The bear slashed with its claws. Suddenly,
"AAAAAHHHH!!!"
Pharon screamed loudly before the sharp claws could even touch himhim—something inside him snapping. A plasma ray erupted from his body in all directions, crashing downward like a collapsing sphere. The bear was struck by the ray and thrown several meters away.
The ground heated instantly, converting into glass. Smog rose, obstructing all vision.
Within the smog's cover, his body began to melt. Bones, muscles, and organs liquefied into a grotesque mass. From it, everything began to reconstruct: bones became harder and more durable; organs evolved to better support arcane energy; his blood turned dark and dense like tar.
He crawled from the pit, his body trembling. With great difficulty, he finally stood on wobbling legs.
Szzz…
He covered his ears, as the evolution had not only developed his body but also empowered his senses to new heights. He could hear the sizzling of sulfur loud and clear.
A wind partly cleared the smog, exposing him to direct sunlight. The sunlight burned his skin like acid.
He gritted his teeth and crouched down, using his arcane power to create a black rag. He quickly put it on, but it didn't fit properly, as something on his back blocked it.
He glanced back, his eyes widening at the grey, bird-like wings now rooted from his back. They felt wrong—heavy, alien, and undeniably his.
While he was adapting to his new body, the bear charged and threw a punch clad in divine energy.
Just as the punch was about to land and puncture his head, Pharon caught the bear's hand as if it were nothing.
The bear's eyes widened. It tried to pull its hand back, but against this new strength, it was useless. It threw another punch aimed at Pharon's throat, but Pharon's own strike landed first.
The bear was thrown back and fell to the ground.
"Cough!… Cough!"
It coughed violently, golden ichor spattering its fur around its chest. "Impossible… How… did he become so powerful?" It looked around, but saw nothing except Pharon, who himself seemed baffled by his own power. Someone is helping him. That's how he overpowered me. It knew it needed to escape.
The bear turned and fled with all its strength.
Pharon raised his hand and aimed at the running bear. A crimson flame manifested in his palm, swirling and condensing into an orb.
"Flame Burst."
A bolt of crimson flame hurtled toward the bear.
The bear had anticipated this. It stomped its feet, and the ground unraveled as several stone pillars erupted. The flame bolt pierced each pillar like paper, but its power diminished with each impact.
"Aegis!"
the bear shouted while running. A transparent, golden, glass-like dome manifested around it.
The flame blast exploded, shattering the Aegis but with greatly diminished power. The bear used the impact for momentum, launching itself away and tumbling down the hillside.
It laughed while falling. "HAHAHA!!! NOW, I AM LEAVING, BUT WHEN I RETURN, NEITHER YOU NOR THIS RUIN WILL REMAIN. HAHAHA!!"
The bear's words weren't heard, as Pharon's ears were still ringing from the explosion. But he saw its laughter as mockery. He gritted his teeth and flapped his grey wings, but he still couldn't fully control them and fell back to the ground.
He slammed the ground in frustration. "Damn it!"
The sun finally set. Its light no longer burned his skin. With the sun's fall came not only relief but also an increase in his strength.
He gave up the chase, as the bear had likely fled far and hidden in the dense forest's shadows. He sat on the ground, letting his body rest after the intense battle.
He looked around. The ground was completely torn and scorched. The air was thick with smog. Yet the temple stood untouched, as it always had.
"Haaaa…"
A heavy breath escaped him as relief lifted a great burden from his shoulders. His lips trembled, but no words came. A single tear escaped and fell onto his hand.
He looked at the teardrop settled on his skin. His lips curved slightly upward.
---
Deep in the forest, the bear leaned against the base of a tree, breathing roughly.
"Are you rested enough?"
The bear's eyes jerked open. Its hands turned into fists, ready for action. It slowly turned and saw the old man resting on a stone, a wooden staff in his hands.
"Hey you! Leave, or else—" It raised a hand and flexed its sharp claws.
"Hmm… leave," the old man nodded, then stood up. Instead of leaving, he came closer and whispered, "How can I leave while one who insulted my wife still lives?" His unwavering eyes settled on the bear.
An unknown fear crawled deeper into the bear's core. The silent forest suddenly felt alive and ominous. "Who… are… you?" it asked, shuttering, its eyes darting around as it felt multiple presences watching it like prey.
"Soon, you will know," the old man's voice sounded like a death sentence.
The bear turned to run in the opposite direction.
Snap!
The old man clicked his fingers.
The bear's own shadow grabbed its legs. It fell to the ground. As it tried to stand and run again, its shadow pinned it down.
It stood paralyzed, terror rooting it to the spot as the shadow loomed closer. It understood that escape was no longer an option. It knelt deeply. "Please, forgive me."
"I-I am a divine beast. I can give you anything. Anything. Gold. Beauty. Please, let me go."
The old man said nothing, merely watching it beg for its life. He tapped the ground with his wooden staff.
Demonic flames circled the bear, slowly closing in. He let it watch its own death approach, slow and merciless.
The bear shrank its body as much as it could. "Please… Aaaaahhhh!!!" The demonic flames crawled over its body, slowly burning it. It screamed.
The old man continued watching until the bear met its end.
"Thanatos. Geras. Moirai."
Suddenly, shadows swirled and manifested into three figures. They knelt before him. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Reap its soul. It requires some hospitality in our realm."
No questions were asked. Thanatos stood and slashed with his deathly scythe. The scythe cut not the physical body but the bond between soul and flesh.
The old man stared at the sky as if looking at a distant object and said, "The Upper Realm has become overcrowded, and the balance is at risk."
The three exchanged a glance and nodded. One of the Moirai asked, "What are your orders for us, my Lord?"
He turned his head toward them and smiled.
"Free up some space. Let the demonic and plague run wild."
"As you wish, my Lord." Three of them bowed and leave except Thanatos. He step forward and said, "Typhoon has been spotted around Gaia's temple. I fear their motives are not good."
He glanced at him. "That is not our problem. Zeus and Poseidon will handle it."
"Leave."
Thanatos bowed and disappered in the darkness with the bear soul.