[M] The Throne of Gods: Memories of Divinity - IC

[Scottie]

Slumping to his left, the god of decay cradled his dislocated right arm like a newborn babe. The creature that had wounded him lifted off the beaten ground blanketing the arena in dust. Atrophos could only watch as the creature ascended with little effort. Closing his eyes, he reached out to sense for any shred of his power remaining within the monstrous dragon. A small smirk tugged at his lips as the smallest glimmer of bacterial was settled nicely in the dragons wound. Whether it survived the trip skyward…. was still to be seen.

A gentle breeze pushed the strands of hair that lay over his forehead to one side. The smell reminded him of home. Of lush fields and flowers. Blinking, he was greeted by ethereal fans that transformed into ribbons and started to spin around his body. Atrophos flinched gently as they started their task before letting them attempt to help. The ribbons tugged at his arm and with a sickening thud, his shoulder was returned to its correct placement. Relief mixed with pain as he utilised the ribbons to help him stand.

His staff lay abandoned before him. Atrophos let out a soft sigh as he looked skyward through the ruptured barrier. This battle was not finished. Not nearly. The bloodied fingertips of his right hand twitched sending his staff flying towards him. Wrapping his fingers around the cane, Atrophos started a slow shuffle towards the cracked wall. Another rib shuddering sigh was caught in his throat as he arrived at the way up the wall.

Gone were the days that he would gracefully leap from post to post as he travelled through Eden. Atrophos tapped the tip of the rust staff against the wall and waited patiently. A mixture of bone dust, dirt and crumbling mortar drifted under his feet before lifting him up the body of the wall like one of those raising apparatus that the humans used. A body flew over his head, the piercing scream of a horrid consumed coated his ears before the joyful thud of a body hitting a solid base greeted him.

Someone was having fun above it seemed. Atrophos took care clambering over the edge and into the ‘audience’ area of the arena. Six gods stood before him. Four had been introduced to him, three friends and one foe. The two others felt vaguely familiar though their placement was clouded. Finally letting out the sigh that had been resting in his ribs, Atrophos found a small flat area of the balcony area to perch on. His staff settled in between his feet as he drank in the current situation.

Two goddesses that wanted the death of Minos, Ridstus attempting to kick start the death of said god of judgement, two new gods that were trying to find a peaceful end to such a situation and Minos….proclaiming his jurisdiction once again. Atrophos rolled the staff in his fingers back and forth as he weighed his options. He could agree with the two new gods, try for peace and understanding from a god that was threatening to bring their extinction or he could agree with those that had been at the brunt of the gods torture alongside him.

Dark eyes trailed up the Lord of Judgement until Atrophos focused on the rows of teeth that lay snug between his ribs. A soft hum left his chapped lips as the head of the rust staff started to disintegrate and form a cloud of small particles of brown orange rust that spun around the tip of the staff. “From what I remember…if judgement is passed, it cannot be retracted.” He paused for a brief second before continuing, his voice only loud enough for the chosen six before him to hear. “I doubt that the Lord of Judgement will show mercy.” He spoke softly as the dust whizzed around him, ready at a moment's notice to shield him from any attack.

[RisingPhoenix]

Silvannus' gaze narrowed when the dragon began to speak. He was not surprised. He'd lived a long while and had met many kinds of beings during his journies. He had such great respect for the ancient creatures of the universe, but when Scorchfang decided to belittle him as if he were some sort of commoner, Silvannus was not pleased and it showed on his face.

"Pathetic... Did he just call MY magic pathetic?" Silvannus said. It was an internal conversation that was happening outside of his mind. "How DARE YOU. YOU ARE BUT AN ANT BENEATH MY FEET."

Silvannus' eyes filled with arcane power. The magic that resided within the runes that had kept the barrier in place was freed and sought him out. It swirled around him, filling his core and causing him to lift slightly off the ground. He had a soft glow that settled on his body. His eyes shot in the direction the magic had come and he could see things were shifting for them. The barrier crumbled, fading from existence. It was a breath of fresh air to see it gone, but now the real task would begin. They had to get out of here and Minos would surely attempt to thwart their escape.

His attention quickly shifted to Scorchfang who'd begun speaking again. This time he made threats against them all. Silvannus' face no longer held the cheeriness to it that it had before. The great dragon flapped its immense wings sending bursts of heated wind over the arena.
Silvannus had no choice but to cover his face with his arm as he watched the dragon barrel upward. He glared, not wanting the creature to escape. Dragon heart was a potent ingredient that he could use for future endeavors.

"WHO SAID YOU COULD LEAVE!" Silvannus shouted, his aura fluxing as he shot into the sky after the dragon, wanting to reprimand the beast for its choice of words. "GET BACK HERE YOU PETULANT LIZARD AND FACE YOUR JUDGEMENT!"

Silvannus was barreling toward the dragon, but suddenly his ears filled with her voice. Selrina. He could hear her saying "Not now" and his eyes shifted back to normal. He floated in the air for a moment as memories of their time together played like a movie in his head. A tear fell from his eyes as he quickly wiped it away. She was important to him. She was the singular being who could make him smile with one word. She'd taught him so much. She'd been there for him since he could remember, almost like a mother. He confided in her his concerns and his fears, and she always comforted him with a simple smile or a touch of her grace. Why had she sacrificed herself in the way she had? He needed her now more than ever, and he would get her back. He would make sure she awoke, even if it cost him his life. Silvannus felt another tear fall from his eyes and he closed them before turning around to look down at the arena. They needed his help to escape. He couldn't abandon them now. He looked into the sky.

"Thank you."

Quickly, he made his way back to the arena. He could see Minos and he could see the others gathered around the deformed arachnid. One of them was fighting Consumed, and one was shrouded in shadow thanks to the hood they wore, but they held an odd bamboo lance and he could feel the Tree of Life's magic radiate from them. It was familiar. Had they met before? Silvannus then noticed one of his comrades turn away from the others and walk in a different direction. "Strange..."

He landed and crouched as dust flew up from his presence. Consumed began to descend upon the others and Silvannus stood up slowly. His eyes landed on the creatures as they neared.

"I have had just about enough of this..." Silvannus said as Luna and Sage appeared. Gripping the handle of the fans, he dashed forward and decapitated one of the Consumed while disemboweling another. One by one they fell before Silvannus threw the fans into the air. They opened, joining together to form a large circle. An orb of dark energy shot out of the center of the circle and struck one of the Consumed. Dark necrotic energy spewed from the creature and had a domino effect on three Consumed near the first. Silvannus watched as they turned to dust.

"NOW! WHO ELSE WISHES TO TEST MY PATIENCE?"

The Consumed looked at each other then at Silvannus and slowly started to back away.

