Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Six Battle of the Gods

A calm wind stirred beneath her as she beat her wings just as the City of Salmus came into view. Capital of the Theocracy, it had been a bit since she’d been here, but Milith felt her recent expedition had been fruitful. A stirring below caught her attention, as the passenger she was carrying in a basket clutched in her talons inquired, “Are we there yet?”

She glanced down at Kari who was shivering in the cold winds. They were common at this altitude but for Milith they didn’t bother her at all. In fact she was used to flying higher, where the winds were practically icy. “Almost, I can see the city now.”

“Wonderful! And next time you suggest flying, remind me of how fucking cold it is up here!”

Milith chuckled, “It’s not that bad, if I go higher it gets even colder.”

Kari blanched, “Please tell me you are joking!”

“Nope,” she replied, “It gets a lot colder as you go up, air gets much thinner too. Go high enough and there is no air to speak of. I’ll be fine that high up, but you wouldn’t.”

“I should have stayed on the ground.”

Milith just giggled as she pulled her wings in, just enough to let free some air, and consequently lift. She adjusted her angle so they’d gently lose altitude on the path towards the city. “Right, how’s my other passenger doing?”

Kari checked on the little parasite and said, “Seems okay.”

“Good I was worried she might be too young.”

“What are you going to do with her? She’s an evil abyssal.”

“This one has promise. I think it can be redeemed and I did find a good one. Sure she still eats brains but that’s all she does.”

“I see, so?”

“I’m going to create a host for her and raise her.”

“Ah! I wish you luck.”

Some idle chat followed as they soon approached a certain roof, where a familiar figure was waiting for them. Completely naked as usual, too. They smiled, as Milith set her basket down, then hopped to the ground herself. “Were you waiting long?”

“No, I got here just moments ago,” she looked at the basket, “Is this the young lady you wanted me to reunite with her friend?”

Milith nodded, “Sure is. Her name is Kari, and she...”

“Is the girl Darrel couldn’t save when he and his sisters escaped. I know, I heard the story. I gave it to you, remember?”

“I was trying to make introductions but yes.”

Arrieta grinned, then looked Kari over, “Right, so my name is Arrieta, and Kari my dear? I think you will fit right in. Bordertown is quite the fun place, lots of lust demons so it’s not unusual for girls to walk around with their breasts out.”

Kari blinked then smiled, “That’s nice, I’m kinda used to leaving them uncovered.”

The air suddenly turned icy. Milith felt a shudder down her spine. A voice spoke from behind her, powerful, masculine and infused with authority. “There you are, you troublesome little mouse. How dare you fuck with my plans.”

She turned and took in the figure behind her. He was massive, wreathed in armor of gold and silver. Sturdy chain mail and solid plate with intricate engravings. The man was clearly a celestial of some breed; his gold-white wings gave him away in that regard. His hair was well kept and trimmed, his golden brown eyes were fierce and his face held the countenance of a warrior. He had a sword on his hip, a polearm of some sort in his hand, one with an epic blade on the side and a sturdy-looking point.

She looked up at him, even as she was speaking, “Arrieta, take Kari and my charge. She needs a host, so if I don’t make it, find one for her. Get out of the city, fast.”

Arrietta just nodded, and grabbed Kari ushering her down the stairs. In her arms she cradled the little Qayan, as she rushed to leave the area. The newcomer let them leave, even as Milith addressed him, “I’m not a mouse, godling!”

He gave her a look, “Might as well be, and don’t worry I’ll be putting you in your proper place young lady. Bearing children for your betters.”

She blanched, “How fucking backwards can you be?”

He did not say a word. Instead he raised his polearm and sent a lance of light at her. Milith responded on instinct, calling forth a ward. A shimmering barrier of energy formed in front of her and blocked the hostile spell.

He smiled, “So you have some skill, little mouse. Spanking your ass will be a real pleasure!”

She took to the air, “I have a name.”

Rather than reply, he moved with surprising speed. She gulped as she barely dodged a magic enhanced slash, followed by a spear strike she could barely follow. He was fast!

