“Mitras, is it?” Selardi said, recreating an ice leg to support herself. “The Persian god who now fancies himself Roman. Of course I’ve heard of you—you were quite famous a few centuries ago.”

  Mitras then transformed his dagger into a massive sword of light.

  “I hope you’re not thinking of defeating me. I may be weakened, but you are still no match for me,” Selardi said.

  “I’m well aware of that,” Mitras replied, taking a combat stance.

  The Persian god charged at Selardi with his blade drawn, but the goddess effortlessly avoided the attack. After several attempts, the Armenian goddess touched Mitras’s sword, instantly freezing it.

  “I told you it would be pointless,” Selardi said, pointing at the Persian god—who was frozen solid, turned into an ice statue.

  “And so you waste your miserable life,” Selardi added.

  At that very moment, Selardi felt an overwhelmingly powerful blow strike her abdomen.

  When she looked down, she saw that it was Tania, who had driven her fiery claw deep into Selardi’s stomach—at the exact moment Selardi had frozen Mitras.

  “But when? You were already dead!” Selardi screamed.

  “Mitras wasn’t the only one who came. Didn’t you notice?” Tania replied, tightening her grip as her claw burned into Selardi’s flesh. Only then did the Armenian goddess realize that Tania’s legs had been fully restored.

  Selardi’s gaze shifted, and she saw Montu kneeling where Tania had previously lain, holding an empty vial of ambrosia. They had used every last drop Horus had given them.

  “It was only a miserable drop—but enough to unleash my most powerful attack!” Tania shouted as her eyes blazed and her manticore transformation returned.

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  “Wait, Tannit! Don’t do this!” Selardi cried desperately.

  But Tania roared, “Galad esh qoph!”

  A colossal explosion erupted exactly where Tania and Selardi stood, blasting Montu away and melting the ice that had imprisoned Mitras, who was also hurled back by the shockwave.

  When the explosion subsided and the smoke cleared, Tania stood gripping Selardi by the neck, the Armenian goddess unconscious in her grasp.

  “Don’t worry—I left you a little ichor so you can keep living. I don’t intend to take your life,” Tania said as she flung Selardi far away.

  “Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it,” Tania added, giving Mitras a thumbs-up.

  At that moment, the goddess lost consciousness and collapsed face-down onto the ground.

  “That girl is incredible. Now I understand why Lel is so interested in her,” Mitras said as he struggled to his feet, still shaken.

  Montu also emerged from a pile of rubble. His skin was burned, but his ichor rapidly healed his wounds.

  “I think we should look after her. After all, we can’t face Ares—we’d only get in the way,” the Egyptian god said, and Mitras nodded.

  Mitras approached Tania and gently turned her onto her back.

  “There’s nothing we can do now but protect you, Goddess Tannit,” the Persian god said as he tended to her.

  At that moment, Maahes arrived at the battlefield.

  “We have a serious problem,” said the lion god.

  “What happened? Were you able to reach Epona and Sol?” Mitras asked, worried.

  “No… it’s impossible. He… he…” Maahes said, then froze in place.

  “What is it?” Montu asked.

  “It’s Khonsu! He’s up there—and he’s crucified Epona and Sol. The bastard didn’t die,” Maahes said in frustration.

  “What? Then we have to finish him!” Montu shouted angrily.

  “And rescue Epona and Sol!” Mitras added, equally furious.

  “It’s impossible,” Maahes replied.

  “What do you mean?” Mitras asked.

  “The bastard set up a dimensional shield. There’s no way in from the outside,” the lion god said bitterly.

  “So we can’t rescue Epona, or Sol, or the angel?” Montu asked in despair.

  “There has to be something we can do!” Mitras shouted as he set Tania down and sped off toward the mountain’s peak.

  “Montu, Maahes—watch over Tania. I’ll go see what I can do!” the Persian god called as he flew away.

  “Wait, Mitras! We want that bastard dead more than anyone!” Maahes shouted after him.

  “And what do we do here, then? Stand around and say it’s impossible? My best friend and the woman I admire are up there. Damn it!” Mitras roared as he vanished into the sky.

  Montu and Maahes could only lower their heads, overcome by frustration and helplessness.