The wind howled with unnatural force. Sacred banners were torn from the pillars, fluttering into the sky like discarded offerings. The war-blessed intruder raised his arm, veins alight with molten gold, eyes glowing like miniature suns.
Carlos shoved Erevan behind him, blade raised, breath steady—but beneath his calm, his heart was racing.
"You chose wrong, boy king!" the intruder shouted, echoing across the stunned courtyard. "You kneel to her? The Queen of Night? Then burn with her darkness!"
He lunged.
Carlos barely met the blow in time. Steel clashed with god-forged steel, the sound cracking like thunder. Sparks lit the air as their blades locked, Carlos's arms screaming from the sheer force. He gritted his teeth, twisted his stance, and slammed his palm into the man's ribs—releasing a burst of searing wind.
The warrior stumbled back, only for his palm to glow—explosive magic.
He didn't aim it at Carlos.
He turned and hurled it straight at Erevan.
Carlos's scream ripped the air— "NO!"
He dove, body moving faster than thought, trying to reach him—
—but the explosion engulfed his brother in a violent flash of light.
Smoke and flame swallowed everything.
Carlos hit the ground, rolling, chest heaving. The entire platform cracked. "Erevan! Erevan!"
He crawled forward on his hands, choking on ash, eyes wide with panic—
And froze.
In the center of the blast, surrounded by curling black vines and sharp tendrils of midnight energy, Erevan stood. Unburned. Unmoved. His eyes were wide in disbelief, hand trembling as the shadows peeled from his body like living armor.
Carlos gaped.
Dark tentacles—woven like roots, draped like a second skin—had shielded Erevan entirely.
And behind them, above them, the goddess Persephone remained on her throne of obsidian and bone. She had not moved an inch. Her gaze was unreadable.
Carlos turned back toward the intruder—
—but a quiet voice echoed inside his skull.
"Idiot," his god muttered.
Carlos blinked. "What—?"
"She is not testing him, child. She is testing you."
The words dropped into his mind like a weight.
"She doesn't need to test the one she already chose. She needs to know if you will break. If you will back down when every god turns their eye to your brother—and sees a mask you swore to guard."
Carlos clenched his jaw. "Of course I won't."
"Then prove it."
The war-god's champion rushed again—this time, faster. A fire-spear in each hand.
Carlos stood tall.
And let go.
The wind howled around him, glowing sigils crawling across his skin. Each one was a blessing—from battle, from storms, from memory. From pain. The ground cracked as raw power surged through his veins. His eyes glowed with pale fury.
He met the enemy in mid-air—two blurs colliding like meteor strikes.
Sparks flew. Swords shattered. The platform trembled beneath their fury. Carlos twisted mid-spin, slamming his heel into the champion's side. The god-blessed intruder coughed blood and stumbled back—
Carlos didn't wait. He followed with a slash, then a second, until—
CRACK!
The intruder's blade snapped in two.
Carlos had him against the edge of the altar now, blade at his throat, panting.
But the man laughed, low and mad. "You're strong. But not enough. He will crumble. They all do."
Carlos pressed the edge harder. "Not him. Not ever."
The man spat blood. "We'll see."
He vanished in a surge of flame—teleported away before the final blow.
The battlefield fell into silence.
Carlos stood shaking, eyes searching the crowd, the sky, the goddess.
Erevan came to his side, quiet.
"I—Carlos, that—"
Carlos turned to him, grabbed his shoulders. "You're not hurt?"
"I don't think so."
Carlos stared at him. "You pulled a sword out of nowhere."
"I don't know how I did that."
"Where was it?!"
"I think—inside my robe?"
Carlos stared at him blankly. "You keep a sword in your robe, a long sword."
"I panicked!"
Persephone's soft laugh echoed through the chamber.
The goddess rose finally, her presence like dusk settling after the storm. Her eyes passed from Erevan to Carlos. Then, for the briefest of moments, she nodded—once.
And vanished.
Carlos dropped to his knees, exhausted.
Kave ran toward them, followed by Lumira, who looked one breath away from cursing the entire divine plane.
She reached them, hands glowing, checking Erevan's pulse and eyes. "You—absolute fools, both of you."
"We're fine," Erevan croaked.
"No. You're idiots," Lumira snapped. "But fine."
Carlos leaned against his brother, breath finally evening out.
"She chose you," he whispered. "That means… something."
Erevan's fingers trembled, but he smiled faintly. "Yeah. And she chose you too."
Carlos looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"She tested you, Carlos. And you didn't even flinch."