Caius was nearly blinded as her Pretty Birdie appeared in a burst of silver fire. Without warning he was pinning Mishi's tail to the ground. More than pinning it to the ground… the armor over the tail burst into silver fire.
Nix wasn't about to let one goddess, let alone two gang up on Caius. When Yemoja and the second goddess didn't retreat from Mishi's body Nix flew up, carrying Mishi by his tail. Flooding Mishi's armor with his silver fire, then sending Ru's gold fire through Mishi's wounds.
Caius sat on her haunches, tilting her head as gold light flooded out of Mishi's eyes and mouth. That was not something she'd been expecting… nor for him to still be alive after being engulfed in her Pretty Birdie's silver fire.
Nix hid his smile as Haven and Beloved sent their own elements to help shoo the interfering gods away. Now over his domain was not only Ru's golden dome, but a sphere of wind interlaced with spirals of white fire. Forcing a bit of displeasure into his voice Nix watched as all the blessed armor broke into pieces.
"Well, that is not welcome. I do refuse, the only domain here is of my choosing. You may call on blessings, you may test your faith, pray to your patrons, but they may not partake." Nix announced tossing Mishi back to where he'd been before Yemoja had taken over his body. Nix turned his head just enough to look Duke Hammer in the eye.
The young dragon was still fighting… alone. Turning his attention back to the limp Mishi he continued.
"A gift to the fighters, let me light your way, follow my flames, don't be led astray." A wave of silver flames washed over the land. Now even if the gods shared their blessings, none could escape without his permission. Feeling a breath tickle his nose, Nix shook his head. Well, his permission, and the three gods who were now offering up their blessings.
Seeing the silver pillars shoot up Nix returned to Caius's side. Landing on her shoulders he nuzzled her face.
"Those sea gods are sneaky, those sea gods morals are loose, from now on the battle is between two." Nix assured as he draped his tail feathers along her back. His silver flames soaked into her fur.
Caius nuzzled her Pretty Birdie back, "Aiya, no sportsmanship from the sea! What smelly fish!" She watched as Mishi stumbled, barely able to stand. Aiya, this would hardly be a fair fight! She didn't like fair fights anyway.
Mishi glared as he forced himself to his feet. He'd only channeled a god's power once. His mother asked him to hunt down a newly ascended beast of gluttony a hundred years ago. It had been crazed after ascending. It had eaten everything within fifty miles of its ascension, humans, beasts, crops, even mana crystals.
He hadn't been able to tell which god had used his body… but to have a god forced out of his body. He felt like every one of his mana channels had just experienced a flash fire. Mishi struggled to breathe, his vision blurring until he saw three foxes trotting up to him. The foxes looked as if they didn't have a care in the world.
Caius circled the dazed Mishi, silver flames over his eyes, core, throat, along his stomach. So many choices!
Michi swiped at the centermost fox only for it to disappear. He suddenly found himself on his face, inhaling molten dirt. He couldn't even scream as he struggled onto his side, whipping his tail at the three foxes pinning him down.
Caius giggled as she easily dodged the swipe. Pouncing on his head, she forced Mishi's face into the dirt. Before she could take a bite out of the back of his neck his tail came flying at her. She leapt up, almost falling on her own face as the bloody tail took out Mishi's remaining good eye.
"Hahaha hahaha, hehehe hehehe, how delicious!" Caius giggled as she pounced on his front paw, clamping her jaws on the wrist.
Mishi's head was aching, his eye burned. He tried to reorientate himself, tried to reach out to his mother for a blessing. Before he could finish the thought, he felt the teeth pierce to the bone on his paw! Roaring his defiance, he snapped his jaws at his attacker!
"GRAAAAAAGHHHH!"
Caius used her tails to wrap Mishi's face up. Licking her lips she tore a chunk of his flesh. "Gulp!" The audible swallow seemed to send Mishi into a frenzy. His three remaining claws blindly clawing at her. Using two more tails she wrapped him up like a silkworm cocoon. Using her claws to keep his bloody paw still, she took another bite.
