Location: Olympus

Date: Post-Great War

Time: 11th hour

Judah has gone by many names. The Knight of Palaces, Dominion of Destruction, Angel of Heaven, Dark Seraph, and Sword King just to name a few.

They all have one thing in common… that is being earned through arduous battles. In all his years, he's never seen any destruction on a level such as this.

The desolation of the many kingdoms and peoples is unprecedented. Even he, with his high WILL stat, almost fell into utter depression and madness.

However, here he is surrounded by a bunch of wet-behind-the-ears teenagers.

Judah's duty to protect them is the only thing keeping him from ending it all. Be that as it may, the promise made a 22 years ago just came back to bite him in the ass.

Well… let's start with how he had even gotten there from the beginning.

***

On the surface of a world deemed "Paradise", the landscape is anything but.

The lands that used to be filled with green plant life and rich in fertile soil, are now replaced by scorched earth. The deep brown soil is now a dry red. Hills and mountains are reminiscent of images captured of a planet in a Milky Way galaxy. This landscape is similar to the images of the surface of Mars.

Mountains in the distance appeared cracked and broken. Many boulders the size of houses and many smaller sizes, scatter the landscape. Deep craters fill the spaces of the barren land.

Many gashes also appear deep in the ground. Occasionally, they would cross one another.

One would think this world is a cross between the Moon and Mars.

However, this is far from the truth.

Traveling past the red barren land, a forest so scorched, the land and the skies and the surrounding area are as dark as nighttime. Blue lightning flashes every so often. The clouds were a dark grey; darker than the ash in the air.

In this land, a sea of creatures with disfigured features roam about. Humanoid figures could also be seen spread out within the sea creatures. Their heights reach as tall as a two-story building.

Further inland, a massive outline of an unknown being sits on a giant throne as big as a mountain. Well, the throne is the would-be mountain. Crushed was it when he sat down inside.

Fashioned sometime after the victory over the armies of Olympus, this being decided to wait out the destruction of all sentient life on the planet.

Far from being the strongest, he still is the last Lord on the planet and can't go into any battle lest the Sword King also joins in to retaliate.

He must wait until the world barrier breaks before the rest of the gods can enter the world.

Nonetheless, this did not stop him from sending his armies to invade the last stronghold of the inhabitants. He, being halfway across the planet on the southern end, actually enables the lesser beings of Presence to fight to their fullest capacity. His aura proved too deadly.

Traveling past the barren land to the oceans, the reddish soil gave way to blood-red water. All manner of sea creatures floats above the water, dead due to the water changing.

A curse.

This is what keeps the sky red, the water red, and the land red. A curse that took the blood of those fallen and rained it down on the surface. Whatever it touched would be changed to red and be soaked in blood.

There is no escape from the Red Curse. Except, going further north. The entire northern pole of Olympus is free of this curse. Thanks to a certain mortal-turned-goddess being able to combat the curse and setting up a barrier of sorts to stop the spread.

As the distance between the giant being and the north widens, the red ocean begins to slowly change from red to purple. Then, returns to a vibrant blue reminiscent of the vast sky of Olympus.

Upon arriving at the North Pole, a structure of enormous proportions floats above the land erected in the center.

Clouds blanket the entire northern hemisphere. The tops of mountains can be seen poking through as structures have been built upon them. These mountains form a natural wall that makes this place an impenetrable fortress. Clean water surrounds the structure that reaches the lowest atmospheric layer.

The bright sunbeams on the water, reflect its glow and warmth on those below.

Strange floating towers fly about in erratic patterns at the perimeter of the mountains. A giant ball of light, lit up by an array of mechanisms, shines brightly atop the megalithic structure.

***

(A inside the fortress)

"What is the situation on the surface?" an older man appearing to be of 50 years asks a younger man kneeling on the ground, adorned with intricate armor.

"Bang, the barrier is beginning to collapse. The demonic gods will be able to pass through without restrictions," the man kneeling on the ground answers, a bit of nervousness in his voice.

