"A Goddess?" Vral brushed past me. "Bullshit."

Avara's lips turned down. "You question who I am?"

Vral spat. "I don't see anything but flesh and blood in front of me." Her daggers appeared in her hands. "Those are easy enough to cut open."

Avara laughed. "I may have a physical form, but I am very much my Dark Father's daughter. Many have said I'm the most like Him." Pointing at the ground, her voice lowered. "In time, I'll take His throne and become what He never could be. Then, I'll usurp that pitiful Goddess, tear apart that tower of hers, and reshape this world according to my will."

"Ugh!" A sharp pain pierced through my head, and His voice boomed deep within my soul.

SHE THINKS SHE COULD HAVE TAKEN MY PLACE? WHAT A LAUGHABLE PRESUMPTION. THIS WORLD AND EVERYTHING WITHIN IT ARE MINE. EVERY STONE. EVERY BREATH. EVERY SOUL. I AM LORD OF THIS FALLEN WORLD. EVERY PIECE OF IT IS A PART OF ME.

"You think so, huh?" Vral walked toward the monster, twirling her blades with every step. "How will you do all of that when you're—" She vanished. An instant later, she reappeared in the air behind Avara and drove her daggers into the woman's throat. "Dead!"

With a dismissive flick of her wrist, energy rippled off of Avara's hand, and an invisible force grabbed Vral mid-air.

"What the—"

Avara made a sharp gesture.

Vral hurtled through the air and slammed against the wall with enough force to crack the stone. Her head hit the wall with a loud crack. She fell, hit the ground, and slumped to her side.

"Vral!" I took a step toward her

[Healing Light]

Vral's body shimmered with pale white light. She let out a small groan.

Thank the Goddess.

Turning back toward Avara, I saw that Tristan's head was up, and her hand was raised. "I'm not done yet..." She whispered.

[Holy Light]

A wave of pure white light struck Avara in the chest.

With a performative yawn, Avara flicked her wrist again.

Tristan choked as she was forced, kicking and flailing, into the air.

"Tristan!" I tried to reach for her, but she was rising too quickly. There was no chance of reaching her.

"Begone, voice of the Goddess," Avara screamed. "Your power isn't welcome in this place." With a snap of her fingers, my lover elf soared high into the air.

Every shred of doubt and hesitation left my body.

"Avara!" I charged. My black blade screamed as its flames roared along its edge.

The demon's smile vanished, replaced with a look of mild annoyance. "Really?" She flicked her wrist.

An invisible force washed over me, freezing me to the spot. It was as if I was encased in cement.

"That won't stop me!" I strained against her power, but it was no use. I couldn't move. But I wouldn't stop. I'd never stop!

[Intercept]

The world bent.

In a breath, I teleported across the distance between us.

"What?" Avara stepped back.

"You're dead!" I roared as my sword cut through the air, its point aimed directly at the center of her chest.

She didn't move. She didn't even raise a hand.

"A valiant attempt." Avara grinned.

The black blade stopped an inch from her chest.

"Come on!" I heaved, but no matter how hard I pushed, it wouldn't move.

[Holy Light]

A weak beam of light rippled out of the sky and struck the woman in the chest.

My sword pressed forward, if only by a millimeter.

Avara glanced upward. "It's been a long time since I've fought. I forgot how decisive and merciless one needs to be. Never leave loose ends and all that. A shame. I'd have preferred to use her completely before killing her." She raised her hand higher.

Tristan's screams faded as she disappeared into the darkness above.

"Not happening!" Greta made a series of hand gestures. Her energy stopped flowing into the seal. The air shimmered above her, a star-filled hole appeared, and Tristan fell through, hit the ground, and was still.

"Got her!" Greta shouted. "She's alive!"

I exhaled.

"You're too soft!" Kasimir roared. "What is one life compared to the whole of existence?!"

"It's everything, you fucking asshole!" Greta's entire body twisted as her energy flowed into the seal. "I can't save everyone all the time, but I can save her right now!"

"Fool!" The old mage doubled his efforts. "You never could make the hard decisions!"

"Damn it!" Greta placed both hands back on the seal, but it was too late. Her split second of distraction caused the seal to crack even further.

"My siblings, become a part of me!" Avara's eyes grew black as she raised her hands in the air.

Dozens of shadowy arms lifted out of the seal and swirled around her.

With everything I had, I pushed, screamed, and swore, but my sword remained frozen, locked in place by Avara's unseen power.

"Fuck!"

Where the hell were you, Faye?!

