The blade descended.
Nullfang, forged in the dead heart of a forgotten star, burned violet-black as it tore through the sky. Diana hurled her shield, a blinding arc of gold and fire. Sarive launched upward, energy surging from his body in blinding waves.
But it was Hope who stopped the strike.
She raised one hand—small, trembling, glowing—and time itself caught fire around her fingers.
The sword froze, suspended in mid-air. Light fractured into crystal patterns across the sky, and the Forgotten God blinked.
"What...?"
His voice held something new.
Not awe.Not rage.Something colder. Uncertainty.
Time Fractures
Hope's eyes glowed silver, and her body floated just above the garden floor. Her voice echoed in many tones at once, like a chorus.
"You gave me the truth," she said. "But you didn't expect me to use it."
With a single motion, she twisted time.
The past, present, and future folded into a spiral, collapsing into a moment where Sarive burned like a sun.
Sarive Ascends
He felt it—raw and electric. Something had broken inside him… or been released.
The power coursed through his chest like a second heartbeat.
"What is this?" he gasped.
Diana's voice rang out.
"It's not just the Energy of Gods touching her. It's touching you through her."
His eyes flared brighter than before, and lines of glowing glyphs traced across his arms, chest, and face. His voice deepened, echoing with layered tones—part human, part something else.
Sarive opened his hand…
And the air shattered.
Space ruptured as a lance of concentrated energy formed in his grip, humming with a voice the gods hadn't heard in eons.
"This power... it needs a name," he said, eyes fixed on the Forgotten God.
Diana stood at his side, a grin tugging at the edge of her lips despite the danger.
"Name it later. Hit him now."
The Battle Beyond Belief
Sarive moved faster than sound—than thought.
He struck with the fury of collapsing stars, fists wrapped in divine force. The Forgotten God blocked, parried, twisted space—but Sarive matched him.
Then overwhelmed him.
Each strike from Sarive carried not just strength or speed… but something else. Something the Forgotten God couldn't process.
"This shouldn't be possible," the ancient one muttered, as Sarive drove a fist into his chest.
There was a crack.
A pause.
And then...
Blood.
Black and gold, thick like oil and fire, dripped from the Forgotten God's mouth.
Sarive landed across from him, breathing hard, light blazing from his skin.
"Looks like gods can bleed after all," he said.
Elsewhere – Olympus Quakes
Zeus staggered as thunder screamed across Olympus.
"Did you feel that?" he rasped, gripping the edge of his throne.
Athena appeared beside him, her expression grim.
"The First bleeds. A prophecy has been broken."
He stared at her.
"Then the child truly is the Catalyst... and the boy—Sarive…"
"He just became the Equalizer."
Back in the Veil – Aftermath
The Forgotten God knelt for the first time in existence.
He looked up, anger boiling behind his cosmic eyes, but also fear—a raw, primal thing.
"This isn't over," he spat.
"No," Sarive said, stepping forward. "It's just begun."
Before the ancient being could strike again, Hope raised her hand and spoke a word not heard since the dawn of the multiverse.
"Exsolas."
The Veil screamed, folded, and sealed the Forgotten God inside a prison of light and memory, banishing him back to the edges of existence.
For now.
After the Storm
They stood in silence.
Sarive's new power faded slightly, but a glowing core still burned in his chest. Diana placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You did it."
He shook his head.
"We survived. That's not the same."
Hope walked up to them, her eyes still silver, voice quiet.
"There are others like him. Sealed. Watching. Waiting."
Sarive knelt beside her, meeting her gaze.
"Then we'll stop them too."
"All of them?" she asked. "Even the ones you can't beat?"
Sarive looked at Diana.
Then back at Hope.
"Especially those."