In another dream Hermes had recently she was swimming in the ocean when she rose to the surface she saw a group of three eyeballs rise from the surface of the waves. She fell beneath the waves and below was a grinning demonic-like face. It laughed and then descended beneath the waves. She continued to swim and saw a large shark with the bottom half of an octopus swimming around her that seemed to notice her but still ignored her. A giant marine reptile that resembled a Mosasaur who did the same. A large crocodile-like creature that resembled a hybrid between a crocodile and a shark. She noticed several large human faces beneath the waves and when she looked up there were giant whales and marine reptiles swimming in the sky much like the realm of Umi. She didn't know why but she seemed to be able to hold her breath indifferently and for some reason she began to swim deeper into the deep murky waters. Hermes' Descent into the Black Depths Hermes sank through the ocean's layers, the water growing colder and darker, the sunlight above a distant memory. Her breath felt unnecessary, as if the ocean had claimed her as its own. The weight of water became the weight of infinity itself.
Below her, the shapes began to emerge — not mere creatures, but beings, older than memory, forgotten by gods, lurking where no light had ever touched. The Watchers:
The first were the Eyeless Watchers, titanic serpentine forms coiled among the drowned ruins of cities no mortal had built. Their heads bore no features — just smooth, pale flesh where eyes or mouths should be — yet Hermes felt their gaze, as if their thoughts probed her soul. One shifted, and the water trembled. The currents whispered warnings, but the Watchers did not strike. They simply observed, unmoving, as if judging her worth against ancient laws none could remember.
From below rose a horror: a leviathan with the jagged head of a shark, yet its body unfurled like a vast, barbed ribbon. Rows of teeth lined its gaping mouth — not just one set, but dozens, spiraling into its throat like a tunnel of knives. Its black eyes fixed on Hermes… and then, with a shudder of its monstrous body, it turned, coiling away into the abyss, as though repulsed or unwilling.
She passed a colossus that seemed part jellyfish, part hag — a bloated mass of translucent flesh and tangled tentacles, the largest of which ended in clawed, human-like hands. Its face was a mask of bone, eyeless sockets, and lipless grin. It loomed over her, its hands flexing as if tasting the thought of violence. And then it retreated, vanishing into clouds of black ink that bled from its skin, as if the ocean itself hid it out of mercy. The Crocshark
Farther down lurked the Crocshark, a predator of monstrous proportions — the fusion of crocodile bulk and shark agility. Its scales glistened like armor, its jaws capable of shearing ships in two. It circled Hermes, slow and ponderous, its nostrils flaring as if scenting her spirit rather than her flesh. It opened its maw — wide enough to swallow her whole — and then, inexplicably, closed it again. It swam off, disappearing into the folds of the sea. The Whale Lords of the Sky-Sea: Hermes glanced upward — and the world turned inside out. The sky was not sky but another ocean, where titanic whales, their bodies veiled in coral and seaweed, soared like birds. Their songs vibrated through the water and the bones of the earth itself. Among them swam creatures like plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs, but changed — their forms elongated, ethereal, as if halfway into spirit.
As she descended deeper, faces appeared in the gloom. Immense, human-like visages carved from coral and stone, or perhaps something alive. Their expressions were blank, but their mouths gaped as if to scream, though no sound emerged. Some faces wept tears of stinging brine; others smiled with a terrible serenity. They lined the trench walls, guardians of some sunken truth Hermes dared not name. The Demon-Laugher: Deeper still, where light and logic ended, she saw it — the Demon-Laugher. A face vast as a mountain, horned, its grin so wide it split the sea in two. Its teeth were tombstones. Its eyes were black holes. It laughed — a sound felt more than heard, that shook her bones, her mind, her soul. But the thing did not rise, did not strike. It only watched her with eternal mockery, before slowly sinking into blackness, as if returning to a sleep from which none should wake it. The Call of the Deep: Hermes felt the pull of the ocean floor, of the trench that yawned beneath her like the mouth of the world. Shapes swirled within it — shadows with limbs too many to count, fins like wings, jaws that opened onto darkness deeper still. And yet, none touched her. The sea itself seemed to shield her, as if Hermes carried within her some sign, some spark, that even the monsters of the deep dared not violate. Why didn't these creatures attack her?
Hermes sank, drawn ever downward, the weight of unseen currents urging her toward the mouth of the trench — a chasm so vast it might have been the scar of some ancient war between titanic gods. The water here was no longer cold, but warm, almost feverish, pulsing as if the sea itself had a heartbeat.
Suddenly, the darkness shimmered. Shapes coalesced: beings of pure abyss, neither flesh nor spirit, outlines of impossible geometry. They moved in patterns that defied sense — circling her, yet never drawing nearer, their forms shifting from angular stars to writhing knots of serpents to clouds of flickering eyes. She felt their silent song, not in her ears but in her blood: "Return. You are not of the Depth."
The trench seemed to breathe. A current surged upward, wrapping Hermes in its embrace, lifting her away from the maw of the world's ending. The faces in the walls closed their mouths. The Demon-Laugher's grin faded into the black. And the monsters of the deep — the Crocshark, the Hag Jelly, the Eyeless Watchers — turned from her as one, retreating into their dark dominions.
Hermes rose, faster now, the water parting around her like wings of liquid night, until she broke the surface — gasping not for breath, but for memory, for self. The dream dissolved, leaving only the echo of the abyss's call lingering in her heart. Back at the tournament the Coyote Wolf i.e. Anonymous entered the tournament ring. Meanwhile the Imam went into the temple to speak to X. "I wasn't sure if it was you, but now there can be no doubt. Its amazing that after these countless trillions of years you remain a proof I've only been a proof for a little over 2,000 at least in my hidden abode and my time is nearly at an end as a proof of the age, yet you remain and your time has barely begun." X smiled underneath the mask. "You know who I am? Very impressive Tabe." The Saint smiled: "This Anonymous figure is nothing I can't deal with. So I imagine he'll be nothing for you either." X laughed: "He's grown powerful, powerful enough to neutralize even more powerful foes, and it isn't just him he would be a valuable asset for the beings of the void or worse." The Imam for once looked perplexed. X left for the arena, "If I fail, Hermes must put down this beast."
The Coyote starred through his robe across to X: "My, my, I thought you put your tail between your legs and ran away. That would have been the logical reaction to facing off against such a superior opponent." Zing pointed out, "Look for once X is in a serious fighting position." Hermes replied: "Could it be, no what is she up to?! Damn her!" The Coyote Wolf responded: "I'll make this quick and put you out of your misery. I want Hermes. With her death my power will be unmatched." X replied: "You've never changed Lucious, your dark heart knows no bounds, but if you're so strong why could two humble warriors defeat you time and time again, you're lucky they're long dead." The Coyote Wolf began to shudder in fear, "How does she know all that?" The Coyote Wolf began to shake from anger: "I've had enough of your shit, who the hell are you woman?!" But without bothering to respond X shot a blast of energy knocking Lucious into the air. He screamed in terror she immideatly took to the air after him. Lucious took back his composure: "TELL ME WHO ARE YOU, YOU FUCKING BITCH!!" He tried to shoot a blast of Qadar at the audience which X blocked flying towards a near by moon that was reduced to half its original size. This terrified X that he unleashed this much power but Lucious used the opportunity to appear behind her knocking her to the earth. But she rose again. Ungar looked on: "Her fighting style is similar to mine." Lupus choked on his own spit. "You're kidding?!"
