While the Nine Heroes of Legends had a meeting, the two Gods had a meeting of their own, an unpleasant one. The God of Energy, Engraut, had a fixed stare filled with seriousness while the God of Calamity, Climax, was staring back at him in shock. It appears that Climax had not expected to run into another God on the same planet in the Physical Plane.

“Fancy seeing you here, Climax,” greeted Engraut in a cold voice.

“Engraut! What’re you doing here, Engraut?” Climax asked back, staring at him in disbelief.

“I could ask the same thing off you: what are you doing here on this planet fighting the heroes of this world when we, Gods, shouldn’t be interfering in their matters any more than necessary?”

Climax recollected himself and smiled a little as he asked, “Right back at you, Engruat. What is a stalker, like you, doing here when you’d just normally observe the goings on and everything?”

“Someone has to keep watch over things down here,” replied Engraut coldly, “although, I never expected to see you of all people here. Why? Why are you breaking the rule The Creator enforced on us since the ancient times?”

“I’m here on personal matters,” was Climax’s reply in a casual manner.

“Personal matters? Like what?”

“That person forcefully pulled my son into this planet and started beating him up and then went as far as to humiliate him! As a parent, I couldn’t just let it lying down, so I came to deal with him personally,” said Climax smugly.

Engruat understood whom the God of Calamity was referring to when he mentioned “that person” in a vague manner. It was clear he was referring to Lakshman, or Asura, whoever was fighting the Overlord at that time. He had taken his sight off their battle and was helping Ram and his small group of people in freeing those under the alien’s magic. It was when he sensed Climax’s son, the Demigod Amit, suddenly make his appearance that he came to watch the battle since then.

“I don’t know what happened here until very recently,” said Engraut slowly in a careful manner to try and avoid saying anything that could set the other God off, “but I believe it was when Lakshman blasted your son’s Astral Form out of that alien seeing as he was being forcefully manipulated from a long distance.”

“Says the guy who just previously stated ‘I don’t know what happened…’ so you expect me to believe your words?” Climax asked him, narrowing his eyes and giving him a dangerous look.

The God of Energy flinched and appeared nervous, but he maintained his composure and asked in return, “Perhaps not, but what makes you think I can believe your words on face value, Climax? I wasn’t around what happened when they departed for the Spirit Plane and then returned with you instead of your son. So, where’s your proof that what you speak is the truth, and you aren’t making stuff up to decimate Lakshman since your failure with that void hole you opened in his home world?”

This did surprised Climax, who widened his eyes in amusement and asked, “Oh? So, you knew about that?”

“I was around when that happened,” replied Engruat coldly, “and I saw him blast you out of his brother’s body forcefully, or more specifically brought out your Astral Form. Since you were suddenly brought into that place and were beaten unfairly, I didn’t confront you when you took out your anger and tried to destroy that world by opening a void portal above it.”

This amazed Climax even more, who smiled wryly and asked, “Dear me. I thought you favoured those people even though we shouldn’t have such fleeting feelings towards mortals?”

“You’re wrong,” said Engraut and shook his head. “I am visiting because my follower looked like he could do with a bit of my help during the Phoenix Calamity War. However, I never suspected you’d be the one manipulating him from the shadows.”

“Well, the Calamity Titan is my follower, so I was doing what you did, but more indirectly than making a direct appearance like you,” replied Climax with a small laugh. Then he looked seriously at him and said, “That’s the exact same thing that person did to my son previously. Clearly, he forced him to bring out my son’s Astral Form into this world in the same manner as he did with me.”

“Right. I suppose that could be the truth,” said Engraut, but he looked disapproving as he finished by saying, “but that still doesn’t give you the ground to make a direct appearance, trash this world, beat the hell out of the heroes, and take your anger out on them.”

Climax’s eyebrows flickered for a moment at those words before he replied coldly, “As a parent, I have a duty to punish those that hurt my child, and as he was forcefully brought here, I am doing just that.”

“And what place do we, as Gods, have in all this?” Engruat asked, and Climax narrowed his eyes with seriousness. “We’re not directly involved as it’s a matter involved between people living in the Physical Plane. Why are you forcing your agenda and coming here on a false pretence?”

