"That's the spirit. By the way—whoever wins gets to be my pet."
Morzathun shrugged at Elarion's words, shouting through his teeth as they sank into Terra's flesh.
"As if we'd be your toy, you lunatic human!"
Elarion hit him on the head, smiling.
"Less talk, more bites."
Despite Morzathun's words, he bit Terra rabidly. Elarion walked away again, leaving them alone.
Terra bit back too. They were like animals, shouting and biting each other. Blood dripped from their flesh, but they didn't stop, even when they saw him leave.
Elarion came back again, this time with Hadeon and the elf walking behind him, while he dragged the fur-man's body. His body was healed. He threw him with them.
"Hi, my beautiful animals. We have new company here."
He trapped the fur-man in restraints like the others and explained the game. The fur-man wasted no time and began to bite both of them.
Hadeon and the elf were silent, looking away in painful experience—but they knew better than to speak.
Elarion turned back to them, smiling.
"Now, swear your loyalty to me."
Hadeon and the elf drew a circle on the ground with their own blood. Morzathun was surprised and tried to open his mouth, but was bitten by the fur-man. He shouted, trying desperately to use magic, but his mana wasn't gathering. All he could do was bite back.
Elarion bit his thumb and offered his blood to the circle, whispering:
"I am the son of god, hated by fate. I, who will break the realm of demon and god, swear with my filthy blood—the way given to me by my father Nyxar and mother Selene Myrrha—that I will take these two souls under my wings and make them apostles of destruction."
The circle radiated with black light. Elarion dropped to his knees suddenly, laughing until he went unconscious.
"Hey... You two, are you feeling something?"
They both shook their heads.
"Nothing, master."
Elarion smirked and pointed to the elf.
"Shoot your partner with magic."
The elf pointed his finger towards the fur-man, chanting:
"Our dear lord of destruction, erase—"
"No need for chanting."
The elf stopped, bowing his head.
"Excuse my rudeness, but I can't cast magic without chanting."
Elarion walked past him, touched his shoulder, and whispered in his ear in a harsh tone:
"Do not argue with me. Do as I tell you."
The elf swallowed hard, extended his hand toward the fur-man. Elarion whispered:
"That's it, now just think about the attack. No words needed."
The elf closed his eyes, his breathing hitched.
"I'm doing it..."
Elarion lightly hit the elf's back, smiling.
"Now open your eyes and see."
The elf opened his eyes in surprise to see the fur-man covered in fire—along with Terra and Morzathun. Their bodies were melting, but recovering at the same time. He turned to Elarion.
"Did I do it?"
Elarion stroked the elf's hair.
"Yes, you did." He turned to Hadeon. "Now your turn."
Hadeon's face was full of cold joy. He jumped around, stuttering.
"C-Can I do it, p-please?"
Elarion hit Hadeon's back rapidly but lightly while laughing.
"That's the spirit. Show them all the bad times they put you through."
Hadeon grinned, extended both hands, and began throwing fireballs nonstop.
"Fire, fire, fire! That's for looking down on me!"
Elarion whispered in Hadeon's ear:
"That's right. She threatened you before, and that ugly sight always disobeyed orders. Not to forget Morzathun, who made you the lowest demon lord and always forced you to do unwanted things."
Hadeon lifted his hand, then brought it down. A massive black inferno of mana flowed toward them. Their bodies turned to ashes, but their ashes turned to flesh and bone again, as if nothing had happened.
Elarion clapped his hands, laughing.
"Thank you both for showing me a good show. But first, let me tell you plenty of things."
He looked at Morzathun.
"Earlier when I cast my magic to destroy the city, I made a protection shield for everyone here. Second, all of your bodies are immortal—for a short time, amazing right?."
Elarion tugged the restraints, bringing Morzathun to fall in front of him.
"Care to know how much time it'll last? Or will you finally speak?"
Morzathun hesitated slightly, lowering his head to the ground.
"I can't tell you. If I did, he will—"
"I know what he will do. But believe me, I can do far worse than he ever could."
Elarion ruffled Morzathun's hair.
"Besides, if you become my pet, no one can hurt you. Not even the gods themselves."
Morzathun swallowed and nodded.
"It was god Vaelith who ordered me."
Elarion's face darkened, before he laughed bitterly.
"I see... So he didn't have enough of torturing me for centuries, but he did it to Mother too. What a coward."
Elarion glared at Morzathun in disgust.
"Now, as I promised—I will kill you."
Morzathun shouted, struggling against the restraints.
"Hey! You promised to spare my life if I told you!"
Elarion tilted his head.
"I don't remember such a thing. Aren't you imagining things?"
Morzathun buried his face on the ground, his voice barely audible.
"You said if I become your pet, no one can hurt me..."
Elarion grinned, pretending not to hear.
"What did you say? I couldn't hear you."
Morzathun shouted through grinding teeth:
"Make me your pet or whatever you want—just please save me!"
Elarion stomped on Morzathun's head, grinding his boot into him.
"I refuse. I hate ugly dogs."
Elarion lifted his gaze to the sky, fury carved into his face, his eyes shadowed with a quiet, simmering sorrow.
"When will you show yourself?" he muttered, his voice laced with venom. "I'm already growing tired of playing with your pathetic little slave."
His fingers raked through his hair in frustration as a radiant pillar of light descended, wrapping around Morzathun and slowly lifting his battered body toward the heavens.
A bitter smile tugged at Elarion's lips.
"So... you still refuse to face me. That's fine. I enjoy the waiting. Just make sure Father knows—he's next."
From above, Morzathun looked down, tears trailing from his wide, fearful eyes, his voice desperate and cracking.
"I didn't mean to... he forced me! I swear—I would never dare defy you!"
As Morzathun's body faded into the blinding light, a whisper, soft as a breath and cold as ice, brushed against Elarion's ear. It froze his blood, sent shivers crawling down his spine.
"We will see each other soon."