"I know of no better life purpose than to perish in attempting the great and the impossible."
― Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
"This place has the best food!"
Lyra buried her face in a roasted bird, greased up to her eyes. The day was perfect, spent in the company of friends. Even Fenrir had become more amicable with others, so she no longer fought an internal war.
"The best food is fresher than this, but the spice is nice," Fen sniffed the air. "Something isn't…"
A shadow fell over the city, an unexpected eclipse. Speaker Ant lifted his head, antenna pointed to the skies.
"A great barrier has encircled the city, The colony has dispatched scouts…"
"No need," A heavy voice grumbled. "This is an attack."
Aangor pressed through the crowd, several Guild Masters at his back. Arthur was among them, next to the giant woman named Joan.
"The gods have declared war on all non-believers," Arthur walked to Lyra's side. "We've received the honour of being the first chosen for extermination."
"What about the people…" Lyra glanced at the commoners as they were directed from the streets. "Can we evacuate them?"
"They'll be moved to various locations, including the guild," Arthur ruffled her hair. "Now find Brull and tell him to take you to Avalon, it's the safest place for you both."
"We wish to fight!" Fen snarled, an emotion Lyra shared.
"That's right," Lyra manifested her spear. "We can help!"
"Not this time," Arthur's head shook, a smile under his moustache. "This battle will be beyond you both."
"But…"
"Listen to your Master," Aangor frowned. "An enemy Earth Deity will likely arrive, we'll have no time to babysit."
"Alright," Lyra hung her head, defeated. "But, be careful Master…"
"Hahahaha!" Arthur slapped her shoulder. "Don't worry, apprentice. Sword in hand, no injustice can stand before me!"
"I know… but still, be careful."
"I'll be as careful as my honour allows," Arthur shooed her along. "Now go, remember, straight to Avalon!"
"What should the Colony do," Speaker floundered. "Our warriors have proved ineffective against cultivators…"
"It might be best if the vital members followed Lyra and Brull," Aangor interjected. "Avalon has the space, and Vivian has a soft spot for animalistic races."
"Fine," Arthur nodded. "Tell your people to send your children and leadership to Brull, he can open the way, but hurry!"
Speaker nodded, legs tensed. Lyra sprinted toward the colony, the talkative ant fast on her trail. If she couldn't fight, then she would help others hide.
"I sense my Grandfather," Fen cursed. "He has an avatar outside the cage, watching us…"
"Master killed him once, he'll do it again," Lyra nodded, her worry a stitch that held up her breath.. "You know how strong he is."
"I hope so, little pup," Fenrir gazed at the darkened sky. "I hope so…"
***************************************************
"Who will they send?" Joan turned an eye to Arthur as she cleaned her hammer. "A batch of avatars?"
"The avatars are still restricted to peak Semi-divines," Arthur rubbed a finger on Excalibers pommel. "I bet they'll outsource the work, at least to start with."
"Agreed," Aangor clenched his fists. "First will come the traitors and slaves, then the avatars, if we're lucky."
"If we're not?" Joan placed her hammer aside and went to work on a smaller mace. "I'd prefer to plan something that works regardless of luck."
"Well, if we're unlucky, an Earth Deity squashes us," Arthur shrugged. "It's hard to plan around being totally outclassed."
"I wish Master was here," Rafe faded into existence. "Will the King be joining us?"
"We all miss Master, and the King has plans of his own,"Aangor snorted. "Now, shall we begin?"
The great ape walked into the sky, toward the obsidian barrier. His muscles swelled, every metre he rose granted him double his height. Soon he was large enough to shield the city, a legendary beast that dwarfed mountains.
"Show off…" Rafe slipped after his senior, hidden in his shadow. "We'll see who gets the highest count!"
"It will be me, as always," Joan leapt skyward, battle hammer on her shoulder. "The rest of you lack motivation!"
"We'll see," Arthur walked up after them, hand on his sword. "I feel like today is my day to shine!"
***************************************************
"Come on, let's head home" Ven pounded his head into the sand. "I hate, hate, HATE this place!"
"I think it's nice," The Dragon God basked under the light of the cosmic ocean. "Lots of room and nothing to get in the way."
"You spent the last billion years tied to an altar," Ven rolled his eyes. "Anywhere is a paradise to you…"
"Maybe you're right," The goddess shrugged. "But the sky is pretty!"
"When that asshole lets it peek through the clouds…"
"I give us enough light each day for a healthy body and mind," Cain unearthed himself from below the sands. "I need to rest before I open a path back, it takes a lot of energy and that devil tapped my reserves."
"Fine, but hurry up!" Ven fell back, defeated. "I need to walk around a normal city and do normal things, I need to restock my food supply!"
"Relax, the city's not going anywhere," Cain snorted. "If we try to open a path too soon, we'll end up adrift in the multiverse."
"Better than this stink hole…"
"My house doesn't stink! It smells of metal and ionised air, the first breath of a storm!"
"Electric farts and blood…"
"You two bicker like a married couple," The Dragon God clapped. "It's like watching a play!"
"So glad I could amuse you," Cain dug back under the sand. "Wake me up in a couple of hours, I should be ready to try it by then."
"Sleep well," Ven grumbled, visions of a black coin in his head. "Make sure you don't pick up anything nasty while you're dreaming…"
"You joke, but the two of you value the other," The goddess turned over with a rumble. "He would have died to save you from Dante."
"I know," Ven tilted his head back and took in the stars. "But he's an ass, and I won't let him forget it until he's paid his due!"