"That is more like it. You're such adorable little skeletal creations."

Silvannus floated to the nearest Consumed and patted it on the head as if it were his pet. He started making adorable kissy noises and rubbed its deformed belly.

Hearing the battle that was happening didn’t deter Lunae from his task. He was going to find what they stole from him. He then heard the humming of the two fans that were in the possession of one of the gods. It almost sounded like they were crying. He didn’t understand this, but they were with someone who could protect them. He didn’t have to worry about them.

Silvannus turned his attention to Lunae who was still marching away. He blinked and appeared next to Lunae.

“Going somewhere handsome?”

Lunae continued to walk when he heard a voice behind him. Stopping his forward movement he didn’t look back as he gave an audible sigh.

“I am going to get what is mine. You should be concerned with your own skin, and not worry about me.” Lunae said, deciding to not comment about what he had called him. “I am sure that Luna and Sage would be sad if anything happened to you. So, go.”

Lunae began walking once more.

"Wait.."

Why was he so concerned about Lunae? The god made his choice and he should respect it, but Lunae was familiar to him and he didn't understand why. He was drawn to him and he needed to know what the reason was.

Lunae could hear the fans begging him to not go back into the prison, and this caused him to lose his concentration thus leading him to trip on a stone that was protruding out of the floor.
Lunae closed his eyes and held out his arms in preparation for his impact. If his leg was normal he would have never lost his balance, but when he put the pressure on the leg to try and correct his mistake it buckled. Thus his current predicament.

Silvannus moved swiftly to catch Lunae and,in doing so, found his face extremely close to Lunae’s. Lunae realized the impact that he expected from the fall didn't come and he opened his eyes. That was when they came into contact with the eyes of the person that caught him.
Their eyes locked and Silvannus' heart rate increased. His lips were so alluring. His eyes held secrets, and yet he could get lost in the beautiful pools. His hand rested firmly on Lunae’s waist and back to keep him secure. Lunae peered into the depth of the soft color of brown they were. They seemed to go on forever, and he could feel himself blushing for some unknown reason. What was it about those eyes that held his gaze? He knew the man was someone he trusted with one of his children, but there was something more in the gaze. Something that was familiar, yet at the same time so foreign.

Lunae, in an instant, came to his senses and tried pushing the man away. However, Silvannus' grip remained firm on his back. It prevented Lunae from pushing his arms up and pushing the god away. He needed to think of a way to get out of this situation. He needed to go before the chaos the others had caused died down. He could think of two options to possibly get him to let go. Both were not something he would normally do, but he felt like if he stayed like this any longer he would have a problem. They were so close that it wouldn't take much to implement his plan. Leaning forward he kissed the god on the lips.

By the time Silvannus realized what was happening, he felt the lips of the other deity pressed softly against his own. Something flickered in his mind. This. This wasn't as strange or off-putting as he thought it should be. There was something within him that wanted to deepen the kiss, something there that felt as if this kiss had been one of many long ago, but he resisted and quickly released Lunae from his grip.

Clearing his throat, and touching his lips softly, he gave Lunae a glare that could kill.

"Who are you to steal a kiss from me?" He huffed, the blush on his face betraying the anger he was trying to show.

Once he was free from the grip that held him tight he once again looked into the soft brown eyes. He didn’t see the hate that came out of the other's mouth as he spoke about him stealing a kiss. He just shook his head and turned away

“Well it got you to let me go, and it is payback for what you called me earlier,” Lunae said as he turned his back to the god once more. His heart was racing, and his face was a pale pink. He needed to get his mind together if he was going to succeed in his mission.

“Don't be ridiculous… if you go back you're going to die. We leave as a group. You and I can return later if need be, but think about what you're about to do,” Silvannus said, hands on his hips.

Lunae was about to leave once more when Silvannus told him that he was going to die if he went back. He even offered to come back with him to help him, and to think about what he was doing. Once more he gave an audible sigh as he was about to say something. That was when a humming could be heard as the fans that were beside Silvannuis moved away from him and began to circle Lunae.

Silvannus watched Lunae sternly, but when Luna moved over to Lunae and started encircling him, Silvannus smirked. He could understand what Luna was saying. They shared a telepathic link.

“Both of you need to stop. Don’t tell me what I need to do. You should be more concerned with your Master than me. He is the one you serve. Now stop, and leave me alone. I need to get him back, and you two need to stay with this man.” Lunae said in a harsh tone, speaking to the fans, and pointing to Silvannus. He knew they just wanted him to be safe, but he couldn’t abandon him.

“You and the others don’t need me. So just leave. You owe me nothing, and vice versa. If I die then so be it. My children will be safe, and the ones you hold will be safe. I need to get my hammer back, and that is final. I won't leave him in the hands of that bitch.” Lunae said as he began to walk once more.

“You’re quite the stubborn one,” Silvannus said, shaking his head, “Has it ever occurred to you that you’re more important to others and that your dying could affect them? I see talking won’t work so I’ll have to use other means..”

Luna turned to Silvannus and he nodded. Sage and Luna transformed into their ethereal ribbon form and wrapped around Lunae, restricting him. Silvannus audibly sighed as he stepped in front of Lunae and gazed into his eyes.

Lunae looked down at Luna as it wrapped around his body. His eyes narrowed as he struggled to get her to let him go. “You little…” Lunae stopped.

Listen to my voice… You are calm… You want to escape and go back home… There is nothing else you want than to leave this place… You also find yourself very handsome…

Lunae was about to say more however Silvannus’ voice caught his attention. His voice filled the air around Lunae, drilling through any resistance he had to reach his mind. The calming alluring voice was like honey, sweet and addicting. It was like water on a hot day, refreshing. Lunae tried to not listen to the voice, but something told him that there was no way for him to block out the voice. So, he could only just listen and allow the voice to soothe him. As soon as he got the chance he was going to make him pay. His mind fell and he succumbed to Silvannus’ spell.

“Good boy, now sleep,” Silvannus said, as Lunae’s body fell limp. “Bring him along ladies. We have work to do.” Silvannus was not proud of what he’d just done. Lunae was alive. He would hear everything around him, but he was no longer in control of his body. To him, it would be as if he were lounging on a beach, or making weapons in a forge, but his body would move and do as Silvannus commanded. Luna argued with Silvannus that he didn’t have to put him under a spell, and that knocking him out would have been better.

“You are right Luna, but I fear if I hadn’t done it this way he may have awoken and injured himself. I think we should give this route a chance.”

Luna and Sage lifted Lunae, levitating beside Silvannus as he made his way to the other. He made it just in time to hear Moriteva speak about sparing Minos. He sighed. Of course, they would spare the ugly pitiful thing. Even he felt sorry for it. Then the other savior spoke. He was the one who had broken the rune stones. Silvannus could feel that some of the magic had poured into the hunter and he smiled.

