Melody clings to Marcus as he falls limp in her arms. Fresh tears roll down her cheeks, and she gently lowers him to the ground. Haruto dashes to Koji, heaving him over his shoulder. Kaito kneels at Melody's side, sliding his hand down Marcus's chest. He says something, but all she can hear is the blood rushing through her ears and her own blubbering.

"I-Is he...?" She breathes, looking at Kaito. He touches Marcus's forehead, closing his eyes for a moment.

"No, he's alive," He confirms. Melody lets out a sob of relief, gripping Marcus's shirt tightly. "But we should move him," Kaito adds, pointing over her shoulder. Melody's heart drops when she remembers where she is. Slowly, she turns back, seeing the man smiling down at her.

"That was a good fight," Erlang says, leaning on his spear casually. "Make sure they get treated, getting struck by lightning is no joke."

"We need time," Melody says, holding her arms out to protect Marcus from him. "We can't-"

"I'll take care of him," Kaito assures, sliding his hands under Marcus. He lifts him up with a grunt, backing away slowly. "Your battle isn't done." Melody shivers, her eyes widening. She spent the night researching the Kami, not the Taoist gods. She has no idea what Erlang might challenge her to. She eyes his spear nervously, fearing what she would do if he wants to fight as well. She's never been in a fight before, except with Li Jing. Could she beat Erlang if she had to?

"Calm down, I'm in no hurry," Erlang assures, kneeling down to her level. "In fact, I have a proposal for you."

"I'm not giving you the treaty," Melody hisses, doing her best to sound confident. She balls her hands into white-knuckled fists, trying to regain her composure. But the image of Koji and Marcus getting struck by lightning is burned into her brain, stealing her focus. She bites her lip harshly, her body trembling.

"I wouldn't expect you to. After all, your friend's life is on the line," Erlang replies smoothly. He plops on the ground, crossing his legs and leaning his spear on his shoulder. "But killing Loki serves me no purpose. So, I see no need to continue with that game."

"But Fujin said-" Melody protests defensively. Erlang laughs, waving his hand.

"I told them I had business with you, and they assumed I wanted vengeance. But I think you'll find I'm far more reasonable than those two," He jerks his thumb over his shoulder, to where a small cluster of Kami are dragging Fujin and Raijin from the clearing. "Are you willing to hear me out, at least?" Melody slides back, her eyes flicking to Marcus and Koji. Kaito waves his hands over them, balls of white light hovering over his fingers.

"I'll hear what you have to say, but that doesn't mean I'll agree to anything," She replies coldly. Erlang nods, leaning back on his arms.

"Good. Like I said, killing your friend does nothing for me. In fact, I'd rather avoid any needless bloodshed. So, here's my offer; I'll surrender this little game, and you'll win the bet with the Kami. Loki's life will be spared." Butterflies flutter in Melody's stomach, and she has to stop herself from agreeing immediately.

"What's the catch?" She says instead. Erlang chuckles, pointing to the edge of the clearing where her handbag lays.

"We make another bet. If you win, I'll leave without a fuss. But if I win, you hand over the treaty." He explains plainly. Melody hums, glancing at the bag nervously. When the fight started, protecting the treaty completely slipped from her mind. She was too worried about Marcus and Koji. She glances at Erlang for any sign that he's going to lunge for it. He's sitting casually, like sitting in the dirt is the most comfortable thing in the world.

"What's the bet?" She says wearily. Her eyes jump to the spear again, shining in the light of the rising sun. Erlang glances up at it quizzically.

"Don't worry, this is just assurance. If you try to cheat," he says calmly. Melody shivers, sliding back. "Allow me to explain. You see, the Jade Emperor and I don't exactly see eye to eye on certain things. That includes the way of the Tao." He leans forward, lacing his fingers together. "The Jade Emperor believes that the Tao is, has, and always will be unchanging. While I see the Tao as something that is molded over time. What may have been natural at one time may not be now. So here is my proposal." He leans back, clapping his hands once. "Convince me that your way is right. If you can do that, then I will leave peacefully and allow you to continue on your journey. But, if you can't..." He points to Melody's bag with his chin. "Make sense?"

