Melly’s entire life flashed before her. Every thought, every experience, both painful and otherwise had come into question. The meaning of life and the uncertainty of happiness had all been thrown into a white void. Everything had been controlled by others and their nefarious whims.

Developer Blade waved his hand dismissively.

“Alright, you lot. Time to fix what you screwed up. Off you go now!”

Melly wanted more answers but before she could utter a word, the blinding light returned, filling her vision again.

“Damn it!”

The familiar scent of smoke returned as Dog wriggled in place. The world slowly started to right itself and time resumed.

“What was that?” Dog asked. “You went flashy, flashy for a second.”

She patted the whale's back softly.

“Nothing to worry about bud,” she lied. How could she explain what she had witnessed? Melly shook her head. It would only serve to confuse the poor creature.

“Fly now! We have a way to contain the gods!” she said.

Suddenly, Clemiticus flashed back into existence. He balanced precariously on a startled sea turtle's back, holding the mysterious god capturing box. He threw up his iconic thumbs up in her direction, shouting a string of nonsensical gibberish.

Melly rolled her eyes, then focused on the towering inferno before her. She knew they had one chance and one chance only. Dylan’s Eel blade hung in the air and was about to descend ready to slice the primal god in half.

But somehow Clemiticuses’ words halted the final blow.

What now?

They needed to come up with something quick. The army below had swelled in size and was ripping through the limited ranks of defenders. The fire god's power was growing by the second.

“Go Poké Ball go!” Clemiticus shouted.

Melly turned just in time to see the swashbuckler throwing the black box towards the fire god.

“Clem, NO! What are you doing?”

The black box sailed through the air and bounced harmlessly off the lava coated colossal.

Thea’s eyes opened and adjusted to the light. She had reappeared on the magical ship above the salty army of death. Tensing her fingers, she felt the cool surface of the black box.

Tearing vines from his chest, the god of death flew above the magical plant army to set his sights on the magical ship. Thea grimaces as their eyes met. The god’s hand went to his side, Instantly ripping out a rib with a splatter of gore.

The bone lengthened and transformed into a curved blade.

“EW! that’s fucking gross!”

The god’s expression turned curious. Its mouth opened, revealing not teeth but an infinite maw of death that seemed to pull the very fabric of reality into its depths.

“What is ew?” it said.

A shiver ran down Thea’s spine.

“What a fantastically strange yet revolting monster,” said Nuecus. Thea hadn’t noticed him reappear on the ship beside her. Somehow, the old man looked to be enjoying himself. “This disastrous foray shall end most wondrously.”

“Um, sure,” she said. Thea wondered if he was trying to raise her spirits.

She shook her head and focused on the god of death. One way or another they needed to attack the god with the black box. All they needed now was a plan.

Searching the deck, she spotted discarded weapons, rope, and a bunch of panicked sailors.

“Nuecus, we got anything that can launch this thing?” she asked.

“Only your weird turret thing that throws lovely bombs. But I’m sure the swanky King’s still using it. Not to mention its accuracy is pretty dreadful.”

She nodded, gritting her teeth.

Think damn it, think!

Her eyes then fell on a coil of rope near the stowed mast. With the red balloon in place, there were plenty of discarded ropes lying around.

A chance?

She ran and grabbed a bundle of rope and continued towards the bowsprit.

“Keep him busy! I’m trying something!”

Nuecus nodded and dug a hand into his pocket, producing a couple of silvery projectiles.

“Lightning bolt! Lightning Bolt!” He threw the small bundles of aluminium foil at the god, missing entirely.

The God of death stared at the small balls intrigued.

Thea ignored the thaumaturge's stupidity and clambered over the bow.

Whatever works I guess.

“Lightning bolt! Lightning Bolt!”

Swinging the rope, Thea tied a knot around the long wooden plank of the bowsprit and fastened the box to the tip. If she couldn’t launch the box, she would turn the entire ship into a weapon.

“Rupert! Ready for impact! Aim for the freaky dead guy!”

The bandit leader saluted. “Aye, aye mum!”

She grinned as the ship tilted and turned to face the god head on. This pale face was with full of certainty and malice.

The wind picked up as the magical ship lurched onward and began its charge. Thea jumped off the bow and held a side-rail tight with her arms, crossing her fingers. The god laughed at the floating ship and raised his sword. She was counting on his over confidence.

However, he had underestimated Thea.

“Install turret two: Net-o-Matic!”

Her wooden contraption burst to life and aimed at the god of death. He held his blade high as the first sticky net launched. The bone white sword spun in an arc, slicing the net in half. But then another net launched, then another. Like a machine gun of stickiness, the God was quickly overwhelmed by the barrage of rope. Rage contorted the god's face.

“Go, go, GO!” she shouted.

She held on tight as the front of the ship struck the god dead centre in the chest.

Thud!

White light burst from the box as it opened. The God of death took one last glance at Thea, then grimaced as his body dissolved.