Every fiber of my body tensed as I activated Slow Time, my senses sharpened to a razor’s edge. I’d learned that gods rarely tolerated mortals who spoke out of turn, especially with a touch of sarcasm. A massive wave of raw, unfiltered power exploded from him, a pressure that seemed to bend the very air as it barreled toward me. Even with my enhanced speed, dodging was like moving through molasses. I managed to duck out of its way with inches to spare, but there was no follow-up attack.

Apparently, the god had dismissed me, already turning his full attention to the machine as though I were nothing more than a brief distraction, a smudge easily wiped away. I fought to steady my breath, heart hammering against my ribs. Now was my only chance to rattle him.

“You know, they say overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer,” I called out, forcing my voice to sound calm, adding an edge of sarcasm to mask the anxiety clawing at me.

His head twisted back toward me, and I allowed myself the smallest sliver of satisfaction. He halted mid-motion, those otherworldly eyes burning with an unsettling mix of surprise and irritation. For a long moment, he did nothing but stare, his face shifting like molten light. His expression began to crystallize, his features coming into sharper focus—a mouth, a furrowed brow, eyes narrowing in what looked disturbingly close to human curiosity.

“You are a mortal,” he said, his tone charged with disdain. “And yet, for some reason, I cannot reach into your mind.” His eyes shifted momentarily to the fading shade of Aurora, who clung to the machine with an almost desperate resolve. His gaze softened, perhaps more out of curiosity than empathy, and his voice grew lower, almost reverent. "She’s not shielding you... interesting." The words lingered, thick with unspoken threats, as though he were trying to unlock the mystery of me as one might study a peculiar insect.

Before I could react, his attention flicked to Alira, who instinctively shrank back, barely managing to conceal herself behind the machine. He smirked, and his towering, condescending voice dropped to a smug murmur that echoed ominously around us. “Guess she’s not as unique as you.”

The satisfaction in his tone was chilling, as if he enjoyed each shiver of fear he caused.

Feeling a surge of anger, I threw a lightning bolt his way. It was reckless, probably pointless, but I wanted to break his composure. Predictably, the bolt vanished as soon as it made contact, absorbed into his energy-woven form without so much as a flicker. The god remained unfazed, his attention still lingering on Alira with a smirk that spoke of her insignificance.

But it bought me a few precious seconds. The machine remained active, humming with energy that grew more potent as the crystal dimmed, approaching the moment Aurora had warned us about.

“Killing gods!” His voice shook the cave with fury, echoing like a thunderstorm that had reached the peak of its rage. He glared at Aurora, his disdain radiating through the space. “All of us?” he sneered, the word dripping with derision. “You’re lucky you’re already dead.”

A cold shiver shot down my spine as his gaze snapped back to me. His body pulsed, shifting, the energy warping around him as his fury redirected itself entirely at me. He spoke to Aurora as though I were just a pawn in her plan. “But he—your little champion—is the key to your treachery.”

His voice dripped with malice as he took a step toward me, his enormous form swelling with barely contained fury. “I’ll savor tearing him apart, piece by miserable piece.”

An instinctual dread stirred within me, like cold fingers wrapping around my heart. But I refused to break eye contact. If there was any hope left, any sliver of distraction I could provide, it was worth the risk.

The god’s form wavered, almost quivering with excitement at the thought of my suffering, but then he took another pause, eyeing me with calculating intensity.

The god's form loomed closer, his features twisted into a grotesque mask of sadistic delight. “Tell me, mortal, are you one of those stubborn types who never screams or begs?” His voice dripped with anticipation, like a predator savoring its prey. “I do enjoy breaking that kind the most.”

At least I got him talking, and clearly I had a snowball's chance in hell in beating him. Perhaps I could keep him engaged just a little longer, drawing him into his own hatred and curiosity.

"Definitely not; I’ve got a healthy fear of big, glowing gods. I'm on open book. What do you want to know? My favorite color is blue." I quiped.

His smirk twisted, his amusement tinged with disdain. “And you call me overconfident?” he sneered. “For that, I think I’ll make her end especially painful.” He gestured toward Alira, casting her a glare that seared with malice. “And for what? Buying time while the machine charges? Without you, it’s nothing but scrap. If you believe you’re going to get past me…” His voice dropped, cold and condescending. “Then you’re more delusional than even the most reckless mortal.”

The fury in his tone crackled through the air, but I held my ground, determined not to flinch. “Oh, I’m more than reckless—I’m Ra—” I started, throwing out one last taunt, but the god didn’t even let me finish. His energy flared, lashing out with terrifying speed. My instincts kicked in as I tried to activate Slow Time, but I was too late. The wave clipped my side, ripping me off my feet and sending me hurtling into the ground.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

I landed hard, tumbling across the cold stone floor as pain seared through my body. Every bone felt bruised, my limbs shaking from the impact. Groaning, I managed to push myself up slightly, the world spinning as I fought to regain my focus.

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself up even as the god’s towering figure hovered, exuding an energy so intense it felt like the air was buzzing, almost suffocating. With a shaky breath, I focused on my Slow Time spell again, bracing for the next attack. The world slowed, each heartbeat like a drum as I tried to anticipate his next move.