“Has no one killed the arachnid yet?” Silvannus interrupted after hearing enough of the bickering. “Minos, oh great Lord of whatever, aren’t you tired of looking like…well what exactly are you? I suppose that doesn’t really matter, anyway. It’s been an exhausting day and I’d rather not waste an ounce of magic obliterating you nor any more of my precious divine time looking at you, so if you’d be so kind as to retreat or whatever things like you do, we’d be more…well I’d be more than happy not to feed you to my pet. Deal?”

[RedKayne]

Background Music

The course of the battle swiftly shifted against Minos, his necrotic powers concentrated on Mortiver proving futile as the orb of darkness dissipated upon contact with the Guardian's sigil. Whirling around, a growl of annoyance escaped him as he realized Visana's involvement in this moment. Adding to his vexation, the tree of sins that had once restrained her no longer bound her to the ground.

"HEY, BIG UGLY, REMEMBER ME!?" The piercing voice of a child-god captured the judge's attention, and he turned to face Ridstus. The celestial of technology charged forward, wielding a baseball bat crafted from diamonds, and swung it with the strength befitting a god. Minos raised a forearm to shield himself, and there was an audible shattering of bone as the bat connected. Minos's forearm hung limply, the bone snapped in half. Strangely, he displayed no signs of pain or discomfort in response to the injury.

"For your egregious transgression of assaulting your Judge," Minos proclaimed with an air of solemn authority, "I hereby decree a new sentence upon you. May the pain of your transgression befall you tenfold." His words carried a weight that was felt by the celestial witnesses nearby. Suddenly, Ridstus was violently propelled backward by a thunderous, concussive force, as if the energy of his own attack had been turned against him.

With the minor obstacle out of the way, Minos redirected his attention to Moriteva and Mahisu and responded to their peace offering with a snarl. "For three thousand years," he began, a deep-seated resentment in his voice, "I've presided over the arena games for my beloved Duchess. For three millennia, not a single soul has eluded my judgment. I will not allow you pitiful, weak, pathetic worms to bring shame upon-."

"Now, now, Minos... there's no need to fret. The games are far from over." A cold, feminine voice emanated from beside the Goddess of Time, catching the entire group off-guard. A lithe, pale hand came to rest on her shoulder, adding to the element of surprise. It was the long-awaited arrival of Malphas, the Duchess of Pain.

Malphas wore a sinister smile upon her crimson blood-red lips, her figure draped in a revealing black leather outfit. Her presence exuded a bone-chilling aura as if death itself had descended upon them. "This is only just the beginning for our esteemed guests." Her crimson-red eyes looked past the group and fell on Minos first, whose sudden silence displayed he was just as surprised as the rest of them.

As the tension in the arena thickened, scattered throughout the stands were dozens of the Consumed. These tormented souls, driven by insatiable hunger and perpetual pain, watched the unfolding events with hollow, eerie eyes.

Suddenly, a spear burst forth from behind Malphas, impaling her chest. Golden aether splattered onto the ground, and blood trickled from her lips as the deadly weapon struck its mark. With a swift motion, the spear was retracted, revealing Aegis, the God of Kings, as the first one who had acted. The god, adorned in his golden-plated armor, scowled deeply. "I should have known it was one of your wretched illusions, Duchess."

However, upon closer inspection, it became evident that Malphas remained untouched; her figure unmarred as if the spear had never struck her. The blood that had fallen to the ground had vanished into thin air. This eerie display left everyone present in no doubt that the Monarch's illusionary powers extended far beyond mere visual trickery.

Marette, in particular, still felt the hand on her shoulder, a tangible reminder that Malphas's illusions could manipulate not only sight but also physical sensations.

Malphas pivoted to confront Aegis, her sinister smile remaining unbroken. "Oh, what a sassy little deity we have here," she purred. With a casual snap of her fingers, the Scepter of Sovereignty plummeted to the ground, and Aegis was compelled to kneel. The God of Kings, despite his regal bearing, found himself brought low. He clutched his stomach and let out a tormenting scream, as though an invisible force were mercilessly rending his insides apart. It was evident that Malphas's illusionary powers were inflicting immeasurable agony upon the noble king.

Unperturbed by Aegis's continued cries of pain, Malphas turned her attention back to the rest of the group. "Now, where were we?" she inquired, her tone laced with a chilling nonchalance.

[Hannelorian]

Marette had, at this point, grown tired of Minos and his endless rambling. I sentence you that, or this, or the other. It was all so terribly dull. His endless loyalty to Malphas, the Duchess of Pain herself was noted, though bringing herself to feel some kind of sympathy was simply out of the question. Her only interest now, was in survival and ensuring that those who had also been imprisoned were met with a similar fate, to escape with their lives.

"Now, now, Minos... there's no need to fret. The games are far from over."

A familiar voice. Marette closed her eyes for a solitary moment and shook her head, as she felt a hand come to rest upon her shoulder, the voice so close, no wonder the hand was not far behind. It was a chilling feeling, like her golden aether had run cold. Though in all of this, there was a silver lining. The blessed silence of Minos. For a brief and shining moment she could breathe without hearing those wretched and foul words literally shake and vibrate along her body.

The games of the Duchess had only begun, and that did not bode well for the small group, nor for their rescuers. Though the voice of one of them had struck her as familiar, but there was not the time to contemplate it further. And suddenly, Aegis did as Aegis would, he made the attempt to strike through the Duchess to no avail. Idiot. Marette watched in disbelief as the God Kings acted so recklessly, without a second thought for his own fate, or what his actions would mean for the rest of them. Typical.

And for his actions he had been taken down to his knees, bowing before the Duchess, screaming pain. It was almost predictable. "If you might allow me." Marette spoke, a smile spread across her face. Taking a step forward, leaving behind the hand which had never truly been there, the Goddess of Time curtsied, though in dirty clothes, ill fitting someone of Malphas' status. An action which may have made her more enemies than friends.

"It's been some years, Malphas. It's a delight to see you in such fine form. I had forgotten the frigid and skeletal touch you possess." There was a small laugh that escaped her lips, a hand raised to cover her mouth before allowing her hand to fall to her side. At the very least, she could buy the others time to make an escape. Or, potentially to negotiate a way out, though that seemed less than likely.

"You must forgive Aegis." Marette turned to look at the man, shaking her head. "The God of Kings seems to think himself entitled to such brazen action. Though if he had only learned from his own history, not all Kings are worthy of being served or saved." The Goddess of Time turned now to look back out at Malphas, or the illusion of her. Marette's eyes had gone cold, her voice was strong, stern but almost endearing. "While I have no doubt, he knows exactly what he has done, his arrogance has betrayed him." Another sigh escaped her lips. While killing Malphas may in fact, be for the good of Order. It would be an uphill battle, and all of them in this state were no position to fight it.

