Beyond The Impossible

Ekron, Dark Galaxy, 10 billion light-years from Earth

Nobody on this planet has seen a sunset in ages: until today, a thick layer of Ichor covered the sky.

As a Demon born in Hell, Reaper also grew up without ever seeing his planet’s sun, permanently obscured by the fire clouds of Blood.

Now, as he kneels over the ice sheet of Ekron’s north pole, he regrets acknowledging that the last day of his life will be under a twilight that feels inherently alien to him.

His son Torn emerges from a triangular Aether portal, wielding a sword made of crystalline emerald; Reaper recognizes the material as what used to constitute the Emerald Throne of Ekron.

<You couldn’t just ruin our family and desecrate Hell’s traditions. You also had to defile this world too.> Reaper tells him, being very deliberate in not looking at Torn in the eye.

<You are the one who ruined our family, father, by feeding into my sister’s bloodlust. By abandoning my mother and me. All just to pledge allegiance to a god, the one thing no true Demon has ever done.> Torn replies, paying attention to his father’s soul.

His connection to both Ichor and Blood is currently inert, but he wouldn’t put past a former general of the armies of Hell to attack him regardless… and yet, his soul remains static.

<We could have taken out Baal together, son. This galaxy would have been ours for the taking, and our home would have been next… we could have made Hell great again. Instead, you sold your allegiance to inferior aliens.>

<You are deluded, father. You saw with your own eyes what abandoning Hell’s neutrality has achieved. Null would never have gained access to Ichor without my teachings about the Blood, and I could never have discovered Aether without Quantum.> Torn adds, with the emerald blade now surrounded by the white fire of Aether.

<And you won’t use this power to further the glory of Hell?> Reaper asks.

<Acting like gods would only cost Demons their souls. In your case, it will cost you your life.> Torn answers, raising the sword.

<I did swear I would kill you today. And unlike you, father, I honor my vows.>

<Then I take solace in the knowledge that I taught you at least one thing right.>

<Indeed. Do you have any last words?> Torn asks, placing the sword next to Reaper’s neck.

<Yes. The soul of a true Demon is…> Reaper proudly begins to declare, but he doesn’t get to finish the sentence when his son decapitates him.

The severed head rolls over the ice sheet, and his body slumps over.

<I did not say you could speak them.> Torn clarifies to the corpse, opening a portal into the nearest magma chamber when his father’s body will be disposed of, as per Demon traditional practices.

 

Palace of Darkness, hours later

Max Black a.k.a. Quantum tried to get some sleep, but even the exhausting fight of the previous day is not enough to allow him to relax when staying at the Palace.

After wandering across its hall, all empty now that the Ekronians have been expelled from the building, he finally decides to check on his boss.

He does find Noriko Null in one of the countless chambers, talking to Persephone of all people.

The room is illuminated by candlelight, to which Quantum adds the light generated by transmuting a few milligrams of his skin into photons.

<Haven’t these people heard of lightbulbs?> he wonders.

<Have you heard about minding your f##king business, s##tface?> Persephone snaps at him, with her typical charming personality while spilling some of the wine from the goblet in her hand.

<Where did she get that? You better not be drinking.> Quantum tells Noriko, carefully looking around: fortunately, there is no glass for his boss to drink anything.

<Relax, it’s a gift from Dionysus. I didn’t touch the stuff, but it makes Persephone more… agreeable.> Noriko replies.

<Is he bothering you? I can shoot a nuclear blast up his a## if…>

<Yeah, “agreeable”.> Quantum comments.

<Everything’s fine, Persephone. You remember Quantum, right? He’s half the reason why I was able to kill Baal.

>

<C’mon, you can’t expect me to remember ALL the goatf##kers I meet. But if you’re cool with the Skullf##ker Of Gods here, you’re cool with me.> Persephone concedes, taking a big sip of wine.

<Is she drunk?> Quantum whispers to Noriko.

<Tipsy at best. Why are you here?> she whispers back.

