The tension in the air was palpable. The gods had already made their move, and now, Dante was offering Eldric a choice. Power that could challenge the gods themselves, but at a cost—one that Eldric couldn't yet understand. His eyes narrowed as he took in Dante's smug expression.
Karis stepped closer to Eldric, her voice urgent. "Don't listen to him. He's always had his own agenda. Power like that—it comes with a price, and not one we can afford."
Seraphine remained silent for a moment, her eyes fixed on Dante, as if trying to weigh the truth of his words. Finally, she spoke. "You've seen what the gods can do, Eldric. But we're not alone in this fight. The fire that burns inside of you—it's not just your strength. It's the power of those you fight for, those who believe in you. Don't let him twist that."
Eldric turned his gaze back to Dante, who stood before him with a self-assured smile.
"What's the point of fighting the gods if you can't win?" Dante's voice was smooth, coaxing, yet edged with something far darker. "You think you can do it with just your flame? That's cute. But you'll need far more than that to stand against beings who've shaped the very fabric of existence."
The temptation was there—clear and undeniable. Eldric had always fought with fire, with rage, with the weight of his past. But what if he could wield more? What if there was a way to not just survive but to truly overcome?
But the whisper of doubt returned, clawing at the edges of his resolve.
"Everything comes at a price, Dante. I know your tricks." Eldric's voice was cold, his grip tightening on the Godslayer. "And I won't sell my soul for power."
Dante's smile faltered, but he recovered quickly, his eyes gleaming with renewed intensity. "Oh, Eldric. You still don't get it, do you? This isn't about selling your soul. This is about saving it. You think the gods care about you? They'll erase you without a second thought, just like they've done to countless others before you." He paused, his expression turning more serious. "You think they care about the pain you've endured, the lives you've lost? They'll turn their backs on you when it's convenient. I, on the other hand, offer you a way to never be their victim again. A way to control your own fate."
Eldric's heart raced. The idea of controlling his own fate, of standing above the gods, was tempting. But something in his gut told him this was a trap. Dante was playing a dangerous game—and he was trying to get Eldric to play along.
He stepped back, putting distance between himself and Dante. "I don't need your power. I've already taken on the gods. They'll fall—whether I do it with your help or not."
Dante's smile returned, though it was sharper now, almost predatory. "That's where you're wrong, Eldric. You already accepted the gods' power once. Do you think they won't come for you when they realize what you're capable of? You can't run forever, no matter how much fire you have inside."
The words hit like a hammer. Eldric's mind flashed back to his past—the flames, the destruction, the moments of weakness he'd tried to bury. Could it be true? Could the gods really see him as a threat now? Could his very existence be a signal for their wrath?
The moment of hesitation was all Dante needed.
His hand flashed out, and in the blink of an eye, the air between them twisted, bending around Eldric like a tightening noose. "Take the power, Eldric," Dante's voice echoed in his mind. "Or the gods will destroy you and everything you hold dear. No one is invincible—not even you."
For a second, Eldric was caught in the pull of the words. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he could see the gods' anger, their wrath focused on him. The image was terrifying—like standing before an unstoppable tide, the weight of it pressing in on him from all sides.
But then—
A sudden surge of fire erupted inside him, igniting his soul with a pure, unyielding force. His eyes burned with the intensity of the flame within, and he felt his body—his very being—roar to life.
"No." His voice cracked through the pressure, his flames expanding outward, pushing back the dark energy that Dante had summoned.
"Dante," Eldric said, his voice stronger now, clearer. "I will not bow to fear. I will not take your power, because I already have the strength to defeat the gods. I don't need your chains."
The fire around him flared higher, burning away the illusions Dante had tried to cast.
Dante stepped back, his eyes narrowing. "You think you're above them? Fine. But remember this, Eldric—when the gods turn on you, I won't be there to help. No one will."
Eldric's gaze never wavered. "I don't need anyone but myself."
---
A Hidden Threat
The moment passed, and Dante vanished, leaving behind a lingering sense of foreboding. Eldric stood alone, surrounded by his companions, but the weight of his decision settled heavy in his chest.
Seraphine moved to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
He nodded, though his mind was far from at ease. "Yeah. But we can't let our guard down. Dante might have left, but the gods won't stop. And we're going to need more than just fire to stand against them."
Karis eyed him warily. "What about Dante? You think he'll just let this go?"
"I'm not worried about him," Eldric said, his voice steely. "But I am worried about what comes next."
Seraphine's eyes flickered with understanding. "You're not just worried about the gods coming after us, are you?"
"No," Eldric replied, his voice grave. "I'm worried about what we're becoming."
The gods had tried to break him. Dante had tried to sway him. But with every battle, Eldric felt the weight of the flame inside him growing, and with it, the knowledge that the path he walked was becoming darker, more uncertain.
Every victory came at a cost. And the price of defying the gods might be more than any of them were ready to pay.