Chapter 23: The World of Death

The underground chamber was still shaking.

The battle between the two Gods had ended only moments ago.

Mortivar, the God of Death, stood in the middle of the ruined underground chamber.

Across from him, Aurelion, the God of Gold, had already been sent flying by Mortivar's previous attack.

BOOOOOOM!

Aurelion was blasted through the underground passage.

His golden aura disappeared into the distance.

Mortivar watched him fly away.

Then he slowly turned his head.

His expression changed.

He could feel something.

A faint presence.

Golden.

Powerful.

A God.

Mortivar smiled.

"So..."

He looked in the direction Aurelion had been thrown.

"The God of Gold is still alive."

Mortivar closed his eyes for a moment.

Then he sensed something else.

Not Aurelion.

Something much closer.

Mortivar opened his eyes.

"...And there are others nearby."

The Two Scythes

Nyxhen and Zerav stood several meters away from Mortivar.

Neither of them spoke.

They could feel the enormous aura surrounding the God of Death.

It was suffocating.

The air itself felt heavier.

Nyxhen slowly raised Noctesgrave.

Zerav raised his own scythe.

Both warriors prepared themselves.

Zerav stared directly at Mortivar.

His yellow eyes narrowed.

He could see something that Nyxhen couldn't.

Souls.

Countless souls were moving inside Mortivar's dark aura.

They weren't free.

They weren't simply floating around him.

They were trapped.

Zerav's expression became serious.

"There are souls inside your aura..."

Mortivar looked at him.

Zerav continued.

"They're trapped inside it."

Nyxhen glanced toward Mortivar.

"Can they escape?"

Zerav shook his head.

"No."

His grip tightened around his scythe.

"They can't escape."

Mortivar smiled.

"You're able to see them?"

Zerav didn't answer.

Instead—

Nyxhen threw Noctesgrave.

WHOOSH!

The chained scythe spun rapidly through the air.

Mortivar raised his hand.

CLANG!

He blocked Noctesgrave.

The weapon stopped only inches from his face.

Mortivar looked at the scythe.

"Nice weapon you have there."

Nyxhen blinked.

"...Thanks, I guess?"

Mortivar's attention remained on the weapon.

That was his mistake.

Nyxhen suddenly charged forward.

SHADOW DASH!

His body disappeared into the shadows.

He reappeared directly in front of Mortivar.

BAM!

Nyxhen kicked Mortivar across the face.

Mortivar's head turned slightly from the impact.

Nyxhen landed behind him.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Nyxhen looked at his foot.

"...Okay."

He looked back at Mortivar.

"That actually worked."

Mortivar slowly turned his head.

A small smile appeared.

"Interesting."

Soul Archive: Wraith Harvest

Zerav stepped forward.

His scythe began glowing with dark purple energy.

The souls around him started moving.

Zerav lifted his weapon.

"Then let's see what happens when a demon fights a God."

The souls gathered around his scythe.

The energy became denser.

Then Zerav swung.

"Soul Archive: Wraith Harvest!"

A massive wave of soul energy spread across the battlefield.

Dozens of spectral figures appeared around Zerav.

Mortivar watched carefully.

Zerav suddenly raised his hand.

A giant hand made entirely from souls appeared behind Nyxhen.

WHOOSH!

The soul hand grabbed Nyxhen and pulled him away.

Nyxhen was dragged backward just as Mortivar's attack passed through the place where he had been standing.

Nyxhen looked at Zerav.

"Hey!"

Zerav smirked.

"You're welcome."

Mortivar looked at the soul hand.

"...Interesting."

Zerav released Nyxhen.

But neither of them had time to relax.

Mortivar's posture changed.

Nyxhen noticed immediately.

"Zerav..."

"I see it."

Mortivar's movement had changed.

His aura became denser.

His body rose slightly from the ground.

Then—

He flew upward.

Nyxhen and Zerav looked up.

Mortivar raised one hand.

A tiny dark orb appeared above his palm.

It was small.

Almost harmless-looking.

