***The City of Light***

***Angrod***

“So, Seria is Sofie!” I conclude after listening to Celes's hasty summary of the developments while I was... out for the count.

Yep! Let us better deny the fact that my soul was close to being caught inside a Void Zone, drifting until it eventually deteriorated enough to erase all my immortal memories.

And also, if Celes's story is true, I looked at my daughter's ass and tits and had perverted thoughts about her!

Let us just deny any of that ever happened.

In any case, it means that Seria played all of us like a fiddle. She proved herself to be the greatest puppet-master I ever knew. She manipulated the Council even before I got acquainted with her, and she was playing all parties during the war between my and Celes's former selves.

Even now, in death, we are dancing to her grand scheme. She set all of us on a path against the Council and I don't see how we could change the course she set for us, nor do I want to.

I will give her hell if I ever manage to piece her together with her memories and personality intact.

Actually, the personality-issue is a point I am a little worried about.

Controlling my expression, I turn my full attention to my wife. “So? Do you feel any different after you got your power back?”

Celes blinks, looking confused while she still holds onto my arm. “Me? Shouldn't you worry about yourself? You are the one who was left in the dirt to bleed out like a pig. I feel fine. Better than ever, in fact. I could move mountains. What do you mean?”

“Ah, nothing important. I was just wondering whether your returned godhood changed anything about your Myrm/Isabella problem. The dreams, you remember?” I explain, trying to sound casual so as to not set her off.

“But it should be okay if you are feeling fine.”

She presses her lips together, clearly concentrating on some inner inspection of her memories. “No... no, I don't feel any different.” She frowns, looking worried. “Is that good or bad?”

“I honestly don't know.” I get to my feet, allowing Celes to help me up. “But right now there is no time to think about it. We have to stop Tjenemit as quickly as possible, preferably without destroying the world.”

As far as I am concerned she can stay the way she is now forever. Myrm was just a bitch and my worst enemy, while Isabella was a manipulative and overbearing woman who loved me a tad too much. To the point that it drove me away from her in the end.

I am not certain how meshing those two characters, one who I couldn't stand at all and another who was suffocating me would result in a person I truly like and... love. Ah, let's not use the big L-word too casually in front of her.

Still, I have to remember to check her over at some point. Now that I have my powers back that shouldn't be a problem. I messed up Myrm's soul and Seria must have done something with Isabella's to create Celes as I know her today.

Given the dreams which are clearly returning memories, I assumed that Seria fused the two souls in order to repair what was broken in Myrm.

After undergoing such a procedure it is amazing that Celes still clung to the memories about our life as Johann and Sandra... and it is slightly worrying that the two souls didn't separate with Celes regaining her power. I would have assumed that one or the other side would overwhelm the other, especially since Isabella wasn't a true god. She was a demon, which counts as a demi-god, a deity without the ability to use the pathways.

Just what mess did Seria create when she played with my lover's soul?

“So, what should we do about that?” Celes points towards an awesome explosion on the horizon. “We are sitting here while Tjenemit is killing people, though I would assume that he is facing some resistance now that everyone has their powers back.”

“I really hope that at least some people took Seria's wish to heart and are already beating up Tjenemit. Though, they will have problems. They just got their powers back and their memories of their past lives should be pretty messed up. We already had two decades to pull our heads together,” I comment.

Reintegrating old memories into a complete personality is pretty troublesome. Even more so if the owner already developed a completely new personality which doesn't necessarily fit together with his old one. Compared to that, Tjenemit has an eternity of experience and is in full control of his power.

“But if this is really our old world? It's hard to believe that Seria was able to move a whole world into a Void Zone, but I already suspected it...” I mumble as an idea starts forming in my mind.

It should still be there. For a second, I concentrate and search for it, deep down, hidden within the planet.

I planted the seed a long time ago, allowing it to grow and feed off the planet's mana. Originally, I created it as my final solution to the war with Myrm, but it should be just as good to finish off Tjenemit.

Then I sense it!

“Go and distract Tjenemit for a few minutes. I will be right back.”

“What?” Celes tries to grab me, but I already teleported straight down to the planet's core.

“Mwahahaha!” I laugh, as I appear inside a chamber of glowing blue Mana Crystal. I turn in a circle and look at the wonder which is surrounding me.

