SEASON 2 CHAPTER SEVEN
The goddess Coral was taken aback by this revelation, her astonishment evident in her expression.
"How is this possible? No deity has ever achieved such a state," Coral exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief.
"But I just did. I was the one who overcame every challenging obstacle to obtain it," Max Willam replied confidently.
Coral found herself at a loss for words, unsure of how to proceed. Maria saw this as an opportunity to strike at Max, but he swiftly blocked her attack with his sword.
"Well, well, look who's interrupting a conversation with her sword," Max said, a smile playing on his lips.
"Maria, what are you doing? I explicitly told you not to interfere," Coral said, her anger evident in her tone.
"If this is how you teach your students to fight, then I cannot say if they are cowards or fools," Max retorted.
Max called out to the Inferno Chancellor, urging them to move their army into the city.
"Chancellor! Prepare for the next attack!" Max shouted, ensuring that his words reached everyone present.
Coral looked at Maria with anger and disappointment. "What have you done?" she asked, her voice filled with frustration.
Realizing that an army was advancing towards the city, Coral made up her mind to flee, abandoning everyone to their fate.
As Coral began to fly away from the city, Max William observed her departure and remarked to Coral that she was leaving her people behind once again. The people's spirits were broken, including Maria and her comrades. Max called out to the Inferno Chancellor to prepare for a second attack on the city.
Max encouraged the people to prepare themselves for the next battle, rather than succumbing to despair. However, Maria attempted to stop Max in the skies, and he responded by punching her, causing her to fall into a nearby house. Max descended into the house, but Maria was nowhere to be found. Suddenly, he was attacked from behind, but the blow had no effect on him.
Max attempted to persuade Maria to join him in creating a perfect realm free of sadness, fear, corruption, and crime. However, Maria refused, stating that she did not fear death. The two engaged in a fierce battle, during which Maria unleashed a black gem that summoned two unknown creatures. Max was shocked to encounter these creatures, known as cerastes, and was quickly overpowered by them.
Max was amused to discover that cerastes existed in Maria's realm, and that there were even two of them.
The creature swiftly strikes Max with great force, propelling him out of the house and crashing into another structure. Max chuckles.
"I never knew you guys had cerastes in your realm, let alone two of them," Max says, wiping the blood from his mouth.
"It seems you're playing your cards quite well, Maria," Max continues.
"Well, I did promise to make this your final resting place," Maria replies.
"By summoning ancient creatures of chaos to fight against their own descendants," Max remarks.
"Ironically, being killed by your own kind," Maria adds.
The two cerastes begin attacking Max from both sides.
"Air accelerations," Max mutters.
"Black thunder rays.
Damn it!"
"Double shield barrier," Max counters.
"Poisonous air gas," Maria commands.
"Hurricane shots," Max retaliates.
"Claws slash," Max continues.
Max takes three steps back from the two cerastes.
"Hey, cerastes, can't you recognize the bloodline of your own kind?" Max questions.
"We do, but don't take it personally. It's just business between us and the human girl," the two cerastes respond.
"Bastards! You've been bribed by this human girl to kill me," Max accuses.
"Like we said, we hate doing this, but it's just business," the two cerastes explain.
Max the head a voice calling to him in his inner soul
Max, my son, what has brought you to this place? Inquires an elderly man in a spectral manifestation.
Elder, I require your assistance with...
Ah, you seek guidance from your ancestors, am I correct? Inquires the elderly man in his ethereal form.
If you are aware of that, then please lend me your aid, implores Max Willam.
Very well, but in exchange for my services, you must fulfill a task for me, states the elderly man in his spectral form.
[Details of the task are omitted]
Is that so? You wish for me to accomplish this for you? Inquires Max Willam.
Indeed, my son. When the time is right, I shall summon you, assures the elderly man in his spectral form.
Suddenly, Max's body begins to emit a radiant glow, revealing a new and unfamiliar form, unbeknownst to anyone. From within this brilliance emerges the figure of a Nemean lion.
"Impossible," declared the two cerastes in a serious tone. "How did you transform into one of the ancient kings of Death's Forest, centuries ago?" they asked Max Willam.
Max replied, "I have my own ways, just as you do."
The two cerastes chuckled, but quickly grew serious again. "If we continue down this path, one of us will surely meet their demise. The benefits of this conversation do not outweigh the risks," they warned.
Max asked for clarification, to which the two cerastes replied, "We have fulfilled our end of the deal, Maria. However, we believe it is time for us to part ways."
Maria was taken aback and asked why. "Don't tell me it's because he's a lion," she said, showing her ignorance.
The two cerastes scoffed at her naivety. "That form he has taken is not to be taken lightly. It could rip us apart in no time," they warned before disappearing, leaving Max and Maria alone.
"I shall never allow this to conclude in such a manner," Maria declares, her grip on her sword unwavering.
"You are an obstinate young lady, aren't you?" remarks Max Willam.
"What concern is it of yours?" Maria retorts defiantly.
"You can evade death by embracing my proposition; there is still time," Max Willam proposes.
Without hesitation, Maria charges towards Max, determined to vanquish him in his latest manifestation. In response, Max transforms into a fiery crimson inferno, unleashing a torrent of flames from his mouth, directed towards Maria.
Max begins his enchantment
Behold, the scarlet sun shall bow before its sovereign,
The sovereign of flames, uniting in strength,
Creating a new supreme ruler of devastation,
The ruler of anarchy amidst the rest.
Now, blaze forth, oh inferno!
A formidable and intense inferno flame ray struck Maria mercilessly, causing her to be severely burned and collapse on the ground. Max approached Maria, who was in a state of agony.
"You should have accepted my offer," Max said, his voice filled with regret as he looked down at Maria's burned body.
Max gently touched her face and spoke with determination.
"Inferno channel!"
At that very moment, Maria's body underwent a miraculous transformation, turning her into a fearsome warrior of death and fire. She humbly bowed before Max, now her master.
"Master, your servant awaits your command," Maria, now a formidable death inferno warrior, declared.