Several more rapid strikes came in a flurry, each one faster than the last. With a burst of magic she finally gained some distance, her side burned. He’d managed to hit her, but the flesh was already knitting closed. Being cut was a weird experience, but she had no time to focus on it. If she lost focus for a moment she was dead.

Magic flowed into her palms as she began to channel a spell. Aurous responded by sending a hail of light lances her way. A quick ward helped block them as she evaded the others, even while channeling more power. With each second the sky darkened, despite the midday sun it was soon darker than a starless night during the new moon.

The skies were lit only by the deadly strikes of the godling’s spells as she weaved and danced through the air, barely avoiding death with each second. Every spell was powerful, but why did she feel like he was holding back?

Suddenly he stopped, glancing up at the sky, he commented, “Really? Fury of the Eight Stars? Is that the best you can do?”

A part of her was surprised that he’d identified her spell, but she didn’t let that phase her. That was just a mind game, she took a breath and channeled more energy into the spell and drew more from the stars themselves. Eight crimson stars bloomed into existence above while Aurous did something. She could feel his magic flaring, even as her spell took shape, but it wouldn’t be enough.

The stars flared and angry red light rained from above. She danced in a sky lit by the fury of orbital bombardment. All of that powerful energy focused solely on the arrogant godling. Red beams of light bore into his defensive shields one after another. They seemed to hold but she could sense them weakening, a couple more...

His aura flared and suddenly her magic went everywhere. Red bolts and beams slammed into the city below. Houses, shops, shrines and temples burned as stone flew. He spoke, “Not bad, stronger than I thought. Oh you’ll be such a fun addition to my harem.”

She gave him a look, “Not in your dreams.”

“Oh that’s cute, you think you have a choice. I wasn’t asking,” he replied before shimmering. A shudder went down her spine and only the slightest movement of her wings kept her from getting skewered.

Was he faster? She found herself thinking as she narrowly avoided a follow up, only to take a jab through the leg. Her thigh burned, as she barely blocked his next strike with her talons. He chuckled and grabbed her leg. 

He grinned, “I’ve got you now! Little mouse.”

She pulled, but his grip was firm. Milith fired several spells right at his face, but none of them pierced his shields. Golden light flared up to block each bolt of lightning and fire.

“Quite the spitfire, but I’ve tamed worse. Give it up. I’ve won.”

Yes it did look that way didn’t it? It did seem he had won. Aurous was apparently stronger both physically and magically, but she could feel the way he was being fueled by faith. Without that he would be weaker, but she couldn’t change that. Still she had a few more cards to play, she could try using the cannon in her right arm. It was a powerful weapon, but she didn’t think that was the card to play at this moment. Words flowed from her mouth. For a moment Aurous did nothing, but then he tried to silence her, but she fought, barely managing to speak each word in the ancient tongue, calling upon the very power in the words. “By the blood of my ancestors, I call upon the fire of ancient stars. By storm and fire, thunder and light, blood and darkness, I shall triumph or fall upon this battlefield wreathed in shadow. I pledge this oath, I will protect the empire, I will stand and fight to my last breath, let the stars bear witness, I will not go quietly, for my children and my children’s children, I will fight. Aura of the Supremes”

As the last word left her lips, with Aurous grappling with her, leaving bruises on her smaller body, she felt power surge through her veins. Mana flooded her pathways as they opened to full. Now the field was evened, but she knew the terrible price of this spell. It was the ultimate buff, it gave her the power to cast any spell, cut the mana cost of spells by over half, made her faster and stronger but it would burn through her life force rapidly and leave her crippled afterwards. With a powerful surge of strength she broke his grasp, then let loose with a powerful breath. 

Charged plasma ripped from her lips and tore into his wards. This time the gold light shattered and his form burned. When the light cleared, his body was already healing, leaving only minor burns behind and some charring on his armor. “Cute and feisty. I like you!”

