Meanwhile, back at Ru's situation. Ru was still manipulating her plush doll using her enchanted magical powers to support Zeran on his idea by making lots of food. Though, Mai was looking nearly furious of Ru's non-chalant humming and expression, even though they were already in a serious situation. Soon enough, Mai said to Ru, while Mai was controlling her boiling anger,
"So, how did it go? Did he had an idea?".
Ru replies,
"Hmmm...all I could say is that he kinda found an idea but, I wonder why he'd tell me to cook lots of food...".
As soon as Mai heard Ru's funny statement, Mai couldn't believe on what she had heard, making her to bash the steel bars of the cage, filled with rising anger. Then, Mai said,
"What is he even thinking!"
"He 's going to a picnic?!".
Ru was astonished over Mai's fury. There was an awkward silence in the air afterwards. Arseia just sighed over Mai's scandal. Sooner or later, Ru tried to break the ice by replying back,
"Hmmmm...I don't know but, I'm sure he's up to something using these food I'm making...".
Arseia overheard Ru's words, making Arseia to space out on her thoughts,
("Food huh...").
Then, Arseia said,
"Food...thanks for reminding me, Ru and Mai..."
Mai didn't utter out any other word although, she just controlled her anger. As for Ru, she said and suggested like she was a shy teenage girl to Arseia for some reason,
"Uuuum...I can whip out a nice roasted meat right now, using that magical portable kitchen, lady Arseia...".
Arseia gulped and looked eager, as she heard Ru's interesting words about food. Thereon, Mai was convinced in her thoughts, especially about Zeran's relation with his mother,
("Now I know where Zen got his huge appetite from...").
After sometime, Nassus came back. Thereupon, he witnessed that the captive Goddesses inside the huge birdcage were eating roasted baby back ribs with delight on their faces. The way of eating the said food would appear to be messy in most cases but, the three Goddesses were looking very neat and sophisticated upon eating the scrumptious and juicy looking ribs roasted into perfection, since they were having ceramic plates and proper utensils, thanks to Ru's weird magical powers inclined with convenience and food. The three of them looked-like they were graceful ladies of class, dining in a five star restaurant, even though they were sitting in a freestyle position without any signs of chairs. Nassus didn't looked happy as he saw them, turning him to be in his thoughts,
("I never thought that these Goddesses are acting like this in the midst of a crisis...")
("They're truly...disappointing...").
Then, Nassus tells to them,
"You all disappoint me...".
Suddenly, Zeran emerged from the huge door engraved with mystical runes, in which Zeran proved his grand entrance and intense presence with a loud bang. Then, he exclaims very confidently, pointing at Nassus,
"The only disappointment you'll see here, is you...Nassus!".
The atmosphere was starting to swirl in searing heat once again, as the two heroes eyes' collided with each other. Nassus just huffed and looked at Zeran with a cold stare. Then, Nassus said,
"So you've come...to claim your death wish...".
Zeran replies,
"Nahhh...I just came here to have a nice PICNIC DUEL with you...".
Mai comments,
"I knew it...".
His attention was caught by the birdcage. Thereon, he noticed that the three Goddesses were eating baby back ribs dipped in succulent sauce. He waved to them and said in a joyful manner,
"Oh hey Mai, mom and my dear Ru".
As Ru heard Zeran's greeting, her ears twitched in great excitement. Ru had stopped eating her meal and waved back aided with her endearing voice that would please any man's ears,
"Ara ara♪"
"Hi Zera...don't worry about us, just do what you can♪".
As Zeran heard Ru's humming voice, he shut his eyes for a moment. He grinned a relieving smile such as if he had heard the voice of an angel. Then, he says in his thoughts with his boosted motivation,
("Music to my ears...").
A little while later, he opened his eyes and took a direct look of a tiger at Nassus. Not only that, Zeran wrought out his arm with his divine golden claw. He sighed and said, as if he was taunting Nassus,
"Now then...let's begin shall we...".
Nassus replies,
"Agreed...".
Nassus went near the huge birdcage. Then, he casts out, while he was holding out his hand on its steel bars.
"ULTIMA BARRIER...".
As the magical spell was casted, a huge hexagonal blue barrier had encroached around the cage, turning the three Goddesses visions to be blocked by some sort of forcefield that would to be more appropriate in a sci-fi world, rather than a fantasy one. It seemed Nassus doesn't want them to see his fight against Zeran for some deep reason. Sooner or later, Nassus brought out and wielded his seeped in abyss claw. Thereupon, the both of them said in high spirits and energy,
"LET THE GRAND HEROES DUEL BEGIN!".
