Beyond The Impossible

So much has happened on the arena of the “Strongest Under The Heavens” tournament that it feels months have passed since its beginning, but things are moving quickly: there’s no time to think about how badly Hermes lost to the lesser known goddess Adrestia, because the ibis-headed Thoth immediately calls the new challengers.

<The next contestant has been chosen by Inanna. Kari Zel, the Heroine of Myridia, may approach the arena> he announces.

Kari Zel stands up, kisses her husband Kiros, kisses her original body, and then put her hand over the real Kari’s pregnant belly.

<I’ll be right back. Mommy’s gonna kick some ass.>

Just when Kari jumps down in the arena, Hera loudly shouts shaking her fist:

<I object!!! Not only we are insulted by allowing demigods and mortals to compete with gods, but this one is barely a shade of a real mortal!!!>

<Wait. You are not the one who received the challenge> Thoth tells the Kari duplicate.

<Are you sure? If you’re the God of Knowledge, you must know this body is an extension of my will, right? Besides, you can’t ask a pregnant woman to fight in a martial arts tournament.>

<Your logic is sound, but this is unprecedented. Lady Inanna, Lady Rhea?>Thoth asks.

<I’ll allow it. I want to see the results of her training> Inanna answers.

<I don’t know, it doesn’t sound fair. Do you have children, Inanna?> Rhea asks her.

<Probably. It’s easy to lose track> the Sumerian goddess shrugs.

<Well, I’ve been pregnant six times, and I’ve never been able to go a full century without…>

<We’re talking about a mortal, Rhea, she’d be useless in a fight.>

<Century? What’s she talking about?> the original Kari asks Vesta, having heard the conversation thanks to Noriko’s technology.

<That’s how long a typical pregnancy lasts, for a goddess> Vesta answers.

<A hundred years!? I’m happy about being a mortal!>

<Okay, fine, let’s see this mortal fight or whatever> Rhea finally concedes, absent-mindedly proceeding to select at random the next contestant.

<Let’s hope we can win without Tyche’s help> Noriko says.

<You are allowed to fight, Shade of Kari Zel. Athena’s chosen representative has been selected: Nike, Goddess of Victory, may approach the arena.>

<Your friend has already lost> Ulysses comments.

A ray of light descends from the sky, signaling the appearance of a goddess with white angelic wings. The Vanguard has met her before, in her role of Athena’s right-hand woman, but she seems different now. She lands slowly and gracefully, her long brown hair flowing in the wind generated by her wings. She looks ready for war: unlike Kari’s duplicate, who showed up in purple workout clothes, Nike is wearing her golden armor.

It’s probably a little too feminine to be practical, from the form-fitting breastplate to a skirt short enough to expose her tights, but she also carries a sword holstered in its scabbard.

<Nice outfit> Kari compliments her.

<Now declare the prize you wish to claim in this tournament. Shade of Kari Zel?>

<Can’t you just call me Kari? Anyway, I agree with Quantum’s idea: I wish for Ilithyia to fall in love with both Ares and Apollo.>

<That will not avoid the war> Nike tells her.

<Oh really? Why not, miss know-it-all?>

<It will only encourage them to fight each other to assert their dominance.>

<What? Why? They wouldn’t have anything to gain!>

<You are seriously underestimating my pantheon’s ability to fight for ridiculously petty reasons.>

<Well, when you put it like that…>

<Nike, what is your wish?>

<On behalf of Lady Athena, I wish for the death of Amaterasu.>

While the gods don’t seem to care all that much for Nike’s wish, Quantum looks confused and Noriko seems downright shocked.

<Who the heck is Amaterasu?> he wonders.

<A Japanese goddess. I thought you said that pantheon doesn’t exist!> she complains to Vesta.

<Well, I’ve never heard of her, but I don’t know every god personally> Vesta shrugs.

<Ulysses, do you know anything about this?> Noriko asks him.

<I don’t know of any Japanese gods. But this Amaterasu must be real, otherwise the wish would’ve been considered invalid by Thoth.>

<The stakes are decided, until defeat or death. Kari Zel versus Nike. FIGHT!!!>

Nike unsheathes her sword, a finely decorated silver rapier, while Kari starts a warm-up exercise.

<You’re going to fight me with your bare hands?> the goddess asks, raising an eyebrow.

<Yep. I tried using weapons before, but it’s not really my style.>

<There is a line between bravery and insanity, mortal.>

<I know, I’ve lived all my life there> Kari answers, catching Nike off guard with a sweep kick.

