Hermes finished another day in class. Things were going well, and life was carefree, there were still conquests against the barbaric tribes of the heretics, the apostates, the pagans, the polytheists, the atheists and the disbelievers. But this was part of the Prophetic Conquests, and besides this the time they all lived in was a time of peace. Helios thrived in an era of prosperity under the reign of Hermes, the Holy Prophet. Her prophetic conquests continued, spreading her influence far and wide, subduing the faithless and bringing more territories under her divine rule. Yet, even as the universe bent under her vision, shadows loomed within the highest echelons of power. The government of Helios, once an ally of the Prophet, had grown wary of her ever-increasing dominion. She was no longer just a religious figure—she was a ruler in her own right, with an army of loyal warriors at her command.
The politicians feared her. It was not just her growing might but the undeniable charisma she wielded. People followed her not out of duty but devotion. She commanded not just a government but faith itself. And faith, the government knew, was far more dangerous than any weapon. Behind closed doors, in the sterile, dimly lit halls of the Helios High Council, discussions turned from concern to conspiracy. "She is a necessary force," one councilor admitted. "But necessity is temporary. We cannot allow her to become permanent." "The people worship her as if she is divine. No ruler should hold that level of power unchecked," another added, glancing around the room. "And yet, if we remove her too openly, the people will revolt," a third councilor warned. "We need a replacement. Someone who can capture their faith without being beyond our control."
The room fell silent, each mind working toward the same conclusion. A successor. A controlled Prophet. Someone who could take Hermes' place without inciting rebellion. "A false messiah," the first councilor whispered. Some thought to themselves: "Hasn't High Councilor Alabaster, working on that, a so-called 'Ultimate-Lifeform?"' The plan was set in motion. They would create an alternative to Hermes, a figure who could challenge her position, sow doubt among her followers, and fracture her support. And, should the Prophet resist their carefully laid plan, she would be eliminated.
The Changing Prince:
While political conspiracies brewed in secret, life on Helios had taken an unexpectedly domestic turn for the former warlord, Prince Lupus. Two years had passed since his reluctant alliance with Hermes and her people. Two years since he had been a desperate, vengeful warrior, seeking strength to reclaim his throne. Now, he was a husband, a father, and—to his own disbelief—a student of discipline rather than destruction. Training under Ungar had reshaped him. The seven-foot-tall, bodiless being was an immovable force, his dark armor and red eyes an eternal reminder of power without arrogance. Under Ungar's guidance, Lupus honed not just his combat skills but his restraint. His strength had never been in question—his control, however, had been sorely lacking. Meanwhile, Phyron, once a ruthless wielder of fire, had undergone his own transformation under Talus. Where once he had sought domination through flames, he had learned to wield his power with precision rather than brute force. Like Lupus, Phyron had once been consumed by the idea of conquest. Now, he was beginning to understand something greater.
But of all the changes, none were more profound than those in Lupus' personal life. Ashley had been relentless in drawing him out of his self-imposed isolation. She had fallen for him from the start, but love alone had not tamed the former warlord—it was her sheer refusal to treat him as anything other than a person, not a prince, not a warrior, just Lupus. Their daughter, Kazan, had become the bridge between his old life and his new one. She was young, but already she was growing at a rapid pace, inheriting her father's Izadoran genetics. Her pink hair, human-like features, and wolf-like ears and tail made her a symbol of the merging of worlds. He had once dreamed only of war, of reclaiming what was his. But when Kazan called him "Papa," he realized there were battles far more important than the ones he had been fighting. Yet, peace, as he was beginning to understand, was fragile.
The Calm Before the Storm:
Life on Helios, for the moment, was peaceful. Kazan attended school with the other children, growing alongside the next generation of Hermes' followers. Ashley remained her ever-vibrant self, making sure Lupus never fell back into his brooding ways. And Hermes continued her prophetic conquests, bringing order to the chaotic corners of the universe. But the government was waiting. Watching. Preparing. A false Prophet would soon rise, or more accurately a false Messiah, or a cheap imitation of the Messiah, and with it, the greatest test of faith Helios had ever faced. And this time, even those who had once been enemies would have to decide where their loyalties truly lay. Only time would tell what would happen next.
Hermes had gone to the mall with her friends now including Kazan: Kazan's mother Ashley who said: "I gotta thank your father's genes, it's thanks to him I can go to school and shop at the mall with my 2 year old but really 19 year old daughter." The group had a lot of fun that day. When Hermes returned home an explosion went off and in her dorm she saw the corpse of Mira, her best friend. This sent Hermes over the edge, she used her newly obtained power where she could sense the aura of people who had been there and began to fly off in that direction. Alabaster appeared on the International News reporting that one of the Qatari Empire's rival states: "the Empire of Varg," was working with the League of Villains and they were using a group of mutants to coordinate terror attacks across the country. All of the heroes heard this at Nova's Compound and they were ready to go. They met up with the government's military, the government used the Hero Association along with Nova and his allies to attack the Varg Empire itself taking them on a large military aircraft into enemy territory. The war drums beat once more. The attack on Hermes' dorm had been both a message and a catalyst. Her best friend, Mira, had been ruthlessly slain, her lifeless body left as a cruel reminder that no place was safe—not even for the Holy Prophet herself. Now, fueled by grief and rage, Hermes was determined to bring the culprits to justice.
