The portal above twisted, dark and unstable.
Then.....
Three figures crashed down.
They hit the ground already fighting. Steel clashed. Magic burst into the air. Dust rose as the earth cracked beneath their weight.
The battle was fast.
"It didn't have to end like this."
The voice was cold.
A woman stood at the centre of the fight, her obsidian blade humming with power. She was beautiful… but empty.
Merciless.
The Goddess of Death.
The two gods facing her were already losing. Blood ran down their bodies. Their breathing was uneven.
One of them spat blood and laughed weakly.
"You and your 'balance'… It's a lie. He'll come back"
A flash.
His head was gone.
The second god smirked for a brief moment
Then he fell.
The ground shook.
From their bodies, energy burst out—blue and green light spreading across the battlefield like fire.
It rushed outward.
Fast.
Alex, witnessing all this moved without thinking.
He stepped forward and raised himself between the energy and the others.
It hit him directly.
The God of War froze.
For the first time
There was fear in his eyes as he saw the beast react.
Its body twisted violently as the divine energy reached it. Fur darkened. Bones cracked and shifted. Its form expanded, breaking and rebuilding itself at the same time.
It wasn't just a beast anymore.
It was becoming something worse.
In a chain reaction
Alex dropped to his knees.
Pain hit him all at once.
His body shook as something inside him began to change.
Ki poured into him, trying to stabilise him.
But it didn't work.
The energy disappeared the moment it touched him.
His body twisted further.
Bones shifted.
His heart pounded harder and faster.
His skin lost colour.
The God of War didn't wait.
He charged at the evolving beast.
The impact shook the ground again.
Blow after blow landed as he fought with raw strength and experience.
The creature fought back, growing stronger with every second.
The God reached to his side and pulled out black daggers.
He threw them.
They hit
And bounced off.
And they spun in the air, circling the beast. Symbols lit up along their blades, glowing with power.
Behind him, Ciara moved.
She left Peter with Alex and joined the fight.
Jack followed, his body glowing faintly. His eyes focused ahead, tracking movements before they happened.
Together, they attacked.
Step by step, they pushed the beast back.
Alex's eyes opened.
Everything slowed through the pain.
"It's stalling…" he whispered. "Waiting for something."
He looked toward Peter.
"Make me a puppet."
Peter hesitated.
Then he acted.
Threads of ki wrapped around Alex's body, controlling his movements.
It hurt.
But Alex stood.
His sword dragged behind him as he stepped forward.
Slow.
Heavy.....
Then he joined the fight.
Steam rose from the battlefield as power clashed from all sides.
The beast charged again.
Bones cracked.
It lunged straight at the God of War.
"Sera, move!" Alex shouted.
The clash that followed shook everything.
Steel met claws.
The beast's claws tore through the God of War.
Deep.
Across his chest and shoulder.
Alex moved instantly.
He caught him before he fell.
Bespoke over his hands.
The god of War looked at him.
Weak—but smiling.
"You've always been more than you knew…"
He gripped Alex tightly.
Alex didn't hesitate.
He bit him.
Something burning away from his grip
The God of War let out a quiet breath.
"Remember… this war will never end."
His body faded into ash.
Carried away by the wind.
The beast stood tall.
It howled into the sky.
Alex knelt on the ground.
Blood dripped from his fangs.
His chest burned with something deeper than pain.
Slowly, he stood.
His eyes had changed.
Crimson… mixed with black.
His aura was quiet.
Still.
Dangerous.
The war wasn't over.
Not even close...