That One Time I Married A Crazy Goddess

The masked woman smiled under her mask, raising her hands, "Is that you….?"

Yuuna tilted her head, "I'm sorry…? You know me or something?"

"It's you!"

Xyenn stepped up, but Yuuna stopped him for a second.

The masked woman, holding the branch she took from the cultists, looked at it, saying, "I bet that old hag Haelga sent you to save that woman. Typical of her. She never saved people before. She made us kill people to amplify our dark magic in rituals. Human souls were the prices back then."

Xyenn said, "We know you're Parcy, lady. Haelga even told us the things she's done. She was evil, yes. But she came to terms with herself at the end and—."

"Ended herself? Of course she would do it. She was scared I was gonna come back and take care of her myself. I will not fight any of you. What I'm doing is my own business."

Yuuna said, "Give us the flowers and tell me why you're trying to connect Hell to Kyrrin. You don't realize if you do that, then Hell's gates will open in this world, and it'll be catastrophic."

"That's the goal! That's the entire point! The Coven was meant to be a witch conclave of using your dark magic to kill the dragon gods. To redeem this world of oppression in certain continents! We all came from broken childhoods. And luckily, you had spread darkness all over the place, so it gave us an edge. Then it got to the point where we were the oppressors, and Haelga became desperate and started sacrificing people and other things, we had to go along with it, or she would curse us, our power never compares to hers. And when the other witches had enough, and they confronted Haelga, Haelga killed them. And guess where their souls went?!"

"Hell."

"Exactly! As Yuuna already knows those who do even a single ritual or try to harness dark magic and succeed are giving their souls up to Hell. I'm opening the gates so I can free them, they didn't deserve to die so early, to end up there. The branches I'm collecting is a piece of the bridge from Kyrrin to Hell. The mask…it's helping me. Guiding me. It tells me my plan will work, it tells me what to do, what to find. I have to do this!"

Yuuna replied, "That mask!"

Xyenn asked Yuuna, "What is that mask?"

"It's a mask from Hell that tames demonic beasts. Since those beasts are born from hellfire itself, they awaken with no one over them, no one they have to answer to. And if this Parcy girl has one…"

Gorran stated, "Then Parcy is no human. She made a deal with a Monarch, and she was guided to create the mask, with your darkness Yuuna."

Parcy sighed, "I made this choice on my own. I was already contemplating and stressing how I would free them, and when I was told how to create the mask itself, I knew hope wasn't lost. Binding the mask to a dark ritual cost me the ability to lose any physical feelings. I sat down with one of the Monarchs and they guided me."

Yuuna began to sweat, and exclaimed, "Did the Monarch say its name."

"That's none of your concern. Just know they have claimed that they will be back to take you—."

FWOOSH!

Xyenn and Gorran instantly dashed towards Parcy at the speed of light; with Xyenn's sharp claws right at Parcy's face, and Gorran's Xenith blade at her neck,

KATHOOM!

Wing and dust and splinters of wood flew all over the place, Salazar had caught both Xyenn and Gorran's arms, and Parcy started to float backwards, guided by darkness like wings, and she said, "I always have a plan, it won't be easy to beat me. I'm not in the wrong here! I just want to see them again! They didn't deserve to die to that old hag!"

Parcy began to merge with shadows, escaping.

Her shadow slithered outside on the ground, and she was talking to herself as she was escaping the sanctuary.

"I'm in the right! I'm saving them! Saving their souls from hell! The coven didn't need to die! I was promised I could save them once I open the gates! I have to put this last piece of the tree on the bridge!"

BOOM!

The ground exploded, dark pink and black flames erupted from the ground causing devastating destruction. And Parcy flew forward, and she flipped in the air, sliding on the ground on her feet. 

Yuuna came walking through the destruction, she wasn't even walking on the ground, she was walking in the air.

Yuuna asked menacingly, "What was their name?"

"I'm not gonna to tell you anything! You want to stop me, Yuuna? Queen of darkness? Or is your real name in Hell's tongue Azhuun?"

"Don't call me that. That's not my name anymore. I've abandoned that nasty fucking language. Hell's native tongue…I'm not Azhuun. I'm Yuuna now. Who's the name in the mask?"

