Argos, 100 light-years from Earth
Alexer Syzar, President of the Mortal Senate, sits at the center of the room surrounded by empty thrones. Technically speaking he’s alone, but three of the seats are occupied by holograms.
<We should commence. I doubt that Aphrodite will answer the call> he realizes.
<She probably just forgot. My mother can’t focus on anything that isn’t sex for more than a few minutes> the hologram of Tyche notes, sitting royally with a flaming halo over her head.
<Yet Amaterasu threatens her territory as well> Syzar reminds her.
<Indeed. But I know nothing of this creature; until I do, my kingdom will not participate in any preemptive strike> she answers.
<So even the Goddess of Destiny is uncertain of the outcome. Very interesting> is the comment of the hologram of a woman wearing a very advanced armor: the new Ice Queen, Leiko Tanaka.
<And what about you, Leiko? Are you going to…>
<I will be addressed by my title, mister President.>
<Of course. What will you do about this threat, Ice Queen?>
<Nothing. The Vial of Destiny makes me immune to all godly powers; if she truly is a goddess, she will find the power of the Winter Armor more than a match for her. Besides, to get to the Winter Kingdom, she will have to get through the Mortal Republic first.>
<I see that none of you is interested in joining our efforts to…>
<Oh please. We all know you won’t risk your own fleet. You will send HER> Leiko says.
<He will not> says the last hologram, a woman in full armor with wings on her back.
<Nike, unless Athena gives us some of her troops, we don’t have another…>
<You misunderstand me, mortal. The Athenian Federation wishes that you do not employ the services of the Slayer of Gods against the forces of Amaterasu.>
<May I ask why, Nike?>
<Lady Athena did not allow me to divulge this information. She did, however, ask for a careful review of the military and financial aid we provide to our allies.>
<Is this a threat? Is Athena allying herself with Amaterasu?>
<She’s not. She wished for her death at the Strongest Under The Heavens tournament… she knows something about this new goddess that we don’t> Tyche reveals.
<If you want Amaterasu dead, let me unleash Null against her!>
<I have my orders and you have your duties. Examine them very carefully> Nike says, abruptly ending her communication.
<Sorry, Alexar. With the current state of the galaxy, I can’t commit to a war without the consent of Athena. You’re on your own on this one> Tyche says, also disappearing.
<I seem to recall you laughing at my history of betraying my allies. Yet it looks like you have none of your own> Leiko teases Syzar.
<I still have Null, but the Athenian ship in Earth’s system is preventing me from contacting her. It’s your world, Ice Queen… surely you have a way to contact it?>
<I can grant you safe access. But this is not a secret I can share lightly.>
<Name your price> Syzar says, hating the sound of each word.
Megalopolis, 52.000 light-years from Earth
The blue haired woman wearing a rather revealing dress sits on her golden throne; the blue fire that surrounds her fists is so hot that the metal will soon be melting.
<How did this WENCH manage to STEAL territory from the Royal Family of Olympus!?> she shouts, with none the other deities in attendance daring to interrupt her.
Adrestia is the only one who is keeping her cool, with only one knee touching the floor. Contrasting with her black military uniform, Ilithyia is wearing a white dress; and while the Goddess of Revenge kneels to a superior officer, the Goddess of Childbirth is prostrating herself in front of a supreme being. Next to her is a man with glowing skin of gold, whose presence would make the room unbearably bright for a mortal, and who is trembling.
<I was talking to YOU, Helios. How did this Amaterasu defeat the Sun God in battle?>
<I did not… battle this creature, my Queen. I have not yet met her.>
<Then why are you here!? Amaterasu is advancing towards the sectors owned by your wife, MY daughter!!! Instead you’re here, cowering in MY palace, in MY realm!!!>
<My Queen, my fleets are defending Ilithyia’s territory from Apollo’s attacks; we need reinforcements to secure both borders. Please, grant me command of your troops to…>
<Troops? TROOPS!? You require the help of MORTALS to stop a minor goddess!?>
<My Queen, I fear Amaterasu is far from minor: her ships have decimated those provided by Adrestia, and she is actively preventing me from increasing the solar activity of…>
Helios stops talking when Hera puts her hand over his mouth, then she lifts him with one arm: he didn’t even see her move.