The older man rests his chin on his right hand, a thoughtful expression forming on his features.

After a while of thinking, he stands and speaks, "Tell my brethren to prepare for war. Everything and everyone in Elysium needs to be fully geared and ready for war.

Besides, we Saints have sat idle for far too long. They think we are afraid. Too weak to put up a fight. The demonic gods will stop at nothing to acquire the greatest treasure of this tower. They will destroy all other worlds the same as ours if we do not stop them."

Getting to his feet, the young man hits his right hand to his left breast, nods, and says, "As you command, sire."

Turning to leave, the young man stops as he hears the older man speak again.

"And Wally, thank you for remaining loyal even though we're on the losing side this time. Most of the others have defected along with their gods but not you," the old man says in a voice filled with genuine gratification.

"Oh, sire, no need to thank me. I'm just doing my job to the very end," though his voice sounds humble and flattered, a smile of maliciousness creeps its way onto his face.

He soon disappears, leaving an afterimage of himself standing there.

The old man says to what appears to be no one, "Did you catch anything?"

"More than enough. I have relayed the recording to the Council. They'll know what to do if any of them aren't in battle with the rest of the demonic gods' forces," someone in the shadows replies.

"Good. Keep an eye on him."

After a few hours have passed, a defeating boom could be heard from outside. The tower shakes due to the force of the explosion.

"So, they've finally broken through the world barrier. This was too fast."

Saying this, the old man materializes a gadget that looks similar to a megaphone. However, it doesn't project sound to ears. The gadget projects sound into the minds of those in the Tower.

The old man walks out onto the ledge where he has a view of the entire northern pole.

Down below, two colors from seemingly two different worlds begin to collide. Red and blue.

Soon, the red begins to overtake the blue, the barrier no longer in place.

Swarms of creatures and beings the size of ants from how high the view is up top emerge from the cracks in the barrier.

Seeing this, a feeling of excitement and fear pounds deep within his gut. A wild smile creeps its way onto his face.

The armies of Olympus begin to emerge from the tower's entrance below. Rivaling the red army of the demonic gods.

Taking a step off the edge, the old man did not fall. Instead, he floats and begins walking on air.

Any person from the old Earth would gawk in incredulity. Many religious people would assume it's the return of Jesus. But, this is Olympus. The epitome of human advancement.

Continuing to walk in the air, the old man begins his pep speech.

"Today marks the greatest day in history. The demonic gods wish to take our home. They want to eat our flesh. They want us turned to ash," the old man declares with his voice enhanced significantly with energon.

"Elysium, will we let them do as they please?"

In response, he receives an eardrum-popping "No!". The voices of hundreds of thousands of humans enhanced by Energon cannot be discounted. Every window on old Earth would have shattered.

"We were forged in victory. A victory that ended the inter-race war and brought forth the reign of Mount Olympus.

Born out of the Chaotic Migration Era. Ever growing out of the tumultuous Omni-Race Wars. Even faced with annihation, our race grew. As it grew, so too did the might of we Olympians.

We created a world of peace, a world of prosperity. A world that lives in the shadow and safety of our mountain.

A mountainous planet that has come to be the absolute measure of strength and power.

Now, on this day, that power is to be tested. The demonic gods, along with their leader, Asmodeus, seek to destroy all that we have wrought.

We will unite. We will stand together. And we will wipe out this plague the demonic gods have sent.

Olympus will prevail!"

A resounding chorus of "OH-OH-AH-AH" is projected out of the army below.

The ground even begins to shake due to them beating their weapons and stomping the ground.

Then, one by one, many blurred figures appear behind the old man.

"Haha! Old man you sure do know how to talk," a person who looks like a teenager says to the old man.

"Xiao Feng, brat. Do you dare call me old?!" the old man shouts in indignation. "You damn short stack."

In sequence, all the figures' appearances begin to show.

All 14 of them look at the old man with a nod. He meets each of their gazes and nods back.

Enchantress Su Lin.

