Nelphy Under Attack

"DIE, PEST!!!"

ZZZzZZzZRRMMM!

"BIIIIIIIILLL!! …"

Holy light rocketed out of Iskar's hand, ripping through the air and barreling toward the cowering little girl. On contact, the orb of light exploded with a strange hum, drowning out the girl's cry.

"HAA! HA! HAAAAAA!" Iskar bellowed as he shifted the light around his eyes. His illusion dropped as he cackled.

His left eye brimmed with holy light, but it still only looked like a common brown eye. The other eye was different. Between the pupil and iris was a thin white ring. And the iris's color was shifting between brown and faded gold, as if holy light was faintly pulsing through it.

"Fool! You dare stand before god, and you threaten him? You dare stand between god and his goals?" mocked Iskar relishing in the bright light of the explosion as it gradually faded. Finally, Iskar looked down and grinned back at the man to rub it in. "You! You're… huh?"

The god blinked again and again. No matter how many times he blinked, Iskar couldn't find the human man anywhere.

"It's okay, Nelphy, you're perfectly fine."

"B-b… Bil?"

When the light finished fading, the god's jaw dropped. Only mutters and stammers could escape his throat out of disbelief.

Bil knelt and hugged the little girl. The back of his shirt and coat were in tatters after tanking the attack, and they began to fall off him in the breeze of the cliff.

"Bil.. I'm so–"

"I'm okay, Nelphy. I'm not even hurt, so don't worry, okay? See?" Laughing gingerly, Bil loosed his grip on the girl and leaned back.

Nelphy opened her eyes and got a good look at Bil through his torn clothes. "Bil.. You're okay? You're really okay?!"

"Yes, but don't get too excited and wake your brother," Bil replied, patting her head and rummaging through her dark blue hair. "Now, please excuse me as I get rid of him."

"BIL! Your eyes…"

"Oh? OOPS!" Not realizing that his head wrap had also been destroyed, Bil sighed. "I… I'll explain after he's gone. Okay?"

"Yeah… They're so…" Nelphy spoke up, dazed by the sight.

"I know. They're terrifying–"

"So pretty…"

Bil broke out in laughter, hugging Nelphy once more. "I love you."

"I love you too, Bil. Thank you!" Nelphy shouted as quietly as she could while nestled in his comforting chest.

But Bil shook his head and stood up. "You don't need to thank a Father for protecting his child. Now… to deal with him."

Iskar was in utter shock.

Never had he seen a human receive his full power attack and move again, let alone brush it off. Yet, that was the last thing running across the god's mind.

*B-B-B-Bil? His name is B-Bil?!* Iskar's mind was running rampant in search of answers. Seeing Bill's glowing red mohawk swaying was too overwhelming. *L-like the conqueror?? A-And that hair? The flaming.. The flaming hair?!?*

"Yo, Iskar?"

Hearing his name, the god was brought out of his stupor. However, his worries drastically increased the moment he looked up and met Bil's gaze, from which Iskar immediately looked away out of impulse. "Y-Your eyes–"

"I'll teach you something, Iskar. And I'll give you a discount, so.. I guess your life will just barely cover the cost," Bil chuckled, casually walking to the hulking figure.

"I-I.. Your-your eyes?!"

"I said no shouting…" Clicking his tongue like a disappointed teacher, Bil rolled his shoulders and rocked his head side to side. Pop. Pop.

"Ohh, that's better. I haven't worked out like this in a while… Right, your lesson." Bil pulled out his sword, not bothering to unsheath the blade. "The eyes are the windows to the soul, so the veita of true experts will leak out through their eyes when they're strong enough. Depending on the brightness of that leaking veita, you can measure yourself against the other…

"Since you're so quiet and attentive, why not answer a question. Do you notice the difference in our veita?"

"I-I-I..." The god's legs almost gave out. He quivered and stammered. For a moment, he thought to run but his body didn't dare under the all-powerful pressure holding him down. "Y–y-your eyes…"

"Yes, my eyes. What's the difference between mine and yours?"

Iskar's lip shook and his breath shortened, over and over. The closer Bil got, the more the pressure increased and the more Iskar was unable to deny the most terrifying truth. "Y-y-y-you…"

"Yes? Go on," mocked Bil, taking his time with each step.

The god wanted to look away from Bil with all his might. But that was the one thing he most feared, taking his eyes off of his unavoidable executioner's steps. To Iskar, it was clearer than day that he was already a dead man walking. Even if he hadn't fought in the Deific Wars, Iskar had heard all about the rumors and stories. And it was now impossible for Iskar to be mistaken.