Levi Dane stood within the court. It was a truly grand building with its marble floors and furnishings of carved wood. All around he could see Gods seated high up on the second floor, like they were watching a play. His arms were bound by golden cuffs that went from his wrists to his elbows. Two guards stood at his sides, suited in divine armour of mythril steel.

Behind him sat his family; his Father, older brother, and younger sister. His sister looked as if she was about to burst into tears while his Father and brother had despondent expressions. They all knew there was no hope for an easy sentence.

Finally, the judge - seated on a stand so high, Levi had to tilt his head to see the top - opened his mouth, "Levi Dane. For murdering Tavia Orland, Jane Orland, Julius Orland, and the entire Orland Clan; you are to be banished from this realm and sent to live among mortals. You will be stripped of your divinity and banished, never to return until the end of time."

Suddenly, the room broke out into many sounds of whispering. His sister and brother held slight looks of surprise while his father had a small, knowing smile but still looked sad overall.

Levi himself couldn't believe it. After 3 long years of careful planning he had finally completed his revenge on the Orland Family. He had done it with the full expectation of being executed and yet he had been sentenced to be banished.

For some, being banished was equal to death, but for Levi it represented a string of hope and he would hold onto it with all his might. This whole time Levi had looked calm, a bit sad, but satisfied at having completed what he set out to do. But now he finally broke down. Tears began streaming down his face with a cry only those who had escaped from certain death would understand.

"Order!" the judge shouted with a low and booming voice. "This trial has been put off for far too long so Levi Dane is to be banished immediately. Levi Dane. Is there anything you wish to say?"

"Yes, your honour. May I say goodbye to my family."

"You may. Guards, remove his cuffs."

"Thank you your honour."

His cuffs taken off, Levi immediately went to his family. First to his sister. Taking her into his arms, he spoke, "C'mon Julie, don't cry. I'll be back again, I promise. If our old man could ascend from the mortal realm, who says that I can't."

Hearing those words, Julia looked up at her brother's face. Although his face was stained with tears, she could see the confidence in his eyes and in his smile and in his eyes. "I'm so sorry brother. It's all my fault things ended like this."

With a stern expression Levi replied, "Julie, I've already told you. This was my own choice and I must bare the consequences. Don't blame yourself for things outside of your control."

Julia meekly nodded.

"Stay safe Julie and make sure you take care of that dull older brother of ours. I love you."

"I love you too."

Reluctantly, Julia let go of Levi and he walked to his older brother.

"Hey bro, why so sad?"

"Levi. Why'd you go and do that on your own?"

"C'mon, we've already talked about this."

Joel looked more and more regretful as he spoke, "I know. It's just, I could've help-"

"Joel," Levi said and Joel looked up. "Can you say goodbye to your little brother?"

Joel took a deep breath and donned his usual calm and confident expression. "Who are you talking to like a kid you little brat!"

"Pssh, you're the one with tears in your eyes."

"Speak for yourself, you look like you just got out of an insane asylum."

Levi quickly found something metallic and shiny to see his own reflection.

"..."

"..."

Suddenly, both brothers burst out laughing.

"Hahaha... Seriously though Levi, you better come back soon."

"I'll be back before you know it," Levi said as they shared a manly hug.

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Next, Levi spoke to his Father, "Dad... You knew didn't you?"

"I called in a few favours."

"You have something on the God of Wisdom?" Levi asked with wide eyes.

Levi's Father simply gave a smile before moving on, "Son, ascending from the mortal realm is no easy feat. No one really knows how it works or what you have to do. All I know is that you'll have to have to be very powerful, almost as much as you are right now, with your divinity."

"Almost as powerful as I am now?! But without my divinity I'll be powerless!"

"You should still be among the strongest in the mortal realm, but it is a very different place compared to what it used to be. Even the you of today would have a tough fight against the me of back then."

"Hmph, even if that is true, by the time I get back I'll be more powerful than even the current you! Well I best be off, wouldn't want to keep the God of Wisdom waiting too long."

"Yeah, you better get going... Levi wait." Levi's Father suddenly took him into a bear hug, "Stay safe my boy."

"Yeah, I will."

Soon, Levi resumed his position at the defendants stand. "Your honour, I am ready."

The judge nodded and motioned to the guards. They brought him to the center of the room where a large circle with intricate designs had been carved in the marble floor.