"It doesn't matter anyway…even if you beat me, the mask will look for a new host. You can't destroy it, it's pure magic, pure darkness. YOURS, Yuuna. The reason people like us are able to even make contracts with devils anyway is because of what you've done! And I thank you for that, really. The darkness you had spread before, it gave many the key to be able to communicate with creatures from hell. That was the first bride, the first link from Kyrrin to Hell. But I do thank you! Really! Please help me! You probably want to see your family again—!"

"Those bastards aren't my family! I have a family already. My Tyrants..and my darling Xyenn. And suspiciously our child that we have. That's all I need."

"The Monarch said you can't wait to come back."

"Damn lies. Who was it?!"

Parcy started to stagger back, saying, "I'm sorry, I can't say."

She tried to escape, but Yuuna caught up to her.

The sanctuary was chaos incarnate. Blood pooled in the cracks of the shattered stone floor, flames licked at the edges of toppled pews, and the air was suffocating—thick with ash, smoke, and the metallic tang of fresh blood. Xyenn and Gorran stood side by side, their breaths ragged, their bodies battered and slick with crimson. Before them loomed Salazar, his monstrous form shuddering and pulsing with raw, unrelenting darkness. The twisted crow-demon had already transformed twice during the battle, each new form more terrifying and brutal than the last. His obsidian flesh glistened with molten veins of red, his six serrated wings spread wide, and his clawed hands seemed to drip with shadow that hung unnaturally in the air, twisting and writhing like living creatures.

Salazar tilted his monstrous head, his glowing yellow eyes boring into the two warriors as if silently judging their worth. The air around him warped, a suffocating aura of malevolence that made every breath feel heavier, every movement slower. Without warning, he lunged forward, his massive claws tearing through the air with terrifying speed.

Xyenn barely had time to react, his body flickering with inhuman speed as he darted to the side in a flash. Salazar's claws ripped through the space where he had just stood, carving deep gouges into the stone floor. Behind him, Gorran stepped forward, his grip on Xenith tightening as he slashed horizontally at Salazar's midsection. The blade's edge shimmered with spiraling crimson energy, carving a deep gash across the demon's side. 

The spiraling energy burrowed into Salazar's flesh, twisting unnaturally before detonating in a shower of molten blood. Salazar staggered but recovered almost instantly, his molten blood sizzling against the stone. His body began to shift, the wound sealing itself as his form grew larger, more grotesque. His wings split further, now eight jagged appendages lined with razor-sharp feathers that shimmered like obsidian glass. His claws thickened, and his beak-like mouth twisted into something more serpentine, lined with rows of jagged teeth. 

"Gotta be damn kidding me!" Gorran scoffed.

Xyenn said, "We need to beat him in one shot…"

"No shit."

"Don't get in my way. You'll only ruin it."

"You don't get in my way. I never asked to fight with you."

Salazar's retaliation was immediate. He spun with unnatural speed, his wings slicing through the air like blades. Gorran ducked under one wing, but the second caught him across the shoulder, tearing through flesh and muscle. Blood sprayed in an arc as Gorran stumbled back, his teeth clenched against the pain. 

'Is each form…making him powerful?!'

Xyenn flickered back into view behind Salazar, his claws igniting with black and pink flames. He lashed out with a flurry of strikes, each swipe aimed at Salazar's vital points. The flames exploded on impact, scorching the demon's flesh and sending chunks of molten muscle flying. But Salazar didn't falter. 

'He's still not down?!' Xyenn thought.

The crow-demon twisted his body, his talon-like foot slamming into Xyenn's chest with bone-crushing force. Xyenn was sent hurtling backward, crashing through a series of broken pews. Splinters of wood and stone rained down as he skidded to a stop, coughing up blood. 

Before Xyenn could recover, Salazar was already on him. The demon's claws descended in a brutal flurry, each strike aimed to disembowel. Xyenn rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding one swipe, then kicked off the ground, flipping backward as another claw tore through the air inches from his throat. 

"Gorran!" Xyenn shouted, his voice strained as he dodged another blow. "Get him now!"

"Don't command me to do anything, brat! Just keep using him as bait so I can land a killing blow."

"I'm doing all the work!"

'I'm fighting against a creature made from darkness, made by Haelga, who had more experience with dark magic before me! Why did I zoom in to attack? Maybe I couldn't help listening to her voice. Maybe Yuuna wanted more info from her, maybe I messed up.'

