BITTER FALL

Sky boomed with coveting flames, scarring the vestiges of space, forming tears large enough to swallow a gigantic beast whole. Bright, azure hue of the sky had taken a backseat to drowning darkness, with billowing clouds encompassing the wholesomeness of the realm. Rain poured in droves, yet it did little to nothing to deter the sounds of battle, and the wills of men and gods alike.

Suddenly, a heart-piercing scream bellowed out into the open sky as Ly’el flew back through the sky like a cannonball, crashing into the white marble walls behind and blowing them to smithereens. Y’se gave a cry before hurriedly descending from the sky, speeding toward the sorry-looking figure. Ly’el’s beauty had vanished beneath the bloodied face, torn arm, and a large gash across her chest, revealing behind her pair of mutilated breasts. Following her startling cry, a roar of anger echoed out, shaking the world as Oy’oh tightened his weapon, spurring his Mana in a massive outpour, causing a hazy mist to overflow from him, making the usually invisible Mana to become so dense even ordinary mortals would be able to see it.

Slightly higher in the sky, the False God of War, Ijoni, sneered coldly at him before brandishing her two axes and speeding downward in a circular motion, blowing apart droplets of rain as she fell. Less than a blink later, Oy’oh sprang into action as he swung upward, causing light to blossom out like flowers in full bloom, blowing apart the darkness of the grieving night and causing blindness to all those who dared look at it. Light bellowed like an angelic choir, as it transmuted beyond the boundary of a Grand Magus; burning his very source, Oy’o’s youthful face grew grimmer and darker as his hair began turning white.

This startled even Ijoni, who immediately wiped a sneer off her face before turning around in an attempt to flee. However, who and what is faster than the light itself? Before she had a chance to take two steps in the sky, light caught up to her and pierced right through her right side. Without losing the slightest bit of momentum, light ventured on in a golden gleam of light, assailing those who stood behind, while healing those who were defending the city.

“AAAH!!!” Ijoni’s voice croaked as she screamed out in pain, falling from the sky like a wingless bird and crashing into the crater-filled earth beneath. Even after crashing, she carried on with the momentum and rolled for nearly ten miles before finally coming to a halt.

The entirety of her right side was completely destroyed, and her beating heart could be seen out in the open. Her almost listless body was twitching in strange spasms, her eyes widely round, a look of utter disbelief and dread permeating them. Breathing of everyone who witnessed the scene stiffened as their eyes slowly trailed over to the solitary figure in the sky. A faint smile escaped Oy’oh’s lips before his eyes closed and his body fell, crashing in the earth. Sound of bones breaking echoed out in-between the bellowing rain, causing shivers to run up the spines of those who witnessed it.

Y’se’s eyes were redder than blood as she witnessed the scene, yet she dared not move the muscle as she was trying to save Ly’el’s life. After eight hours of constant warfare, the once peaceful county was submerged in oceans of blood; millions of corpses trailed across the earth, with countless more having been completely obliterated from the existence. And, now, Oy’oh has perished as well, with Ly’el’s life hanging on a thread.

As the sole Divine Magus stationed here, Y’se felt shame and guilt overcome her heart; she could do nothing but stare from distance as her flesh and blood fell one by one, as bodies like this rain fell from sky until small hills were formed down below. The white city behind them had already been dyed in deep crimson across, as though a giant slash had opened a wound over its heart. Tears trickled down her rosy cheeks, but, because of the rain, it was impossible to spot them. She didn’t care that the False God of War was finally defeated; it was at too high of a cost.

Two more False Gods remained; the two of them hadn’t moved an inch since the battle started and merely observed everything. However, she was certain that they would move now. Whether gods or men, none could stand seeing one of their own, someone they deeply cared for, being broken in half. Sure enough, the moment she glanced up, she felt immense pressure dawn on her as two figures splintered from the sky and dove against her. Gritting her teeth, she coated Ly’el’s entire body in faint, golden shimmer before standing up and extending her right arm.

Within it, a short, silver sword appeared, shimmering in faint azure. Roaring from the depths of her lungs, she stirred her Mana as she took to the sky, immediately clashing against the incoming two figures: Sa Rai, False God of Hope and Eeala, False God of Wind. Upon the impact, a massive explosion echoed out, promptly causing all three to be blown backward. A large gash could be seen running across Y’se’s right arm. Quickly gathering her Mana, the gash began to heal at the speed visible to the naked eye before she stabilized mid-air and flew toward the duo yet again.

