Gonzeelda was sitting up when she saw a sight that terrified her. With the glory of a demi-god, the forge stood shining brilliantly, with flames of wrath surrounding him. The orcess' mouth hung open upon recognizing the mighty hammer held in his strong hands. Soul Rupture, the scythe she had once called her 'Beauty' had been reforged and combined with the forge's weapon. Now she knew, she wouldn't stand a chance against him, and she even wondered if Torchwood did. He wasn't summoned using the complete Soul Rupture after all. Glancing across the cavern she saw Tricia sitting up and viewing the scene as well. She would have to make it to her, and flee as soon as possible.

Torchwood had covered his eyes to guard against the light of the intense explosion. As he lowered his arm, the great orc furrowed his brow in confusion. The creature before him had not only changed, but had restored itself from its wrecked state. And then there was the aura, the incredibly strong power emanating from the very being of his opponent. The god shook his head. It was all a trick, he believed. There was no way a mortal creature could hold the power of a god.

"You still can't defeat me." Torchwood said.

Angon however, said nothing. Instead, he took a step towards the orc, holding his hammer in both hands.

Torchwood narrowed his eyes and marched across the cavern towards the steel man. Angon slammed the hammer sidelong right into the orc's side. The blow was as if an avalanche had struck. Torchwood roared in pain, and staggered to the side. The mighty orc held the site of impact which had sent cracks spidering through his flesh.

The god knew now, from that single blow, that this was no trick. The creature before him wielded a strength only a god could.

Torchwood opened his mouth wide, roaring at Angon. But the forge did not even wince. Blazing fire burst from his mouth, sending fireball after fireball at the forge. Each struck home, and several explosions rang out. The shockwave of the blast nearly sent Gavin and the others flying over the side of the mountain, but they all managed to hold on.

The orc god smiled, only until the intense winds blew the smoke clear. For Angon stood there looking exactly the same, not a single scratch had befallen his new armor.

Torchwood growled and charged Angon, fists swinging. The first blow came in at the forge's face, and the orc god grinned, thinking he had struck the enemy. But his eyes widened when he realized Angon was holding his first in one hand.

"I said, you can not win." Angon repeated.

The forge squeezed his hand, causing Torchwood's knuckles to pop, and then crack. The orc screeched and swung his other fist. The forge would not be able to block with a hammer in his hand. And it was true. The attack struck Angon's jaw, and his head turned to the side.

"You can not win." Angon said through gritted teeth, pushing back the orc's fist with his face.

Torchwood gave forth another roar and ripped his hand free from Angon's grasp. He brought both hands over his head.

"Die, mortal!" Torchwood started to scream, but Angon had already thrust the head of his godly weapon into the orc's gut. The orc slid back all the way to the edge of the mountainside.

Torchwood teetered on the lip, his arms waving about madly. Angon charged forward and grabbed the god by his throat, flipping him back, and tossing him into the Anvil of Creation. He hit with a loud grunt, and carack. The god looked up, trying to move, but he couldn't feel anything below his neck.

"You haven't won!" Torchwood shouted. "This is merely an avatar! My true form resides in the heavens, and I will come back for. I promise you, I will kill you!"

Angon leaped into the air, bringing his mighty greathammer over his head. Then with the force of an asteroid, chopped down. Torchwood's eyes flew wide and Angon's hammer crashed down into his skull, shattering it, and sending godly brains splattering.

The forge stared down at the lifeless form of the orc god.

"You need not come here." Angon said. "I will come find you."

As the intense fiery aura of the forge wore down, he placed his hammer on his back where it stuck by a magical force. He fell to one knee, feeling suddenly weaker.

"Angon!" Gavin and Hero both cried, rushing to his side.

Dizziness swept through the forge and his lolled about. He barely held onto consciousness, but fought to keep his grasp.

"You won!" Hero yipped, bouncing around, and wagging his tail.

Gavin placed his hand on Angon's shoulder and nodded his approval. "I didn't think it could be done, gargo—I mean, forge—I mean... my friend."

That last part of Gavin's statement had Angon looking up with a grin.

"I didn't think it could be done either." He admitted, forcing his way to his feet.

"Whoa." Hero barked. "Don't overdo it."

"I'll be fine." Angon said, but fell back to his knee immediately. "Or maybe give me a few moments."

"The moments are yours." Gavin said. "You've earned them."

