The Lich Pantheon's Gods had gathered in outer space and reached their conclusions quickly.
Zakaria was gone, soul sealed, divine body destroyed, and whatever came out of the Great Aetherium's resurrection process wouldn't be their ruler, it would be Haru's believer.
They'd lost their patron Supreme God, which meant the protective shadow that had kept hostile forces like the Light Pantheon under Pandora at a respectful distance was gone.
"Her Holiness Yvonne gave him the chance to surrender." Someone said bitterly, "He even took it."
"She kept her word. His soul is intact. But what does that help us?"
"You're correct." A Lich God said, "Lord Zakaria is gone. This war has nothing to do with us anymore. We leave now, quietly, before the Great Aetherium decides a leaderless pantheon is worth cleaning up."
They left. All of them, back to their Divine Kingdoms, without looking back.
…
The Gods of Dark Pantheon watched Yvonne cross into the third war zone and felt the same cold clarity settle over them.
Mordra had been unable to break Nova's defense with Micteya's help. Yvonne was an intermediate-stage Supreme Goddess, stronger than either of them. The arithmetic was obvious.
"Her Majesty will fall."
Someone said and nobody argued. They were at least grateful Mordra hadn't brought them into the sealed battlefield. The Evil Gods dying in the fourth war zone had no such luck. Standing here watching was infinitely preferable to that.
…
In the first war zone, Malakar and Skarion registered Zakaria's fall, absorbed it, and kept fighting. There was nothing else to do.
Notably, Skarion, supposedly the Lich Lord's close friend, felt nothing in particular about his death. He was too occupied with his own survival to spare sentiment for someone else. The Lich Lord was gone. What was the big deal? He himself was next if he lost focus.
Their only remaining hope was Varkath. If he could defeat Celestia and break the Space-Time seal, they still had a path out. Their hopes were bleak, but it was all they had.
Haru could see exactly what they were holding onto.
"Your persistence is meaningless." He said, and hit them again.
He was genuinely pleased with how the battle was going. Yvonne killing the Lich Lord solo meant she was close to becoming a late-stage Supreme Goddess. One more significant kill would push her through. Yvonne and Nova together taking down Mordra and Micteya meant two more souls for the Holy Grail.
Two more future believers. Combined with Malakar, Skarion, and the sealed Zakaria meant five Supreme Gods to convert and add to the roster. Plus the Demon Lords Miltonic and Dantean still transforming, he had ten Supreme God Tier subordinates in total. A force even the Dimensional Demons would think carefully before provoking.
Thus, his attacks on Malakar and Skarion got faster.
…
A figure appeared at the edge of the first war zone. It was Celestia, a peak Supreme Goddess. Eighteen wings, her natal sword in one hand, and in the other, a thunder hammer that had been reduced from its original enormous size.
Both ancient Supreme Gods recognized it immediately. It was a part of Varkath's natal artifacts. One of the twin hammers.
One of them, because the pair was two, and Celestia only needed to bring one to make the point.
They stared at it and immediately understood that Varkath hadn't won. He hadn't even managed to escape with his possessions. Their last hope had been crushed as soon as she walked onto the battlefield holding a trophy.
Haru felt their focus fracture and used it. Maximum his Divine Power output, sustained, aimed at both of their Seas of Origin simultaneously. With their attention split and their hope gone, the defenses buckled.
Both Seas of Origins collapsed together. Both ancient Supreme Gods took the full impact. Their Divine Bodies exploded.
"This was always the destined ending." Haru said, "You were doomed from the start."
…
Location: Somewhere in the Void.
A circle of Supreme Gods had gathered around a spatial scrying window.
Drakenvader, the Dragon Lord, watched the live feed. He had a human body, dragon head, and a Divine Aura matching the Titan Lord Varkath's. He was the Drakara's ruler, which was the Dragon Pantheon's base camp.
He was one of the most ancient and powerful beings in the Endless Continent. In influence, he also sat at the top alongside Varkath and Elunara. He spoke first.
"The Lich Lord has fallen. Mordra and Micteya are next. The Evil Pantheon is finished."
The assembled Supreme Gods, representatives from across the various pantheons of Faith, wore matching expressions. Not grief. Calculation.
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