Then, Nassus casts out,
"BLADE MEMORIA..."
"LI-JU!".
Afterwards, a huge blade tinged in great radiance of pure white emerged from Nassus's other vacant hand. The blade looked-like it was molded from a crystal with different sharp edges on each side, turning it to look-like a sharp piercing razor blade. Though, at the end of its sharp narrow tip, it was leaking out droplets of liquid crystals, such as the blade was letting out her own tears for Nassus. As Zeran saw Nassus's enchanted weapon, he was stranged such as he was seeing Otorine crying for Nassus, although he didn't mind it that much and Zeran responded by casting out his own,
"BLADE MEMORIA!"
"DA REAZ!".
Thereupon, Zeran was now wielding his own brand of Blade Memoria, although its form was very different from Nassus's magical weaponry. Zeran's Blade Memoria looked like it was a combination of a whip and a blade slathered in all deep black, in which the razor blade looked-like it was a snake blade accesorized by a few amethyst gemstones per segment. Thereon, the whole form oozed out the form of a mysterious serpent, revering the manifestation of his dark Goddess Ru. Not only that, he was feeling Ru's spirit supporting his fight, boosting his confidence even more. The air became frozen in silence but, the sheer burning eyes of the dueling heroes for bloodshed made the whole place to be very intense, as they were about to commence their battle using their said Blade Memorias infused by their feelings for their own Goddesses. Zeran didn't let out the first strike but, he was anticipating Nassus's movements. After sometime, Nassus went unto the offensive and startled the battle by swinging his weapon from above unto Zeran firsthand. Though, Zeran already expected that kind of attempt, so he just parried it with his blade that suddenly stiffened itself to become a solid blade. Their eyes met as their blades were grazing into the sparks of hellfire. Nassus noticed that Zeran had became more formidabble, so Nassus had leapt back for a few distances and started to talk,
"So you'd be one of the puppets of that da*ned demonic God in another world then?".
Zeran replies with an awkward smirk of a sarcastic menace,
"Hah? Puppet? Demonic God?"
"Err...nah...I just want to free those Goddesses I hold dear to me..."
"I don't care about those other Gods and Goddesses...".
He pointed his blade at the distant Nassus and said his rebuttal,
"And what about you? What's with you in ENSLAVING these poor Goddesses?".
"I'm sure it's much more than, pleasure...".
Though, Nassus's response was a powerful smash on the ground with his acheing blade. Thereon, white rocky pillars protruded from the crystal white ground in an orderly line producing a wall of earthen white material that was directed unto Zeran. Though, Zeran dashed to the right, making him to dodge the lethal strike in the nick of time. Nassus removed his humongous crystal blade stuck to the ground like it was mere needle punctured from the cushion. Then, Nassus responds to the previous question with his sudden shout,
"IT'S BECAUSE..."
"I WANT TO FREE THAT ONE AND ONLY GODDESS FROM THAT DEMONIC GOD'S CLUTCHES..."
"THAT'S WHY, I AM ENSLAVING THE OTHER GODDESSES IN ORDER TO CRUSH HIM, BY UTILIZING THEM!"
"No matter what it takes...".
As Zeran heard Nassus's deep and desperate words, Zeran was in his own thoughts suddenly,
("Wow...he's even more ambitious than Fae and Angehime...")
("But...to think...his reasons are kinda FAIRLY noble...")
("I wonder who's this GODDESS he wanted to save...")
("She must've been worthier than Goddess Otorine then...")
Afterwards, Zeran compliments Nassus,
"Ummm...noble ideals I see?"
"And what about...".
Nassus already expected Zeran's next words would be, so Nassus replies in a snap,
"Yes...Angehime also wants this change to happen..."
"She chose this by her own will...She shall support me upon my ideals..."
"I don't know what she'll benefit from this though...".
Though, Zeran wasn't pointing Nassus's relationship on Ange for some reason, instead he continued to tell his real statement regarding another matter, that would pique interest in a sublime way,
No I mean, YOUR relationship with Goddess Otorine...".