Lucious began to grumble: "By her appearance I just be able to take down this human with a single punch, but her fighting style is similar to mine, how bizarre." X coughed up some blood that she spat from behind her mask. Like lightning it came to the Coyote Wolf. "OF COURSE! How did I not know it before. SISTER NEBULA, My humble creator and rival, the creator of the last 1,000 cycles of this world, it's so nice to grace us with your presence." X responded, "I don't know what you're talking about?!" The Coyote Wolf laughed: "I've had enough of your fucking deception!" With a blast of his finger the mask and cloak were described beneath was the face of a middle-aged woman, her pig tails were destroyed and her long pink hair was exposed, she had very large breasts and she was dressed in a girdle with a pink cape. Ungar fell to his knees, "MY MASTER!" The Coyote wolf laughed hysterically, "How noble the God of this world has returned to save her feeble little servants. How touching."
"Listen well!" He told Hermes, Lupus, Talus and the others. "A thousand trillion trillion years ago, the old god of this world — Illuviator — a mortal who rose to the throne of godhood, grew old. He sought a successor… so he created her — Nebula, the pink-haired queen who stands before you. She was to rule over the Gettlings, like me, like my kin, and guide this world through a thousand more cycles — the Adwar. She shaped the worlds, breathed life into the new age. She is the superior of even the Imam… the true proof of proofs!"
Ungar continued, his voice trembling. "Like me, she is immortal. She cannot die. She will only pass beyond when she has lived through countless infinities. Long ago, with the consent of Ozzy the Rabbit, Illuviator commanded Nebula to create a rival — a spirit forged to test her worthiness for godhood. That spirit… that being of pride… took the form of a monstrous ogre. When he lost to Nebula, he cursed her, and for his wickedness, he was doomed to be reborn again and again across the last five thousand years. And in this age… that cursed soul stands before you as the Coyote Wolf or Lucious I suppose. It makes sense this upstart was the Coyote Wolf all along." The Coyote Wolf looked over and then looked back at X, "I couldn't say it better myself, you, besides Hermes and those meddling father and son I fought centuries ago are the one I hate the most, Nebula."
Nebula laughed, "You can hate me all you want Lucious, but you know as well as I do if I kill you it's as if I killed any other creation, if you kill me as my creation its as if a mortal destroyed God, killing himself and defying his own creation." Lucious laughed: "I know that all too well. But I don't need to kill you at all. Observe." From beneath his hood the Coyote Wolf unhinged his jaw and a cyclone began to appear. It was in the process of engulfing Nebula. Nebula began to shake in fear in a moment it was all over. The announcer cried out that the winner was Anonymous. A quiet shrill: "Don't bother." The Coyote Wolf threw off his mask. "IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE I AM THE COYOTE WOLF, Lucious, the future god of this world!! And now that those two upstart warriors from centuries past are dealt with and now my pompous creator I will go on to destroy Hermes as well. Don't worry to the rest of you, when I'm done I'll kill the rest of Hermes' friends or seal them. AND THEN, I will rule this backwards planet. AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" The audience was nervous but assumed, this must be part of the act like a wrestling match.
From the background on top of a Pagoda, Kakia look on in delight, "this is starting to get good." The announcer cried out: "We will have an 8 minute intermission before the final match of the tournament." The Coyote Wolf smirked. The Coyote Wolf walked over to Hermes, "You surprised to see me?" Hermes didn't respond a stoic look draped across her face emotionless. "No Ozzy, told me of your coming." The Coyote Wolf laughed, "Well here's a little secret I found out from the Other World. As soon as I devour your flesh I will be the god of this new world." Hermes was struck, "What?!" The Coyote Wolf laughed, "That's right as soon as this match is over, I'm going eat you. Didn't the Imam tell you, you're flesh if devoured will turn that whom which devours it into a god."
The stadium hummed with uneasy anticipation as the Coyote Wolf's laughter echoed into the sky, his voice like a storm threatening to break. The audience murmured, caught between the thrill of spectacle and the chill of dread. Hermes clenched her fists at her sides. Her usually calm, golden eyes flickered with the faintest tremor of confusion—and beneath that, fear. The Coyote Wolf's grin widened as he stepped closer, his aura dark and crackling like a tempest ready to engulf the world. His shadow seemed larger than life, swallowing the very light around him. "Hermes, my poor child… let me enlighten you before I consume you." His voice was low, mocking, but with an edge of deadly truth. "You walk this world, beloved by fools and feared by the wise. And yet… you don't even know what you are, do you?" Hermes stiffened, her heart pounding. "Long ago—so long that mortals have forgotten—the cosmos trembled at the birth of a demon, a tyrant who sought to seize divinity itself. A monster so vile, even the stars recoiled from his presence. He conquered, he devoured, he crushed worlds beneath his heel… until the gods themselves sealed him away, shattering his essence across time and space."
Hermes' eyes widened. "And that essence, oh sweet Hermes, was destined to return. Again and again. Wearing different skins, bearing different names. Each time reborn, each time cursed to wander in ignorance of the evil that spawned you." Hermes shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. "No… that's not true…" "Oh, but it is!" Lucious hissed, his fangs bared. "The demon's flesh—your flesh—was blessed and cursed by the gods and other beings beyond this world alike. Whoever devours it gains the strength of ten thousand lifetimes. The power to ascend beyond mortality. The power to remake reality itself! In short to become the Ultimate Truth, to become God." He drew closer, his breath like ice. "And you, Hermes… you are the latest vessel of that demon's accursed soul. This world calls you monster not because of what you've done—but because they feel what you are. The weight of your countless sins echoes in their hearts. That's why no matter how kind you are, no matter how hard you try—they recoil. They fear you. Its just instinct after all, you can hardly blame them." Hermes' knees trembled. Memories—fragments—flickered through her mind. Faces she had never seen, lives she had never lived: a giant creature laying waste to cities; a horned beast howling at the heavens; a shadowed king seated upon a throne.
Lucious' voice grew darker, his tone almost triumphant. "I will devour you, Hermes. I will finish what the gods began. When your holy flesh becomes part of me, I will ascend—I will be god, not a failed creation like Nebula insisted I'd become. And the age of Lucious will begin!" Hermes clenched her fists so tightly that blood dripped from her palms. "I… I'm not that monster. I can't be…" Lucious smirked, tilting his head. "Keep telling yourself that, little lamb. When the bell rings, I will tear that holy flesh from your bones, and this world will finally belong to me! Ahahahaha!" Lucious pointed towards the Imam, "If I'm lying ask him yourself." The Shaykh looked down his face said it all, it was all tre. The eight-minute intermission was nearly over. The audience watched, oblivious to the cosmic terror brewing between the two warriors at the heart of the arena.
On the pagoda, Kakia's eyes gleamed, her grin stretching wide. "This… this is the kind of chaos I live for… Hermes is a demon as well, some pedigree she has." Hermes stared at the ground, her mind a storm of doubt, terror, and resolve. But as the final gong echoed across the arena, she lifted her gaze—no longer empty or confused, but burning with a fire born of defiance. "I don't care what I was… or what you think I still am. I will not let you harm this world!"
Hermes smiled; "We'll see about that. I am a demon after all. I'll bury you. I beat you at your own game." The Coyote Wolf smiled, "Oh I have no doubt, when it comes to being a nusance other than those two warriors that bested me long ago, no one is more tedious to deal with than you." The tension in the air was so thick it felt like the whole world held its breath. The final gong reverberated through the stadium, its echo rolling over the sea of silent spectators. Dust rose from the cracked stone of the arena, catching the glint of the sun. The stage was set. The last battle was about to begin.