Then, a god approached him. He wore a simple white robe and sandals, yet he seemed to overflow with power and charisma. It was like what a mortal would feel if a god appeared before them, hence his title: The God of Gods.

Although certainly not the most powerful among the gods, he was within the upper echelon. He had many abilities that would prove to be a nightmare for most other gods.

Among them was the ability to take another god's divinity as long as they were significantly weaker than him. As such, it proved no problem for him to remove Levi's divinity.

The moment Levi felt his divinity being pulled out of him, his first reaction was to hold onto it. Luckily, he curbed that action and let the process finish. When it was completed, Levi instantly felt an unparalleled sense of weakness.

He fell to his hands and knees and began breathing heavily. His whole body was quickly covered in sweat. He could feel the natural oppression of the gods around him much more vividly.

No one noticed, but the moment Levi had his divinity removed, one unassuming god seated on the second floor had eyes so wide they looked as if they'd fall out.

Not wasting any time, another god, the God of Connections, came towards Levi before stopping in front of the carved circle and making strange hand movements.

The carvings in the floor around Levi began to glow an ethereal blue. He was about to be sent to the mortal realm.

Levi managed to look up and see his family one last time. They all wore depressed expressions, especially his sister. He forced himself to stand up and squeezed out a smile for them.

"Seya later bro!" Joel shouted out.

"Goodbye brother!" Julia shouted after him.

Come back soon, son." his Father said.

Levi simply gave the peace sign with his fingers while keeping the same stupid grin on his face.

Suddenly, the connection was completed. Underneath his feet was a portal to the mortal realm. He fell and once he was fully through, the portal was closed back up.

After many hours everyone had left the court house. All except that one unassuming god still sitting in shock. Suddenly, he broke out into a smile and began laughing loudly. Then he got up and made his way to the exit.

"Levi Dane, huh..."

Somewhere in the Mortal Realm

A young woman was training on a mountain. In a small clearing she had found, she practiced a series of stances and movements. At first slowly, to get the technique perfect, but gradually she was going faster and faster.

At this point, it began looking like full fledged fighting. Each punch and kick, calm and calculated yet ferocious. In her eyes, she could see her master. How he would so easily block, parry and dodge her attacks without taking a step.

Maybe the image of her master in her mind was slightly exaggerated, but that is what had made her his top student. What had pushed her to become stronger. She had been training in the Leopard Dojo since she was a child and still felt she couldn't touch the hem of her master's garments.

Perhaps that was why she felt so apprehensive about leaving. Her master had told her that she needed real world experience. To fight true battles against many different fighting styles. To learn the inner workings of society. Living on a mountain for more than a decade had made her a bit shy.

She would turn 20 at the end of next week which was when she would officially set off into the world.

Finally, she stopped her shadow fighting. She was breathing heavily and was covered in sweat. Her black gi stuck to her back and felt disgusting.

Catching her breath, she decided to go back to the Dojo when suddenly...

"BOOM!"

There was a sound akin to an explosion, like a meteorite hitting the earth. It shook the ground like a small earthquake. In the distance she could see a massive cloud of dirt and dust that reached higher than the mountain she was standing on.

Although a bit fearful, she quickly decided to go and see what was going on. Despite being extremely fast it still took 20 minutes to reach the base of the mountain.

Mostly because the Kanzaki Mountains were absolutely massive reaching more than 10,000 metres (32,000 feet) into the sky, not to mention the hundreds of trees.

When she finally reached the scene of the explosion, or whatever the hell it was, the dust had cleared up enough to reveal a massive crater. Though, she couldn't see the centre.

Slowly, she descended into the crater. It started very steep but lessened as she walked. The ground was very hot.

She had to walk for more than 200 metres before she could make out a figure laying in the centre of the crater. Cautiously approaching, she soon noticed the figure was a young man.

With trepidation she came even closer but suddenly broke out into a sprint. She had noticed the young man seemed to be covered in wounds and injuries.

When she arrived in front of him, she had a grim expression. The injuries were much worse than she had feared. He had landed on his back, so the back of his body was pulverised. She imagined there'd be a lot more blood had it not been vaporised. Believing him dead, she almost left to get her master.

That's when the man opened his eyes. For a moment she stood without saying anything, completely in shock. That shock only grew as the man put on a gleeful smile and his lips parted.

Out of his mouth came a voice on the verge of death, "Hello... I'm Zach."