If Melly could, she would have slapped the swashbuckler upside the head. She was currently trying her best not to fall off the currently preoccupied flying whale. Balls of fire had been levelled in all directions, sending searing projectiles in every direction.

The giant god of fire laughed while Melly yelled a string of rather inventive insults towards Clemiticus.

“What was that? Could you repeat? I can’t hear you!” Clemiticus shouted with his magically enhanced singsong voice.

Below, the forces of fire washed over the land. The queen’s army was in ruins and had lost their footing on the walls, which were quickly crumbling. The castle beyond was now vulnerable, and the gods imprisoned therein ready to be unleashed on an unexpecting world.

“Hot! Hot! Hot!” Dog said. “Not a good morning!”

His magical barrier was failing even with the bards’ lyrical buffs.

“Let’s get somewhere safe for now and regroup.”

Dog nodded, then spun towards the city.

“MWA! HA! HA! HA!” the fire god bellowed.

A wicked grin lined his already terrifying maw, dripping molten lava with each chuckle.

“THIS WORLD AND ALL THAT YOU HOLD DEAR EXIST ONLY TO BURN!”

“Hey!” Clemiticus sounded mad. “If you’re going to rip someone off, make sure you look the part!”

The towering inferno's face tilted to one side.

“If you quote the line, you need a giant fiery hammer!”

The god nodded, sending enough lava sailing to engulf an entire city. A meaty hand plunged into the ground of molten rock, then surged skywards, forming the shape of an enormous flaming hammer.

“That’s better!” he said.

“Clem!” Melly shouted incensed that the idiot had made everything worse yet again.

“Yeah?”

“Good, you can hear me now! Shut the fuck up!”

He flipped up a thumb. “Okeydokey!”

The entire weight of everything before her piled on her shoulders. A world ending match between two primal forces was about to rend the world of Fanswald apart. Every second they faced each other, they both grew larger and more destructive. Every footstep they landed caused irrevocable damage to the land.

It was time to panic.

With the now armed god of fire facing down the sea god, even the air was becoming dangerous. There was enough steam billowing from their showdown to drown a whale.

It was fire against water. Eel against hammer.

Thud.

The two weapons collided, sending shock waves through the air. The colossal power of it thudded through her, down to her very core. Each swing delivered an ear-splitting scream. Each blow was felt miles away, like a hundred fireworks going off at the same time.

“Dog fly us out of here!”

“What do we do with our pirate buddy?”

She clenched her jaw. What could they do?

It was a lose, lose situation. If they could help and kill the fire god, they lose. If they didn’t and sea god died, they also lose. They needed the damn box that Clemiticus threw away.

Melly screamed in frustration. She had to think. Then it happened.

“Finally!”

Luck had finally chosen that moment to grace Melly with its presence. Far below was a welcome sight. One of the lava dogs was currently gnawing on the black box like a disposed chew toy.

Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest. Pointing towards the beast, she shouted the order, “Fly down there! Dog! Quickly!”

The whale darted low. The magical barrier flickered as its protection barely held. A mischievous grin found its way on her lips as her hand plunged into her pocket and a smooth potato appeared behind her tensed fingers.

Just as they were about to crash into the lava beast, she let the spud fly.

As soon as the burning pooch realised it had just been struck by a starchy tuber, it was too late. Its eyes filled with panic and then the pooch was no more. The box rolled from its mouth just as Melly snatched it from falling.

“Fly high quick!”

A maniacal laugh filled the air. It took her a moment to realise it was she who was making the sound. She was now in control.

The two gods continued to trade blows as neither one could outmatch the other.

Melly plucked one of her arrows from her quiver and unceremoniously drove the projectile into the box. Cracks formed on its surface as she nocked the improved arrow and aimed her bow.

“Fly closer!”

The magical barrier flickered.

“Closer!”

The scalding steam washed over them as the magical barrier fell. She ignored it. She had one shot and needed to make it count.

“CLOSER!”

Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes narrowed on the target. She felt the strange power granted by the mysterious gaming system take hold, illuminating her bow with a blue light.

“AIMED SHOT!”

She let loose.

Clemiticus watched as the arrow sailed through the air, whistling past ready to deliver the black box.

Crack!

The arrow shot the fire god right in the left eye!

“OW!”

The god of fire clutched at the box but it was futile.

“Nice one Melly!” Clemiticus cheered.

The black box flickered, then flashed as the white prison expanded.

Bing!

“Melly has successfully used the Developer item! Well, done Melly!”

“Nooooo!” The fire god’s massive size rapidly diminished. “I’m melting! I’m melting!”

Dylan stabbed his blade into the ground and crossed his arms, clearly gloating.

The steam thinned and heat withdrew. Molten limbs crumbled as the last few drops of lava fell away only to be replaced by what looked like a giant red marble. The god of fire had been contained.

She clenched her fingers and pumped her fist in the air.

“That’s how you do it!”