The announcer wiped the sweat from his brow, trying to keep his voice steady as he lifted the microphone. His words boomed across the arena. "AND NOW… THE FINAL MATCH OF THIS LEGENDARY TOURNAMENT! On one side, the terror of this age—the one who has swept aside every challenger—the Coyote Wolf, LUCIUS!!" The crowd roared, though unease tinged their cheers, many sensing something darker lurking beneath Lucius' dramatic persona. "AND FACING HIM… the warrior who stands alone against despair, the hope of the world, HERMES!!" A wave of cheers and cries of encouragement filled the air. Children waved banners, old masters watched with narrowed eyes, and on the pagoda Kakia licked her lips in anticipation, savoring the chaos that was sure to follow. The two fighters stepped onto the platform. Hermes stood still, the wind tugging at her hair, her aura now visible as a soft golden glow, like a rising sun. The fire of defiance blazed in her gaze. She breathed slowly, centering herself, her body relaxed but ready—like a coiled spring.
Lucius smirked, his cloak billowing behind him, his dark energy rippling outward in black waves that cracked the tiles beneath his feet. His eyes locked onto Hermes', a predator savoring the moment before the kill. The announcer stepped back, his voice trembling as he gave the final word: "BEGIN!!" The moment the word left his mouth, the ground erupted beneath the fighters' feet as both launched forward—BOOM! The air cracked as their fists collided dead center, the shockwave rocking the entire arena. Dust and debris shot outward in a circle, forcing the front rows of the crowd to shield their faces. Lucius' grin widened as he pushed into Hermes' fist, the sheer force causing the stone beneath them to crumble further.
"Not bad," he hissed, his voice filled with twisted delight. "Let's see how long you can last!" Hermes said nothing. She twisted, slipping past his guard, and delivered a lightning-fast strike to his side. Lucius staggered—just for a heartbeat—before retaliating with a brutal knee toward her ribs. Hermes blocked, their auras clashing again in a burst of light and shadow. They leapt apart, circling each other, both breathing steady but fierce, eyes locked in a deadly dance.
Lucius lunged, his hands clawing through the air as he unleashed a storm of dark energy blasts. Hermes dashed, weaving between them, the ground exploding behind her as each blast struck. She skidded low and sprang forward, aiming a flying kick at his chest—but Lucius caught her ankle mid-air, smirking. Hermes twisted, using the momentum to swing her other leg upward, nailing him in the jaw. Lucius' head snapped back, but his grin never faded. They landed, feet slamming to the stone at the exact same instant. The crowd was on its feet now—gasps, cheers, the roar of the storm that was their battle filling every heart with awe and dread. Lucius wiped a trickle of blood from his lip, his eyes wild with exhilaration. "Yes… YES! This is it, Hermes! Show me that monster's strength! Let it out so I can devour it all!" Hermes steadied her breath, her golden aura flaring brighter, pushing back the encroaching darkness of Lucius' power.
"I'm not fighting for you," she said softly. "I'm fighting for everyone else." Lucius' smile sharpened. "Then you're fighting a losing battle." Hermes flipped midair, landing on the tips of her toes on the very edge of the shattered stone. The crowd gasped as she skidded to a stop—one slip, and she'd be out. But she didn't fall. Instead, she pushed off the edge with blinding speed, rocketing straight back at Lucius. SWOOSH! Her fist flew toward his face—but Lucius raised both arms in time to block, the force of the blow sending him skidding back, his boots digging trenches in the arena floor.
Lucius' dark aura burst outward, and he charged again, his fists a blur. Hermes weaved and dodged, their silhouettes flashing in and out of view as they traded blows at impossible speeds. CRACK! Hermes' elbow slammed into Lucius' cheek. SMASH! Lucius' palm caught her rib in retaliation, knocking the wind from her lungs. She staggered, but only for a breath. Lucius followed up, throwing a double-fist strike down toward her head—but Hermes caught his wrists, the ground beneath her feet crumbling under the strain. "Not bad… for a demon who pretends to be a hero!" Lucius sneered, his muscles bulging as he tried to overpower her. Hermes' eyes narrowed, veins bulging on her arms as she held him back. "I'm not pretending… I am!" With a roar, she twisted, breaking his grip, and leapt into the air, flipping over him. As she soared behind Lucius, she lashed out with a blinding kick—BAM!—catching him square in the back and sending him flying face-first into the arena wall.
BOOM! The stone shattered on impact, dust and debris exploding outward. The crowd erupted—some in awe, some in terror at the sheer destruction. But before the dust even cleared, Lucius burst from the rubble with a feral grin, blood dripping down his brow. "Yesss! That's it, Hermes! Show me your true power! Stop holding back!" Hermes landed in a crouch, breathing hard but steady, her golden aura flaring brighter, lighting up the battlefield. Lucius raised his hands, gathering dark energy between his palms—a swirling sphere of chaos that pulsed with malevolent power. Hermes mirrored him, her own energy swirling in her hands—a brilliant orb of light, fierce and pure. The crowd fell silent, sensing what was about to happen. And then— BOOM! Both fighters launched their attacks simultaneously, their aura colliding mid-air in a brilliant explosion of light and shadow. The shockwave leveled the remaining arena walls, the force rippling out for miles, shaking the heavens themselves.
Lucius stood over Hermes' fallen form, his chest heaving, dark energy crackling and fading from his fists. The ground beneath Hermes was cracked and scorched where her body had struck, a small crater formed from the force of Lucius' final punch. The golden glow of her aura flickered weakly around her, like a dying flame. The stadium was deathly silent. Dust swirled in the broken remains of the arena, the sky above heavy with tension. All eyes were fixed on Lucius—on the monster who now seemed unstoppable. Lucius wiped the blood from his mouth, smirking as he let his guard fall for a moment. His eyes turned to Lupus in the crowd—Lupus, who stood tall despite the storm of rage building inside him.
Lucius' smirk deepened, his voice dripping with venom. "Well, well… look at that stare. I heard you took back your little empire, Wolf-King. Don't worry—I'll be taking it back soon enough. Is that a wife and kids I see?" His gaze slid to Ashley, who clutched young Nero tightly against her, her eyes wide with horror. Jr. and Kazan stepped in front of her, their fists clenched, teeth gritted in defiance. Lucius chuckled darkly. "You bred with a human girl… had some half-breeds… how cute." His eyes glinted with malice. "Don't worry. After I'm finished with Hermes, I'll tear through you. I'll burn your home to ash. I'll make sure your little half-blood brats watch as I do it. And then I'll kill your wife and kids, so you can all spend eternity together." Lupus' body trembled, his claws digging into the railing, sparks flying from where his fingers raked across the stone. His golden eyes burned with fury, but he held himself back—for now. Lucius felt it—the weight of Lupus' hatred, the storm waiting to explode. For a brief moment, a chill ran down Lucius' spine. But he shoved it aside, lifting his foot over Hermes' limp form. "Pathetic. I thought you were supposed to be my rival. The last hope of this world. Some god-flesh you are."
He scoffed, but as he moved to step down, something gnawed at him. His grin faltered ever so slightly. His eyes narrowed. "Get up," he growled, his voice low at first. "I know you're faking." Hermes didn't move. Lucius' aura flared again, shadows whipping around him like tendrils. His voice rose, filled with anger, desperation, and anticipation all at once. "GET UP, HERMES!! Don't play dead! Don't you dare rob me of my victory like this! You hear me?! I KNOW YOU'RE STILL IN THERE!!" The entire stadium trembled beneath his voice. The sky darkened, clouds swirling above as if the heavens themselves were reacting to his rage. Hermes lay still. And then— A faint glow. A flicker of golden light beneath the rubble. Lucius froze, his breath caught in his throat, eyes wide as he felt it—the rising pulse of power. A storm of energy that had not been extinguished, only hidden, biding its time.