The goddess is so surprised by this that Kari actually manages to trip her, and she takes advantage of the distraction to take her sword and throwing it as far away as she can.

Nike still has the reflexes to use her wings to cushion her fall, and she uses them to push the rest of her body back to a standing position.

<How did you do that?> she asks, with a mixture of curiosity and professional courtesy.

<Your stance was all wrong. You typically fight while flying, don’t you?>

<You managed to impress me, Kari Zel. Unfortunately for you, that will be the extent of your…>

<Blah blah blah, why do gods always sound the same? “I’m so invincible, you don’t stand a chance against me”, c’mon, you’re thousands of years old, can’t you come up with some new material?>

<I see your strategy: you’re trying to distract me and irritate me with your mockery. Not an unreasonable plan, considering the difference in our strength.>

<Because you’re SO invincible, right? Good thing you’re as predictable as they come.>

<What is predictable is that you don’t stand a chance against…> Nike starts boasting, pausing when she realizes that she’s proving Kari’s point. The smirk on the Myridian’s face seals it.

<Enough talk> Nike finally says, losing her patience and spreading her wings.

This creates enough wind to throw away Kari like a ragdoll, and the fact that she manages to land on her feet without breaking anything is a testament to her agility.

<Where I come from, Myridian, mortals are treated with respect by their gods. But there is a point at which the request for equality crosses into insubordination> Nike explains, raising her hand: the sword flies back to her.

<Didn’t you just say “enough talk”?> Kari reminds her, running towards the goddess.

Nike considers slashing her with the sword, but at the last second she reconsiders and simply moves her right wing, lowering it enough to make Kari trip. Except Kari seems to have anticipated this: she jumps above the wing, somersaulting to land on Nike’s arm and using it as a trampoline to jump behind her. Nike turns towards Kari’s landing position, pointing her sword at her and pausing when she notices that now there’s some sort of jewelry on her gauntlet.

<What is this?> she asks.

<A wedding present from my boss. It’s called a Shotgun Bracelet> Kari explains, showing that she’s also wearing the same kind bracelet on her right wrist. And it begins to glow.

The one worn by Nike releases a blast of kinetic energy, propelling the sword out of her hand; at the same time, Kari lands solid punch right on Nike’s jaw.

The bracelet multiplies its force; it should be enough to crush a human skull, but Nike doesn’t move an inch. The only reason why Kari didn’t break every bone in her hand was that the bracelet protected her.

<That was rude> Nike responds calmly, gently pushing Kari away from her. Despite putting as little effort into it as she possibly can, it’s like being hit by a car: she flies back fifty feet, scraping her knee on the arena. She blocks the sounds coming from the audience, where her friends and loved ones are shouting their concern, and concentrates on Nike: the goddess flutters her wings, hovering in place and crushing the Shotgun Bracelet on her wrist.

<You fought valiantly, for a mortal. I accept your surrender.>

<I’m just getting started> Kari responds, powering through the pain and standing up. Despite her bravado, she doesn’t look in shape to keep fighting: her knee is bleeding, there are bruises on her arms, and she seems more than a little short of breath. Nike is not impressed.

<The fact that this could even be considered a fight should be enough of a victory for you.>

<It burns, doesn’t it? Knowing that you can kill me, but you can’t defeat me.>

<And why is that?>

<Because I’m not fighting you. I’m fighting myself.>

<I tried to be merciful> Nike sighs, then proceeding to fly towards Kari faster than she can see.

Twenty years ago, planet Myridia

Inside a wooden seemingly abandoned shack, a seven year old girl punches a cinder block. Her grunt of pain covers the creaking sound of the wooden door slowly opening up behind her.

<Kari? What the Hades are you trying to do?> the old man coming inside asks her.

<Training> the girl answers, throwing another punch. Predictably, it doesn’t do much besides creating another stain of blood on the concrete surface. There are already several of them.

<No, you’re being stupid. You can’t do anything to that brick> Old Man Vor reminds her, examining her wound: it’s a miracle she didn’t break anything.

<Why? I saw you break a dozen of them. And you’re old.>

<It’s precisely because I’m old. Some things take years of practice, even for a Myridian. Why don’t you start with wooden boards like I told you?>

<I want to be stronger than you. And prettier, but that’s too easy.>

<With that attitude, young girl, you’ll never be able to fight the Oracles. They’ll always be stronger.>

<But we can defeat them, right? One day Myridia will be free from them.>

<One step at a time. Before you can defeat your enemy, you must be able to defeat yourself.>

<That sounds really stupid.>

<So does trying to take down a wall with your bare fists. Come on, let’s put some bandages on that hand and speak about resistance training and bone density.>

<I’ll be there in a minute> Kari answers, looking the old man until he’s left the shack.

