Beyond The Impossible

Dark Galaxy, 10 billion light years from Earth

Ekron, near the galactic center

A triangular portal made of a strange white flame surrounding a black center opens in a dark alley.

All members of the Vanguard and three gods step out of it, finding themselves overwhelmed by the thick Ichor permeating the atmosphere.

<Shouldn’t it be daytime on this side of the planet? Why is it so dark?> Quantum asks, struggling to see anything in the black fog until he focuses his vision on infrared.

Only then he can see the alien architecture, full of gothic designs full of unnecessary spikes of questionable usefulness.

<We are inside the largest concentration of Ichor in the universe.> Torn explains, making the Aether portal disappear behind them.

<See, this is why nobody likes the Sumerians. So dreadfully grim.> Hermes comments.

<A planet where it’s always night? It has potential.> Aphrodite adds.

<Focus, everybody, this is a hostile planet. All mortals feeling okay?> Noriko Null asks.

<Sort of. This stuff itches.> Kari Zel answers, scratching her arm. In the darkness, it’s difficult to see the faint glow that surrounds her body, as well as Noriko’s and Quantum’s.

<Without that specialized Survival Field keeping particulates from Utnapishtim’s garden, this much Ichor would have killed us in seconds.> Noriko replies.

<All of you who can be killed, Sunshine.> Hermes corrects her.

<Still, it’s not going to keep us protected forever: the Ekronians will definitely find us. Let’s hurry towards the point where Ichor is at its highest concentration, as close to the planet’s core as we can get.> Noriko rallies the team.

<I can dig a tunnel through the planet, but why didn’t we teleport directly there?> Vesta asks.

<Too risky. The teleporter can’t get through the interference, and while Aether is untraceable by Ichor users the core is so saturated that they would perceive the intrusion. We should prioritize finding an access point to the underground: Quantum, Hermes, start by…> Noriko begins giving orders, interrupted by Torn.

<That will not be necessary.> he says.

<You sensed an access point?>

<I sensed a greater Ichor mass. There.> Torn answers, pointing at the largest building of this city: a colossal cathedral, adorned by green windows that emanate enough light to be almost visible to the naked mortal eye.

<Are you sure? I can’t see a thing.> Vesta admits.

<It’s there.> Prometheus confirms.

<Dude, you don’t have eyes. How can you tell?> Quantum asks.

<I’ve been tortured with Ichor for so long that I developed a sense for it. The Demon is correct.>

That’s enough to convince Noriko Null to rapidly change her plans; her silver eyes briefly shine in the darkness before she gives new orders:

< Quantum, Hermes, still search the planet for an entry to the underground, just in case. Given the size and the position of the building, that’s either of political or religious importance: it will be heavily guarded. Torn, Vesta, Prometheus, you’re with me checking that Ichor mass. Kari, Aphrodite, I have a feeling that we’ll be swarmed by Ekronians as soon as we show our faces… think you can cause enough of a distraction to get the attention away from us?>

<Oh, I can be very distracting.> Aphrodite boasts, striking a pose.

 

The Palace of Darkness, at the center of the city

Unbeknownst to the Vanguard, this cathedral is the capital of Ekron. It has stood here for eons, after the planet was founded by Demons who rejected Hell’s policy of neutrality.

Nobody has been insane enough to invade the planet in the past million years, but occasionally some Ekronians decide to test their skills as warriors by attempting to fight the elite guards.

So it’s not unusual of for someone to approach the Palace, but to see two non-Demon women walking towards it is unheard of.

<Halt! What business do you have with the Palace of Darkness?> one of the guards yells, wielding a spear of Ichor and pointing it at the incoming strangers.

<Business? Oh my, I would never! I have no use for business, I only work in pleasure!> Aphrodite giggles, calmly getting up close to the Ekronian Demon. According to regulations he should attack her on the spot, but he finds himself too enchanted to do anything.

<You’ve gone far enough!> the second guard yells, thrusting his own spear at the goddess.

She steps aside faster than he expected, seductively caressing the weapon that would kill her on the spot if she were mortal.

<That is a big weapon. Why don’t you show me how to use it?> she teases him.

The guard is too stunned to do anything, at least until Kari Zel punches him in the face.

<We were not done!> Aphrodite complains.

<We’re here for a mission, not to satisfy your kinks.> Kari tells her, her body glowing with the energy of her 10K Rise as she quickly knocks out the second guard.

<Why not both?> Aphrodite shrugs.

Two hexagram portals appear next to the unconscious Ekronians; Kari splits up her power into two duplicates and rapidly takes care of the replacement guards.

Immediately afterwards, four more hexagrams appear with as many Ekronian warriors.

<We’re the distraction, remember? We have to make as much noise as we can.> Kari explains to the goddess, creating more duplicates to attack the new guards.

The pattern repeats and escalates: sixteen more hexagrams appear, surrounding them.

<Here’s the plan: I punch half the planet, you f##k the rest. How does that sound?>

<It’s a start.> Aphrodite responds, licking her lips.

