*God Realm - Throne Room*
The figures of light representing the Gods stood above their corresponding fish in the reflection pool. Even though the God realm was their home, they sometimes ventured off to handle business elsewhere or were simply too busy to attend in person. So, this was a means of compromise for them all including the King of the Heavens.
However, there was one fish still swimming around in the pool.
"Does anyone know the meaning of yet another emergency summons?" One of them asked.
"I'm not sure. We used to have one of these once every turn of the century or so, but now we've had two in this week alone." Another answered.
The lone fish zoomed through the middle of the other fish as they stood upright projecting the Gods as expected.
"Hm? Isn't that Conquest's fish?" A God asked.
The spirit avatar of the King presented itself in glowing fashion as usual upon the seat of the throne. The other Gods abandoned the conversation and turned their attention to their sovereign leader.
"Gods of Heaven, it appears we have yet another problem on our hands."
"Sir?"
The King shifted his glance to the fish enjoying itself in the pool. "Conquest has gone missing."
"What?!" One of the Gods spoke up. The voice belonged to that of the God of War. "Missing? For how long, my King?"
"Calm yourself," said the King, "we know exactly where he went. Which is part of the problem."
All the Gods stayed silent as they mulled over their King's words.
"....he's on Earth, isn't he?" War said in a low tone.
"He has betrayed orders and made a mockery of the very station he holds." The King said with clear disdain in his voice. "His archangel was defeated and he used a Divine Breach to take matters into his own hands."
War went silent for a moment. "But, sir, with all due respect...we all know how Conquest does things and the way he treats his connection to the One Core. If he went down there personally, despite tradition, then those slayers must be something more troublesome than suspected! He'll need our help."
"Are you saying that Conquest calls the shots now, War?"
"Not at all, sir!"
"Then you should realize that the only reason that someone alters the rules on their own is on MY reasoning! We do not participate in wars. Gods are not meant to be foot soldiers. That's why you all have your own fleets of angels as well as your archangels and seraphs. By stepping foot in their realm, it is showing that we see ourselves as equals. They are not worthy of setting eyes upon the highest authority in the known universe. I thought you would've learned that the LAST time when you attempted this, War."
War didn't respond this time as he knew that he was already on thin ice. He had invaded the human realm not long ago himself when the news of slayers first appeared.
"I will not pull Conquest back nor will he be provided with aid. He is more than enough to handle this species. When he returns, we will discuss the possibility of finding a new recipient of the God of Conquest title. I will not have disobedience within our own ranks.
*Crimson City - Half Destroyed*
The creature scanned the ground for Axel but he was nowhere to be found.
"Show yourself slayer!!!! I will crush your core with my own hands!" The heads whipped around in search of him in the burning wreckage of a city. If Gods had just one weakness, it was that they couldn't sense other unholy/holy energies when using their Beast of Apocalypse as a proxy. So they were shooting in the dark if they lost track of something.
Axel had already begun his ascent in the air using Putrid Wings to give himself a boost up to the back of the creature.
"Explain to me why I can't just chop his legs off to bring him down to my level? Seems like the easiest way to bring down a God if you ask me." Axel said as he rocketed up through the air. The back of the beast was the shortest part to reach, but even that stood above any of the buildings in the city.
< Because this is not actually the God itself....as I've already explained. >
"Wait, WHAT? Then why the hell am I wasting time with this thing??"
< AGAIN, this is known as a Beast of Apocalypse. At the beginning of creation of all that you know- >
"Pleaseeee don't give me a history lesson. I need cliff notes here!" Axel moaned.
< Um. Okay. A Beast of Apocalypse is a proxy used by the Gods to enact total annihilation when it is deemed necessary. It is unheard of for a God to leave the God Realm in their physical body, so they use these beasts instead. However, during that time...the God enters a type of pocket dimension where they are both in our realm and not. Since the God realm is unreachable by normal means, the only way to find the God in question is to find the entrance to their particular realm via the connection on the beast itself. >
"Sounds easy enough." Axel finally reached the required height, having had to use Putrid Wings multiple times to reach it.
Axel fell towards the very tail end of the beast so that he can begin his search for this connection to the pocket dimension.
Right before his feet touched the beast, he activated yet another ability:
< Activate ability: Spirit Step >
A bluish energy enveloped his feet and formed as a layer beneath his feet - the moment they touched the back of the beast, Axel disappeared from sight. Spirit Step allowed him to move at much greater speeds for a short interval of time. He was currently moving faster than the eye could track as he bolted across the back of the beast.
"What does this connection look like?" Axel asked.
< Look for a glowing spot. It will not be very large. >
Axel grinned. "All the more fun!"
"You think you can hide from me? This city shall burn along with the rest of the world as decreed by our King."
The beast released streams of fire from all three mouths in several directions. The city had become akin to a large bonfire with very few parts still untouched by the God's wrath.
Axel ran along the length of the beast's back as he used his Celestial Vision to search for any energy sources on the beast that might be the connection point. Doing this also showed him how truly massive the energy within this Beast of Apocalypse was. It was almost otherworldly compared to anything he's seen up to this point. Which made him even more excited.
If the beast has this much energy, then what will the actual God be like?? Axel thought gleefully.
As if it felt a prickle on its back, one of the heads suddenly turned around to check behind it. It stared for a moment as its eyes shifted from left to right and back again. Since it couldn't actually sense his energy, Axel's current high speed allowed him to practically be invisible.
Coincidentally enough, though this was when Spirit Step decided to end. Like other abilities, it was only a temporary usage. Right before Axel could reactivate it he happened to look up and saw that he had just locked eyes with one of the beast's heads.