Beyond The Impossible

Argos, 100 light-years from Earth
Sitting on the stairs of the plaza leading to the Mortal Senate, Max Black a.k.a. Quantum is too absorbed into his N-Phone to really notice the eerie scene around him: there are no civilians anywhere to be seen.

<Do you even get reception here?> Kari Zel asks him.

<Uh? Oh, I was just flipping through some games.>

<Really? We’re in a war that could change the shape of the Galaxy, we’re here to defend the primary target, the greatest bastion of democracy in the sector… and you’re playing games?> she asks incredulous.

The only other person brave enough to stay outside, Torn, is the one to comment:

<The shape of the Galaxy is going to stay the same no matter what.>

<Are you killing me? If Argos falls then the Mortal Republic falls, and it’ll be too late to stop Hera from taking over. Billions of people are going to die if we don’t protect the Senate!> Kari spells out.

<Yes. But the shape of the Galaxy will still remain a spiral.> Torn insists, missing the point.

<Guys, as second-in-command of the Vanguard…>

<Here we go again.> Quantum sighs.

<…I don’t think you’re taking this seriously enough! We’re under siege, remember!? Look, there’s a ship moving through the first line of defense!> Kari informs them, pointing at the sky: a ship did just fly below the clouds, threatening to crash on the city below.

And it would cause an enormous amount of damage, if Vesta didn’t fly under it and lift it back towards space before it can hurt anyone.

<See? Vesta’s got this.> Quantum shrugs.

<Well yeah, but…>

<Noriko had Dionysus use his powers to make the entire enemy fleet drunk off its #ss, okay? There’s like a million ships from the Mortal Fleet taking care of it, Vesta can pick up what’s left.>

<What’s gotten into you, Max? You sound like you don’t want to be here.>

<Do you, Kari? When was the last time Noriko gave us anything important to do? At this point she has like half a dozen gods working for her. We’re just an accessory.> he replies.

<Look, I like the idea that she has people like Hermes and Dionysus working for her even less than you, believe me. But the more hands we have to throw at this the better, right? Besides, you managed to convince Noriko to tell us the plan this time!!!> Kari reminds him.

“Because I know she was the one to assassinate Aura. And now, very conveniently, her plans no longer have any of the Vanguard in a vital role.” Quantum thinks, keeping his thoughts to himself; he has his doubts on Noriko’s state of mind, but he won’t risk breaking up the Vanguard.

<As strange as it sounds, for once Quantum is right.> Torn adds.

<Thanks for the… hey, wait a minute!> his teammate replies, ignored by the Demon.

<Our presence here is a waste. Defending this planet requires less resources.> Torn concludes.

<Oh Gods, here we go.> Kari sighs, rolling her eyes.

<You just had to ruin it, Torn, didn’t you?> Quantum asks.

<What? What did I say?>

<You basically said “This is easy”. I must’ve told a you a thousand times! You never, ever, EVER say “This is easy” during a mission!!!> Quantum chastises him.

<Why?>

As if to provide a direct response, the ground shakes violently. Right in front of the Mortal Senate, a column of black energy emerges from the ground; the size of a small building, it twists and turns until it takes the shape of a gigantic energy snake… and a woman surrounded by glowing purple energy emerges from its head.

<Never let mortals do the job of a goddess. Hera will reward me greatly for delivering her the Mortal Republic!> Lilith says, as the goddess formally known as Eris generates more snakes to attack the Vanguard.

Quantum and Kari slowly turn towards Torn, giving him a stern look.

<Oh. That’s why.> Torn realizes.

 

Boreas, 30.000 light-years from Earth

Kylon watches in disbelief as Noriko Null sits on the throne of the Winter Kingdom, already interfaced with the palace’s internal systems and carrying herself as if she was born for this.

<First order of business, tell the Winter Fleet to stand down. We’re not invading anyone today.>

<Yes, Your Majesty.> the Minister Of War answers.

