The cliff still shook from Adler's awakening, but he forced his wings to close as the divine fire dimmed inside of him. He was not ready yet- no not yet. He needed a moment to stabilise the pressure flowing in his veins. A moment he couldn't afford.
Below them the battlefield roared.
"Go", Adler said. His voice cracking with the weight of godhood. "Find Prince Ammon, Ayden and hopefully general Lucian", we are stronger when United.
Simon tightened his grip around the hilt of his blade. Anya fingers danced around her daggers. The knowledge of Adler being a God had given them a kind of hope. But before they could leap down the narrow cliff path. The battle ground beneath them erupted with shriek.
Beasts poured from the shadows like a living tide- horned wolves, bone platted hounds, towering friends and blazing eyes.
Simon cursed under his breath, they are here.
The creatures surged forward.
Everything exploded into motion.
Steel flashed blood hissed against the earth. Anya danced through the Chaos her blades carting arcs of silver, she summoned thousands of blades wreathed in flame attacking the warring beasts. Simon blocked a claw strike, his arm rattling from the impact. The beasts were relentless, overwhelming, their numbers swelling like a rising Moon.
And above them- yet unseen- Hart's pressure crept across the sky like a cold hand closing against their throats.
Simon staggered as a massive fiend lunged at him. Anya's dagger flew across his cheeks, embedding in the beast skull before it landed. But even she was panting, her strikes slowing as more beasts spilled over the ridge.
Though their battle was grave, the battle below was worse.
Ammon and Ayden stood back to back in a ring snarling beast.
Ammon vision swayed, his veins screaming with poison, a cold fire spreading through every limb. Ayden fought twice as hard, knowing his friend was one misstep from collapsing.
A beast lunged at Ammon from the side.
Ayden intercepted it with a vicious slash, Sparks bursting from the impact.
"You are still with me?" Ayden shouted.
"Barely", Ammon panted, wiping blood from his mouth. Where are the rest? He asked.
Another wave of creatures charged. Ayden moved to it- like a storm tossed blade, slicing through the swarm with brutal precision. Every strike with a purpose. Every movement shielded Ammon, who could not longer keep up.
Then the ground rumbled, a colossal shadow rose.
The Beast god.
It body towered above them- it muscles coiling like twisted roots, horns jagged as broken spears and eyes glowing with primal hunger.
It roar shook the air.
The beast god charged.
The impact was a thunderclap.
Ayden met it head on, the clash throwing diets into the air. His blade sent a glowing mark across the God's chest. The creature staggered.
But the battlefield had no mercy for victory.
The beast god lurking behind them- a smaller fiend saw the opening.
Before Ayden could turn and Ammon to warn him.
The fiend leapt.
A devastating slash tore through Ayden back.
He gasped- air punched out his lungs.
He sword slipped from his grip.
His knees hit the dirt.
Ayden, Ammon screamed.
Ayden collapsed, blood rushing out in a spreading pool, vision dimming.
Then darkness swallowed him.
The beast god raised his claw for the killing blow.
And Ammon- poisoned, shaking, cornered- watched the only person shielding him fall.