"How do I know you'll play fair?" Melody replies coldly. "I could give you a thousand reasons, but it won't matter if you don't listen. You could just let me talk for an hour and say you're not convinced at the end." Erlang chuckles, shaking his head.

"I like to think I have more honor than that. But if that's your fear, then let's do it like this." He sets his spear down, laying his hands on his lap. "We'll give ourselves until noon. When the sun reaches its peak, our contest will be done." Melody glances over his shoulder at the sun peeking over the horizon. Her best guess is that it's around 8:30 AM - which gives her three and a half hours. "If you can convince me that it's unnatural for the gods to fight, then I will leave. But if I can convince you that it's only natural, then you must hand over the treaty." He extends his hand with a smile. "Do we have a deal?"

Melody looks down at Erlang's hand, considering his words. It feels too good to be true; on the one hand, Marcus will be safe from Fujin and Raijin. She won't have to worry about them trying to kill him anymore, assuming they keep their word. And with the whole Shinto watching their fight, they'll have no choice. Then all she has to do is convince Erlang that signing the treaty is for the best. She's been practicing her speech for years, preparing for when she has to convince the Olympians to agree with her. Not to mention, there's no way she'll ever agree that war is for the best.

"Deal," she says confidently, shaking his hand firmly. Erlang nods, climbing to his feet.

"I hereby surrender this contest to Loki and his companions. They have won." He declares. Some of the onlookers gasp in shock, while others simply nod. But none of them move to leave; instead, they watch Melody and Erlang closely. Melody stands up as well, dusting herself off. This is her moment. She won't just be convincing Erlang; she'll be making this speech to the entire Shinto.

"Why don't you start us off?" Erlang says with a polite bow. Melody nods, taking a deep breath. She tries to push Marcus and Koji out of her mind for now. They're safe and being taken care of. Now she has to focus on this.

"The way the gods have been operating is unfair," She begins, raising her voice to the whole group can hear her. "To take on the titles of the original gods, we have to give up our family, friends, and lives. We have to relive the lives of the original gods and basically become copies of them in order to obtain their power. Some of us are tortured, beaten, punished and shunned for things that we don't have a choice in doing. That's what lead to the rebellion a month ago, and if we don't fix things, it will happen all over again."

"I can agree to that," Erlang says with a nod. "But, let me ask you this. Who is forcing you to do these things? Your godly teachers? The Gods of Old? Where does it say that we have to do these things?"

"It's part of our godly training," Melody says slowly. "Everyone knows that."

"Of course. But who said we have to go through such training? If you don't like doing what you have to do to become a god, why not step down?" He replies smoothly. "While apprentices may be forced to relive the legends, nobody is forcing you to be an apprentice. That has always been a choice." Melody growls, taking a step forward.

"Some people don't have a choice! What if they're leaving an abusive home? Or they're miserable with their life and want to start over?"

"Then surely, giving up one's mortal connections wouldn't be such a big deal?" Erlang counters with a smirk. "If their life was so miserable that they feel becoming an apprentice is their only choice, then I'd argue that reliving the original myths is far from their biggest concern." Melody recoils back, opening her mouth to argue. But she can't bring herself to disagree.

"Assuming that is an issue," Erlang continues, crossing his arms confidently. "That can be addressed by each individual Pantheon. There's no need for a new treaty to fix that."

"The treaty is necessary," Melody says. "You've all seen what it's been like without one for the last month. Everyone is on edge - you've been worried that you'll be attacked," She turns to the onlooking gods, directing her argument to them. "It's not just you who's been afraid. The Aesir have been worried about an attack as well. So have the Ennead."

"And their fears have been justified," Erlang says with a nod. "After all, when a group of gods arrived at their doorstep, one of the first things they did was pick a fight with their greatest warriors." He gestures at Raijin and Fujin, still lying unconscious on the edge of the clearing. "The very attack they were worried about just happened before your eyes."

"T-that wasn't an attack!" Melody snaps. "Marcus was-"

"Noble as his intentions were, that doesn't change the result," Erlang interrupts, holding his hand up. "Three of the Kami lay wounded before us. If another Pantheon was to arrive and try to attack, they would be all but defenseless."

