CHAPTER 116: CHAPTER 116: FIGHT TO FINISH.

Seraphine stood at the far end of the golden gates, panting so hard her chest rose and fell like waves crashing against an unseen shore.

She was dressed in lilac garments that shimmered faintly, reflecting the glow of the celestial palace. The golden gates towered behind her, humming with quiet, ancient power. It was the gates that only a handful of gods had the privilege to walk through without being summoned. Yet she had barged in, breathless, relentless, unannounced.

After Zeres had taken Calithar away, she had decided not to interfere. It had been so long since she last spoke to her father after the great incident. Nevertheless, she couldn’t just leave him like that.

Seraphine walked forward with her head raised high. It was the first time she’d step foot in this place in over ten decades. Her lilac garment had a long slit from its hem up to her hips on both side, accentuating her womanly and delicate shape. The dress was armless, covering only her chest region, under arms before flowing down the rest of her body with a grey string tying it in place to her waist.

There was always a saying that the queen of creation was the fairest of all but that pales greatly in comparison to Seraphine.

Delicate yet powerful, kind yet fierce. Every divine being craved her for a wife or companion but who’d dare become an in-law to the almighty?

Who’d dare to desire his precious, only daughter? Only an insanely brave person that’s for sure.

Every god present lifted their eyes toward her, their expressions unreadable yet undeniably tense. The hall was filled with gods of various ranks, beings of colossal power, each seated upon floating thrones that hovered in a vast semicircle: Aphyna, goddess of beauty, Eopvez, goddess of wisdom even Dermes, the messenger of the gods was present.

Between them and Seraphine, the distance wasn’t much.

She approached them and bowed, low and respectful, though her urgency leaked through her trembling breath she fought so hard to conceal.

Daix, the same god who had once condemned Calithar with cold certainty, remained silent. Of course she remained silent.

Every god did.

Because Seraphine was not just any god.

She was the only daughter of the true god, the supreme being who governed all creation, the architect of existence, the very being whose thoughts shaped worlds and whose breath created galaxies. From the moment she was born, the universe bowed to her presence. She was the child of the Almighty, and no one no matter how powerful could openly disrespect or question her.

Even her smallest mistakes were forgiven and her boldest actions were excused. She was adored, spoiled, and held above all.

Seraphine approached the throne and stood tall before her father, something no other being god or angel, archon or whatever would ever dare to do.

Every other being would bowed instantly with their heads to the ground, one knee to the floor and silence in their throats.

But not Seraphine.

She stood with her back straight, her white- silver hair cascading behind her small figure like a river of light.

The true god sat upon his throne, radiating a brilliance so overwhelmingly. His face was shaped in glowing splendor, its details obscured by a light brighter than a thousand suns. No mortal eye could behold it and survive; even divine beings could look only briefly.

"My daughter," the almighty said, his voice warm but layered with infinite authority, a voice that resonated through the hearts of every being present. "Why have you come to visit me?"

Seraphine swallowed, trying to steady her breathing. Not like she was scared of her own father but because she knew the gravity of what she was about to request.

Not only had she purposely avoided him but she had come to plead on behalf of an obvious offender.

Though she had every privilege in existence, begging before Him was never easy especially for something this grave.

She lowered herself to her knees, bowing her head until it touched the radiant floor. Seraphine didn’t have to kneel obviously. All her life she never knelt but this time, pride had no place.

"almighty..." she began, her voice breaking slightly. "Please have mercy on your son. His actions were born from negligence, from ignorance and not malice. We... we seek your grace. Calithar has been a righteous god in his time, a pillar of honor. Please... please lower the sentence."

A chilling silence spread through the celestial hall. Everyone knew how much the true god loved his daughter to pieces. It was always the root cause of jealousy and envy even among gods.

Begging the Almighty for mercy in such a case where the sin was clear and incontestable could easily be mistaken for folly or even defiance. Many gods would rather endure punishment than attempt such a bold plea.

But Seraphine did not flinch. She didn’t care about the risk nor about the horrified stares she felt around her. She only cared about one thing:

If Zeres executed the punishment as ordered Calithar would not survive.

A thousand divine lashes from Zeres’ celestial rod... hell even Zeres himself could never endure such a punishment.