“False… pretence…?” Climax asked, suddenly becoming enraged by such a comment. “There is no pretence here! I came to protect my son, and I’m disciplining these fools for hurting him! I will not abandon the only family I have remaining!”

His words made Engraut look surprised before he tentatively asked, “Are you… still upset about… you know… your wife?”

There was a sudden tense silence that fell between them upon him saying the last two words. The God of Calamity stared at him for a moment in silence before he lowered his head a little to cast a shadow over his face to hide the expression he was wearing at that time.

“How can I… not be upset… when my precious… my precious… was… was…!”

He could not finish the sentence, and he clenched his hands tightly that shook due to how angry he was about it. A tragedy among the gods that had happened only once, and that too happened only to him. Engraut did not blame Climax for harbouring such anger and hatred for what happened that day as he felt he too would feel that way if that had happened to his wife. However, he calmly assessed the situation while Climax viewed it through clouded sight.

“Even so, I believe you are in the wrong for interfering in matters that are not within our domain,” said Engraut finally.

This greatly angered Climax, who, for the first time since coming to that world, lost his composure and shouted, “Easy for you to say, you bastard! Try having a family and then understand the pain of losing one of them in the most tragic ways ever?! Then come and tell me how it felt and whether you fully understand my feelings! In fact, I don’t need you to understand, nor do I want your pity!”

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The God of Energy realised he had greatly angered him by his words and quickly said, “Calm down, Climax! You’ll destroy this world!”

“And why should I care when that scumbag humiliated my son and almost had him killed by that divine serpent!” Climax retaliated furiously. “My anger cannot be quelled so easily! No way!”

Engraut looked at him with a troubled look on his face and wondered, “Just what did you do, Lakshman? No. I think this was Asura’s doing. Such a reckless behaviour and dangerous actions only make sense when its Asura’s doing. That guy…! What did he do to make Climax this angry?!”

“Even so, you should calm yourself, Climax. The other Gods wouldn’t be happy to see you acting so rashly.”

“Oh? Like I care? Besides, is there any God among us that can measure up to me, with the exception of the God of Power and the Goddess of War?” Climax asked arrogantly with a smirk on his face.

Engraut could not say anything back because he knew it was the truth. It was like what Asura had said earlier, that it would take at least four of the Fighting Type Gods to match up against the God of Calamity. That is because of how overwhelmingly powerful Climax was compared to the rest of them.

“Dammit. If only the God of Power didn’t go missing,” thought Engruat to himself in nervousness.

Climax glared at him when he suddenly sensed something happening behind Engruat. He glanced over the God of Energy’s shoulder and saw that the Nine Heroes of Legends had gathered there and seemed to be in some kind of trance. He did not know what was happening, or why they were just standing around there, but he knew nothing good would come out by leaving them standing there like that.

He raised his hand and aimed it at them with the intention of destroying them, but Engruat stepped in between.

“Move aside, Engraut,” he warned the God of Energy in a deadly voice. “I won’t hold back even if you are a fellow God.”

“Please, stop this madness, Climax!” Engraut demanded furiously, keeping his position fixed while doing his best to hide the fear he felt on the inside. “You’re about to step out of the boundaries The Creator set for us Gods!”

“Is that right?” Climax asked mockingly. “Then, I ask you, why is it that I’m still here in this world despite all that I’ve done so far instead of being forcefully pushed back to my realm? Clearly, The Creator believes that me being here is justified by what has happened so far! That, itself, is proof enough for me, unless you’re letting your favouritism for that person cloud your judgement, Engraut!”

Engraut was stumped by Climax’s statement, and he wondered whether what he said was true. After all, the real reason that Engruat was confronting Climax despite knowing that he was completely weak against him was due to Lakshman persuading him into doing it. However, he also firmly believed that the God of Calamity was going against the wishes of The Creator in not inflicting direct impact on any world by any God without the proper summoning by their followers. That was why he was able to visit Lakshman from time to time on the pretext of assisting his followers.

As such, the two Gods had a standoff, with each staring into each other’s faces with extreme seriousness. It lasted for a few seconds before Climax clicked his tongue and unleashed a powerful blast in a manner to avoid hitting Engruat while aiming for the heroes. However, Engraut saw this coming and instantly utilised his powers as the God of Energy to block its flow of energy, causing it to explode with tremendous force, causing him to get sent backwards from the shockwave.

