I Will Always Be Above You

Although he loudly proclaimed for Baal to come to him, Typhon decided to take the initiative. He went all out and created a hurricane capable enough to decimate the earth, or in this case, the island in the sky. Additionally, he created waterspouts, taking advantage of the terrain.

It truly looked like overkill. However, Baal had a different opinion—one that made itself known through his face. What at first was a borderline sadistic smile, now it had become something strained. He was expecting something more... challenging.

"Using these types of attacks against a Storm God? Don't you feel embarrassed at yourself?" Folding his arms, a bright flash of light encompassed the battlefield before a sound similar to a popping balloon but multiplied by a thousand was heard all around it.

When the light receded, aside from the howling winds and the water tornados chipping away the island like razors, the other notorious thing was Typhon's body which was oozing smoke like a recently made bonfire. Small currents of lightning danced around his figure, giving the impression that he just had been electrocuted. Which was, in fact, what had happened.

Typhon's head slowly raised. Dull red eyes after the attack became bright again. That defiance was something that greatly amused Baal. And that was why... it had to be crushed.

The blinding light came again, with it the sound, and with it Typhon's roars of pain.

"Y-You..." Not even able to finish, he was struck again. This time, his upper body fell to the ocean, unable to withstand the electricity any longer.

"You bully the weak and consider yourself strong? Doesn't that make you a buffoon? Wait. I am currently bullying you, so does that make me a buffoon as well? A matter to consider indeed..." Typhon's body twitched at his taunting. If it was because he felt offended, or it was because of his previous attack, only the monster knew.

He did notice something interesting, though. The shadows covering Typhon were receding more and more with each passing second. If before only the serpent arm was visible, now his whole thin torso and head were as well. His skin was green, while the snakes he had for hair were blue. The same bone-like protrusions that covered the eyes of his monster arm were also present in his neck in the form of a collar, as well as on his right side. Finally, his height had doubled compared to before.

Baal leisurely contemplated how is it that he was able to become more 'real' without the need for Seth's body anymore. He was aware that it would come to pass regardless if he absorbed him or not, but in that case, it would take more time. It took a few seconds, but he finally remembered about the Fake Holy Grail in his persona.

Despite not being useful and almost broken, he still decided to keep it. However, it seemed that the cup had not exited with him after he made his escape. "Interesting, interesting. It must be that pathetic excuse of Demon God that was inside the Grail, yes? Repulsive things like you two should go hand in hand."

Right after insulting Typhon, he attacked again. Yet, different from the situations up until now, the son of Tartarus just shrugged it off by slapping the incoming Superbolt away.

"Your puny attacks won't work with me anymore!" He declared as he released a fire breath at him. With each passing moment, he was recovering his former glory. It wouldn't be long before he became a near-unbeatable existence like in the past.

"Those puny attacks had you wriggling like the worm you are, though." Baal's condescending voice filled with amusement reached Typhon's ears, something that prompted the monster to fuel more power into his attack.

The Prince of Heaven just let the flames engulf him, offering no resistance whatsoever. They quickly expanded through the island behind him, leaving devastation and molten rocks everywhere. Nevertheless, Typhon was not so naive to think that it was enough to kill Baal. Sure enough, his hated enemy himself confirmed his suspicions.

When the fire receded, a badly burned God stood there without a care in the world. Even though some bones were visible amidst the charred flesh, no expression of discomfort could be seen on his flesh.

"Pain. Breaker." Two words said with a pause between them. Two words that seemed to mock him, as if all his efforts were futile.

Just as he was going to taunt him again, Baal's face morphed into one of pure and utter disgust. Looking down, he saw the Leviathan emerging from the ocean, roaring like a damn savage. With her presence, all the waterspouts concentrating on destroying the flying island disappeared at her call.

"You now need the help of that weak thing? Talk about being powerless!" Typhon laughed mockingly at him, knowing his history with Leviathans.

