!" she then does a typical pose as both Ciar and myself slap our foreheads. To her credit it did work though, Eve was infused with my personal force, naturally, I was as well. (In case you wondering, Odin force has a personification, a small boy, but he never shows himself) I could feel myself infused with a power far more powerful than the parts that created it, and all the powers that were infused in them returned to individual powers once again.

I shake my head and combine Black (Death) and Orange (Soul) into a complete Soul Force. Green (Plant), Red (Animal), Clear (Water animal), Bio kinesis combine into Life Force. Metal and the 4 elements became an Elemental Force.

Those were all my Forces, last but not least to set the Physic for my pantheon, mine would be the top tier, and it would diminish in power as it passes to those below me, but to a degree, all residents of my realm would gain benefits from it.

Feet, Fist, Purple (Power), and Gold (pale blue) combine to Supreme physiology

I gained all the powers that made them up as individual powers again.

My last two, my Alpha and Omega grew in size and my Alpha moved to my now bare left hand, my Omega was not the only marking on my right.

"Oh wow, okay, I felt that, you really grew in power," Ciar observed.

"I always had it, I just had too many to use, combined, now each of them makes up an aspect of myself," I explain