Did anything turn this bastard off? She wondered, even as she blasted him with a new spell. Angry red and blue bolts of light peppered him, as he began to dance in the sky. Spells came back from him and the two of them both began to dance, weaving through the sky in a deadly duel. Below spells of fire, light and lightning rained upon the city. Stonework exploded, cloth burst into flames, draft animals panicked and the people cowered in fear as a battle of the gods unfolded above. Occasionally the eight angry stars in the sky would flare a bright crimson and bring forth a hail of red light and even more destruction would rain upon the city, even as most of those strikes would slam into Aurous.

_______________

Arrieta ducked, avoiding a spray of stone. Beside her a frightened Kari glanced up at the dark sky. “Stay close,” she commented for the millionth time as she pulled the girl along. Trying to ignore the fighting in the sky. A frightened girl ran past, barely dressed and soaking wet. To the left she could see the ruined bathhouse she likely came from. The roof had caved in and smoke billowed out from the premises. People were running everywhere, while panicked animals brayed and ran.

She briefly glanced up, then darted down a side street, pulling Kari along. A familiar building came into sight, thankfully untouched. She was so glad she’d left her girls here, they’d be so scared but once united they could retreat to Bordertown. Yet she couldn’t help noticing as they ran how the street was marred with smoldering craters, there was a burning cart in the road. A nearby shop had been blown to bits, scattering scorched stone and burning goods all over the path. The smoke burned her lungs as she ran.

They passed several buildings, and weaved through a crowd of scared people. She noticed a few knights trying to enforce order but against a mob scared out of their minds, it was hopeless. The poor knights were mobbed, overwhelmed and even as blood filled the air, they were brought down. She felt their minds wink out as they were stabbed to death with their own weapons. Elsewhere she spotted young teens looting a shop. Law and Order it seems were already breaking down in the face of overwhelming force. She hoped young Xeri and Meri were alright.

With such thoughts in mind, she reached the door to the Moonlight Departures guild building and threw it open. A sword was suddenly at her throat but only for a second. The man holding it relaxed, “Sorry! I thought you might be another looter.”

“It’s fine. Where are my girls?”

He pointed to a pair huddled together in the corner, watching the windows with fright in their eyes. “Over there.”

She ran over to them, and was quickly bum rushed by them. It took precious minutes to calm them, as the ground shook and the air boomed. Arrietta might have believed someone if they’d told her the world was ending. Thankfully she knew better. Hugging the girls tight to her and calming the Qayan wrapped around her neck, she asked, “Is the gate open?”

A young lady said, “Yes and you are in luck, we are evacuating to our guildhouse in Bordertown.”

She hurried to follow along, the man from earlier came in last. The building shook which made her pick up the pace even more. The gate came into view where staff and anyone in the building hurried through, she joined the crowd and quickly rushed through the portal when her turn came. A familiar receptionist behind her, while her girls hugged her tight. Kari came a step after that. Just moments before stonework tumbled through the gate. The gate flickered and the guard came through with two young women. The gate flickered one more time and then closed. Arrieta knew there was no going back that way. Then she slumped to the ground suddenly exhausted. Would Milith be alright? She didn’t know and didn’t have the energy to find out.

_________________

Milith panted, her breath came heavy. Her wing wouldn’t move, it lay shattered from one of several hits, her leg barely worked either as she lay on the ground looking up at Aurous. He was bleeding from more than one hit, his right arm was a tattered wreck. Yet he had a smug smile on his face, as he pointed his sword at her throat. “Ah that was quite the workout little mouse, you’ll be a fine addition to my harem alright. I”m sure our children will be legendary.”

He gestured and two figures appeared out of the shadows, “Collar her, and be careful, she’s a fighter.”

Milith glared and raised her right arm. She wasn’t finished yet, her arm opened. Skin pulled apart revealing metal plates spreading apart like the petals of a flower opening, revealing heavily enchanted metal entwined with flesh beneath, a silvery muzzle rose above her wrist, the point of her plasma cannon. Mana rushed through her and into the weapon, as she opened fire.