With her newfound ability to sense auras, she pursued the remnants of the assassins, streaking across the sky like a comet of divine fury. The signature of those responsible led her to the industrial sectors of Helios' capital, where she found an abandoned factory. Inside, she encountered shadows moving with intent, voices whispering orders, and the undeniable stench of conspiracy. Before she could act, figures clad in black launched an attack. These were no ordinary mercenaries—they moved in perfect unison, their weapons humming with advanced technology.
Hermes fought fiercely, her radiant energy blasting through their defenses, but something felt off. These were not warriors of the Varg Empire. They bore no sigil of her supposed enemy. Instead, their armor was laced with insignias she recognized all too well: the covert operatives of the Helios government. Betrayal. Hermes' fury ignited. She had been playing. The attack on Mira had not been the work of the Varg Empire—it had been orchestrated by her own government to manipulate her into war. The news broadcast by Alabaster had been a deception, a narrative designed to rally her people into striking down a fabricated enemy while the true threat remained in the shadows. Rage boiled within her, but she forced herself to retreat. Now was not the time for reckless vengeance. She needed to regroup, to uncover the full extent of this treachery. She vanished into the night, her mind racing with questions. How deep did this conspiracy go? Who else was involved? And most importantly, who could she still trust?
Meanwhile, aboard the military aircraft en route to the Varg Empire, Nova, Lupus, Phyron, and their assembled allies prepared for battle. The government had rallied its heroes and warriors under the guise of justice, but unease settled among them. Phyron, always perceptive, had been analyzing the situation from the moment the orders had been given. "This doesn't sit right with me," Phyron muttered, his fingers igniting with faint flames as he leaned against the aircraft's hull. "We're being sent to annihilate an empire based on a single report from Alabaster. No real investigation, no confirmation. Just war." Lupus, clad in his dark combat attire, sat with his arms crossed, eyes closed. He had grown wiser over the years, less impulsive, but still a warrior at heart. "If Hermes were here, she'd be the first to question this. But she's not."
Ashley, who had joined them on the mission to ensure her daughter Kazan remained safe, frowned. "And why is that? Shouldn't the Prophet be leading this battle?" Silence filled the cabin as realization dawned on them. Hermes was absent. Before anyone could voice their thoughts further, the aircraft shook violently. The alarms blared as enemy missiles locked onto them. The pilot shouted, "We're under attack! Evasive maneuvers!"
Outside, the skies burned as anti-air defenses from the Varg Empire fired upon them. The heroes braced for impact as explosions rocked the aircraft, and within moments, they were plummeting toward the battlefield below.
Back on Helios, Hermes had returned to her sanctum, where she was met by Kazan, her piercing eyes filled with concern. "You know something is wrong," Kazan said, her voice steady despite her youthful appearance. Hermes nodded. "The government is lying to us. Mira's death was their doing. They've set us on a path of war against the Varg Empire for their own agenda. We have to stop this before it's too late." Kazan clenched her fists. "Then we go after Alabaster." Hermes exhaled. "Not yet. If we strike now, we play into their hands. We need evidence. We need to expose them before they can spin another lie."
As the fires of war ignited on the frontlines, the true battle had only just begun. The battle for the truth. The wind howled against the cracked windows of Hermes' sanctum as she paced, her mind racing with the implications of what she had just uncovered. The government's deception ran deeper than she had feared, and the world was now moments away from war. She clenched her fists, rage simmering beneath her skin, but she forced herself to remain composed. Then, a familiar voice echoed in her mind. "Hermes," the voice of Ungar resounded telepathically. "Something is wrong. The Qatari government is lying. The Varg Empire is not responsible for the attacks." Hermes stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing. "I know," she responded through their mental link. "I've already uncovered part of the truth. Mira's death, the attack on my dorm—it was all orchestrated to push me into this war."
There was a brief silence before Ungar spoke again. "We need to confront Alabaster." A shadow of hesitation crossed Hermes' face, but before she could respond, Ungar's voice took on a sharper edge. "We don't have time for caution. If we let this play out, countless lives will be lost." Hermes took a slow breath. "Ungar… Alabaster is already with us." A wave of confusion surged through the telepathic link. "What?" Ungar's voice was filled with disbelief. "He's the one spinning this web of lies!" "No," Hermes corrected. "He's playing a deeper game. I confronted him before coming here. He knew I'd find out the truth. He said he's doing this to keep us close to the real enemy." Ungar hesitated, digesting this information. "Then who is pulling the strings?" Hermes' jaw tightened. "The ones behind the Qatari government. The ones orchestrating this entire war from the shadows."
A heavy silence hung between them, until Ungar finally spoke again. "Then we need a new plan." Before Hermes could reply, Kazan burst into the room, her face pale. "It's started." Hermes turned to her, her heart pounding. "What do you mean?" Kazan swallowed hard. "The invasion. Our forces have begun their attack on the Varg Empire. It's too late to stop the first strike." Hermes clenched her fists, frustration surging through her. "Then we have to stop the war from escalating." Ungar's voice cut in again. "And to do that, we need to expose the truth before this conflict consumes everything." Hermes exhaled sharply. "Then let's move. We're running out of time." As the war unfolded on the battlefield, a different battle was being waged in the shadows—a battle for truth, and the survival of countless innocent lives. It was too late however, Ungar and the other heroes were floating above Varg territory. Varg soldiers began firing at them. Ungar took the lead, he dived head-first into the barrage of fire, he was followed by the illustrious superhero Taco-Man, as well as many others including Narcis Martreya Buddha, Talus, Demi, Sir Rhyme, Qayyim, J, Gordo the Bee, Scott Greer, the Green Wisp, Red Ace, Phyron, Sarai, Tatu, Nova, Prince Lupus, Zaiyal, the Iron Sikh, the K-Pop stars Yokai and Hitsune, Chubkins, Nightblade, Siren, and countless other heroes. They were all being attacked head on. Prince Lupus shouted: "NOW!" firing an energy blast from his palm towards the soldiers that scattered and burst. The battlefield erupted into chaos as the heroes clashed with the Varg soldiers. Energy blasts, fire, and raw kinetic force collided in a dazzling display of war. The sky was a storm of flashing colors, the air thick with the sounds of battle—shouts, explosions, and the clash of steel against steel. Ungar dodged a plasma round, twisting through the air before striking down with a powerful shockwave that sent a group of soldiers sprawling. Taco-Man, his signature cloak billowing behind him, flung a barrage of energy-charged tacos at the enemy, the projectiles detonating on impact. Meanwhile, Red Ace weaved between opponents with inhuman agility, slicing through their defenses with his razor-sharp daggers.
