As I walked away, I wondered how we were going to block the army from getting in. If I could find seeds, I'd be able to block the wide-open gate with trees.

"Let's go to the gate and see if we can close it," I said. "You wouldn't happen to have any Torpel Tree seeds here? Or any other seeds?"

Jack blinked in surprise, then shrugged. "No, but maybe someone in the city has them. I've heard a few people have been experimenting with the various vegetation here. I'll send someone up to see." He turned and called someone over, explaining what he wanted. The Sandasin nodded and jogged off, seeming more than happy to leave the battle, even if only for a short while.

I was impressed that Jack didn't even ask why I wanted seeds in the middle of the battle. He seemed to trust my judgment.

As we walked down, the defenders silently followed us. From what I saw, most would probably not be able to do much more fighting.

When we reached the gates, I knew we would need a dozen seeds and a whole lot of Karma, which reminded me.

I turned and looked at the Earthlings, seeing hundreds of blood-covered, dull, weary faces stare back. For a second, I thought of ordering them to use my title. Then I held back. Many might ignore me or not do so without reason. These weren't people native to Kernstalion who knew how these things worked. These were tired Earthlings, beat up and annoyed, and I didn't know how they would react to such a command.

Instead, I took a deep breath and began talking rapidly. "In this world, there are different ways to get strong. One deals with Karma, and it's a finicky business currently only usable by Primes. I'm a Prime, and one of the ways I get Karma is when people use my titles. If it helps, think of it like a game. I might be able to do something to help us, but I need Karma. So, no matter how weird it seems, I need you all to call me by my title in a little while. Can you do that?"

Bewildered looks were shared, but I also noticed a few calculating and curious ones. Before I could worry, dozens of soft acknowledgments rang out.

"Alright, call me The Deliverance when I tell you to. Don't do it before. There's a cap on that bloody Karma. Got it?"

A few nods came, and I turned, annoyed when there were a half dozen pings, and my Karma increased. I spun around and barked. "Not now!"

A few defenders jumped back. I picked up a few soft curses while those around the offenders either laughed or glared at them. When I was sure they had understood, I moved through the ravaged stone entrance. Blown apart slabs of stone, and mangled beams of Torpel wood lay scattered across the ground amidst splinters.

As we stepped out of the shadow, the massive army sprawled along the river before us, and I felt my mood drop like a brick. There had to be thousands, perhaps even ten thousand soldiers there! Had that bastard, Nimron, sent every soldier here?

Now that I had the time to look, I realized there were a few banners, one of which sported the three silver daggers that adorned the old soldier's chest. So, not status, but some house? Or clan? Though there were minute differences in coloring and edge work, most banners fell into one of four categories: the silver daggers on a black field, two crossed hands on an uneven dark red patch, something resembling three entwined green pyramids, and a dark golden dagger on a white rippling beach.

Something about the last one, the dagger seemed familiar, and I tried to recall where I'd seen it before. When nothing came to mind, I shrugged and focused on the camp.

It lay far behind the front lines and still seemed in an uproar. Then, as I looked, one of the groups seemed to turn on another, swarming them. The other groups seemed to back off, hesitating, then retreated from the center camp, taking their banners with them. A moment later, only two remained: the three silver daggers and the single gold. A few seconds later, the silver one was taken down in a burst of flame.

"You wouldn't happen to have some meteor shower spell that can blast them all?" Jack whispered.

"Afraid not," I said, staring at the regrouping factions. "But they seem to have some problems of their own. "

"Yeah... What is going on there?" Jack asked. "I can see bits, but it's pretty far. You got some magically improved eyes or something?"

"I do, but I have no idea what's going on," I said, frowning.

The two of us silently waited and watched. Ten minutes later, the entire army had moved, and their war horns boomed. A line formed as the bannered sections squared off against each other. The white banner with the dark golden dagger sat on one side, its army almost as large as that of all of the others opposite it.

"They are not pulling their punches," I muttered as barriers of blue and silvery energy rose up, almost immediately pelted by balls of fire and a hail of arrows.

My eyes widened as a group of Cindermare riders made a dash from the golden dagger camp, straight for us.

"Now, what are you up to?" I muttered, my hands instinctively opening and closing.

The riders had barely gone fifty feet when strange shapes flew from the other camp, dashing after them. Streaks of bluish green energy came from the golden dagger camp, striking all but a handful of the flying things out of the air. Those that remained seemed undeterred in their pursuit of the riders.

"They are coming here?" Jack muttered. "Perhaps it's a trick, and they will turn and attack us in a minute?"