<Second, don’t call me that. I am Null.>

<Yes, Lady Null.>

<Third, I’m sending an official message to the Mortal Republic to signal the end of hostilities; they’ll help protecting the Kingdom in case Hera’s forces try something stupid.>

<Speaking of which, why is she still here?> Kylon asks, looking at the person that five minutes ago was the Ice Queen. Leiko Tanaka is laying in the arms of Aphrodite, unconsciously sleeping after her body was utterly overwhelmed by the powers of the goddess of pleasure.

<We’re just cuddling.> Aphrodite replies, running her hand through Leiko’s hair.

<I’ve disabled her Eternal Winter device: she’s harmless. I don’t want my first act as the new Ice Queen to be the execution of a defenseless woman: the Lar are going to have a hard time accepting me… almost as much as I’m having trouble accepting it myself, I guess.> Noriko answers.

<Sorry. Not good enough for me.> Kylon replies, drawing his gun and firing at Leiko without a hint of hesitation… but instead of a plasma blast, the weapon emits only rose petals.

<I said we’re cuddling.> Aphrodite answers. For a couple of seconds her green eyes turn bright red, sending shivers of terror down Kylon’s spine.

<She can’t get away with this, Noriko.> he tells the new Queen, putting away his gun.

<She won’t. Trust me, Kylon, Leiko is going to get what she deserves. They all will.>

<“All”? What are you talking about?>

Noriko doesn’t answer, but the half smile forming on her face scares Kylon more than the angry death glare of a goddess.

 

Argos, 100 light-years from Earth
Lilith floats above the city, keeping her arms crossed. The purple and black energy around her pulsates as it keeps generating new tendrils in the shape of dozens, then hundreds of snakes.

<I feel really good about myself right now.> she gloats.

Stealing the power of the Egyptian god-monster Apophis from Nephthys was the best thing she ever did: she doesn’t even need to lift a finger to fight the Vanguard, Apophis does everything for her.

Quantum keeps changing from one type of energy to another, throwing anything at the snakes… lasers, electricity, gamma rays, Apophis eats through anything and keeps chasing him even when he moves at the speed of light.

Torn is unleashing more and more Blood swords from every direction, even throwing some at Lilith; Apophis either catches them in its mouths, or if he destroys a snake two more come into existence.

Lilith almost pities Kari: all the Myridian can do is just to create new duplicates of herself to replace those eaten by Apophis. No amount of martial arts is going to do anything to a snake that eats stars.

<It’s the simple things in life, you know. I could’ve used Apophis to eat Earth’s Sun months ago, but what satisfaction would that have brought me? I should be past such petty grudges… I work with the Nine Gods, you know. I am a being of cosmic royalty! But, I have to admit, there is a certain amount of satisfaction watching you squirm as you face the inevitable.>

<Yeah, not killing the Vanguard when you had the chance is probably the dumbest thing you’ve ever done.>

The comment comes right above Lilith: Vesta is slowly descending from the sky.

<That or the silly voice you’re using. Do you know how ridiculous you sound?>

<Brave words from a minor goddess addressing her superior. You’ve had your fun in our little skirmishes during your exile, Hestia, when I was powerless. But now I am so far above you that it’s not even funny!>

<It is kind of funny. Because all of your power comes from Apophis… without it, you are barely a Class-4 goddess.>

<Ooh, let me guess, you’re trying to goad me into fighting you with my own power? Nice try, auntie, but you’re talking to the one who invented the concept of scheming. It won’t work on me.>

<You’re not fighting only me, Eris. You’re fighting the Vanguard.>

<And you think that’s a fight!? I have the Devourer Of Infinite Stars!!!>

<We have war herself.>

A pentagram of fire appears behind Lilith; she’s prepared to block an assault from Torn, but instead a very angry Enyo emerges… and the Goddess Of War screams at her:

<ERIS!!!>

Enyo’s sonic blast is powerful enough to shake a continent, and its power is entirely focused on Lilith. She has to retract the power of Apophis back to herself; it’s only a few seconds, but it’s enough for the Portal Generator to latch on its target.

