God v. God

Outside the former Rhaziesian Empire, capital thunderclouds appeared instantaneously overhead.

Lightening, thunder, and hail berated the troops below. It was an ominous feeling to the troops on the ground.

"This is a bad omen," announced Sage Abulafia.

The people below looked up at the sky to see a gigantic man descending from the clouds.

"An evil god!" Sage Abulafia shouted in fear.

The people could just make out the god's demonic features.

Then a golden animal and a person bathed in gold light descended and began fighting the evil god.

For two days the humans and demi-humans watched the epic battle rage.

Trees were blown away, craters were etched in the ground, and parts of the capital were destroyed.

To the people below felt a strange magmatism to watch the brutal l battle.

Only Sage Ming knew who the gods were. He wasn't ignorant. Like Elizabeth, they recognized Will's strange farewell.

While Plutus never told him about his demigod status, his master knew. He knew his disciple's sudden increase in power was supernatural. After all, he'd seen Will's golden eyes and golden aura.

Now that same aura, draped the man fighting Thanatos.

Sage Ming did his best to make sure the intense shockwaves created by gods exchanging blows didn't destroy the captain completely.

He funneled more and more power into the array, recharging it as fast as it depleted.

Plutus and Nisha while visibly exasperated, continued to deal major blows to the Thanatos. He swung his sword and Nisha clawed at his body; their opponent's defense and strength were greater than theirs combined.

Still, Thanatos was suffering the two-one battle left him with cuts and stab wounds all over his boy.

Having had enough he cast his strongest spell [Nightmare Prison].

Darkness enveloped Will and Nisha's minds enticing them to eternal sleep. While they fought off the mental attack, darkness also surrounded their bodies.

An already exhausted Plutus fought the tiredness invading his mind and the darkness trying to constrict his golden aura.

"Ha-ha, I won. I shall kill you pesky rats and make this world my new realm. Darkness and nightmares shall blind out the sun and your souls shall eternally be my slaves," he said victoriously his voice reverberating for thousands of kilometers.

Plutus looked down to the former Rhaziesian Empire capital, he saw his friends, master, disciples, and business partners bathed in fear.

Thoughts of Elizabeth, his family, his children, and hundreds of good memories flooded into his mind. Nightmares were replaced by daydreams of happiness.

"Argh!" Will screamed as he broke out of the prison and released Nisha.

"How did you manage to escape?" Thanatos said surprised mixed with fear.

A cold chill ran down god's spine, the one outcome he dreaded the most was upon him.

He could not lose. He invests so much, if he lost now divine retribution awaited him.

Thanatos released his demonic aura, in all its sinister splendor, as he raced to the old capital, trying to unleash as much destruction as possible to demoralize his opponent.

In a matter of seconds, he released a spell disintegrating the array and blowing up Centre Plaza.

Hundreds of humans and demi-humans were injured. Several were missing body parts.

After the attack, Plutus was able to unleash a slash that sent a crescent slash landing across Thanatos' upper back.

The evil god roared in pain and flew back into the air to get revenge.

Thanatos's bloodshot eyes looked maliciously at Will. His razor-sharp teeth circled up at the end in a smile.

"Time and time again you have foiled my plans. You and your humans and demi-humans friends defeated my army and stopped my sabotage.

I united all of Tartarus under my banner. I refuse to believe that the weakest of the gods could defeat men.

I hate you, and that stupid economic empire you created. After I defeat you and kill your family, I shall destroy your business and extinguish the memory of William vont Ballard from the history books," he monologued again.

"You shall soon see the power of collaboration. The good feeling people have from getting a good deal. The love people have for their possessions. And their hope for money in a desperate time.

I am the god of wealth and wealth can come in many different forms other than money. You forget about the wealth of friendship, family, and yes fortune.

That is what I represent and that shall never be extinguished by the Lord of Nightmares," Plutus responded.

"I've had enough of your sermon. It's time for you to die!" he said bringing down his scythe.

The power was too great for Plutus, and it sent him crashing down to the earth.

Thanatos smiled broadened. He could feel the scales of destiny tipping in favor.

He looked at the bloody god below whose golden aura was flickering in and out.

Finally, he felt, he could avenge the eternal pain, the suffering, the humiliation. His victory was at hand, and only this injured god lay in his way.

He cast [Demonic Lance] and sent it hurtling toward Will's broken body.

On the ground, Will could feel his back was broken. He was exhausted. His body was immobile, and he saw a hellfire lance racing down to pierce his heart.

He lost. He tried his best, but he lost. Thanatos was too strong. Maybe if Ares or Athena were here, they could win. They had won. They helped end the Second Schism.

But he had lost. The gods of Tartarus would win the Third Schism because he was too weak.

Plutus hated his weakness. He was always weak. Too weak to help those he loved and once again he failed his loved ones.

Finally, he cried out to the heavens, "why me? Why did you have to choose me? Weren't there better suited to gods, than a merchant?

I'm a trader, not a warrior! Answer me! I know you can hear me! Why did you choose me to fight the God of Nightmares?"

Will's heartfelt surprisingly calm as he faced death.

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While he lay dying, he felt a small tremor as a golden rose bush sprung into existence next to him. Then, a field of golden wheat burst from the ground. He felt the earth's power under him.

Finally, he realized what he missed. The earth he was laying on was regenerating his divine power. He was Gaia's grandson and Demeter's son. His divine symbol was a cornucopia, a symbol of plenty.

He'd been wrongly fighting in the air, he needed to bring this fight to the ground if stood a chance of winning.

Will focused on regenerating his health and at the last second dodged the lance. The lance embedded itself in the ground just centimeters from where he lay.

His gold aura returned, and his cuts and bruises healed.

Thanatos looked down, fear gripped him. He could tell the scales of fate had to tip against him.

He cast another lance and another until the entire sky was filled with demonic lances and sent them shooting down like shooting stars at Plutus.