***The Crystal City***

***Seria***

“I told you that it would happen sooner or later,” I blurt out, proceeding with the plan which I originally proposed to Nazareth and Marigold when they approached me. Not only does it paint us as innocent, but it also explains why we didn’t act sooner. After all, how were we, the neutral faction, supposed to know that things would blow up like that? In truth, we knew all along, but there is no reason to let Tjenemit in on that little detail.

Tjenemit pulls down the corners of his mouth, obviously displeased with my catty opening. “What exactly are you talking about?”

“You remember when I warned you that the situation between Ascathon and Myrm would blow up if you don’t step in? Well, it happened, just as I prophesied. Some lackeys from Myrm's faction thought it a good idea to attack some of Ascathon's minions – in a clear violation of your rules I might add.

“He lost his shit. I assume that if you investigate your murder victim, you will find connections to people who are also involved in your little World Enchantment experiment. To be more exact, people who are in close relationship to Myrm.”

It doesn’t make sense to hold back that tidbit of information. Tjenemit will find out sooner or later once the investigation gets rolling.

He opens his mouth to ask a question, then reconsiders and closes it. Frowning, he opens it, then closes it, clearly trying to catch up with the situation.

To be fair, I left out quite a few important details. Things which are important to understanding the situation, but I hope that I'll be able to spin things to my advantage if I release the appropriate information in the right moment. It would be quite bad if Tjenemit found out that I knew beforehand that this would happen.

That I, in fact, even helped things along.

“What exactly do you mean by, 'lost his shit'? Did he kill a few people?” he asks, deciding that dealing with the present situation is more important than to understand how it came to be, just as I hoped he would.

“Ah, aside from a few neutral deities who decided to hide, Myrm's and Ascathon's people are currently fighting on the world,” I inform him, speaking slowly to give him time to digest the information. “I am afraid that the experiment lost quite a few 'test subjects'... including the containment chamber.”

Tjenemit's eyes widen when he realizes that by ‘containment chamber’, I meant the planet as a whole.

Spinning his office chair around, he gestures towards the large window front. The glass turns black, darkening the room. Then it lights up again as a scene of a satellite view of the world's main-continent appears.

Whistling, I take account of the situation. Ah, and I need a window like that. Where can I get those?

One of the more notable mountain ranges is completely gone, replaced by a crater which is visible from orbit. The resulting cloud of ash and dust is covering a fourth of the continent.

The planet as a whole looks worse for wear, with large parts of the main-continent turned to fields of scorched earth. Even now, there is a giant Tsunami rolling outwards, originating from somewhere far out in the southern sea. The inevitable result will be the eradication of the surrounding archipelagos and larger islands, including the continent’s southern shoreline.

Pursing my lips, I try to estimate how big the wave must be to be noticeable from orbit.

Even as we speak, the world's total population is likely already down by a hundred percent. Maybe there are a few survivors in protected locations. Will the planet be able to recover? Or is the dust-cloud alone enough to start a global ice-age?

Tjenemit jumps to his feet, rattling his chair against the office desk. “What are those imbeciles doing!?” Waving his hands, he instructs his viewing screen and zooms in on a certain scene.

There are Ascathon and Nova, having a stand-off with Myrm, Nazareth, and Marigold.

My own eyes widen when I see the two foolish brothers standing between Myrm and Ascathon, probably the worst of all places to be right now. Getting between the two… three... is like trying to separate fighting cats. Even the most foolish of idiots would try that only once in his life – ever.

Tjenemit gestures again and the scene zooms closer. Speakers which are likely hidden in the walls allow us to listen in on their conversation.

“You just have to stay calm, Myrm,” Nazareth beseeches the angered goddess in front of him, fully clad in her silver armour. “You know what will happen if Tjenemit should get involved.”

Meanwhile, Marigold is making calming gestures at Ascathon and Nova, but neither of them looks like they would want to calm down. In fact, they look like they are enjoying the savagery they caused.

I shudder as I consider the probable implications of two bodies sharing one soul. It shouldn't even be possible as far as I know, and I learned quite a few things about soul magic from my father back in the day.

“He is using Ascathon and Nova at the same time!?” Tjenemit gawks at the screen, but then he shakes his head, deciding to leave the how to be answered some other time. “I have to stop this!” He mumbles.

“Aeeeh...” I let out an intelligible sound as my thoughts tumble and flip over each other. Had I not reacted immediately, he might have taken a pathway right to the scene of crime. Thankfully, he halts to learn what I have to share.

Normally, I expected my timing to be just right For Tjenemit to become witness to Ascathon's and Myrm's final battle! Marigold's and Nazareth's presence was never anticipated. Worse, those fools are trying to broker a peace, which would mess up all my plans.

“What!?” Tjenemit turns to face me when I continue my intelligible babbling, glaring with suppressed rage.

“I- I-” Think! Think! What can I do to buy time? “Don't think that's wise! They may attack you. What happens if you get injured? Wouldn't you lose face in front of the other Council members?”

