Chapter 8

The gods had still not reached a decision. A few of them wanted to kill the girl on sight; others were gearing up to fight. To finally figure out who was most powerful amongst them.

Suns rose and set before finally Anthuina took charge and made the decision for them all.

''We are going to fight her. You might not like it. But we are going too. It matters not how we destroy the humans, whether just one of us or all of us. I'm sure that whoever is left standing would be able to bring us all back one way or the other. ''

With this, the gods released a statement all through their realm. Inviting all the gods, even the ones who lived under the rocks, to come to watch them fight.

''Gods, welcome to the first-ever gods' gladiators. The ten greatest gods would battle to the death for a chance to destroy the human saviour.

Should the gods prevail, humanity would be wiped out, and we can all live in peace. But, on the other hand, should the human win, the gods would have disappeared and do not know what would happen.

The battle would be for one moon cycle. Should at the end of this moon cycle, the gods and human are still battling, we shall continue. There would be a battle every three sunrises. That is all for now.''

The gods release on a tablet the battles which would happen first, and many gods take to betting. A few already say who they believe would win. Still, not everyone can picture a particular god emerging as the victor.

The first battle to occur was that between Laiithu and Malaiwu. A god of rain and the goddess of fire. Most had wondered how the war would be because Laiithu and Malaiwu hated each other. While most gods got along great with one another, Malaiwu could never stand Laiithu.

The day of the battle:

You could feel it in the air, practically smell the anticipation, the excitement and the fear of the gods and goddesses. I had tried to gain approval from the council of gods to allow humans into the realm, but it had been rejected.

The council had disbanded to allow each of them to prepare extensively for their battles. It mattered not who was going first, just practice and lots of it. Their domains were buzzing with power, and no mere god tried to go near them.

On a particular day, a god had wondered near Lovina's domain, and the effects of her training had stupefied him for five sunrises. After that, no god or goddess dared again. Then, with the council preparing, Arthy had started my training again with zeal.

Most days were spent with him hitting my head and throwing me into the dirt.

''I can see how I wasn't training you seriously.'' Arthy mused after throwing me in the dirt a seventh time.

''You couldn't even evade my punch; how would you survive when the god who wins uses his or her powers. Is there truly any hope for your people.''

''Arthy, I am done with this. Did you hear me? I said DONE!''

Arthy most times couldn't remember that I was but a human. His punches previously had lacked power, but now, he was pulling punches left and right.

All his training left me at night sore and applying various herb potions to get me ready for the next sparring session.

I did understand his fear and need to extensively train me. Still, his words of 'encouragement' had had the opposite effect. Finally, with time running out and my inevitable death creeping closely, I was at my limit.

No longer did I care about my family or the other humans. I wanted to survive and not die. I was about a hair's breadth throwing everything away. So I went to the gods and told them to do whatever they wanted as long as I was left alone.

But Arthy wasn't going to allow me. So I sucked up my fears and nerves and continued our sparring lessons.

The first match was today, and as a human, I was required to be present. I didn't want to go, but Arthy knocked some sense into me, literally.

''Humans are foolish. If either one of them becomes the last god standing, don't you think knowing their powers and how they fight would help you. Before I open my eyes, you had better be dressed and on your way to the battlefield.''

All gods and goddesses had taken it upon themselves to gather the gods and goddesses of their elements with destruction at stake. For example, in Laiithu's case, being the god of water and a cosmic being, his defeat would ensure our destruction.

He had to train gods and goddesses who had tiny portions of his power to come together and fill up the space left by him. So did the others, and soon more gods and goddesses were being born from the source.

Arthy never told me where the source was or what made the source. It was a topic as forbidden as the cause.

Zadra had put his knowledge into writing. Everything from creation to the time we were at, he had given it all to his followers while still telling them how great he was. Though as a god of both past and future knowledge, most had thought he knew of the future.

But when it came to asking him, Zadra would shake his head and deny his knowledge. Instead of focusing on enriching gods with knowledge and playing pranks. The gods around Zadra had noticed his weakening power but instead chose to say nothing about it.

*****************

Laiithu and Malaiwu were even more different from other gods than their powers would suggest. Lai was of the human plane, and Mala was a gift bestowed to them. This caused a collision of fists, people and forces rather than just words. Their personalities were more chaotic than their powers would lead you to believe.

