I grit my teeth, throwing up a barrier of lightning. The edges burn through, heat singeing my arms.
I’m on it,Theo’s sharp voice comes through the mind-link.
He moves silently until I see him behind Helios, bloody, bruised, and injured, but his scythe gleams black with his aura. He swings low, slicing across the back of Helios’ legs, causinghim to stumble, and that one precious moment, even as he turns to destroy Theo, is all I need.
I dive forward, lightning tearing from my hands in violent streaks. I raise my fists, ready to put everything I have into this, and time seems to slow…
I hear a rumbling laugh echo in my mind, a voice I don’t recognise.That’s how you play with a god.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
Each hit, slamming into the divine mark. If he were human, my hands would have been through his chest.
Helios’ roar shakes the entire realm. The sunlight blazes so bright I’m blinded.
One last time. All of us. Together,I rasp.
“Enough!”He slams his palm into my chest. The blow launches me backwards. I crash into the ground, ribs splintering, lungs empty. The pain is deafening.
Through blurred vision, I see him stalk toward me, sword raised, the sunfire cascading from him like a waterfall.“You will kneel before the Sun.”
Theo appears behind him again, but Helios has learned. He spins, sword flashing, and the blade catches Theo’s side. Blood splashes everywhere, a stark darkness in comparison to the light. A second later, Carter, now in human form, has sliced Helios’ neck with his sword. Renji’s jaws clamp around his hand,making his grip on his sword weaken.
Theo doesn’t move to defend himself; instead, he raises his hand, his claws out as he rakes them down Helios’ chest. Helios’ other hand plunges into his stomach, blood pooling at his feet.
“Theo!” I shout.
He staggers, dropping to one knee, his scythe clanging to the ground. “Just… fucking hit him, Jayce.” His voice is hoarse, but that smirk is on his face. “We’re almost there.”
My heart pounds.
“Let go!”Helios snarls, but Carter and Renji hold on with everything in them.
Ares rises from the wreckage behind Helios, his eyes glowing like the sun itself, seafoam dripping from his fists. He meets my gaze.
Together,Ares says.
I nod, our eyes meeting. We work great together, we always have, just like Renji and Carter do, whilst Theo used to play the solo game with an ace up his sleeve. With time, Ares and I somehow grew apart, but right now it doesn’t feel like that.
Lightning arcs from my body, water surges from his. They twist together, storm and sea, fury and force, and we both launch at once, our hearts beating as one.
Helios turns, both hands gripping his sword, bracing himself. Theo rises from behind him, wrapping his arm around Helios’ neck.
It’s too late for him.
Ares and my power combine, becoming one, and I pull it to me. Ares nods, allowing me to take it forward. I raise my fist, the sheer force feels like it’s ripping me apart, and I drive it straight into his chest, right through the divine mark.
The sound is like something I have never heard before. The sound of something that should never break – breaking.
The explosion hurls us all backwards, the light swallows everything, my ears ring, and my heart beats violently. I hit the ground, but I can barely register the impact.
And then the glare fades. The world is silent…
The crowd, the Divine Order, Helios, us, nobody moves. Nobody speaks.