"Now. Enough of this. Let's dispense with these games. What is it you're really after? Surely our deaths must be a rather boring conclusion." Marette slowly and cautiously made her way toward the spectre of the Duchess. "We bested your precious God of Judgment, we've broken your cage. It is clear that we aren't very well going to stop. So why not let us go? Peons, all of us, compared to your majesty." Marette's raised arms moved upward, motioning around them. "We'll spare his life, if you spare ours. You've made your point with Aegis. To move against you would not be a wise decision."

Marette's voice never faltered, nor did she appear to be afraid, even in the slightest. In truth, perhaps Marette was slightly perturbed, and had briefly contemplated her own death, but she could not stand by and do nothing. She would not allow her fellow deities to carelessly throw their own lives out in their weakened states. "I have no desire to harm you. Surely you can see that. But I cannot speak for all assembled. I can however, see reason, so... shall we continue to embarrass you before the Consumed? Or shall we live to fight another day? When you can be challenged properly. If need be, punish Aegis. Or keep me. Time in a bottle, as it were. Or have you forgotten what it is I can do?" Marette smirked, without the slightest bit of hesitation remember the acorn on the field, the tree reverted to it's original state. It was perfect, still there on the ground like a perfect gift. Marette took a step back and with a single wave of her hand the slightest of motions barely detectable, she broke her own magic, and would effectively fast forward time on the acorn, taking it even higher, taller, than the Moriteva (unbeknownst to her) had allowed it to grow. Sending it skyrocketing upward through the ages of it's life. Thousands upon thousands of years in a single moment.

"We're not your real enemies, oh no... I think you might ask yourself who in the world would be foolish enough to send someone here to rescue us? Is that not where your attentions are best placed?"

Marette slowly walked about, almost circling Malphas, but making absolutely no further attempt to harm her, or demonstrate that Marette could be a threat in that moment. "Let's not be so predictable. Do what everyone expects you to do and toy with us until we're dead and dust." Marette cast a passing glance at Atrophos, though her gaze was often drawn to the hooded figure who she could not place, how that irritated her, she felt drawn to him without the faintest idea of why. "You can torture me, break me down into my basest components... It doesn't bother me. I've seen what you can do through the eyes of your victims. Consider that a challenge, and let these insects be free. You've a bigger battle to fight. Don't you, my darling?"

Marette smirked, and could only hope the others were making proper use of their time during such a long winded speech, and she could only hope they would forgive her for any offense caused. She wanted them to live, more than anything. They had all helped one another, and it seemed a shame she had not done more to help them.

[Dire Hoef]

Well, that didn't go as planned.

Ridstus found himself spiralling through the air at an unreasonable speed. His momentum and speed being reversed within an instant. "I'LL BE BACK FOR YOU, YOU BITCH!!" He bass-boosted his voice so that his final insult was hurled with maximum velocity. This excursion of sound increased the speed of his falling arc, but the gyroscopes installed into his person activated.

He readjusted himself so that his feet would hit the ground, and they did only whirring and creaking as his bionic body connected with an area of the stands. He slid up several places before stopping near a group of gnashing Consumed. And seeing that the growing group of Consumed become enamored at the presence of the Big Bad Bitch herself, Riddy took this opportunity to thin the herd.

He twirled the bat with swordfighting flair, and called out to those Consumed around him. "HEY ASSHATS!! YOU WANT SOMETHING TO EAT!!?? I'VE GOT THE MEATS!!!"

He smirked with an almost sinister glee.

Though, some oil leaked from his mouth as the internal damage from the throw caused some of his internal systems to shutdown temporarily. Although this did not bother the god as his thirst for battle grew at the sight of these hellthings.

So as soon as the first Consumed came forward to meet him, he swung down with his bat and caved its skull in with a boom. He used that concussive force to catapult himself into a trio of them. He kneed the first in the head coming down, and broke the legs of the second with the bat while punching though the gut of the third. And once the three demons were thoroughly crush, he leapt out of the huddle and landed behind another.

Before the Consumed even had time to think, its head was swiftly removed from its shoulders. Ridstus stared at the body for a moment before poking it, the cadaver tumbled to the ground.

Ridstus cackled, "FINALLY!! SOME GOOD FUCKING KILLS!!"
He threw his bat to the side, it dematerialized as soon as it hit the ground.

He brought forth his old faithfuls, and spun them with some gunslinger flair. Each pistol carried with it several heavy caliber rounds made of lead. He then reactivated his targeting systems, his HUD coming back online. The system counted six targets, he then sent six rounds down range. Each one landed centermass, punching a whole straight through their chests.

He merely turned his head several degrees to the right before he dumped the rest of his mags on another four. He crouched down just as a Consumed came running at him from behind, and hoisted them over his left shoulder onto some seating. He heel stomped that one repeatedly in the neck while his guns automatically began reloading via his divine magics. And once they were done, so to was this demon as its neck snapped after the fourth stomp.

He stood there now, among the felled, and smiled.
His left hand, though, reflexively blasted the skull of an approaching hellspawn. "Gesundheit."

[RisingPhoenix]

Minos, the rambling god of judgement, continued to do just that. After Riddy’s failed attempt at obliterating Minos, Silvannus watched with intrigued eyes as the young god was thrown back with such force it would have snapped the body of a mortal. Luckily Riddy was made to withstand such force, at least Silvannus hoped. He would’ve helped him had the cold, menacing voice not filled his ear. Everyone gathered stopped what they were doing and turned to see Malphas, Duchess of Pain appear before them. Even Minos was at a loss for words. Finally, silence. Silvannus closed his eyes at the brief bliss of not hearing Minos speak, but he was curious as to why the Duchess had appeared before them. Was she not one who enjoyed watching and not interfering? What did she expect them to do when backed into a corner? Like any creature wanting to live, they’d given their all and proved to be a force that they had not planned for, or was this all still a part of her games? He disliked being a pawn on the chessboard. Whatever she had planned, he was not going to be in the middle of it. He would get them out of this, but how?

Silently, hovering only a few inches off the ground, Silvannus observed the interaction between Malphas and Aegis. How the god of kings recklessly charged in as he’d done with the dragon only to be bested in mere seconds. Knees planted on the ground, screaming in pain. It was a sight to see. Such a strong powerful man reduced to this. There was a part of Silvannus that enjoyed seeing it. Twisted, chaotic, pleasing. He couldn’t shake the feeling of envy. How dare she get to toy with Aegis in this way? The question had been replaced with something dark. Break him. Snap his arm in half. Watch the blood pour from his wounds. Absorb his essence. Silvannus had to shake his head to remove the dangerous thoughts that lingered in the far reaches of his mind. He had never acted on the sinister thoughts that rarely clouded his mind. However, when they appeared, they were strong, but his willpower was stronger.