The atmosphere became awkward and the grave deafening mute of death seeped through the air, as Nassus didn't respond. He just squinted his eyes, such as he doesn't want to talk about that sensitive topic. It looked-like Nassus was open for opportunities, although Zeran felt tense and he just gulped, since he must've pushed Nassus's switch for some reason. Sooner or later, Nassus gritted his teeth in rising furiousness, although he dropped a sudden tear from his agonized face. Soon, Nassus jumped high into the ceiling. Then, he crashed down on Zeran, using his mighty blade. In turn, Zeran did a nice backflip to dodge Nassus's lethal strike. Thereon, Nassus had only made a severe crack on the floor that rumbled the whole place such as an earthquake had occurred. Afterwards, Zeran tossed out the temporal sealing spheres that he had amassed from Celestia heavens and the ones his mother Goddess gave to him recently. Then, he says with an insulting smile,
"I'll just let out these babies out if you would...".
As those were near Nassus's range, they exploded and let out a powerful flash of blinding light, making Nassus to block the bursting radiance with his mystical blade. The light that was let loose was comparable to the intensity of a real flash bomb in a modern world. Later on, Zeran saw in his non-intrusive cyber vision the text saying,
["Succesful ?...??? Sealed abilities of HERO Nassus..."].
As he saw that funny information, he was kinda infuriated in his thoughts,
("So I can't see which of them are sealed...no matter...").
Sooner or later, Zeran changed his pacing. He was breathing heavily like he was breathing breezing winds along the fields, turning his body to relax and heighten his focus. Nassus didn't let out a destructive attempt, since he was ever cautious of Zeran's tricks. Thereon, Nassus just stanced, as if he was ready to strike from below, letting Zeran to cast out,
"SHADOW SPEED!"
"REFLEX BOOST!"
"ACCELERATE!"
Zeran's body looked-like he was wreathed in atmospheric air of dark winds. More than that, he was feeling that his feet were feeling light as a feather. His eyes and nervous system were synchronized in a better way than any normal human, heightening his reflexes forevermore. Then, Zeran says in his thoughts, while he was posing like was ready to race in a relay run.
("I'm gonna go fo speed...").
Though, Nassus didn't let himself to be behind of Zeran, so Nassus also casted out his own version of chain enchantment, while he struck his Blade Memoria to the ground and tightening his grip unto it,
"OVERLOAD!"
"PENDRAGON ENCHANT!"
"TOTAL OFFENSE!"
"OMEGA POWER!"
"POWER EXCEED!"
"POWER TRANSCEND!".
Zeran witnessed from his interesting vision that there was a surge of an unstable powerful aura from Nassus's body, such as his aura was showing the depiction of a pristine white phoenix from the sacred heavens above, proving its sheer dominance. Not only that his extraordinary sight also saw the information saying, while he was looking at Nassus,
["NASSUS'S BASE POWER: ???..."]
["NASSUS'S STATE: ENERGY LEAK..."].
Zeran was in his surprised thoughts after,
("By the Gods...His power is exceeding!")
("So he chose...CRAZY POWER focus this time...")
("But, he also boosted his powers by causing himself to LEAK OUT his own energy...hmmm...")
("A double-edged tactic I see...").
Nassus lifted his blade. Then he swung it downwards once again, while he was casting out,
"BLADE STREAM!".
As the magical spell was casted out, there was an intense beam of light that came out from the swunged blade, in which the white beam was aimed to Zeran. Zeran leapt and dove to the other side, to dodge the oncoming deadly attack. He was able to dodge it but, he still took major damage from the close-ranged burning aftermath of the beam. He stood up. Next, he brought out a piece of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and ate it in a snap. Sooner or later, Zeran's burnt bruises healed in an instant. Nassus noticed Zeran's uncouth action in the middle of the duel, turning Nassus to say with utter hatred,
"You dare mock me?!"
"By eating in a middle of a fight?".
Nassus dashed near unto Zeran and swung lots of deadly furies. Though, Zeran just parried and dodged most of them, due to his boosted speed and reflexes. Afterwards, Zeran responds back, while he was close to Nassus,
"Hey...there wasn't any rule that said eating was forbidden, right?".
As Nassus heard Zeran's rebuttal, Nassus never felt more insulted in his entire life, making him to lose one of his bearings of composure. Thereon, Nassus lashed out a destructive strike of crazed viciousness unto Zeran, like Nassus was similar to a berserked viking,
"GRAHHHHHHH!".
