Seizing Bellona’s moment of weakness, Menrva tore the chain from her neck mere milliseconds before the weapon fell alongside its creator into the great lake of Taltheilei.

  Bellona’s immobilizing magic dissipated instantly. The steel circles vanished. All were freed.

  With the last of her strength, Menrva clawed her way to the cliff’s edge. Her palms split open from the impact, blood running freely as she coughed and spat crimson, her energy nearly exhausted.

  From the lake’s depths, Bellona resurfaced and hurled her chain upward, seeking to drag Menrva back into the water. But Epona shot forward, catching Menrva mid-fall while seizing the chain with her right hand.

  With a violent pull, Epona yanked Bellona from the lake and slammed her into the earth.

  Once.

  Twice.

  Again and again.

  Each impact shook the ground, leaving vast craters in the soil.

  The Celtic goddess then floated back to the cliff and gently laid Menrva down.

  “Ambrosia! Give her ambrosia—quickly!” Epona shouted in desperation.

  “Th… thank you… for saving me… Epona…” Menrva whispered weakly.

  Epona could not help but smile. At last, their differences had been laid aside.

  Suddenly, the energy drained from Epona. The borrowed power faded. She collapsed face-first onto the ground while returning to her human form. The Hikaptha slipped from her grasp, its radiance now extinguished.

  Ana swiftly conjured jars of mead infused with ambrosia and pressed one to Menrva’s lips. The Etruscan goddess stood on the brink of death, yet as she drank, the wound at her throat sealed completely. Her breathing steadied.

  Rodrigo knelt beside Epona and gave her ambrosia as well. The shattered bones in her hand and the damage from her headbutt healed at once.

  “You struck a woman to save your friends, Rodrigo. I am proud of your growth,” Epona said with a weary smile.

  Rodrigo flushed and looked away.

  “It was fortunate she did not paralyze Epona and Anpiel. I suppose the fool underestimated them,” Tania remarked, discreetly hiding her broken hand.

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  Menrva regained full consciousness and sat upright, apologizing for her weakness.

  “We are all weak here, Menrva,” Ana replied with a laugh.

  Tania added that no one could have foreseen Bellona’s hidden trump card.

  Menrva turned to Epona and smiled through tears.

  “Thank you for trusting me. That made me happy.”

  “You still owe us many explanations,” Epona replied, “but for now, I have chosen to trust you.”

  Anpiel helped Menrva stand, while Rodrigo assisted Epona. All eyes turned toward Bellona’s fallen form. The Roman goddess lay unconscious, face-down within the massive crater Epona’s blow had carved.

  “What was that sphere Bellona wielded?” Anpiel asked.

  “I know little. My former lord Ares used one against you on Mars. Bellona claimed they were devices forged by Lel to amplify power,” Menrva answered honestly.

  “Yes—but only temporarily. The immense energy I felt vanished within moments,” Epona added, holding the sphere, now a dull amber.

  Tania approached to examine it. Epona handed it to her.

  “Perhaps Athena will know what this is,” Anpiel said.

  He reached for his communication orb—then froze.

  At that instant, all of them felt it.

  A monstrous presence.

  Overwhelming.

  Racing toward them at impossible speed.

  “What is that? It’s far stronger than Bellona!” Rodrigo shouted.

  “Is it… flying?” Ana asked in horror.

  “It must be the man who was hunting us,” Tania replied.

  “Even if we conceal ourselves, he surely sensed the battle. We cannot stop him with our current strength,” Loki added.

  “Wait—there is one way,” Anpiel interrupted. “Menrva, use the golden sphere. With that surge of power, you might stand against him.”

  “Impossible,” Menrva said.

  “Why?”

  “Those devices draw strength from wars and battles, as Bellona stated. She likely had not fully charged it—and thus its power faded,” Menrva explained.

  “Damn it. If Bellona nearly destroyed us, I do not wish to imagine this one,” Rodrigo muttered.

  “I will defend you as best I can—but we must split up immediately,” Menrva declared. “If he attacks one group, the other may escape.”

  “Whatever canst thou mean by such a suggestion, Menrva-san? We cannot, under any circumstances, retreat in the manner of craven poltroons.,” Susanoo protested.

  “He’s right—we cannot abandon you,” Tania added.

  “There is no time for honor games. Survival is paramount,” Menrva replied sharply. “One group goes with me to the Haida kingdom. The other travels south to seek that Toltec realm. Choose.”

  “We are going to Tula with Rodrigo!” Epona shouted, Tania and Ana nodding in agreement.

  “Not so fast!”

  The voice thundered like a roar.

  A humanoid figure appeared in the sky and descended like a meteor, crashing before the members of Orniskem and forming an enormous crater upon impact.

  “Too late,” Menrva whispered.

  “Do not be alarmed. I have come only for the green-eyed boy dressed as a bird—on personal business,” the man said.

  As the smoke cleared, they beheld Tezcatlipoca in his ordinary form. None of Lel’s faction recognized him.

  “Oh—where are my manners? My name is Yayauhqui. I am known as the King of Tula—though most call me by my title: Tezcatlipoca.”

  “We shall shake hands only after you tell us your intentions toward Rodrigo,” Ana said, summoning Gram and stepping before the young tannin. Epona and Tania joined her at once.

  “Rodrigo? So that is your name? I see now you are not Quetzalcóatl. You appear to possess quite the harem—girls willing to die for you,” Tezcatlipoca laughed.

  “You know me?” Rodrigo asked.

  “That is irrelevant. Rodrigo, do not take this personally—but you must die. Orders from Lel.”

  Tezcatlipoca grasped the obsidian blade hanging at his side and raised it, pointing it directly at the young man.

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