In the silence of Slow Time, he moved again—a streak of energy and malice, bearing down on me faster than I’d ever seen anything move. I rolled, just barely dodging his attack as it struck the ground beside me, leaving a smoldering crack where I’d stood a second before. Dust and rocks splintered around us, and I stumbled back to my feet, my body protesting with every step.

But I had no time to nurse my injuries. He was relentless. His form dissolved briefly, reforming into tendrils of pure energy that slashed toward me like whips, cutting through the slowed air. My muscles burned as I twisted and dodged, feeling the searing heat just inches from my skin. One whip finally struck, grazing my arm. A white-hot pain exploded, and I bit back a cry as I staggered, clutching the seared flesh.

“Is this the best you can do?” he taunted, his voice echoing in the cavern, mocking me. “I thought you were special. How disappointing.”

Ignoring the sting of his words, I pushed myself back up, activating Slow Time again. My breathing was ragged, my limbs heavy, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me broken. As the world decelerated around me, I could feel my pulse thundering in my chest. I dodged as another tendril snapped past, narrowly avoiding the strike, but he was learning my rhythm.

I threw every spell I had at him, except for my ace up my sleeve. Honestly, they mostly slowed me down, as they had absolutely no effect on him, and I had to literally slow down to actually cast them.

Adjusting his speed with terrifying precision, he anticipated my last spell and swung a massive wave of energy directly at me. I twisted, but it hit me hard across the chest, ripping through my Mana Shield and throwing me backward.

I hit the ground, stars bursting in my vision. Blood trickled from my mouth, and I could feel the bruising across my ribs, probably worse than bruising considering the coughing blood part. Every breath was sharp and painful, but I couldn’t stay down. I staggered back up, the room spinning, determination driving me beyond sense.

He smirked, that sadistic joy in his gaze again as he closed the distance. “Let’s see how much you have left.” His hand glowed with a blinding light, but his projectiles had become slower, so I was able to dodge it. He was clearly playing with his meal now.

This was it—my one and only chance. He’d grown complacent, savoring each moment he tanked my attacks, each spell that struck him only to dissipate without effect.

I twisted to the side, narrowly dodging his latest blast, my chest heaving, the pain still manageable thanks to a final rush of adrenaline. He was within range, and as he stepped forward, I unleashed the Chaos Bolt directly at him. The swirling energy hit him square in the chest. For a split second, his form faltered, and he let out a scream that filled the cavern. His energy seemed to ripple, a dark mark spreading like a stain over his core, his very essence marred by the hit.

For a brief, brilliant moment, hope surged within me. I’d actually hurt him! But just as quickly, the discolored energy began to smooth, his form knitting itself back together like it was nothing. In an instant, he looked pristine once more.

“I was wrong,” he murmured, almost... amused. “You did have a final surprise after all. I haven’t felt pain since long before my ascension, thousands of years ago.” He tilted his head as if considering. “It was almost... pleasant.”

The disinterest in his voice was a gut punch; I’d been hoping for more, but it was all he’d needed to dismiss it. Before I could react, he waved his hand, and a spear of glowing energy materialized, streaking toward me. I tried to dodge, but I was drained, my Slow Time spell wearing me down. The spear struck my abdomen, driving through flesh and muscle, pinning me to the cold stone ground.

I let out a strangled scream, the agony searing, but somehow I stayed conscious. My vision swam with pain, yet my mind was clear. And then, with deliberate slowness, he approached, his expression a twisted delight as he summoned another spear, this one aimed at my shoulder. It plunged through me, the pain unrelenting.

“Where to next, little mortal?” he asked, clearly savoring his victory. “Any ideas? Maybe between your legs? That one’s always a favorite.”

As he loomed above me, mocking, I had one last impulse. Channeling what little energy I had left, I cast another Chaos Bolt, launching it at him point blank. Even though I knew it was futile, something in me refused to surrender. To my surprise, he actually dodged it, sidestepping with an almost subconscious flicker of his form. I let out a low, rasping laugh, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth.

“The mighty god... forced to dodge like a human,” I croaked, my voice filled with defiance. “How... embarrassing.”

His face darkened, fury flickering across his features. This time, there was no sadistic pause, no mocking hesitation. He raised his hand, summoning another spear that glowed with deadly intent, and drove it deep into my chest, piercing near my heart.

I knew I had only seconds left. The pain in my chest was dulling, replaced by a cold numbness spreading through me. Strangely, I felt no fear, only a kind of grim acceptance. Not everyone could say they met their end facing a god; maybe there was some honor in that.

A piercing scream cut through the haze, jolting me, and I forced my eyes open. It was Alira’s voice, raw and filled with desperation. My heart lurched; for a fleeting, horrible moment, I thought he’d turned his wrath on her. I turned my head, straining to see through the pain and fog clouding my vision. She was at the machine, her hand pressed against the crystal, which had gone entirely black.

A surge of confusion hit me, and my mind scrambled to make sense of the scene. Why was she at the crystal? What was she—

My strength gave out, and my sight dimmed, and then everything faded into darkness.