Beyond The Impossible

Uruk Galaxy

It feels like it’s been ages since the Vanguard gathered to discuss its strategy for the “Strongest Under The Heavens” tournament. Just yesterday they were at the top of their game, but things have surely changed now.

The most extreme case is Vesta, the only one to be eliminated in the first round: she still has a lot of red energy arrows sticking out of her body, which Torn is taking out one by one.

<Good thing you’re immortal, those things look like they really hurt> Kari comments.

<They do> Vesta answers through her teeth, enduring the pain during the extraction.

<How did she do it? I thought gods couldn’t use the Blood> Lily asks.

<My sister taught her. This weapon has her signature> Torn answers.

<Uhm, Torn… if you want to talk about your sister…> Quantum tries to approach the topic.

<There is nothing to discuss> Torn states, taking out another arrow.

<Dude, you turned her into a bloody pulp!>

<…and?> Torn asks, raising an eyebrow in genuine curiosity.

<You’re strangely quiet> Kari tells Noriko, who has been sitting apart from the others with a very pensive look on her face. Her silver eyes shine when she asks Torn:

<Can you use your Instinct Killer against her? Negate her use of the Blood?>

<Unlikely. I need time to study how to enter the Instinct Killer state on demand.>

<Time that we don’t have. My only problem is Herakles: he’s a demigod, so my God Eraser probably can’t work against him. Who wants him?>

<I do!> both Kari and her duplicate answer enthusiastically, raising their hands.

<Really? The 10K Rise can make you ten thousand times stronger, but he has infinite strength> Vesta reminds her.

<Oh, we were still talking about fighting? Nevermind then> Kari shrugs.

<I’ll do it> Quantum volunteers.

<Are you sure? He’s ridiculously strong> Lily reminds him, taking his hand. Noriko takes notice of the amount of body language signals she’s giving, wondering if they also apply to Lampyrians.

<Without Vesta, I’m the most powerful member of the team… no offense guys. Herakles is the only one we absolutely need to take out, Noriko can take care of the rest.>

<Thanks for the vote of confidence. We should ask Tyche to put two other goddesses in the same match: Enyo and Artemis can take care of each other, leaving only Adrestia to me. Torn, Kari, I’m afraid that means you’ll have to fight one another> Noriko explains.

<Absolutely not> Torn replies sternly.

<I don’t particularly like the idea, but…> Kari notes.

<That’s not it. If Artemis knows how to use the Blood, we can’t allow her to fight another goddess.>

<Why?> Vesta asks, screaming when Torn picks one of the arrows sticking out of her chest and pulls it out without proper care. While she touches her own skin, making sure he didn’t leave a mark, Torn tries to snap the arrow: despite being made of energy, it bends like plastic.

<The energy has become self-sustained. Gods who are able to access the Blood can use it to drain power from other gods. Fighting you has already made Artemis as powerful as Enyo; if they fight again, she might stand up to Null’s weapon.>

<How do you know? Has any other god done something like that?>

Instead of answering Vesta’s question, Torn looks at Noriko. She shakes her head; it’s very subtle, but Torn is miraculously able to pick up the nonverbal clue.

<It is not something Demons discuss.>

“Thanks, Torn. I don’t need to deal with Vesta learning how her father gained the power to eat other gods, at least not right now” Noriko thinks, happy to dodge at least one bullet today.

<I’ll fight Artemis then. It’s better if she doesn’t learn any other Blood tricks from Torn, and my 10K Rise is probably useless against Adrestia’s gravity powers> Kari suggests.

<Perfect. You and Torn get some rest, you’re the ones who had it worse. Quantum, do you mind checking on Tyche? We absolutely need her help> Noriko orders.

<I’ll go with you > Lily tells Quantum.

<No, you’re with me. You’re gonna help me in the most difficult thing I’ve done in the tournament.>

<Sure. You need to make some new weapon?>

<Worse. I have to apologize to my ex boyfriend.>

 

Tyche’s temple

Quantum appears on the front door, walking past the drunken Dionysus who passed out in the entrance with several empty bottles of wine scattered around him.

He feels weird sneaking up inside, considering there is no door to stop him; he figures security is not an issue for the gods. Since the temple is identical to the other ones housing the contestants, he quickly finds his way to Tyche’s quarters.

He finds her meditating in front of her bed; her legs are crossed, covered by the long blue dress that falls towards the ground as she levitates. The only source of light is the flaming red halo a few inches above her head. She’s not alone: Hermes is resting on the bed, seemingly asleep.

<Is this a bad time?> Quantum asks, keeping his voice low.

<I’m trying to look into the future to see who is destined to win the tournament, but Thoth is still blocking my precognitive abilities.>

<Destined? C’mon, you really believe in that stuff?> Quantum asks.

The Goddess of Destiny opens her eyes to look at him, not dignifying him with a response.

<Right. Anyway, Noriko wants me to make sure you’ll be able to help us in the quarter-finals.>

<I will. But you should warn her that it will be my final contribution to her efforts.>

<Why? It’s not because of Hermes, is it?>

<No, my father will be fully recovered by the semifinals. But they will not be determined by luck: Inanna reserves for herself the right of selecting the last fights, picking the most interesting ones.>

<That’s bad. Torn believes that if Artemis fights another goddess she’ll become stronger.>

<I can’t confirm that. But as the Goddess of Luck, I know this does not bode well for the Vanguard.>

 

Athena’s temple

In contrast with Tyche’s abode, there is a high security door blocking the entrance. But when Noriko knocks, it’s not the Goddess of Wisdom that opens the door.

