by Erik Weir
“Of course, you would, Vala’s Blade. You have not been influenced like all who are here and across the realms. My power has been meticulous, spreading influence not only among the pantheon, but to every living being from all six realms. Even now, they fight their confusion to make sense of what is happening, but you do not. You see it for what it is and for that, I must commend Vala again on her choice of champions,” Drogoss said with a mischievous gleam in his eye.
Behind the first god, Redarr, Ibris, Roohr, and Tantia moved with evil gazes, standing behind Drogoss. The gloom in the temple took on sharp edges as confusion bled away. The only being standing by themselves was Baaldir. The God of the Hunt was transfixed, concern in his brow and eyes slightly wide. The god turned his attention from Drogoss to Vala and then back to Drogoss.
Victor’s muscles tensed but before he was able to get up, Vala touched her hand to his chest. The Blade looked down at the goddess, her expression blank but her eyes glowing through the darkness of the hood.
“We…don’t have much time,” Vala whispered.
Drogoss’s mouth slid into a wicked grin. “Vala is right, you all don’t have much time. I shall wipe out the mongrel divinity that infects these realms before taking my dark crusade across all universes. When the last star is snuffed out, only then will the chaotic universes know peace.”
“Vala…” Victor whispered as he ignored the god, eyes only for the goddess in his arms.
“Drogoss is not what he appears. You must lead the acolytes and defend the mountain until more of my power returns. No matter what happens, do not engage Drogoss,” Vala whispered weakly.
The first god took one step forward and the sound of blades were drawn from the acolytes.
Umus stood before Vala and the others, wide eyes on the first god. “Drogoss, what has happened that would cause you to want to destroy us? We used to create, fight, and drink together so long ago. What has changed?”
The first god centered his gaze on the armored angel god. “You cannot see because I haven’t allowed you to see. Let me clear your confusion.”
Drogoss lifted a finger and swiped a few inches across the air in front of him. The chaotic confusion in the temple died. Umus’s wide eyes narrowed before a golden mace appeared in his large hand. Halo burning bright, the god of light squared up his shoulders and hefted the mace in his hands.
Nephy’s expression melted from shock to anger with hints of fear. The goddess of nature held out a green hand, thick brown vines snaking out from her wrist and entwining into each other. When the vines formed a point, the edges sharpened into a tri-edge blade, the edges curving into serrated downward curves.
Xull continued to stare at the first god, her mechanical body unmoving and her expression as blank as stone.
“You see me as I allow you to see me,” Drogoss smiled with kind eyes.
“What’s happening,” Victor asked as the mood took a dark turn.
Umus squared his jaw. “Lad, listen to your goddess. We don’t have a lot of time. If we are going to survive what is to come, we need Vala at her full strength.”
Dorian stood by Victor and Vala, hands at his side but a steel glare in his eyes.
Drogoss remained calm, his body relaxed but eyes containing a strange gleam. “It is clear now. No need to hide behind masks any longer. I was sorely disappointed that many of you didn’t see it sooner. Vala was the only one to glimpse my true self and for that, among several reasons, is why she had to die.”
Tantia giggled as tentacles writhed. The mad goddess turned her attention to the gathered acolytes and licked her lips in anticipation. Redarr floated, a foul darkness dripping from his covered form while Roohr huffed like a bull ready to battle. Ibris’s smoky form curled as makeshift hands formed and reformed with different ghostly swords. Baaldir stood, black antlers gleaming in the light, but his body still as a frozen lake during the dead of winter.
Drogoss looked past Umus and stared directly at Victor. “It has taken me a long time to lower my intelligence so I could keep the madness of all knowing at bay. To be truly divine is to understand every inner and outer working of the universe. I can feel the ebb and flow of my greater self, growing restless with each moment of time.”
“What…” Umus fought through the pain before clenching his jaw and releasing it. “What…did you do to Drogoss? What…did you do to my friend?”
Drogoss turned his attention back to the god of light. “I killed him. I fought and slew your first god. He was a challenge and fought to the bitter end but like all of you mongrel divine beings, his power never held a candle to our might.
