Stilling his breath, his finger rested on the trigger. He was ready. A simple twitch and…

BANG

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It was an explosion of sound. The tall trees trapping the waves and answering back in ear-shattering echoes. Chothos was fast, his head turning the moment the bullet passed the threshold, but it was too late. The god-blessed metal had been inscribed with the power of life. A minor deity’s power was stolen and warped around the munition. It’s life-giving energy leaving a trail of green tint light in its wake. All gods had a weakness and slayers were careful to find it. Life was the antithesis to death, and this was a concentrated shot of raw growth. The lingering magics transform the mud into a trail of bright flowers. Their colors reject the crimson light, shining with their true nature.

It was a perfect hit. The bead smashing right into the god’s hood. Smoke billowed outward as it tried to halt the bullet. But nothing could stop it, barriers, spells, and other defenses shattered as life battled death. Soon, the green tinted light disappeared as it crossed the shadows. Smoke was ejected from every opening, the dark mass trying to stifle the green light. Terrible screams radiated from the dying creature. Hundreds of intermixing voices calling out in agony. Jax couldn’t help but smile at the creature’s despair. It deserved every second of pain.

Smoke was scattered as new growth appeared. Twisted vines crept through the cloth before rapidly rotting to dust. Chothos collapsed to the ground, his essence dripping from the body and rejoining the earth below. Its screams never halting as it tried to fight the life-giving bullet. Its fingers reaching out and trying to scoop up the dark smog. It was how gods should be, on their knees and begging for mercy.

But Jax had none of it. He didn’t give it a single moment to recover. While the bullet had been a serious injury, it still lived. He had hoped the shot would be enough. The thing took two years worth of salary to buy. Still, in this weakened state it shouldn’t be too hard to finish off. As he rushed down the dying god, he reached into the side strap and pulled out the runic dagger. While not blessed with life, it did have some enchantments versus the divine. Cutting through the clouds of smoke, he leapt over the final ring aiming for the killing blow.

Jax didn't give it a moment to recover. He only had enough funds for that single bullet and needed to finish it the traditional way.One good strike and he'd be out of this place. His body burned as stimulants pumped through his veins. Leaping over the first ring, he launched himself towards the prone god.

SMACK

The high priest was ready to protect his god. The thrice-blessed staff smashed into Jax’s ribs and sent him tumbling. His momentum only halted after crashing into a nearby stool. While the armor absorbed the bulk of the blow, it still hurt like hell. Jax quickly rolled back, barely avoiding the follow-up. The priest was quick, each swing carefully trained with uncanny precision. His movements flowing into each other, his body twisting alongside the weapon to maximize the force.

Jax did his best to parry the unrelenting assault. His knife blocked the strikes, but not the impact. He nearly lost his grip from the heavy hits. But every few strikes, one got through. The armor denting from the enhanced strikes as more pain flooded the brain. He was far outclassed. Shifting through his H.U.D. He went to the stimulants, and various warnings appeared alongside waivers. It wasn’t healthy to take a second hit this early, but what choice did he have? With one final click, the armor buzzed. Tiny needles injected various stimulants into the veins. A raging inferno spread throughout the limbs as the drugs took hold. For a brief moment, he experienced unbearably agony…then nothing. The nerves deadened and the mind cleared.

He felt amazing. What was once a blur, now a crawl. The priest’s face turned to terror as Jax easily swatted the staff and lashed out with his own strike. Shifting the weight, the priest pushed back on his staff launching backwards. A hand dug into the soft earth to slow the movement as his lips muttered something profane. Reaching up, tendrils of thick smog shot out and smashed into the powersuit.

Integrity rapidly dropped as alarms screamed out. The deathly magics corroded the metal and degraded the joints. Thinking quickly, Jax kicked up a log and sent it flying towards the source. The spell shifted and the log shattered against the wall of smoke. Chunks of decaying wood flying out in all directions. He rushed the man once more, not letting the priest recover.

The man took on a defensive stance and focused on parrying the attacks. Jax couldn’t find an opening even with the enhancements. All he needed was to land a final blow on that injured being behind. But it was like fighting a wall, the priest only taking a step back on occasion. It wasn’t about winning this battle, but beating time itself. Each second was another moment of recovery. Already the deathly smog was starting to gather around the injured thing. Those tendrils seeping into the wounds returning some of the lost power. Jax split his focus on pushing the priest and watching the god. He was so close to finishing it. But he missed the creeping fumes around his boot.

Jax tried to dodge the next attack, but his leg didn’t move. He could see the trap, but didn’t have the reflexes to stop it. The priest had borrowed the lingering magic of his dying god. A thin trail of his essence chaining the slayer to the earth.

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Jax felt the staff slam into his skull. His vision went hazy from his jostling brain. Instinctively he slashed outwards and forced the priest back. Crouching, he cut through the spell before falling into a defensive stance. He waited for the followup, but it never came. Only a few seconds later did the swirls stop and he saw the man at the altar. The priest held the sacrificial dagger in hand and muttered one final prayer.

“Shit shit shit” Jax cursed as the man slashed his throat.

