Yajin placed his free hand against his forehead, watching the Sages flee into the distance until their silhouettes shrank against the moonlit plains. "Wow," he muttered, a crooked grin forming. "That elf has some monstrous strength for someone so slim."
He let his hand fall back to his side as the Sword of Judgement hummed faintly. "Phsae," he said, his voice dropping into something colder and heavier. "I think it's time we call power from the gods. But… we're not using the first invocation. We're using the second."
The eyes of Eiden and Morvath widened instantly. "Shit…" Morvath whispered, his hands trembling despite his attempt to steady them.
Eiden did not hesitate. He drove both blades into the ground, the steel ringing through the plains. His cloak slipped from his shoulders, drifting with the wind for a moment before dissolving into white light—scattering into the night like fading embers. He remained exactly where he stood as he loosened the top half of his robe, letting it fall to his waist. Reaching down, he reclaimed his blades.
Yajin laughed under his breath. "Hah… seems you aren't going to hold back, are ya?" He mirrored Eiden's motion, embedding the Sword of Judgement into the earth as his own cloak tore free, dissolving into a shimmer of divine light. He pulled the blade free once more, its resonance deepening and warping the air. Now they stood across from each other: bare-chested, moonlit, and unmasked.
The Angel King glanced at Yajin. "The second? If we do that, our auras will clash like steel blades. This area isn't large enough for that."
"Fine then," Yajin replied, licking his lips. "It seems we'll split up even more. After all, I want to have a fun time ending the First Divinity's life."
"Alright," Phsae said, his eyes narrowing. "Then I'll have my fun ending the life of the Demon King's son."
Morvath's hands tightened on his blades. "How do you know that? He kept it secret for the rest of his life—and mine."
"Oh-hoh," Phsae chuckled. "I know because he is one of my close enemies. Not enemies to the point we'd kill each other, but enemies who simply… don't get along. There was once a time he and I were friends. I was there when you were born—one of the only three who ever saw you. I remember seeing you until you were eighteen, when he made you leave his castle just days after your mother died to a mere human."
Morvath trembled, staring at the ground as rage tightened every muscle in his body.
"Morvath," Eiden said, his voice steady but firm. "I know I've always told you and the Sages to limit your combat. But this time… I permit you to do what you like. I suggest you use the second invocation. I'll do the same."
Morvath swallowed hard, trying to steady his breathing. "Yes… I understand." He looked at Eiden, his eyes filled with worry. "Just… don't die."
"Same goes for you," Eiden replied.
"Oh, both of you are going to die, so just shut it," Yajin scoffed. "Now then," he continued, raising his palm, "let's split up. And you—you will come with me."
Yajin's body erupted into a towering pillar of green light that shot into the sky. Eiden sheathed his longsword and gripped onto the streak of light. Together, they burst upward like a star tearing across the heavens, racing far away from Morvath and the Angel King.