"I remember these blades." Avara reached out and stroked her fingers along my sword's edge. Its dancing flames sizzled as they licked around her skin. "Brother made these blades to convert the masses. He thought of you as resources to be gathered and was loath to be parted with you." Her now-blackened fingers left the blade. "He always did have such a soft spot for you creatures. I never understood it." She leaned close until her lips brushed my cheek. Her whisper was like a cold wind against my cheek. "I may be captivated by your kind's frailty, but I don't share my brother's weakness for your lives." Her fingers wrapped around the blade, smoking and burning as they did. "I will use you. I will use your women. I will use the mage, the witch, those friends of yours in the city above... I'll use you all as I desire. And when I'm done, there won't be a single morsel of you left with which to feed the worms. There is no other point to your existence than to be used by me."

"I exist..." I shoved until my blade nearly bent in half. "I'm here to make the world better!"

The devil chuckled. "You exist to entertain me."

"I'll cut you down..." I felt Kasimir's buff fade.

All that power vanished in the blink of an eye.

"Indeed?" Her fingers wrapped around my blade and squeezed. The flames began to gutter, and long cracks formed along the metal. "Show me, then."

What could I do?!

As I searched every corner of my mind for a solution, His voice boomed deep in my soul once again.

I CAN GRANT YOU THE POWER TO MAKE THIS FAILED VESSEL OF MINE KNEEL. YOU NEED ONLY ASK, AND I WILL GRANT YOU THE REST OF MY BLESSINGS.

"Not now, fucker!"

Avara's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"

WITHOUT MY POWER, WHAT IS YOURS WILL BE TAKEN FROM YOU. USED. BROKEN. CAST ASIDE.

"I know!"

"Are you ready to kneel, mortal?" Avara twisted her wrist. My sword creaked as it nearly bent in half, and the force of it shoved me to one knee.

ACCEPT MY BLESSINGS, CHILD, AND I WILL MAKE YOU THE HIGHEST AMONG THE MORTALS. ACCEPT MY BLESSINGS, AND YOU SHALL RULE.

[Stoneshatter]

My fist connected with her jaw.

Every bone in my hand and arm splintered.

[Unbreakable]

As my ruined arm snapped back together, He continued speaking to me.

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DO NOT HESITATE. YOUR END DRAWS NEAR. WITHOUT MY POWER, YOU WILL DIE.

My heart skipped a beat. I knew He wasn't wrong. "If I accept your offer, what will you take from me?"

"Everything," Avara responded.

I TOLD YOU BEFORE. ALL YOU DO WILL SERVE ME IN THE END. I SIMPLY WISH TO HUMBLE THIS WAYWARD CHILD OF MINE THROUGH YOU.

He was lying. I knew it. But what other choice did I have?

As I scrambled to find any solution, the earth rumbled under us. Long, jagged cracks formed in the stone walls. Stalactites fell from the ceiling. A wave of pressure even stronger than Avara's washed over the room.

Faye?

Desperate, I reached out with my mind.

Faye? Is that you? I hope it is, because we really need you right now.

For a moment, there was nothing. Then...

I'm almost there, chosen buddy.

My heart leapt.

How long?

Are you at the seal?

Yes.

Soon.

The earth shook again, and even more cracks appeared along the chamber's walls.

"Swear your life to me, mortal." Avara's fingers left the blade and stroked my jaw. "I'd much prefer if we started on the right foot."

Faye, we're getting crushed.

I'm almost there!

We won't make it! Can you do anything for us?

I can't risk it.

Can't risk what?

You and I could party, but I'm much, much stronger than you are.

So?

My talents might kill you, and they'll definitely kill Tristan or Vral.

I willed the system to remove Tristan from my party.

Na-Tristan, Groveborn Elf-Human Acolyte of the Tower 23, has left your party.

I kicked Tristan. Now do it!

There was another pause.

You may be able to handle it. Just don't die on us, okay?

I won't.

Faye, American Demigod Hero of the Flame 99, has joined your party.

I didn't feel anything. Then, all at once, my insides felt like they were on fire, and words began pouring into my mind.

You are affected by the [Aegis of the Champion] talent.

You are affected by the [Blazing Strength] talent.

You are affected by the [Burning Conviction] talent.

You are affected by the [Demigod's Physique] talent.

You are affected by the [Exemplar Unbound] talent.

You are affected by the [Flame's Fortification] talent.

You are affected by the [Hero's Resolve] talent.

You are affected by the [Inferno Step] talent.

You are affected by the [Peerless Ability Boost] talent.

You are affected by the [Phoenix Blood] talent.

You are affected by the [Searing Clarity] talent.

You are affected by the [Titan's Defiance] talent.

You are affected by the [United We Stand] talent.

Both instances of [United We Stand] combine to form the [Don't Tread on Us] talent.

I felt a wave of nausea wash over me as her talents took hold. But, within the nausea, there was so much... power.

"Avara." I met her eyes.

"Yes, little mortal?" Her smile faded as she tried to look past me. "Have you accepted your fate? Do you wish to tell me how eager you are to serve me?"