“I don't think that would be a probl-”

I gasp, covering my mouth with one hand while pointing at the scene. Thank the multiverse that Nova decided not to play nice and stepped forward, burying the tip of her spear in Marigold's chest. Tjenemit didn't see, so I decide to comment on what he missed. “By the Divinity! She stabbed that weapon right through Marigold's aura as if it wasn't there.”

Pulling out the spear, Nova retreats two metres, back to Ascathon's side.

With his flight magic failing him, Marigold falls and Nazareth screams when he turns around and notices it. “Brother!”

Myrm vanishes from her spot, only to impact on Ascathon's shield a moment later, pushing him back into the far distance. Nova follows the two of them, causing a supersonic 'boom' right upon departure.

Left alone and ignored, Nazareth does his best to catch his brother before he impacts the ground.

Meanwhile, I thank my lucky stars that things worked out after all.

“Tjenemit, it might be best if you stayed here. Those weapons in Ascathon's and Nova's hands look like Mana Crystal.”

“But that's impossible! And forbidden! Any pieces of Mana Crystal which are found and of sufficient shape to be used as weapons are to be given to the authorities!”

I purse my lips. “Those don't look like the measly shards which can be found outside the Crystal City.”

Shards of Mana Crystal are not unheard of to be used as weapons among the gods, as they can be found anywhere on the planet on which the Crystal City is located. So, naturally, there is a law to give up any piece of sufficient form and size that could be used as a weapon.

The law’s purpose is in equal parts to limit murder among gods, and to keep the Council’s power-base untouched. If they are the only ones with a decent stock of god-killer weapons, it’s hard for any unhappy faction to launch a revolt against the current regime.

Tjenemit gulps, only now noticing the very usable spear and knife in Nova's and Ascathon's possession. “Maybe I should watch a little longer, just to be sure of their capabilities before I stop the battle and punish them. It would serve nobody if I call in the rest of the Council and it turns out to be a false alarm.”

Then he stops moving, thinking about his political situation with his co-rulers. “This is a minor disaster! Ascathon and Myrm will suffer punishment for embarrassing me like that! And I have to find out how he got his hands on those weapons!”

“Which kind?” I ask demurely.

“The worst! They fucked up the whole experiment, which I am responsible for. They used Crystals as weapons. They killed their fellow deities, some of them for good! That murdered guy down in the office had to be mind-wiped. That’s the closest thing to actual death that can happen to an immortal. If nothing else, this is bound to have me lose face in front of the others. I'll have them thrown to the Dark!”

I wet my lips, wanting to ask what he meant exactly, but something tells me to steer away from that topic. If this is related to the disappearing deities and Tjenemit just had a slip of tongue, then pointing it out would be bad.

“If you would listen? I actually have a suggestion that might be better.”

“What do you care!?”

“Ahem.” I try to sound pissed. “I happened to live on that planet long before those two arrived, and they are messing it up! Not to mention all those souls I have to take care of in my function as the Goddess of Life and Death. How many did they kill? Milliards?”

Truth be told, I never actually did my job as the wayfarer. My own amulet never worked on my mind, so I didn't feel any need to mess with the natural order of things, aside from those cases in which the amulet forced me to act by teleporting me to some scene. “Aside from that, Ascathon just killed Marigold who was a friend of mine.”

Tjenemit narrows his eyes, thinking.

***The World***

***Nova***

We laugh even as we receive another shattering blow from one of Myrm's frontal assaults as he tries to break through my aura with actual physical blows. It begs the question of whether he actually ever fought another god in earnest. At least the main culprit is here and my mind is starting to clear up enough to recognise that the one who we thought of as a woman is Myrm. The chaotic energies which are flowing from my tome are still messing with my thoughts, but at least we recognize the person in armour now.

“You are going to pay for this!” Myrm screams with righteous fury and changes tactics.

Instead of continuing the mindless assault, Myrm concentrates and his aura retracts back into his body, making him seem almost like a mortal.

Something in the back of my mind whispers that this isn't the usual suppression of a god's aura. That would make no sense under the circumstances, so we assume the worst. He must have pulled back all the leaking energy to use it as effectively as possible.

Then he moves and we manage just in time to block him with Nova. There is a quick exchange of blows as he tries to get past my weapons. A leg kicks out and I dodge to the side. At the same time, Nova strikes with the spear, using it as a club. But Myrm twists out of the way, ignoring our aura singing his body.

Getting his bearings, he tries to use the opening to attack Nova, but Ascathon lunges forward, trying to bury my knife in the enemy’s back.

Myrm aborts his attack to evade again, retreating out of range of Nova’s spear who swung it back in an arc. We are only able to hold him back thanks to the fact that he is paying the Crystal Weapons a hefty amount of respect. Then, too fast for me to react, Myrm blurs with movement and one of his fists gets through, striking straight through my aura and hitting Nova's shoulder.

The metal of her golden shoulder protection dents and we feel bone break as energy is transferred directly into my body.

Retreating to a safe distance, Myrm shakes his fist, revelling in the fact that he got in a hit. “You may have two bodies, but you are also paying for it by diluting your aura over a larger space.”

