“Fahrim, Duhma, find the machinist and burn him. He has but a single follower, you are more than a match for him. The rest with me. We will bring this monster crumbling down to its knees and raise Myreluck back to its former glory!” She finished with a roar, pointing an arm forward as a beam of light the diameter of the Seattle Space needle launched towards the Void Being.

  Behind her two of the gods shot off into the black sky, more deities joining the Goddess in her crusade and firing off attacks at the Void Being. Ranged attacks by far seem to be the worst option when it came to fighting the man of darkness however. Rather than dodging the massive beam he just spread his arms wide. The beam striking the space just before him. Yet stopping just before it could land. The beam increasing in intensity and was joined by other attacks. Fire spells, lances of light, and even lighting, all flying en masse at the Void Being. Every single bit of it disappearing just before him. Consumed by a portal leading directly into the void.

  Too smart to tire themselves out needlessly casting spells a contingent of the gods rushed into melee. These were not beings even close to the goddess of light's prowess, however. Ozzy wasn't even sure if they'd be able to stand up next to the late reckless God. Even under the pressure of four minor gods he barely looked stressed. He danced. Moving in and out of the gods ranges tearing a path of destruction through their guards and protective shields like it was the simplest task in the world.

  Using the gods in melee as a distraction, the goddess of light and two other ranged spell casters rose into the air. Floating to watch the fight from above and casting spells downwards as to not hit their allies. Thus marking the first landed blow against the void being.

  Pressing through the guard of a minor god the Void Being was fired upon by a new god possessing a terrifying affinity to lightning. Electricity crackled and boomed, arcing out. Not towards the void being, but where he would end up. Ozzy was sure he sensed it. The god defending in melee did after all. Lowering his guard stance to prepare an attack with a massive windup. He was after all protected by his allies lighting. Well, protected should it give the void being any pause that was.

  Ozzy’s patron didn’t care. Stepping directly into the path of the lightning he took the hit without so much as a tremor. His arm lashing out at the wide-open god. Moving even faster than the lighting had flown, striking the god directly in the throat. Spearing him cleanly through on the void being’s sharpened arm, before ripping the arm out sideways. Golden ichor sprayed, chunks of throat and spine flying into the next god over. The speared god crumpled. Dead.

  BOOM

  The world shook. A moment later a flailing female form tumbled through the air. It trailed gold, like a falling firework in the night sky before hitting the ground with a thud. A hole had been carved cleanly through her face and skull, brain matter, what remained of eyes, and blood all dripping to fill the empty space and flowing out of it.

  “AAAGHH” The Goddess of Light screamed, light bending around her. She directed her fury not at the void being or Ozzy but at the heavens. Raising an arm up she fired, the same world ending laser forming and blasting up into the sky.

  TckTckTckTckTckTckTckTckTckTck

  BRRRRRRRRRRT

  A sound that Ozzy had only heard once before assaulted his senses. The impacts of a hundred rounds thundering and sending up shockwaves that he felt press against and buffet his face, even with how far away he was from the action. All of that before a thunderous report of the initial blasts as each round left the weapon far up in the sky met his ears. Towards the fighting however? The effect was apocalyptic.

  From the air, chunks of what had once been something humanoid fell, showering the beings below in golden blood and viscera as a hail of bullets impacted the ground, tearing through another two gods before the sound even reached their ears. It was the bigger, badder, roided up older brother of an A10 thunderbolts main gun, the GAU-8/A Avenger.

  Silence reigned after the brutal attack. Not a single god moving as all eyes turned towards the skies. If they could see anything Ozzy couldn’t tell, to him it was all just inky blackness. Though it would make sense for the gods to all have better perceptions than he did. Even if the void being was boosting his senses a little bit his brain would probably pop or something if he got all the information they could handle. His mind going back to a memory he had of an Indiana Jones movie where the antagonist had died by absorbing too much information.

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  “Do you yield?” The void being asked, his exasperation clear as he stood languidly, unimpressed by the groups fighting abilities. His stance making it clear that he didn’t perceive so much as a single threat among the combatants.

  The Goddess of Light seethed. The tiny circle of light that existed around her twisting and vibrating as she glared daggers at the void being and up at the sky.