The Abyss:
Hermes' eyes fluttered open, though no breath escaped her lips. She floated weightless in the cold black depths of the oceanic void, deeper than any mortal had ever seen. Around her, monstrous shapes glided silently through the water—colossal, ancient beings that defied reason and dwarfed even the largest leviathans. First came the mosasaurs—serpentine, armored beasts with jaws lined with countless dagger-like teeth. Their eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, watching her with a mixture of curiosity and reverence. A pair of them circled protectively, their forms gliding like shadows. Then came the plesiosaurs—graceful, long-necked, their fins moving with the slow, powerful rhythm of titans. They dipped their heads as they passed, acknowledging her presence. Beyond them, the krakens loomed—impossibly large squids whose tentacles stretched out into the black, wrapping the abyss itself in a tangle of strength. Their unblinking eyes gazed at her, ancient wisdom within their depths. Stranger creatures followed: fish with bodies like drifting lanterns, fins trailing like veils; beasts that resembled armored sharks, their bodies bristling with spikes; jellyfish the size of ships, pulsing with faint bioluminescence. And those things with eyes—so many eyes—staring at her in silent worship, mouths agape, as if chanting without sound.
Each monster, each nightmare of the deep, slowed as it passed, turning toward her. They began to kneel—or as close to kneeling as such beings could—bowing their heads or lowering their massive bodies in deference. The sea itself seemed to bow. Hermes floated at the center of it all, small and fragile, yet radiant. A queen of this forgotten world. And then, through the curtain of leviathans, emerged a shape so vast the ocean itself seemed to shrink around it—a massive face, humanoid but demonic, carved from the abyss itself. Its eyes glowed like dying suns, its grin wide and knowing. Its voice boomed in her mind, not in sound, but in truth: "Let go of yourself, Hermes." She trembled, unable to look away. "This monster you face—Lucius—is only the tip of the iceberg. There are greater storms beyond him. Greater evils. You will need us. And we will serve you… but you must first accept what you are." The face drew closer, its vastness overwhelming, as if the entire sea were its body. "Let go of your fear. Let go of your doubts. Let the abyss within you awaken. Only then will you stand against the darkness to come."
Hermes stared back, tears mingling with the water around her, her heart beating louder than the roar of the ocean. And as the monsters of the deep rose around her, as if to lift her back toward the surface, she understood: She was not alone. The ocean—her ocean—was with her. For a breathless moment, the world seemed frozen. The dust hung in the air like a veil, the cracked earth beneath Hermes' body silent as a grave. Then—BOOM. A pulse of golden light erupted from beneath the rubble, a shockwave that blasted the debris skyward, sending shards of stone raining down like meteors. The ground trembled. The very air seemed to hum with raw, untamed power. Lucius stumbled back a step, eyes wide as he shielded his face from the blinding brilliance. From the heart of that light, Hermes rose—slowly, gracefully. The golden aura around her no longer flickered—it burned, pure and fierce, like a newborn star. But it was different now. It was no longer wild, no longer straining.
It flowed around her in perfect harmony, a radiant storm that danced with impossible fluidity. Her hair floated weightlessly in the glow, her eyes now gleaming silver, as if the heavens themselves were gazing through her. Lucius stared, stunned for the first time. "W-what is this…?" Hermes said nothing. WHOOSH. Before Lucius could react, she was gone from where she stood. He barely had time to turn his head before— CRACK! Hermes' fist slammed into his gut with such force that the shockwave flattened what was left of the arena floor. Lucius doubled over, the air driven from his lungs. WHAM! Her elbow crashed into his back as he bent forward, sending him face-first into the stone with earth-shattering impact. BOOM! He tried to rise—but Hermes was already there, gripping him by the collar. In a blur, she hurled him skyward like he weighed nothing. The crowd gasped as Lucius shot through the air, flailing. Hermes appeared above him before he could stop himself, twisting mid-air and driving both feet into his chest—BAM!—sending him hurtling downward like a comet.
BOOM! The crater where he landed spread wide, the earth cracking like glass beneath the force. Before Lucius could even cough up blood, Hermes was there again, dragging him out of the rubble and tossing him across the arena like a rag doll. Each impact echoed like thunder. Lucius bounced, rolled, smashed through walls—nothing slowed her relentless assault. She moved like water, like wind, untouchable, unstoppable, every strike precise and devastating.
The audience watched in awe and terror, unable to believe what they were witnessing. Lucius finally managed to right himself, skidding along the ruined ground, panting, blood dripping from his mouth and nose. His cloak was in tatters, his body bruised and battered. He wiped the blood from his face with a trembling hand, glaring at Hermes with wild, disbelieving eyes. He floated over the stadium now, shaking with rage, his aura flickering erratically, no longer smooth but jagged, unstable. "You… you...!" His voice cracked, fury consuming him. "HOW DARE YOU!!" Hermes hovered below, her silver eyes calm, focused. The golden aura rippled around her like a divine flame, her breathing slow, steady—untouched by exhaustion. Lucius' fists clenched, his body shaking with fury. The tide had turned. And Lucius knew it. Lucius' fury reached its breaking point. His dark aura exploded outward in a violent surge of shadow and flame, tearing deep gouges into the earth, making the very sky seem to tremble. His teeth clenched so hard blood ran from his gums. His eyes, wild and bloodshot, locked onto Hermes. "I'll destroy you, monster! I'll erase you from this world!!" With a guttural roar, Lucius thrust his hands forward, the black energy gathering between his palms coalescing into a massive, writhing sphere—a swirling mass of nightmarish chaos, crackling with tendrils of violet lightning. The orb expanded, larger and larger, until it filled the shattered arena with its malevolent glow.
Hermes answered with no words. Her eyes gleamed brighter than ever, silver like twin moons. She drew in a deep breath, lifting her hands, the golden aura around her surging, condensing into a sphere of purest light—brilliant, steady, unstoppable. The radiance of it banished shadow, illuminating the battlefield like a dawn that refused to die. The two forces—light and darkness, hope and hatred—seemed to make the entire world hold its breath. Lucius hurled his blast toward her with a howl of rage. "BEGONE!!" Hermes launched hers at the same instant, her voice steady, powerful, carrying the hopes of all who watched. "This ends now!" The beams met mid-air with an impact that shattered reality itself—the ground split, the sky roared, the ocean beyond the horizon boiled as the shockwave tore through the world. The struggle began.
Lucius snarled, pouring every ounce of his hate, his ambition, his hunger for godhood into the blast. His feet dug into the ground, the stone beneath him crumbling away under the sheer pressure. Hermes gritted her teeth, her body straining against the force, the gold of her aura blazing ever brighter. She felt the weight of the abyss behind her—the silent promise of the leviathans, the krakens, the mosasaurs, all of them lending their unseen strength, the will of the deep flowing through her veins. The beams pulsed and crackled, the collision point wavering, pushing first toward Hermes, then toward Lucius, back and forth as the two forces battled for dominance. Lucius roared louder, dark veins bulging on his arms and neck. "DIE ALREADY!!"