Lunging forward, he is suddenly in front of me and we feel his foot impacting my chest. Ascathon is just too slow. All we can do is to circulate as much power as possible through our body to mitigate the damage.

Then I am flying, spinning. A seemingly endless moment of weightlessness, while we continue the fight with Nova. Then an impact, earth, and dust everywhere.

Clenching my teeth, both of us take a pathway to the other side of the planet, appearing above the central ocean in the deepest of nights. Only the moon is illuminating the rocking waves beneath.

But there is no time to survey our surroundings. If the short exchange with Myrm showed us anything, then it’s that any form of close combat with this person is not an option for us.

Reaching up, we imagine grasping the shining light above us and pull.

Myrm appears in a flash of light, ready to attack. “You can’t run from- Hngh!” He lets out a surprised noise as Nova barrels into him, wrapping her arms and legs around the god, using her spear as a leverage.

Taken off-guard by the amateurish attack, Myrm tries to push Nova off. There is some wriggling and cursing, then the God of Order looks up, his attention drawn by the brightening light from above us. Still hugging Myrm with all my might, we pour my magic into our surroundings to stop him from using the pathways.

Above us, the world’s moon seems to fill the entire sky, replacing the night with a brightness never seen before.

Grinning wickedly, we give it a last good yank and my Ascathon persona takes a pathway away from the site of the immediate collision.

“No! You insane bitch! What have you done!?” Myrm squirms and manages to twist his upper body free, pushing me away with incredible strength, but Nova’s legs are strong and I hold onto him.

Due to the closeness, Nova grasps the spear with both hands close to the tip and wields it like a dagger.

Myrm manages to deflect the lethal blow, but Nova still buries the weapon deep in his shoulder.

“The ones that came before you stood strong and tall and brave. But they had their day.” Leaning into him, we whisper, “You will be like all the others who dared to challenge us. This fight is already over, you just don’t realize it.”

Then the moon comes crashing down on us and Myrm releases his aura in an attempt to defend himself. Grinning, I abandon my own defences in an attempt to tear down Myrm’s.

The atmosphere around us ignites as I twist the blade in his shoulder and we are thrown around in a hurricane of power as we are pushed beneath the sea, plunged into the darkness which is suddenly replaced by bright white.

***The World***

***Ascathon***

I fight a headache as my connection to my Nova entity abruptly cuts off, replaced by an emptiness in my brain which is demanding to be filled, but there is no time to mourn the loss.

Holding onto my left hand with my trembling right, I fight with all my might to control the hybrid spell I am about to unleash on the world.

Hovering above my palm is a sphere of chaotic energies, glowing bright red and almost impossible to contain. After some consideration on how to destroy the World Enchantment, I found it necessary to combine a powerful disenchantment effect with something destructive, just to make sure that there is no possible hideout for any fragment of the enchantment.

Simply blowing up the whole planet would work, but there is no way to be certain that there isn’t some fragment left by random chance.

There are also still those gods who didn’t participate in the conflict, but the enchantment on them should dissolve thanks to their own aura as long as they aren’t anywhere close to the world where it can be renewed. The probability for success is high enough to try, but I’ve quite obviously overestimated my ability to channel chaotic energies.

Letting go of my trembling hand, I brush over the tome at my side. “Open the Gate to the Plane!”

I feel the door springing into existence behind me, pouring forth pure, unrefined power which I channel into the spell while adding everything my own divinity is able to give for control. More forces pour into the spell, more pressures try to wrest away my control as the light in my palm grows ever brighter, a shining, red star above the world like it was seen by the mortals so many times before.

Only that this time, it truly spells the world’s end.

Myrm appears a few meters away, Nova’s spear in his hand. His armour lost its shiny appearance, dented and in parts melted onto his body, I find it surprising that he is still alive.

“You are too late.” I smile. “I am done.”

“Yes, you are.” Myrm approaches me, barely able to lift the spear. “Have you truly sacrificed your second body just to get the time to cast this spell? What a stupid gamble. Look at you. You can’t even hold that hand steady. It will be easy to dodge, and then you are dead.”

“Myrm, you are smart, but at the same time, you are also stupid. You took away everything that held me back, while everything that holds you back is still on that burning ball of dirt.” Aiming the spell, I point not at Myrm, but at the world below us.

He stops and raises a hand. “No. What if there are still survivors?”

“Do you truly think that I care about that?”

I fire the spell.

Myrm teleports and then he is right beneath me, trying to block the spell. His arm blurs and the spear leaves his hand. I feel something stabbing into my belly, passing through my chest and out of my shoulder. It takes a full second for me to register the pain, for the Crystal Spear to tear through my body and my very soul.

I scream in agonizing pain that goes beyond the physical body, only now truly realizing what I created as I feel the wound in my astral self.

Below me, Myrm learns his folly in attempting to bar the spell’s path. The magic tears through his arm, then his upper body comes apart as bits and pieces of him are flung in every direction, the spell unerringly spiralling downwards towards the surface.

A tired sigh escapes me and I close the Gate with the last of my power.

Then I fall.