“Galad esh maat (Fire Sphere no. 100)!”

  Tania shouted, and a blazing sphere formed between her fists. She hurled it straight at the giant.

  Surtr spun around just in time, using his sword to deflect the attack—with difficulty.

  The fireball curved away, smashing into a distant mountain and exploding in a massive detonation that lit the entire dimension.

  “Didn’t your mother ever tell you to never turn your back on an enemy!?” Ana yelled, drawing her sword.

  “Beanna pollta (Crow’s Thrust)!”

  She impaled the giant with her blade as black ravens materialized behind her.

  Like an arrow shot from a divine bow, Ana soared forward while skewering him, carrying his massive body with her blade—

  and then hurled him into a mountainside, shattering it entirely.

  Tania landed beside Ana, and the two goddesses bumped fists—sisters in battle.

  From the rubble, the giant rose—furious.

  “Damned bitches! I’ll kill you both!” he roared.

  “Ready for the final strike, Ana?” Tania asked.

  “Of course, my friend!” Ana replied, taking her combat stance.

  Surtr charged at them head-on.

  Both goddesses tried to attack simultaneously, but he parried their strikes with his flaming sword, throwing them aside.

  Ana twisted midair, launching herself at Surtr again, sword aimed at his chest—

  but the giant caught her by the throat before she could land the blow.

  He slammed her into the ground and crushed her beneath his massive hand.

  Ana screamed in agony as he stomped her again and again.

  Tania rushed in to save her—

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  but one swing of Surtr’s fiery sword severed Tania’s right arm clean off.

  She crashed to the ground headfirst, vomiting blood.

  Her limb didn’t regenerate—her icor was nearly depleted.

  “This ends now,” the giant declared, raising his sword with both hands toward the sky.

  “Eldr geisl (Firebolt)!”

  A crimson beam shot down onto both goddesses.

  A deafening blast shook the dimension.

  When the smoke cleared, the two goddesses lay unconscious in a vast crater.

  Ana, barely regaining consciousness, attempted to lift her arm—

  but Surtr noticed, seized her by that same limb, and hurled her beside Rodrigo.

  “I’ll kill you together with that boy,” Surtr growled, laughing.

  But Ana, dragging herself, crawled over Rodrigo’s body, shielding him with her own broken form.

  “I… Rui… will… protect you…” she whispered, choking on blood, her vision fading.

  “No, Ana—please don’t…” Rodrigo begged.

  “Rui… I’m your master… and it’s my duty… to protect you…” she said, forcing a smile through her blood-soaked face.

  Surtr stomped on both of them, crushing them mercilessly.

  Ana vomited more blood, her body convulsing.

  Rodrigo felt the world slipping away.

  Ana’s face—distorted, bleeding—was the last thing he saw as his consciousness dimmed.

  Surtr grew impatient.

  He raised his sword high, ready to impale them both.

  “You’ll go to Hel together,” he said, pleasure gleaming in his icy blue eyes.

  In the last breath before collapsing completely, Rodrigo screamed:

  “Lady Atenea… please help us!”

  A spear suddenly plunged into the ground between Surtr and the dying pair.

  The giant jumped back just in time to avoid it.

  “Who’s there!? Show yourself!!” Surtr roared.

  And then—

  on top of a mountain—

  stood Atenea, one hand raised in the stance of having just thrown the spear.

  “Well, well… I never expected you to be the one calling for my help, boy,” she said.

  “Well then… I suppose it’s time to begin.”

  Her smile was sharp, dangerous—

  and absolutely exhilarating.