Inari, Darius and Akuro traversed the crater to its lip, Akuro being the first to the top followed by Inari. As she came up, he held his hand out to her. She took it, and as he pulled her up, he noticed her give him a strange look, but he payed it no mind as he turned to help Darius up, who was struggling due to the wound in his shoulder. When they were all at the top, Inari motioned for Darius to sit down.
"I'm fine, really, it's no big deal." Darius complained.
"Shut up, you had a sword stab you in he shoulder, I'm surprised you were able to move at all." Inari held out her hand, Makane materializing at her feet. The fox spirit extended one of her tails, touching it against Darius's shoulder, closing the wound, though his clothes were drenched in blood that was slowly freezing due to the cold. When the wound was healed, Makane returned to Inari and they moved forward down a long hall. The hall had originally been sealed by a stone door, it that had been obliterated by Akuro's attack.
The hallway led straight for some time until it opened up into a small room with five strange slabs of stone protruding from the ground. Despite the cold, vines clung to the stone walls and the stone slabs. Akuro was the first to step forward, approaching the middle slab. As his foot stepped onto the vines they began to illuminate in a faint green-blue glow that spread through the entire room, illuminating it, and then Akuro realized the far wall was not stone, but thick ice. As the vines illuminated the room they also lit up the ice, and Akuro and the others gasped when they saw what was encased in it.
The massive head of a Dragon stared back at them, it's body fading out of sight deeper into the ice. The Dragon had silver and gold scales with six coiling, regal horns and a thin snout. It's eyes were gold and lifeless. The sheer size of the sent shivers through Akuro's body, it was larger than a small house!
"What… in the world…" Darius spoke in awe.
"A Dragon… a real Dragon…" Inari spoke.
Akuro shook his sense of awe, stepping towards the center stone.
"So humans really did ally themselves with Dragons…" Darius observed, his eyes still locked on the beast.
Akuro placed his hand against the stone slab and sent a wave of his aura through his arm and into the headstone. And then his vision went black.
Akuro's surroundings changed to that of a white void, endless and empty.
"Hallo!" Came a child's voice. "What took you? I've been waiting here for you to show up." A child appeared before Akuro then, an innocent smile on his lips.
"Sorry, had some stuff to take care of. So how do we go about this? Do you just bless me or…?"
Mato's face scrunched up. "Kinda?"
"The hell do you mean kinda?"
"Well, I just want you to do one thing for me."
Akuro furrowed his brow. "What would that be exactly?"
"Answer my riddle."
"A riddle? Are you seriously the First Deity? If you ask me you seem like just a kid."
Mato's smile turned to a frown. "You know, I really hate when people underestimate me."
"Then prove to me you are what you say you are."
At that moment Akuro felt an intense pain in his head, his vision becoming blurry and static. The boy that stood before him became hazy, but he could barely make out red eyes, scales and horns, as if the child were half human half Dragon. Then his vision returned to normal, as did Mato.
"Good enough for you?" Mato asked.
"I-"
"Good." Mato didn't even let Akuro finish his sentence. "Now then, if you want my power, you need to answer this riddle; I lie, but at the same time I am never wrong. I give you peace, but I also give you agony. I could be your strength, but I can also be your weakness, what am I?"
Akuro sat, legs crossed in thought as he echoed the riddle in his head. And then it struck him. He glared up at Mato. "Get the fuck out of my head."
The boy's eyes had an edge to them then, they were not the eyes of a child, instead there was a darkness to them, bloody and dangerous. "Sorry, I just wanted to see how sensitive you'd be. But yeah, the answer is-"
"Hope. Now fuck off and give me what I came for. I'm done with your games." Akuro growled.
Mato tilted his head with a frown. "Boo, you're no fun. Oh well, you answered the riddle so I guess it can't be helped. Here ya go!" The boy stepped toward Akuro, then flicked his forehead, snapping him back to reality. He stood once again in the room of vines, his hand on the stone slab.
"Akuro? You good, man?" Darius asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Akuro looked down at his palm where he had touched the stone. 'I don't feel any different..'
"Yeah… I-" at that moment Akuro let out a scream of agony as his own aura lashed back at him in much larger amount than ever before. It was as if every bone in his body was being crushed while at the same time his mind was being shattered. He crumbled to his knees holding his head in pain. He faintly heard Darius and Inari calling his name in concern, but he payed them no mind, the only thing he was able to focus on was the pain.
When the pain faded, Akuro sat on the ground gasping for air, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Akuro? Hello? You good?" Darius asked leaning down in front of him, waving his hand in Akuro's face.
"I… I'm fine." He said.
"What just happened?" Inari said, crouching at his side.
"I saw… some kid… his name was Mato. He said he was the first Deity and he made me answer a riddle in order to get his power."
"So is that what the whole…" Darius waved his hand, "episode was about?"