But the energy inside it was tremendous.

Nyxhen's eyes widened.

"That thing..."

The orb suddenly shot toward them.

"Move!"

Nyxhen raised Noctesgrave.

The orb stopped.

Then—

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

A tremendous explosion swallowed the area.

The underground chamber flashed with blinding light.

Nyxhen reacted at the last second.

"Shadow Wall!"

A wall of darkness appeared in front of him.

CRASH!

The explosion slammed into the barrier.

The shockwave threw both Nyxhen and Zerav backward.

The bright flash overwhelmed their vision.

Their ears rang.

Their bodies became numb.

Nyxhen tried to stand.

His legs shook.

He couldn't focus.

The battle with the Gravemaw Behemoth had already exhausted him.

And now he was facing a God.

Nyxhen looked toward Mortivar.

His vision became blurry.

"...I can't..."

He fell to one knee.

Before his consciousness faded, he forced himself to speak.

"Mina..."

He struggled to keep his eyes open.

"Be careful..."

His body finally collapsed.

Zerav also fell unconscious nearby.

Mortivar landed.

The chamber became quiet again.

Buy Some Time

Mortivar began walking toward them.

Step.

Step.

Step.

He looked at the unconscious Nyxhen and Zerav.

Then—

Zerav suddenly opened his eyes.

He raised his hand.

Countless souls appeared behind him.

Thousands of spectral soldiers formed an enormous army.

Mortivar stopped.

Zerav stood slowly.

His breathing was heavy.

"You're not getting them."

The soul soldiers charged.

Mortivar walked forward.

One after another, the soldiers attacked him.

Mortivar destroyed them with simple movements.

But Zerav kept summoning more.

He was buying time.

Zerav suddenly turned toward Nyxhen.

He walked over and slapped him.

SMACK!

"Wake up!"

Nyxhen didn't move.

Zerav slapped him again.

"Wake up!"

Nyxhen slowly opened his eyes.

His vision was blurry.

"...Zerav?"

"You're alive."

Nyxhen tried to stand.

His body refused.

Zerav looked at him.

"You're done."

Nyxhen looked toward Mortivar.

"...Yeah."

For the first time, Nyxhen didn't argue.

He knew it.

He couldn't keep up anymore.

Not after fighting the Behemoth.

Not against this God.

Zerav turned toward one of his soul soldiers.

"Take him."

The soul soldier approached Nyxhen.

"Move him far away."

The soldier lifted Nyxhen.

Nyxhen looked at Zerav.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm a demon."

Zerav looked toward the city.

"I don't need more citizens getting caught in this."

Nyxhen couldn't argue.

The soul soldier carried him away.

Zerav watched until Nyxhen disappeared into the distance.

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Then he turned back toward Mortivar.

A smile appeared on his face.

"...Now."

He raised his scythe.

"I wonder how the God of Death fights."

Mortivar stared at him.

Zerav grinned.

"Test me."

Demon Against God

Mortivar charged.

Zerav raised his scythe.

CLANG!

Their weapons collided.

Mortivar attacked again.

Zerav blocked.

CLANG!

Again.

CLANG!

Again.

CLANG!

Zerav continued blocking.

Every strike pushed him farther backward.

But he refused to fall.

Mortivar suddenly disappeared.

Zerav turned.

Mortivar appeared behind him.

Zerav swung his scythe backward.

Mortivar blocked.

Zerav immediately used his other hand.

"Soul Snatch!"

A gigantic soul hand appeared.

It grabbed Mortivar.

Zerav pulled him down.

"Got you!"

He raised his scythe.

He was about to strike—

The soul hand suddenly began melting.

Zerav's eyes widened.

"What?!"

Mortivar's dark aura spread through the soul hand.

The entire construct dissolved.

Mortivar escaped.

He appeared beside Zerav.

SLASH!

Zerav was thrown backward.

He landed heavily.

Mortivar looked at him.

"You're tough."

Zerav groaned.

"That..."

He slowly stood.

"...was rude."

Zerav raised both hands.

The ground shook.

