"Is the barrier gone?" Katrina observed as the hexagons slowly dissolved into thin air along with the demonic flames. The fiery barrier vanished shortly after the meteor fell, and the demon was no longer in sight.
"We must leave; this battle took a heavy toll on him," Thanatos nodded to the Archangel, and they flew towards the square.
"Krito," the princess jumped down from the roof without any hesitation and rushed to the square.
"My lord, your body," Nigrael's voice echoed in my mind. I looked at my hands; it seemed like they were occasionally translucent, and the trembling wouldn't stop.
"So, this is the price of this power," I slowly limped towards my black staff.
"It's because you used our power when your body was already at its limits," Thanatos appeared at the edge of the Arena accompanied by the Angel.
"Right now, you're experiencing all the negative effects of our magic combined," Ifrit and the other elemental lords appeared from the other side, "Even the full strength of one elemental lord is barely tolerable for a human body, and you've used all eight."
"So, I'll die one way or another," I struggled to lift the staff from the ground, and I had to lean on it to stay on my feet.
"Not necessarily," Thanatos approached a bit closer, "I believe I can preserve your body if you come with me."
"To the realm of the dead?"
"Yes, I've already studied these consequences, and I think I can stabilize your body."
"And how long will that take?"
"A year, maybe two. But you'll come back much stronger than before, and no one will be able to threaten you."
"That won't matter anymore. If I leave, the portals will close again, and you won't be able to help people if needed."
"But if you stay, you'll perish, and we'll still return to the spirit world."
"Yes, but to prevent that, I want to try something," the great spirits probably tried to convince me further, but I no longer listened. I focused on the black stone in front of me, "Black God, I know you're there. And I know you can hear me."
"Hoo, you finally decided not to ignore me?"
"I need your knowledge."
"Why do you think I'd help you?"
"Because I'll try to correct your mistake."
...
"Well?"
"Fine, what do you want?"
"Tell me about the last mass spell of ancient magic you used."
"Hey! Why do you need it? You're not planning to turn it against me, are you?"
"No, but based on it, I will create something new."
"Well, as you wish."
Memories of the ancient god flowed into me from the crystal, along with the motives that led to such a decision. Two bodies and tremendous energy were required to bind them, to make it possible for them to switch. For the spirits, obtaining the necessary power posed no problem. If they couldn't remain in our world because they spent magic maintaining their forms, then I could rectify that. And if the great spirits could stay in our world, the portals wouldn't be closed either.
I began gathering the remnants of power I still possessed in my staff. Until the spirits adapted to their new forms, my strength would keep the path open for them, even after my death.
I needed to create suitable forms for each of them. If I granted this ability to the lords, then the other spirits would also change. And I had seen their forms already; the appearance of the contractors served as a good example.
"Now you are free," I whispered the final words, and a magical flash illuminated the sky.
"Krito!" Katrina rushed into the square shortly after the powerful spell, but her eyes were still blinded by the bright light. "Please, don't go."
The girl searched for the one she longed to see again. She hoped that now nothing would hinder them, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Krito, please stay with me," the princess slowly approached the center of the square. There stood the black staff, held motionless by powerful magic. A greenish glow emanated from the crystal at its tip, and the girl instinctively reached for the crystal.
"You better not do that," the semi-darkness after the spell dissipated, revealing the figures of eight individuals standing in the square.
A woman of around thirty with long white hair.
A young blond man in a white cloak.
A beautiful girl in revealing leather attire with curly horns.
A very young girl with blue eyes dressed in loose clothing.
A slightly older girl with long dark blue hair and a closed dress.
A big man with short chestnut hair.
A young guy with tousled red hair.
An older man with golden hair and a long beard.
"Nothing will bring him back now," the white-haired woman said, gently pulling the princess's hand away.