Before he could speak to Malphas, Marette began. He had to hide his laugh when she’d mentioned Malphas touch as being cold, like that of something dead. As she spoke to Malphas, Silvannus was piecing together a way for them to get out of this. That was when he noticed the large tree spring up and out of the arena. Perhaps that was their way out of this hell. Get up the tree, find a Planar Portal, and get back to Eden. The only problem was Malphas. Minos was hardly a problem for him, but Malphas…she was a mountainous obstacle. How could he create a diversion that would allow the others to get away? He would need to get them to the Planar Portal within the realm. Many existed in planes to allow for travel between domains; however, they weren’t as obvious as many thought. Some took various shapes, such as the shape of large stones to blend in with the environment around them. Some are guarded by vicious beasts to ensure only those allowed could pass. He would need the fractured rune stones once more for this next task. While Marette spoke to the Duchess of Pain, or her illusion, it was never clear which was which when dealing with Malphas, Silvannus would get to work.

The illusionist did enjoy toying with her prey. The stories he’d heard of her, and the rumors of her being the supposed King Slayer. Silvannus had yet to see any proof of her involvement, but that was not to say she wasn’t. Such a strong and powerful deity who’d created the Five Monarchs, to be slayed by one was questionable. The King of Gods, whose power was so immense, would not fall to just anyone. Perhaps he’d grown tired of ruling and wished to seclude himself from it all. Perhaps there was something more sinister at work here. Suriyel, the first of their kind to ever exist and the strongest to ever exist. The question then rose who was the creator that created Suriyel? Was the great creator still out there. Surely that creator would hear him, surely that primordial being would hear his prayer.

He’d never met Suriyel. He never got the chance to listen to the infinite wisdom he was sure the being possessed, and news of the King of Gods’ death traveled, and everything fell into chaos. Who would be the next King of Gods? The question that had been on many minds as of late. Who’d done it? Another question on the minds of many. Silvannus could safely say he had a respect for all of the Monarchs even if there was turmoil between certain factions. He often questioned his own existence in everything that was happening. His dreams of the great creator restoring the land to that of peace and understanding. A land where war was the farthest thought on anyone’s mind. Peace. Peace as far as the farthest of realms. For such a reality he would have to fight for it. For such a state of peace things would need to change.

He closed his eyes, allowing divine magic to flow. He called upon the rune stones to fuse back together. The fragments began to lift from their graves. Piece by piece they rejoined until a full stone plopped into Silvannus waiting hand. One, two, and the final one. The runes on the stones began to shift, changing into what Silvannus needed, a one way portal to the nearest Planar Portal. He had blinked away from the group after Aegis’ attempt at murdering the Duchess of Pain. The three stones floated around him as he called upon the ether of the realm and began his incantation.

“Great Creator. If you can hear me, I need you more than ever. Come, awaken the dormant power within. Cast away darkness, and illuminate the raw power of arcana. Fill the vessels, show your great strength.”

That foul witch thinks she can just stroll in and hurt my poor Aegis.

“Luna, dear, it’s quite alright. This is her domain after all, but we need to find a planar portal. Can you sense any nearby?... and what do you mean your Aegis?”

Give me five minutes alone with her, I’ll guarantee she’ll think twice about what she’s done. I’ll slap her silly.

“Sage, you’ll do no such thing, please, focus."

Yes MY Aegis. Just look at that specimen, proportionate in all the right ways and then there’s her. Just look at those deep hideous crows feet on her face. She makes me sick. We should poison her water.

“Luna, for celestial sake we are not murderers.”

Tell that to the Consumed you sliced and diced with us. Master, for once let me just strangle her, just this one time. I promise to behave after I see her feet dangle.

Silvannus could only sigh at the struggle he was having dealing with his fans Luna and Sage. The two sentient creations were his pride and joy aside from his staff, a gift from the great creator, whom he’d never met but for some reason seemed quite hands on with his path until his demise. He gave both the fans a stern look and they quieted down as he concentrated on finishing the incantation.

“Sage, be a dear and snap Luna out of this obsession, please.”

Luna may be extreme at times my Lord, but she’s right you know..

I’ll do it. I’ll kick her ass. I’d rather not see him die because he can’t defend himself. Then I’ll get to work on chopping that low down dirty b…

“LUNA! We do not use that language. Besides, I have another plan. Get everyone up that tree, out of the arena so that we can find a planar portal out of this place.”

But you’d be left here alone.

“I’ll be fine Sage, trust me. I am going to use a spell. When I do, you and Luna take one of them and go up the tree as fast as you can. Do not look back. I will hold the spell for as long as I can.”

What about Lunae?

Silvannus turned to look at the man currently ensnared by Luna and Sage. Why did he feel so familiar? What about this man was comforting to him, and why did he feel drawn to him, like a long lost friend, or more. He had to admit Lunae was very handsome. Even in his tattered clothes and dirt covered attire, he was still soft on the eyes. He would have to apologize for his actions when they were out of Tartarus.

“I will take care of him. Now, let it begin.”

Silvannus sliced his hand, smearing the blood on the floating rune stones. His voice flowing through the arena like a haunting wail. There was a stirring of violent wind that ripped around the arena. The chains rattled, levitating off the ground. The dead bodies began to pulse as a thin stream of blood flowed and slowly collected in the rune stones. Silvannus continued the incantation, his voice reverberating through the ground.

[Iwazuma]

Moriteva couldn't help but admit he found a small bit of pleasure in watching the ever-aggressive Ridstus go flying as a result of another of Minos' judgments. Moriteva watched the mechanical god smash into the walls far off, then turned back to Minos, who had already begun to wax poetic on how their insistence on escaping was an insult and that nobody had ever escaped the bloodsands under his watch, and...Ugh. He really does prattle on too much sometimes. Moriteva had figured out enough to hazard a good guess at how to stop Minos once and for all. He was about to turn to Visana and mention his thoughts when a chillingly familiar voice caught him-and Minos-off guard. He'd know that voice from anywhere, even if he'd never met the deity in person...."Malphas." Moriteva spoke once, but furrowed his brow beneath his hood. This wasn't right at all. She couldn't have been here. He didn't sense any new life energies enter the arena....

