Three thousand gods. Four high gods. Three demons.
The atmosphere holds its breath. No one speaks. The demoness' words still hang in the air, burning in every ear.
Euryssa trembles under the weight of her own outburst, her deepest emotions laid bare before the gods. They stand frozen, eyes locked on hers. Eye to eye. Dust to dust. Zir and Kerberon flank their superior, both wrestling with the same thought.
Is this going to end in blood?
The demons stay still, silent. The gods don't move.
Finally, Erastos breaks the silence.
"You lower life for—"
Zenobios lifts his right arm. Erastos' mouth snaps shut instantly. No one defies the Elder God.
Zenobios steps forward, standing face-to-face with Euryssa. Tears streak the demoness' cheeks. When he finally speaks, his words are a blade she never saw coming.
"Were you thinking about any of that while you were butchering innocent people?"
Her breath catches. No answer comes.
"I… I—"
"Nothing comes to mind, does it?"
She tries to speak but her mind is empty, her lips useless. Finally, she manages a feeble jab.
"You… You must be using some kind of power on me—"
"You think I'd waste that kind of effort on a worthless piece of shit like you?"
The insult lands like a hammer. She has nothing left to throw back.
"You slaughtered them without a second thought, and now you expect us to believe your words? To pity you? To make things… favorable?"
Zir and Kerberon remain expressionless, but the words burrow deep.
"You." Zenobios turns to Zir. "Did you hesitate before smashing that rock into that boy's skull? Cracking him open like a bug?"
Rage twists Zenobios' face. His voice sharpens, cutting to the marrow.
"And you… pest." His glare falls on Kerberon. The demon's face drains of color.
"Nice throw. You can't imagine how much I'm looking forward to tearing you apart—piece by piece—until there's nothing left but the stain you leave behind."
Zenobios' relentless questioning grinds them down, stripping away whatever pride they clung to. For Euryssa, it's unbearable—the worst thing imaginable. To be looked down on again. Something in her finally snaps.
"YOU BASTARD!"
Flames erupt in her palm, swirling into a deep purple sphere. Its core flashes white-hot before detonating against Zenobios' chest. The blast swallows him in a roaring cloud of smoke.
Areios' blood boils at the sight of a demon attacking his elder brother. He steps forward—only to be stopped by Erastos' calm, steady voice.
"Your Highness… we wait for my lord's command."
Areios freezes, glaring back at him. Erastos' eyes remain locked ahead, unwavering.
"…Alright," Areios mutters.
The smoke thins. Zenobios steps into view—untouched. Not a scratch. Not even dust on his robes.
Euryssa recoils instinctively, her hand curling back as fear tightens her face.
Zenobios speaks, his voice cold.
"And we didn't come here to stop you."
Zir and Kerberon tense, ready for retaliation.
"…We came to end this war."
The words hit her like a strike to the gut. Suddenly, the formation of three thousand gods behind him makes sense.
Her eyes snap to her subordinates. No hesitation now.
"Blow the horn."
Kerberon hesitates. "My lady… are you certain?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Zir lays a hand over his chest, still glancing at Kerberon. "I don't know anymore… Just do it."
Without another word, Zir tears open a small portal in his chest and pulls out a golden horn, no larger than half his hand. He inhales deeply—then blows with everything he has.
The sound is maddening, enough to shatter weaker minds, but the gods don't flinch. Waves of force ripple through the scorched dirt of Arcadia. The sky darkens as night draws in.
Zir lowers the horn. Zenobios glances back at the gods still standing at the ready.
"…Guess we're finally going to have to put in some work."
A massive portal unfurls behind the demons, stretching so wide its ends vanish beyond sight. From its depths, countless demons pour forth.
Zenobios' robes dissolve midair, replaced by black and gold battle armor.
Euryssa conjures a portal of her own, never breaking eye contact.
"Running so soon?" Zenobios taunts.
She steps through without answering.
"Oh, come on—show some valiance at least! Damn it…"
Kerberon and Zir are left behind, abandoned to command the army.
Zir mutters, "What now?"
"What else? We fight…" Kerberon sighs, stripping off his jacket to reveal a black shirt, rolling up his sleeves. Twin battle axes materialize in his hands. "Not that I want to."
Zir summons a spear from a portal beside him. His voice is resigned. "Might be our last battle…"
"Yeah… Well, we signed up for this. All for the greater purpose."
"For sure."
Kerberon charges, Zir matching his pace. Behind them, the demon horde thunders forward.
Athanasia draws her midnight scythe. Areios hefts his double-edged battle axe.
"I think we should spread out," Athanasia says. "End it faster."
"What do you think, brother?" Areios asks.
Zenobios smirks. He raises his right hand—a shimmering blue orb appears, mesmerizing in its glow. His palm tightens, shaping it into a sword wreathed in blue fire. The Piece of Eden, now in its rightful owner's grasp, hums like a living thing.
"…Why not?"