Although the Leviathan roared in anger at his words, she still kept a distance from the God in the sky. They did not go well together and she didn't want to push it.

Meanwhile, Baal's lips were twitching. He was the one who mocked people here. Nonetheless, he was quick to come to an idea that would surely be delightful to watch come to fruition. "Oh yes, indeed. I am so powerless that I need help from Water Gods. So then, why don't we call another one?"

Typhon's laugh ceased, and his brows furrowed in confusion. Fortunately — or unfortunately — his doubts were soon cleared by Baal's next words.

Clenching his right hand into a fist, he positioned it near his chest as he began to chant. "From the farthest galaxy comes the roots of civilization."

The world seemed to be protesting at his actions as if they went against the natural order of things.

"Heed my call and become the puppet that will terraform the Earth."

His Command Spells shone with unparalleled intensity, but what he was trying to do couldn't be allowed, and yet, he was doing it anyway.

"O' Earthshaker, sink my enemies into the depths with that power of yours.'

Typhon decided he had had enough. If the slow-acting World wouldn't do something, then he himself would do it. However, there was no way the oceans themselves would let someone put a stop to their Lord.

Waves crashed against his being, difficulting his actions. The waters beneath him parted to form a massive whirlpool that threatened with swallowing him. To add to that, the Leviathan rammed into him. It was brief, but he could see the sneer on her monstrous' face at his inability to stop what was to come. There was also the fact that she wanted him to suffer for his words earlier.

On the sky, uncaring for their little squabble, Baal finally finished the chant. His mouth and eyes formed the picture of insanity as he called for the pitiful soul that from now-on belonged to him to use. "Appear now, the Raging Oceanic Deity, Poseidon!"

A big splash occurred just under the flying island. The water was acting as a curtain to prevent the visage of the emerging figure, but that didn't last for more than a few seconds.

Similar to when Typhon first appeared, he was covered in a shadow-like miasma. Only his muscular upper body was visible, yet it didn't diminish the aura of majesty he was giving off. He was carrying a trident in his right hand, but different from his body, the weapon was fully visible.

With his appearance, the oceans finally quieted down. Despite the ongoing storm, it looked as if it was just a sunny day with how calm it was. There was no reason to delay Typhon any longer now that the summoning was complete, after all.

The monster in question just watched with a sneer on his face. "I had thought you would truly summon a God, but you can only achieve this much? It seems I overestimated you."

Baal didn't respond. His only answer was to extend his arm to the side. Strangely, Poseidon below mimicked his motion. The God then moved his hand to change his grip on something invisible. The Water Deity below also did the same, and his trident was left facing downward. Finally, Baal brought his arm down.

When Poseidon replicated the action, the ocean started trembling, returning to the previous chaotic state.

Typhon didn't know the reason behind those actions... at first. Just with a slow turn of the head to look behind him answered all of his unanswered questions. If before the world was dark due to the clouds covering the sun, now it was more so thanks to a still-forming tsunami behind him.

"Rampaging Tidal Wave." Casually invoking the Noble Phantasm name, Baal watched as the long body of water which literally reached the sky approached the monster who looked like an insect in comparison.

Unable to hide, Typhon turned around and spat a current of lava at the incoming wave. However, it was all futile. More so when he decided to turn his back on his true opponent.

Water converged on the three tips of Poseidon's trident before he quickly released it in the form of a vortex.

The attack traveled extremely fast, reaching Typhon in only a few seconds and impacting the wings on his back. Roars of pain soon followed, and with them, a stop to his meager defense.

With nothing left to defend himself against the Anti-Country Noble Phantasm, Typhon was crushed by the waves. As they were at a relatively close distance, not taking into account height, the other three were also in the range of the attack, but who would be so stupid as to suffer from their own assault?

Baal unhurriedly activated Poseidon's Skill, Treasure of the Underwater Temple B+. Immediately, a blue barrier covered the whole island, including the floating rocks beside it, if only to stop the incessant growling of that stupid squirrel. The puppeteer of souls also — begrudgingly — included the Leviathan in it.