  “What are your terms.” She spat, all of the gods that had come to her aid visibly relaxing, as she began to acquiesce. Ozzy wasn’t sure if they knew the kind of fight they were getting into before coming down. It seemed like all of the other more powerful gods who did had opted out. Leaving her as the lone “pinnacle” god duking it out. Talk about a bad matchup though.

  “I will require compensation of course, for the trespass against my interests. As will the Lord of Powder, and Remulas.” The void being said smoothly, getting straight to business.

  “That would be very welcome.” A new voice joined the conversation as Remulas, his form still that of a smoky rat appeared from the darkness directly behind the Goddess of Light.

  Whirling in surprise the Goddess of Light screamed in rage. “RODENT.” She shouted, the disgust and vitriol with which she spat the word forming an insult in and of themselves as she realized the rat god had been poised and ready to strike from the beginnings.

  “You are closer to that thing!” The goddess pointed at the void being who shrugged. “Than one of us. You bring shame to all of your kind!” She seethed, her raging glare falling on all who were in the darkness. “You are all weak! I should never have contracted you! To believe my allies would have abandoned me and left me with the dregs!” She screamed, her light pushing ever so slightly out against the darkness. Her rage pushing her beyond the limits she had previously kept. Only for it all to come crashing down.

  The void being straightened, his posture going stiff as he focused on the Goddess. In a moment, darkness descended. All consuming, crushing, true and perfect darkness consumed the goddess. A clank ringing out as she fell to her knees. Only the lights of her eyes remaining un-snuffed. Her armor groaning in the dark, the beautifully etched metal rending, falling to pieces around her on the ground where it rusted and crumbled.

  “You rage,” The void being accused,” and yet you came against the very consumer of light knowing full well who I was? You have no fault to cast, for it all lies with you. Now we will speak of terms, or I will drag you into the heart of my void as penance.” The void being spoke as judge, jury, and executioner, the Goddess stiffening at the mention of the heart of the void. Nodding rapidly, she met his gaze.

  “It will be done.” She said, her voice hollow as she gazed hopelessly out to Ozzy.

  “That is not all.” Fauga called, descending from the darkness and into view, a massive rotary cannon attached to his left arm thought it was unsupported, the carry handle left unused. His other arm was gone, a clean cauterized wound that stretched in a circular pattern into his side remaining in its stead.

  “She will abandon her holdings. Myreluck will not be hers. We have enough work to worry about without power drunk Goddess.” Fauga said gravely, and for a moment it looked like the Goddess would protest. The void being tensed again, ready to act, until she nodded. Giving into the demand.

  “That may be a little heavy handed Fauga.” The rat god commented, smooth as ever. “As much as I dislike the Goddess’ way of doing things, forcing her people out of the city is the same as forcing them to give up their faith or go and commit ritual sacrifice. Just have them stay as neutral. They will not be able to participate in any activities to further the power of the church of light. Only engaging in ones that promote the health of the city, and those relevant to its defense and success.” Remulas suggested.

  Fauga mulled it over for several moments before nodding. “It is so.”

  “What about any compensation for our friend?” Remulas asked, looking over at Ozzy who was still stranded painfully, suspended in the air like a haunted puppet.

  “He will receive enough through us.” The void being said, waving a hand dismissively. “You may all go however.” He said to the gathered lesser gods, take your fallen and facilitate their regrowth. We will not desecrate their forms any further than we have.”

  That was all the permission the minor gods needed. They were gone in an instant, jetting off into the sky of darkness and out for greener pastures. Ozzy didn’t blame them. It was like they’d gotten involved in a firefight and brought nerf guns. It was slightly comforting to know that they weren’t truly dead however. He hated the idea that they’d been dragged into this without truly knowing what they were getting into. Because in a way, that had been him what felt like a lifetime ago.

  Ozzy had to snap himself out of it. These were gods, he reminded himself. Not teenagers getting amped up to join the military with signing bonuses and social media propaganda edits. He sighed inwardly, he was the only human thing there. It was stupid to attribute his thoughts and emotions to the beings here, and belatedly, he realized that this was only one side of it.

  Gods were all over the place, and if the above was influencing this side of things, then the below and outside were at work in other places. Thinking back on previous conversations Ozzy’d had with Fauga that much was clear. This was going to be a celestial fight as much as it was a human one. He just wondered where the next fight would come from, and who his celestial buddies would point him at next. After a much-needed power up montage that was.