On the ground, Narcis Martreya Buddha stood unmoving, his hands pressed together in a silent prayer. The earth trembled beneath him before splitting apart, swallowing entire platoons of soldiers into an abyss. Talus, encased in his ancient armor, waded into the fray with his massive warhammer, each swing creating a shockwave that sent foes flying. Siren soared above, her piercing song reverberating across the battlefield, causing enemies to clutch their heads in agony. Nightblade emerged from the shadows, his twin katanas slicing through armor like paper, while Phyron, his entire body ablaze, left a trail of destruction in his wake.
The Iron Sikh stood firm, his twin chakrams spinning in deadly arcs, cutting down enemies as he pushed forward. The K-pop stars Yokai and Hitsune moved in perfect synchronization, their combat skills blending martial arts and music, their attacks pulsating with rhythmic energy that overwhelmed their foes. Prince Lupus, still in the sky, launched another blast of energy, forcing a Varg tank to explode in a fiery blaze. His eyes burned with fury. "Hold the line! We must push forward!" But despite their strength, the heroes were being overwhelmed. The Varg Empire had prepared for this attack. Advanced war machines rolled onto the battlefield, their towering frames equipped with devastating weaponry. Automated turrets sprang up from the ground, firing relentlessly at the heroes.
Hermes, still hovering above, clenched her fists. This wasn't the fight they were meant to be in. The real enemy was still hidden in the shadows, orchestrating this entire conflict. "We have to fall back!" she called through their mental link. "This isn't our battle! We've been set up!" Ungar gritted his teeth as he blocked a heavy blow from a Varg warlord. "Then we need an escape route—fast!" Nova, her eyes glowing with cosmic energy, raised her hands. "I can get us out of here! But I need time!" Kazan, bleeding from a wound on her forehead, fought her way to Hermes' side. "Then let's buy her some!"
Tatu unleashed a barrage of golden chains that wrapped around enemy mechs, immobilizing them. Gordo the Bee, darting between attacks with rapid speed, dived toward enemy turrets, his tiny form carrying explosive payloads that detonated in massive bursts. As Nova concentrated, a swirling portal of light began to form behind the heroes. "Everyone, fall back!" One by one, the heroes disengaged, fighting their way toward the portal. The Varg forces pressed harder, sensing victory, but the heroes fought with renewed vigor. Just as the last of them leaped through the portal, Nova clenched her fists, and the gateway collapsed behind them, sealing them off from the battlefield.
They reappeared in the depths of an underground hideout, panting, battered, but alive. Silence filled the space as they caught their breath. Hermes turned to the group. "We played. This war isn't about Varg. It's about power. And we need to find out who's really behind it before it's too late." Ungar nodded. "Then we find them. We expose them. And we end this." Meanwhile, high above the conflict, Kazan and Hermes raced through the storm-ridden sky, their silhouettes streaking through the clouds like twin comets. The chaos below was a tapestry of destruction, but their focus was singular: the commotion where their allies were in danger. "Faster!" Kazan urged, her wings of light flaring behind her. "If we don't get there soon, they'll be slaughtered!" Hermes tightened her grip on her staff, pushing herself harder. "We're not losing anyone today. Hold on, we're almost there!" As the battlefield loomed ahead, they could see Alabaster at the heart of the carnage, his figure standing amidst the storm of war, orchestrating chaos. They had arrived just in time.
In the heat of battle something strange was noticed. Alabaster had gone missing. But just as they noticed this a large plasma alien-creature appeared with incredible power from the base in the middle of the red desert in the Varg Empire. This foe was clearly unbelievably powerful; they would need everyone's power to even hope to overcome this foe. This would truly be a long and cataclysmic battle. The battlefield crackled with energy as the alien plasma creature roared, its colossal form radiating an eerie, unstable glow. It stood at the heart of the devastation, a nightmarish fusion of liquid fire and solidified energy, shifting between forms as though it existed beyond the realm of physics. The air itself warped around it, the sheer heat of its presence distorting reality. "Spread out!" Ungar bellowed through the mental link. "Do not let it focus on one target!" The heroes obeyed, moving as one, their battle instincts guiding them into formation.
Sir Rhyme was the first to engage, his sword glowing with arcane energy as he launched forward, slicing through the air with poetic precision. His words carried magic, each rhymed command weakening the beast's defenses. "Shatter, splinter, break apart—feel the sting of magic's art!" he intoned, and a crack appeared along the creature's molten hide. But the wound was fleeting. The beast pulsed and reformed, striking back with a massive, sweeping arc of plasma. Sir Rhyme barely managed to evade, rolling to safety as Nova unleashed a cosmic barrage. Her fists radiated starlight as she pummeled the entity, each blow sending shockwaves through the sky. "We need to contain it!" shouted Qayyim as she summoned a barrier of light, momentarily halting the creature's advance.
