Beyond The Impossible

61,000,000 light-years from Earth

Inanna is enjoying her bath, rubbing her white skin with the incomprehensibly hot plasma of the surface of a blue supergiant star. Few beings would survive here, and even fewer would risk her wrath by violating her privacy: the Goddess of Sex and Violence is almost as fickle as she is mind-bogglingly powerful.

Much to her delight, someone does interrupt her. Inanna smiles as she watches the space-time continuum being twisted out of shape, creating a wormhole slightly larger than her. She recognizes it as one of the means of transportation of a generation of gods younger than hers, something confirmed when a red-haired goddess comes out of the wormhole.

<Oh, my goodness> she exclaims, plummeting towards the giant star: she didn’t take gravity into account when she arrived. Or the stellar flare that is about to erupt beneath her.

<Hi Rhea. It’s been a while> Inanna greets her, stomping her foot against the star.

Despite the fact that there’s no ground, somehow she generates a shockwave powerful enough to shake the entire supergiant: the flare is reflected inside the star, and the plasma below them is significantly cooled. Seen from space, she just created a sunspot half the size of the star.

<Inanna! You look… uhm, you look naked. Do you mind?> Rhea asks, modestly looking away.

<No, I don’t mind at all. You came here to play? We could have some fun together.>

<That’s what I was hoping for! How about we do another Strongest Under The Heavens?>

<I was thinking about something a little more… intimate> Inanna suggests, striking a sexy pose.

<You want to compete again? Are you sure? The tournament would be over too quickly!>

<Well, we could test which one of us could last the longest…>

<No, I know you’re stronger, and I’m fine with that. I just want to do something for my kids.>

<Oh for Baal’s sake… I’m trying to get you to sleep with me, Rhea!!!>

<But neither of us needs to sleep.>

<You’re either the most dim-witted or the most audacious goddess in the entire universe.>

<Oh thank you, that’s very sweet of you!>

<You don’t know what either of these words mean, isn’t it?>

<Sure I do! They mean… uhm… let me think…>

<Don’t bother. So you want to do a Strongest Under The Heavens, uh? Any candidates?>

<Well I have Enyo and Persephone. But I know we need sixteen candidates, so we need another ten.>

<Fourteen> Inanna sighs. As cute as Rhea is, she’d forgotten how irritating she can be.

<Oh, really!? If we need fourteen and I have two, that means we need… uhm… well… wow organizing a tournament is way harder than I thought! Tell you what, Inanna, why don’t you suggest some names? There must be someone you want to see fight!!!>

<Yes, I can think of a couple.> Inanna answers, recreating her clothes: her passion for violence is now more important than her lust.>

<Cool! Should we go back to my galaxy to pick them up?>

<Actually, I have a better idea. I know a guy…>

 

Myridia, 50 light-years from Earth

It’s early in the morning when one of the Kari Zel duplicate wanders into the kitchen, yawning: it’s been months since she’s been unable to duplicate, and she still hasn’t figured out a way to do everything she wants during the day. Wondering how people without duplicating powers manage to survive, she finds another Kari standing precariously on a chair to reach one of the counters above the icebox. Since this one has an unmistakably pregnant belly, it must be the original Kari.

<What are you doing!? Get down from there!> the duplicate shouts.

<Come on, I was just craving some steamed vetch. You don’t have to babysit me> the pregnant Kari complains, almost falling down when something appears phasing through the counters.

It’s a humanoid with golden skin, much lankier than a normal human and with a head that resembles the Earth bird called ibis. He’s holding a stone tabled and declaring:

<Kari Zel, Heroine of Myridia, you have been challenged by the gods. Do you wish to prove yourself the strongest under the heavens, or to select a representative?>

<I don’t know who you are, buddy, but I never back down from a challenge> Kari defiantly replies.

<The challenger has accepted. Name a spectator and we shall leave at once.>

<I’m not leaving until I’ve spoken to my husband!>

<Your choice is hereby approved> the mysterious being answers, tapping the stone tablet.

He disappears together with the pregnant Kari, leaving behind a bewildered duplicate.

<I just had to accept, didn’t I?> she sighs.

 

Max Black’s apartment, New York City

Time zones between planets are a nightmare, but out of sheer coincidence it’s early morning in this city as well. Max Black is enjoying his breakfast cereals, wearing just the lower part of his pajamas, sitting in front of a blue alien wearing the top. Because of her wings Lily can’t wear it like a normal shirt, so she’s put it on backwards to leave them exposed.

<I can’t believe you like that> he says, watching her pour orange juice inside the bowl of cereals already soaked in milk.

<What? It’s more efficient like this. Besides, you didn’t complain about my tastes last night> she flirts, just when a humanoid with the head of an ibis phases through the breakfast.

<Oh come on, even at breakfast now!?> Max complains, getting into a battle stance ready to blast the intruder with a couple of lasers.

<Quantum, Hero of Earth, you have been challenged by the gods. Do you wish to prove yourself the strongest under the heavens, or to select a representative?>

<What the… that’s what Vesta’s mother was talking about, isn’t it? I was waiting for this!>

<The challenger has accepted. Name a spectator and we shall leave at once.>

<Now wait a second, I didn’t accept anything! Lily, you know this guy?>

<Your choice is hereby approved> the being declares, tapping the tablet on his hands and leaving the apartment empty with a couple of rather different breakfast choices.