“Despite your narrow view of history, the first god to truly die was Drogoss. I slew him and ate his celestial corpse. When his memories blended with the tapestry of my being, I had become curious about lesser gods Drogoss created and allowed myself to enter this tiny span of the universe. I was surprised such a being would create a pantheon and have them influence the insignificant lives of lower creatures. It is barbaric and beneath us, but I had a thought, what if I broke this meager collection of gods?”
Drogoss returned his gaze to Victor, “After I killed Drogoss, I let my influence affect everything he created. It was simpler than I thought at the time, but so delicious. To bring madness to the realms was a meal I could feast on for eons. The only counterpoint, something that can heal madness was love.”
Victor looked down at Vala and a tear emerged from the darkness of her hood and streaked her smooth cheek.
Drogoss looked to each of the gods standing before Vala. “Drogoss never exiled himself. He left to fight me. I was coming for your worlds and he challenged me. We fought for years until he was beaten down. When he could no longer lift his divine sword, I ripped him to shreds, eating him like a fat beast in a cave.”
Umus looked away for barely a moment,” Your kind should be wiped from the universe.”
Drogoss kept his kind smile. “If you had the power to do it, you would have done it a long time ago.”
Victor held Vala close, hard eyes staring at Drogoss. “You’re an Elder.”
The god gave a small nod. “Vala chose well. Not only am I an Elder, I’m one of the most powerful ones across this universe. Lowering my intelligence so I can interact with these realms was difficult but necessary. I would have continued to play the game, but one of my children, I believe you call him Draygon, disturbed my plans. His power alerted you to greater threats and I knew I must begin the cycle of madness sooner than I had anticipated.”
Umus hefted his mace again. “What’s your name so I can carve it into your corpse!”
Drogoss slowly blinked and when eyelids pulled back, nothing but darkness and starry points looked back. “I must have a name to soothe your end, so be it. My name is Thulu, True God of Madness.”
Redarr spoke, “Baaldir, send in our forces so we may end this.”
The God of the Hunt didn’t move, confusion filling his eyes.
Redarr floated, turning his dark hood to Baaldir’s direction. “Follow the plan.”
Baaldir did nothing.
Thulu shook his head. “He is questioning what has happened.”
The Elder Thing looked to Vala, “It is hard to believe, a god of hunting and packs would turn on his lover and kill their child. Baaldir is fiercely loyal and if I hadn’t infected his divine power, he would have welcomed a child with open arms. Instead, I turned him, driving madness into his heart as he slaughtered his child.
“It was a necessary act. Only Elders are allowed to bear cosmic children. Your kind were never allowed to create divine life. Vala broke the cosmic balance of light and dark. Her child slain…” Thulu looked over to Dorian, “But one survived.”
“No…I had to…stop…Vala,” Baaldir said, eyes looking away.
“Baaldir, don’t let this vile thing control you any longer!” Umus shouted.
The God of the Hunt looked to Umus and then to Vala. “I…can’t.”
Vala looked to her Keeper, �
��Cassandra, rescind their invitations.”
Cassandra nodded, held up a hand and closed it.
Thulu, Redarr, Roohr, Ibris, Tantia and Baaldir remained.
“Your power here is great, but even your realm is not powerful enough to expel me and those I wish to keep here,” Thulu smirked.
Vala turned her attention to Victor, “Thulu is right. His power is keeping them here, but there is a price. He cannot expend too much of his power or he will revert to his true self and be unable to hold the other gods here in my realm. We don’t have to kill them but we have to disrupt their energies long enough so they will be forced from this realm.”
Vala touched Victor’s cheek, “My Champion, defend the mountain until I call upon you. Come to me when I whisper your name and not a moment before.”
“I…can’t leave your side,” Victor said with sorrow in his voice.
“You must. If you stay, Thulu will kill you and the acolytes. I need your power, your life…your love. Promise me you will defend the mountain and come to me when I call. Promise me.”
Shadows covered Victor’s eyes. “I promise…my love.”
Vala sighed in relief, “Thank you, my Champion. Now, take the acolytes and go.”