Back then, I wanted to create something worthy of a god! The inspiration for it was given to me by living in the Council's Crystal City. I often tried to recreate those Mana Crystals, but it was insanely difficult.

Imagine a substance that is durable enough to withstand even the power of a god. Mana Crystal is to the gods what metal is to a mortal.

I wanted the secret behind this mysterious substance that nobody else was able to master! But I was unable to recreate it. No matter what I tried, I ended up with failures. It was impossible to manipulate, fuse, or weld a Mana Crystal into the shape I wanted it to be.

Then, one day, while I was watching a stalactite grow, I had an enlightenment! Phew, to think that my old self had nothing better to do than watching a piece of rock grow. I must have been really bored.

Anyway!

The Crystal City wasn't created! It grew as all crystals do! If one gathers enough mana in one point, it crystallizes and you end up with something that looks and feels like solid matter but isn't. It's pure mana, pure energy that is so condensed that it starts defying physics. For all intents and purposes, it might even be in the state that matter takes on inside a neutron star.

So I created a seed and set it free to grow down here inside the world. I expected it to take hundreds, thousands of years to mature, but on the other hand, I guess that much time really went by since then – thanks to Seria's interference.

Did she somehow learn about my master plan?

No. It must have been a lucky coincidence. I never told anyone the details of this particular scheme of mine, since I learned early on to always play the long game.

I step forward and leave the chamber which I planned as an arrival zone for teleportation and instructed to be left empty. Everything else within this base should have grown according to my specifications and plans.

There is no need to search for my way since I remember the facility's layout by heart. I can feel the huge power which is collected inside the core.

After wandering a crystal corridor, I reach a room with a huge crystal in its centre. Unlike the rest of the facility, this one looks wild and naturally grown. It's the heart and control centre of this whole structure, created with technology I gathered from all corners of the multiverse, reforged into my very own creation.

I touch the crystal and feel the power inside it. It recognizes the signature of my soul and unlocks all its functions for me. After a little concentration, I give it the command to rise to the surface.

Having received the instruction, the crystal hums with power as if it wants to reassure me that it understood the order.

Next, I visit the main armoury which is only a short walk away.

I enter an immense room. It is filled with rows and rows of weapons, armours, and artefacts. They all grew out of crystal. I designed them long ago but never had the means to turn the ideas into artefacts. Weapons which can strike down even the gods.

But all of them are just toys compared to what I am looking for. I avert my eyes.

Those weapons are of no interest to me.

I walk to the end of the room where a staff is resting on a pedestal with ten blades lined up next to it, their opalescent surfaces shimmering with red, blue and green. All of these weapons are made out of Mana Crystal.

Other than its material, the staff looks ordinary. The only decorations are runic ornaments and it is about the same length as my height. But looking closely, I can see that it is riddled inside out with countless fine runes and circles which make up the adaptable spell matrix which is supposed to act as a set of building blocks which make it easier to cast large and complicated spells.

It is the perfect weapon for someone who specializes in using magic.

Without further hesitation, I take the staff, feeling power pulsing through it. This is my masterpiece. A weapon which is worthy of a god of magic.

Next on the list is real armour, not the flimsy metal my current one is made of.

I head for one of the lockers at the wall and open it, revealing a drawer which contains thousands of tiny scales, seemingly carelessly poured inside. Not wasting any time, I retract my organic enchantment and reach into the drawer, channeling my magic into the crystal armour.

The scales start flowing up my arm and beneath my current armour, interlocking in a thin layer until I am covered in a tight mesh of almost indestructible matter which covers me like a second skin.

A thought is enough to bring the remaining blades on the weapon display under my telekinetic command. They attach themselves to my back, leaving me ready to kick some Council member ass.

Then I notice the reflection of my savage grin on the smooth crystal surface of the wall.

Damn, do I really look that scary every time Celes complains about my expression?

Anyway. Why am I wasting my time here?

I concentrate again until I find Celes. Then I use teleport to join her.

>>

I arrive at a battlefield.

Multiple soldiers are trying to stop Tjenemit with their regained powers. He is hovering in the sky above a landscape of fields while he sends out blasts of pure power at everyone who comes too close. Together, there must be over a hundred gods who are trying to subdue him.