"Unlikely. There are hundreds of dead in that camp," I said as I realized I had to act. And fast. There was no saying why those riders. It could be that they wanted to join up, and it could be that they were the ones who had wanted to kill us all the time. In that case, these could be some type of super Primes ready to lay waste to us.

"Get everyone ready to fight! Put the strongest ones in the gate opening and anyone with ranged attacks behind them. I'll take the point and talk with them if they reach us," I snapped orders.

Or blast them with as much fire as needed, I thought, hoping it wouldn't come to that. I knew that if I had to, I could pump a lot of Karma in my Controlled Conflaguration while chewing on demon meat and hoping my regeneration could cope with it.

"On it!" Jack ran away, and I heard him direct the weary defenders.

As the group of riders came closer, I knew they wouldn't outrun the flying things, and I was right. Fifty feet, I could make out that the flying things were stone-gray gargoyle-like things. The size of dogs, they caught up with the riders who were bent low over their mounts as they rushed towards me.

"Est, back us up here!" The distant, deep, and ragged voice almost made me drop a dagger. I knew that voice! I cursed as my mind spun at the unlikeliness of this, but by then, I was already running forward. There was a startled cry from behind.

"Stay back," I roared, hoping Jack and the others wouldn't do anything stupid.

Sand sprayed behind me as my feet dug in the sand. The Gargoyles streaked towards the backs of the riders, sharp-nailed hands slashing down. One of the riders, in a feat of insane skill and perception, dropped to the side of his mouth, dodging the blow before rolling back up. I knew someone who could do that. Someone who matched the voice I'd just heard.

I reached within the range of my Thorncasters and shot bolt after bolt at the Gargoyles. The bolts glanced off harmlessly, showing how crappy the wood was, and I gnashed my teeth. Without holding back, I cast Harden Wood on my boltcasters, ignoring the drain. The wood began to gleam like metal, and I shot a bolt that exploded a Gargoyle before it could come back for a second attack. The stone shrapnel seemed to startle the others, but I exploded a second before it could get away. The final ones fled out of my range, and I stopped as the riders slowed to a halt before me. All wore helmets and heavy armor, emblazoned with the white emblem with the golden dagger.

"Glad you still have some tricks up your sleeves," the familiar voice said from the leftmost rider.

"Take off your helmet," I snapped. I had to be sure before I lowered my guard.

"Where the hell is your ax?" Haltir said as his bearded, wrinkled face appeared from behind the helmet.

I barked a laugh, unable to hold back as I smiled widely at the old man. Of course, that would be the first thing he'd say! I'd not seen him in ages, and the last I knew was that he'd gone to Steadfast, which he obviously hadn't reached or stayed at. Before I could snap a retort, the other two took off their helmets, and I was shocked a second time.

Laurel looked at me with a weary smile, while a girl that looked a lot like her inspected me with interest.

"Main Prime," Laurel said, her voice ragged as if she'd been shouting too much. "The House of Des Marlin hereby officially takes up Rathica as their Deity, denouncing both Nimron and the current rulers of Grammanite. We request sanctuary in Steadfast!"

Stunned, I heard a ping from my status as Laurel grinned at me.

> El'Laurel Des Marlin officially requests sanctuary for the Des Marlin family: 11.207 soldiers, 2129 civilians.

> As Rathica's main Prime and the official guardian of Steadfast, you may accept or ignore the request:

Yes/No

"And by Lischen's saggy tits, please tell me you aren't going to make us wait because I'm tired of acting like some stuck-up battle lady!" Laurel said, dropping her formal voice.

I blinked, then smiled back as I selected Yes. A tiny ping came, but I didn't see any new lines.

"Thank Rathica," Laurel said as she looked at Haltir. "General Haltir, signal the army to retreat to the city gates and set up a defense perimeter! Let the mages use the sending books to warn the civilians to circle around and move to the city from the east. Send all of the scouts to back them up."

General Haltir? I gaped at Laurel, then at Haltir.

Laurel turned back to me. "Now, while my troops move here and take up defense positions against those Nimron fanatics, can you tell me what in the name of Preyatar's cock Rathica been up to?"

I barked a laugh, then beckoned her along while I moved towards the gate. Behind me, Haltir and the younger woman remained, both signaling at the army with odd hand gestures and waves.

"Yeah, that's going to be a long story."

It took me half an hour to catch Laurel up, with Haltir and the other joining us halfway. When I finally stopped talking, Laurel was staring at me like I was some monster, then sighed. She turned to Haltir, who stepped forward.

"Our troops have almost reached the gate, but we are taking heavy enemy fire. Especially those Du Borogu scum seem hellbent on killing as many of us as they can," Haltir said.

