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.”

across the battlefield as the Stormfields reignited, taken over by a new custodian. Law’s form 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

Alchemist created an impressive bulwark—the same defense that had blocked attacks from Mozzahr, and so Argrave was comforted… only for 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, was swatted aside

Erlebnis raved as he neared. “Leave Anneliese behind! Watch me

Grand Commandant! Power it when he comes!” Zen shouted, rushing past

earth. If he only scribbled in the earth, and this is how

Argrave had brought got to work—even unexpected additions like Oynchinusa appeared in stalwart defiance of her old master. Their spells rocked toward the deity in unison, and Argrave thought Erlebnis would struggle. Only, [Requite] reared its head—a [Requite] wielded by a god. All

feet beckoning for the power he offered. He gave it what it wanted, and he could feel it pulling from the magic

kept its course toward Argrave. Argrave quickly improvised a ward that shattered. The

wield. Argrave saw one of the

yet extremely alarming simultaneously, that Governor Zen possessed this

as promised…!” He looked to where Anneliese retreated to the

gold, and he clenched both of his hands around his

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and magic in hand, ready to attack any number of Argrave’s scattering allies. Yet then a figure descended from on high, swinging a huge hammer. Erlebnis dedicated all of his attention to the new attacker, and

didn’t dodge—he caught Sataistador’s charge. His hand wrapped his throat, and to Argrave’s shock and awe, Erlebnis slammed the god of war to the ground as if he were

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 burst of spirits flying into the air. They merged with Law’s form, whose titanic body stood to its full height while readying that golden greatsword. Argrave felt a turtle in a shell

those close to you. Fighting and killing him is one thing, but 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

into a run toward the Palace of Heaven, right into the Stormfield. Reinforcement

recalled the Alchemist into the Ravenstone. He clutched it as

I can fight no more,” the Alchemist stated plainly. “I must focus all my faculties on

made his way toward the Palace of Heaven. As he

responded. “Apparently, the pressure lightened on his end. They’re waiting at

side,” Argrave informed her. “Law’s fully occupied. We can’t conserve one of the Giantkillers as we intended

him,”

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

threatening to burst free. Argrave could hear, could feel the battle 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