Eeala’s entire body suddenly vanished, and Y’se felt her heart skip a beat; a mere breath later, she felt gentle wind wash over her body. Yet, regardless of how gentle it was, she felt her heart sing in alarm as she immediately bellowed out in golden light, scattering it. She suddenly felt indiscernible pain from her back, causing her to cry out. She was blown forward as the wind trailed behind her, not allowing her to heal.

“… don’t resist, Y’se,” she suddenly heard Sa Rai’s voice as though he was standing right next to her. “We don’t wish to harm you. This battle, you have already lost. You have no one else to fighting against the two of us. No help will come. Stay your hand, and stay alive. As long as you surrender, this bloodshed can cease.”

“… ha ha ha,” Y’se laughed as she grinned from ear to ear. “Do you think I’m a fucking idiot, you remnant?!!” she screamed angrily as she urged her Mana to congeal to her back, healing her wounds. “You don’t give a shit how many fall today. You’d be at your happiest if all of us – whether friend or foe – die. To think you’d even dare try your tricks on me, ha ha, it seems your brain has rotten, you fucking cockroach.” without ceasing her assault with her mouth, she wrapped her sword backward and swung it, sending a silver array of light which was quickly swallowed into the gentle burst of wind.

“… aai, how loose can your tongue be, to treat an old friend so?” Sa Rai said, shaking his head; however, a faint glimmer of anger flashed through his eyes. He truly felt useless. While he could entice billions of Mortals to do his bidding without trying, and could even cause Grand Mages to become his slaves, he was utterly useless against Divine Mages, or anyone with strong enough of a will. He inspired hope; if someone already had it, what use more hope was to them? And if one lost all hope, words would not rekindle that.

“Ha ha ha,” Y’se continued laughing as another lash of wind severed her entire left arm, causing blood to spur out like a geyser while she herself coughed up and vomited a large amount. Still, ignoring the pain, she continued grinning. “Just you wait, you maggots. You’ll soon be crawling back to your hellholes like you do every time you are defeated. To be so fearful of death, I’d slit my own throat in shame!!”

“Enough!!” Sa Rai finally lost his patience as he glanced coldly at her. “I’ve offered you a hand, but it seems you’ve grown blind over the years. Eeala, kill her.”

“But—“

“I’ll take responsibility.” he interrupted the ever-present voice within the wind itself.

“As you wish.”

The reply was quick, but not as quick as her action; a massive hurricane suddenly scattered all of the rain, blowing it apart as it dove toward the Y’se’s fleeing figure. Glancing back, a bitter smile escaped her lips. She knew this was the end. She could only hope others were doing better, and that the final day will sing their victory. Weakness suddenly overcome her body as she sighed, relaxing her tense muscles, causing even more blood to spill out of her wound. Just before a hurricane crashed against her, a figure flashed inside her mind; a youthful resonance, heroic, cold and yet warm eyes, indifferent yet encouraging smile, a voice which could wipe away doubts as though it was immovable.

Then and there, the wind overcame her; she felt every inch of her body being severed as she screamed out in pain. Blood oozed out in droves as her body was blown backward toward the earth. Behind her, a trail of crimson remained as she fell, rolling over several dozen times before stopping. Almost every bone in her body was broken, and floor beneath her was quickly doused entirely in her blood. Her eyes had grown dim as her sight turned blurry. She felt her heart slowing down and her breathing grew heavier. Her mind grew muddy, and her thoughts all but stopped. She couldn’t move an inch, and she couldn’t muster a thought. Is this how it feels to die? A simple sentence echoed her sentiments, as her lips barely curled up in a final smile. She closed her eyes and surrendered, letting the bellowing sounds of metal clashing and rain dripping overcome her senses. As she felt herself grow colder and colder, she knew this was the end. She wasn’t afraid to die. Whatever waited for her beyond today, she would welcome all the same. She only felt regret and unwillingness to part from this world before all of this was resolved. Even if she could do little to nothing to help, no one would want to die without doing anything, herself included. Just as her final breath was about to leave her body, she felt warmth akin to thousand suns suddenly wash over her, as though rekindling her already dead soul anew…