"They know they won't have a chance to take this city after we arrive. They are desperate because none of the spineless Floants want to have to tell Nimron what happened," the younger woman snapped as she looked proudly at the wall behind which we could hear booms and explosions.

I raised an eyebrow and turned to Laurel. "Your sister?"

"Ah right, how could I forget," Laurel said as she put her hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "Est, Main Prime of Rathica, let me introduce you to El'Luzin Des Marlin, my sister!"

"Cut it out with those titles," I said before turning to Luzin, who was looking at me with a very intense interest. "Welcome to Steadfast. I'm glad your sister managed to find you."

"You look exactly like a Grablon," she said as she frowned and looked at my bare chest with slightly too much interest. "Are you all the way Grablon?"

Laurel slapped her on the back of the head, and Luzin growled as she looked up. "Hey!"

"Don't you dare! Est has a partner, and he isn't interested in your barely contained adulterous fantasies," Laurel said, hands in her sides.

Is that entire family bonkers? I thought as I stared at them in surprise.

Haltir was laughing beside me, and as the two sisters began bickering, I suddenly felt exhausted. I leaned back against the wall with a thud, feeling the sharp objects in my body slash through what were probably vital organs.

Right, I need to fix those before I die from internal bleeding, I thought.

A second later, with another mouthful of flesh courtesy of Par, I looked up at Haltir, who was inspecting me with a worried frown.

"I've got a dozen spearheads lodged in my body," I said. "And I need you to cut them out."

My words caused the two sisters to stop talking mid-sentence as they turned to me in disbelief. Laurel's surprise quickly turned to a worry that mirrored Haltir's, while Luzin seemed confused.

It took me a few minutes to convince them, but then Haltir stood behind me with a dagger staring at a point I had indicated on my shoulder.

"You sure, boy?" he asked. "We could wait for the healers. It would only take an hour or so."

"No time," I said. "We have no idea how this battle will continue if they have some ace up their sleeves or when Rathica appears and what will happen then."

"Fine, but if you faint, I'll stop," Haltir said.

I didn't reply and tried to relax as I felt the dagger point push against my skin.

Haltir grunted as he pushed it in, and I clenched my teeth as my skin and the flesh below split.

"Damn, Est. How high is your constitution? You are as tough as a Charbull!"

As pain flared up on my back, I ignored him and pulled up my status, hoping to distract myself.

> 35/38: Muscle mass

> 09/120: Fat

> 34/40: Coordination

> 30/30: Stamina (maxed)

> 06/10: Learning rate

> 632/744: Knowledge

> 07/60: Well spoken

> 319/800: Karma

> 1/?: Karma harnessing

> Mindscape barrier strength: 7/20

Not bad, I thought as I saw that my Karma was filling up rapidly. Either the defenders had begun using the title, or it was spreading throughout the Des Marlin army. I didn't know which, but it was helpful either way. I looked at the attributes and wondered which I should increase with my remaining 5 points. Capping muscle mass at 40 seemed a good idea, and I could always keep the other three points for later. Perhaps when all of this finished, I'd have time to practice my woodcarving, and I could use those on something that didn't increase my killing power.

Absently I pointed out the other spear points when Haltir asked me while looking through my messages and other things. There wasn't anything more interesting than my increasing Karma, and when Haltir finally stepped back, it had reached 378. Closing my status, I saw Laurel and Luzin stare at me silently.

"What?" I asked as I slowly pushed myself up. The weariness had left me, and I chowed down on the meat to jumpstart my healing.

"Oh, nothing," Laurel said with a sniff. "Just realizing again what kind of monster you are. It's perfectly normal to have seventeen spear points lodged in your body, fight as you did, and then just have them cut out without needing a healer by a butcherous old man. Surely, a thing we all accomplish each week, and nothing to write stories about!"

I laughed and shook my head before giving her a mock severe look. "Exactly, so why are you wasting your time talking about it?"

Laurel shook her head and was about to say something when the sun's light seemed to dim. Movements stopped, sounds stopped, and a dull light came from the side. Laurel stared ahead, frozen stiff, just like her sister beside her.

Unlike them, though, I found I could still move. I slowly turned my head to see a group of nine glowing beings hover in the air beside the slope. They were all heavily damaged, with golden ichor oozing from dozens of small and large wounds.

The nine were divided into three groups, and I recognized all but one Deity. To the left stood Rathica, Ulderion, and Seriona, then in the middle were The Stone, Flowheart, and Wyerg. A bit further to the right stood Nimron, more wounded than the others but chin high and a deep scowl on his face. Next, and behind him stood Lischen - down one arm, and a juvenile man with a predatory smile, long hair bound in a ponytail, and a beautifully crafted sword on his hip. Probably Percussion.