<This is unexpected> Nike admits. She’s changed from her armor to civilian clothing resembling a black business suit, in contrast with the white wings in her back.

<I need to talk with Dmitry. I know he’s in there> Noriko says, going straight to the point.

<I can grant you access, if you agree to convince your subordinate to keep quiet about our fight.>

<Seriously? I never thought you’d be a sore loser, but okay.>

<Take all the time you need> Nike says, spreading her wings preparing to take flight.

<Wait! I have to ask you something. You wished for the death of Amaterasu… what’s up with that?>

<I’m not at liberty to discuss my orders> Nike answers, leaving with a gust of wind that almost knocks Noriko over.

<Are you really going to ask Kari to keep quiet about defeating a goddess?> Lily asks.

<It wouldn’t be the first time I do something impossible> Noriko shrugs, getting inside the temple.

Just like Quantum, she easily finds the temple’s occupants; as she predicted Dmitry Voron is there, but the Russian scientist is not alone: he’s talking to Ulysses.

<I always find you in the weirdest places> she tells the Greek hero.

<Null, what a pleasant surprise. Voron and I were just talking about you.>

<Of course you were. Do you mind leaving us alone? And please deactivate any listening device you’ve planted in the temple.>

<As you wish. We’ll continue our conversation later, Voron> Ulysses agrees, taking a respectful bow before leaving the temple.

<Make sure he’s not lying> Noriko tells Lily, handing her the N-Phone to check for bugs.

<I hope you’re not here to object to my decision to leave Earth to work for the Athenian Federation> Voron tells her. As always, it’s nearly impossible to read his expression.

<I’m here to apologize for the way I’ve treated you, Dmitry. I do respect your intelligence and your integrity and I’m sorry I belittled you. Despite the way things ended, I don’t regret our relationship.>

<Neither do I. But you have an alternate personality who is responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, Null, including Russians. Whatever it is you want from me, I won’t help you.>

<Yes, you will. Because of her> Noriko tells, pointing at a very surprised Lily.

<What? What did I do?> the Lampyrian asks.

<Her species has a natural lifespan of two years. I developed a serum that extends it to ten years, after the first Abyss transformation. Just like I liberated a thousand worlds from divine rule, killed Selene before she could enslave the Mortal Republic, and killed Tiamat before she could destroy the entire galaxy. Yes, I probably deserved to be locked up after becoming Abyss, but I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish any of these things. Call it pride, call it rationalization, call it an excuse, but I will never apologize for saving lives. You’re a good man, Dmitry. Help me save the day.>

<How?> the scientist asks; the uncertainty in his voice signals that he’s moved by her words.

Noriko answers by projecting a hologram of the schematic diagram for her prosthetic arm, specifically of the miniaturized God Eraser housed within it.

<I can use this to transmit high frequency electrical signals; used in conjunction with the Nexus, I pump so much raw information into a god’s brain to effectively lobotomize him. Previous versions had an independent power source, and when I tried to use that twice in a row it nearly killed me. This version draws power directly from the Nexus itself; on the plus side, I can fire it once and survive. On the bad side, Abyss has already used it against Deimos.>

<It will kill you if you use it again> Voron realizes.

<You’ve said before that the design flaw of the God Eraser is the need to use my body. I haven’t figured out a way to build one that works independently from me… not yet… but I’ve found a workaround> Noriko explains, changing the hologram.

It now shows a three-dimensional map of her brain, including the Drylon device shaped like the symbol for infinity lodged inside her skull. It’s not the only artificial object shown: there’s a separate device at the base of her neck, connected to the spinal cord.

Voron touches the hologram, and it expands to show a separate schematic diagram in a separate window: he studies it carefully, fascinated by its design.

<This is… quite ambitious> he comments.

<You want to put THAT into your brain!? Are you crazy!?> Lily shouts, recognizing what Noriko is trying to achieve.

<I’m not crazy enough to believe I can build and install it in less than a day, not on my own. I understand that you have some experience in surgery, Lily; does that include brain surgery?>

<Yes, but… I’m not sure you understand what you’re doing. This is very dangerous!>

<What are the odds of the God Eraser killing you, in your present state?> Voron asks.

<Very high. 97% or more.>

<And you think this modification can change this?>

<Significantly.>

<Give me a number. I know you must have made the math on this.>

<It’s not an exact science, but if everything works out, I’d say about a 75% possibility of survival.>

<That’s still a chance out of four that it’ll kill you!>– Lily protests.

<None of the others can defeat Enyo or Artemis. We can’t be sure of what they really want to wish for at the end of the tournament, but one way or the other this can only lead to a war between galactic superpowers. This is my only chance to prevent that from happening.>

<Alright, Null, I will help you. But promise me you’ll take any step you can to survive.>

<Don’t worry. As you said, I’ve done the math> Noriko reassures him.

“Better not tell him that the real chance of survival is far lower” she then thinks.