The next day, in a special domain, Elysium made for the trials. It was a branch off his floor, but it was still as strong as the core, with some more added power for its usage in combat.

“Fight!!!!”

“Fight!!!!”

“Fight!!!!”

Up in the audience, several people whom Charon had gathered from around the world were cheering. Given permission from their respected floor managers. Among the people watching from special seats were Elysium’s Knights.

“Haha!! To think the first person who would fight our leader would be his wife! Hahaha!!” Laughed Cancer, a knight in a bit more bulky armor with a helmet that was reminiscent of a crab.

“I wonder how Lady Ai will do!” said Aries.

“If I wasn’t mistaken, your wife was a spirit, yes?” said Pisces O, a knight in very light armor wearing a helmet with a fish design with tan skin and black hair that reached down to her lower back.

“Yup! Ah~ Aria! I hope I can see my kid again!”

“I am sure she will come here eventually.” Said Scorpio. “But it is more likely we will be sent to deal with the Rifts. And if luck is on your side, you will see her.”

“Or you can just ask leader for a day off to go see her!” Cancer said.

“Hm… Either way, I can’t wait to—”

“Come on, Finn!” said Pisces E, a knight with tan skin and black hair kept in a ponytail, she wore a more exposed attire with light armor spread around her vital areas with a fish helmet.

Pisces E was currently trying to kiss Leo.

“I told you my name is Leo now! Get it through your thick head! Hey!! Pisces O!! Scorpio!! Help me get her off!"

“If I wasn’t mistaken wasn’t it you who decided to go while Gemini stayed?” Pisces O said. “Huh? You little siscon.”

“Why you!!”

“Fufu,” Scorpio said, a bit pleased. “As much as I like this light banter, I suggest you all be quiet now.” She said it with authority in her voice.

“!!”

Everyone quickly straightened up and sat orderly.

“Wonderful! Let us enjoy this match!” She said back in a more cheery mood.

'Uwah… the Captain sure is scary.’ They all thought.

 

Down on the wide battlefield filled with 4 biomes: tundra, desert, mountain, and forest. At the interception, where they all met, were Elysium and Ai.

“Is there anything you wish to learn before we start?” asked Elysium, in his male form, looking refreshed.

“Just a few,” Ai said, fully refreshed with glossy skin. “When I win, would I have to go through the process you went through to become a god?”

“More or less. There is no way around it.”

"Okay, and what is my name? Your name as a god is Elysium, so would I receive a name as well?”

“You will know it automatically when you become a god. It will be like taking a breath.”

“That natural huh?”

“Yes, so get ready.”

“Yeah.” Ai then gets into her drawing stance. “I won’t be holding back.” She then placed her hand on the wrapped-up blade on her back.

“I’m excited; we never had a truly serious fight, did we?” Elysium smiled as he cracked his neck.

“No, but this will be the first and last. Not counting our private times.”

Both of them took their stance.

 

The air grew tense, and Ai was watching Elysium with no spear in his hand.

“Come, Rhadamanthus. Crack!!” Appearing from thunder Elysium grabbed it, its form solidified along with his appearance.

Elysium returned to mortal appearance, with brown hair, green eyes, and scars in all.

The spear was very sleek and regal, with an air of majesty about it. It looked a bit thinner than White Night but still retained a similar design. But slotted into the neck of the spear was a yellow diamond.

‘That weapon!? It has to be on the level of White Night!?’ Ai began to sweat a bit. ‘I am thankful I went and had Gram fixed because if I didn't... Well, this would be even harder.’

“Is that a spirit as well?” Ai asked.

“No, this is my divine weapon. I made it from some of my authorities, so there is no need to hold back.” He swung the spear around and got into his stance, but Ai found it vastly different than before. “It’s not at full power, but don’t worry, it’s about 1/3 of what it is.”

‘There is no opening. I’ve seen him fight long enough to know the ins and outs of his style, but now... Charon, thank you for the advice. I can’t estimate what he is capable of!’

Bwoosh!!

Emerging from a pillar of fire was a beautiful blazing red-haired woman; her clothes were a red dress, and her eyes were as black as coal.

“My name is Phlegethon, manager of the Phlegethon Meadow.” She said it in a bit of a haughty manner. “I will act as the referee for this match. Know this, Mother.” She looks at Ai. “I will be true and fair.”