 

Null Tower

The building’s reconstruction isn’t complete yet, and nearly the entire skyscraper is still closed to the public, but some of the laboratories are already up and running.

Noriko Null is inside one of them, having fallen asleep sitting at her desk. She’s awakened by one of the most wonderful smells in the universe: someone made coffee.

Her silver eyes shine as she adjusts to the lights, looking around: Vesta is sweeping the floor, floating an inch above it to avoid making noise.

<Don’t bother, I have robots for that> Noriko tells the goddess, yawning.

<Is that why the place is a mess? I made you some coffee> Vesta tells her, pointing at the pot brewing in the corner. It’s surrounded by a self-sustained ring of fire.

<You’re the most powerful being on the planet, don’t you have something better to do?> Noriko asks, slowly moving towards the coffee. The fire disappears on its own once she’s close enough.

<You’re welcome. I just wanted to see how you were doing, I haven’t seen you in ages… when was the last time you stepped outside instead of sending your androids to work for you?>

<I was busy.>

<Hmm. And I suppose it doesn’t have anything to do with your breakup with Voron, right?>

<Beyond the fact that there was nothing to break since he was never my boyfriend, Vesta, upgrading the God Eraser is more important than anything else happening on this planet.>

<If you say so. I just think it’d be healthy for you to meet new people> the goddess suggests.

Right on cue, the being with an ibis head appears out of thin air. Noriko reacts instinctively, summoning a Genius Gun and pointing it at the intruder; equally out of instinct, Vesta rapidly grabs her arm to point the weapon away from him.

<Don’t! I know him.>

<Hestia, Firstborn of Kronos, and Noriko Null, Slayer of Gods, you have been challenged by the gods. Do you wish to prove yourselves the strongest under the heavens, or to select your representatives?>

<What’s going on, Vesta?> Noriko asks.

<This is Thoth, the Egyptian God of Knowledge. He carries out the invitations to the tournament.>

<Then yes, we both accept the challenge> Noriko declares, making her silver eyes shine.

<The challengers have accepted. Name a spectator and we shall leave at once.>

<What do you mean by “spectator”?> she asks.

<A sentient being allowed to personally witness the tournament without interfering.>

<I don’t want anybody to be there> Vesta admits.

<You must select a spectator or you will be disqualified.>

<Choose Ulysses. We have some favors to cash in> Noriko suggests.

<Are you sure? You can select him by yourself.>

<No, I actually have someone I want to be present for this.>

<Alright. Thoth, I choose Ulysses as my spectator.>

<Your choice is hereby approved. Who do you choose as your spectator, Noriko Null?>

She tries her hardest not to smile. Then she decides she doesn’t care enough and smiles anyway.

<I choose Dmitry Voron. Now let’s go win this thing.>

 

60,000,000 light-years from Earth

Just a minute ago, Dmitry Voron was on board an Athenian ship trying to understand its propulsion system. Now suddenly he’s inside a very large yet empty building of stone, eerily illuminated by the light coming from the single door. He can see a familiar silhouette against the door.

<Noriko? What’s going on?> he asks, coming closer to the billionaire genius. She’s staring at what’s just outside the temple: empty space. And he immediately understands what’s the source of the light: an entire galaxy, spanning nearly the entire sky.

<Voron. I thought you’d find this interesting> she answers, just when another figure becomes visible beyond the horizon… which is just a few hundred feet away. The temple is moving, but it’s only noticeable when something smaller than a galaxy comes into view: it’s a colossal humanoid with the head of an ibis, and he’s holding between his hands a black disk with several blue decorations and a white eight point star in the middle.

<Esteemed divinities, honored guests, bold competitors. I am Thoth, God of Knowledge, and I shall serve as the arbiter of this tournament. You may approach the arena> the giant god says.

Following his words, the temple moves towards the disk until it lands softly near one of the points of the star. Noriko gives the disk a quick estimate of the disk’s radius, about ten miles. There are four amphitheatres near the star, positioned symmetrically. They’re decorated with three easily distinguishable styles: Greek, Egyptian and Sumerian. The fourth one is also of clear Sumerian style, slightly taller than the others. Noriko takes the N-Phone out of her pocket and seems to use it to take a picture, while in reality she’s using it as a telescope to identify the only two people sitting in the entire amphitheater. Sitting next to each other there are Inanna, lounging in the steps crossing her legs seductively, and Rhea inspecting the perfection of her own nails.

<I have a bad feeling about this> Noriko confesses.

<In the name of Inanna, Goddess of Sex and Violence, and Rhea, Queen Of The Universe, this tournament shall declare who is the strongest under the heavens. Sixteen champions shall fight in one-on-one battles until the strongest one remains: a contestant shall be eliminated if unable to fight, dead, or in case of surrender. Anyone who interferes during a battle shall die. The honorable goddesses have agreed the following prize: a wish for the death or the eternal love of a single being. The first battle shall commence when the last grain of sand has fallen> Thoth declares, creating a huge hourglass of gold and finely decorated glass at the center of the arena.

<Given the size and the consistency of the sand…> Voron begins explaining.

<Yeah, I know. I have twelve hours to figure out how to be the strongest being in the universe.>