<To make sure you don’t do anything dumb, I guess.>

<I don’t need your supervision to…>

<Hey! If this is some weird mortal s##t, I’m sure Aphrodite’s having an orgy somewhere. I’m not into mortals, so take this somewhere else.> Persephone interrupts them.

<This concerns you too, Persephone. I learned from Baal that Athena has taken over the Olympian Galaxy and deposed me as Mortal Empress.> Noriko returns to the reason for this secret meeting.

<Yeah, well, sucks to be you.>

<As a daughter of Zeus, you’re a potential rival to Athena. She will go after you, even if it was just to avoid anyone from organizing a rebellion in your name.>

<So? I don’t care for the living and I take care of myself.>

<She could get you by attacking Hades. It’s only a matter of time before Athena discovers how to access the pocket dimension where I’ve imprisoned him, and in his weakened state…>

<…he’s still god enough to kick that c#nt into the nearest black hole.>

<You don’t even care that to steal the throne Athena killed Hebe? She was your half-sister!>

<And I give half a f#ck about that. Is that all? Because I’m almost out of wine, and that was the only reason I agreed to talk.>

<Persephone, I feel like you’re not grasping the scale of this. If you don’t help the resistance against Athena…> Noriko makes another attempt to connect.

<…she will call you a loser.> Quantum interrupts.

<She will WHAT???> Persephone exclaims, dropping the goblet of wine.

<Well you’ve lost your empire, so the longer Athena stays on her shiny new throne the more she’ll believe you ain’t s##t next to her.> Quantum explains.

<That UNF##KABLE C#NT!? Better than ME!? The Motherf##king Queen Of The Underworld!?> Persephone shouts loudly, her body engulfed in bright green energy that expands enough to vaporize the table she’s sitting at.

Noriko’s forcefield protects her long enough to step away, but one second too late and she might have been incinerated.

<How did you know that would work!?> Noriko asks Quantum.

<You didn’t grow up with any siblings, did you?> he asks back.

<I will ###### her f##king c##t with a #### while ####### her ### in a ####!!! Where’s our f##king army!?> Persephone excitedly asks.

<Right attitude, Persephone, but tone it down. Rushing in with a head-on assault is the one thing Athena is 100% prepared to deal with. This will take planning and patience.>

<F##k your patience, I’m gonna do it myself if I have to…>

<PERSEPHONE.> Noriko stops her temper tantrum, raising her voice when her silver eyes shine; Quantum notices the goddess’ energy visibly decreasing in intensity.

<I’ve already taken the entire Olympian system down ONCE. I am the only one who can do it again: you will follow my lead, you will listen to my orders, and you will BEHAVE. I don’t have the patience to deal with your s#it right now. I ripped a Primordial God in half with my hands today and you… DO NOT… want to piss me off right now. Do we understand each other?>

For a moment, Quantum fears she’s about to kill Persephone on the spot. She might fear it too.

<Whatever. If you don’t have an army for me, what do you need?>

Quantum breathes a sigh of relief; Noriko sends a message through the Soul Relay, and Torn appears out of a triangle portal handing over a crystalline sword.

<This is the Emerald Sword; it’s currently entangled with all the remaining Ichor. You can use it to give the Ekronians their powers back.> Noriko explains, presenting the sword.

<Why is there blood on it?> Persephone asks, examining the blade.

<It’s my father’s. I just decapitated him.> Torn explains.

<Dude, I’m so sorry.> Quantum empathizes, placing his hand on his friend’s shoulder.

<For what?> the Demon asks.

<I’m sorry that you had to kill your father.>

<Why? He was a Demon supremacist and a traitor.>

<Well, yeah, but still…>

<Do not worry, I will assist you into killing your own father.> Torn reassures him.

<Why do you want to kill your dad?> Noriko asks Quantum, raising an eyebrow.

<I don’t! He’s a racist a##hole, but I don’t want him dead!> the human defends himself.

<How can an a##hole be racist?> the Demon wonders, genuinely confused.

<Why would I give the Ekronians their powers back?> Persephone asks, still examining the sword.