"Not quite." My voice was steady. Strong. "I'm not doing anything for you, Avara." My sword's flames erupted into a pure white inferno.

"What?!" Her eyes narrowed.

I pushed.

The sword moved forward. Not much, maybe an inch, but it moved.

Her eyes widened.

I pushed again and gained another inch.

The smile completely vanished from her face.

"What have you done?" She snarled.

"I've made friends with the right people." With everything I had, I heaved. "You should try it."

My sword slipped past her barrier and sank an inch into her breast, sizzling as it burned away her filthy flesh.

"How have you done this?" Avara's face distorted as my blade sank deeper. "You're nothing!" She flicked her wrist, and two massive humanoid shadows formed at her sides.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" I tore my sword from her chest and slashed horizontally.

In one cut, both of the shadowy beings burned away.

Power.

That was the only word for what I felt coursing through my veins.

Faye's talents weren't like Kasimir's buff. That spell made me stronger. Faster. But Faye's talents... these were different.

It felt like every cell in my body had been rewritten. My bones felt like steel wrapped in adamantium. My muscles vibrated with unlimited energy. My blood burned with a heat that made me feel alive. More alive than I'd ever been.

The invisible force holding my sword in place?

I could feel it now. Not just as resistance, but as something tangible. Something I could push against. Something that I could overcome.

Something I could cut through.

My sword's flames, which had been barely flickering before, roared back to life, growing brighter than they'd ever been as I channeled my will into the blade.

"Attack, while she's wavering!" Kasimir roared.

"Done." Flames roared to life beneath my feet as I stepped toward the monster. I didn't even see the world bend as I teleported to Avara's flank. With a twitch of my arm, my blade cut through the air, nearly severing the monster's arm from her shoulder.

The shockwave from my slash split the earth behind her, opening a gaping hole in the wall.

"Wait..." Her voice grew panicked. "Is she... Is she here?!" Avara shrieked.

"No, but I am." I dashed forward and swung, my blade roaring as I cut in a wide arc, nearly taking off her head.

She waved her hand, and another wave of force pounded into me, wrapped around my entire body, and squeezed.

One of my ribs popped. Then another.

[Unbreakable]

They cracked back into place as I shrugged her magic off and swung at her neck. I carved a shallow line into her throat before Avara was able to leap backward. In the same movement, she threw rippling shadows at me, cutting deep gouges into my armor... and the flesh beneath. As my blood spilled from my wounds and fell into the seal, it erupted into pure-white flames.

"You think this is enough to defeat me?" Avara backpedaled until her back struck the edge of the seal, causing energy to crackle where she'd struck the invisible wall. She wiped the blood from her cheek. "Come, servants of old. Rise from the abyss and serve your masters once again!" She waved her hands across the seal, and dozens of balls of shadow appeared in the air. They expanded, twisted, and took form.

Humanoids. Beasts. Monsters I didn't recognize. Things with too many limbs, faces split open to reveal countless rows of teeth, bodies that defied all understanding.

Twenty of them.

Thirty.

More appeared every second.

"End him, my faithful servants. End him, and I swear I will set you free!" Avara shrieked.

With dozens of horrific cries, they charged as one.

I channeled my will into the black blade, which erupted in a pillar of fire that reached the ceiling of the chamber high above, and swung.

In one blow, they burned away.

As they crumbled to ash, Avara, whose stomach was charred and oozing after my attack, screamed, "I won't go back!" She screamed as a wave of shadow erupted from her fingers.

I stepped forward and slashed.

Her shadows dissolved into nothingness.

"Listen to me! I'm a victim! I was—"

My sword flashed.

Black blood poured from her ruined mouth.

"Nohff—" She gurgled as she clutched at her ruined throat. "I..." Her face contorted in pain as her body rippled. "I—"

In a shower of blood, her body exploded and was replaced with two burning eyes hovering in the center of a black cloud. The entity crackled with energy. "I CANNOT BE CONTAINED!" The eyes glowed, and a different voice echoed outward from them. The voice wasn't Avara's anymore. It was deeper. Masculine. Lightning arced between its two yellow eyes. Thunder boomed through the chamber. A bolt of lightning erupted toward me.

With a single movement, I shifted across the room, reappearing across the seal in a sea of flames.

The lightning vaporized the stone where I'd stood.

"YOU WILL NEVER ESCAPE!"

"Watch me." I charged, my blade carving through the space where the eyes hovered. Before my blade connected, they scattered, then reformed.

More lightning appeared.

I dodged.

The chamber cracked and melted around us.

With a quick cut, I slashed through one of the eyes.

The cloud flickered and grew indistinct. "NOT... YET..." Its form shuddered and faded.