 

M80 Globular Cluster, 32,600 light-years from Earth

Lilith is momentarily disoriented: she’s not used to being teleported against her will. She’s not even entirely sure of where she is: just that she’s in space and that she’s surrounded by stars.

M80 is the Earth name for the cluster, but there isn’t a consensus among the inhabitants of the Olympian Galaxy on its name: it’s a cluster of hundreds of thousands of stars, meaning it’s impossible to navigate or to really survive here.

This is less of a problem for a goddess, and for her case in particular.

<Am I supposed to be intimidated? Apophis eats stars, you morons! I’m more powerful here than anywhere else in this blasted galaxy!!!>

<Good for you. HELLFIRE INFERNO!!!> Vesta replies; her body catches fire as her own divine powers skyrocket, with the Blood energy of Hell itself now flowing through her veins.

The last time she went all out with this power, she fought Apollo to a standstill as he was throwing hypernovae at her face: there are few being in the universe capable of fighting her at her best.

Apophis eats the repeated blasts of billion-degree plasma like it was an appetizer, and Lilith laughs.

<Oh, this is hilarious!>

<SHUT UP!!!> Enyo shouts at her. Even in space, she’s capable of channeling her powers into a sonic blast: there’s enough molecular clouds left behind by the enormous nebula that permeates the globular cluster to transmit some sound. And when you can scream loud enough to reduce planets to rubble, even a tiny portion of it is devastating.

Unless your target is Apophis: the physical body it’s manifesting shakes violently, but it’s still enough to reach Enyo and trap her in its jaws.

Quantum is not faring any better: just like Vesta he’s using the Soul Fusion technique to boost his powers with the Blood, but all he can use it for is transmute the gas around him into anti-matter to then shoot at Apophis… who just banquets with the resulting explosions.

<Well this is just pathetic. As entertaining as crushing you is, I fear there’s no more enjoyment to be had from this fight.>

<I disagree.> Kari Zel replies while coming out of a pentagram portal. Protected from the rigors of space by the Survival Field emitted by her belt, she kicks Lilith in the face with her strength increased by a factor of 10 thousand… a strike that, much to her surprise, the goddess feels.

<That hurt! Why did that hurt!?> she wonders, gesturing towards Kari to send another snake at her… but nothing happens. Except she notices there’s now a weird device attached to her wrist.

<First rule of fighting a Myridian: always assume there are more.> a second Kari instructs her; Lilith didn’t even notice she was behind her, or that she attacked the device while the first one was kicking her.

<Cute. But if you think this will be more than a minor… why isn’t it coming off!?> Lilith complains: no matter how hard she tries, she can’t break the device off her arm.

<Did you seriously think Noriko Null wouldn’t be ready for you? We’ve had this plan ready for months. That thing you’re wearing? A new version of the God Restrain… your connection to Apophis just got severed!>

To Lilith’s despair, she watches the many serpents disengage from the various fights: as soon as the Vanguard stops creating new things for Apophis to eat, it loses interest.

<What are you waiting for, you stupid snake!? EAT THEM!!!>

<Sorry, we’re not on the menu anymore.> Kari replies, as Apophis flies away to begin eating one star of the globular cluster after the other.

<The key was overstretching your control of Apophis over multiple opponents, long enough to lower your guard and let Kari use the God Restrain.> Vesta says, approaching her own opponent with her own body still engulfed in flames.

<Should we settle who is the superior goddess NOW, Lilith? Or should I say Eris?>

<You wouldn’t DARE to lay a hand on…>

Vesta punches her in the face before she can finish: she doesn’t have to hold back, because even if she hits with enough strength to pulverize concrete the result for Eris is a broken nose and a loss of consciousness.

<I feel really good about myself right now.> Vesta admits.