Ascension of the Mortal God

Chapter 33: The Wrath of a Storm

Kael barely had time to react.

Oric vanished in a crackling flash of lightning—and reappeared mid-air, his warhammer descending like a falling star.

Kael rolled aside—just in time.

The hammer struck the ground, detonating like a thunderclap. The shockwave sent Kael flying, his body slamming into the rocky terrain. His ears rang, his vision blurred. The sheer force of Oric's divine power was beyond anything he had faced before.

"You cannot run from a storm, mortal!" Oric's voice boomed, his body glowing like a living thunder god.

Kael forced himself to stand. Pain shot through his ribs, but he couldn't afford to stop. He needed a plan—and fast.

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The Battle Turns

All around them, the battle raged.

Selene's arrows found their marks, striking down divine warriors before they could regroup. Darius carved through enemies like a force of nature, his warhammer leaving shattered bodies in his wake.

But the tide was shifting.

The divine warriors, though wounded, were rallying under Oric's presence. Their discipline and divine blessings made them more dangerous with every passing moment.

Varian appeared beside Kael, blood on his daggers. "We need to move, now!"

Kael wiped sweat and blood from his brow. "Not yet."

His eyes remained locked on Oric.

The battle would not be won unless Oric fell.

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A Desperate Strategy

Kael took a slow breath, forcing himself to focus.

Oric was powerful, but his strength came from his lightning speed and overwhelming force. If Kael fought him on those terms, he would lose.

He needed to change the battlefield itself.

Oric sneered, lightning crackling around him. "Done running?"

Kael tightened his grip on his sword. "Just thinking."

Then he moved.

Not away—but forward.

Oric's eyes widened in surprise. "Fool!"

He swung his warhammer down, arcs of lightning splitting the air.

Kael dodged at the last moment, slipping past the strike and closing the distance.

Then he slashed—not at Oric, but at the ground.

Oric's boots were planted firmly on wet stone—made damp from the earlier shockwave that had cracked the earth. A perfect conductor.

Kael's sword struck the ground, sending sparks through the moisture.

Electricity surged backward—straight into Oric's own body.

The divine warrior jerked violently, his lightning-infused form betraying him.

Kael didn't hesitate.

With Oric staggered, Kael launched himself forward—his sword driving straight into Oric's chest.

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The Fall of a Thunderborn

Oric gasped.

Lightning flickered wildly around him, but his body was no longer in control. His own power had betrayed him.

Kael twisted the blade. "Even storms fall."

With one final burst of energy, he ripped his sword free—and Oric collapsed to his knees.

The divine warriors, seeing their strongest fall, began to waver.

Darius roared, leading the charge forward.

Selene loosed another volley.

Varian struck from the shadows.

The rebellion surged forward—pushing the divine warriors back.

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The Aftermath

As the last divine warrior fell, silence blanketed the battlefield. The gorge was littered with the fallen—both rebels and divine forces.

Kael stood over Oric's body, breathing heavily. The divine warrior's light had faded, his once-mighty form now lifeless.

Darius clapped Kael on the shoulder, grinning. "That was one hell of a move."

Selene smirked. "Creative. I approve."

Kael exhaled, his body aching. They had won. But the war was far from over.

Varian crouched beside a fallen divine warrior, examining an emblem on his armor. His expression darkened. "This wasn't just a scouting force."

Kael turned to him. "What do you mean?"

Varian rose to his feet, tossing the emblem to Kael.

It bore the mark of the gods.

"This was a test," Varian said grimly. "The real war is just beginning."

To be continued…