Moonrise ✔ [Complete]

14 God

A/N: Music attached above to set the mood. It's four minutes long, so feel free to listen to its entirety if you feel like it. I thought the music fit well with this chapter. It illustrates a sense of despair, and I'm sure you can guess from whom...

Maeyune did not falter. She met Reo halfway, her shield transforming into a slender double-edged sword. Its silver guard gleamed as her blade crashed against his with a vociferous clash.

Reo spewed fire in his path, and it diffused across the temple floor like poison.

In her god form, Maeyune could see it. She could see everything.

She now understood why the golden goddess was a black-red blaze. Reo's soul - Yunra's life force - was a contortion of rage. Maeyune could feel it like heat that stretched forth from a burning pyre. His fury was so potent, it was a darkness that had latched onto his soul.

But from where had this rage come?

Her silver eyes could see right through him to the darkness that consumed him, but she could not find its source. Regardless, she was certain of one thing - it fueled his drive to eliminate her.

He continued to swing again in frustration, and she parried every hit. More of his fire set the temple walls ablaze. She heard Meera scream.

Fire licked at the water celestial's feet, but Meera could only stare as her friend engaged in battle with a demonic deity. Jaysek finally sprinted over and grabbed her arm. He tugged her backward toward the temple entrance.

Maeyune attempted to reach Reo, to pierce through the thick layer of anger clenching every one of his senses. "This is not you, Yunra," she articulated, her voice omnipresent.

Reo roared and drove his blade toward her collarbone, aiming for a vulnerability between the plated armor of her chest and shoulder. She dipped to the side, slashing his sword away.

He pushed her backward, the force of his attacks gaining momentum with every second. At one point, he obtained clean access to her forearm, his red blade sparking across her silver gauntlet.

As she blocked another strike, she realized he was still ultimately stronger than she was.

He was the sun. How could she possibly defeat him? Since the beginning, she had been on the defensive.

She clenched her jaw as her mind raced for a solution. He was stronger, yes. So she had to be smarter. After all, she was the moon.

From where else does the moon get its light but the sun? she questioned.

As he lunged at her again, she tested her theory. When their blades continued their brawl, she altered the flow of her energy and welcomed his.

For a brief second, relief ensphered her. She could feel her veins channelling a portion of the sun's energy into her body, converting it into her own, much like the moon reflecting the sun's light. With regained strength and optimism, she shoved him back. He stumbled, confusion temporarily jarring him.