Beyond The Impossible

The Stygian Galaxy, 1.7 million light-years from Earth

Erebus, Throne of Hades

Vesta is flying as fast as she can without setting the atmosphere on fire, looking for her target.

Something which is especially hard to do on this planet, because the air itself is so thick with dust and ash that the sky is completely blackened.

Even with her own fire supplying some light, she can’t see anything. And when she notices some green seeping through the black clouds, it’s too late.

<Heads up, firec##t!> Persephone yells, even though the blast of radioactive energy she’s emitting is way faster than sound.

Vesta still manages to avoid it by a couple inches, which is exactly what Persephone anticipated: when she flies up close, the fire goddess has no time to react.

<You’re so f##king predictable.> she says as she punches her.

The impact propels Vesta towards the ground, where she crashes into a lake of sulfur. She’s not even back on the surface by the time Persephone launches a much more powerful blast, which hits the deserted landscape like a nuclear blast.

She lands on the edge of the destruction, placing her hands on her hips as she looks at the rising mushroom cloud with a smug smile.

<And that, Aunt Vesta, is why I’m the Motherf##king Queen Of The…>

Several pillars of fire emerge from the ground, surrounding Persephone on all directions.

<Clever b##ch. You’re actually learning something.> she nods.

Vesta emerges from below, completely engulfed in flames as her fist is about to uppercut Persephone. The younger goddess, however, ignores her threat: that’s not really Vesta, just a mass of fire shaped with her form that is harmlessly dissipated by Persephone’s green aura.

Instead, Persephone turns to her left, intercepting the punch that Vesta wanted to deliver at twice the speed of sound: she grabs Vesta’s fist with her hand, which then releases another blast.

The energy catches Vesta unprepared and propels through the mushroom cloud, proceeding towards the nearest hill. Which will be a plateau from now on.

Still inside the dust kicked in the air, Vesta gets to her knees to catch her breath. Persephone is already standing in front of her, extending a hand to help her get back on her feet.

<Not bad for a p#ssy like you. That decoy trick might even work on losers.>

<How did you know it wasn’t really me?>

<It wasn’t alive. You can’t f##k with a god without considering who you’re dealing with.>

<I know. It’s a lesson I keep being reminded of.> Vesta admits, instinctively touching her abdomen; instead of her favorite orange tube top she’s wearing a full T-shirt, obscuring the scars left by Poseidon’s trident.

<I don’t even know why you’ve asked me of all f##king gods to be your teacher, Vesta. I’m not good with the living, and we’ve been at this for what? A couple centuries?>

<It’s been four months.>

<Remind me again what the f##k those are?>

<It’s been less than half a year.>

<Whatever. Why me? At this point you’ve probably fought more gods than me. A couple of times you even didn’t get your #ss beaten.>

<I’m not a fighter, Persephone. I’ve spent the last million years trying to cause as little damage as possible, avoiding hurting people.>

<Yeah like I said, you’re a p##sy.>

<My friends have taught me how to start fighting for the things I care for, but that’s awakened something I didn’t even believe I had… divine wrath. And none of my friends know how to handle that; only a god can understand. I tried to weaponize it and… it failed pretty badly against Poseidon. I need someone to teach me how to channel wrath, Persephone, and I couldn’t think of any god that holds more unrestrained rage than you.>

Despite her tough girl persona, even under the light of a nuclear mushroom Persephone can’t really hide her blushing. She gets closer to Vesta, putting an arm around her shoulders.

<Aww, don’t get all mushy on me, firec#nt. Listen, I’ll f##king bury you if you tell anyone this, but… you’ve become as strong as I am. Probably stronger when you channel Hell’s power. Now that your Empress B#tch…>

<Noriko?> Vesta guesses.

<Now that she’s skullf##ked the real gods, you’re already tough enough to take down any god from your galaxy. Save from my father and the Olympus Un####able.>

<You mean Athena?> Vesta ask, sometimes struggling to keep up with Persephone’s nicknames.

<Will you f##king stop interrupting me!?>

<Sorry!>

<See that right there? That’s your problem. You’re just too f##king nice.> Persephone says, pronouncing the last word like it was the foulest one she ever used.

<You want to f##k with the big leagues? You need to get nasty.>

<I’m glad you understand, Persephone. I was hoping you’d…>

A punch in her guts interrupts Vesta, followed by a point blank blast directed precisely at her wounds. Vesta hunches over, something exploited by Persephone to a fully powered blast directly into her mouth.

<Lesson number one, firec#nt: keep. Your. F##king. Guard. UP.>

<Got it. I’ll remember that.> Vesta replies, still tasting the radiation on her tongue as glowing green particles foam out of her mouth.

<Will you? I don’t have all f##king century to…>

This time it’s Persephone’s turn to be rudely interrupted, when a fireball hits her face. It doesn’t leave a scratch, but once the fire dissipates, she sees Vesta back on her feet and ready to fight.

<About time you decided to grow a pair, firec#nt. Let’s get serious.> Persephone says, cracking her knuckles as she exudes radioactive energy.

 

Continents apart

Torn is busy with an unusual fight: he’s surrounded by swords made of Ichor, avoiding their attacks and trying to deflect them with the dozens of Blood weapons floating around him… especially since he’s the one creating both kinds of weapons.

The strange dance of blades is disturbed by the ground shaking, making Torn lose his balance at the worst moment. Even worse, he loses control of the Ichor and two swords fly towards him trying to impale the Demon.

Which would definitely happen without a shield of darkness, blacker than Ichor itself, suddenly appearing to protect Torn from certain death.