Hermes closed her eyes for a heartbeat, feeling the power of the abyss, of the ocean's monsters who knelt to her, the trust of those she fought for. When she opened them again, they burned like silver fire. She stepped forward. One step. Two steps. With each step, her beam surged, overwhelming the darkness, pushing Lucius' attack back inch by inch. Lucius' eyes widened in disbelief, sweat and blood streaming down his face. His arms trembled, his knees buckled. "NO—IMPOSSIBLE!!"
After it was over the dust settled and Lucious was still there he descended and the two began to fight each other again but this was just a mirage. Sir Rhyme looked on and Nova reacted: "They're fighting as if nothing happened?" Sir Rhyme investigated the situation a little more. What had really occurred is the Coyote Wolf had brought Hermes into another world. She was alone and as she got up she noticed a dark palace chamber with giant orbs on the walls. She saw the Coyote Wolf in front of her. "This is the same palace where I almost killed those two warriors, it lies at the end of the Seven Gates." Hermes wiped her face: "Another magic chick. I should have known you being a warlock and all." Hermes tried to use her magic but couldn't. The Coyote Wolf laughed, "Ahahahaha. Those two warriors never noticed because they never had considerable magic power but this realm nulfillies this sort of thing, its nice to see the look on someone's face when that occurs." Hermes grew nervous, the scene around her looked like some kind of tacky fantasy novel one would pick up at a Goodwill but the situation was anything but not serious.
Hermes clenched her fists, her breath steadying as she stared at the towering glass orbs embedded in the walls of the dark palace. Each orb pulsed with a sickly light, as if they were watching her—mocking her—feeding off her powerlessness. The air was thick, heavy, humming with the Coyote Wolf's foul energy. Lucius stood tall, arms crossed, his torn cloak billowing like a shadow made flesh. His grin was cruel, his fangs glinting in the dim glow of the orbs. "You see it now, don't you?" he said, his voice echoing through the vast chamber. "These orbs sustain this microverse. The same trap that nearly killed those two wretched warriors who challenged me centuries ago." He spread his arms wide, as if embracing the nightmare. "But this time I'll succeed, get ready to lose." Hermes narrowed her eyes, sweat beading on her brow as she scanned the orbs, as if searching for a weakness.
And then she moved. BOOM. Her fist slammed into the nearest orb. The impact sent cracks spidering across its surface. Lucius flinched at the suddenness of it, his grin faltering into a snarl. BOOM! BOOM! Hermes struck again. And again. Each punch rang through the chamber like thunder, her knuckles bloodied, her breath ragged—but the orbs, though cracked, held firm. Lucius' rage boiled over. His voice echoed with fury. "STOP THAT!! YOU INSOLENT WRETCH!!" But then, as the cracks grew deeper, his anger twisted into dark amusement. His laughter filled the palace, cold and hollow. "AHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, you fool! You think brute strength alone will save you? That problem was fixed long ago! When those two warriors tried the same desperate gambit, they succeeded, they won and I lost—but I learned. You'll need far more power to break these now!" Hermes staggered back, panting, staring at the fractured glass, despair clawing at the edge of her mind.
Then—she closed her eyes. The palace trembled. A deep, cold pulse thudded through the walls, as if the abyss itself had come knocking. Hermes opened her arms, palms out, and called. From the unseen corners of this cursed world, the ocean answered. A crack formed in the floor beneath her feet. Water—black as night, cold as death—poured into the palace in a massive torrent. The tide surged, rising higher and higher, filling the vast chamber. And with it came the monsters. First, the krakens: their massive tentacles snaking through the flood, wrapping around pillars, pulling at the walls with ancient hunger. Then the mosasaurs: their jaws wide, teeth like ivory swords, ramming the orbs with all the force of the deep. The plesiosaurs followed, their sleek forms weaving through the rising waters, slamming into the glass with relentless fury. Stranger beings too emerged from the flood—beasts of impossible shape, eyes glowing like lanterns in the deep, mouths filled with jagged teeth, shrieking silently in the vacuum of the drowned palace.
Lucius staggered, his confidence faltering as he felt the structure groan under the onslaught. "NO… NO! THIS WORLD IS MINE! YOU CAN'T—!"
But it was too late. One orb shattered. Then another. The flood burst through the cracks, tearing at the fabric of the microverse. The palace walls split and buckled. The sky of this pocket dimension cracked open like glass under a hammer. Hermes, hair floating wild in the floodwaters, stood at the heart of the storm, her eyes glowing silver, saltwater streaming down her face like tears of the abyss. And then— CRACK! BOOM! The microverse collapsed.
The Tournament Arena – Real Time
In the real world, the afterimages of Hermes and Lucius flickered, then vanished like mist on the wind. The crowd gasped. Sir Rhyme stepped forward, his eyes wide. Nova clenched his fists. And then—a portal ripped open above the ruined stage. CRASH! Hermes and Lucius tumbled through it, drenched, their clothes in tatters, coated in salt and seaweed, their chests heaving with exhaustion. They hit the ground hard, the arena floor cracking beneath them. Water splashed across the stones, steam rising where it met the scorched earth. For a long heartbeat, no one spoke. Then Lucius coughed, wiped blood and salt from his mouth, and glared at Hermes, fury and disbelief burning in his eyes.
Hermes slowly rose to her feet, her legs trembling, her silver gaze never leaving his. Lucious lunged forward, "This is like to see, challenge me warrior!" The new continued their battle. Lucious laughed as if he had reached his second wave: "Let's be clear. My power far succeeds the power I had on Alpha-10 not so long ago." Hermes laughed: "No kidding, that makes two of us then." The announcer was astonished: "We have never had a match like this both fighters are covered in water and seawood where did they go?! I thought it was over but it seems this fight is only beginning." The Coyote Wolf laughed as he continued to counter and strike Hermes; "Hehehe, once I get rid of you this world will be mine for the taking. This whole planet will bow to me!" Hermes smirked: "Laugh it up. You'll have to take down the monster before you can even dream of doing that." The Coyote Wolf smirked again, "You're not like the other fodder AT ALL are you, perhaps I can show you a little more. Don't think I'm out of steam yet, I'll take my time before I tear you limb from limb." The fight continued a little longer, "No your place you fucking rodent. Under my heel!" Hermes laughed: "You talk as if you already rule this world." The Coyote Wolf laughed: "I'm above all other Creation. I must show that weaklings and dissidents are meant to perish there should be no challenge to my rule! I'll make sure to squash you like the insect you are!" Hermes replied: "Why don't you show me some real power then, stop holding back!" The Coyote Wolf cackled: "So be it. When you witness this your blood will run cold! You should be honored to see this level of power!"
The ground trembled as Lucius spread his arms wide, his head tilted back, laughter echoing like thunder across the shattered arena. His dark aura, already chaotic and wild, began to boil—deep crimson energy flooding out of him, consuming the black tendrils of his previous power. The air itself seemed to burn around him, the heat warping the very light, making his figure shimmer like a mirage of pure hatred. "BEHOLD, HERMES!" Lucius roared, his voice deeper, more monstrous, as if something ancient and demonic had awakened within him. "This is what true power looks like! The power that will grind you beneath my heel! The power that will devour the stars!" His body grew even more imposing—muscles swelling, veins bulging black against skin now darkened with the corruption of his rage. His fangs lengthened, his eyes glowed blood-red, and jagged horns, twisted and cruel, erupted from his brow. The red aura blazed around him like an inferno, crackling with violent lightning that split the ground beneath his feet.
