- Ash and Sophia -
(Sometime in the future)
As Ash rode the laga through the smoldering battlefield she felt a nagging question in her mind.
"You didn't ask them for healing?"
Sophia traced her fingers across her face. "I don't want them touching me. I know they're not the same as the monsters that tortured me but..."
Ash shrugged. "It's fine, just wondering."
The two didn't speak for a while after that. The further in they rode the more burnt bodies seemed to pile up. The number of staring beings was starting to reduce in number until eventually, the battlefield was just corpses. The expressions on Sophia and Ash's faces started to change. Sophia had a growing worry while Ash had a growing smile.
"We're getting close," Ash said.
Sophia didn't know what to say. With each new pile of corpses, her initial resolve wavered a little more. She still wanted to see one of the gods responsible for her misery killed but she couldn't help the feeling of dread that came with the images she was taking in. On top of that, she barely knew Ash. All she did know was that the woman had freed her and killed her captors, which at the time was enough.
"What do you plan to do after killing Tonatiuh," Sophia couldn't hide her worry.
Ash sighed. She didn't want to tell Sophia the truth because she felt that Sophia wasn't ready to hear it.
"Tonatiuh will be the first," Ash said. "That's as much as I'm willing to say."
- Elijah and Satan -
(Past)
Satan was talking nonstop, "So as you know, demons can see mana which during my mercenary days gave me a huge advantage during contracts. I would wait until night for most of my missions, which is also partially responsible for the title "Lord of Darkness" as I'm sure you've heard me called. So there was this one mission with orcs-"
Elijah's arms sparked and sizzled. "SHUT THE FUCK UP!! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW EXCRUCIATING THIS IS NORMALLY?!"
Elijah turned his head to Satan, who was sitting down in a chair drinking from a chalice. His eyes were filled with anger that practically screamed "I'll shoot you if you say one more word" while Satan just smiled. The demons that were watching the training started passing money around to one another while whispering.
"Lasted a lot longer than I thought," some of the demons whispered.
Satan leaned his cheek on his hand. "If you can't concentrate while I'm telling a story you'll never be able to put that magic into actual practice. Unless maybe you prefer blowing your hand off every time?"
Elijah made a manic chuckle. "You know what? How about you get someone to shoot me in the leg while I'm doing this? That would be preferable!"
"That's the next stage," Satan took a sip from his chalice.
Elijah stared at his hands and then back at Satan. "You can see my emotions right?"
"Mm-hm," Satan nodded.
Elijah went to shoot Satan in the chest but his magic backlashed on him, covering his fingers in burnt cuts.
Satan chuckled. "You want to shoot me, get better. Anger doesn't make you stronger in this world, barring a handful of chaotic exceptions that is."
"I fucking hate you," Elijah mumbled through his pained groans.
"Lots of beings do," Satan took another sip. "Keep training and maybe one day you'll be able to join the line that's waiting to kill me."
- Lucifer and Death's side -
(Present)
"They left, all of them," Death said to the others.
Before anyone could say anything a shockwave went through the palace. The rumblings of multiple explosions shook the ground. The group ran outside to see what was happening.
"What is..." Hades's eyes filled with black and his pupils changed to blue wisps.
The scene in front of the group was far more than any of them had expected. The outside of the palace, and what seemed like the entirety of the Underworld, was in what looked like a full-scale war. The shouts of citizens trying to avoid the conflict filled the air.
Lucifer put his hand out in front of Hades, "Wait!"
Hades shoved Lucifer to the side and sprinted towards the destruction. He was followed by a red-eyed Persephone. The two didn't waste any time in getting to the high ground to observe what exactly was happening. Hades flew up the side of the building while Persephone followed using a growing tree root. As the two looked down on the fighting their anger seethed out of their bodies.
Lucifer looked at Death. "I'll join them. Stay with my team and call Zeus."
Death nodded and Lucifer flew to join Hades and Persephone.
"This is our home, Lucifer," Hades growled. "I'm not-"
"Go crazy," Lucifer interrupted. "If you really care, you'll let me help."
"Lucifer..." Persephone's tone was restrained. "Help as much as you want, just don't get in our way."
Hades and Persephone jumped down the side of the building.
- Thanatos, Poseidon, Chronos -
The three came out of the gate to a snarling Cerberus.
["What are you?"] Chronos said with disgust.
Cerberus whimpered as he took steps back. His legs shook as he attempted to keep up his act of threatening the three.
["No beast threatens me," Chronos lifted his scythe.
Poseidon grabbed the handle of Chronos's scythe. ["L-Let's not waste time on beasts, father,"]
Chronos's eyes shifted from Poseidon to Cerberus. He pulled his scythe out of Poseidon's grip and put the blade underneath his hair. He swiped the scythe up and cut the curtain of hair that had been dragging on the ground. He dragged the scythe as he walked forward.
["Where's the hunter?"] Chronos asked in an annoyed tone. ["The sooner I'm out of this awful place the better."]
- Zeus -
Zeus wiped the blood from his chest and pulled out his echo. "This better be important."
"It's Death," Death said. "There's a large-scale battle happening in the Underworld. Is Olympus okay?"
Zeus looked around at the destruction. The crumbling buildings combined with the minotaur corpses at his feet made him hesitate to answer.
"Zeus..." Death warned.
"I don't know," Zeus begrudged. "I...I don't know."
"I'm helping Hades down here," Death said. "Once things are handled here I'll head up to help," He ended the call.
Zeus's arm fell to his side. He didn't know what to make of this situation. As more cloaked enemies surrounded him, joined by minotaurs that were supposed to be on Zeus's side, he felt a cold chill run through his blood. His arms surged with electricity. His hair rose with static. He pushed his foot into the ground beneath him. In a moment his hands were on the horns of one of the minotaurs. He wrenched his hands to the side, ripping the head off the large being.
"You want me?" he wiped the blood from his chin. "You want my kingdom?" he took a step towards another minotaur. "You want revenge?" he stomped on the chest of the minotaur's corpse. "Whatever it is you want, I assure you," He jumped and slammed the palm of his hand onto the minotaur's face, forcing them to the ground. "you can't afford the cost!"
A bolt shot from Zeus's hand, blowing out the back of the struggling minotaur's skull. Zeus shook his blood-soaked hand to the side, whipping the blood off as he did.