Ghost Knight Elrond.

Berserker Gallant.

Valkyrie Sundr.

Blade Emperor Kenji.

Death Knight Emery.

Brawler Queen Cantù.

Xiao Feng.

Mage of the South, Bilge.

Empress of Restoration Cassiphone.

Midnight Lee.

Pirate Queen Mary Read.

Dark Emperor Daka.

Jade Emperor Ganesh.

These 14 people are the pillars of humanity. The Council of Gods chose them as the direct counters to the demonic gods.

There were once over thirty but they were killed too early in life or defected to the demons gods' side. Some even went with the other races to dwell there.

"Wait. Old Bang, where's Wally? And what of Seraph? Did he accomplish the mission?" Mary Read asks, a hint of worry in her voice when saying Judah's name.

"Seraph still has not returned. Even now, he must currently be completing the sequence numbers. If we fail here, the young ones will be sent there to that place. As long as they survive, all will be well," the old man known as Bang replies to Mary with a slight smile.

One must know, Old Bang has lived for almost three thousand years. He can tell when someone is in love. And Mary Read loves Seraph. Though, he doesn't dare say anything about that lest he gets stabbed.

A subtle shift in the atmosphere caused all 15 Pillars to turn their attention to the crack in the barrier.

"Ah, they're here. Looks like I can finally get my hands dirty," Cantú says, cracking her knuckles.

Lightning bolts descend from the sky and continuously hits Bang dead center on his chest, his figure disappearing in the light.

When the last bolt dissipates, Bang's previous attire is now replaced with a golden half-chest armor that wraps around his abdomen and waist. Golden knee-guards and shin-guards stores as well as open-toed sandals.

His head is adorned with a cut-off crown that attaches to his temples. His short, white hair now has sparks of lightning discharging around it. Once normal blue, Bang's eyes are aglow, lightning crackling inside of them.

From seemingly nowhere, a golden spear, with its edges zagged, takes form in Bang's hand. Lightning snaked its way up and down the shaft of the spear.

All in all, Bang stands at the pinnacle of Olympus. Though much older than his comrades, Bang is a force to be reckoned with.

A youthful body with a three millennium-old mind is not a combination that a mortal should play with. He is also supposed to take the role of his god, Zeus.

Being the last to suit up, Bang turns his attention to two people: Midnight Lee and Gallant.

"You two with me. We will take the head," Bang says to Lee and Gallant.

In response, Gallant releases a joyful "YEEEEEH" before equipping his glowing battle axe.

{A/N: Gallant sounds and acts like Galland from 7DS.}

Lee just nods with a simple, "Understood."

Bang then speaks to Su Lin without looking at her.

"Lin'er, open a portal 30km from here."

With a quick "Be safe", she immediately opens a triangular portal in thin air and steps back. Gallant giddily jumps through along with Lee.

Meanwhile, Bang just revealed a piece of shocking news to the group through telepathy before stepping through the portal.

"Wally has defected. I've already confirmed my suspicions. It's safe to assume Hermes has defected as well. The evidence has been submitted to the Council. Hopefully, it isn't too late."

The entire group was gobsmacked. A Pillar defected? They would have to fight another one of their own? This would mean a harder fight. The only one who did not show any facial expressions is Cantù.

The only indication that she was affected by the news was her balled fists, tightly pressed and shaking with anger.

"I'll… I'll kill t-that bastard!" With no time wasted, Cantù blurs and then reappears on the other side of the portal, looking straight ahead at the demonic army.

Right now, no one is fighting. The armies of Olympus await Bang's signal while the demonic army seems to be waiting for one as well.

***

Two armies, Red and Blue. Light and Darkness. Good and Evil. Gods vs Demons. Old vs New.

Who will win this age-old conflict that has now reached its climax? Will the demons get the artifact they so desperately want?

Find out next time on Drag— Oh my bad. Wrong tv show. Here, let me do it again.

Find out next time on…

Worlds Convergence: Apocalyptic Regression.