-

The city of Fontaine trembled beneath the clash of gods and mortals. The sky wept torrents of rain, and the canals overflowed as Neuvillette unleashed the full force of his power. Water surged upward like living serpents, spiraling around the battlefield, cutting off escape routes and limiting the enforcer's movements.

For the first time, their composure wavered.

Furina grinned despite the pain in her limbs. "Oh? Is Celestia's little pawn finally realizing they've bitten off more than they can chew?"

The enforcer didn't reply. Instead, they raised their hand, and from the cracks in the sky, more chains of golden light descended.

But this time, the battlefield had changed.

Neuvillette moved his hand in a fluid motion, redirecting the rain into swirling barriers, dispersing the divine energy before it could entrap them.

Yoshika didn't hesitate. With a silent nod to Furina, she dashed forward, spear twirling in her grasp. The enforcer moved to block-

But Arlecchino was faster.

Her scythe cleaved through the air, forcing the enforcer to shift their stance. That moment of hesitation was all Yoshika needed.

She struck.

Her spear found its mark, piercing through the enforcer's golden armor. A gasp left their lips as cracks of divine energy spread from the wound, light spilling out like fractured glass.

Furina's eyes widened. "We-"

A pulse of energy erupted from the enforcer's form, sending Yoshika and Arlecchino skidding backward. The wound they had inflicted shone brightly, but the enforcer remained standing.

Blood-golden, shimmering-dripped from their lips. Their breathing was labored. And yet, they still refused to fall.

"This resistance..." they murmured, voice strained, "...is meaningless."

They raised their hand again, but it was shaking.

Furina stepped forward, gripping her sword. "Give up."

The enforcer's eyes burned with defiance, but they didn't respond.

Instead, they clenched their fist-

And in an instant, a blinding light exploded from their form.

Furina barely had time to shield her eyes before the enforcer's presence vanished entirely. The battlefield was left in eerie silence, the golden light fading into the stormy sky.

They were gone.

For now.

Yoshika exhaled sharply, lowering her spear. "They'll be back."

Neuvillette watched the sky carefully before nodding. "Indeed. And next time, they won't be alone."

Arlecchino flicked the blood off her scythe, expression unreadable. "We need to prepare."

Furina tightened her grip on her sword, looking at the others. "Then we don't have time to waste."

The battle was over.

But the real war was just beginning.

-
𝖠𝖭 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾: 𝖨 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗍𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝖿𝗈𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝗇𝗈 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝖺𝗀𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗌𝗍 𝖢𝖾𝗅𝖾𝗌𝗍𝗂𝖺 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗂𝗆 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖿𝗎𝗇 𝗐𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄!!><