Talus, swinging his claws about, shattered the ground beneath the enemy, sending fissures of energy erupting upward. The shockwave sent it staggering, but it responded with a retaliatory blast of pure destruction. Siren took flight, her voice resonating through the battlefield, disorienting the creature. "Fall into slumber, restless beast," she sang, her voice a hypnotic melody. The creature wavered, its movements slowing. "Now! Hit it with everything!" Sarai commanded. Taco-Man leaped in, flinging his explosive energy tacos in rapid succession. The detonations created shockwaves of their own, giving Gordo the Bee time to swarm forward with a fleet of energy-packed drones, each one detonating on impact. Red Ace zipped through the battlefield, his daggers striking weak points in rapid succession, while Hitsune and Yokai danced between blows, their kinetic energy amplifying their every movement. The Green Wisp emerged from the shadows, his spectral energy twisting into tendrils that wrapped around the creature, momentarily binding it. "Its energy is unstable! We can disrupt it!" he called. The Iron Sikh took a step forward, spinning his chakrams in a golden blur. "Then we strike in unison!" The heroes gathered, their powers converging.
Prince Lupus raised his hands, unleashing a beam of pure, focused light. Narcis Martreya Buddha chanted, invoking an ancient force that wrapped around the blast, enhancing its power. Demi summoned a storm of raw, unfiltered chaos, weaving it into the attack.
With a final, deafening cry, the combined energy struck the beast. The plasma creature screamed, its form fracturing, splitting, then finally exploding in a blinding inferno that lit up the sky. As the smoke cleared, the battlefield fell silent. The heroes stood, battered but victorious. Sarai exhaled sharply, scanning the area. "It's over... for now. But we still have work to do." Ungar stepped forward, nodding. "We need to find Alabaster. If this was just a distraction, then the real threat is still out there." As the dust settled, the heroes braced themselves. The war was far from over. And the true enemy has yet to reveal themselves.
As the echoes of the explosion faded into the distance, the battlefield lay in eerie silence. Smoke and ash swirled through the air, mingling with the dying embers of the plasmic creature's remains. The heroes, though battered and bruised, stood victorious—but unease gnawed at them. Nova wiped the sweat from his brow, his cosmic energy still crackling around her fingers. "That was too easy," he muttered. Talus turned, his hands trembling with adrenaline. "Easy? That thing nearly incinerated us." Nova shook his head. "No, I mean… it reformed too quickly. It felt like it wasn't fighting to win—just to stall." Ungar cursed under his breath. "Damn it. Alabaster."
They all turned to face the smoking ruins of the Varg Empire's desert base. Then Ungar remembered Abastar saying: "We need a little of Hermes' DNA, just in case she doesn't play ball." Alabaster wanted to be God all along that much was clear. The plasma creature had emerged from there—but what else had been hidden within? The ominous absence of Alabaster, their elusive foe, sent a shiver through the team. "Spread out," Zaiyal ordered. "We need to find any trace of him, or whatever he was after."
The team fanned out, their boots crunching against the charred earth. The winds howled through the ruins, whispering secrets of the devastation. Siren hovered above, scanning the ruins with her keen eyes, while Nightblade melted into the shadows, his form barely visible as he slipped between the wreckage. Gordo the Bee buzzed ahead, darting through the wreckage with speed. "I got something!" he called, landing atop a twisted mass of metal and stone. "This structure isn't just wreckage—it's a vault." Prince Lupus landed beside him, eyes narrowing. "A vault?" Yokai and Hitsune approached, their synchronized movements reflecting their shared unease. Hitsune traced a gloved hand over the surface of the metal. "There's something inside. Something sealed." The Iron Sikh stepped forward, gripping one of his chakrams. "Then we break it open."
Before anyone could react, the vault shuddered. A deep, resonant hum filled the air. The air grew thick, charged with energy. Then, the metal twisted, folding in on itself like an origami puzzle unlocking from within. A blinding light burst forth, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. When the brilliance dimmed, a figure stood in the opening. Tall, draped in flowing robes of black and crimson, his face was obscured beneath a mask of pale metal. His presence was suffocating, his energy oppressive.
Alabaster.
His voice was smooth, dripping with amusement. "Ah… you arrived just in time." The tension in the air was palpable. Talus clenched his fists.. "You're not getting away this time." Alabaster chuckled. "Oh, Talus, how I admire your tenacity." He lifted a hand, and the ground beneath them trembled once more. Shadows erupted from the fissures, tendrils of darkness wrapping around the ruins, coiling like living serpents.
Siren's song cut through the air, his melody attempting to disrupt her power, but Alabaster merely tilted his head. "Beautiful, truly. But futile." Before anyone could react, the sky above them fractured like glass. From the void beyond, figures began to descend—armored beings with hollow, glowing eyes, their weapons humming with unnatural energy. Nova's heart clenched. "Not reinforcements." "Not quite," Alabaster confirmed. "But they will serve their purpose." Then, with a snap of his fingers, the battlefield was once again consumed by chaos.
Alabaster grew in power, without thinking Zaiyal flew into battle. Narcis flew up with Talus both throwing off their training weights. They began by throwing up Ki (Chi) blasts towards Alabaster who transformed into a gigantic demonic version of his former self. The battlefield erupted once more as Alabaster's monstrous form towered over them, his demonic visage illuminated by the crackling energy that coursed through his body. His eyes, burning like twin stars, radiated malice as he unleashed a deafening roar, shaking the ruins to their foundations.
