Payne gulped as he witnessed the impossible. A three-headed being of pure order had eliminated the Supreme Chaos elemental with such ease that it made them all look pathetic. Their desperate last stand attack was merely shrugged off.
Yet the 'Water' that the woman, or more accurately, a beast of order, had employed made that same elemental look as pathetic as they were. Other gods were near collapse due to their attack, yet it was of no matter.
'It's Dead... Good!' He looked around, their savious surrounded them. They were white winged harpies, yet their power dwarfed them all. Behind him stood a young-looking harpy with long white hair and white eyes.
"I assume you are the one who pulled me away from there?"
"Yes... I was." Ayil spoke softly.
'Cute!' Payne wanted to squirm, yet it would not be appropriate. He snapped back to the woman who eradicated the supreme Chaos. He scrambled to stand up, yet the moment he did so, he felt lightheaded.
"Payne, do not move. You used up everything you had in you."
His eyes widened in shock; the voice that reached him belonged to Fortuna. 'Sister... How glad I am to see you.' He grunted as he turned toward her and Natura, who shyly walked behind her.
"I assume you were successful in getting help, huh...?" His gaze moved from Fortuna to Natura and back to the blonde goddess.
Natura nodded.
Payne stopped for a moment as he noticed the accessory around her neck, "I guess you traded yourself for us? Sis... you were always too selfless..."
"Ah, no... I am wearing this out of my own volition."
Payne blinked, then he let out a chuckle, "Didn't know that about you. Strongest Goddess wearing a pet collar."
"Payne... You should know that my title of strongest is far gone. What's the point in being the most powerful of slaves?"
"I guess. I am just glad you and Natura are safe."
"And guess who else is safe."
The former god of magic raised his eyebrow. "Who?"
"Celara is alive and well now!" Fortuna brought her hands together, "And all it took was for me to become Ariel's pet! I call that a bargain." Her face gained a red complexion as Payne and Natura stared at her.
"Big bro Payne..." Natura's eyes teared up as she rushed to hug him, "I thought you were all dead!"
His hands wrapped around the eager goddess. "I thought the same... we were about to destroy the town... however, I figured out it was Fortuna's last hope... so we turned against that supreme chaos." He forced himself to smile.
"Yeah... Octavia wouldn't have allowed that. If you had unleashed that attack on the town, all of you and the Supreme Chaos would have died."
"I can imagine." He pushed himself off the ground and wobbled toward his sisters. Natura rushed forward and caught him. "We need to return to the divine realm before all of you fade!"
Payne nodded as he looked at the other gods. They were all collapsed and would fade in mere hours if left here.
"Agreed..." Natura nodded. "However, I think we still should wait for Octavia to come back and introduce herself to you."
Payne took a deep breath as he panned to the White eyed harpy that saved him. "May I have your name... miss?"
Ayil tilted her head as she crossed her arms, "My name is Ayil, I am a Principality." Her hair fluttered in the wind, which made her even more beautiful in his eyes. 'How can someone be that cute!' A slight blush appeared on his face before he shook his head.
It was not the time to develop a crush; they had to go back to the Divine Realm right away.
The beast that wore the skin of the woman approached them, "Thou must be Payne. Fortuna mentioned you."
The being spoke with a melodic voice that soothed his ears. Yet when he remembered how easily she dealt with one of the Tyrant's most powerful soldiers, his heart filled with dread.
"You need not be afraid, you are not gods anymore. The Father shall grant thy forgiveness, for you have passed the test that was presented before you." Octavia materialized a white parasol in her hand and placed it over her shoulder.
"Yet it matters not, you and your siblings shall return to the divine realm, and will renounce your titles before Father. Only then may you truly be safe and thrive in your new existence."
'So we are to throw away our titles of gods, huh...' He turned to Fortuna and then Natura. Both girls merely nodded along, which meant that they had already done so.
"Yep, big bro Payne. Octavia called me a Saintess... I guess that would be our new title."
"Natura speaks truth." Fortuna approached. "We are gods no longer. The Father had decided that the age of divinity has passed, and once Chrunus is struck down, it will all be over."
Payne grunted as Fortuna took him by the other shoulder. "Well... Better saints than slaves, I guess... HAH!"
"I guess we still don't get access to the worshippers we need to survive?"
"No... but Octavia promised that the Father has a way for us to live on."
"Considering that this woman so easily crushed the elemental. I am inclined to believe it." He pushed himself away from his sisters and bowed.
"We are in your care... Lady Octavia." Payne did not fully trust the beings that Fortuna had made contact with, yet they saved his life; thus, he had to give them the benefit of the doubt.
"We shall talk more soon. However, let us pass the portal once again." Octavia produced a small fan and placed it in front of her mouth, "The Father will speak to you when Chrunus is dead... Try not to fade until then."
Soon, the Angels moved and quickly carried each weakened saint through the portal. They would meet the Father soon and receive either Judgment or Salvation.