Chapter 54

“You’re weak!” Tabitha shouted, mocking Wil while he was kneeling on the surface of the black tar. Blood ran down his white robes from the hole she had burned through his shoulder. The spasms had finally abated, the electricity having run its course.

“Are all the gods as weak as you, brother? It’s a wonder they were able to hold back my Master for as long as they could if this is the best they were capable of.” Tabitha continued. Her grotesque body grew more monstrous as she drew on the Outsiders power.

Her beautiful face had been marred with pustules that wept black tar, her limbs grew longer and spindly, with the exception of her right arm, which was now so large that she couldn’t lift it.

But it didn’t matter, as her body failed her, Tabitha’s magic grew more powerful. She could rattle off high tier spells without an incantation, sometimes doubling their use, like the lightning bolt she had hidden in a fireball.

“No. They aren’t.” Wil replied, his tone weary as he slowly climbed to his feet. His bleeding wound slowly healed, the trickle of blood slowing.

“I’m rather unique amongst the gods… I think.” Wil muttered. His left arm couldn’t lift his sword, so he raised it one handed.

“Oh? And why is that?” Tabitha asked, curious.

“Secundus explained it to me, before I ascended. Each god forges a throne, through which they gain power. A sun, an ocean, even a giant tree…I made something a little different.” Wil explained, nodding at the sword in his hands.

“All my divine power, condensed into a sword. I didn’t have much of a choice, not if I wanted to rid myself of that hunger.”

“You really are an idiot, brother. You became a god, and your weaker now than when I saw you in the Capital! Even the spells you used against me, they were only Tier 6! You really expected to defeat my master with…this!?” Tabitha scoffed, gesturing at his figure. Wil was swaying slightly, his body tired and damaged, barely able to remain upright.

“Like I said, I’m unique. All that I have left, it’s mostly just the dregs that Erebus left behind. The White Moon isn’t very strong, most of its power went into this.” Wil replied, shaking the sword in his hand once more to draw her attention.

“I had thought you were capable of more, Wil. But I suppose we should end this. My master is waiting, and the rewards…” Tabitha shuddered, a wave of pleasure rushing through her body. “The rewards are unimaginable.”

Wil ignored her comment, focusing on the sword in his hand.

“I’m unique.” Wil repeated, not looking at Tabitha. He almost seemed to be speaking to himself, ignoring her presence.

“The other gods, they gained power through their own efforts, one step at a time. Like climbing a mountain, using their own feet to reach the summit. And when they got there, they found by conquering that mountain…they owned it. Their power was their own, to use as they willed.” He muttered.

To Tabitha, it seemed as if he were rambling, but, despite herself, she hung onto his every word.

“I didn’t conquer anything…I came to my divinity by removing something, ripping my power from my body and encasing it in a sword. This blade is divine, as for me…I’m just a weakling, a wastrel that leeches off of others.” Wil whispered, finally looking up from the black sword and staring into Tabitha’s eyes.

“As amusing as it is to listen to you, brother. Is there a point in your incoherent ramblings?” Tabitha questioned, already forming a spell. Her mana swirled around her, like a storm, ready to rend and tear.

“Only that my throne encompasses the worst of my character. It’s a leech as well, stealing from others, giving only to its owner. The Gluttonous Blade. My magic is weak without it. But what if I could steal from others, absorbing fractions of your magic, to use as my own. How powerful would I be then?” Wil stated, his face impassive.

From around him, a wave of black mana surged, shooting skyward, swirling around him. The pressure of his power was overwhelming, driving Tabitha backwards. She was forced to fling her enlarged arm across her face to block the bite of his mana.

More and more magical power emerged, the Gluttonous Blade expelled everything that it had taken from Tabitha, cycled through Wil’s body, and enhanced. The ocean roiled and burned, his stolen mana devoured everything around it. He had stolen it from her, making it his own.

“This…what is this! What kind of trick is this! You were defeated!” Tabitha screamed.

Wil’s mana felt like her own, heavy and oppressive, to the point where she could barely differentiate the difference between them. One thing was for certain, he had grown stronger, to the point where her own power was a small candle beside the bonfire that was his mana.

Abruptly, the vortex of power cut off. In its place, the ocean calmed, the world around them grew silent.

“I learned this spell from a vision of the past, a life that I lived but seems like a dream to me now. ‘Imprisonment’.” Wil whispered, his voice cutting through the silence.

Golden chains of mana emerged swiftly from the black tar, before she could react, Tabitha was wrapped tightly in the restraints. It even sealed her mana, severing her connection to the One. She tried to scream, but her mouth refused to open, Wil’s magic fastened it shut.

Tabitha was helpless against the 9th tier Abjuration spell, empowered by mana that overwhelmed hers. Seeing that she was contained, Wil slowly walked forward, hefting his sword over his shoulder, resting the blade against his white robes.

Coming to a stop in front of her, Wil watched her silently, his eyes indecisive. Tabitha could see he was struggling with a decision before his expression hardened.

“You deserve death, and an eternity of suffering, for what you’ve done, sister. You’ve betrayed humanity, giving yourself to that creature. You’ve killed, murdered those who trusted and loved you, sacrificed the innocent, devoured their flesh. You deserve to burn.” Wil stated, his eyes a cold blue as they stared into hers. Struggling, she couldn’t budge even an inch, the imprisonment magic held her in place.

In a flash, his sword was striking, piercing her chest, and burying itself deeply. She couldn’t even scream as pain rent her body, the blade was eating her. She felt pain in her limbs, her legs and arms were on fire. Waves of heat boiled her from the inside. Black tears ran down her cheeks from the agony.

The pain was endless, until, after what felt like an eternity, it ceased. The fire faded, the paid receded. To her astonishment, the chains retracted, freeing her. She stumbled to the ground, the black ocean of tar supported her weight.

Looking down, she was shocked by the sight of her hands. They were whole, unblemished, the infection that raged through her body, corrupting her flesh, and changing her, was gone! She was healed, with no traces of the One’s taint inside her.

With a scream, she cried as she desperately searched for the connection she had felt with her master. There was nothing, she was alone. The pleasure of its link had been stolen from her, drawn out by Wil’s sword.

“What have you done to me!” Tabitha screamed, clutching her arms around her body and rocking back onto her heels. Not only was the link gone, but so was her mana, she was mundane, rank-less and mortal.

“I took the infection away. The last trace of the Outsider’s taint in our world. You’re free, sister. You can enjoy what little of your soul remains, unbound by its poison. You’re welcome, Tabitha.” Wil said, lowering the sword.

“Free! Free! You bastard! You’ve ruined everything! I’ll kill you!” Tabitha screamed, she tried to climb to her feet, to attack him, but she stumbled. Weak, out of strength, she fell backwards, landing on her backside. She cried out for her master, wishing to feel its touch once more. Wil shook his head in pity, looking down at her.

“I spared you because I know, despite everything you’ve done, our mother would not want me to kill you.” Wil said. At his words, Tabitha stopped screaming. With a wave of his hand, she disappeared, the light of teleportation taking her back to the world below.

“But I don’t think Markus and the others will be so merciful.” Wil finished.