T. H. T. D. D. W. T. M. K. E.

Chapter 33: A Worthy Successor

Stongdor: "Don't worry, uncle Nogu. We got this."

Nogu kneeled to look the child in the eye and grabbed him by the shoulders as if he were to dispel some trick or illusion, but it truly was him. In any other situation, he would've been truly elated to see Stongdor but in the heat of such a hopeless massacre, Nogu was furious. Even so, his expression was that of happiness, confusion, outrage, and disbelief. The child simply looked up at his mentor with hope, tugging on the straps of his trailing backpack. Stongdor still had his rock for bashing in skulls.

Nogu: "Why did you come?! I told you not to follow us, child!"
Stongdor: "I had to help! You told me I needed to be prepared and I am! I can do this!"
Nogu: "No! He'll kill you, boy."
Stongdor: "He'll kill everyone else too if someone else doesn't come in. Please, Nogu. Let me help."

Before his mentor could respond, Stongdor felt a wind blow against his back. An elephant ogre had landed behind him, one of Sath's original war beasts. It took the form of a gargantuan rotund humanoid with the head of an elephant. Its thick grey skin had a texture similar to stone and small white tusks protruded from its mouth. Three more landed onto the ashen earth, surrounding the elder god and the child. Nogu looked at his disciple with uncertainty, but it was clear the two had no choice. They had to fight.

Nogu: "Prove you can carry your weight and you may help."

Stongdor nodded as he grit his teeth, clenching his fists and growling at the beasts. The child lunged at one of the elephant ogres, landing a solid blow onto one of its shins. Despite only being a child, the raw power behind Stongdor's strike was sufficient to knock down the hulking beast. Stongdor looked to his mentor with a childish smirk as Nogu nodded in approval. The elephant ogre quickly rose and threw a punch with all of its might. The impact created a devastating shockwave, cracking the earth and creating a number of new chasms in the ground, but the child was unmoved. Stongdor didn't have to think of methods or techniques. He simply acted as he exhaled an incredible plume of fire from his mouth, fending off the monster. Stongdor was determined. He let his fears wash away as instinct and bravery took hold. He knew that this was war and if he did not act, he would die. 

As the three other beasts bellowed lowly and stepped closer to the elder god, Nogu let out a focused breath as he prepared for combat. He pointed his index finger at the second elephant ogre, transforming its form into solid rock. Nogu thrust his fist in the air as he unleashed a colossal beam of violet energy, blasting a gaping hole through the third ogre's gut. As the third fell to its knees, the fourth slammed its fists and trunk down onto the elder god. Nogu blocked the attack effortlessly, crossing his forearms overhead. He smirked as he pushed the elephant ogre's arms away, soaring through the air and exploding the beast's head with an uppercut. In a momentary fit of rage, Nogu continued to beat on the monster's body, pounding the pile of bloody mush into the ground. He snapped out of the heat of the moment, only to realize that the third elephant ogre survived its injuries. The ground shook as it ran toward Stongdor, attempting to surprise a weaker enemy. Nogu stepped forth to intervene but stopped right in his tracks. His disciple could handle himself.

Stongdor turned to see second elephant ogre charging from behind. The child leaped into the air and took flight as he soared through the center of its forehead. The beast fell with a heavy thud after Stongdor exited the back of its skull. It felt no pain in its instant death, but the child hadn't finished his first opponent yet. It rose from the ground from their first bout and brought its arm down, prepared to smash Stongdor to mincemeat. The child simply turned back and snapped his fingers, reducing the elephant ogre to an enormous cloud of blue morpho butterflies. He watched as they flew off to the rest of the battlefield, hoping that they would somehow survive.

Nogu: "Well, you can certainly handle yourself."
Stongdor: "I told you I can bash in skulls, uncle Nogu."
Nogu: "It's just Nogu. You've proven yourself. You can...assist us in the battle."
Stongdor: "Yeah! We're gonna bash in Goobert's skull!"

Stongdor was the little bit of light left in Nogu's life, the levity from a child he needed. Their moment would be interrupted by the welcomed arrival of a powerful ally. It was by this time that Richard chugged down the ravioli and brought the Cannoli Mob to even the odds of the battle. Though the metal man and the bear thought of the destruction of their enemy, Nogu realized their method would indiscriminately slaughter their enemies and their allies. A bomb couldn't discern between friend or foe.

Nogu: "Get down! Xenosian airstrike!"

The elder god pulled the child close, intent on shielding the boy with his body, but Stongdor pushed his mentor away. Nogu would've brought the child back into his grasp if he wasn't frozen in astonishment. Stongdor rose his hand high in the air, calling to the myriad of butterflies. The friendly fog of flyers encased the defenders of the multiverse individually and suddenly transformed into plates of godsteel as the bombs began to fall. The ground before the child exploded as a misfired artillery round landed nearby. Nogu was amazed at Stongdor's unwavering bravery. He was unmovable when defending his fellow men. In Nogu's eyes, Sath had chosen a worthy successor, even more so than himself.

Stongdor clenched his fist as the butterflies of godsteel wrapped themselves around the forms of the soldiers, giving each of them a set of godsteel armor. Nogu looked down to the young boy, his eyes bright with amazement. The mentor and the disciple looked to a number of charging Horrors, readying themselves for the final battle to come.

Nogu: "Be ready, child."
Stongdor: "Got it."

The two shrouded themselves with powerful auras, Nogu surrounded by amber red and Stongdor by sky blue. They soared through the horde of Horrors, eviscerating the opposition as they made their way to the Last Cathedral. The ultimate battle was about to take place and the fate of all life hung in the balance.

Goobert: "Bring him to me."