The Temple of Eternal Light lay in ruins. Eldric stood among the crumbling marble, his chest rising and falling with exhaustion. The body of the god of light had faded into nothingness, leaving behind only a faint shimmer of energy lingering in the air. Another god had fallen, but there was no time to celebrate.
"We need to leave. Now," Seraphine urged, glancing up at the sky. "The gods won't let this go unanswered."
Eldric turned his gaze upward, and his heart clenched. The clouds above twisted unnaturally, swirling like a massive storm was forming. Lightning cracked across the sky, but it wasn't the normal white-blue of nature's fury. It was golden, divine, burning with a celestial rage that sent tremors through the air.
"They're coming," Karis muttered, gripping her sword tightly. "They know we're getting stronger."
Eldric clenched his fists. He had no doubt about what was happening—the gods had noticed. They had underestimated him and the rebellion for too long, but now, they were sending something stronger. Something far worse than a single god's wrath.
"Move!" Eldric shouted. "Get everyone out of here!"
---
The Descent of Divine Judgment
As the rebellion's forces fled from the ruined temple, the heavens split open. A beam of golden light crashed into the ground, sending a shockwave that sent debris flying. Eldric barely had time to shield himself before a figure emerged from the light—a celestial warrior clad in radiant armor, his form nearly too bright to look at directly.
A voice boomed across the battlefield, shaking the very earth.
"Eldric of the Rebellion. Your sins have reached the heavens. The gods have sent me to deliver their judgment."
The figure took a step forward, the ground beneath him turning to gold. His eyes burned with divine fury, and his very presence made the air heavy with power.
Karis tightened her grip on her sword. "Who the hell is this?"
Seraphine's face was pale. "That's not just any god… That's a Divine Arbiter."
Eldric's eyes narrowed. He had heard whispers of the Arbiters before—beings created by the gods to act as their enforcers. Unlike the gods, they did not rule. They hunted. And when they descended, it meant only one thing: extermination.
The Arbiter raised his massive spear, golden runes pulsing along its length. "You have slain two gods. Your punishment is death."
---
The Battle Against the Arbiter
Eldric didn't hesitate. Flames exploded from his fists as he lunged forward, striking at the Arbiter with all the force he could muster. But the moment his fire met the Arbiter's golden aura, it was snuffed out like a candle in the wind.
The Arbiter's spear shot forward, faster than Eldric could react. A golden shockwave erupted from the tip, slamming into Eldric's chest and sending him flying. He crashed into the rubble of the temple, pain radiating through his ribs.
"Damn it…" Eldric groaned, forcing himself to stand.
The Arbiter didn't even flinch. "Fire is the domain of the gods. Did you think you could use it against me?"
Karis and Seraphine charged in together, attacking from opposite sides. Karis's blade slashed at the Arbiter's golden armor, but sparks flew as if she had struck an immovable wall. Seraphine unleashed a storm of dark energy, trying to weaken his divine light, but the Arbiter raised a single hand, dispersing the magic with ease.
"You are nothing before the will of the heavens," the Arbiter intoned, lifting his spear high.
Then, in a flash of light, he disappeared.
Eldric's eyes widened. "Where—?"
The answer came a second too late.
A golden streak cut through the battlefield as the Arbiter reappeared behind Seraphine, his spear already descending. She barely had time to turn before the weapon struck, sending her flying. She hit the ground hard, blood splattering across the broken stones.
"Seraphine!" Karis shouted.
Eldric's rage flared, his flames erupting around him. He didn't care how powerful this Arbiter was—he would not let him take his friends.
But then, the Arbiter turned his gaze on Eldric and simply said:
"You are not yet ready."
And with that, the Arbiter raised his hand.
A divine force crashed into Eldric like a tidal wave. The flames around him flickered and died as an invisible weight pressed him to the ground. It was as if the very sky had decided to crush him. His knees buckled, his body screaming in pain.
The Arbiter's voice was calm, almost emotionless. "You will not die today, Eldric. The gods wish for you to see what happens to those who defy them."
Then, with a wave of his spear, the Arbiter vanished in a burst of golden light. The storm in the sky faded. The battlefield fell silent.
Eldric gasped for air, his hands trembling. He forced himself to his feet, pain wracking his body. Seraphine groaned, barely conscious, and Karis was still standing, though her face was twisted in frustration.
"He… he let us live?" Karis asked, disbelief in her voice.
Eldric clenched his fists. He wasn't naive—this was a warning. The gods had sent their enforcer not to kill them, but to remind them of the difference in power. To break their spirits.
But instead, something inside Eldric burned brighter than ever.
The gods had sent a message.
Now, it was his turn to respond.