Pain surged along Victor’s soul as he hesitated. All the suffering they endured to reach this point and it was dashed on the rocks. He didn’t have a drop of power that could match the gods and monsters in the temple. Deep down, he knew she was sending him away for his benefit, for all their benefits. Her voice sent tendrils of bliss along his heart but the act of leaving cut at him like a rusty knife.
Victor squeezed Vala’s shoulder before he slowly stood up. Vala’s hands touched the dais, head bowed and a tear touching the stone floor. The Champion stood to his full height and began walking. Umus and Nephy looked to the Champion and gave him a nod. Xull did nothing, her artificial eyes staring at Thulu and the gods surrounding him. Dorian moved closer, standing by his mother.
Victor stepped down the dais steps, Lily at his side. The pair walked to Cassandra and she gave them a warm smile.
“My place is here, by Vala’s side,” the Keeper said with light in her eyes.
“Stay safe,” Victor smiled.
Lily gave the Keeper a warm hug before breaking away. Blade and Shield stepped along, hard eyes on Thulu.
“Prudent choice,” Thulu said simply.
Victor stopped and looked at the ten-foot-tall Elder in human form. “When I come back, I’m going to go full fucking God of War on your ass.”
“I have no doubt you will try,” Thulu nodded before turning his gaze back to the dais.
Lily took hold of Victor’s hand and pulled him along. Victor felt his heart tear in two as each step away from Vala meant he could not be there to defend her. Acolytes moved to his sides, most looking to him while others looked back at the enemy gods in contempt.
Dawn and Night stepped from the entrance of the temple and reached Victor, Lily, and the rest of the acolytes.
“We can’t just leave,” Dawn said as she held her plasma rifle.
“We have to, for now. I think another fight is on its way,” Victor said with a dark edge.
Redarr floated closer to Baaldir and a decayed reached out. “Call our forces,” The God of Disease said.
“Redarr…I…want to kill Vala,” the God of the Hunt said with further confusion.
Redarr nodded his hooded horned head. “Now now, dear Baaldir. Let me help you.”
The cloaked god took Baaldir’s hand into his and squeezed. Energy blasted Baaldir as Redarr’s grip became a vice. Divine energies clashed, but it was Redarr who took the advantage. The cloaked god pulled back and Baaldir looked at his hand as it lifted of its own accord and two fingers snapped.
“Now, we end it all,” Redarr laughed.
Outside the temple, high in the bright and clear sky, vortexes formed. In a perfect triangle, the vortexes flashed with dark light before they faded from the sky. Three Xull Dreadnoughts floated, large metal spikes running along the ships as large plasma cannons came to bear. Hanger doors opened as dropship engines glowed with power. The sunlight bathing the black ships glittered as cannons all aimed on the temple far below.
Victor, Lily, and Dawn moved to the archways edge and peered up at the dreadnoughts. A chill filled their collective hearts. Victor’s chill dissipated to a growing fury.
The Champion turned to the gathered acolytes; eyes filled with protective heat. “We don’t have time for speeches. Vindrel, Izy, and Mildra, you’re with me. The rest of you move down to the village and be prepared to repel the invaders. We need to fight for every ounce of time we can give Vala.”
“I’m coming with you,” Lily stated.
Victor turned to the succubus and put his hands on her shoulders. “I want you to come with me, but I need my Shield to direct our forces here on the ground. They need you to lead them.”
The succubus’s lip trembled. “No, we are in this together. I won’t lose you again.”
Victor gave Lily a confident smile. “You won’t lose me, I promise. Lead our forces and we will meet back in the middle.”
Dawn and Night moved to Lily’s side.
“We got this,” Dawn smiled.
“They will not make it into the temple,” Night said sternly.
Victor looked to the acolytes, a brightness in his eyes. “I love you all. Let’s show the darkness what love can do!”
The acolytes cheered and raised their weapons. Victor smiled as Vindrel, Izy, and Mildra stepped closer. The three dragon women flexed their wings before reaching the edge of the large window archway. With talon covered feet, they stepped onto the edge and jumped. Wings spread out just as their bodies began to change. Scales burst from skin and cascaded along their bodies. Necks grew longer and snouts formed. Tails lashed at the air as wings grew longer. In seconds, their bodies became that of their true forms, catching a thermal and swinging around.
