"Zeus, why don't we just attack him together and take him down now?!"
When Odin heard Zeus propose a one-on-one fight with Jaden, he frowned and was the first to object.
Zeus didn't even look at him.
He simply raised a hand.
"Enough. Trust me."
Hearing this, Odin was clearly irritated, but he still fell silent. He genuinely believed in Zeus's strength in his current state.
Once Zeus confirmed Odin wouldn't interrupt again, his attention returned to Jaden.
To be honest, he thought Odin might have been angered into losing his composure.
Otherwise, even a fool like Ares would understand that continuing to swarm Jaden at this moment was meaningless.
His proposal of a solo battle sounded honorable.
But in reality, it was the smartest possible choice.
If the other Gods joined him, Zeus would be forced to hold back.
He would have to restrain himself until every other God was wiped out.
Because-
If everyone moved at the same pace, then encirclement tactics could work.
But with fighters like himself, or Hermes...
To put it bluntly, others joining in wouldn't help.
They would only drag him down.
Slower allies could easily disrupt or even interrupt the rhythm of his attacks.
And with Jaden's speed being just as terrifying-
One-on-one was optimal.
More than that...
Zeus looked at Jaden.
Jaden hadn't reacted at all to Odin's words. No irritation. No acknowledgment. Not even disdain.
It was as if Odin didn't exist.
Beneath the helmet, a smile formed on Zeus's face.
-In a one-on-one fight, his chances of victory were higher.
No.
In a one-on-one fight, he would win overwhelmingly.
With that thought, Zeus's figure vanished.
And in the next instant, he appeared directly in front of Jaden.
Jaden tilted his head slightly.
A lightning-wreathed war spear brushed past his face.
Jaden possessed Observation Haki that could see the future and hear thoughts. Even attacks at extreme speed should have been perfectly avoidable.
But-
A faint scratch appeared on his face.
He dodged.
But not completely.
In the future he had seen, a slight tilt would have been enough.
Yet after the attack began, Zeus's spear subtly shifted its trajectory.
Just enough.
Jaden's Observation Haki couldn't hear Zeus's thoughts.
The future he perceived deviated.
And because he hadn't anticipated that deviation-
His face was cut.
This outcome...
Jaden froze for a moment.
Then he laughed.
A genuinely delighted laugh.
Zeus didn't pause.
His feet remained firmly planted. His shield stayed locked on Jaden. The spear in his hand thrust forward again and again at terrifying speed, like a storm of needles.
As the thrusts accelerated, the lightning around the spear intensified, crackling violently.
Jaden's figure flickered amid the assault.
According to the future he saw, he should have dodged everything.
But in reality, Zeus's spear kept pace with him every single time.
Some attacks were blocked by Armament Haki.
Others left shallow cuts across Jaden's body.
They were only surface wounds.
But even those were enough.
The Gods erupted into cheers.
Because-
Their attacks were finally working.
This monster could finally be hurt.
Jaden's initial surprise faded quickly.
He stopped dodging.
Both arms were coated in Armament Haki as he began parrying Zeus's thrusts directly with his forearms, moving at extreme speed.
And while doing so, he spoke.
"I get it now..."
"You can see the future too."
"And you can even interfere with it a little."
Hearing this, Zeus laughed beneath his armor.
"Who knows~"
The current Zeus truly could see the future.
The Divine Weapon on his head was the Helmet of Uranus.
It granted him the power of the first Chrono-Guardian among the Gods-the ability to foresee the near future and slightly influence it within a short range.
On top of that, it provided resistance and partial immunity to various mental attacks.
Then-
"Try this."
-0.00001 seconds.
Twilight Meteor Shower.
The spear thrusts accelerated violently.
The attack looked like a meteor storm unfolding at point-blank range.
The terrifying speed.
The raging lightning.
The overwhelming glow of dusk.
It surged forward like fire, like a tidal wave, as if it would swallow Jaden whole in an instant.
However-
Jaden had seen this move before.
He had seen it during his fight with Zeus when Zeus was bare-handed.
So-
He blocked most of the strikes with his arms.
Then, instead of retreating, he stepped forward.
His center of gravity dropped.
His foot stomped the ground.
And as his body coiled, the fist he had drawn back shot forward at extreme speed, bypassing Zeus's round shield and aiming straight beneath the helmet-toward the chin.
Clang!
The shield activated instantly.
Jaden's fist was blocked head-on.
Then-
Boom!
A violent explosion of sound and light erupted.
Jaden was blasted backward as if struck by a massive hammer.
His feet dug into the ground. His posture didn't collapse.
But he slid back a long distance before stopping.
-Oh!
Seeing Jaden forced back, the Gods cheered once more.
Jaden ignored them.
He stared at Zeus, the same smile still on his face.
"Your shield reflects force, doesn't it~"
Clang!
As he spoke, Zeus's body briefly turned translucent.
Jaden instantly braced his inner right elbow with his left hand and straightened his right arm vertically.
Deep red Armament Haki coated his elbow.
The sharp edge of the Spear of Ares collided with it, forcing him back again.
"This one..."
"The speed must belong to that guy Hermes from earlier."
Jaden now understood the abilities Zeus currently possessed.
The shield reflected attacks.
The boots granted acceleration.
And the ability to foresee and interfere with the future-and block mind-reading-
Came from the helmet.
Or perhaps the armor.
Or the spear.
Or the lightning itself.
Jaden kept smiling.
Zeus burst into laughter beneath his armor.
"So you're already wary of my Divine Weapons."
"Do you want me to explain all of them to you~?"
Jaden shook his head.
"Don't ruin it."
"You Gods probably wouldn't understand, but when you watch a magic show..."
"It's only fun if some mystery remains~"
As he said that, Jaden lowered his guard.
Completely.
His entire presence relaxed in an instant.
Then, in that relaxed state, he sighed, sounding almost helpless.
"I've seen enough of the show, though."
"Your tricks..."
"They're mostly just for looks."
Zeus showed a hint of surprise.
Jaden yawned lightly, his voice lazy, frivolous, and unhurried.
"Don't die on me now~"
After all-
"I can only see one future left."
"The one where I beat you into the ground."