When the sol elf stood straight and looked around, he noticed something missing; rather two somethings. Both Gonzeelda, and Tricia were no longer atop the mountain.

"She escaped." Gavin said, seeing that Hero too, was looking around.

"I know." Hero lowered his head. "I saw them making their escape, but I did nothing."

"What would you have done?" Gavin asked. "Taken a mother from her adoptive child."

"I couldn't..." Hero sighed, and looked back up at the elf.

"It seems at the end of the day, revenge is not the answer." Gavin patted Hero on the head. "What will you do now?"

Hero lowered his head in thought, but looked up again. "For now I'll accompany you and your friends. At the end of the road... I will make my decision."

"It is not the first time someone said words similar to that." Gavin patted Angon's shoulder. "Nor, I'm sure, will it be the last."

***

The next morning, Angon, Hero, and Gavin entered the frozen city of Angel's Outpost. And strangely enough on this day, the sun shined above the cursed land. As the first crunching footfalls of the companions made their way, the church doors flung open and Lavina appeared.

The half-elf's jaw dropped and she burst into a sprint towards the trio. Ramona and Buster peeked and came out as well.

Angon was unsure whom Lavina was racing to hug, but he expected it to be the Gavin; for the Gavin was her friend for much longer. It truly surprised the forge when Lavina leaped up and into his own arms.

"Lavina!" Angon said, as she hugged him around his neck, snuggling her face into his shoulder.

"You're back." Lavina whispered, beginning to sob. "I was so worried. I didn't think—I didn't know what—"

"We did it." Angon said.

"No..." Gavin shrugged. "Angon did it."

"What happened?" Lavina asked. "You have to tell me everything."

"We will." Angon said. "But first... I have to ask... where is my father?"

Lavina released Angon's neck and wiggled back to the ground. She looked up at the forge, shaking her head. "Angon... I..."

"He's gone, isn't he?" Angon whispered.

Lavina nodded, with her hands to her mouth.

With a great sigh, Angon nodded, and walked towards the church.

The half-elf girl regarded Gavin and Hero. "He died around the time of the big explosion. His last words were thanking Angon."

"He died in peace?" Hero asked.

Lavina nodded. "That he did."

Buster and Ramona joined the others. Buster nodded towards the church. "Did everything I could. But the minotaur's will was broken. He didn't have much to hold on with."

"Angon won't blame you." Gavin said. "He isn't the type to hold a grudge."

Ramona smiled. "Good. I have a favor to ask of him."

"What kind of favor be ye wantin'?" Buster asked. "Ye nearly got 'im killed in Kendobul."

Ramona lowered her head. "I'm really sorry about that, but it's my mother. She was turned to stone by Gorgons."

"And what ye be thinking Angon to do about it?" Buster put his hands on his hips to regard her.

"With the power of Soul Rupture..." She started.

Gavin held up his hand. "Soul Rupture is gone."

Tears came to Ramona's eyes and she shook her head. "Then how will my mother ever..."

Buster grinned. "Why didn't ye ask? I be a priest ye be knowin'!"

Ramona tilted her head.

"Do I have to spell it out for ye?" Buster asked. "I have a few spells left, I do. One of them can cure a curse."

Ramona's eyes widened and she jumped at Buster. She hugged him tight, planted a kiss on his cheek, and squealed loud in his ear.

Buster pulled away, his face turning beat read.

"Well, yes, hmm, you're welcome." He mumbled.

Angon emerged from the church then, with the large minotaur's body in his arms. "What do we do with him?"

Buster motioned to the church. "We'll do a funeral pyre. I'll say some prayers even, if ye be wanting?"

Angon nodded. "Thank you, Buster."

So that morning, they held a funeral for Azteron Zirnoff, the minotaur artificer. As the pyre burned, consuming Azteron's body, each spoke of their plans. Ramona and Buster were going to sneak into Kendobul and cure her mother. Ramona planned on leaving soon after and continuing on until she found a new home.

Gavin and Lavina would return to Windale, where Lavina planned on calling off the wedding with Daneel. From there, Buster, Hero and Angon would go to Citadel Belltower to see if there was anything in the archives about the Blood Tomb, although Buster didn't plan on going on another adventure, claiming he was far too old.

And after that, Angon and Hero knew not what they would do or where they would go. Lavina offered them a home in Windale, but they didn't want to stay. Both had a much wider world to see, and Angon had a much larger war to wage—One against the gods.