Zaiyal was the first to strike, weaving through the chaos like a streak of lightning. His fists, wrapped in raw energy, slammed into Alabaster's torso with enough force to shatter mountains. Yet, the demon barely staggered, his form shifting as if absorbing the blows. Narcis and Talus followed in tandem, their combined ki blasts roaring through the air, illuminating the darkened battlefield. The searing energy collided with Alabaster's chest, sending shockwaves rippling outward, but the entity merely grinned, his claws extending into jagged obsidian blades. With a flick of his wrist, he retaliated. A wave of dark energy erupted from his body, carving through the battlefield like a scythe. Zaiyal twisted mid-air, barely avoiding the onslaught, while Narcis conjured a barrier of golden energy to shield himself and Talus from the worst of the blast.
Sarai and Qayyim flanked the battlefield, weaving intricate sigils in the air. "We have to weaken his core!" Sarai shouted. "He's feeding off something—this isn't his full strength yet!" Hitsune and Yokai surged forward, their kinetic energy fueling each strike as they danced between Alabaster's lethal swipes. Yokai's spectral daggers found their mark, piercing through the shifting shadows that wreathed the demon's form, but it wasn't enough to slow him down.
The sky above fractured further, the armored beings descending like specters of war. Their hollow eyes burned with an eerie glow as they engaged the heroes in combat. Red Ace zipped through the battlefield, his daggers a blur as he struck at their joints and weak points, while The Green Wisp sent tendrils of spectral energy wrapping around them, constraining their movements. Meanwhile, Prince Lupus and The Iron Sikh fought side by side, their claws and blades singing through the air as they carved through the horde. "We can't hold them off forever!" The Iron Sikh warned, spinning his chakrams in a golden blur, slicing through the approaching enemies with precision.
Gordo the Bee activated his energy drones, sending them swarming towards Alabaster. Each explosion rocked the battlefield, forcing the demon to snarl in irritation, but he remained unfazed. "Pathetic," Alabaster sneered. He raised a clawed hand and clenched it into a fist. A vortex of dark energy spiraled into existence, pulling debris, bodies, and even the air itself into its crushing grasp. Nova, gritting his teeth, called upon the last reserves of her strength. "We end this now!" His body ignited in cosmic fire as she shot toward Alabaster, slamming into him with enough force to drive him backward. The impact sent ripples of energy across the battlefield, momentarily disrupting his focus.
Ungar and Sir Rhyme seized the opportunity. "Strike! Let the echoes of battle seal his fate!" Sir Rhyme chanted, his words imbued with magic that resonated through his allies. Ungar roared, leaping into the fray, his colossal fist crashing down upon Alabaster's shoulder, shattering the demonic plating that covered his body. Narcis and Talus flew downwards with a downward kick side-by-side, meanwhile Zaiyal charged up a powerful attack from below. But Alabaster swatted the three of them away like they were nothing. Alabaster reverted back to his original size, one of his eyes bruised considerably. "Hehehehehe…. You think that was my plan along, once my weapon arrives you'll realize the folly of your ways, and you'll agree to follow the new Messiah into the Crusades across the Cosmos." Sarai said confused: "What on earth are you talking about?" Alabaster said under his breath: "Mika, come out it's your turn."
A girl jumped up from the metal structure that was in front of all of them. A girl with long green hair and a yellow baseball cap. Alabaster coughed up: "A threat is coming, much stronger than King Apollo, I never had any intention to kill any of you. In fact we conqu…ered the Varg Empire years ago. It's been a vassal of the Qatari realm for decades." Sarai was overwhelmed and charged Alabaster: "So that's what this was you were just… toying with us!!" He shot a powerful Ki Blast at Alabaster which the girl just absorbed into her hand. The girl was unbelievably strong, it was clear to Ungar that she was infinitely stronger than Lucifer the Fallen Angel, Prince Lupus during their first encounter, the False God, Lord Tep, Ebisu, or any previous antagonist they faced.
Ungar looked across in terror, "this girl might be even stronger than the Holy Prophet (Hermes) herself." The battlefield lay in ruins, scorched and broken beneath the weight of the battle. The heroes stood their ground, but their strength was waning. Mika remained motionless, her fingers still crackling with the absorbed energy, an amused glint in her emerald eyes.
Alabaster chuckled, dusting off his robes. "Now do you understand? There are forces far beyond your comprehension at play. You were never the true enemy, merely an obstacle in our path."
Before anyone could respond, the sky split apart once more—not in fracture, not in corruption, but in brilliance. Twin streaks of light, one gold and the other crimson, tore through the heavens, descending like twin meteors. The air trembled with their approach, and a deafening boom resounded as they landed amidst the wreckage. A surge of energy radiated from their arrival, forcing even Alabaster to take a cautious step back. The dust cleared, revealing two figures standing tall. Hermes, clad in flowing robes of celestial white and gold, her radiant hair unfurled behind him, exuded an aura of divine authority. Her eyes, glowing with ancient wisdom, scanned the battlefield. Beside him, Kazan stood like a burning colossus, her crimson armor pulsing with molten energy, his massive blade resting against her shoulder.
"Alabaster," Hermes intoned, her voice carrying the weight of eons. "You have meddled in fates not meant for you." Kazan smirked, cracking her knuckles. "And you've pissed off the wrong people." The energy shifted. The battlefield, once suffocating under Alabaster's presence, now hummed with the raw, untamed power of the two newcomers. Mika, who had effortlessly absorbed Sarai's attack, finally narrowed her eyes, gripping the edges of her baseball cap. "Interesting," she muttered. "So you're the legendary Hermes and Kazan."