Zeran held down the tremendous impact of the blade with his golden claw, although due to Nassus's amplified strength, Zeran was having a hard time holding down the oncoming blade. He resorted to give a roundhouse kick to Nassus's left abdomen instead, making Nassus to lose his balance for a second. Zeran moved a few paces away from Nassus. Then, he lashed out his enchanted weapon like it was a sadistic whip. His weapon extended and changed its form into a real razor sharp whip. The hit connected unto Nassus, making Nassus's left neck to get a fresh cut. As Nassus felt the sting of pain, Nassus's cold eagle eyes was directed unto Zeran. Later, Nassus rushed near Zeran and left out a strong swing upwards. Zeran was thrown away but, he was able to get up, since he embraced the attack using his stiffened blade, yet he coughed out a streak of crimson blood. He brought out a chocolate bar from his exceptional inventory. Suddenly, his wounds were healed once again. Nassus wasn't liking Zeran's unconventional tactic, so Nassus fumed himself in rage and swung his blade at Zeran left and right repeatedly. Though, Zeran was just parrying Nassus's strikes with careful anticipation. Sadly, Zeran was being overpowered by Nassus's heavy piston-like strikes, so his parries were becoming weaker and duller. Thereon, Nassus was able to hit Zeran's left hip. Zeran felt the sheer pain that coursed through his nerves and veins. Thankfully, he was able to move back before Nassus would let out another dangerous attack. As usual, Zeran brought out a chocolate bar and ate it immediately in one fell swoop, making Zeran to recover himself. There after, he cracked out a sarcastic grin to the distant Nassus. Nassus had snapped, as he saw Zeran's insult, so Nassus bursted out,
"ENOUGH OF YOUR MOCKERY!".
Afterwards, Nassus casted out,
"BLADE MEMORIA..."
"PHOEN!".
A second magical longsword wreathed in raging flames of a phoenix had emerged unto Nassus's abyssal claw. The heat of the battle was amplified forevermore by the burning hellfire of his second weapon. He swung his sword like he was lashing out a dangerous forceful dance of fierce flames. Then, Nassus struck the ground with his burning blade. The flames were let loose from the ground and Zeran got burned due to the emerging flames, although he was still standing on his bare feet. Soon, he ate five chocolate chip cookies quickly, as usual his painful burns and wounds were gone. Nassus looked troubled, since Zeran should've died from that threatful attack, making Nassus to blurt out,
"HOW COME YOU CAN'T DIE!?"
"YOU AREN'T IMMORTAL LIKE ME!".
The hellish flames had ceased. Zeran regained his balance and proved a taunting pose, while he was saying with a smirk on his face that was similar to a sneaky menace,
"Hah! Let's just say..."
"I got my own tricks up on my sleeve...".
Nassus had grown tired of the feeble fight. Later, he says as if he'll bring total judgement to his foe,
"Then, I'll just finish you with this..."
"You should be grateful that you'll ever witness this...".
He casts out with a strong shout to the heavens above,
"BLADE MEMORIA!"
"GODDUSEUS!".
As his desperate plea of destruction was heard, a divine pentagram filled with holistic vibes emerged from the center above. Zeran gulped, as Nassus was serious upon crushing him down. That sudden moment, a loud roaring thunder was heard throughout the room and a transparent blade etched in diamond fell in front of Nassus. The blade that fell from the heavens looked very much outstanding to see. It's body was flawless without any marks or scratches. It was bursting out white holy flames that would purify anything in its wake. Unlike the other Blade Memorias of Nassus, it didn't have any kind of spiritual vibe, instead it was like an empty shell filled with the remains of divine energy stuck unto it. He stuck the two blades near his third blade then he casted out,
"BLADE MEMORIA, UNION!".
The three magical weapons floated into the air. Then, they swirled like they were becoming into one spinning blade faster and faster. Soon upon, as the twisting blade reached its peak upon cycling at the speed of light, there was an intense flash of light that was let loose, making Zeran to shut his eyes. As soon as he noticed that the blinding light was gone, he opened his eyes and saw that Nassus was wielding a humongous tri-bladed shuriken. The three enchanted blades combined their elemental powers and turned into one revering its great majesty. In turn, Zeran stanced himself such as he was a solid wall prepared for the siege to commence. The air became subtle, as Nassus exhaled with focus on his eyes. A little while later, he flung the huge shuriken like he was an amplified ballista. Thereon, the spinning blade looked-like it was a discus made from divine light. Though, Zeran noticed that the blade could penetrate his defenses, so he just dodged it in a sudden snap. He was able to dodge it due to his accelerated and blistering speed although, the outer winds from the aftermath of the spinning destroyer caused grievious wounds unto his whole body. Nassus looked unarmed, as he flung his threatful weapons away, turning him open for another opportunity but, Zeran was no fool to rush with his damaged body, so he ate a chocolate bar and healed himself instead. Though, Nassus expected that his foe would eat his way out, so he casted out immediately,
"PENDRAGON BURST!".