I swallowed as I saw that all nine pairs of eyes on were focused on me, then slowly turned to Rathica.

"Hi," I said lamely, and the corner of her lips twitched before her eyes signaled me to pay attention. What's going on? I asked through our mental connections, but all I got was a short shake of her head before Rathica continued.

"Est. We are here to finalize an accord we have come to," she said.

"Were forced into," Flowheart snapped with a snarl, and I looked at her to find her cold calmness was gone. Instead, she seemed like a whirlpool of anger. Oddly, her anger seemed directed at Nimron and Rathica, who both got a seething scowl they ignored.

Rathica didn't answer her but looked at Nimron.

"Bring your champion," she said.

The tall golden god snarled, and with a swipe of his hands, a portal appeared ahead of me. A tall Grablon stepped out of it, daggers dripping with blood in all three hands. Corded muscles ran along his wounded frame that seemed built for speed. He had a tattoo of three silvery daggers on his lower arm and a ripped leather tunic. His eyes instantly focused on mine, and intense hate simmered in them. I tried to recall if I'd seen him before, but I was pretty sure I had not.

"Bring your champion," Rathica said as she tossed a look at the one-armed Lischen. A second portal appeared, green and with swirling black eyes in it. Out of it stepped a massive Witch, mushrooms covering every part of her body. A bleeding wound sat where one of her eyes had been, but she looked around as if she didn't have a care in the world.

"Bring out your champion," Rathica said, looking at the Stone. I felt a slight worry flow from her then, and I focused on the third portal, a dull gray one.

Bastian, tall and straight as a spear, stepped out, wielding a longsword with dozens of knicks. His thick gray armor was covered in dents and lacerations, and he had a tiny bleeding wound above an eyebrow. He looked around, then at me. There was a dull resignation in his eyes, and all I got was a tiny nod. Then he moved away from the other two Primes. I swallowed, getting an ominous feeling as I looked back to Rathica. She was staring at The Stone, who calmly looked back, seeming to challenge her to say something. She didn't, instead turning to me.

"The others already know what is happening, so let me explain to you," she said. "Three new Pantheons have formed, but as you know-" there was a growl from Nimron at that, and I saw him stare at me with an intense hatred- "this wasn't without trouble. To prevent the total planet annihilation war that none of us want… or could survive," she added, throwing the other Deities an intense look, we have made a deal."

I swallowed as my mind quickly reasoned what was happening. Instead of the Deities fighting, they would have their Primes do the dirty work. I frowned as I looked at the other three. But why were there only four, me included? That wasn't one per Pantheon, or even one per Deity… Wait, they were wounded. Had they fought already?

"Quick as always! Told you he would pick it up," Ulderion said, smiling at the glares from the others. "What? He spoke, and so did she," Ulderion said, pointing at Nimron and Flowheart.

Rathica shrugged. "Yes, Est. They have already been fighting, and these three survived the battles among the eight. You were exempt from the first round because-"

"Because he is your Prime," Flowheart snapped.

"-you had already proven your prowess in the Demon sea," Rathica continued without even looking at Flowheart. Then she looked at me, and I got the feeling I needed to say or ask something.

"So… now what? We are just going to duke it out?" I asked, not interested in playing along.

"Yes," Rathica said, causing me to blink in surprise. "As you are the only one unarmed-"

"Rathica! We agreed to no help," Nimron said with a deep growl as he hovered forward. A dangerous aura spread from him.

"Est is the only one without his preferred weapon," Rathica snapped, finally showing something besides the previous calm. A quick burst of messages shot between the Deities, and for a moment, the tension grew. I almost took a step back as sparks appeared everywhere, then The Stone said something, and the tension dissipated again. Rathica looked at me, a tiny bit of fear in her eyes.

"They will give you thirty minutes to make or get a weapon if you can. Otherwise, we begin now."

The flow of angry worry through our connection told me I needed to hurry, and I turned on my heels, looking around. The nearest trees were hundreds of feet away, on the other side of the river, but if I had to fight the others… especially Bastian? I liked my lips and turned to Rathica.

"How about we fight near those trees?"

Rathica looked over, then at the other Deities. For a moment, they spoke in their overly rapid speech, then disappeared in flashes. A jarring sensation came as I felt myself being picked up and, a second later, dropped on soft, dead-leaf-covered ground. Next to me stood a tall Torpel tree, and further behind was a forest.

