Before the first soldier of Devaheim set foot into the realm, Arthur could already sll them: rotten flesh and burning hair. In an ironic comparison, the undead did sll like rotten flesh, but it wasn't powerful enough for Arthur to sll it across acres of land.
Then, the first soldier stepped through the gate.
Despite the second one following soon after, many would rember the appearance of the first soldier.
A creature of light, wearing silver armor, and long blonde hair. He looked like an elf, a human, a dwarf, and a demon at the sa ti. His features were devilish, but handso nonetheless.
The most morable trait was that he radiated light from under his skin, as if there were vessels transmitting it. His skin shimred. His gait confident. And his expression was full of killing intent.
The second soldier was a replica of the first, and then the third. They poured out of the portal in dozens and showed no signs of ceasing. Before anyone could make a headcount, another portal opened, then a third, and then a fourth.
The portals began appearing faster than the soldiers did. Then, from each of those portals, soldiers poured out just like the first. It was just five minutes later that the entire valley was filled with these soldiers.
"Who do we pray to, since the gods are the ones attacking us?" Vorathis the Lich asked in self-ridicule and irony. Arthur agreed as he watched more portals open in the sky as angels, similar to the one that Nyxiel had created, poured out.
Severis did not give the command yet to attack. He watched the enemy troops assu their position with a stoic face until the last of them erged.
The portals began disappearing like they were never there. Then, a whirlwind of mana gathered in the sky above the palace. The mana assud different colors as it turned into a giant portal unlike the rest.
"I assu that's the god and his watchn," Vorathis said. "Their portal is a higher grade than the rest. We should have attacked earlier."
Severis said nothing in response to the implication that he made a mistake. Arthur studied his expression, and found him utterly focused on the portal above them.
"Are you ready?" Arthur asked, and Severis snapped out of his trance.
"Yes," he said and let out a deep breath. "I am," he affird while his knuckles turned white.
Arthur studied the man in silence but didn't say anything. He looked at the portals in the sky, and felt the divine presence descend before they erged.
It was crushing, suffocating, and most of all, fear-inducing.
Arthur's spiritual energy tore through it like it was nothing.
A man stepped out of the giant portal. He was clad in golden armor except for his face. He had an otherworldly beauty, a scar over one eye, and short blonde hair that he combed back. His aura radiated heroism and justice, despite coming here on a plan to corrupt his own realm.
Three more figures followed the god, and they were the watchn. They wore clean black suits with goggles covering their eyes and a pocket watch dangling from their vests. They assud various shapes and forms.
One was tall.
One was fat.
One was short and slim.
As soon as the last of the watchn erged, the battle was ready to begin. The tension rose in the air between the two sides. The morale over their side was plumting, since the gods had brought an army that was easily twice their numbers.
Severis remained rooted in place as he stared at the god. Arthur could see that the man's deanor was broken, and his morale had plumted. The crushing aura that the god emitted told any mortal man that he was invincible.
Arthur sighed.
"Vorathis," he called for the lich. "I assu you have so kind of spell that would let float? I don't want to crane my neck for the divine slave above us."
"Ah?" the lich let out a surprised sound. "I do. Do you want to…?"
"Yes, please," Arthur said. "It's ti to raise the morale of our troops."
Vorathis nodded and waved his staff. Arthur felt his body beco weightless as he began to float. The wind answered to his command, and he soared toward the sky with ease.
He rose higher until he was standing in front of the golden-armored god. Arthur stopped, and took a look at the valley that had been filled with troops.
"I didn't expect you to be here," the god began. His voice was low, but reached every living soul inside this realm. "The man destined to stand against us."
"I guess you should've expected it then," Arthur said with a smile. "I see you brought quite the army with you."
"Give up, mortals," the god addressed Arthur and the rest in the valley. "You cannot fathom the power of gods. All those who oppose us, whether alive or dead, will be annihilated."
"Oh no," Arthur exclaid. "I'm scared! I should go and hide!"
The god turned toward him, his face slowly trading its divinity for anger. "You dare mock the gods?"
"I don't dare," Arthur said. "I just do. And even better, I have a knack for slaying them. You've seen my mockery, how about we move to slaying?"
Arthur finished his words and released his spiritual energy. He felt it leave him like an unstoppable tide, but he had no problem with it. The overbearing aura of the god was pushed back, and the watchn shielded themselves in fear.
The spiritual energy reached the soldiers below, and even the expressionless divine army turned to raise their eyes at Arthur. In their features was sothing unfamiliar to them or their enemies: fear.
"I see that you aren't as simple as I thought," the god said as he spread his palm open. "Very well. You have earned my respect. Announce your na, and I shall announce mine."
Arthur grinned at him. "You know my na, bootlicker. And I have no interest in knowing yours."
For the first ti, the god smiled at him. He bared his teeth, as white and sharp as a shark's, as he let out a low rumble that resembled a laugh.
"My na is Herlixion," the god said. "I am the Champion of Devaheim, their strongest fighter and the Master of All Divine Weapons."
"Who?" Arthur asked.
The god was confused.
"I am, Herlixion," he replied again. "Are you ill in the head?"
"No, who asked?" Arthur answered again.
Before the god could express his utter rage, Arthur suddenly raised a hand. His spiritual energy gathered in his palm, compressing itself beyond reason into a small sphere.
Arthur activated his insignia. It shone with a black beam of light that spread throughout the valley. Everyone witnessed its powers as it fused with the spiritual energy of its master.
"Begone, whoever you are," Arthur said with a grin as he directed the relentless spiritual energy at them. It exploded like a water reservoir finding an outlet.
The spiritual energy was golden, but it had crackling thunder within it. It engulfed the god and his three watchn and sent them flying backward. Arthur stood in place, watching them survive but not without looking haggard.
"You damn barbarian," Herlixion said with rage as he unleashed his powers. His mana and spiritual energy were no less than a match for Arthur's own, and the two clashed against one another. "In the na of my masters, I will show you what the Divine Champion can do."
In return, Arthur grinned.
"That's more like it," Arthur said. "Let's fight below."
Arthur then dove toward the ground. The divine army parted ways and allowed him to land on the ground. None of them dared to approach a hundred ters from him.
Herlixion followed and landed. The two of them stared at one another for a short mont.
Arthur then raised his hand and created the sa spiritual dagger he used against Severis.
On the other hand, the god created an infinite number of weapons around him with a flick of his hand. Arthur now understood the man's power, but was still far from afraid.
Instead, he grew excited.
"If I beat you here," he said before Herlixion attacked, "would I be the Champion of Devaheim?"
"You dream," the god said as he opened a palm. A golden sword flew and landed in his hand, which he flicked and waved a few tis. It left behind a golden crack in reality wherever it slashed.
"Fancy tricks," Arthur said.
In his mind, Arthur began to understand that this battle was not going to be an easy one. His runes were sealed, and his wrath was a distant source for him to summon. He could only rely on his Insignia and Spiritual Energy.
However, in the past two days while waiting for their arrival, Ozyrae offered to help Arthur add one more elent to his spiritual dagger: Death.
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