“Thank you very much, Phle!” Ai gave her a warm smile.

“Fufu… Pleasantry’s won’t win my heart. Now…on three! One!!” Phlegethon shouted.

Their stances solidified.

“Are you ready? My love!!” Ai shouted, ready.

"Heh, I should be the one saying that.” Elysium loosened up his limps. “I’ll be sure to repay you for our time in bed.”

“You didn’t enjoy it? Art, Malion, and Ryuu love it.”

“I’ll admit I loved it. I never felt such hedonistic pleasure since I was mortal.”

“I’m glad my fingers were able to satisfy a god like you.”

“One,” Phlegethon repeated herself.

Elysium smiled, his knees slowly bent, and the earth began to creak.

Ai smiled ear to ear.

“Two!!” Phlegethon shouted again.

The grips of their weapons tightened.

“Let’s enjoy this when we can! Elysium!!!” Ai shouted as her eyes sharpened to the finest of points.

“Same to you! Ai!!!!” Elysium shouted as he sealed his power back down to when he died.

“I am Ai Zephyr! The Red Crown!!” Ai shouted out with pride. “Vice-captain of the Artemis Familia! Second wife to the great hero Cirrus Zephyr! The Heavenly Crown!"

“And I am Elysium! The God of Nascent!" Elysium did the same. “God of Elysia!"

“Three!!!!” Phlegethon shouted, disappearing into flame.

Immediately, Ai kicked off backward. She could see the blade of Elysium’s spear fly before her eyes.

The speed at which they moved was faster than a flicker of light.

Ai then immediately drew her blade, deflecting another of Elysium’s strikes.

Clang!!

Ting!!

She immediately knew this fight would not last long at this rate. These attacks were rattling her bones.

“(Rage. Eighty-thousand men cannot quench my thirst.

Two arrows pierce my ribs and throat, one swing of the blade.

Today I will live, tomorrow I will not lose my life.

I shall save myself, lament. Tamamo no Mae.) [Yonbi Kōgō]!"

She quickly chanted her magic to undergo her beastification.

Swish!!

Whoosh!

Seeing Elysium’s attack that cut through the air, Ai was able to evade and deflect his strikes more easily.

Clang!! Clang!!

Whoosh!! Whoosh!!

Elysium, however, just increased his speed more.

“!!”

Clang!! Clang!!

Whoosh!! Whoosh!!

Ai struck his spear down into the ground and kicked off towards the forest.

“Fuu… A fox hunt it is,” Elysium said, spinning his spear. “Sing.” thunder set fire to the forest.

 

Ai, having run deep within the forest, heard and saw the thunder and fire around the forest.

“How very you.” Ai removes the coverings of Gram. “Let’s go all out, Gram. Let's show your master your new look!” As she drew the blade, the runes on the blade glowed brightly.

Ai sheathed her blade and held Gram tightly. The wind started to converge around Gram.

“(When the bell tolls 108 times, gather the eight serpents.)”

Entering the flaming forest, Elysium could feel a slight pull of the wind.

“(No offerings of sacrifice to the earth, wind, fire, water, thunder, poison, light, and darkness.)”

The leaves rustle along with the wind.

“(I offer you steel and the clear sky.) [Murakumogiri]!"

“Ah.”

Elysium bends back as the slash goes over.

Slice~~~~!!!

He stands straight up to see that a massive swath of the forest has been cut down. He could see a golden blade with glowing runes in Ai’s hands.

“Gram.” Elysium instantly recognized it.

Foom!!

Ai quickly covered the distance.

Elysium’s eyes looked down to see Ai coming in with a swing. Instinct kicked in, and from his palm, lightning shot out.

Crackle!!

Ai jumped back, redirecting the lighting into the air with Gram.

“You and Gram... A dangerous combination indeed.” He grins.

“Thank Odin for that. So shall we get back to cutting each other?” Ai also said, making a matching grin.

“Ah~ I can see the girl Cirrus fell in love with.”

“And I can see the boy I fell in love with. HAAA!!!!!”

“AAAAH!!!!!”

They dashed towards one another.

Ai swung her sword while Elysium thrust his spear.

CLANG~!!!!!!

The sound and force of their attack resonate up to the crowd and knights.