Leora's victory

Still recovering in her source form, Leora had already felt the Tower manifestation and had even noticed the departure of both Dukbium and Razim, despite the long distance between her and the place it happened.

The moment Water manifested nearby, Leora said, “I saw. You can go too. I’ll clean everything here and join you once it’s done.”

“Are you sure? I am weak without a host, but I can still help. On the other hand, you have already injured your divinity,” replied Water.

Leora recreated her body and nodded firmly, “I can still deal with a bunch of leaderless demigods. Go and continue with Razim’s plan.”

Water retracted her physical form without a word and drifted away.

Leora fixed her eyes on the ongoing war with a slight frown. Despite the diversity of energies on Endora’s side, the enemy still outnumbered them at a ratio of ten to one, so they were slowly losing.

Leora quickly searched Thorb, clearing the demigods he was intertwined with and fixing her eyes on the air ascended at his size.

“Thank you for the help, Your Excellency,” said Thorb, heaving a sigh as he got ready to engage a new group of enemies.

Leora nodded toward him before turning toward the air ascended nearby, “I need you to project my voice to all the demigods in the war, on both sides. Can you do that?”

The air ascended’s cheeks flushed when Leora spoke to her, and she nodded, quickly spreading her air energy throughout the battlefield.

“Endora’s armies, heed my words, the divine crown of fire, Dukbium, has been defeated by the divine crown of water, Razim, and has run, abandoning his troops. Razim is chasing Dukbium, and it is only a matter of time before she catches him. The enemy is defeated, so let’s clean everyone left and leave to fight at our God Emperor’s side. For Endora.”

As she spoke, Leora waved her hands, sending hundreds of light lances to pierce through the sources of the fire demigods on the opposite side.

The power of a divine crown was miles above what any demigod could summon. Leora’s words and attacks sent waves throughout the battlefield.

Endora’s demigods all roared, “For Endora,” and some water demigods from Razim’s domain joined them in cheering as they started fighting with renewed vigor.

The fire demigods fighting on Dukbium’s side were all confused and scared, some of them even falling victim to attacks due to a momentary distraction in which they scanned the battlefield, looking for their god.

After not finding any trace of Dukbium, many started turning their back on Endora’s armies, looking to flee from the fight.

The remnants of god Vayu’s domain were in a similar situation, having understood they had already lost, but they did something none of the two sides expected.

Air energy spread throughout the battlefield, repeatedly projecting the same exact words: “We surrender.”

Compared to Dukbium’s armies, who were fighting for their god and leader, the air demigods from Vayu’s domain were only gathered by Dukbium and agreed to join the fighting based on the friendship between Vayu and Dukbium. Still, now that even Dukbium was defeated, they chose to try and surrender in hopes of keeping their lives.

The surrender of their allies was like the final nail in the coffin for the ones still trying to fight, a nail that Leora wasted no time hammering in as she transmitted her voice again, “Join us in clearing Dukbium’s armies, and we accept your surrender. You’ll also be allowed to return to your domain if you never turn against Endora again. This I vow as the bearer of the crown of light.”

Thorb, holding two giant hammers made of fire and earth in his hands, previously ready to enter the fray of the fight, was rooted on his spot, watching in awe how Leora’s words had completely turned the tide of the war.

The fire demigods still fighting were caught between the attacks of Endora’s armies and their former allies from the back, while the troops trying to run away were easy pickings.

While Leora was observing the chaotic movement of Dukbium’s troops with a growing smile, a merman approached from the side and asked with a respectful bow, “Goddess of light, where is our mistress?”

Leora turned to look at Razim’s second in command and said, “Razim chased Dukbium into the Tower of God to keep him from joining Gaia’s side and causing trouble on the other side of the war. As for her divinity, she left it on this side so it won’t get sealed by the Tower.”

Blue nodded and asked worriedly, “Does Your Excellency think she will be alright?”

“She is only chasing after Dukbium and not looking to pass the Tower’s trials, so she’ll most likely be alright,” replied Leora. “Go and continue your work. We must finish this as soon as possible.”

Blue turned tail and returned to fighting as Leora fixed her eyes on the battlefield and started sniping any retreating fire demigods with light lances. Her attacks were so swift and decisive that no one targeted had any chance to avoid them.

