Beyond The Impossible

The Empyrean

The fire inside the lantern reacts violently to Noriko Null approaching the glass, like an angry animal locked in a cage.

<So I guess “Soul of Kronos” is not a metaphor or something?> Quantum asks.

<I dunno. I can’t feel divine souls.> Noriko admits.

<Gilgamesh called it that. It was left behind when Kronos was defeated, yes?> Siduri explains.

While they’re talking, Roxiana tries to get her hands on the Tablet Of Destinies on the podium, but Quantum grabs her wrist before she can do so.

<What are you doing?> she protests.

<Not letting a crazy person touch the most powerful weapon in the universe.> he replies.

<If it wasn’t for this “crazy person” you would never have found it. And the fact that you call the Tablet a weapon is further proof that you don’t know what it is.>

<Enlighten us.> Noriko says.

Roxiana’s silver eyes glimmer with the pleasure of talking about history; it’s somewhere between childish excitement and psychotic mania.

<The Tablet was the crowning achievement of Drylon technology, a device capable of affecting matter and energy on a universal scale. I assume it’s what they used to create the Cosmic Background Network. The first god to put his hands on it was Enlil, at the time the head of the Sumerian pantheon. It passed hands through many other gods over the eons: Anzo, Ninirta, even Tiamat herself. When Marduk exiled Tiamat in the Dragon Tomb, he kept the Tablet of Destinies for himself. That was a billion years ago; it disappeared from history until Gilgamesh stole it, right before the fall of Kronos.> Roxiana narrates.

<Was any of them able to use the Tablet?>

<The universe is not under the total control of the Sumerians, so of course not.>

<So the gods want the Tablet to defeat the competition?> Quantum asks.

<More specifically, to ensure anything they don’t like would cease to exist. If unlocked by a Drylon, the Tablet can just make a target… vanish. According to legend it can destroy anything: a god, even a Primordial, or multiple galaxies at once.>

<Not a legend, yes? My people have witnessed its power. It is beyond even what we can comprehend, yes?> Siduri agrees.

<You keep mentioning “your people”, and yet you refuse to elaborate.> Noriko notices, raising an eyebrow. Siduri is hard to read, considering she doesn’t have a face, but it’s easy to get the idea that she’s withholding information.

<Wait, this doesn’t make sense. If Gilgamesh stole the Tablet to kill Kronos, and the Tablet can destroy everything… why is this thing still here?> Quantum wonders, pointing at the lantern containing the uneasy flame.

<The Tablet is not all-powerful, yes? There are things it cannot affect in any way.>

<Such as?> Noriko asks.

<I know of four, yes? The Tablet itself, a Drylon, the Celestial Galaxy and Kronos.>

<I understand the Tablet and the Drylon, but why the galaxy and why Kronos?> Noriko insists.

<Specific countermeasures were taken by the Celestial Galaxy, yes? I am not permitted to share them. I don’t know how Kronos protected himself. I have been studying the concept but I have not reached any conclusion, yes?> Siduri admits.

<Hmm, if the Tablet can’t affect the Drylon, there goes my theory that it was used to destroy them.> Roxiana mumbles to herself.

<So Kronos is not dead? Then what happened to him?> Quantum asks, with Roxiana jumping at the occasion to explain:

<From what I’ve gathered in my studies, Zeus gathered a coalition of gods to fight him. Including Gaea and her monstrous children, the Hecatonchires. One of them must have separated Kronos from his soul long enough to use the Tablet.>

<Without its soul a god is just energy without a purpose, yes? The Tablet was used to move that energy into the future.> Siduri recalls.

<Uhm, we are in his future, aren’t we? Should we be worried?> Quantum asks.

<Not for a long time, yes?>

<You’ve been a barmaid for a million years and a resident of Heaven for over five billion. What exactly is “a long time” for you?> Noriko asks.

<Kronos will return approximately 478 trillion, 57 billion, 238 million, 471 thousand and 91 years after you last left your universe, yes? Assuming the Tablet is not used to retrieve him.>

<That’s a long time indeed.> Quantum comments.

<What do you mean by “used to retrieve him”? Isn’t he in the far future?> Noriko asks.

<Yes?>

Something clicks in Noriko’s mind. She already realized the sheer scale that the most advanced Drylon technology can reach, but this is making her dizzy.

<Oh my God. The Tablet can do time travel.> she realizes.

 

The tavern at the edge of the universe

Vesta is staring worryingly at her husband Theodoros. He’s sitting at the table where the ghost of Teraph is trying to modify the handcuffs that allow him to continue existing in Heaven; any slip-up could make him disappear in the blink of an eye.

She’s so tense that she’s not even breathing. Not that she needs to. She’s approached by Kari, who places a hand on her shoulder to get her attention.

<Hey. Would you like to take a pause?>

<No, thanks. I don’t need one.> the goddess replies.

<You look like you do. C’mon, let’s go outside, some fresh air will do you good.>

<I appreciate the gesture, but…>

<Vesta, it’s hot as hell in here! You’ll boil me alive if you don’t calm down.> Kari goes straight to the point. Just now Vesta actually pays attention to her, noticing she’s soaking wet with sweat.