Akuro nodded, "I think that when I gained Mato's aura it had a lash back. I feel normal now but…" Akuro clenched and unclenched his fists, "I don't know…"
"How'd you even see him?" Inari asked.
Akuro nodded towards the tombstones. "The slabs, they are the graves of the five. Put your aura into one, then you will travel to some sort of… mental space I guess is the best way to put it. The rest… I don't really know."
"Intriguing." Darius spoke, then stepped towards the tombstone to the left of the center, placing his hand on it. A moment later his eyes turned dark and faded. Inari watched intently, studying him.
"He's probably communicating with one of the Origin Deities right now. You should do the same." Akuro said, motioning toward the tombstone to the right of Mato's. Inari looked hesitant, but seemed to make up her mind quickly as she followed Darius's example.
•
•
•
Raijin sat at a large table, about a dozen or so other gods seated around him in the expansive hall. He stroked his beard insolence as the other gods chattered amongst themselves in a soft murmur.
Two large doors swung open as a decorated figure entered the room. The room went silent in God's presence, everyone's eyes on him as he seated himself at the head of the table. He looked around at the gods seated around him for a long moment before finally speaking.
"It would seem…" God spoke, "that the demon king has decided to take action." He laced his fingers together. "He has sent Lilith along with a few other demons to the middle realm, and they have already began their path of destruction. But… this goes in our favor."
"What?" One of the goddesses exclaimed, "In our favor, how? What if another war begins?"
"Quiet, woman. He is not wrong. If Lilith slaughters the humans we will gain so much life essence that a war wouldn't matter, we'd surly win." Sun Wukong spoke from across the table.
"Exactly. But even if that were not the case…" God spoke, "I still wouldn't want to stop them."
A soft hum of chatter began as he spoke these words.
"Why is that, may I ask?" Raijin spoke up.
"Because, to put it simply, our world has become insipid, and I don't quite like it." God smirked, "I want to start a new war."
"What?!" Roared a few of the gods in unison.
"You are kidding right? Why?"
"Because." God answered, "I am bored."
"Are you stupid?" One of the goddesses asked, but then a wave of aura compressed around her body as she was completely erased from existence.
"Anyone else?" God asked, looking from god to goddess. None dared to look him in the eye. "Good."
"So do we just let events take their course then?" A goddess asked.
"Exactly. We will wait thirteen days, in that time Lilith and her demons will wreak havoc and death, empowering us. Then we will descend and kill her."
"We've been waiting a long time for her death." Spoke one of the gods in a brusque tone. "I, Ares, wish to fight her myself."
"No. She is mine." The goddess from before spoke.
"Shut it, Kali." Ares growled.
"Enough." God groaned. "Stop arguing, I don't care who kills Lilith as long as she dies."
"And what of the Deities?" Raijin asked.
God looked over at him. "Whatever happens happens, and if any of them manage to live, I still don't care what happens to them. In reality, the Deities will just be used to weaken or even maybe kill some of the demons, because, without a doubt, Lucifer will be sending more."
"Do we know the reason he is sending demons to the middle realm?" Sun Wukong asked.
"I have a theory. A while ago one of the demon generals surfaced, but was killed."
"One of the generals? Who?"
"Gallatine." God answered.
"Gallatine's dead?!" Ares exclaimed. "How could he have been killed that easily? By the Deities?"
"Yes, by the Deities. I not certain how Gallatine died, all I know is that his soul was shattered…" God glanced over at Raijin. "It is of no concern to us anyways. If Gallatine is dead that just means the enemy will be significantly weaker with the loss of one of their generals."
'So it would seem that snake is using the dagger to his advantage…' Raijin thought, 'But for some reason he has still not killed Akuro… damn him.'
"Does anyone have any complaints with my decision then?" God asked. When no one answered he stood, clapping his hands. "Then this meeting has come to a conclusion. Begin preparations for war immediately, have the gods of the forge get to work making new divine gear and have a group observe the events below. I will be taking my leave now." God turned, exiting the room.
Raijin rose from his seat, approaching Ares as he stood.
"What do you think of his plan?" Raijin asked.
"I think it is well thought out. Why? What do you want Raijin?" Ares responded.
"Well, I feel that we should have a group go to kill the Deities, there is always a chance they turn on us and become a major problem."
"A major problem? Hah! You've grown pathetic in your age, old man, to fear Deities. How sad."
"Do not mock me! I've seen the power of the selected Deities, and if they fight demons then there is a good chance they will become stronger instead of dying, hmm? Do you see what I'm saying?"
Ares stopped walking, turning towards Raijin. "Yes, I do, I see that you are scared, scared of pathetic Deities, but hen again, you always were weak. If they turn on us, they will die, it's as simple as that, now leave me alone before I kill you."
Raijin stopped, letting Ares walk away from him as he balled his fists in frustration. It seemed he was the only one who could see the power of their own creations, all of the other gods had grown overconfident in their own power. And now they underestimated the enemy.
"Fools!" Raijin spat.