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Chapter: Diops

As one of the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse, Famine Knight possessed considerable strength. Despite her formidable abilities and power beyond ordinary humans, compared to Forseti, an Aesir god, her powers fell short.

Against other Aesir, her potent flame abilities remained a significant threat. Yet, Forseti's own fire abilities neutralized her sole advantage, making this battle a close contest. With a vast disparity in physical strength, Forseti swiftly gained the upper hand over Famine Knight, leaving her in a humiliating state after just a few moves.

Khonshu dealt with the remaining guards, leaving her isolated.

Realizing she stood no chance, Famine Knight feinted and attempted to flee.

With a swing of his war hammer, Forseti unleashed the Judgment Hammer, shattering one of her legs.

"Ah!" Famine Knight screamed as she collapsed.

Struggling to turn over, she looked at Forseti, gritting her teeth: "You... you will face the Master's wrath—"

Before she could finish, her skin cracked, white flames bursting from her body like magma, exuding an aura of destruction.

Forseti's expression shifted, and he quickly raised a large shield.

Light Shield!

"Boom—"

Famine Knight exploded with a deafening blast, fiery flames and a devastating shockwave sweeping across the landscape, hammering against the Scarlet Commander's Shield.

The shield cracked under the onslaught of holy light.

"Crack!" The holy light scattered, and Forseti was knocked back.

Stunned for a moment, Forseti quickly regained his composure. Though the flames still flickered, he hurriedly got up from the ground: "Cough... We'll be discovered soon. Move quickly!"

Having absorbed most of Famine Knight's self-destructive power, Forseti remained functional. Khonshu and Shilut were unharmed, prompting them to enter the secret room first.

The spacious room was subdivided into compartments, each enclosed by walls and railings made of solar metal, resembling a prison yet adequately furnished with essential amenities.

Two figures occupied separate compartments.

One was a one-eyed youth, the other Howlett. Both stood before their enclosures, staring blankly at Forseti and his companions.

"Diops?" Forseti called to the one-eyed youth.

Tears streamed down Diops' face as he responded excitedly: "Yes, yes! Finally, someone has come to rescue me!"

Approaching Diops' railing, Forseti tossed his blade to Howlett: "Use this to cut through the bars."

Surrounded by flames, Forseti heated the bars until they softened. Roaring, he kicked one railing, veins bulging as he tore the adjacent one apart.

The bars bent, creating enough space for one person to pass through.

Diops quickly squeezed out.

Turning to Howlett, Forseti handed him the blade, but Howlett pushed it back: "I'm not leaving. You go."

"You'll die if you stay here!" Forseti insisted.

"Apocalypse saved my son. I owe him my life," Howlett said.

Khonshu snorted, "Apocalypse never keeps his promises to people like you. He's merely deceiving you. Staying here means not only losing your life but endangering your son's too!"

"I can't leave... I can't... If I go, my son will die." Howlett gripped his hair, squatting on the ground.

Before Forseti could respond, noise echoed from the tunnel—guards were approaching.

Khonshu urged, "Leave him. Let's go!"

Forseti sighed, reluctantly ignoring Howlett, retrieving his blade, and rushing towards the tunnel.

"Intruders!" The guards had already surged in.

Forseti clenched Antusur's Hand, swinging it vigorously. The Judgment Hammer erupted with holy light, flames, and thunder, instantly felling several guards.

"Stop them!" More guards rushed forward.

Engulfed in flames, Forseti charged like a meteorite with the Scarlet Commander's Shield, blazing through the guards.

A few capable guards managed to withstand the flames. However, with Khonshu, Shilut, and Diops swiftly joining the fray, they were swiftly dispatched.

After a short struggle, the four successfully burst from the tunnel and the temple. Yet outside, a large contingent of guards awaited—power-enhanced and ordinary humans alike.

Khonshu rubbed his hands together, condensing moonlight into a small sphere, solidifying it before launching. Mid-flight, it unfurled into a crescent blade, slashing through dozens of enemies and clearing a path.

Exhausted from the effort, his moonlight waned as he glanced at Forseti: "It's up to you now."

As he finished speaking, he reverted to his statue form.

Forseti picked up Khonshu's statue, then retrieved two winged demon statues and hurled them forward.

The Winged Demon statues unfurled, revealing their bat-like forms. Forseti and Shilut each grabbed one, while Diops took the other. Together, they soared into the air, escaping from the city of Sebenitus.

Arrows and flowing flames shot from below, but under Forseti's guidance, the winged demons evaded without incident, finally putting distance between themselves and Sebenitus.

Forseti exhaled.

They should be safe now.

"Where are we headed next?" Diops asked, clutching the winged demon.

Forseti replied, "Let's rest for a while."

Anxious, Diops spoke up, "I urgently need to reach Megara City. Can you take me there?"

"You've been imprisoned for so long. What's the urgency? Did you forget something important?" Forseti frowned.

"It's really urgent!" Diops insisted. "I must get to Megara to meet my beloved. I fought in the arena for her. Our love is stronger than Uru... It's been too long. She must be worried sick! Please!"

Forseti hesitated, then asked, "Is she from Midgard?"

"Yes." Diops nodded earnestly.

"Midgardians have short lifespans. Are you sure this is wise?" Forseti questioned.

Diops exclaimed fervently, "Of course! Our love is stronger than Uru! Even if we only have a few decades together, I'm committed to her alone. Please, you must take me to Megara City!"

"Alright." Forseti sighed.

A sudden buzzing interrupted them. Forseti turned to see two winged figures soaring swiftly through the night sky.

Naked, with metal wings gleaming silver in the moonlight, they swiftly closed the distance.

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