“It’s about time I put an end to this,” said Climax as he glared menacingly at them all with a deadly stare while deadly aura began emanating from him.

“Damn!” Engraut said, getting to his feet and glaring back at him.

“Wow…! Is it just me, or does he seem more angrier than before?” Vikram asked slowly with a nervous look on his face.

“I’m scared,” muttered Martin with cold sweat forming on his face.

“I’m not scared!” Gram said, raising his sword in their enemy’s direction.

“Same here!” Maxwell said, pulling out his guns and standing in a ready position.

“Me too!” William agreed, holding an arrow in one hand and bow in the other.

“Let’s do this according to plan, everyone!” Natsu said, supporting Lakshman to his feet.

As they nodded while facing their enemy, Climax heard those words and remarked, “Like I’m going to stand here like an invalid and let you do whatever you want!”

With that, he unleashed another tremendous blast in their direction with the power to destroy the whole area and vaporise them from existence. But before any of them could make their move, Engraut got in front of it and aimed his hands at it while using his powers as a God to stop the ball, causing the violent forces to collide and explode, resulting in a powerful explosion that blasted them backwards.

“Engraut!” Lakshman called as they managed to land on their feet while Engraut crash landed near them.

“Forget about me and do what you must!” He told them and faced forward against Climax.

“Move aside, Engraut,” said the God of Calamity in a cold voice. “Do not make me taint my hands by killing another God. Jena will be upset.”

This made the God of Energy smile wryly as he thought about his wife, the Goddess of Love, Jena, and looked back at his Climax.

“Perhaps you’re right, but as a God, it’s my duty to ensure that the rules are being followed even if I am more lenient than the God of Justice. Thus, I believe your actions are unfair and unjust!” Engraut retorted fiercely.

This caused Climax to flash his eyes dangerously before saying, “You’re one to talk,” and fired off another blast at him.

While Engraut was busily doing his best to keep Climax at bay, the other heroes moved away from there and followed according to the instructions that they received from the fairy inside of Lakshman on how to perform the fusion.

“I’m so excited and nervous at the same time!” Vikram said eagerly with a broad grin on his face.

“I’m only doing this because this is temporary!” Gram informed in a cold voice.

“I hope this works!” Maxwell said hopefully.

“Let’s do our best…!” Martin said, trying to muster up the courage despite speaking feebly.

“This better not cause some kind of strange abomination once we fuse!” William said with a dark look on his face.

“It’ll work out… hopefully…” said Fred, trying to sound reassuring, but came off as nervous instead.

“Anyway, take your places everyone,” said Natsu as he let go of Lakshman, who managed to stand next to him.

The rest of them did and appeared to stand around each other to form a circle while facing each other. However, before they could do anything else, a powerful bang occurred near them, causing them to break the formation by turning away and shielding their eyes. As the dust cleared, they saw that Engruat was covered in bruises as he was blasted backwards by a blast even more powerful than the last.

“Really now, I wonder what you heroes are up to?” Climax asked curiously, slowly walking forward while holding a small black ball of energy that he held lazily in his hand.

“Damn!” Engraut muttered as Maxwell and William went to check on him. “I’m fine,” he said and rejected their assistance before pushing himself to his feet.

Climax slowly approached them and noticing the circle that the heroes stood around, he raised an eyebrow in amusement and asked, “I see you’re trying to do some kind of ritual. Let me guess,” and he appeared to think for a moment before smiling and pointed his finger at them while saying, “The ancient fusion thing, right?”

Everyone was shocked upon him correctly guessing what it was they were trying to do. Lakshman was not as surprised as the others because he suspected the God of Calamity would be able to easily tell just based on their behaviour. However, he could hear the fairy inside his head panicking wildly while Asura laughing.

“We’re so busted!” Asura commented with a laugh.

“He knows! He knows! This is not good, and stop laughing, Asura! This is really bad!” The fairy complained angrily.

“It couldn’t get any worse, could it?” Asura asked with a light chuckle.

Lakshman sighed and asked, “You don’t seem all that surprised.”

“Why should I be when there’s nothing to worry about?” Climax asked back with a snort. “Rather, I am more surprised by the lengths that you people are going to in order to fight me. After all, what do you people think you can achieve… when all of you… are already… dead?”