Hermes gazed at her, her expression unreadable. "And you, child… are a harbinger of something far more dangerous than even Alabaster." Alabaster's smirk wavered. "Hermes… you know what's coming, don't you?" "I do," Hermes replied. "And I will not allow you to shape the course of fate." Mika clapped her hands together, the sound reverberating unnaturally. The energy around her condensed, swirling with an intensity that made the air crackle. "Then let's see if you can stop me." But first: Mika pointed her fingers at Alabaster's chest firing a laser into his chest killing him instantly. "You bastard, you stole my life from me." Then Mika looked over at Hermes, and you you're the girl that they tried to model me after they stole me from a highschool, from my parents, because they thought I would be a worthy replacement for you. Well I'll destroy you and then I'll destroy the world who tried to change me into a monster."
With a flicker, she was gone—only to reappear behind Hermes in an instant, her fist barreling toward her at impossible speed. Hermes raised a single hand, catching the blow effortlessly. The impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield, but Hermes remained unmoved. "Impressive," he said calmly. "But power without control is nothing but destruction."
Kazan wasted no time. With a roar, she lunged forward, his blade igniting as he swung it toward Mika. She twisted away, flipping midair before landing gracefully. "Fast," she acknowledged. "But not fast enough." In a flash, Mika countered, her leg striking out in a kick aimed at Kazan's head. She blocked it with her forearm, flames surging around her as he pushed her back. The two clashed at blinding speed, shockwaves rippling outward with each strike. Narcis went over to Alabaster and healed him, Alabaster coughed up blood: "This isn't my fight anymore, Mika will prevail."
Hermes narrowed her eyes as Mika's speed increased, her form blurring with each successive strike. Every punch, every kick carried enough force to topple mountains, yet Hermes remained unfazed. With each of Mika's attacks, Hermes deflected, redirecting the energy with precision rather than brute strength. Kazan, undeterred, found an opening and swung her molten blade in a wide arc. The heat radiating from the sword melted the very air around it, but Mika merely grinned, catching the blade with her bare hand.
A deafening silence fell over the battlefield as Kazan's eyes widened. Mika's fingers tightened around the burning steel, the heat failing to even scorch her skin. With a sudden twist, she snapped the blade in half, molten fragments scattering across the ruined landscape. "Pathetic," she spat, throwing the broken weapon aside. Before Kazan could react, Mika launched a devastating strike into her abdomen, sending her crashing through the remains of a collapsed tower.
Hermes wasted no time. The moment Mika turned, Hermes struck—a precise palm thrust aimed at Mika's core. But Mika, now fully in her element, countered at the last second, intercepting Hermes' strike with her own. The resulting shockwave shattered the ground beneath them, forming a massive crater. From the sidelines, Ungar clenched his fists, feeling the sheer pressure of their battle weigh down upon him. "This… this isn't a fight we can win," he muttered. Sarai, still recovering from his earlier assault, grit his teeth. "We have to try. If Hermes and Kazan can't stop her, then…" Narcis and Talus exchanged glances. "We need to assist them, even if we're outclassed," Talus said. "No," Alabaster coughed, still recovering from his fatal wound. "Stay out of this. She's beyond you."
Meanwhile, Mika's movements became wilder, her attacks no longer simply precise but fueled by rage. "You don't get it, do you?" she hissed, her voice venomous. "They turned me into a weapon. They made me something I never wanted to be. And now, I'll return the favor. I'll erase everything—this world, your gods, all of it." Hermes' expression softened, if only for a moment. "Is that what you truly want?" Mika's face twisted in fury. "Shut up!" Her energy flared violently, the air vibrating with her power. She struck again, but this time, Hermes didn't move to block. Instead, she raised her hand and caught Mika's wrist with an almost gentle grip.
Mika froze—just for a fraction of a second. In that brief moment, something passed between them—a flicker of understanding, of something deeper. But the moment shattered as Mika ripped her hand away, stepping back. Her breath was ragged, her fists trembling. "Enough," she muttered. "I'm done wasting time." Raising her hand, she summoned an orb of concentrated energy, swirling with chaotic light. The battlefield trembled beneath her power. "If I can't break you with force," she said, her voice cold, "I'll erase you completely."
The heroes braced themselves, but before Mika could release the attack, a ripple of divine energy coursed through the air. The sky cracked open once more, flooding the battlefield with radiant light. From within it, another figure descended—The Holy Prophet herself. Hermes' eyes widened slightly as true divinity made itself known. A woman clad in celestial silver, her ethereal wings glowing with pure light, touched down before them. Her gaze met Mika's, and for the first time, Mika hesitated.
"Mika," the Prophet spoke, her voice resonating through the very fabric of reality. "Your suffering is real. Your pain is valid. But destruction is not the answer." Mika's breath hitched, the sphere of energy flickering in her grasp. "Shut up," she whispered, but there was something raw in her voice—something breaking. The Prophet extended a hand. "Come back to the light." For a moment, just a moment, Mika wavered. Then her expression twisted with fury. She gripped her sword tightly, her voice shaking with rage. "You ruined my life! You inspired them to take me—to turn me into this abomination! I won't stop! I WON'T STOP UNTIL YOU'RE DEAAAAAAD!"