Not even an hour later, Dukbium’s troops had already lost over 90% of their demigods, the remaining 10% having already surrendered, looking for a chance to survive, or have been captured at Leora’s orders.

Thorb and Blue drew close to Leora with the ending of the war, both falling on one knee, “We have won, Your Excellency. What should we do with the prisoners and the air demigods from Vayu’s domain?”

Leora sighed and knew that while they had won, there was something else to consider. She moved her eyes over Dukbium’s domain and onto the worlds now devoid of the light and warmth of their stars and knew a simple fact was inevitable. Those mortals living on those planets were doomed to die in this state.

“Thorb, how many prisoners are there from Dukbium’s ranks? Also, how many of them have surrendered?” asked Leora.

Thorb started calculating while Blue answered immediately, “There are about eight hundred prisoners, short of three hundred who had surrendered.”

Leora called the air ascended responsible for communicating orders and asked her to send her voice to the prisoners of war.

“Vayu’s demigods, as I have promised, you are all free to return to your domain.”

As sighs of relief started spreading through the previously tense air demigods, Leora continued.

“Fire demigods, we all know that each war comes with its casualties, and that’s expected as long as the casualties come from the ranks of the ones actively fighting in the war.”

“Still, this war will bring even more death in the ranks of the beings living in those worlds below. Humans or other races who had no part in their leaders’ ambitions. That’s why I will give you all a way to recover your freedom.”

“Our God Emperor is a merciful leader, so as long as you all vow to rejuvenate those stars and never turn your energy against Endora again, I also vow that Endora will never come to invade or attack you. Dukbium will die for his sin of plotting against our leader, but you can be free again.”

Leora’s words sparked a thread of hope among the demigods who had no idea what their life would be like from then on. Over a hundred demigods, accepting her deal, fell to their knees in seconds.

With those demigods setting a precedent, all the prisoners fell to their knees, vowing to do as instructed and never go against Endora again.

Leora knew some only did it to escape their dark fate as prisoners, so she added coldly, “Good, but beware. Once the war on the other side is over, I’ll pay a visit accompanying God Emperor Seth to check if you have fulfilled your vow.”

“While God Emperor Seth is a merciful leader, I am not. If I find that you have failed to rejuvenate the stars or chose to run away, I’ll hunt you down and kill you myself. Trust me, no matter in which corner of the universe you hide, I’ll still find and kill you.”

Leora’s words brought a child down all the demigods back. They still remembered clearly the attack she had launched at the start of the battle, and their hearts froze in fear.

Smiling inwardly, Leora ordered, “Release them.”

While Dukbium’s ascended were all rushing toward the blackened stars to start rejuvenating them, Leora turned to Thorb and asked, “How are the casualties on Endora’s side?”

Thorb lowered his head and said, “We lost about half of our troops. Out of the remaining half, most of them have suffered different degrees of injuries.”

Leora nodded with a sigh as she turned to Blue, “What about you?”

Blue bit his lower lip and shook his head, “We lost about two-thirds of the initial troops….”

“I’ll give everyone two hours to recover as much as possible before we march on Gaia’s domain. I know you’re all tired, I am too, but this won’t be over until Gaia falls,” said Leora before moving away from Thorb and Blue, allowing her body to dissipate as she returned to her divine source.

It wasn’t just the demigods who suffered heavy casualties in the war. Leora’s crown was also injured, and while it would take her years to recover back to her peak, she still wanted to recover as much as she could to assist Seth.

“Seth… I hope you’re alright…” muttered Leora, a deep trace of worry in her voice.

“Mistress, you worry too much. Your lover is stronger than any other being in this world. I’m sure he’ll be alright.” Light’s voice entered Leora’s ears, trying to soothe her worry.

“Who are you trying to fool, Light? We both know Fenrir and the Tower are real threats to Seth and are even on the same side in this war. Considering how Dukbium was waiting for us, the Tower must have gotten involved, and Fenrir will undoubtedly join the war on Yggdrasil’s side.”

“I admit the situation is less than ideal, but worrying about it won’t improve it,” said Light with a sigh. “Just focus on recovering...”

“I know that, but I love him too much not to worry...”