Reborn With the Infinite Gods System

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Another attack?

Axel dug his heels into the ground, launching forward with all his strength, throwing a powerful punch aimed directly at Mictlantecuhtli's face. But the god of the dead was faster, effortlessly sidestepping Axel's attack. In a fluid motion, Mictlantecuhtli grabbed Axel's wrist, twisting him off his feet and hurling him like a ragdoll toward the wall.

"Krrcchk!" Axel grunted as he spun mid-air, landing on his feet just inches before crashing into the wall. His body slid a bit, his boots digging into the ground, but he stayed upright, glaring at his opponent.

Before Axel could react, Mictlantecuhtli was already upon him again. This time, a fist aimed at his gut. Axel shifted his body to the left, dodging just in time—only to realize it was a feint.

Mictlantecuhtli's arm snapped upwards, transforming into an elbow strike that connected with Axel's face. The impact was brutal. Axel's head jerked back, blood spurting from his mouth as he stumbled backward.

"You disappoint me, boy." The god's voice was cold, almost mocking.

Axel wiped the blood from his lip, his eyes narrowing. He barely had time to blink before Mictlantecuhtli spread his fingers wide and a blast of dark, swirling energy shot toward him. The beam tore through the air like a void, seeking to consume everything in its path.

"Shit!" Axel cursed, leaping to the side, barely avoiding the beam as it scorched the ground where he had stood. But no sooner had he dodged the attack than the god was in front of him again.

This time, the punch was too fast to evade. Axel crossed his arms in front of his face to block, bracing for the impact.

*CRACK!*

The force of the punch shattered the bones in Axel's forearms. He screamed as pain shot through him like fire, his arms hanging limply by his sides. But still, he wasn't ready to give up.

"Not yet…" Axel growled through clenched teeth, stamping his foot forward and surging ahead with a headbutt.

*CRACK!*

Another sickening sound echoed in the air, but this time it came from Axel's skull. He staggered backward, his vision spinning, his head throbbing like it had been hit with a sledgehammer.

'He's like metal… I can't…'

Mictlantecuhtli's cold eyes gleamed with amusement. "You haven't even begun to understand your abilities," he said, stepping forward. "You're a failure."

Suddenly, the god's hand shot out, wrapping around Axel's throat. His grip was impossibly tight. Axel felt his windpipe start to collapse under the pressure, his vision darkening around the edges. The bones in his neck began to crack ominously as the god squeezed harder.

[HP 15/80]

Axel had one last trick up his sleeve. He had taken an Evolution Pill earlier, and it was beginning to work. As the pill's effects surged through him, Axel felt a sudden burst of strength, filling his limbs with renewed energy. He balled his fist and with all his might, swung at Mictlantecuhtli's chest.

But then—

*SPLAT!*
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Axel froze, his eyes widening in horror. Something had gone terribly wrong. His attack never connected. Instead, Mictlantecuhtli's hand had punched straight through Axel's chest, tearing through his ribcage like paper. The god ripped Axel's heart out of his body, holding it up in front of him, the bloody organ still faintly beating.

Axel's body went numb. He couldn't process what had just happened. His heart... it was in Mictlantecuhtli's hand. How was he still...?

Mictlantecuhtli's eyes narrowed, disgust lining his face. "Relying on pills for strength?" His voice dripped with contempt. "Pathetic. You think you can cheat your way to godhood? Weaklings like you don't deserve power. The Infinite Gods System is for those who are willing to make real sacrifices."

Axel's vision blurred. His mind screamed at him to fight, to do something—anything. But it was too late. His body gave out, collapsing in a heap on the cold, bloodstained ground. As he lay there, his life force drained from him, and the world started to fade into nothingness.

Mictlantecuhtli tossed Axel's lifeless body aside like garbage. He turned away, muttering in disdain. "The next candidate will—"

The rest of his words became a blur as Axel's consciousness slipped away into darkness.

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**Somewhere… Else**

[Pathetic…]

[I gave you power, and this is what you do with it?]

[Who the hell do you think you are, Axel Teras?]

Axel's eyes snapped open, but he wasn't back in the battle. He was… somewhere else. A place where darkness stretched endlessly, suffocating, cold, and oppressive. He could barely make out anything except for a pair of colossal red eyes glowing in the distance. These eyes were monstrous—massive beyond comprehension, filled with an unimaginable malevolence.

'What is this place?' Axel thought, fear creeping into his chest.

[You are not worthy of answers yet.]

The voice boomed around him, rattling his very soul. It wasn't Mictlantecuhtli. It was something far older, far darker.

"Why… why am I here?" Axel's voice trembled, his eyes darting around the abyss. "I died…"

[Yes. You died. And you failed.]

Axel looked down at his hands, his mind racing. The god had killed him. He was supposed to be dead. But here he was, in this strange void. Why?

"You're right," Axel muttered, bitterness creeping into his tone. "I couldn't beat him. He was too strong. How can I win against a god like that? It's… impossible. I'd need years, maybe even decades to reach that level."

[You lack more than strength, Teras.]

Axel frowned. "What do you mean?"

[You have a good heart, but that is your weakness.]

"A good heart?" Axel's confusion deepened. "How does that help me here?"

[It doesn't!]

The voice snapped, filled with rage. [A good heart makes you weak. You need GREED. You need PRIDE. You need to EMBRACE EVIL.]

Axel shivered as the voice echoed around him. The red eyes loomed closer, filling his vision. The sheer darkness within them made him feel insignificant—like a speck of dust before a black hole.

[You are meant to become a god. A being above all others. Do you think the other gods care about your feelings? Your weaknesses?]

Axel's heart pounded as he considered the voice's words. He had always fought for survival, for those he cared about. But now, everything seemed different. Darker. "What… what do I need to do?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "To get stronger?"

The darkness swirled, and the eyes flared with malevolent glee.

[Simple, Teras. Let me… devour you.]

***Author's note***

I'm not that good at writing action scenes but hope you enjoyed this one.