By the time he'd turned to face her, he'd noted the eerie silence in the arena. Beyond the gods themselves, even the Consumed had stopped any attempts at assault, their entire beings transfixed by their dominator standing in front of them. Or so they assumed, anyways. Moriteva would have spoken the obvious, but by the time he could raise the thought to those around him, Aegis had taken the bait, plunging his lance convincingly through Malphas' sternum. No, you fool, that won't do anything... Just as he'd thought it, Aegis was forced to his knees, and he began crying out in a tortured, hollow cry that Moriteva could only imagine denoted he was in extreme, miserable pain-or at least he thought he was. He was well aware of the Duchess' impressive powers to confound the mind and its perceptions at every turn. He could no longer trust anything that he was not keeping his eyes on previously. And even then...

With Aegis on the ground, Moriteva kept his eyes on the arena beneath him. He wasn't sure what move would be made next. Even Silvannus had remained mostly inert for the moment...but the first to make a move beyond the God of Industry taking out some impotent rage on a few of Malphas' hapless minions was...No, no no no no.... A burning sense of dread filled Moriteva's gut as he watched Marette begin to grandstand. Of all the times for you to make a martyr out of yourself, why now? There weren't many things that caused Moriteva to react, but the most observant of the group might find the mysterious hooded figure clutching his bamboo lance so stiffly it threatened to snap in half. Her steps and confident, almost arrogant words to the most powerful being in Hades were going to get her killed...which seemed very much to be her plan. Make an example and a distraction, so that everyone else could find a way to flee. Moriteva grit his teeth. This was bad. Not just because Luthious had explicitly requested he bring as many as he could back alive, but Marette was a friend. A good friend. A friend he'd met, spoken to, and exchanged philosophies with on multiple occasions, both before and after the fall. How had she even managed to be captured by Malphas in the first place? There were many questions he had for her...that if he didn't find a way to act, he'd never get to ask.

As Moriteva tried to come up with a plan to break Marette out of the predicament she was very obstinately putting herself into, her own grandstanding provided him with the perfect opportunity. The acorn that had been a tree mere minutes ago once again exploded with life energy, far beyond even what Moriteva had put into it. Roots spread out and buried themselves deep into the sand in search of nutrients as its trunk and branches shot upwards towards the roof of the arena, aging thousands of years in an instant. The sudden burst of life had Moriteva taking a step back, but he quickly regained his senses and kept them focused on the arena. Marette was circling a lifeforce now...but only one. The only person who had been over there was Aegis...and Moriteva could sense a host of life sources in the tower itself. Even though he couldn't pinpoint whose was whose, he could hazard a pretty good guess all or most of them were watching the scene unfold.

Moriteva wasted no more time in making his move. He had all the information he needed.

The hooded figure turned to Visana once more. "Minos only seems to be able to pass judgment when he speaks." He imparted a final nugget of observation to the Goddess of Protection before leaving her with Minos and deftly leaping over the short wall keeping him out of the arena, landing heavily on the sands below. He walked calmly up to the mighty oak, placing a hand on its trunk in a surprisingly soft, gentle gesture. I'm sorry. This all must be very confusing. Lend me your energy, and I promise we will leave you to yourself as soon as we can. Moriteva calmly spoke to the tree before letting his touch begin to siphon away at the suddenly-ancient plant's rather impressive pool of life energy. It was like a never-ending geyser for him to drain from, and he could feel strength slowly filling his body as he turned to Marette, jamming his bamboo lance into the sands.

"Marette." Moriteva spoke calmly and seriously. "Your speech might be awe-inspiring, but perhaps you should give it to Malphas instead of your fellow captives." Moriteva didn't know who she had been speaking to, but the illusion was merely that-an illusion. Someone who was already in the arena was giving off that life signal...not her. Moreover, Moriteva bluffed that he knew more than he was letting on, hinting that he could see straight through the false imagery presented to him when his eyes betrayed him just as much as anyone else's. All he knew was that Malphas was not with them. Instead, he turned his eyes to the tower.

"On top of that, you are right, Marette. Someone definitely did send for you. Emphasis on the final word." Moriteva spoke slowly, trying his best to get his words across. "My employer would not be happy if he were to learn that one of his targets decided to willingly sacrifice herself when he has other plans for her." Moriteva remained as vague as possible; were he to drop the name Luthious, there was a chance Malphas might hold them prisoner indefinitely. With his pleasantries out of the way and his best attempts to get Marette-and Malphas-to perhaps sway their courses, he spoke once again, choosing not to even so much as turn to the illusion to his right and focusing on the tower itself, figuring Malphas would be able to hear every word. His hand remained on the trunk, continuing to borrow from the oak's vast stores of energy.

"Malphas. I cannot say I've had the pleasure of meeting you before, but I find it curious you've chosen not to grace us with your corporeal presence this fine day." Moriteva made his point clear-he knew she was faking her presence the entire time. He'd made more than one trip to Hades in the past, but had never worked directly with its Duchess. "It would seem my little prison break has not gone unaware of your notice. I suppose the dragon escaping probably caused quite the ruckus. For that, I apologize. That was never the original intent." Indeed, the hellwyrm had been an unexpected development. His eyes caught Silvannus attempting something with his magic; if that was the case, he needed to be a convincing distraction.

He spoke a little louder, his voice filled with conviction and determination. "If your grace would be so kind to recognize...your prisoners would not have gotten as far as they have were it not for the outside influence I provided. The rune shield would not have shattered were I not to interfere." Moriteva purposely left Mahisu out of his speech for two reasons; the first was to perhaps draw attention away from his presence, perhaps giving him another chance for a sneak attack. The other was simpler; were negotiations to fail...he would prefer the God of the Hunt to have the lesser sentence.

"Yet even with your prisoners on the cusp of escape, you have chosen to let an illusion do the work instead of culling the interlopers yourself. This tells me...perhaps you still want them alive. Or perhaps something has caught your attention?" Moriteva was now venturing into the realm of pure speculation; he knew nothing of Malphas' intentions. Perhaps torturing them before an agonizing kill was her plan. It was definitely well within the realm of reason. But Moriteva needed to draw this out as long as he could, keep attention away from those he'd been tasked to rescue. "Whatever the case, Malphas...if you seek to punish the prisoners, then your first target should be myself. Though I do find it quite disappointing I cannot see your visage with my own eyes." Moriteva again noted his evident seeing-through of the illusion presented to him as the soft glow of verdant green began to rise beneath the hood. Moriteva could feel the well of power rising within him...not nearly enough to strike down a Monarch, but perhaps enough to put up long enough of a fight to give them a chance. "Your ire should be on me and me alone. I was sent here to release them, and I intend to see that through to the end. Perhaps there's some sort of agreement we can come to..." Moriteva fully expected Malphas to immediately turn on those words in some way, but so long as that was directed at him, he could bear it. Sylvannus, Marette, Mahisu, Visana, everyone...I don't care what it looks like I'm suggesting. I trust in you all. Even if he had to bear the worst of it, he would if it meant they had a chance of escaping. Not just for Luthious' sake...the hooded figure cast one more lingering sidelong glance at Marette, before keeping his gaze focused on the tower once again. Take your chance if you're given it, I beg you.