Victor grabbed Lily, pulled her close and kissed her. The succubus held him, savoring his taste before the Champion pulled away. Lily watched as Victor leapt onto the archway edge, turned his head and gave her wink. Turning his head back, knees bent and he jumped.
Lily, Dawn and Night moved to the archway edge, smiles forming as Victor was on the blue dragon’s back. The three dragons and Champion glided for a moment before wings pumped. They began to ascend as the hum of power filled the sky.
Lily turned back to the acolytes, “Defend the Temple! Defend Vala!”
“Defend the Temple! Defend Vala!” the acolytes shouted before they all rushed to the temple entrance and began their descent to the village, Lily and Dawn leading the way.
***
Umus stepped forward, mace over his armored shoulder. Nephy and Xull stood at the bottom of the dais while Dorian stood by Vala’s side.
Redarr, Roohr, Ibris and Tantia moved, flanking each side of Thulu as the Elder simply stood with an amused expression.
“You abominations are a blight on the universe. Good thing I like to clean up the trash,” Umus grinned.
“Drogoss didn’t talk as much as you, but he did cry out when I killed him,” Thulu stated.
Umus kept his leer. “You killed my friend and my god. The other gods of light may forgive but I will not.”
The god of light lifted his mace and let it dangle at his side. “The difference between your fight with Drogoss and the fight you're going to have with me is, Drogoss didn’t have us fighting at his side. Your power is great, but it doesn’t compare to ours.”
Umus looked to the four gods at Thulu’s side. “You know my power. Which one of you wants their head bashed in first?”
The four gods didn’t move.
“I thought so,” Umus smiled wider before he burst forward like a flaming comet of light.
Roohr launched at the incoming god, a clawed hammer appearing in his large hand. The two met in the middle and when their weapons clashed, a shockwave blasted out. Cassandra was thrown to the
floor as Nephy and Xull advanced. Cracks appeared along pillars before the tide of battle crested and came crashing down.
Redarr floated forward, sickle in hand as Nephy cried out and launched at him. Tri-blade sword clashed with his sickle before their bodies became furies, clashing and slashing at each other with divine power. Each blow rocked the temple as Umus and Roohr clashed together.
Ibris floated closer to Nephy, misty blade slashing out as the goddess of life spun away, knocking away each attack like a skilled fencer. Bedlam erupted as the gods and goddesses slashed with divine might at one another.
Tantia’s head launched forward, tentacles spiraling behind her. The goddess of madness kept her crazy gaze on Vala before a metal woman in a metal dress stood before the weakened goddess.
“Initiate defense measures,” Xull said as her hands shifted and changed.
Metal and mechanisms reconfigured along her arms, growing slightly larger. The metal dress changed and curled into itself, shifting and re-clamping onto her metal frame with precise movements. After a second, the dress had formed armored plates, giving the artificial body a slightly thicker frame. Arms had turned into plasma cannons and they aimed with deadly accuracy.
Tantia screamed as Xull stood her ground and opened fired. Thick plasma bolts shot out in rapid succession as Tantia spiraled and spun like a snake flying through the air. The swirling form of the mad goddess screamed on until a plasma bolt struck her face and sent her spinning upwards. Xull re-aimed as the head with tentacles trailing behind it moved along the wall and ceiling like an eel in the ocean. Plasma bolts cracked temple walls as Xull followed the tentacle goddess.
Dorian’s hand fell to his gun when a voice touched his mind.
“My son, I free you from your mortal bond and unlock your power,” Vala whispered.
The Slinger looked down at his mother before turning his attention to the tentacle goddess snaking her way closer.
“Thank you, Mother. I won’t let them touch you,” Dorian said and drew his pistol.
The blur of his arm was quick, even for a divine being. The Slinger was already re-aiming at another god as a mana bullet streaked through the air. Tantia laughed as her weird tentacle body shifted to the side and the bullet streaked past. When she resumed her advance, Xull re-aimed both plasma cannon arms and unleashed plasma bolts.