<Very good. But always remember that Ichor is not an extension of your soul, like the Blood. The Ichor wants to kill you and everything that is alive; never allow it to act out.> Hades warns him, with a voice that sounds like a whisper coming out of a crypt.

<I know. Was that an earthquake?>

<No. This planed is geologically dead. That was my wife enjoying herself. Rest for now, we will resume your training after the audience is over.>

Torn is tempted to ask “what audience”, but he also senses the creation of a portal moments before it actually manifests. How Hades was able to anticipate him is a reminder of why he asked his help.

The Portal Generator creates a link to the Olympian Galaxy, allowing Noriko Null to step on the planet protected by her Survival Field.

<Null. You’re alive.> Hades greets her.

<You sound disappointed.>

<Professional bias. Will you excuse us, Torn?>

<I’m fine if he stays. I’m trying to keep as few secrets from the Vanguard as possible.>

<I insist.>

<It’s no problem. Glad to have you back.> Torn says to Noriko, with a courteous nod and a completely blank expression on his face, before creating a pentagram portal and disappearing.

<Five words? From him, that’s the equivalent of an emotional outburst.> Noriko comments.

<Yes. Demons are annoyingly emotional.> Hades replies, completely deadpan and utterly sincere.

<I see you’ve taught Torn how to use the Ichor. Is it safe?>

<No. But neither are most of your actions. What did you want to talk to me about?>

<I assume you’ve heard of what went down in Atlantis.>

<I have. Gods talk. Siblings, doubly so.>

<Lemme guess. Poseidon boasting he kicked our asses?>

<Is he wrong?>

<I suppose no. But he made no effort to attack Olympus while I was in a coma, something I’m absolutely sure he was aware of, so it’s not a complete loss. And I finally managed to take down Ulysses for good. He is dead, right? You’d know if he wasn’t.>

<I would. And he is.>

<You wouldn’t happen to know if Roxiana is still alive? I assume she is, but I don’t know where Skorpios took her. And she’s the wildcard that worries me the most.>

<She is alive. I don’t know where, but her existence is a defiance of death that you will have to rectify as soon as possible.>

<I intend to, trust me. Wait, can you tell if anyone is alive or dead, or does this power of yours only work for special cases?> Noriko wonders, not receiving a response.

<None of this is what you wanted to discuss. But if you are worried about our alliance, let me reassure you: despite your humiliating defeat…>

<You don’t HAVE to call it that, you know.>

<…I still maintain that you and Hebe are the best choice available to lead Olympus and I will fight by your side against any assailant.>

<Good to hear.>

<But do not take my support for granted in all your endeavors. If you plan to overthrow Atlantis like you did with Olympus, I will not provide assistance.>

<Not saying that I’m considering that, but hypothetically speaking: if I were, am I to understand that you wouldn’t try to stop me?>

<Hypothetically speaking, I would not. But I asked the Demon to step aside because I have a question for you that must not leave this planet, Null.>

<I assumed as much. What is it?>

<When you annihilated Ulysses’ soul, you had a glimpse of his mind. Of his past.>

<You have shockingly good intel for someone living in a galaxy of dead people, Hades.>

<You saw his deeds as a founder of the Zenith. You have further proof that Athena founded that terrorist organization.>

<An organization that doesn’t exist anymore, Hades.>

<But Athena does. And she is one of your vassals. You’ve had proof of her involvement with the Zenith since before your coronation, and yet you allow her to serve under you with close to no supervision. What do you intend to do with her, Null?>

<I’ve told you before, Hades. Athena will not bother your galaxy and I will deal with her.>

<When? The lifespan of the gods is infinite, but their patience is not.>

<When the time is right. There’s been enough bloodshed in the Olympian Galaxy, I will not start a civil war. Athena will be dealt with. In. Time.> Null replies, her silver eyes shining to put emphasis on the last two words. The King of the Underworld stares at her from beneath the shadow cast by his hood, and after a couple of seconds he nods and turns around.

<See that you do. If Athena or one of her associates lifts a finger against my realm, I will personally destroy the Olympian Galaxy. Understood?>

His voice is harsher than usual. Noriko would like nothing more than to respond with the same tone, but Hades is by far her most powerful asset… without him and the far less reliable Zeus, she would have little chance of standing up to the other Nine Gods. So she decides to swallow her pride.

<That’s fair. What if, hypothetically speaking, Athena wasn’t my vassal anymore? Would you still be against the idea of helping me liberating the Aegian Galaxy from divine rule?>

<Hypothetically speaking, if Athena was no longer in a position of power and no longer a potential threat… I would reconsider my position. After all, if I cared much for the affairs of the living, I would not be ruling the Underworld.>

<You’ve given me much to think about, Hades. If there’s nothing more…>

<There is one thing.> the god says, but he waits several minutes before continuing the conversation. His voice is as monotone as ever, but there’s a hint of worry.

<You have found a Gate of Heaven.>

<I have. Seriously, how do you get so much information out here!?>

<You should not open it.>

<I thought you barely knew anything about Heaven. You didn’t seem to care all that much. Why the sudden interest now?>

<I can’t say. There are things that only gods can see but are not easily put into words.>

<Honestly, I think the problem is that you guys really suck at explaining yourselves…>

<The Gate was locked and forgotten for a reason. Do not open it.>

<Why? Are you worried about what you could find on the other side?>

<Or what the other side could find out about ours.>

<You do know something about Heaven, don’t you? Something you don’t want to share with me.> Noriko realizes, but Hades doesn’t acknowledge her words: instead, he simply walks away.

<This audience is over. You may return to your realm, and please try not to cheat death so often… it’s unseemly.> Hades tells her, and with a wave of his hand he creates a dark portal behind Noriko that leads back to Earth.