Leveling up as a Battle Mage

Two bright suns shone on the lands of Melos, a paradise for all, greens were in abundance, so were beasts and civilizations.

The flat world was home to creatures of multiple kinds and they did well to glorify their goddess for such grace.

It was yet another day for the Elven worshippers of Renaya–the goddess of Melos and the mother of all life in it.

They all gathered around a white statue of her. She was depicted as a giant elf with two large wings of the beautiful birds that soared in the skies–she was an angel.

The gathering occurred at an edge of the woods, between trees not far from the abode of the elves. Fruits were brought forward and prayers were made.

Amongst the worshippers, a number of the elves who took the front row did the job of collecting the fruits and streaming down their blessing–mana, the energy that only a few possessed across the lands and they were seen as the blessed–those favored by the goddess.

They poured down the energy and placed it at the feet of the dais on which the holy statue stood.

Amongst them was Finrod, he collected various fruits and doused them with his energy offering them to the goddess.

Many saw this as a duty that superseded all, an honor but Finrod didn't share the same feelings, every day he was to pour his magical energy into fruits, every day. It was exhausting and it placed quite some strain on his body whenever he did but he couldn't refuse the job, he couldn't refuse the will of the people and certainly not of the goddess that had asked for so.

Finrod was a lithe young elf, his eyes green and his hair was as white as snow, he had the appearance of a sixteen-year-old human and rightfully so as he was only seventy years old, he was handsome, that and his godly duties made him a subject of attraction.

"Thank you Finrod."

"May the goddess continue to grant you strength."

They thanked him as they handed over their plates of fruits. Finrod had to respond to all with smiles.

A few minutes passed and he was close to passing out then something happened…

Murmurs escaped from the elves at a distance as they looked at the sky.

"Is something wrong?" He questioned and looked at his fellow clerics.

They all then moved away from the trees and they saw all that the others saw.

A white fist soared through the sky and that was it… Until it wasn't, another white fist zoomed forward then quiet dawned.

Suddenly, lightning crackled above and the bright suns dimmed and darkness swallowed everywhere.

"It was just morning, how's it night now!" An elf yelled from behind.

Large bolts of lightning crackled above, flames shot about and black hands materialized in the darkness above, so did the white and they grabbed each other in a tug of war.

"Oh the heavens, what under the goddess's eye is happening?!" Finrod exclaimed.

The hands pulled back and the white fist lunged forward and the suns came back on shining down their radiance.

Beyond the hands now, a face appeared, a pristine large face appeared in the skies and it was none other than…

"The goddess!" Finrod let out.

The elves around exclaimed in shock.

She took her attention back to the black hands and drifted forward, her image disappearing from sight.

Then a great cataclysm occurred, a great explosion occurred thousands of miles from the elves' abode that shook the world, flames threw up that the elves could see the direction of the destruction.

Trees fell, animals ran out of their homes panicking–practically running mad and the elves' homes fell. Fortunately, no one was injured, some fell while some struggled to find their balance and then the shaking ceased. The goddess's statue was intact however.

"Oh the goddess, save us, save us!."

"Let's pray." One of Finrod's friends–also a cleric stated, he called people to the statue and they all ran at it.

"Pray, pray that the goddess achieves victory, pray for strength, pray." He cried, great fear visible in his contorted face.

They all kneeled with their clasped hands held up in prayer. Finrod however remained standing at a distance looking into the sky.

His eyes burned from the sun's brightness but he didn't want to miss all that was happening.

Great magic shimmered in the skies, the goddess Renaya was in a battle and it might cost their lives.

A ball of blue energy like a blue sun drifted up above and hit the one that wasn't the goddess, another zoomed then another.

Finrod's face lit up a little as it seemed the goddess's victory was just an inch away.

The goddess's upper body came into view, her face and her white-clad chest and then she staggered back and the two black hands came forward at her and their face came into view.

The one that fought the goddess was a being with feminine beauty but none of the kindness, her face was like if evil took form, she was darkness incarnate and her eyes glowed a red hue, a large serpent sat on her shoulder.

When she came into view, the suns again dimmed and it was night once again, cries left the gathering. Finrod turned to see his people shaking and praying in desperation, they were all greatly afraid and so was he.

The opposing being threw forward multiple attacks, the goddess fought back with hers but it was not enough and then her attacks ceased–the goddess was dead.

The face of the being hung in the skies, she glared down on all that Renaya had created.

"The goddess is dead." Finrod uttered and fell to his knees and then the being spoke.

"Creatures of Melos, your goddess is dead and you all have been chosen for great heights, to evolve and break the shackles your goddess has placed on you all, it's time to join the multiverse and level up."