She lunged, but before she could strike, Hermes pulled her into a tight embrace. The fight drained from her limbs, her breath hitching, and then—she broke. Mika trembled in his arms, sobbing. In that moment, Narcis raised a hand and cast a paralyzing spell. Mika collapsed instantly. Hermes held her for a moment longer before handing her unconscious form to Ungar. As silence settled over them, the rest of the group slowly turned—to face Alabaster.
The Final Act: Hermes takes on the Ultimate-Lifeform.
Hermes and the others turned towards Alabaster who talked into a microphone on his lapel, "send it out, send out the monster." As he said this the ground began to shake. And from the earth appeared a girl that looked like Hermes, an elf girl who had white hair tied in a ponytail, but she had red eyes instead of blue and had no mouth. This evil Hermes. Ungar realized in an instant was the being that Alabaster was trying to create with the DNA he stole from Hermes during the Lodoria trials.
This evil Hermes waved her hand and created a portal, the portal sucked up only two individuals, this evil Hermes (the Ultimate Lifeform) and the Holy Prophet Hermes, the portal closed behind them and everyone else was left behind not knowing what would happen next. Hermes appeared in a world filled with beautiful water surrounded by water, and a marble platform stood in the middle. Her best friend Mira was there on the platform crying. "Hermes, Alabaster and this creature captured me. This evil-clone of yours. Please, you have to stop her." Hermes began to explode with energy like she never had before, her eyes glowing yellow, with golden divine energy, and her hair turning a translucent blue color, something that had never happened to her before. She was floating in midair. She uttered one word: "Die." She began an all-out assault against this so-called Ultimate-Lifeform, this evil clone of her, this cheap imitation.
The clone was an interesting character, it was filled with all the negative emotions and demonic qualities that Hermes held inside of her despite being a Prophet. It was time to end this, the battle would not be easy, this would truly be a clash of titans. The air crackled with divine and demonic energy, the clash of two ultimate forces standing upon the pristine marble platform. The serene water surrounding them roiled violently, reacting to the sheer power of the combatants. Hermes hovered above, her translucent blue hair flowing like liquid light, her eyes blazing with golden fury. Opposite her, the Ultimate-Lifeform—her twisted reflection—stood unmoving, red eyes burning with soulless malice.
A heartbeat of silence. Then, they moved. Hermes shot forward, a golden blur through the sky, fist cocked back with divine fury. The clone reacted instantly, vanishing and reappearing behind her, swinging a leg in a deadly arc. Hermes twisted midair, blocking just in time, the impact sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. The force shattered the marble beneath them, fissures spreading like spiderwebs.
With a snarl, the clone retaliated, thrusting a hand forward. From her palm erupted a swirling vortex of blackened energy, a howling void that consumed the light around it. Hermes countered with a radiant blast of pure divinity, the two forces colliding in a brilliant explosion that sent both warriors skidding backward. Mira clutched her chest, watching helplessly as the battle intensified, the sheer magnitude of their power making the air thick with tension.
Hermes didn't hesitate. She surged forward, weaving through a barrage of energy spikes hurled by her clone, dodging with fluid precision before slamming an elbow into her enemy's gut. The Ultimate-Lifeform doubled over, but only for a moment—her head snapped up, and with terrifying speed, she latched onto Hermes' wrist and hurled her through the air. Hermes twisted, righting herself, but the clone was already there. A fist slammed into her face, sending her spiraling. Another strike, then another. The world blurred. Blood spattered across the cracked marble. But Hermes was not done.
She gritted her teeth, golden energy roaring around her like an unyielding storm. She clapped her hands together, and from her core, a massive pulse of divine power exploded outward, sending her clone careening back. Hermes didn't give her a moment to recover. She dove, a celestial comet, and struck with an uppercut so fierce that the clone was launched into the sky. Hermes followed, appearing above her, hands clasped together as she brought them down like a hammer. The clone plummeted, slamming into the marble with such force that the entire platform trembled, deep cracks forming beneath her broken form. Yet, as the dust cleared, she began to rise, her soulless red eyes locked onto Hermes. There was no pain in her expression, no hesitation—only an endless, consuming rage.
"You're just a shadow," Hermes declared, golden light swirling around her as she ascended. "A parasite feeding off the worst parts of me. You don't belong here. You never did." The clone hissed—a guttural, inhuman sound. She lifted both hands, and the very air around her distorted. A black sphere of pure destruction formed above her, warping reality itself. The very water below evaporated, revealing an endless abyss. This was no ordinary attack—this was annihilation. The sphere of destruction pulsed, an abyssal tear in reality, devouring the world around it. The marble platform groaned beneath the gravitational force, pieces breaking off and vanishing into nothingness. The winds howled, the skies darkened, and the heavens trembled as the clone unleashed her ultimate attack.
Hermes didn't hesitate. She raised a hand, golden light coalescing into a radiant spear crackling with raw divine energy. Her wings of ethereal flame flared behind her, and with a single beat, she shot forward like a shooting star. The clone launched the black sphere, and it roared through the battlefield, consuming all in its path. The moment it neared Hermes, the air turned to ice, space itself distorting under the sheer magnitude of its power. But Hermes would not be denied. With a defiant cry, she twisted mid-air and hurled her golden spear straight into the heart of the void.
Light met darkness. The explosion was cataclysmic. A shockwave ripped across the battlefield, splitting the heavens in two. The ocean below parted, revealing the abyssal depths, as raw energy erupted outward. Mira was thrown back, shielding herself as the very fabric of existence screamed.