Gorran was already moving. He charged forward, Xenith gleaming with spiraling energy as he brought the blade down in a powerful overhead slash. The sword carved into Salazar's back, and the spiraling energy erupted in a violent explosion, sending molten blood spraying across the battlefield. 

Salazar roared, his body convulsing as it began to shift once more. His wings folded inward, his form collapsing in on itself like liquid shadow before expanding outward in a new shape. His arms stretched unnaturally, thickening into massive, bladed appendages. His legs bent backward, talons digging into the stone floor, and his head elongated, his glowing eyes now set deep within a skull-like visage. 

The transformation was complete in seconds, and Salazar launched himself at Gorran with blinding speed. His massive, bladed arm came down in a sweeping arc, forcing Gorran to raise Xenith in defense. The impact sent a shockwave through Gorran's body, his knees buckling under the force. 

Salazar pressed the attack, his other arm stabbing forward like a spear. Gorran twisted his body, the blade narrowly missing his abdomen, then countered with a quick slash aimed at Salazar's neck. The blade connected, cutting deep, but Salazar's molten blood sprayed across Gorran's face, burning his skin. Gorran stumbled back, clutching his face as the pain seared through him. 

Xyenn rejoined the fight, his claws igniting with black and pink flames as he darted around Salazar, moving too fast for the eye to follow. He struck at Salazar's legs, aiming to cripple the demon's movement. His claws dug deep, and the flames exploded, sending shards of molten bone flying. 

Salazar roared, spinning to swipe at Xyenn, but the dragon hybrid flickered out of reach, reappearing at Salazar's side. He lashed out again, his claws raking across Salazar's ribs, each strike detonating in a burst of fiery energy. 

Gorran, still recovering, wiped the blood from his face and charged forward. He and Xyenn moved in tandem, one attacking high, the other low. Gorran's blade carved deep into Salazar's shoulder, while Xyenn's claws tore into his thigh. The coordinated assault forced Salazar to stagger, his body shuddering under the relentless onslaught. 

But Salazar refused to fall. His body twisted and shifted, his wounds sealing as new, more grotesque appendages sprouted. His bladed arms split into four smaller limbs, each one tipped with scythe-like claws. His wings extended outward, feathers hardening into obsidian projectiles. 

With a guttural roar, Salazar unleashed his darkness magic. His wings flared, and the feathers shot out like arrows, each one aimed with deadly precision. Xyenn and Gorran scrambled to evade, the feathers embedding themselves into the stone walls and floor with explosive force. 

One feather grazed Xyenn's side, carving a deep gash that oozed blood. Another struck Gorran's leg, the impact nearly bringing him to his knees. 

Salazar capitalized on their injuries, lunging at Xyenn with terrifying speed. His claws slashed downward, but Xyenn blocked with his flaming tail, the force of the clash sending sparks and flames flying. Xyenn twisted his body, using his tail to deflect another strike before countering with a brutal uppercut. His flaming claws raked across Salazar's chest, leaving deep, smoldering wounds. 

Gorran joined the fray, his blade a quick motion as he slashed and stabbed with relentless precision. Each strike left spiraling energy burrowing into Salazar's flesh, detonating in bursts of blood and fire. 

"Got him!"

Despite their efforts, Salazar only grew more monstrous. His body expanded, his claws lengthened, and his darkness magic became more destructive. He began summoning shadow-like constructs—massive, crow-like beasts that attacked with the same ferocity as their master. 

Xyenn and Gorran fought desperately, their movements a blur as they dodged, countered, and struck with everything they had. The battlefield became a whirlwind of blood, fire, and shadow, every clash sending shockwaves through the crumbling sanctuary. 

Xyenn explained, "Each time he's wounded, he transforms into a more powerful beast!"

Gorran replied, "Then we have to kill him in one strike!"

Xyenn thought, 'What's this thing's weakness?! A weak point even? Does he do this an unlimited amount of times? Is there a limit? A power cap?! Does this keep going until Parcy is dead?! I only noticed his wounds don't heal when he transforms…There's so many questions and possibilities, we have to keep fighting to find out. But what if it ends too early for us to find it out? And this arm…my left arm..it hurts the more I use it or am attacked on it, that's a part of the sacrifice. I'm at a full disadvantage right now, but I still won't lose. I won't allow myself to.'

