Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Clash of Gods
The ocean priest, humiliated for being unable to bend Jax with words, gripped the ceremonial trident tightly in his hands. His lips moved quickly, reciting an ancient prayer in a tongue only those consecrated to the sea could understand.
The air filled with a strange murmur, as if the waves themselves repeated his prayer. The ground trembled beneath the villagers’ feet, and a bluish glow spread around his body.
His skin seemed to be covered with luminous scales, and his eyes burst into two bright rays of blue, shining like beacons in the darkness. The power of the ocean god descended upon him, wrapping him in a savage, chaotic aura.
The villagers stepped back in terror, some falling to their knees, convinced they were witnessing the wrath of the sea incarnate.
Jax, on the other hand, let out a deep, mocking laugh that rumbled like thunder in the silence.
—"Is this it?" he said with disdain, his eyes glowing with golden light. "Your god had to exalt you from a miserable level fifteen up to barely fifty... just to show his greatness?"
The priest roared, fury twisting his face. The power surrounding him grew stronger, the nearby waves rising as if answering a divine call.
—"Do not insult the ocean, heretic!" he shouted with a thunderous voice. "He is infinite, he is eternal!"
The priest raised his trident to the sky and began to chant with fervor, his voice resounding like war drums:
—"Oh god of the ocean! Giver of life, guardian of the infinite waters, protect your subjects and grant me strength to annihilate this heretic who dares defy you...!"
Jax exaggerated a yawn, his tone dripping with mockery.
—"Can you hurry up? I’m getting bored... Maybe your god is asleep. Maybe he doesn’t even hear you."
The priest faltered, his prayer suddenly broken. A nervous murmur ran through the villagers, who looked with fear at Jax’s provocative smile.
The man in blue robes clenched his teeth, ashamed, and resumed the chant with more rage than devotion. His words trembled, but his fury gave him strength.
—"Oh eternal sea, hear your servant! Let the waves rise, let the fury of the abyss devour the land and purify the unbelievers with your power...!"
He stopped for a second, lifting the trident with both hands, and screamed with all the air in his lungs:
—"Tsunami of the ocean god, wash the world with your power!!"
The horizon darkened. The roar of the sea grew deafening, and a titanic wave, larger than any ship, began to form, rising higher and higher, as if the ocean itself had decided to swallow the entire village.
The villagers screamed in panic, some clutching their children, others running without direction. The air filled with salt and foam, and the sky was covered by the shadow of the colossal wave.
Facing that spectacle, Jax merely narrowed his eyes, his mocking smile intact.
—"Now this... is getting interesting."
Jax raised his hand calmly, as if swatting a fly. At that very instant, the roar of the ocean broke. The colossal wave, which threatened to devour the village, froze in midair for an eternal second. Then, under Jax’s mocking laughter, the mountain of water dissolved into nothing but a drizzle that fell over everyone like a cold shower of impotence.
The priest’s eyes widened in disbelief, his faith wavering.
—"Im... impossible!" he stammered with a broken voice.
Jax laughed scornfully.
—"Is that the best your god can offer you? If you want, I’ll give you another chance to try again. Come on, pray once more... maybe this time he’ll wake up."
The priest’s hands shook, the trident slipped and fell to the ground with a hollow sound. His knees gave way, hitting the wet sand. His eyes, once burning with fervor, went out like dying embers. No rage, no faith remained—only emptiness.
Jax spread his arms toward the crowd, his voice thundering like divine judgment.
—"Now you can all see it! Here stands the true guardian of this world! Not that mute god who never answers, but me, who stands before you!"
Silence consumed the village. Then, one by one, the villagers began to fall to their knees, bowing before him. First in fear, then in devotion. Their murmurs turned into pleas, and in an instant, the entire crowd prostrated as one body, worshipping the new god who rose before them.
Jax smiled with satisfaction, watching as the echo of faith changed hands, feeling that power flow into his body and connect to his true self.
[Grant miracles, we have enough faith...]
The priest remained broken on the ground, unable to speak. The crowd, however, looked at him with bright eyes, filled with both newfound hope and reverent fear.
Jax extended his arms, his voice serene yet charged with power:
—"Tell me, children of the sea... Do you desire something? Food? Protection? Healing? Whatever you ask shall be granted... if your faith is true."
A murmur rose among the villagers. Some cried out for health, others for abundant fishing, others for the safety of their families.
Jax smiled arrogantly and declared:
—"From today onward, you shall pray every morning and every night. Your prayers will be heard. When your devotion is strong enough, you will have all that you ask for. That is the promise of my god."
With that, the emissary of the God of Dreams knelt in their midst, adopting a solemn posture of prayer. His voice echoed like a sacred chant as he closed his eyes.
—"Oh great lord who grants and fulfills dreams, descend upon this land and show your power, claim it as yours, protect it from the impostors...!"
At that instant, the sky split open. A pillar of light descended from the heavens, bathing Jax in a blinding radiance. The villagers screamed, some in fear, others in jubilation. The earth trembled softly beneath their feet.
And then, the ethereal figure of a god materialized within that column of light: the God of Dreams, majestic and serene, descended in response to his emissary’s call.
The villagers, now completely surrendered, pressed their faces into the sand, unable to look directly upon such power.
Jax smiled, triumphant. His mission was not only complete—the faith had already changed masters. The scene they had planned worked to perfection. It was worthy of a Hollywood film.