Book 7, Chapter 74 - Unity in Opposition (2/2)

Blood vessels burst in Selene’s eye, a side-effect of the relic’s power. For a short time she would be unable to use it again. But that didn’t matter – she’d already achieved her goal. Around Zephon, time was under her control.

Her control over time was not strong, but by pushing the Eye to its limit she could even turn back the clock on a small scale. Again Zephon, however, this was unnecessary. Instead her powers manipulated how time moved in this space. To him, it crawled along at one-fifth the normal speed. To his eyes it was like the world sped along around him.

Then it was Dawn’s turn to act!

All of the diseased skin clinging to her solidified, like fragile black ice. Light bloomed from it as bright as the sun, blinding everything within a dozen meters before detonating. The skin was reduced to atoms.

“Let’s turn it all to stone!”

Dawn stepped out into the center of the chamber and thrust Terrangelica deep into the flesh. A formless power was injected into it, spreading in all directions. Suddenly all the wriggling meat turned to crystal. Groping tentacles froze solid mid-swipe.

“Boom.”

At her command the crystal released all of its energy. The explosion ripped through the Temple like a tidal-wave, swell after swell that threatened to rip the entire structure apart.

Zephon’s twisted face revealed terror. “That’s the High Priest’s power...”

He was right. Dawn’s ability to convert energy came from a treasured Highmorn relic. With it, she had annihilated Zephon’s fleshy domain. No more infected clerics remained, so he had no way to bring it back.

In a flash ten consecutive strikes bit into his body! Zephon’s form sloughed to the ground in bloody chunks and emerging from it was a spike-covered black ball. The Star of Dark Omens, as though it had a mind of its own, quickly began to roll toward an exit.

“Where the fuck you think you’re going?”

Dawn thrust her hand toward Selene, whose white clothing became enveloped in fine scales. She felt invigorated, infused with power. The Dragon God’s relic didn’t just absorb mental energy, after all. It could also gift it to another.

“Quick, stop it!”

Selene reacted immediately. A column of brilliant energy fired from her sword into the relic. With a thunderous crack, it broke in half.

Shrill howls arose from all directions. The chunks of diseased flesh that remained liquid and splattered the area like a foul rain. Without the star to keep him alive, Zephon’s brutalized body did not recover. He died in agony, splashed against the Temple floor.

“Done.”

Selene floated to the ground. Although the surroundings were filthy, there was not a blemish on her resplendent clothes. The only stain was a single rivulet of blood that dripped from her right eye. It carved a crimson line down her pale face, adding to her domineering charm.

Thud, thud, thud, thud! Dawn stomped over to her, opening her face-plate. She glanced at the broken Star of Dark Omens. “Who told you to break it? That thing is definitely valuable.”

Selene’s response was tepid. “If you’re looking for someone to blame, blame yourself. I hit stronger than expected after you intervened.”

Dawn’s face turned red as a tomato. She helped this bitch and here she was blaming her?!

“No more nonsense, we have a mission. Let’s find the Key and return it to Cloudhawk.”

Dawn could only huff in response.

It was an unexpected fight they’d stumbled in to, but a fine opportunity to test their newfound strength. They figured out how to cooperate, at least a little, and both women learned valuable lessons.