Only a small amount of people are actually trying to fight Tjenemit, while most of the men and women involved are trying their best to limit the damage to the surroundings. They don't really succeed since most of them are lesser deities or mid-level gods. The only one who can stand on even footing with Tjenemit is Celes, and surprisingly enough Arthur, Tanja, Gabriel, and Nicosar.

They are all held back by the fact that penetrating Tjenemit's defensive aura would require enough force to cause significant damage to our world, while Tjemenit clearly doesn't have such concerns.

He is throwing his power around with abandon while most of the gods around him are trying their best to divert or absorb the energy.

I expected such a situation, but it is a little worse than I imagined.

As I try to find the best way to interfere, Tjenemit grabs Tanja at her neck and shakes her like a doll, squeezing the life out of her. Even though having the upper hand at the moment, Tjenemit seems to be disturbed.

It has to be shocking if mere mortals who should be nothing more than insects suddenly put up a fight.

Using the distraction, I teleport directly in front of Tjenemit and touch his chest with the tip of my staff.

A blinding flash of light erupts and the Council member is sent straight down to the earth like he was hit by a sledge hammer the size of a mountain.

I grab Tanja at her foot before she can fall too. “Are you still alive?”

“...Yes, my king. Though, I don't feel that good.” She nods and rights herself to float next to me, using levitation magic.

“Then retreat and tell everyone to concentrate solely on lessening the damage to this world. Put up a shield and shut me and Tjenemit inside it. I don't want him to get away.” I let her do her job and teleport down to Tjenemit.

The Council member is already getting back to his feet, trying to dust himself off while the gods around us rally to create a dome-like barrier.

“Who are you!?” He sneers, then narrows his eyes. “Aren't you that pet of Seria's? I thought that I killed you.”

“Just think of me as a ghost from the past. In more ways than one.” I shrug. “So, how should we do this? Are you going to spare the both of us some time, or do I have to beat you first?”

His eyes narrow upon noticing my staff. “Another crystal weapon.” And then, recognition dawns on his face. “You are Ascathon!”

“New body.” I roll my shoulders. “Took some time getting used to, but I am fond of it by now.”

Celes appears beside me, just before the dome-like barrier solidifies around us and locks us inside it with Tjenemit. It has a diameter of roughly fifty meters.

As they try their best to strengthen the magical working, new arrivals join in as they arrive at the scene.

Tjenemit looks around, studying his new situation. “How is this possible? Do you know what you are doing!? You are resisting the Council!”

“The Council has nothing to say on this world. We are the rulers here,” Celes informs him of the changed circumstances.

He turns red with rage. “Who are you to... no...” He clenches his teeth, working to get his emotions under control. “You must be Myrm.”

Looking from one to the other, he tilts his head. “Are you by chance working together now?” He looks at Celes and smiles. “Myrm, have you forgotten where your loyalties lie?”

My wife tenses, but I place a hand on her shoulder to hold her back. “We are no longer influenced by the world enchantment that you used to stir animosities. You hold no power over us.”

“Ah.” He clicks his tongue, clearly disappointed. “You know that all of this is futile. In the end, you will suffer. You may have caught me off guard, but that won't be the case for the others outside the Void Zone. They will know what happened if I don't return. We will crush this rebellion and seal you all away for good.”

He lashes out at us with a spell, but I counter with my staff.

By waving the Mana Crystal through the containing spell matrix, I disperse the surge of energy. Tjenemit's attack is dispelled as if I had torn down a spider's web with a stick.

He looks at me, agape at the ease with which I countered him.

“You are out of your depth, Tjenemit.” I smile. “You are a naked ape, and I am the guy with the gun.”

His expression darkening, he flicks his hand, sending a sword made out of a white fire at Celes.

She only tilts her head, barely avoiding the spell without wasting the effort to move.

At the same time, something that moved too fast for me to see impacts my chest and falls to the ground.

Frowning, I look down, chastising myself for my lacking skills in hand to hand combat.

What lies on the ground at my feet is a knife made out of Mana Crystal. It still looks pristine in its blue, glass-like appearance, explaining why it cut so easily through my aura.

Half the length of my lower arm, the blade is slightly curved. The handle's lower end doubles as a punching ring. It is thinner than one would expect from a combat knife, but Mana Crystal doesn't suffer from the same limitations as metal. Where metal would bend like clay in the hands of a god, Mana Crystal holds steady and is able to cut through any aura or defences with ease.

