Headed by a Snake

The Elven King clenched his fist hard enough to draw blood.

If his concentration were to falter... his still-mortal body would be consumed by his own magic.

"The fire in my heart bursts forth. It calls for justice to be branded on the face of evil! Feel MY wrath, Tree God, in the ⌈Blazing Sunset⌋!!"

Ribbons of flame swirled around, not just his arms, but his entire body. Three dozens bolts of fire plumed outward, expanding in size and strength.

The force and fury of thirty-six miniature suns struck his enemy.

In every direction, the leaves of trees disintegrated, their bark turned into smoldering coal.

The Tree God screamed, the sound reverberating throughout his forest.

Engulfed in the flames, the dark silhouette within writhed in agony.

King shook his head.

While he would have preferred to battle with his blades... utilizing his enemy's weakness was more certain to bring him victory.

It was a viable tactic.

...The Maedar taught him that.

Whether it was rousing the Corallidae to battle... or pushing Captain Krysaos to lead... or himself to impart wisdom... the Ivory Prince utilized the talents of his people to best accomplish the task at hand.

If only that mortal could be taught reason, then perhaps... they would still be traveling companions.

Doubt slipped into the Elven King's noble heart.

Was it truly too late to bring the other gods to his side?

The threat that faced them all was truly great...

...And what of the Tree God? Could they not come to an agrement? Did he deserve such pain?

Deicide amongst the gods... it was truly an unforgivable sin.

That creature's scream was terrible to hear.

Then... it turned... to laughter?

"Your raging flames certainly impressive, Elf God... but... they are... NOT ENOUGH!!"

"W... what?"

The silhouette within the blaze leapt forward, a black hand wrapping around the Elf King's throat.

It burned.

His own flames threatened to consume him-- so much that King struggled to reverse his mana-channeling, despite the danger.

"Im... im-possible!!" He yelled.

King reached for his swords-- but a fiery fist sank into his abdomen.

And again, striking his face.

And again-- the side of his head.

The Tree God slammed him against the ground. Arms or tendrils emerged from the his back and continued to pummel the Elf King's body.

King channeled mana into his leg, striking his shin against the Tree God's ankle.

The Tree God stood fast. His charred roots had burrowed into the ashen dirt to support him.

"Grr-- rAHHHH!!!" King loosed desperate a scream as his ⌈Mana-Ward⌋ shattered.

His mind was assaulted with pain from the mana feedback... and tendrils from the Tree God's hand drew blood from the flesh on his neck.

King redirected his mana outward, hoping to push the Tree God back... but all it managed to do was extinguish the flames.

The Tree God's charcoal-skin split down the middle. With his own 'hands', he tore off his outer bark like an insect discarding their shell.

And so, the Tree God was reborn anew...

That wet, green face stared into his eyes, wearing a mocking smile.

"Normal fire cannot burn me, Elf God," He said... "even those that burn with such passion... Only two beings exist who can... the Dragon Prince known as Rixen Ra... and his sire, the Dragon God."

"'Tis a shame," King coughed.

He spat up blood. He could barely see.

His nose was filled with the cooked scent of his own flesh.

He could not remember the last time his life had been threatened so...

The Tree God's face contorted into a grimace, creaking like hardened leather... "What is thy meaning?"

"This King... was hoping to spare you the cruelty... of killing you with my bare hands."

The Elf King smashed his forehead into the Tree God's, the impact forcing him back.

Drawing his swords, he cut in an X in front of him, severing the Tree God's right hand at the elbow.

Yet, the pressure on the Elf King's neck did not ease.

The detached hand still had power!

King immediately dropped his swords to grasp at the gnarled fingers around his throat.

But, presented with such an opportunity, the Tree God took action.

He raised his club fist and swung with a victorious shout, striking the Elf King in the face. He flew back, landing hard on the dirt, and tumbled over rock and through briar for several yalms.

The Tree God walked slowly towards the Elven King. Every ilm of his divine body brimmed with power.

"You've ignored my warnings for the last time, Elf God.

"No. ELF. is welcome. in MY FOREST!!

"Now... pay for your transgressions... with YOUR LIFE!!."

King righted himself upon one knee... and with both hands, he was finally able to pry  the Tree God's hand off his body.

He could feel trails of blood running down his neck.

His injuries were not few.

It was even possible... that he'd be killed.

The prospect... filled his heart with trepidation.

"⌈The Dew Brought by Morning⌋" He whispered, "soothes my uncertain soul..."

Though he stood in the Tree God's forest, wisps of life and light emerged from the dark topsoil.

The skin burnt by magical flames began to heal.

The cuts on his body from the Tree God's jagged bark-- they began to close.

And most importantly... his wavering will was strengthened anew.

This... this was the hard-fought battle he sought, one that no creature or god in the Realm had offered him yet.

Was there any battle more worthy of song?

"You must forgive this King, Tree God," He grinned, "for my transgressions have only begun!"

Rushing forward, he attacked the Tree God from above with a sharp axe kick. The strike met one of the Tree God's arms, the base of it splintering from the force.

The Tree God spread his stance, first swiping with a claw-like appendage, then launching a flurry of punches at the Elf King.

Keen to flow the wind, King dodged every blow... watching for an opportunity.

Finally, he was able to grab hold onto one of the Tree God's main hands. Twisting it at the wrist, King powered his opposite elbow into it, snapping the arm in twain.

The Tree God brought together the appendages on his back, slamming King downward into the ground.

However, the limber Elf King rolled away with the momentum, greatly reducing the damage.

--and just as he planned... he regained his swords.

",