<If you’re serious, Nori’s gonna be SO mad. SHADOW BREAKER!!!> Kari yells, as her power surges generating one duplicate after the other, each one maintaining the full power of a 10K Rise.

More and more Ekronian Demons pour out of the Palace of Darkness.

 

The Throne Room

A triangular Aether portal appears in a large but bleak room, where the only note of color is the bright Emerald Throne.

<Don’t tell me that’s it.> Noriko says, approaching the throne.

<Be careful not to touch it. It contains an unimaginable concentration of Ichor.> Torn warns her.

<Then why is it green?> she wonders.

<I don’t know what material it is. But there is almost as much Ichor inside it as there is Blood in all of Hell itself.>

<This is even better than what I was hoping to find. Just make sure we’re not…> Noriko instructs, but she’s interrupted when something emerges from a hexagram portal too fast for her human reflexes. Fortunately for her, Torn is able to conjure up enough Ichor to form an energy trident right in front of her face. That’s the only thing that prevents a different blade from piercing her eyes.

It takes her a moment to recognize the Demon with a Ichor scythe for an arm that just attacked her.

<It is a blasphemy for humans and gods to gaze upon the Emerald Throne.> he says.

<Father.> Torn greets him.

<Son. Your friends will die before you; maybe this time you will learn your lesson.>

<I have learned plenty.> Torn boasts. The Ichor trident in his hand morphs into two separate swords that glow with white fire when he shouts:

<Aether Blades!>

<What an uninspired name for a weapon; you always had a poor choice of words. Death Spiral Pain Vortex!!!> Reaper shouts, releasing with a swing of his arm a miniature tornado of sharp Ichor shuriken. Torn moves to intercept them so fast that even Vesta is barely able to keep track of him swatting away the blades with his Aether swords, while all Noriko can see are the Ichor shuriken plant themselves several inches inside the walls… but not even scratching the Emerald Throne.

<Both “spiral” and “pain” were redundant.> Torn corrects his father.

<I care little for whatever heretical new source of power you found, I have given the order: all invaders shall be executed. Any last words?> Reaper asks, with his scythe arm morphing into a more grotesque form with multiple blades.

<Yes, father. Today, you will die by my hands.> Torn declares, his eyes shining with Aether.

<Unlikely. Death Whirlwind Knife Tornado!>

<Aether Arsenal!>

The two Demons go at each other with multiple energy weapons surrounding them; Vesta rushes to protect Noriko, but father and son are so focused on each other that their fight is immediately taken outside once they vanish through portals.

<Demons sure do love their fighting words.> Prometheus comments, not bothered by the Ichor dagger that lodged itself right into his skull.

<Are… you okay?> Noriko asks.

<I am very hard to kill, but thank you for asking.> Prometheus replies, calmly removing the weapon from his forehead without even losing a drop of blood.

<We should help Torn!> Vesta says.

<He’s a big boy, he can take care of himself. And I need you here: think you can melt this thing?> Noriko asks, studying the Emerald Throne.

<I can melt Neutral Matter: I don’t care what this material is, it doesn’t stand a chance. The hard part will be avoiding the Ichor inside from leaking.> Vesta responds.

<I can guide you through it. But it will be a laborious task: your allies will have to defend themselves from an entire planet of blood-lusted Demons.> Prometheus points out.

<Wouldn’t be the first time.> Noriko shrugs.

<Mortals these days have such interesting lives…>

 

Darkness Valley, on another continent

Quantum turns back to human form on the edge of a cliff, focusing his energy senses to look past the thick Ichor fog.

An entire city has been built inside the edges of a colossal canyon; similarly to what he’s seen on Hell, it’s a chasm that leads directly into the planet’s magma. Except it’s not red like it should be; it’s barely visible thanks to the amount of Ichor dissolved inside it.

<I gather that’s what Sunshine is looking for.> Hermes says, appearing next to him.

<Yeah, except there’s no way to get inside without having to fight our way thorough who knows how many crazed Demon maniacs.>

<Really, that’s what’s stopping you? How did you people manage to kill Ares and Poseidon?>

<What would you do, smartass, rush in without a plan and…> Quantum answers, realizing only midway through the sentence that Hermes has already left.

<…and of course that’s what you’d do. Why did I have to babysit the god of ADHD?> he sighs, moving towards the canyon.

Bridge of the HDS Polymetis

At the edge of the solar system

Gilgamesh sits at the captain’s chair, nervously tapping a finger on the armchair.

Utnapishtim approaches him, noticing how his fellow Ur seems to be in a very bad mood.

<Are you worried about your lover and her friends?> he asks.

<I have faith in Noriko. But I am not used to being, well, useless. I’ve been called a hero almost all my life, but I’m starting to realize that without my muscles… I am nothing.>

<That cannot be true, young warrior. There has to be…> Utnapishtim tries to console him, just when the ship’s alarm goes off.

<Warning. 1332 Ichor portals detected within proximity of our location; we should leave, yes?> the ship asks, speaking through Siduri’s voice.

<No. Raise the shields and power up weapons… perhaps I am not useless after all.> Gilgamesh tells himself, taking command of the ship.