The crowd recoiled, gasping in terror. The sky darkened further, the storm above churning as if the heavens themselves were cowering before the birth of this nightmare form.
Lucius pointed a clawed hand at Hermes, the ground crumbling at the sheer force radiating from his gesture. "Prepare yourself, monster. I'll tear you apart until not even the abyss can remember you existed!" Hermes stood firm, battered and bruised, her hair plastered to her face from seawater, her clothing in tatters—but her eyes... her silver eyes never wavered. She took a deep breath. The golden light of her aura flared once more—not wild and raging like Lucius' demonic storm, but steady, focused, like the deep ocean current. She lowered into her stance, feeling the strength of the leviathans still with her—the krakens, the mosasaurs, the plesiosaurs, the ancient watchers of the abyss. Lucius lunged, his claws slashing through the air like blades of fire. Hermes moved. She met his strike head-on, their fists colliding in an explosion of red and gold light. The shockwave cracked the very mountains in the distance, sent tidal waves crashing on unseen shores.
Lucius grinned, expecting her to falter under his demonic might—but she didn't. She countered, her movements fluid, precise. His monstrous strength met her grace, her will, her unbreakable resolve. Each strike of his claws was deflected. Each of his kicks met with a block or a swift retaliation. She danced within his storm, untouchable, as if the abyss itself guided her limbs. Lucius snarled in frustration, his strikes growing more savage, more desperate. "You can't keep this up forever!" he spat, his voice a guttural growl. "You can't match me at this level!" Hermes smiled—not in arrogance, but in quiet defiance. "You don't get it, do you? I don't match you… I surpass you. Because I'm not fighting for myself. I'm fighting for everyone." Lucius bellowed in fury and unleashed a devastating wave of red energy, trying to erase her in a single blow. But Hermes met it with both hands, her golden aura flaring bright, absorbing the force, holding it at bay, until with a roar of her own she pushed it back—shattering it like glass.
The stadium rocked, pillars toppled, and the audience could only stare in stunned silence as the battlefield became a storm of clashing gods. Lucius, now panting, sweat and blood mingling on his brow, glared at her, trembling not with fear, but with pure, burning rage. Hermes stood tall, her golden aura steady despite it all, her silver eyes blazing like the dawn. The balance had shifted. And the demon knew it. Lucius' breath came in ragged, furious gasps. His chest heaved, his crimson aura still raging around him like a wildfire, but in his eyes—those blood-red pits of fury—there now burned desperation. "Fine…" he growled, voice like a growl of thunder from the pit of hell itself. "If raw power won't break you… then I'll tear this whole world apart until nothing is left for you to protect!" With a snarl, Lucius threw his arms high toward the churning heavens. His claws crackled with red lightning, and the storm above answered his call.
The clouds blackened, swirling faster and faster, forming massive eyes of darkness in the sky. From these whirling maelstroms, tornados began to descend—huge, monstrous, churning funnels of wind and fury, crackling with crimson lightning, tearing at the earth. The first of the tornados struck outside the stadium, ripping apart trees, tossing boulders like pebbles. The next slammed down on the far edge of the arena grounds, toppling towers like toys. More followed, snaking down from the heavens like the claws of gods gone mad. The crowd, who had moments ago watched in awe, now erupted into chaos. "RUN!" someone screamed. Panic spread like fire. Spectators fled from the stands, their screams filling the air as the tornados closed in, tearing up the ground, lifting debris, smashing stone and steel alike. The earth groaned beneath the assault, the wind howling like a chorus of the damned. Lucius laughed—mad, triumphant. His voice boomed over the carnage. "LET THE WORLD SEE ITS END! You wanted to protect them, Hermes? Then protect them now! Save them if you can, little monster!" But Hermes didn't flinch. She stood at the eye of the storm, her golden aura flaring brighter, pushing back the wind that tore at her hair and clothes. She could hear the cries of the fleeing innocents, feel the terror in their hearts. Her fists clenched. Her silver eyes narrowed. "No…" she whispered, her voice steady beneath the roar. "I will protect them." With a sudden burst of speed, she shot into the air, golden light trailing behind her like a comet. She flew straight into the path of the nearest tornado, and with a cry that echoed across the heavens, she slammed her fists into the heart of the storm. BOOM!
The tornado shattered—its winds scattering like mist, its lightning snuffed out by her will. Lucius' grin faded, replaced by a look of disbelief. Hermes turned toward him, her gaze fierce, unyielding. "Call down the heavens if you want," she said, her voice ringing like a bell of defiance. "I'll break them all." And as more tornados descended, Hermes moved—her golden light flashing across the battlefield, one by one smashing apart the storms, turning Lucius' wrath to nothing. But Lucious wasn't done this was only the beginning: "I WILL CREATE A WORLD OF DEMONS, A WORLD OF EVIL! That's why I became a demon long ago it was a choice not a default by birth. It took years to turn my soul black. And its going to pay off, when I eat your flesh, I will become GOD!" Talus screamed from the audience: "Hermes! Lets us help you!" Hermes put her hand out: "NO! If you do that I'll lose the tournament." Lupus became angry: "HERMES THE TOURNAMENT IS OVER!" But Ungar put a hand up, "Have faith she knows what she's doing."
The ground quaked beneath the fury of gods as Lucius lunged again, his claws tearing through the air, leaving trails of red lightning in their wake. But Hermes met him—every strike, every blast, every hateful roar. She weaved through his onslaught like water through cracks in stone—evasive, fluid, unstoppable. Each movement was a harmony of precision and will, her golden aura shimmering brighter than ever. Lucius' monstrous strength battered the world around them. Each time he struck, craters formed, the earth split, the very air screamed beneath the weight of his fury. But no matter how savage the attack, Hermes answered with grace and defiance, her fists and feet meeting his like the tide meeting a storm. Her fist connected with his jaw, snapping his head to the side. She drove her knee into his ribs, forcing the air from his lungs. Her palm struck his chest, sending him skidding back across the shattered arena. Lucius snarled, his fangs bared, his demonic form heaving with exertion. His aura flared, wild and unstable. "YOU CAN'T WIN! I AM THE DARKNESS THAT SWALLOWS ALL!" Hermes didn't speak. She closed the distance in a blur, her golden light blazing like the dawn. Her fist slammed deep into Lucius' gut.
Lucius' eyes bulged. His entire body convulsed, his aura faltering as the shock of the strike rippled through him. His claws twitched, his knees buckled, his breath caught in his throat. Ungar, Talus, Sir Rhyme, Lupus, Narcis, Nelly—all of them watched in shock, unable to comprehend what they were seeing. And then—Lucius lurched forward, gagging, choking—before vomiting forth a mass of light and shadow that crashed onto the ground at Hermes' feet. It was Nebula—unconscious, battered, but alive. The creator god of this world, expelled from Lucius' body. The arena fell deathly silent. Lucius staggered back, trembling, his monstrous form shrinking, his crimson aura flickering out like a dying flame. His horns receded, his muscles shrank, his eyes wide with terror as he realized the truth: The power that had fueled his demonic might wasn't his own—it had come from feeding off the god he'd imprisoned within himself. He backed away, his hands shaking. "N-no… no, this can't be..." But in his desperation, his madness surged anew. His eyes filled with wild determination, Lucius spread his arms wide, his body trembling as red lightning crackled along his skin.