<Who do you fear more, Helios? This foreign goddess? Or ME!?>
<Mother. Please spare my husband> Ilithyia says, with a distinct lack of emotion in her voice. It seems to work, as Hera unceremoniously drops the god back on the floor.
<I am the Jewel Of The Universe and the Most Beloved Daughter of Kronos. No god or goddess of the sun shall eclipse my radiance. Annihilate this threat, Helios, or don’t bother coming back.>
<I shall gain your trust, my Queen> Helios agrees, disappearing in a flash of light. Hera returns to her throne, slightly less angry than before but far from happy.
<Grandmother. Allow me to assist Helios> Adrestia pleads.
<No. I have already lost a sister, a son, a daughter and two grandsons in a span of time that even mortals would consider short; I will not have my son-in-law appear weak in the eyes of mortals. If he loses, you and Ares may conquer the lost territories for yourselves.>
<Mother. Shouldn’t these sectors return to my rule?> Ilithyia asks.
<That was my intention when I thought your sister Tyche could be trusted to control the more unruly planets. Once Helios returns, you will both retire to my mother’s planet until the birth of your son.>
<You’re with child!?> Adrestia asks Ilithyia, for once dropping her stone face.
<But mother, I’m only in the eleventh month! It’ll be a century before I give birth!>
<I have spoken. Begone from my sight> Hera declares: her eyes are surrounded by blue flames, and in the blink of an eye she’s the only divine being in the room.
Takama, 45,000 light-years from Earth
Neither Kari Zel or Lily know the name of this planet, but they know this is supposed to be an important location by the number of Oni robots guarding the place. One of them is dragging them by the chains that immobilize their arms, legs and wings, until they reach what is clearly a throne room. Instead of a throne, however, they are in front of a couch.
<Well, well, well. A Myridian and a Lampyrian, two of the species I’ve always wanted to vivisect> says the woman on the couch. Asian, with half of her head full of hair and the other half with a buzz cut, wearing a revealing top and shorts that keep numerous tattoos visible. She’s almost unrecognizable, but the black eyes with a silver iris are a dead giveaway.
<Viper. You look trashier than usual> Kari insults her.
<Nice pet you have there, Zel. I’m afraid I don’t know her name.>
<There’s a lot of things you don’t know. 10K Rise!> Kari shouts, breaking the chains with the strength of ten thousand women and sprinting towards Viper who just has the time to say:
<Update!>
It’s more than enough: there’s a stream of electricity flowing from Kari and Lily directly to Viper, accompanied by their screams of agony. It’s brief, but it seems to last an eternity.
<Hmm, so much tasty information; I should eat from Myridian brains more often. And the Lampyrian too… usually their heads are so empty it’s worse than eating Chinese, but this one…>
<Since when can you do that?> Kari asks, trying to shake off the electrocution.
<Her brain has the same capacity to absorb information that Noriko has, but she doesn’t have a Nexus. She probably has to feed on other people to retain her intelligence> Lily theorizes.
<How cute, this one thinks she’s smart. Unfortunately I’ve already learned everything you know, so you’re pretty useless to me now> Viper notes, holding a Terror Gun to Lily’s face: based on Noriko’s Genius Gun, but designed to vaporize people.
Lily lifts her wing to hit Viper’s arm, making her miss the target: instead of killing her, it creates a large hole in the wall. Kari takes the opportunity to make her own move: in the blink of an eye, there are twenty duplicates scattered in every direction. Viper and the Oni disintegrate the nearest ones, and by the time they’re finished Lily has disappeared.
<She sent one of her bodies away. Not a bad strategy> Viper concedes.
