Seraphine felt emotional as she witnessed mortals fighting against gods for the first ti in decades. Artemis was not one of the gods she had fought against before, but her behavior toward weaker creatures was just as condescending.
As she rose from the ashes, her hair disheveled and electrified, Seraphine let out a hearty laugh as she spread her arms. "This is what every god will face against us!"
In her long fight against the gods, she had never felt this proud of a fight. Her hope had been dwindling by the second ever since she beca an outcast from the world, labeled a demon.
Artemis turned toward her as she restored her human appearance, eyes blazing with fury. Seraphine did not care about her anger and clenched her fists, trembling with excitent.
"As a demon, we have been accused of demonizing others, turning them into outcasts like we are," said Seraphine as her scarf descended, letting her speak down to the goddess while maintaining eye contact. "Those who stand against the gods are demons. This is the absolute rule. The world rejects us wherever we go, and we get hunted down for power. That is the true aning of... demonization."
"Now, after all this ti, why have you resurfaced, Blood Queen?" asked Artemis with a smirk. "You could have hidden until the end of your days, and you wouldn't have to go through the eradication again."
"Is that so?" asked Seraphine with a grin as she jumped to land on the ground, while her blood scarf carried Luna away. Even while cornered, the goddess looked at the maiden with regret and glanced at Freud, who was fighting Dorian and Sarohan. "I'm not the one that is surrounded."
Artemis surveyed the battlefield, watching how she was surrounded from all sides. The first was Seraphine, blocking the clearing before her. Two others were her companions: the lightning spearman and the feline beast. As for the last, it was a group she did not expect.
"Do you wish to be demons too?" asked Artemis without looking back, since she did not have to. "You managed to survive that attack through sheer miracle, so do not waste this life of yours."
"We survived... because of that demon," said the lord of Crestview, his eyes still closed as he tidied his ashen beard. "I don't know about the rest, but the true enemy is the one who tried to kill !"
"Being killed by a god is a blessing!" snapped Artemis without looking at the rest of the lords. "It allows your soul to be reincarnated as a stronger, wealthier, and more beautiful form."
"But our mories will be wiped clean, and we are no longer us," said the elven lord as he gripped his sword tightly. "If you think that revival is a blessing, you should live in this tower for a while!"
"That might be the reason our mories get wiped away," said Lady Margery as her armor fell to pieces. "To ensure that we forget who killed us."
"Your fate has been sealed, then," said Artemis toward the three lords, apathetic toward them. Marshal had been kicked away by Dorian, while the lord of Blood Keep was nowhere to be seen. Then, she addressed Seraphine again. "No matter how much you struggle, you cannot win against ."
"I know that we cannot, but I know who can," said Seraphine with a grin as she pointed at the sky. The clouds rumbled with threatening black lightning, making Artemis' face darken. "You know that an entity you cannot defeat is coming."
Artemis glared at her with silence before she threw out her arm. A giant magic circle appeared above her, as chains materialized around her body. In an instant, the chains shattered as the goddess began to transform.
"Grant strength and guidance to defeat your enemies, almighty creator," muttered the goddess as her skin turned as pale as the moon, with eyes full of stars. A pair of arms grew from her back as another divine bow appeared. "Be vanquished, demons!"
"Be careful, everyone!" said Seraphine as she coated herself in blood armor. "Her powers have skyrocketed in a single instant!"
"Freud Stormblade!" shouted Artemis as she pulled on her bowstrings, aiming one arrow at her enemies and another at Dorian and Sarohan. "Let this arrow distract them as you offer the maiden!"
The arrow was released, and no one was fast enough to stop it. As it headed toward the fighting three, the arrow turned into a giant lion that slamd its claws to the ground, shaking it.
Seraphine frowned as she saw this scene, knowing that this monster was a real one that had been summoned by the arrow she released. However, she had an actual goddess before her, and she could not be distracted.
As for the other arrow Artemis shot towards them, it was crystal clear, with golden energy brimming through it. The arrow multiplied in an instant, covering every angle they might use to ambush her.
Boom!
The countless arrows spread in a circle, heading toward each of them. Seraphine jumped forward with her armor, using her blood sword to cut through the first volley. However, the arrows dodged as they turned to strike her.
"If we wish to kill an archer, we have to get close!" shouted Seraphine as she stomped on the ground, bolting toward the goddess. The arrows chased after her, but she was faster once they lost their montum. "Abandon fear and attack!"
Her cry seed to ignite the fighting spirit of her comrades as they each bolted forward. The feline beast jumped high above the arrows, while Ilia Perli transford into a bolt of lightning that zigzagged through the battlefield.
As for the three lords who had raised their weapons against the goddess, they worked together to push through the arrows. However, their progress was slower than the three monsters who took the lead.
Seraphine reached the goddess despite the arrows, slashing with her blood sword to kill her. However, Artemis grinned as she fired another arrow using her extra pair of arms. The arrow clashed against the blood sword, pushing Seraphine back.
"What is this otherworldly mana?" muttered Seraphine at the golden mana in these arrows, her brows furrowing at the familiarity. However, she could not afford to think, as the goddess kicked her in the gut and sent her flying.
"You really think I would suffer in close combat?" asked Artemis with a mocking smirk. Seraphine coughed blood, but she turned into stepping stones that she landed on, before bolting back toward the goddess.
"Such an attack cannot kill !" shouted Seraphine as she once again tried to attack, this ti with the feline beast that had arrived at the scene.
Artemis clicked her tongue as she launched an arrow at the ground, which exploded in golden mana that pushed the two back. As they stopped a distance away, they exchanged glances again.
"Seraphine…" muttered the beast, whose features were hidden by the overgrowing fur. "I recognize that golden mana."
"I do too," muttered Seraphine as she gritted her teeth. "We cannot afford to be distracted. We will ask him about that later."
Nodding, the feline and Seraphine rushed again. This ti, the lightning spearman arrived as well, attacking the goddess. However, like before, Artemis seed to have an arrow for every purpose.
The golden arrows made a circle in the air and returned toward them, attacking their backs as they attacked the goddess. This was the reason she stood there and defended against their attacks.
"You are the ones surrounded now," said Artemis with a smirk. "I will always be the hunter, and you shall always be the prey."
The three attacked nonetheless, although they had to dodge a lethal attack every few seconds. Their stamina was being tested as they entered a vicious cycle, trying to overpower the goddess.
As for Dorian and Sarohan, the situation was no better. The astral monster that Artemis had summoned was too powerful, toppling the equilibrium they had against Freud. In the end, they beca the ones being pushed back.
"I hate to distract you," shouted Sarohan as he slashed with his sword, creating an ice wall around them. The lion shattered it with ease, and Freud followed after him. "But your father is nowhere to be seen!"
Dorian had noticed this as well, but he could do nothing. The mont he lowered his guard, he would be killed. After that, Sarohan would be killed as well. He doubted they would be revived by the tower after being killed by divine energy.
"She will be alright!" shouted Dorian, although his face was far from convinced. Sarohan gritted his teeth before taking a deep breath, releasing his Frozen Breath, and then grabbing Dorian.
Before Dorian could realize what was happening, he was already flung away. As his feet left the ground, he stared at Waiga with shock, who gave him a smirk and a thumbs-up.
"Go and save your sister, little bro!" said Sarohan with a wink. "I will hold them back here, using the powers that Sera gave . If sothing happens to your sister, we will all be screwed!"
"You cannot face them alone!" tried to shout Dorian, but Sarohan had already turned toward the enemies. Blood mist rose from his body as Freud and the astral monster rushed to kill him. Then, blood ice shards exploded from his friend.
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