Nix tilted his head as he watched Caius. She'd enjoyed the fight… to an extent. But now… her heart was bursting with savage delight. So, the fight was not so much her goal as returning her pain. Perhaps she would have been happier if he'd simply held Mishi down.
"Murrgggggg! Hhhmmmpphhhh!!!!!" Mishi tried to free himself, that wretched fox was eating him!
"Gulp!" Caius raised her head as she let out a triumphant cackling bark. She didn't want to waste even a drop of his blood! Her eyes glowing with delight she called her kin to enjoy the bounty. This feast would help all of them raise their ranks at least once.
Nix glanced up, all the foxes abandoned their bounties to race over. Nix smirked as Yemoja and another god attempted to force their way back into Mishi's body. Looking over the remaining battles, most were finished or wrapping up.
The Inago warriors and tiger royals had just managed to kill the hydra. Noelle even managing to fly just long enough to get on the hydra's back.
All four of the weaker mermen were dead. Lucian looked a bit worse for wear, but he'd ripped the head off the merman he'd been facing.
Neolani had killed one siren, and the mermaid. Alexei and Kaveri had tricked the sea goat. Having it ram into a ditch had dazed it long enough for Kaveri to get the upper hand despite its blessings. Kaveri was now swallowing the sea goat as Alexei raced to check on Neolani.
The wyrms were all beheaded as Lady Glimmora drained their blood. Leaving the carcasses and cores to the humans.
Nix turned his attention to the remaining merman. His hydra armor had lost all but it's last head. The merman was missing an arm, his blood muddying the hydra's body. Nix watched as the mountain gave an earth shattering battle cry as he leapt thirty feet into the air, before swinging his flame covered axe to sever the last hydra head.
The mage was praying to any gods of lightning he could think of. He'd just cast a seventh tier lightning spell to stun the mermaid. With the mermaid fighting off the lightning, he couldn't control the hydra, or have it regenerate the severed heads.
The ranger was loosing lightning arrows as fast as his arms could load them. His wee overlord had been working hard, bringing different flames to attach to his bow. He'd been forced to use all of the flames he'd been gifted in the catacombs to disrupt the hydra's heads. It wasn't that the mermaid's hydra armor was particularly hard to kill… it was just hard to destroy without breaking out of character.
If the battle had been a one on one, it would have been nearly impossible without revealing some of their true strength. It may have only been a guardian grade beast… but it was saturated with blessings so strong it may as well have been a second tier legendary.
The priest stared into the pillars of fire… Twice he'd seen golden mana attach itself to the ranger's arrows. The pillars of fire… were blessings from the Sun God Ru, Wind God Haven… and possibly from the wee female Beloved. All on top of Nix's own blessings. The fires were fading to reveal the lush vegetation. Grass and flowers were springing up wherever the fires died.
Before the priest could get too distracted Itsu pecked at his hand.
Drawing his attention back to the battle at hand, he released his stone cage spell. The merman was too drained to put up anymore resistance.
The mage threw five metal rings. One attached to his ankles, remaining wrist, throat, and the stump just below his shoulder. Electrocuting the merman until he passed out.
"Well, Aye be ready fer some ale, what about ye Ranger?" The mountain man asked as the hydra armor turned into puddles. Without those flames attaching to their weapons, this would have been a much harder battle.
"Aye, some ale would hit the spot nicely I be thinken." The Ranger agreed looking over at Mishi… or what was left of him. The foxes were eating him, making sure to keep him alive.
The mountain man felt goosebumps prickle along his skin. "Mayhap we skip the meat, yeah?"
The Ranger nodded turning his attention to Randy.
The mountain man gasped, making his way toward Randy. The fires were fading, the world returning to the clearing, if a bit greener than he remembered when a blinding light encompassed the world. The mountain man fell into a crouch as he covered his eyes, looking for the source of the golden light. Beast Gods above… now what?