I still remember the blade like it was yesterday. “I think I will take that back. After all, it's my creation.”

Using telekinesis, I float the karambit up into my hand and inspect the thin hole which the weapon caused in the chest-piece of my mortal armour. Even heavily enchanted, the metal posed no obstruction to the creation of a god.

Had it not been for the second layer of armour hidden beneath, I would have received a mortal wound.

“H... how...” Tjenemit takes a step back, now clearly out of options. He played his hand and seems to be out of tricks now.

“I like that thing. Could you lend it to me for a second, honey?” Celes tugs at my sleeve with a strange expression on her face. Her eyes are locked on my staff.

“Um... why? You aren't a caster.” I reluctantly give her my staff when she insistently pulls at it.

Once it's in her possession, she makes sure that her stance is correct, then takes a swing, using it like a baseball bat. “Don't worry. It only has to be sturdy.”

I raise a hand, wanting to stop her. “That's not how it's supposed to be-”

Tjenemit interrupts me. “Don't ignoreee meee!” He screams with unadulterated rage and jumps at us, but Celes is suddenly right next to him, wielding the staff like a club.

It impacts Tjenemit's belly with such force that he is sent flying backwards, bouncing off the barrier which encloses us.

I have to shield my eyes from the gust of wind as Tjenemit flies forward and wince when Celes receives him, swinging my staff in an overhead arc and hitting his shoulder with a thunder-like 'crack'!

“That's a finely tuned precision instrument to assist in casting spells!” I complain.

It's not a common club!

But Celes doesn't heed my words as she swings my grandest creation like a savage. A cavema- cavewoman, with a nuclear rocket in her hands, and all she knows to do with it is to beat stuff!

Ignored, I watch the unfolding fight…

Ahem.

The beating, which is performed truly thoroughly.

At some point, it looks like she killed him and I ready myself to catch his soul, but Celes throws a bag with some yellow powder at him. The contents restore the seemingly dead body, which is quickly ready for round two.

After half an hour and two more bags of powder, I have the honour to witness a Council member crying like a little child, his body a ruined and broken mess, flapping around impotently like a fish caught on land. To be honest, I am not even sure how it's possible that he is still alive. Celes truly raised her skills in dealing out non-lethal blows to a form of art.

After having had the doubtful honour to watch the 'fight', I doubt that a single shard of bone in Tjenemit's body is bigger than the nail of my thumb.

Having had trouble to contain her unleashed power, the barrier around us flickered multiple times in the process but didn't break.

Looking around, I notice that the faces of the people outside are pale. They got to watch the whole scene while they tried their best to maintain the barrier, listening to Tjenemit's screams of pain and terror.

Having finished her workout and breathing heavily, Celes abandons her whimpering victim on the stirred up ground of the improvised arena. She returns to me and presses the bloody staff into my hand. “Thank you, honey. I hope that I can borrow it again, should I need it.”

I rub the smooth surface of my staff between my fingers, unable to ignore the slickness which is caused by the fine layer of blood and grime. “Ahem. How about if I make you a dedicated bat?”

Actually, I am not certain if I should give her any blunt weapon made out of Mana Crystal. Would she develop the same skill if it was a knife? Should Mana Crystal weapons in my wife's hands be considered a violation of the code of war?

It feels so soiled now...

Maybe I should just make a new staff and throw this one into the trash.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I approach the sack of meat that was a functioning body just ten minutes earlier. Unsure, I poke it with the tip of my staff, which causes a lot of snivelling and moaning, combined with the expelling of blood and... other fluids... from various openings and wounds.

“Gods, that smells!” I choke and cover my nose with my sleeve, the metal of my armour hardly being of help against the stench.

Seeing that there is truly no point in further punishment, I tap what I assume to be Tjenemit's forehead. There is really no way of telling without prying apart the swollen meat.

His soul detaches easily from his body, almost eager to get to the afterlife. Normally, I have to tear the soul out of people, but not so this time.

For the time being, I seal him inside my staff for further interrogation at a later date. Maybe I will resurrect him after a thorough deletion of his memories.

With Tjenemit's body now stiff and lifeless, the others let the barrier fall.

Which leaves us no longer as a simple king and a queen, but as the rulers of a world filled with immortal gods and demons.

I feel like things just got a lot more complicated than they were supposed to be.