In its place, a massive swarm appeared. Spiders. Centipedes. Wasps. In the center of the swarm was a writhing pile of insects that looked vaguely human.

"Meat... Let me crawl inside you..."

The insects slithered and slimed their way into the chinks in my armor and started biting me everywhere.

[Stoneshatter]

I punched the ground with all my strength. The ground tore apart, scattering the swarm in all directions. The insects hissed and sizzled as they struck the seal's boundary and burst with little popping sounds.

"Don't destroy the seal, fool!"

Behind me, I heard Greta and Kasimir chanting. Golden light poured into the seal, slowly knitting together the crack along the edge and reigniting the sigils along its interior.

"Sorr—" Mid-word, a wave of liquid roiled in my stomach. I tried to hold it back, but it sprayed out of my mouth and nose, igniting the instant it touched the air.

It was my blood.

The remaining burning insects turned into shadows and reformed into a single form beside me.

Avara was back.

The hooded woman smiled, blood still dripping from her mouth where I'd cut through it. "Did you really think you could kill me?"

"You're annoy—" Another wave of burning blood erupted from my lips. Pushing away the pain, I swung. My blade passed through her neck...

Illusion.

Behind me, the real Avara pressed her hand against my chest. Agony erupted through my body as her fingers burrowed through my breastplate and entered my flesh.

Switching my sword to reverse grip, I plunged it into her chest.

"I would have... have..." She shuddered, stumbled backward, and fell to her knees. Her hair turned white, and her body became stick-thin.

"Give it... Give it! GIVE ME YOUR BODY!" Her voice changed. Became higher-pitched. Desperate. The woman's sunken eyes met mine. "I need it. Let me wear your skin!" Her fingers, thin and pointed like talons, extended outward into long black ribbons.

With a leap and a slash, I severed her arm at the elbow.

As her frail arm fell to the ground, she dissolved into a pool of blood. Out of it, a new thing.

Hunched. Feral. Jagged teeth and burning eyes.

"Your blood... I wish to savor it!" She lunged.

I met her with my blade.

She caught it with her bare hands and cackled as her skin erupted into stinking smoke.

[Stoneshatter]

My fist drove through her sternum.

She dissolved into a pool of black blood and flesh, still smiling her jagged smile until her head dissolved away.

"Just a little more!" Kasimir shouted.

"Hold on!" Greta added.

I looked at the edge of the seal. It was almost restored. Just a few more seconds and—

A third wave of blood, this one the biggest, poured from my lips in a long stream.

"I've got you," Tristan's voice was thin and strained as she cast a spell.

Sparkling energy surrounded my body, healing me inside and out.

"Thanks, Tris." I wiped my lips and steeled myself, but it wasn't enough. I could feel it. Faye's talents were wrecking me.

The massive pool of black blood rippled, then transformed into bits of metal and stone, which tumbled toward one another and solidified into a massive form. It stood at least two feet taller than me and was at least as wide.

"Warrior." It said in a booming, hollow voice. Its black armor glinted in the dim light. Bringing its massive greataxe around, it gripped the weapon in two hands and said, "Have you summoned me?"

"I remember you," I stood upright and took a fighting stance. "Maluphet, right?" Of all of the scion's names, that was the one I remembered.

"Yes. And I remember you, Alex the Fighter."

"I'm honored."

"As am I."

Two points of red light appeared within the eyeholes of his massive, horned helmet. "It seems you have been chosen since the last time we met. And you fight now with your fists as well?"

"Yes, and yes."

"I see." Its red eyes flared beneath its helmet as it raised its axe. "I've been looking forward to our rematch." He looked at me with something like respect. "And I've watched you fight the others. You have fought well, chosen. While the seal weakened them greatly, it is no easy feat to defeat six foes in a row. I count you among the strong."

I raised my blade, but a wave of nausea washed over me. Doubling over, the most blood I'd ever seen fell from my lips and ignited.

"And yet, you have reached your limits." The massive man in front of me lowered his axe, then dropped the axe head to the floor. "A pity. I would much prefer a fight to an execution."

My exhaustion hit all at once. My legs shook. My sword felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. I dropped to one knee and did my best not to throw up the rest of my blood. "I can still... fight." That was a lie. I knew it. Maluphet knew it. And the Dark Lord knew it.

NOW. ACCEPT MY BLESSINGS, CHILD. BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

"You cannot." The massive man lifted his axe again and rested it on his shoulder. "You have reached the end of your—"

BOOM

The rear wall exploded into dust and rubble.

Through the debris walked a figure in gleaming silver and gold armor. A massive greatsword blazed with the light of the sun.

Faye.

The short, black-haired woman scanned the chamber, then locked eyes with me.

"Hey, Faye..." I wiped my lips. "Glad you could make it."

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