The Mortal Who Smiled at the Gods

BOOOOOOM!!!

The sky exploded.

Clouds vanished in an instant as two figures clashed above Earth’s atmosphere, their fists colliding with enough force to shake the planet.

Shockwaves ripped across oceans. Windows shattered in cities miles away.

In the middle of downtown Hoshinara—

A 16-year-old boy stared straight up at the chaos.

Takahiro Hoshino.

His eyes weren’t filled with fear.

They were shining.

“THIS IS INSANE!!” he yelled, grinning like a kid watching fireworks.

High above, a golden-aura warrior blocked a crushing kick from a silver-skinned being wrapped in dark cosmic energy.

Their movements were invisible.

Only explosions marked where they fought.

BOOM!

Another collision.

The golden warrior skidded backward through the sky, tearing through clouds.

“You mortals continue to surprise me,” the silver being said calmly, not even breathing hard.

“But you are still beneath the Final Realm.”

He raised one hand.

The sky twisted.

Space itself cracked open.

A massive cosmic portal spiraled above Earth, revealing stars, galaxies, and towering god-like silhouettes watching in silence.

Everyone on the planet froze.

Cars stopped.

Birds hung in midair.

Time itself paused.

Everyone…

Except Takahiro.

“…Huh?” he blinked.

He looked around.

Everything was frozen.

Even the wind.

The silver being slowly turned his head downward.

His golden eyes locked onto Takahiro.

“Oh?”

The golden warrior noticed too.

“He can move?!”

The portal pulsed violently.

A voice echoed across existence.

Deep. Overwhelming. Divine.

“Selection has begun.”

A beam of blinding white energy shot down from the portal—

Straight toward Takahiro.

“WAIT— WHAT?!” he yelled.

The beam struck him.

BOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The ground beneath him exploded outward in a massive crater. Streets shattered. Buildings trembled.

Energy surged through his body like a supernova detonating inside his chest.

He screamed.

Blue-white light engulfed him.

His hair lifted violently as silver sparks danced across his skin.

Above, the silver being’s eyes widened.

“Impossible… A human was chosen?”

The voice continued:

“One year until the Tournament of Erasure.”

The portal began closing.

“If your universe loses… it will be erased.”

Silence.

Time resumed.

People collapsed in confusion.

The two divine fighters vanished instantly.

Smoke rose from the massive crater in the street.

And at its center—

Takahiro stood.

Breathing heavily.

His fists clenched.

Energy crackled around him like tiny stars bursting into existence.

He looked down at his glowing hands.

“…That was AWESOME.”

BOOM!

A sudden burst of power exploded from him instinctively, sending a shockwave across the city.

Windows shattered again.

He blinked.

“…Uh oh.”

Far beyond the stars—

In the Final Realm—

A tall silver god sat upon a floating throne.

Lord Aevaris.

“He smiled,” Aevaris said softly.

A lesser god trembled beside him.

“Should we eliminate him now?”

Aevaris’ golden eyes glowed.

“No.”

A faint smile formed.

“Let the mortal grow.”

Cut back to Earth.

Takahiro looked up at the sky again.

His heart raced.

A tournament.

Against gods.

For the survival of the universe.

He cracked his knuckles.

“Alright then…”

His grin widened.

“Guess I better start training.”

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