"I'm ready," the giant said, hitting his fists together with a rocky boom.
"Then, start when you wish," announced Arkhos, taking a step back to give them space.
Draygon took the first step, his fists enveloped in flames: the divine fire he had inherited from his father burned intensely. He advanced resolutely towards his rival, unleashing a rapid flurry of ignited punches, one after another. But his fists barely made an impact on his opponent's rocky body. Butser hardly moved.
Then, with a single blow delivered directly to the abdomen, he launched Draygon airborne, slamming him against the wall with a dry crash.
"You're stronger than I imagined... or perhaps I am weaker than I thought..." the young man murmured with difficulty, as dust rained down around him.
He glanced at his father, who observed him in silence from a distance. That gesture was enough to propel him to get up immediately. He wanted to show him that he was serious, that he was willing to give everything.
Once on his feet, he returned to the attack. This time, he feigned a direct punch to deceive Butser. But just before impact, he spun around and delivered a side kick with his leg wrapped in flames. The blow landed squarely on his rival's face, who instinctively shut his eyes against the searing heat.
When he opened them, Draygon was no longer in front of him.
He was above.
He had propelled himself with such force that his feet were glued to the metallic ceiling. And from there, he launched himself with blinding speed toward his opponent.
Butser had no time to react.
The flaming fist impacted squarely against his head, destabilizing him. Without missing a beat, Draygon spun on his axis and delivered a powerful downward kick that sent Butser crashing backward onto the floor with a brutal thud.
Arkhos was surprised by his son's combat prowess. Although he didn't yet possess great power, he knew how to move and fight intelligently. He smiled upon seeing the agility and precision of his son, capable of facing Butser despite the difference in strength.
"Not bad at all..." he muttered to himself, a broad smile crossing his face.
Butser slowly began to get up. His sheer size, which normally commanded respect, now seemed a disadvantage against the speed of his young rival.
"Good move, young Draygon. I won't lower my guard again... I must admit, I didn't expect those kinds of maneuvers," he said in a firm voice, hitting his fists together hard.
The enormous, rocky Butser flexed his neck, and the sound of the rocks forming his neck and back resonated loudly throughout the hall.
"Let's see how you defend yourself now. I'm going to get a little more serious," he said, just before rushing toward the young man with astonishing speed for someone his size.
Draygon barely had time to react. He hadn't anticipated such quickness from someone so heavy. The direct hit to his ribs was brutal. He didn't manage to dodge or block it in time, but this time he didn't fly out. He planted his feet firmly and withstood the impact with his entire body, surprising Butser.
Taking advantage of the proximity, Draygon grabbed the rock giant's arm and, gathering his strength, pulled him closer to deliver a powerful blow with his flame-enveloped arm. The impact was more effective than expected: for the first time, Butser showed signs of pain.
However, the price was high. The extreme effort and the force of the collision took their toll. The young god fell to his knees, blood spilling from his mouth, and an instant later, he lost consciousness.
Draygon slowly opened his eyes. His entire body ached, especially his side. It took him a few seconds to realize he was in his bed. He tried to sit up, but the pain prevented him from moving normally. From the room, he could hear his father's voice conversing with someone else on the other side of the slightly ajar door.
"Thank you for your help," Arkhos said.
Draygon, still dazed, turned his head with effort and saw his father through the door's opening.
"Dad...?" he asked weakly, still confused by the pain.
Arkhos entered the room upon hearing his son's voice.
"You woke up sooner than expected. Don't push yourself; stay lying down," he said softly, seeing Draygon try to sit up.
"What happened...?" he asked with a confused look.
"During your combat with Butser, you took a very strong blow to the ribs. You lost consciousness shortly after," his father replied calmly.
Draygon lowered his gaze, visibly frustrated.
"I disappointed you... I'm too weak to be your son."
Arkhos sat beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"That's not true, son. I am not disappointed at all. You fought well, and you managed to surprise all of us despite the difference in power. You are still young, and I am sure that one day you will surpass me. If you continue training with that spirit, I have no doubt you will achieve it."
"Thank you, Dad... for supporting me. I don't plan to stop until I become a powerful god. I've never told you what my true goal is, but I think it's time to do so."