<Oh! Sorry, I’m… I heat up when I’m nervous. Why didn’t anyone say anything?> she wonders, looking around.

The only other people at the tavern are Gilgamesh drinking at the counter, besides Torn and his father Reaper staring at each other waiting for the other one to try moving.

<Because Teraph’s not real, these guys are literally Demons, and Gilgamesh might as well be indestructible.> Kari spells it out.

<But Theodoros… yes, let’s get some air.> Vesta agrees, lowering the temperature around her as the two women walk towards the door.

<He’s not real either, I know.> she then adds, stopping in front of the door to keep talking.

<I didn’t say anything!>

<You didn’t have to. You think I’m delusional for wanting to keep him alive, isn’t it?>

<Of course not! If anything happened to Kiros or to my girls, for sure I’d do anything in my power to get even a single more minute with them. But I want you to be realistic, Vesta.>

<We’re in Heaven. Nothing is real here.>

<So let’s say this works and Theodoros can return with us. What’s the plan then?>

<Why should we be leaving? We can stay in Heaven.>

<Didn’t you hear Noriko saying it’s blowing up?> Kari reminds her.

<She’ll find a way to fix things. She always does.>

<And if she doesn’t? Even if Teraph’s work allow Theodoros to come back, look at him: even the best medical technology won’t give him more than what, thirty years?>

<Hebe can give him eternal youth, Calypso can give him immortality… gods have ways, Kari.>

<Gods, yes. Have you asked your husband if he wants to live forever, Vesta? Either here in Heaven or back home?>

Vesta doesn’t answer, looking away in shame.

<Vesta…?>

<He said no. He said he’s ready to die and that I should move on with my life.>

<But you’re not ready to move on.> Kari realizes.

<I moved on. For two thousand years. I thought I had accepted his death. But seeing him again… Gods, now I really do need some air.> Vesta says, opening the door as she fights through the tears.

She regrets it the second she steps out of the tavern.

The heavenly meadow surrounding the building is now an arid desert swept by winds blowing so hard that Kari has to power up with her 10K Rise and use her strength to cling to Vesta’s immovable body: it’s worse than being next to a tornado.

The sky is completely black, and not because of any clouds: the Sun has been switched off.

<This looks bad.> Kari comments, needing to raise her voice to overcome the sound of the wind.

The occasional spark of light comes from what, at first glance, might be confused for lightning.

But it’s the reality of this dimension glitching, as pieces of it are torn apart and then reassembled, giving a glimpse of the underlying structure.

There is a second source of light, more constant. In fact, one that is slowly approaching the tavern.

The golden glow surrounding the body of Leiko Tanaka, corrupted and controlled by the Drylon DNA that infected her.

<Heaven is deteriorating fast! If she gets to the Tablet before Noriko is done…>

<She won’t. Go back inside and warn the others; I’ll buy you as much time as I can.>

<You can’t be serious! That’s a Drylon, you can’t harm her!>

<She’s almost a Drylon. And she won’t get the Tablet. Now go.> Vesta tells her, with her eyes burning with fire. Kari doesn’t have to hear that tone twice, moving back into the Tavern.

The wind doesn’t bother Vesta. She withstood the surface gravity of a neutron star and dived into the core of an exploding star.

It’s the presence of this creature that disturbs her, like a faint buzz inside her head that increases the closer she gets.

At closer inspection, she can see that the infection has spread. Leiko’s entire right arm is blacker than coal; it seems to be focusing on half of her body, considering the infection only reaches her jawbone and has not even tried moving to the right side.

She has raised her right hand, to allow the golden eye on its palm to see. Leiko herself doesn’t seem to be in control: her mouth is left open and slightly drooling, and her eyes are vacant.

<Come on Leiko, you’re always such a pain in the neck, fight this thing!> Vesta encourages her, throwing a fireball. It’s just an attempt to get her attention: the fire simply refuses to hit the target, moving out of harm’s way despite Vesta’s wishes.

<You’re not even alive! Why did you come here? Are still looking for the Nexus or…> she tries to argue, but the creature is not interested. A simple telekinetic push, and Vesta has to fight the equivalent of an aircraft carrier being thrown at her. It’s not enough, and she makes another step.

Without missing a beat, the creature increases the push tenfold. No effect, another step.

A hundred time increase. A thousand. A million. Ten million. With the earth beneath her feet vaporized, she keeps on walking towards the target.

A hundred million. She’s close enough to feel the smell of that new skin… leather and charcoal.

A billion time increase. Vesta finally grasps that accursed hand.

A muscle twitches, and the golden eye opens just a little bit more.

A floodgate of sheer telekinetic force is unleashed. Vesta realizes she’s been fighting a small leak when the whole dam just broke.

It’s too much for Heaven to handle safely. The Tavern glitches out; solid walls that have withstood a million years turn to glass, with the building collapsing in a matter of seconds.

The debris moves away thanks to the telekinetic glow, and Leiko floats towards the ultimate target: the portal for the Empyrean hidden behind the now collapsed counter.

She raises her hand towards it, and the golden eye on her hand blinks.