Both warriors were covered in wounds, their breaths ragged, their strength waning. Yet they refused to back down, their determination burning brighter than ever. 

Salazar, now a towering monstrosity of darkness and molten flesh, let out a deafening roar, his body radiating malevolent power. Xyenn and Gorran stood their ground, battered but unbroken, ready to fight until the bitter end. 

The battle raged on, neither side willing to yield. 

The sanctuary was a battlefield drenched in chaos and blood. Every corner of the desecrated space bore the scars of brutality—shattered stone, molten flesh, and ash-painted walls. Xyenn and Gorran, their bodies bloodied, battered and torn from their faces to their legs, stood together, breathing heavily, their eyes locked onto the monstrous Salazar. The crow-demon had evolved multiple times, each transformation more grotesque, more terrifying, and more powerful than the last. His body pulsed with unnatural darkness, his molten, obsidian flesh stretching grotesquely with each shift. Veins of glowing red pulsed like magma beneath his skin, and his eight wings spread out like jagged blades, casting an ominous shadow over his enemies.

The sanctuary's air was heavy with tension, thick with the stench of death and the suffocating heat of battle. Xyenn's left arm hung limply by his side, blood trickling from deep gashes along his torso and legs. Gorran fared no better—his breathing was ragged, his muscles spasming from exhaustion, and his left leg was barely holding him up, blood pooling beneath his feet. Yet, despite their wounds, they stood ready, their resolve unbroken.

Salazar crouched low, his glowing yellow eyes narrowing as he sized them up. His twisted claws dripped with shadow-like energy that writhed and hissed like living creatures. Without warning, the demon lunged, his massive frame moving with impossible speed for something so grotesquely large.

Xyenn darted to the left, his speed a rapid pace of precision, but the effort made his left arm scream with pain. 

Xyenn winced, Salazar's claws raked through the air just inches from his chest, the sheer force of the swipe blowing chunks of stone from the walls behind him. Gorran moved to intercept, his Xenith blade glowing with spiraling crimson energy as he slashed at Salazar's side. The blade connected with a sickening crunch, carving deep into the demon's ribs. The spiraling energy burrowed into the wound, twisting unnaturally before detonating in a violent explosion.

Salazar roared in pain, but the sound was more fury than agony. His body convulsed as the wound began to seal itself, molten blood bubbling and hissing as it fell to the ground. With each injury, his form grew more abominable. His wings folded inward, their jagged edges fusing together into two massive, bladed appendages. His claws thickened into scythe-like protrusions, and his head elongated, his maw splitting further to reveal rows of jagged, uneven teeth that dripped with black ichor.

"His body is getting tougher!" Gorran yelled.

Xyenn replied, "Where did you hit him?"

"His ribs!"

"Keep hitting there…we can try to hit the same spot over and over."

"..Can't believe I'm even considering listening to you. But he's gonna defend that area with Obote desperation. It fights like he has a mind of his own."

"He does. Remember when we used him for a ride? He kept nipping at me, he does have a mind of his own. Sentient because of Haelga."

Before Gorran could react, Salazar spun with terrifying speed, one of his scythe-like arms slamming into Gorran's chest. The impact sent Gorran flying, his body crashing into the remains of a shattered pew. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he struggled to rise, his chest plate cracked and splintered.

"Gorran!" Xyenn shouted, but he had no time to help. Salazar was on him in an instant, his claws slashing downward in a brutal flurry. Xyenn ducked under the first swipe, then pivoted on his heel to avoid the second, but the third strike grazed his side, tearing through flesh and muscle. He gritted his teeth against the pain, refusing to falter, and retaliated with a powerful swipe of his own. His flaming claws ignited with black and pink flames as he slashed across Salazar's abdomen. The flames exploded on impact, sending shards of molten flesh flying.

Salazar staggered, but only for a moment. His molten blood bubbled and hissed as his body twisted and reshaped itself. His torso expanded, his legs thickened into clawed, bird-like limbs, and a tail of serrated, obsidian spikes sprouted from his back. With a guttural roar, he lashed out with the tail, the serrated spikes tearing through the air like a whip.