And Zeres was the Sun God, the strongest warrior of the heavens, unmatched in raw power after the true god.

Calithar would die and Seraphine refused to let that happen. I already lost him as a potential lover, I’m not going to lose him as a friend.

The almighty lifted his hand slowly, a gesture that only meant one thing.

"Come to me, my daughter. Let me see you clearly."

Seraphine lifted her head and rose from the floor. She hovered into the air with graceful, swift motion, flying toward the throne. Three thrones stood on the platform; one for the

almighty, and the other reserved for either the Queen of Creation and the last for Seraphine when summoned.

When she reached the dais, the almighty pointed to the throne at his left. She sat still, breathlessly trying to calm her trembling hands.

Sitting there had always made her nervous ever since her mother’s death. Another reason why she didn’t want to be there.

Facing forward with a face brighter than a thousand suns combined, he asked calmly:

"And what punishment," the almighty said, "do you believe is fitting for him?"

Seraphine swallowed hard but kept her voice steady. She had thought hard on this issue before coming. It would be pure foolishness to beg the true god to release Calithar. His sinwas completely justifiable.

"A duel, my Lord. With the very man who seeks to carry out his sentence. If Calithar wins, he must be set free and granted mercy by my lord but if he doesn’t..." her eyes went up to Calithar hanging on the gallows them to Zeres who looked like he wanted to kill her. "...then he must face the consequences of his actions."

A ripple passed through the assembled gods.

A duel between gods?

A duel between Zeres and Calithar?

It was impossible, reckless, unthinkable.

Zeres was the mightiest warrior among them. His power dwarfed many. A duel would be brutal than his whips. Infact, that is highly controversial in their realm.

The faces of the gods held disapproval but no one was brave enough to counter the words of the goddess... especially when daddy was there.

"As you wish," the Almighty replied, making his decree with only three simple words.

Seraphine sighed internally. She didn’t know whether to be happy or sad even when he had given her the green light.

She hoped desperately that she hadn’t made things worse for him.

The true god turned his gaze forward and immediately the entire chamber shifted in energy.

At the almighty’s silent command, Calithar was brought forth by the same two massive celestial beings. They released him and lowered him gently to the ground.

Calithar landed on weakened knees. His face held pain, exhaustion, buy resilience . He had mentally prepared himself for his great punishment the minute he was hung.

Zeres dropped beside him from a great height with one knee arched against the floor and his powerful wings flared out behind him.

Zeres lifted his chin and announced loudly:

"A duel, my lord, your servant accepts."

Then, a winged creature descended from above. It was Yennae, the Observer, a celestial witness created to proclaim divine orders.

"The almighty orders a duel," it proclaimed. "Between Zeres, the God of the Sun, and Calithar, the God of the Earth."

"If the duel ends in Zeres’ favor," the creature continued, "the initial punishment shall stand."

"If it does not, Calithar shall receive mercy from the most high."

The gods rose in unity at the end of the proclamation.

All turned toward the throne and bowed deeply with their elbows pressed against their forearms in the sacred posture of reverence.

"Wisest of all," they chanted in perfect harmony, their voices merging like a celestial chorus.

"Your grace is boundless. Your wisdom, unmatched."

Calithar stood slowly, his breath trembling. He lifted his face, eyes momentarily meeting Seraphine’s. She held his gaze, staunchly.

The things this woman has done for me...

He could do this. He must do this. Seraphine had given up her peace to come back to her father after decades of abstaining from him. He couldn’t let her down

No...he mustn’t.

The Observer descended further, stretching out a hand toward Calithar.

A beam of blinding light erupted from its palm and shot into Calithar’s chest. His body jerked as divine energy surged through him; energy he hadn’t felt in ages. His old power surged awake, shaking the ground beneath his feet.

He had been granted his full divinity back but only for the duration which the duel shall last.

His clothing dissolved in a burst of light, reforming into his regal, heavenly attire. Deep earthen hues mixed with shimmering green and gold, symbolizing life, purity, and nature itself, swirled around him, lifting him slowly into the air.

Everyone watched as his divine aura returned, swirling around him like a reborn storm.

"To the Holy Coliseum," the Observer declared once again and in a flash quicker than a millisecond, the entire space was cleared of the divine beings.