"You have twenty-nine minutes left," Nimron snarled.

I didn't even bother looking at Rathica but sprinted at the tree, daggers in two hands while my upper hands flashed through Soften Wood. I slammed them into the tree and weakened it until I could almost shape it with my fingers, then slashed through its base. The Torpel's didn't howl, but the tree did fall, the only movement besides those present. Half an hour barely gave me enough time to create an ax, so Vengeful Spirits were a nogo.

> Don't reply. They can pick it up!

I almost cursed from the sudden message box before my face, then continued carving out an ax, trying to give no indication I was reading Par's messages.

> But be very careful of that green one, mortal

> She's been a Deity for a long, long time and is very dangerous

> The tall gray one seems uneasy, perhaps wounded

> The dagger-wielder only has eyes for you

> I'd advise killing him first and letting the gray one battle the green one!

> She will likely kill him, but he might surprise us and hurt her first

I felt sad as I realized that Par was right. Besides, this might mean I didn't have to fight Bastian myself, and I'd prefer avenging him than killing him.

As I carved the ax, I also created new boltcasters on each of my arms. I didn't even contemplate making armor with the little time I had. Besides, it would be of no use against Lischen's Prime and might even slow me down while fighting the silver dagger guy and Bastion. Besides, their weapons would likely cut through the wood easily. I almost spit a curse as my hands hesitated in their smooth motions. Would this ax even hold up? Torpel wood wasn't that hard, just demon poison resistant.

I can harden it beyond equilibrium, I thought and forced my hands to continue.

Time ticked by, and I'd barely finished the grip when Nimron seemed to have had enough.

"Right, no more waiting! That's plenty good for you," he snarled.

I stepped back and rapidly cast Harden Wood, only hesitating a bit before continuing even though I felt a drain appear, then increase. I continued until I knew I could only keep it up for an hour max.

"Alright," The Stone said, the first time he'd said anything since they had arrived.

His calm voice was laced with barely perceivable anger. "You will fight to the death, and the last one standing will be allowed to leave alive. You have thirty seconds to prepare!"

There was nothing about what the winner would gain for his or her Diety, or its Pantheon, and I wondered what that was about. I looked around, seeing Nimron's prime stare at me with a hatred that matched his Deities. Lischen's Prime had backed up a bit, her arms wide and her fingers flashing through spells while her dead-pan green eyes focused on me. Only Bastian was still at ease, his gaze passing over the others before locking on the Stone's face.

The cold, grey Deity returned the look, and this time I could perceive the anger in the Deity's eyes as he lowered his chin and glared at his own Prime. A soft sigh came from Bastian, and then he to turned his blade to me.

Yeah, great! What's this, three-on-one? I thought as my gaze darted to Rathica. She was gnashing her teeth, hands on her arms, muscles bulging, but she didn't seem willing or able to interfere. Probably unable, I knew. Whatever was going on, my personal physical life seemed less important. Instead of making me sad, it increased my fear and realization of the importance of the upcoming battle.

Just me then, I thought.

I backed up and slowly raised my ax. Calmness, blessed calmness, came to me as I looked between my enemies. With nobody to fall back on, slowly, a battle plan began forming. Not one that would guarantee my victory, but one that atleast had a semblance of a chance. Well… if I wasn't overestimating myself.

Rap's message startled me.

> What in the name of all Chaos beings did you do to piss them all off?

> I guess I'm not the only one you treat poorly!

> Okay, listen. You have a skill point left. Allow me to look at your skills, and I'll use it as best I can.

> Your Mindscape Keeper, Raparion requests access to your skill list

Yes/No

I didn't hesitate and selected yes, praying the Deities wouldn't notice. Nimron was still glaring at me, probably counting. The others also gave no reaction.

> Beyond weak, you mortal! You have barely anything to work with!

> Fine, this one will have to do. At least it will give you the chance to survive a bit longer

> Your Mindscape Keeper, Raparion wants to increase the skill level of Last Ditch Effort

> Last ditch effort. When hitpoints drop below ten percent, muscle mass temporarily doubles

Yes/No

Knowing I had no time to worry about it, I selected yes, and a few pings reverberated.

> Increased Last Ditch Effort

> Last Ditch Effort 2/2

> Duration doubled to twenty seconds

> When hit points drop below twenty percent, muscle mass and agility temporarily doubles

As I read the improved version, I could barely keep a slight relief from my face. I'd not used this skill often, but when I had, it saved my life on each occasion! Now, seeing its increased duration and power, I changed my impromptu plan, making it even more daring.

Now let's see how tough you guys are, I thought as I switched my gaze between my three adversaries.