A cascade of blood poured out of the deep wound. His eyes staring directly into Jax’s own. There was no regret, only jubilant devotion. The priest collapsed onto the altar, his very flesh given to Chothos. Blood met smoke, the two intertwining as the god’s essence entered the dying man’s body. His original form disappearing as it set root in the most devoted follower.

Just tried to halt the ritual. Throwing his dagger with as much force as he could. But, those few seconds were all it took. Chothos became one with the priest. His hand easily snatched the dagger from the air. The runes flaring briefly before shattering in a dazzling display of power. Tossing the metal to the side, the newly formed avatar slowly stood.

The thing took a few moments to test out the new body. Smoke seeping out of every pore and caressing the exposed skin. Muscles shifted and transformed, the face taking on a more graven look. Within moments, the priest was no more. Replaced by the god’s own facsimile. His mouth opened and a cascade of insects flowed from within. Mosquitos, flies, and other feeders swarming around the pale-skinned man. The pupils split into a clover pattern as the glowing blue appeared. Even the air itself deadened. Colors were drained and the world turned pale. The two made eye contact, and a look of pure malice appeared.

“Oh the torments you'll endure…” While the priest was the primary voice, it was amplified by a choir behind it.

The avatar blurred as it rushed the slayer. Jax barely blocked the first strike, stance nearly broken as the boots slid along the mud. He could barely track the empowered being as the flurry of blows came. Each one perfectly aimed to deal maximum damage. Long streaks of necrotic filth followed the staff’s wake, the clinging gunk eating through the armor with each hit. If that touched the skin, it’d be an instant death. He could barely see as the swarms of bloodsuckers obscured his sight. The sentient creatures crawled along his suit, searching for any opening to exploit. Toxic fumes rapidly melted the respirator as the air took on a horrid stench.

He couldn’t counter, he couldn’t even block. Instead, he just tried to endure the onslaught. Doing his best to make some distance between him and the god. But the thing was unrelenting. Not even giving the slayer time to think. It took every ounce of willpower to not take the emergency teleport. Sure he’d return alive…but maybe it was better to die here then be destitute back home. Society wasn’t kind to failures and if he couldn’t pay the debts he’d be assigned to some of the worst jobs for decades. With nothing to lose, Jax went for one final gamble. An act of desperation.

One more hit and he fell to his knees. Even the drugs couldn’t halt the pain he’d felt from the blow. Seeing the battle come to a close, the avatar swung in for the killing blow. Jax pushed his body to the limit and leaned into the arching swing. His power suit shattered under the impact exposing his final line of defense. All along his body were dozens of tattoos. Each designed to assist in combat. Jax felt the ink flare to life as the deathly magics seeped into the flesh. Wrapping his arm around the staff, he grabbed his second dagger and jammed it into the creature's side.

He didn’t want to reveal it until this moment. The god had easily destroyed the last enchantments, and no doubt would do it again. Pushing it with all his strength, he felt the metal pierce through the back of the god. Thick ichor leaked out and along his gloves. The god’s essence transforms into the toxic smog before quickly dissipating. It stumbled back, holding onto the wound. As it tried to halt the flow, Jax kept stabbing. Each and every strike carving out chunks of divine power. This was the end. He was going to win.

He was so focused on the quick end, that he didn’t notice the congregation returning. A flood of fanatics smashed into him, pulling him back. While weak, the surprise assault worked. He was tackled to the ground as they tore at the suit.

“Get OFF!” He screamed and tossed a few across the field.

One fell and instantly snapped his neck on a nearby stone. Others lay still as their bones shattered from the force. Jax slowly stood up, angered that they’d interrupt the duel. He was here to SAVE them. They were too far gone, this village was too enthralled. With no other options, Jax pushed the sorrows aside and shifted the dagger into a side grip. This backwoods realm thought they had met death. But Jax was going to show them what true death was.

He danced around the congregation with ease. His knife plunging deep into the flesh, each swing ending the life of the fanatics. But they didn’t relent. They continued to claw at the armor, some throwing stones at him. His punches shattered skulls, his kicks caving in chests, and his tackles crushing internal organs. It was such a waste. How could any creature sacrifice so many for its own survival? With one final swing, he cut down the last piece of resistance. Only to see a rage inducing sight.

Like the priest before them, the remaining members were in the middle of a dangerous ritual. Each on their knees and arms splayed outwards. Frantic prayers lift their muttering lips as they offer up their devotion. Each word they spoke brought more smoke into this world. The gathering power swirling around the injured god, forming a protective cocoon. But it wasn’t without sacrifice. As they prayed they were rapidly aged. Their lifeforce willingly given to heal their god. They had been conned, they had been tricked.. He had shared meals with these people. Given gifts and advice. Even used his knowledge to heal some from the brink of death. But now… now they were batteries for this terrible deity. Each one intertwined with Chothos. They did not fear death, for death walked with him.

Jax knew true gods were empowered by worship. Their strength grew in proportion to the favor garnered. Some took on a closed circle and demanded utmost devotion, others were more easy going. Palatable to the masses and only skimming a bit from each one. He wished this one was the latter, but he was wrong. With a sorrowful gaze, he turned from the avatar and towards the remaining followers. This was the only way.