Xyenn barely managed to dodge the first strike, but the second caught him across the chest, tearing through his flesh and sending him crashing into the ground. He gasped for air, blood pouring from the deep gash across his torso. His vision blurred for a moment, but he forced himself to focus, his red eyes burning with determination.

Xyenn stood up slowly, saying, "I'm not losing.."

Gorran had recovered, albeit barely. He limped toward Xyenn, his grip on Xenith firm despite the blood dripping from his fingers. "We can't keep fighting him like this," he said, his voice strained. "We're just wearing ourselves down."

Xyenn coughed, blood dripping from his lips. "You got a better idea?" His left arm twitched, the pain flaring as he tried to move it. He winced and clenched his jaw. "We need to hit him together. He's too fast for us to fight alone."

Gorran nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But don't slow me down. I still don't like you."

"And I don't like you at all," Xyenn muttered, pushing himself to his feet.

"Hit him together. His wounds don't heal or change when he transforms, meaning we hit the spot where he's suffered the most injuries."

"I thought about that earlier. Let's not waste time!"

The two moved in tandem, their attacks synchronized despite their differing styles. Xyenn flickered in and out of sight, his claws igniting with explosive flames as he struck at Salazar's legs, while Gorran moved in a wide arc, his blade carving through the air with precision as he aimed for the demon's neck. Salazar roared, his scythe-like arms lashing out in a whirlwind of destruction. The sanctuary's floor cracked and splintered beneath the force of his strikes.

Xyenn darted forward, his claws slashing across Salazar's thigh. The flames detonated on impact, staggering the demon just long enough for Gorran to strike. Xenith's blade carved into Salazar's shoulder, and the spiraling energy burrowed deep into the wound before exploding. The blast sent molten blood spraying across the battlefield, some of it splattering onto Xyenn's face and burning his skin.

Salazar howled, his body convulsing as it began to shift again. His tail split into multiple tendrils, each one tipped with jagged spikes that writhed like living snakes. His scythe-like arms elongated further, and his maw split open, revealing a glowing core of darkness that pulsed with malevolence.

Gorran yelled, "Don't let up, brat! Keep attacking even in transformation!"

"I was about to say that! Don't let him fucking breathe!"

Salazar lunged at Xyenn, his tendrils lashing out like whips. Xyenn dodged the first strike, then the second, but the third wrapped around his injured left arm. He screamed in agony as the tendril tightened, the jagged spikes digging into his flesh. Blood poured from the wound, and his vision blurred from the pain.

"Xyenn!" Gorran shouted, charging forward. He slashed at the tendril with Xenith, the blade severing it in a burst of spiraling energy. Xyenn fell to the ground, clutching his arm as Gorran stood over him, his blade raised defensively.

"You're a liability," Gorran muttered, his voice cold.

"Shut up," Xyenn growled, forcing himself to his feet. His red eyes burned with rage. "I'm not done yet. And you're not doing anything great either."

The two warriors charged Salazar together, their movements more coordinated now. Xyenn used his speed to distract the demon, darting around him in a blur of motion as his claws ignited with explosive flames. Gorran followed up with precise strikes, his blade carving into Salazar's flesh with deadly accuracy.

But Salazar was relentless. His tendrils lashed out in every direction, his scythe-like arms carving through the air with devastating force. One tendril caught Gorran across the back, tearing through his armor and drawing a spray of blood. Another slammed into Xyenn's chest, sending him crashing into the ground.

As the battle raged, none of them noticed the grizzled old man sitting in one of the charred pews. His clothes were filthy, his skin weathered and cracked, and his beard was matted with dirt and blood. He watched the fight with a crooked smile, his eyes glinting with amusement as the two warriors struggled against the monstrous Salazar.

He was the Prophet.

"Whoooo. Xyenn and his friend are gonna die here. This time, fate will finally be fixed."

Xyenn and Gorran stood together, bloodied and battered, their breaths ragged. Salazar loomed before them in his newest form, his body a grotesque mass of darkness and molten flesh. His tendrils writhed like living creatures, and his glowing core pulsed with unnatural energy.

Xyenn's eyes flicked toward the shattered ceiling, where the sun shone dimly through the smoke and ash. He clenched his fists, his red eyes narrowing. "There's only one way to end this."

"The hell are you gonna do?"

