Jackal Among Snakes

The moments after Erlebnis took the form of a lone man were very chaotic.

“We need to flee, now! Fall back!” Anneliese pulled on Argrave's arm, shouting, after the strange and tangible outpouring of power from the Palace of Heaven. The Stormfield had stalled, somewhat.

Argrave turned his head away from the gray-haired old man who'd newly arrived. “Why?” He asked quickly.

“Because he's after you,” she continued urgently. “You, and only you. We fall back, cut him down slowly.”

Shortly thereafter, the wizened man jumped from the castle walls. He landed harmlessly, and it began to dawn on Argrave who he was dealing with: Erlebnis. When his chilling words echoed across the stone plateau, Argrave concurred with his partner immediately. The god of knowledge had lost it, had totally snapped. And in the face of such an uncertainty, it was best to regroup.

“Hold on,” Governor Zen shouted. “This is our opportunity. A rabid animal is blind to traps. Let me set up an array to protect. Then, Sataistador can come to our aid.”

He’s shown his hand, Argrave thought, eyes flicking between the urgent governor and this terrifying new development ahead. He could flee—their retreat was covered. But from the beginning, they knew Sataistador was going to try something. That time, it would seem, was now. But could they risk it?

“How long do you need?” Argrave asked insistently.

“Thirty seconds, maybe a minute,” Zen vowed. “Then, you’ll power it, block him. Not a speck of his power will pass. We’ll batter him.”

As Argrave thought, the voice of this strange new Erlebnis cut into his thoughts. “…burn the whole of House Parbon, exterminate the House of Quadreign, and end all of Leopold’s lineage. All of the snow elves, all the citizens of your kingdom, everyone you even remotely like—they’re dead, because of you.”

In the end, he knew Sataistador wanted to claim Erlebnis’ head. And they’d been preparing for the god of war’s treachery this entire time—they just needed to keep their guard up, both during and after this mortal struggle.

“One at a time, Erlebnis!” Argrave shouted—an answer to the god of knowledge’s ravings, but equal part declaration of his intentions. “Get to work,” he told Zen just after.

In response to his command, Zen opened his robe, and put on a bizarre glove with sharpened nails that coursed with magic. He inhaled deeply, then plunged his hand into his chest. He gripped his own ribcage, screaming, and pulled free one of the bones. It glowed with an indescribable power. Zen healed the wound, fell to the ground, then began scratching the earth with his bone. Where it marked, that same power hummed.

Argrave was aghast, but… if the man would do something so drastic, he most likely wouldn’t be lying. Besides—Law was here, an ancient god of his own. What could go wrong? Reminded of his blessing, Argrave called upon the Domain of Law, declaring, “In this domain, time is slowed for those within it.”

began to condense, his power gathering close at hand, and Argrave felt some relief… only for that relief to be shattered when Law’s golden blade hurtled away ineffectively. His heart calmed when the Justiciars took his place… only for the rollercoaster to again dip sharply down as they all ignited beneath a blast of magic flame so

the Alchemist to be cut in half by a spell of unimaginable power. Argrave tried to help with his blood echoes, but they seemed like firecrackers against a tank. Orion, too,

Step]!” Erlebnis raved as he neared. “Leave Anneliese behind! Watch me crush her

done! Back here, Grand Commandant! Power it when he comes!” Zen shouted,

as he could, seeking this array. He could see writing in the earth. If he only scribbled in the earth, and this is how I die… my Undying Soul is going to be

deity in unison, and Argrave thought Erlebnis would struggle. Only, [Requite] reared its head—a [Requite] wielded by a god. All of the magic in the world slowed, stalled… and Erlebnis prepared a spell of

feel it pulling from the magic and the spirits within him like a vacuum. Given his terror, Argrave likened the experience to crapping his pants. He very nearly had

fire made wholly of magic kept its course toward Argrave. Argrave quickly improvised a ward that shattered. The flames slammed into Argrave’s face. Artur’s armor did protect him well enough, yet he felt hair and skin burnt away and

expression of wrath. He pushed that arm forth with what seemed to be tremendous effort, yet Zen’s array did not wield. Argrave saw one of the crowning achievements of the Great Chu manifest, and even as his skin burnt hot, let out a sigh of relief. Divinity in

comforting, yet extremely alarming simultaneously,

“The imperial palace’s ward? Then, as promised…!” He looked to where Anneliese retreated to the distance, and Argrave felt his heart thump as the god of knowledge

be, all of his golden aura condensed in the shape of a great titan. He was a knight of gold, and he clenched both of his hands around his greatsword and plunged it down. Erlebnis did not rise to meet it—rather, he ducked low and jumped to the side,

not meant to be on

figure descended from on high, swinging a huge hammer. Erlebnis dedicated all of his attention to the new attacker, and two wards rose

awe, Erlebnis slammed the god of war to the ground as

and though the god of knowledge staggered away, he still completed his magic. A lance of liquid red metal shot out with the speed of lightning, and Sataistador only barely dodged. The projectile grazed his shoulder, causing a small

we can’t guarantee your safety. That array won’t hold if the ground beneath it fails, which is sure to happen if we let loose. Law and

get him killed, but ultimately he dismissed it and broke out into a run toward the Palace of Heaven, right into the Stormfield. Reinforcement Justiciars joined him, protecting him and those near him from the

then recalled the Alchemist into the Ravenstone. He clutched it as he

the Alchemist stated plainly. “I must focus all my faculties on recovery,

his way toward the Palace

the pressure lightened on his end. They’re

fully occupied. We can’t conserve one of the Giantkillers as we intended if we want to punch through.

him,” Elenore

back, perhaps wishing to do battle with Erlebnis. Zen still had some of his own rib bone in hand, ready to write another array. Soon enough they were met with the second deterrent of the Palace of Heaven—its walls. He wasn’t talking about their physical aspects, but rather their magical ones. A pressure emanated outward from their sleek gray

between Sataistador, Law, and Erlebnis. He heard Erlebnis’ desperate, ravening struggles to reach Argrave, but the two ancient gods proved capable of warding him away, even if only for a time. Judging by the fact that the sounds were growing closer rather than further…