"If I can't devour you, I'll destroy you!" he roared. And then—he began to gather his energy inward, his body glowing with a sick, violent red. His aura condensed, compressing into his very flesh. The earth beneath him cracked and bled molten stone. Sir Rhyme's eyes went wide. "He's going to self-detonate! Just like—" Ungar shouted: "SHIELD!" A great dome of golden energy erupted around the spectators. The Imam stepped forward, adding his own power to reinforce it, divine script weaving through the barrier like living light. Nelly rushed forward, pulling Nebula's unconscious form into the safety of the shield.
Lucius' laughter rang out, broken and mad. "This world will burn, Hermes! I'll take you with me! NOTHING WILL BE LEFT!" His body glowed brighter, the energy near critical. The earth split wide, the winds howled as the blast built. BOOM! The explosion erupted outward—a sphere of hellish destruction swallowing the stage, the arena, the sky itself. The shield around the others trembled but held. When the dust cleared, when the light faded— Hermes stood there. Her body bruised, burned, her golden aura flickering—but unbroken. Unbowed. Lucius, gasping, fell to his knees. His gambit had failed. Hermes was still standing.
The Coyote Wolf was in shock. "That's impossible… you shouldn't even be dust you should be less than atoms." Hermes laughed as a famous man named Elton John: ""You know, I'm still standin' better than I ever did Lookin' like a true survivor, feelin' like a little kid." The Coyote Wolf continued to grovel in fear. "NO! NO! NO! How could this be?!" Hermes said: "You threw everything you could at the wall and yet I'm still here. You tried your best but you're best wasn't good enough." The Coyote Wolf shot back: "What are you some kind of monster?!" Hermes replied back: "Man you sound liken a broken record. I thought we already established that I'm a monster." The Coyote Wolf said as he staggered backwards: "You shut your fucking mouth you insect!" But without a word Hermes shot forward and this time Lucious was on the defensive. "It isn't fair, this world was supposed to be mine, my world of demons, It can't end like this." Lucious began to cry tears flooding from his eyes. Hermes clapped back: "How pathetic, I thought you were the big bad tyrant who was going to subjugate the world but all I see is a child."
Hermes' silver eyes blazed like twin stars, cold and resolute, as she advanced on Lucius. Each of her steps echoed across the broken arena, louder than the howling wind, louder than the Coyote Wolf's sobs of disbelief. Lucius stumbled back, his claws shaking, tears mingling with the blood on his face. His body, once swollen with power, was now gaunt, his aura in tatters like his pride. His voice cracked between sobs and snarls, desperation clawing at every word. "No… no! This can't be happening! It's not fair! This world was supposed to be mine! My kingdom of demons! My empire of darkness!" Hermes said nothing, her expression unreadable. Her golden aura flared again, steady, unwavering, as she closed the distance. Lucius lashed out, wild, frenzied, his claws slashing through the air—but she was already past them.
Her fist connected with his jaw, sending his head snapping back.
Her knee buried itself into his gut, folding him over with a strangled gasp.
Her elbow crashed into his back as he doubled over, driving him to his knees. The Coyote Wolf tried to rise, tried to summon the last dregs of his shattered power—but Hermes was merciless now. She had given him every chance, and now the world demanded justice. Lucius' tears fell freely, his breath ragged. "It can't end like this… I was meant to be a god…" Hermes' voice was soft, but it cut deeper than any blade. "How pathetic. I thought you were the big bad tyrant who was going to subjugate the world. But all I see now… is a frightened, broken child." "SHUT UP!" Lucius screamed, lunging wildly—but she was already inside his guard. Her fist drove deep into his gut again. The force of it cracked the ground beneath his feet, the shockwave rippling out like a drumbeat of finality.
Lucius' body convulsed violently, his breath leaving him in a single, broken gasp. His eyes rolled back, the last flicker of his demonic power snuffed out like a candle in a storm. And with one last, devastating strike, Hermes launched him skyward—only to follow a heartbeat later, catching him midair and slamming him down with all the force of the ocean's wrath. Lucius hit the earth like a meteor, the arena floor shattering, the ground splitting wide as he was driven deep into the crater. Dust and debris billowed up in a massive cloud, the echoes of the impact rolling out like thunder. When the dust settled, Lucius lay broken in the pit, unconscious, defeated, his dream of conquest buried with him.
Hermes stood at the edge of the crater, her chest rising and falling with deep, steady breaths. The golden light of her aura shimmered in the morning sun that finally broke through the storm-torn sky. The tyrant had fallen. The dust from Hermes' final attack still hung heavy in the air, the scent of ozone and scorched earth filling the arena. The crowd's roar of triumph began to quiet as the weight of what had transpired sank in. Hermes, bloodied and exhausted, knelt at the edge of the crater, her silver eyes dimmed but resolute. Lucius lay broken and unconscious beneath the rubble, his body limp, his dreams of godhood crushed. And then—a slow, deliberate clap echoed through the silence. The air grew cold again, the atmosphere heavy with a dark, unfamiliar presence. From the shadows at the edge of the ruined stadium, a figure emerged, her movements graceful, predatory.
It was Kakia. Her dark robes billowed in the wind, her eyes gleaming with cruel amusement, her lips curled into a smirk that sent chills through even the bravest hearts. Without a word, she stepped into the shattered crater, the ground cracking beneath her boots as if the earth itself recoiled from her touch. Hermes, battered but alert, tried to rise, but her strength faltered. Sir Rhyme, Lupus, Talus, Ungar, Nelly, Narcis, the Imam—all of them stared down in confusion and unease. "Kakia…?" Ungar murmured, tightening his grip on his staff. "What in the name of the heavens are you doing here?" Kakia said nothing at first. She bent down, grabbed the unconscious Coyote Wolf by the collar, and with unsettling ease hoisted him over her shoulder, as if he weighed nothing at all.
The group watched, stunned, as she began to turn away, but not before glancing back at them with eyes like bottomless voids. "I see your confusion," she said, her voice smooth as silk, but carrying the venom of hidden purpose. "You think this is the end of him? Of us? Oh no you little silly willy billy nillies… this was but a chapter in a much larger tale, its a little less Cinderella and little more Brothers Grim, great ready for a real horror show little ones." She smirked down at Lucius' broken form. "The little puppy may have failed in his little bid for godhood, but he's far from useless to us. His hatred… his hunger… his pain. We'll incorporate it into our plan. And then we'll do what we do best, run on all you goodie-tooshoos parades (giggles)." Talus stepped forward, anger flashing in his eyes. "What plan?! He tried to destroy the world!"
Kakia's grin widened. "Your world, perhaps. But we have our sights set elsewhere. The Dream World. We're going to make it all rainbows and sunshines. And from there… the Void will claim all. The little wolf's schemes were childish compared to the design we serve. But now—now we'll fold him into it, we stitch it into one big blanket. Shape his ruin into our weapon. This... was only the beginning." The wind howled through the ruined arena as she began to walk, Lucius slung over her shoulder like a prize, her form fading into the mist beyond the broken gates. Kakia hoisted Lucius' battered form over her shoulder, her slender frame seemingly unfazed by the weight. The eerie silence of the ruined arena was broken by the soft, singsong lilt of her voice—mocking, playful, yet dripping with menace.
"Awwww, poor widdle Lucius! All that huffing and puffing, and look at you now—splat! Right in the dirt! Isn't that just precious?" She giggled, tilting her head, her silver hair swaying like a pendulum. Her eyes sparkled with an unnatural glee, wide and unblinking, like a doll's brought to life by nightmares. Hermes struggled to her feet, blood still trickling down her front. She narrowed her eyes, her silver gaze locked on Kakia. "Put him down, Kakia. This ends here." But Kakia just bounced on her heels, swaying side to side, as if the whole battle had been a delightful game. "Oh, sweetie, you really are adorable when you're serious! But no, no, no, no! I can't do that, y'see?" She giggled again, one finger to her lips. "Lucius here? He's my little broken toy now! And I'm not done playing with him yet~!"