<Shall I pursue them?> the Oni asks.
<Nah. They’ll try to do something to convince the other Null to come here, and then I’ll have the best meal ever> she says with a smile, playing with the electricity flowing at her fingertips.
In the streets below
The landing isn’t exactly ideal: Lily’s wings and lightweight skeleton aren’t suited to keep two people in the air for long, but she does manage to slow the both of them enough to survive.
<She could send an army of Oni at any minute! Can you use your 10K Rise?> Lily asks.
<No, I need time to recharge. We should lay low for a while> Kari tells her, creating a few duplicates to run into different directions while dragging the Lampyrian towards the nearest alley.
<First we need to find a way to disguise you. Purple hair isn’t common around here.>
<Look who’s talking! How many blue people do you think these people have seen?> Kari asks, barging into the nearest building… where half a dozen Lampyrian women are removing religious artifacts depicting Artemis and replacing them with the rising sun flag of Amaterasu.
<On second thought, I’ve always wanted to see how I look like as a redhead> Kari shrugs.
Hell, 163.000 light-years from Earth
Under a sky permanently on fire, Torn is enjoying his vacation on his planet… in his own way: defending himself in a battle to the death with his wife and two daughters. They have him surrounded with all kinds of weapons made of the same red energy: swords, knives, chain-sickles, nothing seems able to past the two scythes that he’s animating with his mind. They’ve been going at it for nearly three hours when Torn looks away for a moment: just enough for the older daughter, Laceration, to find an opening and throw a spear towards one of his eyes.
<Something’s wrong> Torn says, blocking the spear at the last second by creating two daggers crossed in an X position. Lesion, the younger daughter, stomps the ground angrily at this.
<No fair! Mom, Dad’s cheating, we said to the death!>
<Kids, go back inside> Torn’s wife Agony instructs them, creating a pentagram of fire in the air.
The portal immediately falls out of her control, then collapses into a mass of black smoke and out of it steps a goddess with long violet hair and piercing red eyes.
<So this is Hell, uh? You have no idea how many people have sent me here> she says, evidently not afraid of the four Demons that are ready to cut her to pieces.
<This is neutral ground, Eris, gods are not allowed on Hell. Leave> Torn orders her.
<Oh I am, trust me. Did you find what you were looking for, mom?> Eris asks looking at the sky.
A finger of pure blackness cuts through the clouds of fire that protect Hell, exposing the view of the Olympian Galaxy. Or at least part of it: there’s the silhouette of a woman blocking most of it.
<I cannot sense Zeus in this galaxy either. But you already knew that, didn’t you? You just wanted me to take you to this place. Still, even a Primordial Goddess should keep her word> Nyx admits, vaguely gesturing towards Hell. And with a distracted wave of her hand, all light vanishes: the fire is extinguished, the stars disappear, even the oceans of lava aren’t glowing anymore.
<Father, what just happened? Father?> Laceration asks, without receiving an answer: Torn isn’t on the planet anymore.
Takama, 45,000 light-years from Earth
Torn hits the ground hard, feeling the coldness in his bones to the point of being unable to move a muscle. He can only see the high heeled boots in front of him, until Eris grabs him by the neck and lifts him to face his kidnapper.
<What did you do to Hell, Viper?> Torn asks her, recognizing her soul despite the new look.
<Oh it’s still there, don’t worry. Just closed off to the rest of the universe, thanks to Nyx; I wouldn’t want any of your Demon friends trying to rescue you before I’ve learned what I need.>
<I won’t talk.>
<You’re a man of few words, I know. Fortunately for me, I have other ways to learn, but it might hurt just a little> she says, holding her hands to both sides of his face. Then she chuckles.
<Oh who am I kidding, you’re about to be in excruciating pain. Update!>
Torn screams when the electricity flows through his brain; the light illuminates Viper’s face and the sadistic smile that becomes larger the louder he screams.
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