Because of this, no one, both human and god, without a death wish would get in the middle of them. Thus, there had never been a time of peace between them or their followers since the dawn of time until the unfortunate incident we must never speak of.

Gods would say that Laiithu and Malaiwu had been preparing for this moment since they were created. Still, the truth was that Laiithu did not want to fight Malaiwu.

With my fingers crossed and praying to the source that Laiithu and Malaiwu don't stop in the middle of their fight and kill me, I walked to the fighting ground. Laiithu and Malaiwu; water versus fire.

*******

The area consecrated for the games was a whole patch of land with each of its points in every gods and goddesses domain; 500 of them. It had been a land no god had sovereignty over and was perfect for deciding the end of humanity.

A barren land of which nothing grew, flew or thrived. Because it was so desolate an area, it posed no advantage to any god. So, whoever would win had to be innovative and take advantage of whatsoever you had in your arsenal.

Moving on, the gods had gathered, the human was seated in the middle, music was playing, the other gods had rallied at the sides, and yet, they had not arrived. The gods and the human were waiting, but as the sun changed position twice, the human grew weary and requested a timeout. She was only to be disturbed when the 'guests of honour arrived'.

She had stood up, about to take a step, when rumbling and lightning strikes flashed through the sky. Laiithu came hurtling to the ground with Malaiwu chasing him from the sky, her hands throwing large balls of fire.

The ground shook, and dust flew in all directions. The stools of the gods and goddesses rattled for minutes. No one could see what was happening as their vision was clouded with a wall of dust. To think that Malaiwu and Laiithu had been fighting long before they reached the battlefield.

Not knowing which of them was going to win was a lie. We all had thoughts; we just weren't sure the fight would follow the precedents.

No one knowing who was going to win was a lie. From the wars they had waged on mankind, the gods were sure it would be a simple battle. Water would win, but as the fight continued, their thoughts changed.

Upon reaching the ground, Mal set everything on fire and donned her fiery armour with her sword almost coming 5 feet high. Lai was stuck keeping his armour intact and defending with the ground burning; fire wisps mid-flight and fire so dangerously close to him.

The gods had gotten off their seats, chanting both names and screaming their own words of advice when the game's dynamic shifted.

To the average onlooker, Malaiwu was winning. With every blow, kick and fireball thrown, Laiithu was stuck on keeping his arms up and protecting himself.

''I never wanted to do this. But I have to win.'' Mal said to Laiithu after kicking him to the ground.

Raising her sword to the sky, Mal readies herself to deal the final blow and end Laiithu, but a wave of water throws her far from him.

For a while, no god or goddess says a thing. Even the human is so shocked, she doesn't notice when she jumps from her stool.

The gods who had bet that Laiithu would win, one would have expected to scream. Instead, just like the others, they are in a state of shock.

The spectators could all feel a chill run down their spine. Time passes before a colossal roar from Laii's supporters overtake the crowd. Soon gods and goddesses are jumping and shouting as the battle is turned on its head. For sure, now no one can determine the winner.

It's at this moment the human makes a discovery.

For sure, the battlefield had changed, and Lai had been draining water to the ground, and her fireballs had disappeared until what was left was a small ring of fire.

''I wish this was not our final battle, but I'm happy that once again, I am victorious.''

And with that, Laiithu plunges an ice spear into Mal's side. The girl had been watching with rapt attention, and it was at this moment that she realized how foolish she was to have ever agreed to be the saviour. I couldn't hear her thoughts, but it went a little something like this:

''How am I supposed to beat the winner when I am sure I wouldn't have beaten the loser? If every fight should go like this, then humanity can kiss their sorry behind goodbye because I wouldn't and can't win.''

Malaiwu tried her hardest to cauterize the wound but to no avail. She could no longer focus on the match. She could no longer conjure her sword or her fireballs, neither her fiery armour nor bow and arrows. So all she was left to doing was defending and hoping that he slipped off.

It didn't dawn on her, or she couldn't anticipate the final blow, a slice to her neck and ultimately her death, as she watched him lift her head in celebration. It was unfortunate for her, but the battle had ended not in her favour.

As the match ended, most gods disappeared to their corners; some mourned Malaiwu's death, others jubilated at Laiithu's win. The human was left standing with Laiithu as he watched Malaiwu's body vanish before their eyes. Then, with hatred shining so brightly in his, he turned to the human and shouted so vehemently:

''This is all your fault, and I cannot wait to kill you.''