The air filled with the ringing sound of a thousand shards snapping together, as the swirling fragments of Arytemis's broken body whirled faster and faster.

The once golden glow slowly morphed into a dangerous red hue, and with a flash of light, the shards split apart, reforming into two giant Arytemis.

Each was smaller than the original Arytemis, standing maybe twelve feet tall, but they looked no less dangerous for it.

They looked like twin gods of glass and fury, each identical, each radiant, and each bearing eyes that burned like suns on their faces.

Wade swore under his breath, tightening his grip on Toothpick. "Two of them now. Great."

Sebastian's voice boomed across the hall. "We split them up! Ingrid, you're with me! Rowan, Wade, the other one's yours!"

There was no hesitation. The floor cracked as Sebastian charged.

His red lightning ignited around him once again, his boots leaving scorch marks as he surged towards the left Arytemis. Ingrid followed swiftly, her bow glowing with blue energy as she ran.

The goddess met them halfway. Her movements were fluid and almost human. She was far more nimble than the first form.

She wielded a mirror image version of Sebastian's own axe, forged from translucent glass.

Sebastian roared as their weapons collided. The impact sent shockwaves through the room.

He swung again, faster, but Arytemis matched him, step for step, blow for blow. Every time his axe moved, hers mirrored it with uncanny accuracy.

It was like fighting a reflection of himself that somehow had way more skills and strength than the original.

Ingrid loosed an arrow that streaked through the air and detonated beside Arytemis's head, forcing the goddess to duck.

But as Ingrid drew again, Arytemis raised a hand. A wall of glass burst from the floor, intercepting the shot. The arrow exploded uselessly, scattering fire across the barrier.

"Tch. She can block now?" Ingrid muttered, rolling to the side and firing two more arrows. Arytemis turned, effortlessly catching both arrows in the air, and sent them flying back.

Ingrid barely twisted aside in time as her own arrows shattered against the wall behind her.

Sebastian didn't stop his assault, slamming his axe down in a brutal overhead strike.

Arytemis caught it on her weapon, the two locked in a contest of strength. Sparks of light crackled between them, shards raining down like rain.

"You're not as strong as me!" Sebastian roared, pushing down with all his might.

Arytemis tilted her head, a smirk appearing on her glass lips. "Then why are you sweating, mortal?"

She pivoted, her weapon flashing upwards, and the backhand caught Sebastian square in the jaw.

The force hurled him backward, his boots gouging trenches in the glassy floor. He stopped himself, snarling, but Arytemis was already upon him again.

Her axe swung in a deadly rhythm of attacks, the strikes getting faster and faster.

Sebastian blocked each blow, his arms straining, until the fourth swing slipped past his guard and slammed into his chest plate.

The sound of the impact filled the air. He hit the ground hard, his axe flying from his grip and skidding several meters away.

Arytemis stood over him, her eyes glowing with amusement.

"You fought well," she said softly, raising her axe. "But you are only human."

"Not yet!"

A blur of motion flashed under her feet. It was Ingrid.

She slid across the ground, her bow already drawn, her fingers releasing in the same motion.

"Eat this!"

The arrow shot straight up, glowing white-hot. It struck Arytemis square in the face.

The explosion tore through the goddess's head, sending shards of glass scattering in the air.

Arytemis stumbled back with a shriek of fury, golden light leaking from her wounds as her face began to knit together again.

Sebastian rolled to his feet, catching his axe mid-motion. "Good shot, Ingrid!"

"You're welcome!" she yelled back.

[][][][][]

Across the hall, Wade and Rowan faced their own Arytemis.

This one was sharper, literally. Her body was more aerodynamic, and her limbs were bladed like scythes.

She lunged at them, her blade arm slicing horizontally.

Wade leapt back, activating his Bone Wings in an instant. The skeletal appendages burst from his back with a crack of bone, flaring wide as he shot into the air.

Rowan was already above the ground, his boots glowing green as he sprinted across the air itself, running on invisible platforms of condensed wind.

"Keep her on the ground!" Wade shouted.

"Working on it!" Rowan yelled back. He flicked his hand forward, and three compressed orbs of wind shot from his palm, spiraling towards Arytemis.

The goddess crossed her arms. A translucent dome of glass shimmered into existence around her, the orbs detonating against it with muffled explosions.

Wade dove, Toothpick blazing red. "Fireburst!"

He crashed into her barrier, flames licking the surface, and forced mana into the attack until the shield cracked, then shattered.

Arytemis retaliated instantly, her leg sweeping out in an attack that Wade barely avoided in the air.

He teleported above her, appearing behind her head. "Wrong move."

He brought his axe down hard.

The blow connected with the back of her skull, sending fissures racing down her neck and shoulder.

Arytemis screamed, twisting violently. Her claw-like hand lashed out, grazing his chest and tearing through his armor before he could teleport again.

Pain flared through him, but he grit his teeth, landing beside Rowan.

"You alright?" Rowan asked quickly, still forming another spell.

"Been worse," Wade muttered. "Let's finish her before she gets smart."

Rowan nodded, slamming his palm into the air. Dozens of shimmering wind platforms materialized around Arytemis, each one glowing faintly.

"Don't let her leave the ground," he said. "On my mark."

"Got it."

Rowan snapped his fingers. The platforms collapsed inward like invisible fists, slamming into Arytemis from all sides.

The goddess roared, staggering. Her wings began to form, but Wade was already there.

He rushed forward, activating Short Step. Each teleport carried him a few meters closer in rapid bursts, his axe trailing fiery arcs behind him.

He appeared before her, swinging upward with all his strength. The weapon smashed into her chin, launching her head backward.

Rowan fired a second volley of air bullets, striking her in the torso and forcing her down again.

Arytemis fell on her back, cracks spreading across her body.

"Now!" Wade shouted.

Rowan leapt forward, his hands glowing white with compressed wind magic. "Gale Burst!"

He slammed both palms into Arytemis's chest. The explosion sent a shockwave rippling through the hall, the floor beneath her cratering.

For a moment, the goddess seemed finished, cracks spreading through her body, then she twisted.

With a sound like breaking ice, two massive glass wings erupted from her back, wide and jagged.

Before Rowan could react, they swept outward.

One of the wings smashed into him with full force.

The impact sent him flying across the hall, his body slamming into the ground hard enough to crack the floor.

"Rowan!" Wade shouted, eyes wide.

The goddess began to rise to her feet, her cracks sealing, and the fiery light in her eyes burning hotter than ever.

Then her wings unfolded fully behind her, making her look like an angel of death.

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