Suddenly, a series of various elemental dragons created from magical energies descended down unto Zeran and proved his utter demise. He felt the direct impact of the raging flames, the gush of water, storming winds, numbing lightnings, heavy burst of the earth, deathly darkness and blinding light blended into the most unnerving way possible. Soon after, the blasting energies dispersed although, Zeran was still on his two feet yet, he was coughing out a gush of crimson liquid from his own internal organs and breathing his last stand. Though, he just took out a burger and ate it to recover his lost energy. Nassus regained his three blades but, he dispersed the other two and just held unto his trusted Blade Memoria Li-Ju. For some reason, due to their long battle Zeran's speed was boosted better than he had expected due to his acceleration enchantment, in which his enchantment would mean the longer the battle it would take, the faster his movements would become. His feet wasn't feeling like a feather anymore but instead, his feet was similar to a jet plane. He seized the opportunity, and dashed at Nassus straight-on. Nassus was shocked of Zeran's amplified speed but, Nassus still stood his ground. Zeran let out lots of quick strikes repeatedly that were similar to the movements of a speedy ninja dwelling in the shadows. Though Nassus didn't falter, as he just tried his best to parry and block Zeran's crazed speedy frenzy. The two were having a long battle and Zeran was able to cause fresh wounds unto Nassus this time around. Even though, Nassus was able to flung Zeran away upon his swinging counters, Zeran just stood up, ate some cookies and chocolate bars in a snap then continued his persistent onslaught. For some reason, Nassus was sweating from the annoying battle, so he expresses his anguish,
"IS THIS A JOKE?!"
"A weakling like you...was able to stand against ME?!"
"I won't allow this!".
Soon, he kicked Zeran away from him, tossing away Zeran unto the concrete wall. Zeran felt the surge of pain from the back of his spine although, he tried to get up quickly. The next moment, Nassus struck his blade down unto the ground and posed himself in a noble manner and casts out,
"DIVINE BLADE!".
Zeran looked above and saw the radiant burst of light heading unto him fast, making him to say in his thoughts,
("Oh...great...")
("Time to empty my food stash now...").
Thereupon, an illuminating burst of destructive light of judgement struck down unto him. Not only that, the strong light was surging throughout the place, as he was inside the curtain of white doom. Nassus took his sword and walked away, while he was saying his farewells, since he was convinced of his opponent's apparent destruction,
"I'm sure you won't be able to stand against that..."
"You are done for..."
"Former hero Zeran...".
He went near the birdcage and removed the barrier that blocked the three Goddesses view. Sadly, they saw that Zeran wasn't visible in their presence anymore. The only thing they have seen were the waterfall of destructive light from a near distance and Nassus. Afterwards, Nassus felt weaker somehow. His feet and hands were getting weary, while he was panting for air with a problematic look on his face. He tried to stand on his ground by gripping unto his enchanted weapon. Then, he was puzzled in his thoughts,
("How is this possible?!")
("I have IMMORTALITY AND INFINITE ENERGY?!")
("I shouldn't be able to dry out even by just LEAKING MY OWN ENERGY!)
("How is this happenning?!").
Mai looked sad but, Arseia just shut her eyes with a composed look on her face.
As for Ru, she noticed that inside the curtain of the unending light, she witnessed a glimpse that Zeran was eating lots of peanut butter sandwiches in quick succession that would even bring the eat-all-you-can participants to shame. Ru noticed her dear Zeran's dirty trick, so she knacked out a relieving smile although, it soon became into sinister grin of a scheming demonness and she expresses,
"So that's how it is...Zera..."
"You glutton..."
"NYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!".
Mai was crept out, as she saw her weird close friend became even weirder due to her laughing response than hers, making Mai to ask with a deep concern to Ru's current sanity,
"Ru? Did you go nuts when you saw that your Zera was gone before your eyes?".
Ru replies,
"Hmmmm...no...it's the opposite...".
There after, Arseia wore a smile and comments,
"Sigh...you didn't notice it...did you Mai?".
The surging light had dispersed into the air. Nassus was almost ready to depart and he was on his way to report the good news to light Goddess Ange at the other side of the room but, his ears couldn't believe what he had just heard, since he heard Zeran's lively response from behind,
"Wow...Ru's evil laugh is kinda cute...".
Nassus turned his body around. He noticed that Zeran looked unscathed nor even damaged from the severe demise of the recent judgement. More than that, Zeran was still eating his last piece of a peanut butter sandwich. He waved at Nassus like he was an annoying foe. Thereon, Nassus was shocked and he exclaimed, as if he couldn't believe his eyes,
"HOW?!".