When the wave collided with the barrier, the waters simply deviated to the side, failing to pierce it in any way whatsoever.

Amidst the sound of water crashing against water, a sigh of disappointment echoed throughout the battlefield. After the view cleared enough to see what was beyond the tsunami, Baal wondered if he had gone too far. He wasn't even trying and his opponent already seemed defeated. He wouldn't be able to have enough fun if this kept going. Maybe if he threw the unconscious Artemis on the Golden Hind for Typhon to eat would make things evenly?

While he was having idle thoughts like that, time was quickly passing. There were no signs of his foe appearing, and that was getting on his nerves. If he was going to appear behind Poseidon and decapitate him, then he should hurry.

No sooner said than done, Typhon appeared behind the God of the Ocean, and using his serpent arm like a whip, beheaded him instantly.

'Finally.' Baal rolled his eyes at the slowness of it all. He observed as the snake opened its mouth and swallowed Poseidon's head. While it wouldn't grant him any water-related powers, it would work in a similar way to the Fake Holy Grail. Unfortunately for the monster, Poseidon's body soon faded into motes of light, leaving nothing for him to devour again.

"You look terrible. Don't tell me you were aquaphobic, little worm?" Typhon was profusely bleeding. The snakes in his hair had their head crushed and only a few ones seemed fine. One eye of the serpent arm was closed forever, and the protrusions on his side were completely broken.

"You... are going to regret... letting me kill Poseidon..." It was difficult for him to breathe, but his will to fight and destroy the opponent in front of him allowed the necessary perseverance to speak those words.

Baal, meanwhile, looked at him strangely. "You never learn, do you?" Shaking his head at his opponent's words, the Lord of the Heavens merely pointed at Typhon's location while saying something that would leave him completely numb.

"Your time to rest hasn't come yet, Poseidon." Those words were uttered without feeling as if telling someone what your name was, but they had an immediate and totally not-common effect on the seas who once again rioted to make way to the Sea God.

Typhon immediately retreated back, barely avoiding a bite from the sea serpent that had tried to catch him unaware. His eyes narrowed in thought. He could revive him endlessly? While that proved to be an opportunity to grow, Baal shouldn't have the Magical Energy to summon a God continuously, fragment or not. Unless...

"You... Gaia is helping you?!" He put as mage hate in his voice as his body allowed. If that were true then the situation couldn't get any worse.

"Haha... I knew you were a buffoon, but I did not take you for the funny type. It's actually the other way around. Mommy is angry and asked me for help to discipline her child. I actually feel pity for you. More than I did before, at least." Baal wiped a fake tear on his eye as he watched Typhon's skin go from green to dark green in a matter of seconds.

"A dog of Gaia has no right... to speak about being a buffoon," Typhon said through gritted teeth. Neither of them were at their strongest, yet to rely on others was an insult to someone who was associated with him.

Baal looked pensively for a moment before humming in agreement. "I suppose you are right. Now that you are considered a threat that has to be eliminated at all costs, nothing of what I do will really affect me negatively. We always had to repress ourselves, and that was getting on my nerves. So, I have to thank you for being my scapegoat."

Typhon didn't know what he meant, but Baal simply ignored him and closed his eyes. Inhaling and exhaling slowly, he opened them again to reveal a cold pair of orbs with no traces of the previous playfulness.

A power to vanquish all evil.

The area was soon surrounded by an oppressive feeling, but this one seemed to go further ahead and become physical. So much so that Poseidon, the Leviathan, and Typhon all bent their heads down. Fou who was watching from the distance showed no reaction as he protected the others from the pressure, but if one looked closely, they would see his eyes slightly looking downward.

"But, little parasite, there is something that you should be made aware of by force."

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"With help or without it."

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"Taking it easy or fighting seriously."

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"The same fact will not change."

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"I will always be above you."