And then starting to punch the cinder block with her left hand.

 

Today, Uruk Galaxy

Nike expected to pick up Kari from the ground; she didn’t expect the mortal to use her own momentum against her, with a combination of judo and Demon martial arts.

The result is that the goddess of victory unceremoniously crashes against the stairs of the amphitheaters, evoking laughter from several gods in the audience.

<Maybe we should have a Mortal of Victory instead of a goddess!> Hera taunts her.

It’s the last straw for Nike. She flies behind Kari and wraps her wings around her, pushing her closer; essentially, hugging her with her wings.

<I’m flattered, but this isn’t really the aargh!> Kari screams in pain.

<I’m using seventy percent of the pressure needed to break your bones. Surrender.>

<Never… going… to…>

<Eighty percent> Nike continues, holding tighter.

With the pressure on her ribcage, Kari is having trouble breathing properly. She closes her eyes.

 

Nine years ago, planet Myridia

Myridian society doesn’t give much emphasis on family: once you’re old enough, you’re supposed to make your own life. Kari did just that, spreading her duplicates on the whole planet to explore it.

She left Old Man Vor’s house when she was fifteen, and four years later she’s returned.

<What do you mean you won’t train me anymore?> she asks the old man sitting on the chair.

<I have nothing left to teach you. You’re a better fighter than I ever was.>

<I don’t believe that for a second. You’re the best martial artist this world has ever seen.>

<No. If you want that, Kari, you better look into a mirror. Or better yet, create a duplicate.>

<Is this a test, Old Man? Please don’t start with your “defeat yourself” crap.>

<Everything is a test, Kari. The gods consider our lives worthless: every day we have the chance to prove them wrong.>

<I don’t want to win a philosophical argument with them. I want to kick their butts.>

<They can kill you, but they can’t defeat you unless you let them. At the same time, you can’t defeat a god unless he allows you to. The last thing I have to teach you, Kari, is to accept that some limits can’t be surpassed. Some things are just impossible.>

 

Today, Uruk Galaxy

Kari is pushing against Nike’s wings as hard as she can, but the goddess is not moving.

<Ninety percent. Is a martial arts tournament really worth your life, mortal?>

<I can… beat you…>

<You are just impossible. Ninety-five percent> Nike responds, slightly increasing the strength of her hold until Kari can feel her bones are ready to break under the pressure.

 

Weeks ago

Training under Inanna has been gruesome: the white-skinned goddess either doesn’t understand or care about concepts like resting and sleeping. Kari was already tired before she decided the best way to test her strength was to place her between two boulders, with the goddess pressing against one of them.

<Come on, push back! Is this really the best you can do?> Inanna asks Kari.

<Easy for you… to say… you can… bench-press… a planet> Kari answers, trying not to get crushed.

<You think that’s easy? All gods are born with the same potential, you know. I had to train myself to become one of the Nine Gods> Inanna reveals.

<How… do you train… for…>

<You think a body like this can move celestial objects? Nah, you need a power source. Gods take energy from the universe itself, Demons from the Blood… there are ways to exceed your limits, if you have the will. The real question, Kari Zel, is if you have enough willpower to go beyond the impossible.>

 

Today, Uruk Galaxy

Unlike other gods, Nike isn’t a sadist: she just wants this charade to be over as soon as possible.

<One hundred percent. Your bones are now…> she says, pausing when she realizes that Kari’s skeleton is still perfectly intact. And, oddly enough, that her purple hair seems brighter.

<How are you still alive?> she wonders, increasing the pressure.

<I’ve had… just enough… of you> Kari answers. And she starts pushing back against Nike’s wings.

<This is ridiculous! This should be enough to crush a hundred mortals!!!>

<Try… ten… thousand… 10K RISE!!!>

Kari’s hair becomes neon pink, but that’s the least of Nike’s concerns: the mortal is able to break free from her titanic hold, and the goddess is too shocked to avoid her punch.

There’s a loud gasp from the divine audience when Nike is forced to take a step back, especially she touches her nose… and realizes it’s bleeding.

<You said you were a mortal> she says.

<You know Myridians can create ten thousand duplicates, right? This is all the strength of MY duplicates, infused into a single body. You’re about to find out what happens if you p##s off ten thousand Karis at once.>