A Strong Start, a Weak Finish

"Do you have any objections to this ruling?"

"Asura has no objections."

"Evil—"

"Enough. This concludes the matter of Angel." King of Evil subtly stirred his divine power and sent a message to God of Destruction. "Did you think I couldn't guess? I have to consider the bigger picture too. So many gods believe Angel failed on her own, and more than half the gods in the God Realm currently support Asura. Besides..."

"After all, he has rendered great service to the God Realm." God of Destruction spoke the ten words that God of Evil had heard so often over the past several hundred thousand years that they had become tiresome.

"Destruction..."

Goddess of Life stepped before God of Destruction, took hold of his arm, and shook her head, discreetly warning him.

"Humph!" God of Destruction shot Asura God a vicious glare. The suspicion in his eyes only grew rather than faded. Then, together with Goddess of Life, he vanished from the divine hall.

Angel God's kindness was known to every god in the God Realm. When Angel God had first arrived in the God Realm, God of Fire, one of the original Seven Elements, and Goddess of Light had worried that Angel God would steal their work. But as time passed and they got to know each other, everyone discovered that Angel Goddess was actually easy to get along with, always smiling at the other gods.

Even when conflicts arose over assignments arranged by the God Realm Committee, Angel God was willing to take the initiative and yield. Only when the time was right would she ask, "Could you give me this opportunity?"

After struggling through the God Realm for so many years, bolstered by the gods' recognition and the deepening faith of mortals, Angel Goddess's strength soon reached the threshold of God King level. As long as she overcame the God King Level Heavenly Tribulation, she would become the God Realm's sixth God King and fourth Enforcement God.

But unfortunately...

One year of self-seclusion.

The outcome clearly showed that the two God Kings of Good and Evil had no intention of pursuing the matter further. Even though Destruction was unwilling and wanted an explanation, he could only accept this anticlimactic result.

The doors of the God Realm Committee opened, and soon the two God Kings emerged alongside Asura God to announce the outcome to the gods.

Before all the gods, the two God Kings temporarily reclaimed Asura God's Enforcer Badge and Asura God Sword.

Those who supported Asura God were relieved, while those who held Angel Goddess in high regard felt regret. Only one god, clad in a black robe and wearing a half Blood-Red Mask, stood silently at the very back of the crowd.

After scanning the area and finding no sign of Life and Destruction, the two Enforcement Gods, he vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

"Hey, Brother God of Death, stop looking so grim. Angel failed, so now you have one less rival. You should be happy!" A Second Rank God sidled up to God of Death and said with a grin.

God of Death remained expressionless. He silently pulled up his black hood and quickly departed from the outskirts of the God Realm Committee.

Watching God of Death leave, another Second Rank God curled his lip and muttered under his breath, "What's with that guy, acting so high and mighty?!"

"Enough, do you have a death wish?!" The Second Rank God who had just teased God of Death shot him a glare. "He isn't like Angel. He's a prospective Enforcement God personally promoted by Lord Asura. As long as he earns one more great merit, he can become an Enforcement God directly. You absolutely cannot offend him!"

"Oh, oh, oh..."

Flying alone to the place where Angel Goddess had fallen, God of Death looked around, searching for something. Suddenly, his gaze froze.

He reached into the void and made a sudden grab. Soon, a cluster of translucent blue-gold raindrops floated quietly in his palm.

"Poseidon...?!"

God of Death's expression changed in surprise. Then he suddenly recalled something, and his face darkened.

"Yo, little brother God of Death." A familiar voice sounded behind him. God of Death turned around to see Asura God spreading his empty hands and smiling faintly at him.

The two gods looked at each other. After a long silence, God of Death spoke first. "Lord Asura... are you shielding him?"

At those words, a trace of contemplation flashed through Asura God's eyes before they returned to normal. He smiled faintly. "You could say that. He gave me a benefit I couldn't refuse."

"I'm curious. What benefit could a First Rank God offer that would move you, the foremost Enforcement God?"

"That isn't convenient for me to tell you." Asura God stepped closer, smiling as he came before God of Death and poked the Blood-Red Mask covering half his face. "Little brother God of Death, I'm about to go into confinement. I specifically pleaded with Evil before I was allowed to come find you and catch up."

God of Death narrowed his eyes. "Catch up? I doubt it's that simple."

"You really do understand me, little brother. For the sake of how well I've looked after you all these years, could you grant your big brother one small request?"

"...Lord Asura, this isn't among the principles of an Enforcer that you taught me." God of Death's tone turned colder. He felt as though he no longer recognized this man who had once been half a teacher to him.

"Little brother, don't be so rigid. Rules are dead, but gods are alive. Just treat it as your big brother begging you."

The performance was clumsy, but God of Death's clenched fist gradually loosened. In the end, it became a sigh. "Tell me."

Truth be told, God of Death had indeed benefited from Asura God in obtaining his position as a prospective Enforcer. For tens of thousands of years, Asura God had taken great care of him, even calling him brother. He had taught him much of what an Enforcer needed: knowledge and temperament.

God of Death would never forget such a debt of gratitude for the rest of his life.

And there was this Blood Mask as well...

But God of Death also knew that he would have to repay such kindness someday. Asura God simply had never asked before.

"Haha... That's what I like about you, little brother—so straightforward!" Asura God laughed heartily, throwing an arm around God of Death's shoulders and leaning close to his ear.

"Once your big brother's confinement ends, help me select a soul from the lower realm..."

Dark clouds blanketed the sky above the pitch-black castle. Every so often, a bolt of purple lightning descended and struck the castle, draping it in a deep violet glow.

Any god who came here would feel an obvious sense of oppression. This was God of Destruction's territory, a place shunned by countless gods: the Castle of Destruction.

Even Goddess of Life, God of Destruction's wife, would not come here lightly, for this place was filled everywhere with immense Destruction Intent. This Destruction Intent came from the destructive thoughts of all manner of creatures in the mortal world below. Only God of Destruction could absorb and convert it into his own power.

Thus, whenever God of Destruction cultivated, he would be here. At other times, he usually stayed with Goddess of Life.

A streak of black light descended. God of Death lifted his hood and removed the half Blood Mask, then slowly walked toward the gates of the Castle of Destruction.

The distance was less than a hundred meters, but with every step, God of Death felt his heart swaying from side to side, his gaze drifting uncertainly.

When he reached the gates, he took another deep breath and knocked on them. "Lord Destruction... God of Death requests an audience. I humbly seek your guidance."