The Hand of Fire backpedaled, keeping his spear pointed at Walter. The god ignored the movement, instead choosing to read the assassin’s soul. Images of a tropical land filled Walter’s vision; scenes of towering stone monuments and lush green gardens.

Six beings in the memory stood out from the others, beings that were almost elemental in nature. They held power over the masses with their control of the elements, meting out reward and punishment as they pleased. Walter knew instinctively, these were the ones who had demanded the death of a child.

The god turned to the Hand of Fire, his knife at the ready. The assassin prepared, but instead found himself engulfed by fire as Garegom descended with the assassin of Darkness. Both were marked with wounds, though the woman was the one at Death’s door. Blood ran rivers down her arms as Garegom’s talons found flesh upon flesh.

The Hand of Fire lashed out with his spear, only for Garegom to bite the flames. The assassin froze in shock as Garegom swallowed the flames unharmed. Darkness tried to take advantage, but Garegom turned and opened his mouth.

Walter expected fire. He saw a blast of steam instead. The woman’s piercing wail caused Walter to wince.

The superheated water scalded the woman, red welts forming on her body. Walter felt the pain in turn, recalling his death once again. He threw his knife, the blade unerringly straight. The Hand of Darkness slumped, her soul no longer connected to her body. The pain was a distant thing now, but the damage to her psych had been done.

Garegom whipped his head around to the Hand of Fire after blasting Darkness, attempting to use the remaining steam. Fire changed their spear to a shield, circling and retreating toward his companions.

Gom was holding his own against the assassins with Flipper’s help. The two worked well as a team, Flipper conjuring a shield whenever to cover Gom’s back while the guardsman faced the opponent in front. The Hands of Water and Wind were working together, the former throwing vibrating blades of water while the latter used the wind to maneuver them. Gom used his own weapon, his ancestral sword extending like a whip around him to strike down the weapons.

With three assassins dead, the defenders now outnumbered the attackers. Knowing this, the remaining Hands gathered as one and prepared their powers. Fire and Water fed into Wind, forming a small tornado to strike everyone in the room.

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“No!” Gom shouted.

The tornado picked up everything not nailed down, which included the blankets and pillows on the bed. A cry of terror caused the assassins to turn in surprise.

The prince was still alive!

At the front of the bed lay another pillow, dressed to look like the prince. Feathers poked out of the pillow where it had been stabbed by the Hand of Water, showing how they had been tricked.

The prince lay at the foot of the bed, holding onto the frame as the tornado kicked up a storm. Fire and water lashed out, burning and slicing through what had been sucked in.

Gom moved before the others, jumping toward the prince to keep him safe. The assassins and Garegom moved next, both toward the small child. Walter cursed and ran to grab his knife.

While his did so, the assassins pushed the tornado forward, attempting to engulf the prince. Gom sliced with his sword, deflecting the movement to the side. Flipper attempted to throw a shield around the tornado, but his exhaustion caught up to him. The tornado broke free, once again rushing toward the prince.

Garegom arrived at this point, Death’s new protector devouring the shoots of fire and water. He sprayed it back as steam, again throwing the tornado off course.

The assassins rushed forward as one, each of their weapons at the ready and pointed at the prince. Their eyes glinted with steely resolve, each of them ready to sacrifice themselves to take out the Beast Empire’s lineage.

Walter twisted as he grabbed his knife, throwing it straight at the three assassins. It grazed the Hand of Fire on the arm, enough to break skin and separate the soul. Fire slumped to the ground, defeated.

Garegom intercepted the Hand of Wind, beating his wings and slamming down with his new tail. The assassin attempted Walter’s trick of throwing the knife, the blade sailing past Garegom as the protector slashed with his talons. Garegom struck true, ending the assassin’s life.

The knife continued on it’s journey toward the prince, but Gom was there to stop it. He sliced down with his ancestral weapon, severing the wind blade in two.

However, Flipper had also attempted to stop the knife, which had left the Hand of Water free to move forward. He created a fan of blades with all his strength and sliced at the prince.

“No!” Gom shouted again. The guardsman turned, his feet taking him to his destination faster than ever.

The guard knew he wouldn’t be able to deflect the assassin’s strike in time. His arm was behind him, and it would be too late by the time he brought his sword to bear. Instead, the guard dove in front of the strike, taking the blow meant for his new lord.

The prince shouted in alarm, but Gom was successful. The assassin’s blade failed to reach the child, and the opening gave Garegom time to sever the Hand of Water’s head from his body.

“Gom!” Walter shouted, rushing forward as the fight ended.