"No, they wouldn't, they could..." Melody says, searching the crowd again. Some of them are stroking their chins, others are nodding along with Erlang's argument. A few are even watching the sky fearfully. "They wouldn't be alone! Help would arrive!"

"I assume you're referring to the ones that signed the treaty. The Ennead and the Aesir?" Erlang says, gesturing to her bag. Melody shivers, holding her hand out. The bag disappears from the ground, appearing in her hand. Erlang chuckles and points to her. "Am I to assume you've included that in the treaty? Because otherwise, they have no obligation to help. And even if you did, the Shinto has yet to sign, meaning such protection does not extend to them." Melody growls, pulling her bag close to her chest.

"We're getting off-topic," she says bitterly, hating that she doesn't have an answer to his argument. "We're trying to prevent a fight, not react to one."

"Very well," Erlang says, bowing his head. "Tell us; why is it so important that we have a new treaty?"

"To avoid a war!" Melody says, taking a deep breath to calm herself. "If we don't have a treaty, it's only a matter of time before a war of the gods breaks out. Thousands - millions of people would die. Mortals, gods, everyone. The world could be torn apart."

"Be that as it may, I'd remind you that the rebellion happened despite the old treaty. In fact, your argument is that it happened because of it," Erlang says with a nod. "By that logic, isn't it more likely that another treaty would lead to another rebellion? While freedom would allow everyone to be happy?"

"No, not at all! The rebellion started because the old treaty was so limiting! That's why things need to change!"

"And you believe that you can make everyone happy with this treaty?" Erlang counters. "That every god in the world will be happy with the rules you're setting out?"

"Yes, of course!" Melody says, taking another breath to keep from yelling. Her heart is racing, and she has to remind herself to keep a level head. "That's why we're going to each Pantheon personally. So we can make a treaty that everyone can agree to."

"A noble goal, to be sure. But what will you do if two Pantheons butt heads on an important issue?" Erlang says, crossing his arms and raising his chin. "For example, how will you convince the Jade Emperor that peace is the way of the Tao?" Melody whimpers, taking a step back. That's one of the questions she's been agonizing over ever since finding out that the Jade Emperor is against them.

"I'll talk to him, and work something out," she says softly. Erlang sighs, shaking his head.

"That kind of idealist thinking is dangerous. Believing everything will work out just because you try your best will lead to disappointment." He explains gently. "You're hoping to make a treaty that will last thousands of years. It won't be as simple as agreeing to everyone's terms. You need to make sure that generation after generation, nobody will have anything to complain about." Melody clenches her fists again, exhaling deeply.

"You said it yourself, you believe that the Tao changes over time. The treaty will have to be the same," she says smoothly. "Ra has already agreed to review and alter the treaty with every new generation of gods in case it needs to be updated." Erlang raises an eyebrow, cocking his head to the side.

"Did he? Well, that's good - I can't argue that point." He admits.

The two argue back and forth for hours. Every time Melody finds a foothold, Erlang shoots her down with his own level-headed counterpoint. Whenever he tries to press an issue too hard, Melody has to swallow the bitter taste in her mouth and change the subject. Before long, the sun is hanging high above them, and Melody is covered in sweat. More than once she catches some of the Kami visibly changing their opinion, joining either her or Erlang's side.

"This is going nowhere," Erlang finally says, mopping the sweat from his brow. "I think we can agree, we've both made some good points. But I'm not convinced that peace is the best option."

"And I won't accept your way," Melody says coldly. Erlang nods sadly, crossing his arms.

"Which is a shame. At least I gave you a chance to convince me," he says. "Who's not being fair now?" Melody recoils in anger, but Erlang continues before she can protest. "We could argue forever, but I have a proposal. A way to prove once and for all who is right."

"I'm listening," Melody says, taking a careful step back. Her eyes flick to the spear nervously, and she touches her bag, now hanging from her shoulder.

"I think we can all agree that nobody here is as passionate about this as Loki," Erlang says, pointing over Melody's shoulder. Her heart drops, and she throws her arms out defensively.

"I won't let you hurt him!" She snaps. Erlang chuckles, shaking his head.