Xyenn ignored him. He gritted his teeth and stared directly into the sun, his eyes straining as they began to glow. His head tilted back, and his entire body tensed as flames erupted around him. His head transformed into a literal flaming sun, light and fire pouring from him in waves.

"What have you done?!" Gorran shouted, his voice filled with a mix of anger and fear.

'He knew as we have Yuuna's draconic blood, it would take longer for us to become a Berserker from the sun. But Xyenn looked directly into it! He accepted it, he sped up the process, looking directly into it…that was caress and reckless…but…if he's able to kill the crow, it's body will be delivered as a sacrifice to the sun! Was it really careless? Smart? Dumb? He's a kid. Of course he's dumb. But I won't take away his willpower to win at costs.'

Xyenn screamed, his voice raw with rage. The light from his flames illuminated the entire sanctuary, and he turned slowly toward Salazar, his body radiating raw, destructive energy. Gorran tightened his grip on Xenith, preparing for the worst.

'If he attacks me, I'd be forced to kill him. This brat really sacrificed his sanity to win..against a more experienced enemy…is he that determined..? Ah. Yeah I remember. He told all of us that he would never lose again.'

Xyenn was struggling, his Berserker state making him want to kill Gorran. But Xyenn fought with his life to fight back, to not kill Gorran. Gorran could hear the grunting and pain Xyenn went through to do it.

Xyenn's burning gaze locked onto Salazar, and he dashed forward with blinding speed. The ground cracked beneath him as he collided with the crow-demon, their clash sending shockwaves through the sanctuary. 

Gorran stood in shock..

He had been the golden child of the Xeniths, spoiled rotten while draped in shadows and secrets. Every kill, every mission, his family's approving gazes engraved deeper his unearned arrogance. They crowed over him, their ideal, their apex predator, ensuring his ego swelled as full and shimmering as the moon.

But such resplendence leaves an emptiness – a void thrumming beneath the fanfare. Gorran's true self, buried under the accolades, became nothing more than an echo in a well, overshadowed by the monster they nourished. And now? Those same shadows mock with whispers of his kin long gone, souls taken and debts paid – but not by him. He remembers each face, flickering like candlelight, snuffed out in violent silence while survival's burden pressed upon his lone shoulders.

Here lies Gorran, beneath Xyenn's quivering gaze of death , culminating a rivalry borne from a venom-soaked seed. Jealousy – a silent pestilence that had gnawed relentlessly at the roots of whatever brotherhood might have sprouted between them. Gorran knows envy's bitter sting; it's intimate in ways comradeship never could be. Xyenn, blessed with the dragon's vessel – chosen, while Gorran watched from the fringes, gnashing his teeth in the dark.

Yet, it's the eyes that halt him - Xyenn's eyes, wide with a desperate fight against control, tumultuous with the storm of resisting the dark urging him forward. A battle had raged within Xyenn, every fiber strained to hold back the death he is compelled to deliver. Gorran sees it then, the enormity of his efforts, a Herculean war to preserve Gorran's life.

And it hits him—hits deeper than any blade could. Xyenn, his assumed antagonist, fights not against him but himself, for him. It wrenches a choked laugh from Gorran's heart, a sound he's unfamiliar with – raspy, incredulous, and cracked across the middle.

'Pride,'

Gorran thinks bitterly, 'you are the poorest fucking company.' 

Some veil had lifted in Gorran. Slightly, not fully.

Those endless days cloaked in hubris, squandering moments in shallow pits of victories, surface stark against the raw, blistering effort Xyenn showcases to simply not kill. Not to win, but to not end him. Gorran feels the poverty of his past riches - an empire of dust.

Is this then, redemption? A chance not to return to the arms of a family lost but to form something truer from the wreckage? In his heart's hidden chamber, a door creaks; notions of honor and courage, long suppressed, peek through. For the first time, Gorran grasps the mettle needed not just to wield power, but to restrain it - the strength to temper strength.

Gorran finds himself whispering, "Thank you," to whatever shred of humanity holds Xyenn back, tethering him amidst the tempest. Maybe this isn't the end but a beginning, a path diverging in the wood of his soul. And perhaps, just perhaps, Gorran may tread softly this time, chasing not the accolades but the absolution, the redemption – the making of a man from the ghost of a weapon.