<Because I know Athena can’t defend herself against Ichor; I learned that when Ereshkigal sent her agents on Earth. They will be a powerful army, with you in charge: unlike the Demons of Hell, the ones on Ekron clearly don’t have problems swearing allegiance to a deity.> Noriko explains.

<You’re… giving me a Galaxy to rule? You, the Slayer of Gods!?> Persephone exclaims.

<I’m giving you a Galaxy to keep in check. It will be up to the Ekronians to decide whether they will keep you or not… after we have deposed Athena.> Noriko explains.

<You mean they don’t get a say in this now?> Quantum asks.

<They pledged allegiance to a god of suffering. They don’t get to lecture anyone on what’s best for them. But also: Persephone, if I find out that you’re oppressing them, or if you don’t relinquish power after Athena has fallen…>

<I accept. Make me a Queen again.> Persephone says, kneeling before Null and holding up the sword. Only now Quantum notices she stopped swearing after Noriko raised her voice.

<No more royals. Persephone, daughter of Zeus, in my role as Regent of Hell and by right of conquest, I hereby confer to you the title of First Consul Of The Dark Galaxy. You will administer this Galaxy in my absence and serve at my pleasure.> Noriko declares, gently placing the sword on each of Persephone’s shoulders as if knighting her.

<Close enough. This will be fun.> the goddess smiles.

 

One of the palace’s bedchambers

Vesta stands in front of the king-sized bed where Zeus has been laying since he lost his battle with Baal. Under the covers, he hasn’t moved a muscle and he’s not breathing.

<You think that’s fooling anyone?> Vesta asks, nervously tapping her foot.

<It used to fool our mom.> Zeus answers to his sister, stretching his muscles as he sits on the bed.

<Mom’s IQ is room temperature in winter. Did you even really lose to Baal?>

<Believe it or not but yes, he did manage to knock me out. For about thirty seconds, but that’s the closest anyone’s kicked my butt since Typhon. Well, without my consent anyway.>

<Then why let Noriko risk her life?>

<Because I was sincere with her: despite all my power, I could not kill Baal. I suspected she might, so I gave her time to do her miracle.>

<I can’t say I’m surprised. Did you hear about what Athena has done?>

<I have. And I suppose you want me to do something about it?>

<Suppose!? She killed Hebe! Your daughter, Zeus! Yes, I want you to do something!!!>

<Like what?>

The fact that Vesta might be the kindest goddess of the universe, and the fact that she knows her brother is invulnerable to anything, are the only reasons why her hands are not on his throat now.

<What do you mean “like what”!?>

<Athena is my daughter too. You want me to take sides?>

<YES!!!>

<Athena would get mad at me if I took away her new kingdom, she’s worked so hard to get it. You know I could never stand watching her get upset.>

<I can’t believe what I’m hearing. You’re willing to ignore murder and betrayal!?>

<Look Vesta, we both know I was a terrible king, right? Took me a while to understand, granted, but I’ve learned it’s not my role.>

<Just help us restore Noriko to the throne then!>

<Vesta… you are the most honest goddess I know. Well, actually Aphrodite is probably even more honest, but you actually use your brain. Look me in the eye and tell me sincerely that you truly believe Null is the best person to sit on the throne of Olympus.>

<She’s… better than any other alternative.> Vesta hesitates.

<Let’s just give Athena a chance. Just a century or two, to see how she’s doing, and if it’s not working out we can gently ask her to get a mortal on the throne.>

<Oh my Gaea, I just can’t with you. Just pick a side, Zeus, you can’t live your immortal life constantly dodging responsibility!!! You can either take Athena’s side, or Noriko’s… and mine. You don’t get to be neutral in this.>

<I’m afraid that is exactly what I’m going to be, Vesta. Don’t look for me… I’ll check on you when things calm down.> Zeus tells her, transforming into a bolt of lightning that shoots into the sky.

Vesta gives an exasperated sigh, sitting on the bed… she didn’t think her family would STILL find new ways to disappoint her.