Through the chaos, Hermes burst forth from the detonation, a trail of golden flames in her wake. Her clone barely had time to react before Hermes was upon her, fist crashing into her ribs with a thunderous impact. The clone gagged, dark ichor spraying from her mouth, but Hermes did not relent. She spun, bringing her knee up into the clone's gut, then grabbed her by the throat, golden flames bursting from her fingertips. With a roar, she launched the clone downward, sending her hurtling like a comet into the fractured remains of the platform.
The moment the clone hit, the battlefield shattered completely. The marble exploded outward in a thousand pieces, the ocean surging to claim what was left. Only a few floating remnants of the platform remained, drifting like islands amidst the chaos. But it wasn't over. From the wreckage, a single red glow pierced through the darkness. The clone's broken form twitched, then moved. Bones snapped back into place, flesh stitched itself together unnaturally. A choked, rasping breath escaped her lips. Hermes narrowed her eyes.
The clone lifted her head, grinning through the blood smeared across her face. "You don't understand, do you?" Her voice was distorted, a cacophony of demonic echoes. "I am you. The part you fear. The rage. The hunger. The power you deny yourself." The ocean beneath them began to churn violently, dark tendrils rising from the depths, reaching for Hermes like the grasp of an ancient god. The clone lifted her arms, and the sky above split apart, revealing a swirling vortex of pure nothingness. Hermes clenched her fists. Enough.
She closed her eyes for the briefest moment, drawing in a deep breath. Then, she let go. A golden aura erupted around her, expanding outward like a supernova. The tendrils disintegrated upon contact, the storm above was driven back, and even the clone flinched. When Hermes opened her eyes, they burned like twin suns. "You are wrong," she said, her voice steady as the very air around her trembled. "You are not my power. You are my weakness." With that, she vanished.
In the blink of an eye, she reappeared before the clone, a golden afterimage in her wake. The clone had no time to react. Hermes drove her fist straight through her chest. A howl of agony. The clone's body seized, golden cracks spreading from the wound, divine fire consuming her from the inside out. She reached for Hermes, but her fingers crumbled into dust. "No," the clone snarled, her form flickering, breaking apart. "This isn't over." "It is," Hermes whispered.
With one final pulse of divine energy, the clone shattered, her remains dissolving into golden embers that scattered into the wind. The skies cleared, the ocean calmed, and silence returned. Hermes exhaled, lowering herself onto one of the last remaining pieces of the platform. The battle was over. For now. Mira stumbled forward, eyes wide in disbelief. "Hermes... that was—"
Hermes began to hug her best-friend Mira, "I was so worried, I saw a corpse in our dorm, I thought it was yours." Mira cried: "It's okay, it was a doomy those goons planted, I was okay, I was just so scared." Hermes held Mira tighter, as if letting go would make her disappear. The battle was over, but the fear still clung to her, wrapping around her ribs like a vice. She buried her face into Mira's shoulder, her breath shuddering against the weight of everything she had nearly lost. "I thought I was too late," Hermes whispered, her voice raw, trembling. "I saw that body, and I just— I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe." Mira's arms tightened around her, her own shoulders shaking. "I know," she murmured. "I know. When I saw the explosion, I thought—" Her voice broke, a sob escaping her throat. "I thought you were gone."
They stood there, holding onto each other as the ruins of the battlefield drifted around them, as the ocean gently rocked the broken remnants of their world. The golden embers of the fallen clone still danced in the air, carried away by the wind, but neither of them moved. Hermes finally pulled back, just enough to cup Mira's face between her hands. Mira's cheeks were damp with tears, her dark eyes wide and filled with something so fragile it ached. Hermes swallowed past the tightness in her throat, brushing a strand of Mira's hair back. "You're safe," she whispered, as if saying it would make it real. "That's all that matters." Mira let out a weak laugh, though fresh tears fell with it. "You're an idiot, you know that?" Her lips trembled, a wry smile breaking through the grief. "You fight gods. You tear through time and space. But when it comes to me, you—" She hiccupped, shaking her head. "You get scared."
Hermes gave a wet laugh in return, her forehead pressing against Mira's. "Of course I do," she murmured. "Because you're the one thing I can't lose." For a long moment, there was nothing but the sound of their breathing, the rhythm of their hearts trying to remember how to beat in a world that hadn't just crumbled. The golden light around Hermes flickered, fading, as exhaustion settled into her bones. But she didn't care. She was here. Mira was here. Mira sniffled, wiping at her face with a shaky hand. "Don't ever do that again," she muttered.
Hermes gave her a small, tired smile. "No promises." Mira groaned but pulled her back into another hug, and Hermes let herself sink into the warmth, the steadiness. For all the power she wielded, for all the battles she fought, this—this moment, this person—was the only thing that made her feel invincible. Hermes noticed a portal of light; it was clear that the portal would take them back to the real world, because she could see Ungar, Zaiyal and Talus on the other side. "Look, Mira a porta-" her sentence was cut off, Mira had stabbed her in the back, and then again and a third time. Mira smirked but still had a feeling of sadness in her voice, "Sorry Hermes, you know how it is, I know you don't know why I'm doing this, but maybe you'll forgive me in the hereafter." Hermes stepped back towards the edge of the marble platform… "Wh-" before she could finish what she was going to say Mira pushed her into the water in which her lifeless body quickly disappeared into the abyss. Mira looked back one more time and then flew up into the portal which after she exited the portal closed behind her forever.
Mira came out the other side crying hysterically telling of how Hermes sacrificed her life, and that this clone and Hermes destroyed each other in one giant cataclysmic blast. No one could believe it. Everyone bought it for a while, but what happened to Hermes, was she actually gone?