From the Heavens (Final Fantasy XVI)

𖥸 XLIII 𖥸

Gaia charged at the behemoth with a roar and pounced on it. She used her weight to knock it on its side and pin it to the ground. She swiped her claws against its flesh to begin slowly siphoning its health. Clive, Joshua, and Torgal were also able to deliver some blows to the behemoth before it pushed the tiger off its body.

Because of the goddess' size, the behemoth was mainly focused on her. It swiped its claws at her and even tried to bite into her flesh with its sharp teeth. Fortunately for her, she was able to dodge these attacks before delivering her own. Using powerful spell after powerful spell, she was able to knock the behemoth back and successfully stagger it.

Taking advantage of the downed beast, the party didn't hold back and delivered blow after blow to weaken it. They quickly backed away when the behemoth recovered.

Suddenly, the behemoth lunged toward Gaia and sunk its teeth into her neck and pinned her to the ground. The tiger roared in pain and tried to push the beast off of her by sinking her claws into its sides and using magic to free herself.

Clive, Joshua, and Torgal tried to aid her by attacking the beast, but it was too focused on tearing into her flesh that it seemed almost immune to their attacks. Using its tail, it knocked the three of them away. It then dragged Gaia's body across the stone, its teeth still sunk into her neck. Using all its strength, it tossed her body into the sea.

"No!" Clive shouted. He was about to run over to see where the goddess went, only to be stopped when Joshua grabbed his arm. He looked at his brother in confusion before his eyes darted over to the behemoth to see it standing on its hind legs. Aether gathered around the beast as it prepared to cast ecliptic meteor.

From the sky came a large flaming meteor that was heading straight for the brothers. Joshua stepped in front of Clive and threw out his arm in front of him. "Stand back! I'll conjure a ward!"

The moment Joshua cast the ward, he was consumed by a coughing fit and the barrier faded as quickly as it appeared. He placed a hand over his mouth as he coughed before falling to his knees.

"Joshua!" Clive shouted. He checked on his brother before stepping in front of him and semi-priming with Ifrit. "Desperate times!"

Joshua lifted his head to see his brother was going to try to stop the meteor. "Clive, no!"

"Trust me. I'm your Shield, remember." He raised his hand and channeled Ifrit's power to try and stop the flaming meteor. However, he realized it wouldn't be enough. "I think this might be a job for Ifrit..."

Joshua got to his feet and stood beside Clive, placing his hand over his to provide him with more power. "And why would you turn to him, Brother? When we fight, we fight together!"

Combining the power of the Phoenix and Ifrit, the two brothers were able to destroy the meteor before it could kill them. The meteor was gone and Ifrit's flames vanished from Clive's body.

"That wasn't too bad," Clive said.

Joshua caught his breath. "That was just the beginning."

Suddenly, Gaia jumped out of the sea. Her large form plowed into the behemoth and she used her weight to push it back.

"Or perhaps it is the end," Clive said as he watched the goddess push the behemoth into the sea with her. He and Joshua ran over to the edge of the platform just in time to see the behemoth's body being frozen before sinking below the water's surface. The beast would drown at the bottom of the sea, granting them an easy victory.

Gaia's form vanished.

Lyra's head broke through the water's surface and she coughed.

"Lyra!" Clive shouted her name.