A gigantic skeletal hand emerged from the darkness.

It was enormous.

In its grip was an equally gigantic sword made entirely from condensed soul energy.

Zerav pointed toward Mortivar.

"Try blocking this!"

The gigantic skeleton swung.

BOOOOOOM!

The sword came crashing down.

Mortivar raised one hand.

Darkness spread across the weapon.

The gigantic soul sword began dissolving.

The skeleton hand disappeared with it.

Zerav stared.

"...Impossible..."

Mortivar stood among the fading energy.

He took a heavy breath.

"Haa..."

Then another.

"Haa..."

His eyes became sharper.

"Don't underestimate the God."

Zerav's strength finally left him.

He fell.

His scythe dropped beside him.

Something Else

Some time later, Zerav forced himself back toward Eryndor.

He flew over the streets.

Below him, countless citizens were running.

Some stared at him.

Others screamed.

Adventurers were helping civilians escape.

Zerav raised his hand.

A dark magical orb began forming.

"I need to clear a path..."

But then—

He stopped.

His expression changed.

He felt something.

Zerav slowly lowered his hand.

"...Another God is nearby?"

He looked toward the distance.

He had originally thought the only other God nearby was Aurelion.

The God of Gold.

But this presence was different.

Another divine aura was somewhere within Eryndor.

Zerav narrowed his eyes.

"There's someone else..."

Nemi's Evacuation

Meanwhile, Nemi continued helping the citizens escape.

She created a thread.

Then another.

Then another.

Each thread attached itself to a nearby wall.

THWIP!

She pulled a group of civilians away from an incoming attack.

"Run!"

Another thread attached to a building.

"Don't stop!"

She pulled another person out of the way.

"Eryndor is becoming a battlefield!"

A nearby adventurer heard her.

He looked around.

Destroyed buildings.

Monsters.

Magic attacks.

Airships moving through the sky.

Godly energy shaking the city.

His face became pale.

"...She's right."

Another adventurer looked toward the distant battlefield.

"If this keeps going..."

He tightened his weapon.

"Eryndor will become one massive battlefield."

Nemi continued pulling people away.

"Keep moving!"

One by one, she moved them farther from the fighting.

The Gunslinger

Elsewhere, the gunslinger had just escaped from Yumiko.

He stopped in the street.

He looked upward.

Mortivar was floating above Eryndor.

The gunslinger stared at him.

"...He's here."

A voice came from behind.

"You know something, don't you?"

The gunslinger immediately turned.

Yuuiki stood behind him.

The gunslinger raised his weapon.

BANG!

Yuuiki dodged the shot.

He immediately moved forward.

THUD!

His attack struck the gunslinger and forced him down onto one knee.

The gunslinger looked toward Mortivar.

His expression became fearful.

"We..."

He struggled to stand.

"We're all going to die..."

Yuuiki stared at him.

"Who are you?"

The gunslinger looked toward the floating God.

"In front of the God of Death..."

He swallowed.

"...none of us are safe."

The God of Death Sees Mina

Mortivar suddenly turned his head.

His eyes moved across Eryndor.

Then he saw her.

Mina.

She was standing with Yumiko.

Yumiko had finally recovered enough to stand.

Mina was talking to her.

Mortivar stared.

Mina suddenly felt something.

She looked up.

Their eyes met.

Mina froze.

"...Huh?"

Mortivar disappeared.

Mina's eyes widened.

He was coming directly toward her.

"Yumiko!"

Mina immediately hardened blood around the wooden handle.

Crimson Blood Blade!

Yumiko raised her giant scissor-claymore.

"I'll protect you!"

Mortivar reached them.

He flicked his hand.

BOOM!

Yumiko was thrown far away.

"YUMIKO!"

Mina watched her disappear into the distance.

She turned back.

Several adventurers charged Mortivar.

They didn't even reach him.

Their souls were suddenly pulled away.

They collapsed.

Mina froze.

Her hands trembled.

She slowly looked at Mortivar.

"...Who are you?"

Mortivar looked at her.

