The God of Destiny's eyes burned with a newfound resolve as he slowly stepped forward, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. Zorath, still grappling with the remnants of his fury, launched another wave of physical attacks toward him.
But this time, the God didn't even raise a hand. With a flicker of his will, a massive spear of light formed in midair and shot toward Zorath with unerring precision. Zorath barely had time to react before the spear pierced through his chest, pinning him to the ground.
Zorath gasped, blood trickling from his mouth as he struggled to pull the spear out, but his strength was failing. The God of Destiny looked down at him with cold indifference. "You wanted freedom from my control, Zorath. Now, taste the agony of defying destiny itself."
The God twisted his hand, and the spear glowed brighter, sending a wave of searing pain through Zorath's body. His scream echoed across the square, filling it with an air of hopelessness.
I gritted my teeth, heart pounding in my chest. "Zorath, hold on!" I shouted, gripping the Alzatch Blade tightly. I moved to intercept, but Brianna suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
"Brianna? What are you—?"
Before I could finish, her eyes flashed with an unsettling light. Her usually calm expression had turned cold, void of emotion. My breath hitched as I realized something was horribly wrong.
The God of Destiny's laughter rang out, laced with cruel satisfaction. "Did you think you could rewrite fate so easily, Sion? You've underestimated me."
I narrowed my eyes, gripping the Alzatch Blade. "What did you do to her?"
He tilted his head slightly, the amusement never leaving his expression. "My true power is not merely to control destiny. I am the author of characters—the architect of personalities and stories. I can define their roles, enhance their abilities, and even turn them against their dearest friends."
A sinking feeling hit my gut as I saw Brianna's movements—rigid, almost mechanical. Her gaze was locked on me, her usual warmth replaced by an eerie emptiness.
"She's no longer the girl you know," the God of Destiny continued. "I've rewritten her, given her new power and a new role: to stop you."
I stepped back, shaking my head in disbelief. ''Brianna..?''
But she didn't respond. Instead, she extended her hand, and a sphere of crackling energy formed in her palm. The intensity of the power radiating from it was far beyond anything she'd ever wielded before. Her eyes narrowed with icy determination as she launched the attack straight at me.
I barely managed to deflect it with the Alzatch Blade, the force of the collision sending shockwaves through the air. The ground beneath me cracked as I skidded back from the impact. My heart clenched with every strike—this wasn't some enemy; this was Brianna, my closest ally.
The God of Destiny's voice echoed in my ears. "Do you feel it, Sion? The sting of betrayal? You can rewrite reality all you want, but some wounds can't be undone. You can't save her."
I tried to reach out to her, hoping that something of the real Brianna remained. "Brianna, please! You don't have to do this! You're stronger than his control!"
But there was no sign of recognition. She charged forward, her body moving with unnatural speed and precision, enhanced by the power the God of Destiny had granted her. Her hand crackled with energy as she swung at me, each strike more relentless than the last.
I parried and blocked her blows, but I couldn't bring myself to counterattack. My mind raced, desperately searching for a way to break whatever hold the God had on her. But each moment that passed only deepened my sense of dread.
The God of Destiny's laughter cut through the chaos. "How does it feel, Sion? To face someone you care about, knowing that saving her is beyond your reach? This is the true power of destiny—to twist the bonds you cherish into weapons against you."
The Weaver of Fate watched with cold satisfaction, her eyes gleaming as Brianna continued her relentless assault. "Your defiance was admirable, but in the end, destiny is inevitable."
I gritted my teeth, fighting back tears of frustration. "You monsters… You're just toying with people's lives!"
Brianna's next attack was a blast of concentrated energy that hit me square in the chest, sending me crashing into the debris. Pain wracked my body, but it was nothing compared to the pain of seeing her like this—stripped of her will, turned into a puppet.
The God of Destiny snapped his fingers, and Brianna halted mid-attack, returning to his side like a soldier awaiting orders. "Enough, Brianna. You've served your purpose."
She stood there, emotionless, like a lifeless doll. The sight twisted my heart in ways I didn't think possible. My hands shook as I forced myself back onto my feet.
"Why…?" I whispered, barely able to speak. "Why go this far?"
The God of Destiny's smile was razor-sharp. "To show you that no matter how much you struggle, I hold all the cards. Your resistance is futile."
He reached out and placed a hand on Brianna's shoulder, as if claiming her as his own. "She's mine now—a character in my story. And there's nothing you can do to change that."
With a final wave of his hand, a portal of shimmering light appeared behind him. The Weaver of Fate stepped through first, her expression one of disdain as she gave me a final, contemptuous look. "Goodbye, Sion. You were never more than a loose end."
The God of Destiny gave me one last smirk before following her, pulling Brianna along with him. "Remember this moment, Sion—the moment you lost everything. The moment you realized that destiny is beyond your control."
As they vanished into the portal, the world fell silent once more, leaving only the echoes of their laughter and the lingering ache in my chest.
I staggered over to Zorath, who lay bleeding, barely clinging to life. His eyes were glazed, but he managed a weak grin. "Looks like… we both got played, huh?" he said.
I knelt beside him, guilt and regret clawing at my insides. "I couldn't save her, Zorath. I couldn't save anyone…"
He coughed, blood staining his lips as he struggled to speak. "This… This is what it feels like… to be a pawn. But we're not done yet, Blue-Flame-Dude. Not by a long shot."
His words resonated with something deep within me, reigniting a spark of determination. The God of Destiny may have taken Brianna, but this wasn't the end. I wasn't going to let his twisted vision of fate stand unchallenged.
I clenched my fists, eyes burning with resolve. "You're right. This isn't over. I'll find a way to break his hold on her—and I'll make him pay for everything he's done."
Zorath nodded weakly, his grin fading as darkness crept into his vision. "Good… Let's show him… what it means to defy destiny."
As Zorath lost consciousness, I rose to my feet, determination hardening into cold resolve. The battlefield lay in ruins around me, but this was only the beginning. The God of Destiny had made a grave mistake by turning Brianna against me. He may have written her role, but I would rewrite her fate.
No matter what it takes.