At that moment, the sky darkened crimson—and in the distance, Ishtar saw Sekhmet conjuring the enormous solar disk meant to obliterate Tania.

  “You’re insane, Sekhmet!” Ishtar shouted furiously toward her—only to be completely ignored.

  “That attack… is it going to destroy Mars?” Ana asked, stunned.

  “Damn it… that madwoman wants to end everything,” Ishtar muttered, alarmed. “If it hits us, we’ll die—without remedy.”

  “We have to flee, Lady!” Ninshubur screamed from afar.

  “Let’s leave this battle for another time, Ana,” Ishtar said, her face tense with concern. “If we don’t escape Mars, this will be our end!”

  “I won’t,” Ana replied with a smile. “Because Tania will stop that insignificant attack.”

  “Are you insane!? You think she has the power to stop the special technique of the great god Ra!?” Ishtar shouted.

  “Watch and learn,” Ana said. “Do not underestimate the great goddess of Carthage.”

  Then both goddesses witnessed the collision of the two cataclysmic attacks—Tania’s and Sekhmet’s—and how the Punic goddess’s power utterly erased the Egyptian lioness and her energy. When the blast detonated, Ana, Ishtar, and Ninshubur all shielded their faces from the blinding light.

  “I told you,” Ana said with a smile, still covering herself from the glare.

  When only smoke remained in the firmament, Ishtar stared in disbelief.

  “That was incredible… That girl destroyed Sekhmet with that kind of power,” she thought, stunned.

  “Can we continue our fight now?” Ana asked.

  Ana’s injuries had already closed again. Though her ichor was low, she still had enough reserves for regeneration—slowly, but surely.

  At that moment, Tania landed beside Ana. Ana looked at her in surprise. Tania had returned to her normal form, disabling her manticore transformation.

  “Tania! That was fantastic!” Ana said—yet she noticed the Punic goddess’s face: heavy with sorrow, her eyes still glassy.

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  “Thank you…” Tania said softly. “Do you need help here?”

  “Don’t worry. I can handle it alone,” Ana replied.

  Ishtar stared at both of them, surprised. In that moment, she felt genuine admiration for the two goddesses.

  “Was it difficult?” Ana asked.

  “It was,” Tania answered. “But I must keep moving. I’m going to find that Ares and kick his ass,” she said with a smile.

  “Wait!” Ishtar shouted at Tania, who was already preparing to fly away. “Ares is far stronger than you. Do you truly intend to throw your life away for nothing?”

  Tania turned, smiled at Ishtar—

  “If I don’t try, I’ll never know,” she replied.

  Ishtar exhaled.

  “Fine. If you want to die… go ahead,” the Sumerian goddess said, then pointed toward the horizon. “Fly that way. Areopagus is in that direction. But I won’t be responsible for your life.”

  Tania met Ishtar’s eyes and saw no lie there.

  “Thank you,” Tania said, and offered a smile—sincere, unlike the false smiles she used to wear.

  “Ana,” Tania said to her friend, “let’s meet again soon in Areopagus.”

  “We’ll all be there—along with Rui and Epona,” Ana replied brightly. “And we’ll save Anpiel.”

  Tania raised her thumb and smiled at Ana. Then she flew off and vanished into the horizon.

  “Does she truly mean to die?” Ninshubur asked.

  “I don’t think so,” Ishtar replied, still stunned. “I’m starting to believe they’ll actually do it.”

  Two explosions echoed in the distance, and both Ishtar and Ninshubur felt it—two immense divine presences had vanished.

  “Two enormous energies just fell, Lady,” Ninshubur said, shocked.

  Ishtar remained silent, staring at Ana.

  “Listen, Ishtar,” Ana said, planting both swords into the ground. “I don’t want to keep fighting you. Let me go help my friend.”

  Ishtar smiled.

  “You know, Ana? I’ve enjoyed this fight immensely. And you’re right—Ares may lose to you… but I will not lose to you. I do not fight for Ares. I fight to grow stronger—to surpass the dead totema I carry. Let’s finish this battle. And perhaps… we can be friends afterward.”

  “Then I’ll use my maximum power,” Ana said.

  She dismissed her weapons—and a massive, monstrous sword appeared in her hands, so enormous she had to grip it with both hands to wield it.

  “My, and what sword is that, Ana?” Ishtar asked.

  “It’s called Gram,” Ana replied. “A Viking sword forged to slay dragons.”

  A tremendous surge of power radiated from her.

  “My speed has dropped drastically,” she said, “but my power has increased hundreds of times in this moment.”

  Ishtar enveloped herself in sacred energy—so much that her entire body seemed white. The eight-pointed star on her forehead glowed intensely, shining a brilliant blue. Her eyes turned a pale gray, and her expression became cold, emotionless.

  “And this is my innate ability: ‘Nin An’—which means: ‘Queen of the Heavens.’ Now, all of my attacks carry sacred power embedded within them, and my body will heal instantly… even without sufficient ichor,” the Queen of Uruk declared.

  “Then let’s end this once and for all, Ishtar!” Ana shouted.

  “I agree, Ana!” Ishtar roared back.

  Both goddesses launched themselves at each other—

  with a little less than three and a half hours remaining.

  Gram is the sword that the hero Sigurd (SIegfired) used to kill the dragon Fafner. It means "Wrath".

  ===============================================

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