[RedKayne]

"Cower, you insignificant wretch!" Minos's thunderous voice echoed through the arena as he regained his composure. The Lord of Judgment's anger seethed, his wrath unmistakably directed at Marette, the Goddess of Time. "How dare you insult the Lady of-"

In a breath, Malphas's voice intruded once more, this time emerging from behind Marette herself. The Goddess of Time blinked, the truth dawning upon her like a chilling revelation. It wasn't Malphas she had been circling during her inner monologue; it was Aegis, whose agonizing cries had now dwindled. Another cunning illusion by the Duchess of Pain.

"What exquisite hair you have," Malphas purred, her slender fingers gracefully weaving through Marette's shimmering strands. "Despite the grime, it's still quite beautiful." Malphas, or rather her illusion, stood back-to-back with the Goddess of Time. "Your head would make for a splendid trophy in my throne room," she added, her words carrying the weight of a sinister promise, conveniently ignoring Marette's perceived offenses. The Dark Duchess was a master of these cat-and-mouse games.

As the towering tree of life surged from the depths of time magic, Malphas's crimson eyes remained unblinking, revealing her nonchalance towards this display of power. Her eyes also maneuvered to that chaos that Ridstus created as he slaughtered several of her Consumed.

Unbothered, the Duchess's gaze shifted towards Moriteva, another deity who had ventured into a lengthy monologue. When he finally concluded, Malphas couldn't help but release a small giggle. "Well, after enduring countless eons, one becomes adept at deciphering these self-sacrificing speeches," she remarked, her red eyes effortlessly discerning the true intentions behind Marette and Moriteva's words.

"And you know, it becomes far more entertaining when these so-called heroes witness the very beings they're striving to protect... perish," she giggled again, her demeanor reminiscent of a mischievous teenager recalling a fond memory.

Her illusory form reappeared before Moriteva, a slender finger delicately placed on his chest, directly above his heart. Malphas had an all-knowing smile, fully aware of the God of Life's gathering energy from the colossal tree that had sprung forth from the abyss of Tartarus.

"There are many things I desire, dear," she began, finally addressing his question. "I yearn for the Throne of Gods to be mine alone. I crave the demise of my siblings, ensuring no one can challenge my supremacy. I long to savor a feast composed of the most luxurious and exquisite dishes the multiverse has to offer. However, I suppose what I want most now is the death of Aegis, whom Marette was trying to shield," her crimson eyes sparkled with a wicked glint as she continued, "and then the demise of Marette, whom you were endeavoring to protect. After that, your own demise, followed by the delivery of all your heads to my brother as a gruesome message."

Her words dripped with malevolence, each sentence a macabre testament to her insatiable hunger for power and suffering.

Her form dissolved into nothingness and, in an instant, reappeared once more, this time positioned behind the kneeling God of Kings. In her hand, she gripped a blade as dark as the abyss itself, adorned with a mesmerizing ruby design—a depiction of a sinister leviathan coiled around its surface.

"You see," she purred, her voice dripping with sadistic delight, "even when inflicting illusions of agony, even a deity possesses a breaking point, where mind and divine heart shatter in exquisite harmony. It is a truly tantalizing spectacle to witness the downfall of one so divine... to revel in the death of a deity." As she spoke, she raised the obsidian-black blade, running her tongue along its edge, as if savoring the mere thought of it being coated in golden aether.

"Well, Sovereign of Rulers," she taunted, lowering the blade closer to his exposed neck, her grip on his brown hair rough and unforgiving, "Do you have any parting words for your fellow comrades?"

Que Sad Music

Aegis struggled to catch his breath, still bearing the remnants of the excruciating pain he had endured. Despite the dire situation, he mustered a weary smile as he looked toward his two celestial companions. His voice, though strained, carried a sense of acceptance.

"I owe both of you an apology for the predicament we find ourselves in," he began, his gaze shifting between them. "Marette, our differences aside, your unwavering bravery has always been a source of admiration. I have no doubt that the Order faction will thrive under your leadership. And you are correct, not every King deserves to be saved," he said the last few words with a sad smile. "A true king wouldn't make such a reckless attack without knowing the direct consequences of his action."

Turning his gaze to the other, he continued, "And Moriteva, your selflessness in protecting not just your domain but all life has not gone unnoticed. You embody the spirit of Mother Nature, and I am certain that you will continue to carry the torch of Balance and alight it across the multiverse."

"Silvanus," Aegis's voice resounded with unwavering conviction. "Your mastery of arcana has always left me in awe, and I have no doubt that you will discover the means to rescue your mother." The atmosphere crackled with an almost electric intensity as the Arcana celestial harnessed his power to conjure their escape from the abyss of Tartarus.

A heavy sigh escaped him as if he was bracing for what lay ahead. "Finally, Malphas..." Aegis's voice dropped, and he hung his head in resignation. "I must admit, there was actually another reason why I tried to strike you down," his tone shifted, and the Monarch cocked her head, intrigued. "Your powers of visual illusions practically know no bounds, and it is well known you can conjure an illusion anywhere within your realm." His posture straightened, and his head turned back, a confident side-eye cast towards Malphas. "However, your brother has relayed that your tactile illusions can only be used within visual and hearing range. I needed to confirm you were actually nearby," he began, a smile forming from his lips.

Malphas appeared more perplexed, "What are you getting on-"

Aegis's eyes alit with radiant fire, "MALPHAS, CEASE!" His voice resonated with holy power as his Divine Authority surged into action. His words carried through the air, heading straight for their intended target as she only needed to hear this command, unveiling the intricate layers of his tactical stratagem.

In a reflexive attempt, the illusion of Malphas moved to slash at the deity's throat. Yet, before the blade could reach its mark, her form dissipated into specks of nothingness.

Aegis crumpled to the ground, his once-mighty form now feeble and wracked with pain. He convulsed violently, coughing up streams of golden blood, a stark testament to the immense toll exacted by using his powers against an all-powerful Monarch.

"I've secured us but a fleeting respite, a few seconds at best," he wheezed out amidst his suffering, desperation lacing his words. "Silvanus, waste no time, get us out of here!" The God of Kings' urgent plea was tinged with a hint of hope that his earlier words to his fellow gods had provided enough time for Silvanus's arcane magic to complete its work.