"I am Mortivar."

His dark aura spread around him.

"The 13th God of Eternia."

Mina's fear grew.

Her pendant suddenly began glowing.

Brightly.

Aggressively.

Crack.

A tiny crack appeared across it.

Mina didn't notice.

Another crack appeared.

Crack...

Still, her attention remained on Mortivar.

FATHER

Mortivar raised his hand. Death aura coiled around Mina’s throat.

She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move.

But before he could crush her—

CLANG!

A wall of gold slammed down between them.

Aurelion stood there. Armor cracked, one wing missing, but still glowing.

"You brat."

He didn’t look at Mortivar. He looked at Mina.

"Run. Now."

Mina froze. "You’re—"

Mortivar sighed, bored. "You’re annoying."

Aurelion ignored him.

*BOOM!*

Blood erupted behind Mortivar.

Iris burst through the smoke and slammed into Aurelion’s side.

"Father!"

Aurelion caught her. For a second his gold light steadied.

"Are you okay?"

Iris nodded fast, tears already falling. "I’m fine. I’m fine."

Mortivar tilted his head. "Hahaha."

His eyes dragged over all three of them.

"So. The God of Gold plays house with humans now?"

Aurelion’s jaw tightened. "She is my daughter."

Mortivar laughed again, louder. "A God adopting a mortal? How... quaint."

"Don’t talk about him like that!" Iris stepped forward, blood already gathering at her fingertips.

"Enough."

Aurelion put Iris behind him. Golden energy screamed as it poured out of him.

The cracks in his armor sealed with light. One last time.

AURELION'S FINAL STAND

"Again?" Mortivar yawned.

Aurelion didn’t answer.

He shot forward.

The city shook.

For a moment, gold was winning. His spear drove Mortivar back a step. Two steps.

"I WON'T LET YOU HURT HER!"

Mortivar’s smile dropped.

"Don’t joke around."

*SHINK.*

Black light.

No sound.

Aurelion’s charge stopped mid-air.

A hairline fracture appeared across his chest.

Then his shoulder.

Then his waist.

*CRACK-CRACK-CRACK.*

His body split into four pieces.

Golden light hemorrhaged from every cut, like a star breaking apart.

The pieces hit the ground.

Still glowing. Still alive.

Iris screamed.

"Father...?"

She slid to her knees, gathering the pieces. They were already turning to dust.

Aurelion’s head was in her lap. His eyes found hers.

"Iris..."

"Father! Stay with me!"

He smiled, and it was tired.

"You were never a burden."

A wet laugh. Gold dripping from his mouth.

"I chose you."

His hand, crumbling, touched her cheek.

"And I will always be proud..."

His voice faded to a whisper.

"...that you became my daughter."

His eyes went out.

The last piece turned to ash.

Silence.

Then—

"Hahahahahaha!"

Mortivar clapped, slow.

"Bravo. That was pathetic."

Iris shot up. Blood was pouring off her now, out of control.

"DON’T LAUGH AT MY FATHER!"

"Oh?" Mortivar stepped over Aurelion’s ashes. "Was I supposed to cry?"

*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*

"Blood Grenade!"

The street disappeared in explosions.

When the smoke cleared, Mortivar was standing in the crater.

Untouched. He brushed gold dust off his coat.

"...That all?"

Iris didn’t answer.

Because his hand was already around her throat.

He lifted her off the ground.

Black tendrils crawled up her arms, eating her blood.

"Let’s see if you cry as pretty as he shined."

Iris’s vision went red.

"Blood Grenade!"

*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*

The air turned to shrapnel.

Dozens of blood projectiles screamed out of her hands and detonated point-blank around Mortivar.

The shockwave tore up the street. Glass rained down for blocks.

For one second, all you could see was crimson fire.

Then the smoke parted.

Mortivar stood in the center of the crater.

Not a single drop of blood on him.

Two shallow cuts on his coat. That was it.

He looked down at himself, then back at Iris.

And smiled.

"...Is that all the love he taught you?"

Iris was already moving.

