Power is not equal power.
You’re describing “external” power. Such power, expressed with cruelty, is in my eyes rather an expression of weakness, than strength. Weakness, with the need to mask it by making others suffer. It is the need to control others, as there is no true strength and without strength, there is no power. It’s simply cruelty. it is an expression of fears… fear, of not be in control of the situation, fear of losing the supposed power because it lacks inner strength, and fear, of being rather the weak one. From this, arises the need to act in ways, that mask such weaknesses and create a false sense of power for the person.
True power and strength comes from within. Who truely holds a power, does not have the need to display that power through cruelty.
It takes strength, to actually not let weaknesses overcome you and control your actions and behaviours. Same, for fears. Constant need of banishment, as example, may be such an expression of fears. The person who possesses true strength, has the power, to control their own fears, and not be controlled by them.
It takes strength, to not react like most people would usually, in cases, where they become outrageous, angry, will have the desire to hurt, to subdue, to humiliate the other, to actually rebel because of lack of such strength and as such, power. It takes strength, to not follow those impulses and as such, this person is the one who truely is powerful. Because, they can decide fully consciously, to choose either possible way to act and re-act - a choice, those lacking such power cannot and don’t make.
Organisms aren’t cruel. Animals aren’t cruel. They just do, what they have to do. One animal provides food for another. They don’t kill needlessly, they don’t impose needless suffering to another, they do it for a purpose. Even wars, as cruel they may be, they happen out of a purpose - nobody starts a war “needlessly”, only for the sole purpose to impose suffering on others.
And Gods… are they even Gods, if they have to become Gods first? Or, aren’t Gods just always been Gods?
As for using the energy of entities. One could, by my own experience, manifest magick, shields, banishing and so on by their own energy and will alone. However, it is more difficult to do so, than using tools and entities to assist with energy and manifestations. If you want to make a fire and have a lighter to your disposal, you’re gonna use it vs. trying to make fire the hard way by rubbing sticks.