A detonation of dark energy erupted, shattering the silence. "You treacherous insect!" Minos's voice reverberated through the arena, a cacophony of wrath. The Lord of Judgment seethed with anger, his many insectoid arms raised high into the air. "For your blasphemous transgression against the Duchess," he bellowed, "I pass judgment upon you—"

[Dire Hoef]

War wasn't violence, war was a cavalcade of savagery.. What he saw, what his own eyes captured, he could not unsee. Aegis was grieviously wounded!? THE GOLDEN BOY WAS STAINED BY UNCLEAN HANDS!? This was unsightly, unseemly, ABSOLUTELY ALIEN.

Ridstus' eyes flashed with righteous fury. That BITCH OF GODDESS thought it sly to just float there and exert her will upon everyone!? OOOHHH NO. Absolutely NOT. These things are now on his shit list. This place is on his shit list. This kind of disrespect Riddy has only felt once in his short existence. And this wasn't even him that was slightly. THIS WAS FELT VICARIOUSLY. "They're going to die now. This means war." He gave a thumbs down and proceeded to shoot the knees out one of the many followers of Malphas close by before blowing its brains out. "Hmph... Revolting."

He then decided that if they were going to stain their hands with the blood of the divine, then blood must be spilt on both ends. So, he extended one of his arms out to exchange his pistol for an object the size of a watermelon. This pulsating, heart-shaped, orb resonated with divine energy. He held it firmly in his grasp before tucking it underneath his arm like a football. He got low, seemingly setting himself up to rush forward like he was playing football. "HUT ONE, HUT TWO!!"

Activating the all faculties in his legs, he sprinted forward and kicked up dirt and debris as he went. "HIKE!"

He shoulder-checked a Consumed, diving straight through their torso. He then leapt a good distance, using his momentum to carry him forward quite a ways. His feet planted and then pivoted, ready to blast off toward the group.

"PRETTY BOY!" Ridstus zoomed in on the arcane deity, and amplified his voice so as to be heard from his position. "THIS THING IS READY TO BLOW AT MY GO! SEE IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS THING REALLY POP!!" He then punted the orb into the air in their general direction so as to let the one they called Silvannus take it. By having that magic man work on it, Riddy hoped they could put some real juice

He then turned his attention back to his path that was still filled with Consumed. "Easy."

Riddy, in all his heart, proceeded to rush the coming group of hellspawn pistol whipping as many of them as he could. Interspersed among the pistol whipping were gunfire. He was popping off shots, flipping and twirling his pistols around like batons. He then rolled out of the first group, their bodies toppling over. He shoulder-checks through the next group, elbowing and kicking. But his guns needed time to reload, so he continued the melee with frightening reflexes and strength. He finally ended their lives with same swiftness as the first before he started his dead sprint toward the others.

[Scottie]

From a place deep within cracked ribs and spotted lungs, a sigh escaped. Atrophos was concentrating on the rust spinning around the staff. It was taking far more of his energy than he had first thought. He was tired. So very tired. He was far too old for this. The scene before him blurred before his eyes. A blow landing from Ridstus. A declaration from Minos….And another declaration from Minos. So many declarations. Atrophos could feel his eyes drooping, then a new vision entered the scene and everything became painfully clear. Malphas.

The living embodiment of evil was twisting her way through the group like a snake sizing up its supper. The screeching and squawking of the consumed around them stopped abruptly. They were watching. Waiting. For something. A greying eyebrow shot up towards his hairline as Aegis appeared behind Malphas. As swiftly as he had appeared, he was forced to his knees and let loose a scream that pierced through the silence like his blade had tried to mere moments ago.

Atrophos had nearly forgotten the level of power that Malphas had when in her domain. She was queen here after all. His gaze trickled over the Duchess of pain, he knew they all had a part to play in this existence but hers was such a unique one. As familiar voices started to interact with this evil being before them, Atrophos came to a single conclusion. This world could survive without this one, he decided. Flicking his gaze towards Aegis, he found himself struggling to come to the same conclusion. Rulers come and go but they have always been and he envisioned that they always would be, even if they no longer wore a crown atop their skulls.

No. You must stay. He nodded to himself and took in another deep sigh. This time, the ribs pulled themselves back into place with a soft sickening thud. A murmur of appreciation left his lips as the Goddess of Time took the bull by the horns. A rush of magic sent a few strands of his hair fluttering over his shoulders, the tree had returned. He did not look at it though, for he feared that his presence may kick start the final stages of the trees life cycle. His gaze flicked up to Marette as she spoke ‘Do what everyone expects you to do and toy with us until we’re dead and dust’. There was a brief moment of eye contact until she broke it and Atrophos let out a soft crackled chuckle.

Dead and dust indeed. His mind drifted back to time when he brought down an elder god. He had felt tired then. The dust of the arena hovered a foot off the ground as it waited patiently, like a dog does a bone. Marette tried to sacrifice herself…but then another, the stranger, decided to do the same. Sacrifice after sacrifice. It is not their sacrifice that will balance the scales again. Nor would it be the god who had his head wrenched back and a blade pressed to his throat. The Duchess of pain was grand standing, dragging the pain of Aegis on to cement the nothingness that they should all feel.

Until power crackled from Aegis’s eyes. The once crumpled god who felt defeated by pain was now kneeling proud. Not defiantly taking his execution. No, this was a god who was not going without a fight. Two words radiated through the arena, staining every consumed with their presence and surely giving every godly being here a surge of confidence. This was not their end. There was still a fight to be had. Even as gold tinged Aegis’s lips, he sent another command to them all. Flee. Do not waste the opportunity given.

Another declaration from Minos. Bellowing like the foul beast that he was. Atrophos turned his attention to the God of Judgment and for the first time since entering this arena, since escaping this arena, hells…even since entering Hades…he looked disapproving. Grumpy. Upset. Angry. “Quiet” The word were pointed and the dust of the arena and the rust by his side buzzed in excitement. “I’ve had quite enough of you.”

The dust of the arena soared towards him as his left hand swept towards Minos. His fingers outstretched before curling into a tight fist as the dust joined with the rust and created a storm of jagged lumps of the arena and rusting chains. His grey eyes darkened as the dust skirted around the deities before him, aiming directly for the gaping maw of Minos’s chest. The storm started to twist around him, creating a barrier of dust and rust between Minos and the others. If it could find purchase, it would pry the flesh up with every swirl of the torrent. Blind him. Maim him. Make the creature feel true pain.

Atrophos's left eye twitched as the dust sunk into the maw, burrowing itself between every tooth and aiming for the roots. Sink within the flesh, let the bacteria of Hades ruin this God of Judgement. That final declaration had not left his maw and Atrophos was determined to suffocate every last attempt at passing judgement. Slowly, he pushed himself to stand. His left fist still clenched tight as the tunnel of dust and rust hindered Minos’s sight and hopefully, Atrophos severely hoped, his ability to bellow declarations.