"And I don't want to. All I'm saying is, actions speak louder than words." He explains smoothly. "I will admit, maybe I'm just stubborn and refuse to listen. The rebellion didn't affect me directly, after all. So, let's ask the opinion of someone who was there." Melody growls, raising her head.

"He's unconscious, he can't-"

"N-no, I'm not," Marcus says. Melody's eyes widen, and she whirls around. Marcus is sitting up, one eye open, with Kaito supporting him from behind. She takes a step to run to him, stopping when Marcus shakes his head. "Tell us what your planning," Marcus growls at Erlang. Erlang nods, crossing his arms.

"There is a Grecian myth about blind faith. A mortal loses his lover and goes to Hades to get her back. Hades agrees to release her but tells the man that he must lead her out of the underworld without looking back. If he makes it out, then she will be allowed to go with him. But if he looks at her, then she will have to stay forever." Melody shivers.

"Orpheus and Eurydice," she says with a nod. "What does that have to do with anything?" Erlang chuckles, hooking his foot under his spear. He flicks it up, catching it in his fist easily, with the blade aimed at Marcus.

"It would appear that you've converted Loki, the one who threw the gods into chaos in the first place, to help your cause. That alone speaks volumes. But is he really here of his own free will?" Melody glances back, eyeing the golden cuffs on Marcus's wrists. "If you believe in your cause so much, you should be able to believe in your companion, no?"

"He's done enough!" Melody snaps "He's hurt! He can't-"

"Being hurt won't matter," Erlang says darkly. "This is a matter of faith. If he really wants to fix things, then you have nothing to worry about. But if not..." He lowers his spear, tapping the end into the dirt. "Here is my proposal. You will give the treaty to Loki, and he will guide me out of the Kami's territory. Meanwhile, you will remain here, and do nothing to influence or observe him until he returns. If he does, then I will leave and never come back."

Melody trembles, taking another step back. She glances at Marcus, still bleeding and bruised from his fight with Fujin and Raijin. He struggles to his feet, and Kaito has to take his arm to allow him to stand. Then her eyes flick to Erlang's spear, shining brightly in the sun. He's going to kill him, she thinks. He can't convince me to give it up willingly, so he's going to take it by force. I can't let him do this.

"Never," Melody hisses, raising her fists. She tries to keep them steady, but they shake uncontrollably. "Y-you'll have to go through me first."

"If I wanted to fight, I wouldn't have wasted my time with a debate," Erlang says coldly. "I could have held to the original agreement, taken the treaty for myself, and left your friend to die." Melody whimpers, her teeth chattering. She can feel Erlang's power in the air as his eyes begin to glow amber. "I don't want to be your enemy. I'm willing to defy the Jade Emperor, but only if you can prove you have what it takes to change the world for the better. So far, I'm not convinced."

"Mel, leave it," Marcus grunts, dropping a heavy hand onto her shoulder. She jumps, and he limps past her, his head hanging forward and breathing ragged. "It's fine. What do I have to do?"

"You have to rest!" She says, slipping under his arm to keep him steady. "I can-"

"I won't let you kill yourself for this!" He snaps, glaring at her. "You said you would trust me, right? Then let me do this." Melody bites her lip, shaking her head quickly.

"I-I do trust you. But what if he..." Her eyes flick to Erlang's spear again, and she throws her arms around him. "I won't let you go!"

"You don't have a choice," Marcus says, taking a deep breath. He steps away from her, swaying in place. "Erlang, was it? I accept your offer. Let's just get this over with." Erlang smiles, nodding proudly. He steps forward, looking down his nose at Marcus.

"Good to hear. But there is one small detail." He closes his eyes, and an orange flame sparks on his forehead. The flame peels open, taking the shape of a sideways eye. The eye flicks to Melody, making her flinch. "This must be Loki's choice. If he truly believes in your cause more than his rebellion, then he can't be bound by your rules." Erlang suddenly lashes out, slashing at Marcus with his spear. Melody screams, but Marcus doesn't move. Instead, his golden cuffs fall to the ground, shattering to pieces. Marcus looks down at his hands, his fingers trembling.

"Now, the choice is yours. If you want to leave and start your rebellion, you're free to do so."