My eyes were blinded by the immensely white surroundings, as if I had been transported into a blank canvas, with me as the ink, staining the empty world.
I felt my body disperse and compact as I floated listlessly across the space, it was an unusual feeling.
My body was being torn to shreds, vaporised, disintegrated and then reformed all at once. The process was a painless one, but it did have some effect on my psyche.
I inspected the changes and discovered that my mind was pervaded with an unexpected presence; the Call of the Void, also known as Eris's Whispers.
It muttered softly in my ears like the devil of the tales I have heard from several of my Aesir friends, stories of devils sending those who listened to them, stray away from their paths; spiraling into the pits of madness.
To a normal human this was definitely enough to transform them into a demon, but not me. These nihilistic thoughts would not affect the regular Arch-wizard or Sorcerer, or any experienced mage for that matter.
And I am far from ordinary, despite having been encased in a thick, slimy membrane that defended against all radiation and harmful auras, I wasn't that useless even with the fact that I was stewing in my own filth and was exhausted.
Travelling across dimensions was very strenuous on the mind, and since I was in an incorporeal form right now, I had no way to move due to the lack of motor functions.
The space was similar to the Land of Nod that I had toured with Sandman and Hypnos a few hundred years back; I recalled Morpheus being furious that I stole his Dream Mist.
I laughed at that thought; I was reminiscing happily of my time in Terra Deorum; Land Of The Gods.
The times before Ragnarok stormed in, the day war destroyed all that I cared for. My eyes stung, my tearless soul drifting in sadness.
It was lonely and depressing. As the days passed, I had lost count of the time; unknowledgeable of the changes that had occurred over the years.
I was curious to what had happened. Did my father ever stop Mordred from rising? Was Thor killed subsequently due to his foolish actions?
Did Zeus ever get usurped by his children as his ancestors had done? The questions brimmed my mind, my body tingling in a sort of inquisitive mood.
The feeling of wanting to know was in the blood of all Wizards; well in actuality I was a Sorcerer and a Gift Bearer, so I had no reason to learn magic to cast spells as my father did.
But, as the son of the greatest Wizard and knowledge seeker alive; I guess you could say I had learnt a thing or two from him.
While I was proudly grinning inwardly about my father, I stopped, for I had discovered a strange presence.
It was unlike the Call of the Void that mortals succumb to every waking moment, but a magnetic force that deemed all powers useless before it.
"This is the power of a God? But... how?" I managed to croak out a few words, my voice raspy from being deprived of water, in addition to having been muffled under the layers of ooze and thick slime.
The force grew stronger, pulling me in with barely a fraction of its true might. Powerful as I was previously, I could not handle the true attestation of the laws of the universe in my current condition.
So, I was helpless before this grand and majestic existence. It was pitiful of the last Demigod to be in such a state, but rather than resisting; I embraced the attractive force.
This power could and would not harm me in any way, I knew that much from how peaceful its nature was.
In fact, I speculated just the moment I witnessed it pulling in everything in its wake; about its true identity.
In conclusion, I came to an inference that it was the Law of Reincarnation in effect.
And I was correct, so the me currently that was bereft of all relations, would now start anew, perhaps in a fantastical new land.
Or be bought back to my old time, "Ooh, I hope I reincarnate in the Greek Pantheon. Apollo would most definitely like this." I giggled, thinking of all the inanities I would do to him before we tried to kill each other once more.
Then, a lingering thought sprouted in my head, an image of a flashing bolt of light and heat. I shivered as I recalled the lethal might it held.
"On second thought, I don't think I should go to Zeus's Pantheon. Hell, even the Norse Pantheon would be better than that debaucher's council." As I was in the midst of reincarnation, I no longer restrained myself from insulting the Sky Lord.
After all, I was a Storm Mage, meaning I directly fell under any wind, air, lightning and anyone who holds dominion over the Sky.
Nut and Shu being one of my more favorable patrons, of course due to this direct relationship to the sky, I also have to deal with the incarnations of the Sun, (and sometimes the moon).
My least favorite Sun incarnations would probably be the solar deities of Aztec, Maya and overall many of the American Pantheons that sacrificed others for 'nourishment.'
Now, granted, sacrifices were technically necessary for them to live and despite the fact that they had many other ways to preserve their own lives, sacrificing humans was the only viable option for them at the moment.
So, sacrificing it was. Although the practices did stop after the fall of their respective civilizations, but it was enough for them to travel back to the 'Place Where Heaven Is Held' or as the Ancient Greeks call it; the 'island of Atlas.'
As I was amusing myself with a particular memory, a blinding beacon of light shone on me, whitening my entire field of vision.
Closing my eyes momentarily, I then opened them blinking rapidly whilst adjusting my sight to the scene before me.
"Strange." I muttered, cautious of my surroundings.
...
On a desolate battlefield with fragments of weapons and armor strewn across its landscape, unending flames danced as it burnt the natural surroundings.
One man stood alone, cloaked in black, sporting a light armor of gold. He knelt down, his body bloodied and bruised.
Rivulets of sweat and blood dropped down his handsome face, mouth contorted into a scornful expression.
His near crimson-red hair was frayed, in tune with his apprehensive and wrathful face. "Merlin you old fool. What have you done?!"
His emerald green eyes glowed, flickering slightly before it dimmed completely. The man was too harmed, injured greatly by his enemy.
Robed in a dark cloak, Merlin's breath was bated. He was exhausted to the point that the dull blue sheen on his cloak started to recede, the stars on it winking out of existence.
This signaled the end of the war, but the start of a new era. "You- Impossible! All of you gathered just to defeat me?!" Loki screamed vehemently, he was furious that they went against the prophecy.
"Times have changed young godling, and so has the future." Three decrepit old women shrouded in a black mist materialized out of thin air.
Although they were discreet, a few perceptive ones on the battlefield discovered their presence, "The Moirai!" A nature spirit exclaimed out loud, catching the attention of all the others.
"All beings of great power, near and far. Listen to our decree!" The shouts had stopped all divine entities in their tracks, they were curious on to what was to happen.
"By the authority of Chaos, Gaia, Zeus, Cronus, Chronos and many others. We have all decided to leave the future in the hands of the Storm Mage; son of the Great Wizard Merlin." The three choral voices resounded across the universe. Imposingly announcing the decision of the High Gods.
They then turned to the red haired god and said, "In the name of Odin, Leader of the Norse Pantheon. We revoke your rights to Godhood."
"I; Zeus renounce my rights to Godhood."
"As shall we, the entirety of the Ennead."
"All Immortals, Taoists and Gods of Huaxia renounce our rights."
"The Pantheon of Nihon renounces!"
Every being in every corner of the known ultiverse, no matter how far they were, had heard these stunning proclamations.
They were so inspired by them that it spurred them to do the same. The encouragement of all the High Gods led to this, until no deity was left.
Be they spirit or materialized, they all relinquished their divinity. This complete rejection of power was a terrifying thought that would typically bring them into a panic, but now they had no choice.
With the utter destruction of an ancient era, came ruin for all those who renounced or had been revoked of their rights to Godhood.
All for the sake of the Storm Mage. Their final heir, "Hah, I guess he won this war. Good for him." The trickster god smiled. Seeing his comrades and adversaries dispersing in the wind, Loki finally let go of his own grudges.
His essence swaying in the breeze, awaiting for his arch rival to find him. "See you soon, old friend."
"May we meet again, my son." Merlin whispered amidst all the other farewells, all of them hoping to be taken to the future.