You're going down," Sage said calmly, his eyes locked on Sultan.
Sultan smirked. "So, it's the magician's turn to play hero? It won't matter. The outcome stays the same—your death."
Sage's face remained unreadable. His eyes were like frost—calm, detached, but dangerous. Then he spoke.
"You think you're a hot shot," he said, voice low and resolute. " I've seen the future… and you don't live to see the next day."
The words hit Sultan like a curse.
His expression twisted. Rage flared in his eyes. His fists clenched at his sides, body trembling with fury.
"You dare speak to me like that, magician?" Sultan growled. "I'll make you eat those words."
Sage moved without hesitation, arcane runes swirling around him like glowing serpents. They coalesced into a radiant whip, which he hurled at Sultan with a flick of his hand.
Sultan caught it mid-air, smirking—until the whip pulsed with energy and yanked Sage toward him. With a roar, Sultan drove his fist forward—
—but it passed straight through Sage's chest.
His eyes widened. "What?"
The figure smiled—calm, cold, and mocking—then vanished into a mist of fading runes.
"Illusions?" Sultan snarled. "You want to play tricks, magician?"
He scanned his surroundings warily, muscles coiled, senses sharp.
Suddenly, a hand shot up from the ground, grabbing Sultan's right leg and yanking it down. Before he could react, two more spectral hands lashed out, binding his arms in place.
Then came the real Sage—rising from behind like a phantom, and with a burst of magical force—
POWW!
A heavy punch landed squarely on Sultan's chest.
The god stumbled backward, clutching his chest in pain, his expression contorted with fury. Sage stood his ground, calm and collected.
"That's payback—for the punch you gave me earlier."
Sultan wiped the blood from his lips and stood tall, eyes burning.
"I told you before… you weren't showing your worth. Now you are. But it won't matter. Once I'm finished with you, I'll crush the rest of your little squad—if they're even still breathing."
Sage smirked. "You think you've already won? You're the one who's outnumbered, god. It's still nine against one—remember?"
Sultan scoffed, a dark grin creeping across his face. "If I remember correctly… the others are already knocked out."
"They'll get back up," Sage said with a mocking bow. "So be prepared… god."
Sultan's thoughts raced. This guy is trouble... he's still not showing his full hand. I need to be careful.
Sage smirked. "A lot running through your head, huh, god?" he said with sarcasm. "Trying to decide whether to come at me or hold back? Don't overthink it—I'll make the first move."
In an instant, Sage moved like the wind, gliding effortlessly across the battlefield. For the first time, Sultan hesitated—his mind clouded, instincts uncertain.
Sage whispered an incantation:
"Mage Arts: Sounds of Despair."
A horrid screech erupted into the air—loud, sharp, and unbearable.
SCREEAAAHHHH!
Then—snap—Sage silenced it with a flick of his fingers. The sudden quiet lasted only a heartbeat before a violent gust of wind surged straight toward Sultan.
The god reacted quickly, slamming his hands together. As his fingers interlocked, massive stone walls erupted around him, forming a sturdy barrier.
The wind howled and slammed into the rocks, shaking the ground beneath.
When it faded, the stone walls crumbled to dust. Sultan stepped forward, clearly frustrated.
"Why don't you just let me cut you down?" he growled.
Sage met his gaze without flinching. "My death won't come at the hands of a man who brings sorrow to the innocent."
Sultan scoffed. "Again with the hero talk. The last guy said I was a coward, that I couldn't turn my anger into strength—blah, blah. You all act like your resolve is some righteous flame. You look at mine and call it twisted, but it's not. I have my justice. Cleansing the impurities is part of it."
"Killing innocent lives isn't justice," Sage replied coldly. "If you're still hiding behind that delusion, then I have no choice... I'll just have to hold you out."
"Hold me out?" Sultan raised a brow. "For who?"
"You'll find out... soon enough." Sage smiled.
Sage's smile faded into focus.
He raised his hand—sigils glowing in mid-air. "Mage arts: Chains Of Incarceration!"
Arcane chains burst from glowing circles beneath Sultan, surging upward to wrap around his limbs. But Sultan slammed his foot into the ground—
BOOM!
Jagged rocks erupted like a shield, shattering the chains mid-flight. With a grunt, Sultan thrust his arms forward.
"Pillars of Desolation!"
A wave of spiked stone columns shot toward Sage. The magician leapt into the air, runes forming beneath his feet as if the wind itself obeyed him. He spun mid-air and chanted—
"Mystic arts:Elemental Beams!"
A sphere of radiant energy charged with multiple elemental hues exploded from his palm and clashed with the stone pillars, blasting debris in all directions.
The ground trembled. Smoke and wind swirled violently between them.
Through the haze, Sultan growled. "You're good, magician—but not enough."
Sage landed softly, eyes glowing with calm defiance.
"You'll break before I bend."
Then they both surged forward—rock and magic colliding, their powers dancing like war drums under the darkened sky.
Suddenly, Sage felt a jolt—something tingling at the edge of his awareness.
Damn... the barrier's activating, he thought. Just when I was starting to corner him. No matter... I'll use it to my advantage. One of them is already back on their feet.
Sage took a step back.
Sultan narrowed his eyes, puzzled by the sudden retreat. "Why are you backing away?"
Sage remained calm, his breath steady. He raised a hand and uttered solemnly:
"Mystic Arts: Artemis' Judgment."
A low hum rippled through the battlefield.
> "HmmmmMMMMM…"
The sky dimmed.
Air shimmered like heat waves in slow motion, distorting reality itself. Ethereal voices—ancient, divine—whispered in forgotten tongues as sigils bloomed behind Sage in radiant arcs.
> "DONG…"
A deep celestial chime rang out like a bell from the heavens.
Then, with a flash of sacred brilliance—
> "BOOOM!"
—space tore open behind Sage, and Artemis herself emerged. Not a woman, but a colossal spectral figure cloaked in divine moonlight. Her wings stretched wide, unfurling with a sound like starlight colliding.
> "WHOOSH—SHHHHHRAK!"
In her hand, a glowing blade ignited with celestial fire, humming with restrained wrath.
Sultan's eyes widened. His instincts screamed danger.
He barely managed to summon a forcefield—arms raised, palms bracing as a golden dome encased him.
Then it fell.
The blade.
> "SKRAAAAA-DOOOOOOM!!"
A sonic quake roared across the battlefield as the sword crashed into the barrier. The divine energy screamed, splintering the forcefield like glass.
> "CRACK—SHHHHRRRRAAAANG!!"
The dome shattered.
The blade continued—unstoppable.
> "KRAKKKKK-BOOOM!!"
It slashed through Sultan, sending a shockwave that split the very ground beneath him.
"AHHHHHHHH!!"
Sultan howled, collapsing to his knees, a deep crimson gash searing across his chest.
The god's breath rasped in pain.
Across the field, Sage stood unmoved—but blood suddenly gushed from his mouth. He coughed violently, covering it with his hand.
"That... really took a toll on me," he muttered, barely able to stand straight.
Sultan struggled to his feet, breathing heavily. A deep, crimson gash ran across his chest, blood dripping from the wound. Still, he sneered.
"You're no joke," he said hoarsely. "But it looks like you're too drained to finish me off."
Sage stared him down, unshaken.
"That's why I told you... I'm not here to finish you. I'm just here to hold you off. The Ace Makers are already up."
At those words, Sage opened a glowing portal beside him.
From the swirling light, Blaze stepped forward—bruised, beaten, but burning with fury. Scars from the earlier rock impact marred his body, but his resolve was unbroken.
He looked at Sultan and smirked.
"Long time no see."