She didn’t scream. Didn’t hesitate.

Blood coiled around both arms, hardened into blades.

She charged.

Mortivar didn’t even raise his hand.

He just stepped.

*WHOOSH.*

The world blurred.

His palm caught her wrists mid-swing.

Bones cracked.

Iris gasped.

Black death aura poured out of his fingers and into her arms, eating her blood magic like acid.

Her blades withered and dripped to the ground.

Mortivar leaned in, death aura crawling up her throat.

"Pathetic."

He let go.

And drove his fist straight for her chest.

Iris’s eyes widened.

She had no time to dodge.

Thornfall

Mina saw it.

She reacted immediately.

"Blood Lance!"

A crimson lance shot from her hand.

BOOM!

It struck Mortivar.

Blood erupted from the impact point.

Then Mina activated the technique.

"Blood Lance: Thornfall!"

A massive burst of blood spikes erupted around Mortivar.

He was forced backward.

Mortivar groaned.

"...You."

He slowly looked toward Mina.

Their eyes met.

Mina froze.

Mortivar suddenly charged.

"Wait—!"

He reached her.

His hand grabbed her by the neck.

Mina struggled.

Her Crimson Blood Blade fell from her hand.

Iris immediately turned.

"Mina!"

She charged toward them.

But Mortivar raised his free hand.

Darkness spread across the entire area.

The sky disappeared.

The ground vanished.

The city faded.

Iris stopped.

"...What?"

Yuuiki looked toward the expanding darkness.

His eyes widened.

"No..."

Mortivar spoke quietly.

"Death has its own world."

The darkness swallowed Mina.

Death Realm: Eternal Grave

Mina opened her eyes.

Everything was gone.

Eryndor.

The buildings.

The people.

Iris.

Yumiko.

Yuuiki.

Everyone.

She was standing in an endless world of darkness.

Above her was an enormous black moon.

Countless souls floated across the sky.

Some were trapped inside dark spheres.

Others were wandering through the endless void.

None of them could escape.

None could hear her.

Mina looked around.

"...Where am I?"

Mortivar stood behind her.

"This is my domain."

He released her.

Mina stumbled backward.

Mortivar looked toward the countless souls.

"A world where the dead remain."

Mina stared at the black moon.

She could feel something wrong with the air.

There was no sound.

No wind.

No distant city.

Nothing.

She couldn't hear anyone outside.

And nobody outside could hear her.

Mortivar looked at her.

"Welcome to the Eternal Grave."

Outside

Back in Eryndor—

Yuuiki stared at the enormous dark domain.

"That girl..."

Iris stood beside him.

Her eyes were wide.

"She's gone."

Yuuiki clenched his fists.

"She's not gone."

He stared at the dark sphere.

"She's somewhere inside."

Iris looked toward it.

"Mina!"

There was no response.

Then—

A gust of wind swept across the battlefield.

Yumiko finally returned.

Her enormous white wings carried her above the city.

"Mina!"

She landed.

Her eyes widened when she saw the dark domain.

"...No."

She looked at Yuuiki.

"Where is she?"

Yuuiki didn't answer immediately.

Iris lowered her head.

"Mortivar took her."

Yumiko stared at the darkness.

"Mina..."

Her wings trembled.

She had finally returned.

But she was too late.

Mina was no longer in Eryndor.

She was somewhere else.

Somewhere nobody could reach.

Farther away, Nemi finally managed to evacuate a large group of civilians.

Several adventurers helped guide them outside the most dangerous area.

Nemi looked back toward Eryndor.

The city had become almost unrecognizable.

She tightened her threads.

"...Please be okay, Mina."

The adventurers stood outside the city with the civilians.

Nobody knew what would happen next.

And inside the Death Realm...

Mina slowly looked at Mortivar.

Her pendant continued glowing.

Crack.

Another crack spread across it.

Mina didn't notice.

She raised her head.

Mortivar smiled.

"Now..."

The black moon illuminated the endless world of souls.

"Let's see what you're really capable of."

To be continued...