Against The True Gods-Chapter 58: Mind

Fire, Water, Air, Darkness, and Light—these were the elements embodied by the five entities.

With humanoid forms composed entirely of their respective elements, chaotic qi swirled and crackled around them, so dense and pure it caused the air itself to tremble.

The Fire Elemental’s body glowed with an intense red, akin to a living star. A mane of golden flames blazed from its head, and behind it floated a wheel of fiery orbs, slowly rotating as their heat and intensity steadily grew.

The Water Elemental’s form consisted of jagged ice shards, linked by thin filaments of flowing water. This gave it the appearance of an intricate, almost robotic monstrosity. Atop its head spun a halo of ice and water, scattering dazzling snowflakes that shimmered as they fell.

The Air Elemental’s body was a whirlwind of coiling streams, so thick and furious they resembled fine threads of silk, woven into the shape of a towering figure. Within its form, arcs of lightning danced in the crevices, cracking with unmatched ferocity.

The Darkness and Light Elementals seemed simultaneously inseparable and independent.

Their forms were deceptively simple, yet they emanated the most oppressive aura. The Darkness Elemental stood like a shadow to the Light Elemental, while the latter radiated a brilliance so blinding that no specific features could be discerned.

Caine gave them a brief glance before turning to Lilith. "Which one do you want?"

"My affinity makes dealing with the Fire and—"

"Alright," Caine interrupted. "I’ll take the other four."

Lilith didn’t seem surprised. She nodded calmly, her gaze locking onto the Fire Elemental as the entities fully emerged from the gate.

For a moment, their forms trembled, almost unstable, before settling into solidity. From their blank faces, eyes and mouths materialized, radiating waves of killing intent so overwhelming it sent shudders through the air.

The Light Elemental’s glowing eyes focused on Caine—more specifically, on Elura. "Of course," it rumbled, its voice deep and resonant. "Of course, you’d degrade yourself by siding with the enemy."

Elura’s expression remained neutral, unfazed by the words. The Light Elemental continued, disdain dripping from every word. "These children will suffice. Their bodies will make fine vessels, flesh puppets we can inhabit. They won’t sustain us for long, but they’ll address our immediate needs."

"Any objections?" it asked, its gaze sweeping over the others.

None of the other Elementals responded.

They simply shook their heads.

The Light Elemental stepped forward, but its advance was abruptly halted. Its eyes narrowed as a towering wall of silver fog rose between it and the Fire Elemental, separating the latter from the rest of the group.

Lilith glanced at Caine, offering him a faint smile as she stepped through the wall of fog toward the isolated Fire Elemental. "Don’t die," she said lightly.

Caine nodded, turning his attention to the remaining four elementals. He raised a hand, gesturing for them to come forward. "Come."

The Light Elemental’s eyes widened in shock, rage building in its ancient heart. For an entity of its stature to be treated with such casual disregard—it was intolerable.

Its form blurred, vanishing only to reappear before Caine in an instant, a blade of light materializing in its hand as it slashed downward.

Simultaneously, the other elementals launched their attacks. The Air Elemental raised its arms, conjuring violent storms of chaotic qi that surrounded Caine, trapping him in a vortex that made movement nearly impossible.

The Darkness Elemental surged silently from Caine’s shadow, its malevolent eyes gleaming as it thrust a blade of pure darkness toward his spine.

Above, the Water Elemental loomed, summoning an array of constructs—dragons, spears, tigers, and humanoid soldiers, all encased in armor of ice. They descended upon Caine with relentless force, each attack aiming to annihilate him.

The onslaught converged.

WHOOOSH!

Blades of light and darkness pierced Caine’s chest, meeting at his heart. The storm shredded his flesh, spilling blood, while the water constructs slammed into him, compounding the destruction.

The Elementals sneered, assured of their victory.

But Caine remained unmoved.

In an instant, his wounds vanished, his body knitting itself back together as though untouched. His hand shot out, seizing the Light Elemental by the throat with an iron grip.

With a single motion, he spun and slammed the Light Elemental into the Darkness Elemental, sending both crashing into the distance with a thunderous BANG!

Caine’s gaze shifted upward to the Water Elemental. The constructs it had summoned froze in mid-air before disintegrating into shimmering runes of water. These runes swirled together, forming a grand formation that wrapped tightly around the Water Elemental, imprisoning it.

With a flick of his wrist, Caine clenched his fist.

BOOM!

The formation imploded, reducing the Water Elemental to vapor.

He turned his eyes to the Air Elemental, which now trembled before him. "This won’t be a drawn-out battle," he said, his voice calm and absolute. "There will be no back-and-forth."

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He raised his arm and struck. A single punch tore a gaping hole through the Air Elemental’s silken body. It staggered, horrified, but before it could react, a second strike obliterated its head, scattering its form into chaotic winds.

The Light Elemental reappeared, lunging at Caine in a final, desperate attack. He sidestepped effortlessly, driving his knee into its chest. His hand reached for its head, tearing out a pulsing core—a glowing, brain-like mass.

With a flick of his fingers, he incinerated it.

As its body dissolved into motes of light, the Darkness Elemental surged from the remnants, wielding twin blades of light and shadow. Both weapons streaked toward Caine with blinding speed.

Time slowed. Caine’s intent flared like an erupting star. The twin blades shattered mid-air, their fragments fusing into a single weapon—a blade forged of both light and darkness.

Caine snatched the weapon and turned it on its creator. With one precise motion, he beheaded the Darkness Elemental, its body dissolving into nothingness.

The battlefield fell silent.

Caine’s expression remained serene as he turned and stepped through the wall of silver fog. His movements were measured, unhurried.

What had they expected? A battle of minds?

Against him?

Had it been a battle of souls, perhaps he would have struggled. Even he had yet to master the full power of his Soul Form. But a battle of minds—a test of mental fortitude?

The outcome had been decided the moment it began.