Lupus growled, stepping forward, his golden eyes burning with fury. "You plan to revive him? After what he tried to do?!" Kakia beamed. "Revive? Silly wolfy, he's alive. Just… a teensy bit squished! But we're gonna fix that right up, oh yes! I've got biiiiig plans, and he'll fit in just like a puzzle piece. Isn't that fun?" Ungar slammed his foot on the ground, his voice thunderous. "Speak plainly, witch! What are you planning?!" Kakia twirled on one foot, Lucius flopping over her shoulder like a ragdoll. She laughed like a child who'd gotten away with stealing candy. "Ohhh, grumpy grandpa, you'll see soon enough! We're gonna conquer the Dream World, paint it black, and feed it to the Void! All those pesky hopes and dreams? Poof! Gone! And your brave little hero here—" she motioned at Hermes "—can't stop us. Isn't that just the saddest thing you ever heard?"
Hermes clenched her fists, her body trembling with fury and exhaustion. "You won't get away with this. We'll stop you. Whatever it takes." Kakia's grin grew wider, impossibly wide, her eyes glittering with delight. "Ooooh, so scary! I'm shaking!" She pantomimed trembling, then leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a honeyed whisper. "But you can't stop what you don't understand, cutie. And you don't understand a thing about what's coming." Talus barked, "You think we'll let you leave here?!" Kakia turned, skipping a few steps toward the shattered archway of the arena. "Oh, you will! Because chasing me would ruin your big victory moment, and we can't have that, can we? Besides—" she looked back over her shoulder, her smile wicked and sweet all at once, "—you'll need all your strength for next time. Because next time? Oh, it's gonna be so much worse~!"
With that, she blew a mocking kiss to Hermes, and with a final twirl, she disappeared into the morning mist, Lucius' broken form slung over her shoulder, leaving behind only the echo of her laughter—high, bright, and terrible. The heroes stood in stunned silence, the weight of what was to come settling over them like a storm on the horizon.
The arena was silent for just a moment longer, as if the world itself was catching its breath. Then—cheers erupted, deafening, thunderous, as the reality of what had transpired sank in.
Hermes had done it. She had saved them all.
Narcis lifted his arms and whooped in joy, tears streaming down his face. Lupus let out a fierce howl that echoed through the shattered stadium. Sir Rhyme collapsed to his knees, laughing and crying at once. Ungar pounded his staff on the ground, a beat of victory. The crowd, battered and frightened though they were, raised their voices, chanting Hermes' name.
Nebula, still weak but standing tall, stepped forward. Her divine glow returned, soft but undeniable. She gazed at Hermes with pride and tenderness.
"You've surpassed what I ever expected," Nebula said, her voice resonating like a chorus. "And now… you'll rise higher still." She smiled. "Hermes, I will incorporate you into the Theos Guild… the Guild of Elite Gods. Within the week, I will introduce you to its members. Your place among us is earned."
Hermes blinked, stunned, humbled. She tried to speak, but Nebula gently raised a hand.
"Rest for now. You'll need your strength for what's to come."
And as the heroes celebrated, none of them knew—none of them could know—that exactly a week from that moment, tragedy would strike.
One Week Later…
Talus' laughter echoed through the Dream City's streets, his arm slung around Ungar's shoulders as they walked under the lantern-lit sky. But then—CRACK! The air split as figures cloaked in midnight armor descended like phantoms. Their insignia: The Federation, an empire feared even in the Dream World. Before anyone could react, Talus was seized, bound by chains of light. "Talus!" Hermes cried out, leaping forward—but the Federation's forces vanished into a portal of smoke and shadow, leaving only silence and a bitter wind. They tried everything. For days, weeks—they searched, they fought, they pleaded. But the Federation was too vast, too hidden. And Talus was lost to them… for what would become an entire year.
Right After the Tournament — Before the Kidnapping
Before sorrow could take root, the group, still riding the high of victory, made their way to visit the Dream Dragon King. The ancient dragon reclined on his massive throne, smoke curling from his nostrils, a sly grin on his scaly face. "Ah, my champions, my heroes, my saviors of the world…" he rumbled, his golden eyes twinkling. "Now that you're back from your little tournament adventure, I need your help with something truly dire." Hermes straightened, weary but ready. "Anything, my king." The Dream Dragon King sighed deeply. "Where did I put my watch?" THUD! Hermes, Ungar, Lupus, Narcis, even the usually stoic Imam—all of them fell flat on their backsides in unison, sweatdropping like exhausted anime heroes, the weariness of their long battle catching up with them at once.
One Year Later…
The twin suns of Planet Helios bathed the land in golden light as Hermes and Mark made their way along a winding stone path, past vast meadows and forests of silver-leafed trees. In the distance rose a grand homestead—half castle, half farmhouse—its walls strong as mountains, its windows glowing warmly. The door burst open before they even reached it. "Uncle Mark! Auntie Hermes!" cried a chorus of voices as a tidal wave of children charged toward them, laughing and shouting. Some looked mostly human, with subtle wolf ears twitching atop their heads or fluffy tails wagging behind them. Others looked nearly identical to Lupus—furred, clawed, with sharp golden eyes and proud muzzles. Lupus and Ashley now had 24 children in all.
Mark laughed, caught in the onslaught, hugging as many of his nieces and nephews as he could. Hermes smiled softly, though there was a shadow behind her eyes. From the doorway, Lupus appeared, taller and broader than ever, his silver-streaked fur glinting in the sunlight. Ashley stood at his side, her long hair braided over one shoulder, a peaceful smile on her face.
"Mark! Hermes! Welcome!" Lupus called, his voice booming with joy. He swept them both into a bone-crushing hug, his tail wagging furiously. Behind him, a line of children peeked out, all twenty-four of them. The youngest clung to Ashley's skirts, the older ones watched protectively over their siblings. Hermes gave a tired chuckle, shaking her head in disbelief. "Lupus, I swear, every time I visit, your family doubles."
Mark grinned as Kazan, Lupus' firstborn daughter—fierce, beautiful, with her mother's eyes and her father's strength—stepped forward and took his hand in hers, the golden band on both their fingers glinting in the light. Mark beamed with pride. "What can I say? I married into a dynasty." Lupus laughed, clapping a massive hand on Mark's shoulder. "You'll have your hands full soon enough. The next generation of warriors, eh?" They all shared a moment of peace—almost. But then Hermes' gaze drifted to the horizon. She folded her arms, the weight of the past year settling heavy on her shoulders. "It's been so long…" she murmured. "A whole year, and we still haven't found where the Federation's keeping Talus. I thought by now…" Her voice trailed off. The joy of the moment couldn't completely mask the ache of that absence. Ashley placed a gentle hand on Hermes' arm. "We'll find him. I know it." And Lupus nodded, his eyes serious beneath the warmth. "We won't stop until we do. We owe him that." Mark opened his mouth to speak, but then—whoosh!—a messenger drone streaked down from the sky, bearing the insignia of Nova. Hermes caught it, her heart racing as she activated the message. Nova's face appeared, determined and breathless. "Hermes. Lupus. I've found it. The Federation's fortress. We have their location at last. It's time." Hermes' eyes flared silver, her sorrow hardening into resolve. "The time to save Talus… has come."