Jackal Among Snakes

Erlebnis had a long while to think about how to kill Argrave in this fight. The man had come to specialize in avoidance after learning how to use [Echo Step] in conjunction with his A-rank ascension. Now, with the god of space standing by his side like a bodyguard, that talent would have another layer of protection. All of this excluded the titanic Law manifesting on the battlefield. Law had been an easy equal for Erlebnis even before this fight began. Now, though, with more allies… with an army on the pathway to the Palace of Heaven, and with gods and kings at his side, the match was hopelessly skewed.

But Erlebnis had the benefit of millennia of knowledge. That was a weapon that could be used in uncountable ways. He would strike fast, strike hard, and draw upon the most obscure and strange forms of magic seeking to get a solid blow in. Despite his position, Argrave was still flesh and blood of yet. A solid hit could kill him. Or… perhaps two blows, considering the Inerrant Cloak he wore would act as a partial shield.

“You’ll come to know much today, Argrave.” Erlebnis kneeled down, placing his hand upon the ground and calling upon magic so forgotten that only he alone knew of it.

The earth beneath his hand changed, taking on properties of a substance far removed from stone. The ground itself began to ripple like a droplet had fallen upon still water. Then, the Stormfield, sensing a change in the ground, rushed to correct the disturbance. What it corrected was soon changed again in an ever-repeating cycle, churning the earth. This spell had been crafted by a miner seeking a way to isolate ore deposits, yet now, it turned the flat stone plateau into a shifting landscape that would perpetually fight against the Stormfield until its power source ran out, or the field itself died.

Everyone on the ground was cast into a desperate struggle not to be swallowed by the earth—Argrave’s entire army, and even Law’s Justiciars. And with the stage set, Erlebnis began. He soared up into the air, and cast a spell originating from the Order of the Rose rather similar to one Argrave commonly called upon. A bird of fire erupted, strengthened by Erlebnis’ divinity—the S-rank spell [Phoenix]. The bird, with his will alone, circled through the sky, waiting for his direction. Soon, a flock of phoenix’s roamed above the sky. Despite the Stormfield raging, they persisted, ready to descend upon a target of his choosing when he pleased.

“My own strategy?” Argrave called out. “You aren’t teaching me much.”

“In this domain, my enemies are inferior,” Law declared, his voice drowning out his champion’s.

advanced, swinging that golden greatsword of his with righteous fury. Erlebnis had considered how to abate the pure might of Law, and come to a rather elegant solution. He created a unique ward, casting it forth. Rather than hold firm, it moved with the attack while applying precisely half the power of the coming attack. Useless to stop attacks… but it could slow them,

and brought his fist down to catch him instead of his sword. Erlebnis took the blow squarely, yet as he did, the phoenix’s descended. They slammed upon Law’s back, and the titanic knightly figure staggered. Erlebnis slammed against the rippling ground, but even as he felt the ache of pain prepared two spells. As a match for his own two hands, Erlebnis used the

jagged arc of electricity warped forward, then gravitated toward the single blue dagger in Argrave’s hands. The dagger absorbed the lightning. Keeping that in mind, Erlebnis shot forth like an arrow with another burst of wind magic at his feet, but during this

mindless dog, but internally he was categorizing, scrutinizing, theorizing. Countless gods of space had died before. Their near-omnipresence in battle could be turned against them. Others before had used a few ways. There was prediction—predict where they fled, they could be got. There was coverage—cover all places they could go to, they were finished.

was a trap. And that,

Argrave, it forced the god to release Argrave and forced the man to use his Inerrant

on

the uneven, rippling terrain caused by the constant magic. Raccomen tried to rejoin with Argrave, but Erlebnis sent out attacks preemptively to

with. His [Echo Step] made his A-rank ascension from something formidable to perhaps the single best blood magic ascension in history. Erlebnis fought a double battle—he struggled to prevent Raccomen and Argrave from reuniting, while also pursuing Argrave himself. Yet when he finally felt he

greatsword yet again. The [Godhands] had both broken, despite the tremendous amount of his own life Erlebnis had placed into them… and Law seemed no worse for wear. No matter how many times he overcame Law in strength

upwards, yet the Stormfield moved to correct the aberrations just as quickly. As dust soared through the air, Erlebnis saw opportunity—he thrust his hands into the dust, and cast

neither Argrave nor Raccomen whisked the mortal king away. The spell cut through the dust, and when it was about to meet its mark… simply disappeared. Erlebnis felt power rushing from the side, and turned to see his

felt the golden blade long before he saw it, and dodged

supposedly consumed, but in actuality, they were something like a dormant poison. As the blade flew past, Rook leapt at the perfect time like a cougar upon its prey. Erlebnis, wracked by these faux-spirits, was a step too slow in defending himself. A dagger pierced into his chest—and unlike