"Tell me, son. I'm listening," Arkhos replied with a proud smile.
"My goal is to become the most powerful living being in the universe. I know it's a difficult goal, perhaps impossible for many... but I want to achieve that power not out of ambition, but to protect this universe. For that, I need to be the strongest."
Arkhos looked at him with admiration and nodded.
"I trust you will achieve it. I never had a goal as clear as yours. Perhaps my only true goal was to conquer your mother's heart... and believe me, I was terribly afraid of your grandfather," he added with a laugh, recalling the past.
Draygon laughed for a while with his father, sharing that moment of closeness. However, after a few seconds, his expression changed as he remembered something that worried him.
"Father... there is something concerning me," he said with a serious tone.
"Tell me, son," Arkhos replied, noticing the change in his voice.
"Do you know anything about your three fellow gods? The ones who went to confront Radeon," he asked, visibly tense.
"No... we haven't received any news yet. Why do you ask?" Arkhos said, his expression now more attentive.
"I'm just... worried, that's all," he replied, slightly lowering his gaze.
Arkhos leaned closer and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry. They are three extremely powerful gods, and they know each other well. They know how to work as a team. I'm sure they will be fine."
"If you say so, Dad... then I'll be at ease," he said, letting out a sigh as he tried to relax.
"Besides, it's still early. They probably haven't even reached planet Lumirel yet. As soon as they do, I'm sure they will report the situation," Arkhos replied calmly.
"When you know anything, tell me, okay?" he asked seriously.
"Of course. Now rest. As soon as you are fully recovered, you can continue with your training," his father replied with a calm smile.
The young god drifted back to sleep. Several days passed in recovery, and by the fourth day, he felt completely restored. Finally, he was ready to return to training with his rival.
Upon leaving his room, he found his father talking to someone in the palace gardens. With an excited smile, he approached.
"I'm as good as new, ready to train again!"
Seeing him, Arkhos told him he would talk to him later, that he was busy at this precise moment. Draygon realized something wasn't right; his father looked very serious.
"Okay..." he murmured, moving away slowly.
From a distance, he watched his father conversing with a man he had never seen before. His presence commanded respect: a penetrating gaze, a face marked by age, and an aura so intense it was enough to cause discomfort.
"Son, come here for a moment." Elaethe's voice pulled him out of his reverie.
"Mom... what's wrong with Dad? Did something happen?" he asked uneasily.
"Yes, but you should discuss it with him. That man is giving him important details," she replied seriously.
"And who is that... strange man?" he insisted, not taking his eyes off the stranger.
"He is Zarem, the former elder god. Ishamara's father," Elaethe said.
"An elder god? But he seems perfectly fine... Why is he no longer on the throne?"
"He ceded the place to his son. I don't know much more, to be honest."
Once Arkhos finished his conversation with the other god and the man left, Draygon, accompanied by his mother, approached him with a serious expression.
"Dad, tell me what's going on," he asked with a firm voice.
"Let's go into the palace. It's better if I tell you inside," he replied in a graver tone than usual.
Once inside, they sat in the great hall, and Arkhos began to speak after a brief silence.
"Yesterday, Vhorr, Menoth, and Ishmara reached planet Lumirel. I cannot assure you that the information Zarem gave me is completely accurate... but coming from him, I highly doubt it is false."
Draygon held his breath, knowing that what was coming would not be easy to hear.
"He told me that the three of them fought against Radeon... and they lost. Vhorr is dead. Menoth and Ishmara managed to escape, but not for long. According to Zarem, his son sent him a vision to warn him of what happened, but the message was abruptly cut off. Radeon was pursuing them."
Draygon was completely bewildered. The news struck him with the force of a storm.
"Three gods against a single being... and they still couldn't defeat him? How powerful is that half-demon?" he asked, incredulous.
Arkhos nodded gravely, his expression somber.
"Yes. And all this is my fault... I was the one who chose that trio, thinking they would be the ideal team to confront him. I underestimated Radeon. This enemy is not just any threat... He is a real danger to the balance of the universe. We will need to unite all the elder gods if we want a chance to defeat him."