"Even so, they have promised not to go after them again. On the condition that Hera & Zeus leave the city." … "On top of this, Freya, and Loki will never be allowed out of the city until someone destroys their familias… And Finn added more to it, that Freya and Loki familias would begin destroying Evilus, whenever, and wherever."
"What good is a murderer's words to protect people?" Then he had an idea. "No, this is good. If they really want to take care of those evil guys, let them. Prove to me they aren't deserving of my claws and fangs. I'll push further in the dungeon… And get stronger… But I won't ever defeat them. Let them be trapped here with the constant threat looming over their shoulders. Finn, along with that evil goddess that tried to do what the amazoness in Telskyura did."
Meteria didn't speak up, but she'd heard everything. I… I'm sorry little brother, I don't want to stay here. I think that's why Hera fought for such conditions.
The rest of the bath shifted moods, Shurry began thinking about how to get stronger. His brain went into over drive, but it all ultimately boiled down to one thing… Hunting.
…
Tenkai, the world of the gods. It was here where souls from Genkai would return, and cycle through the process of reincarnation. However, there were some gods who liked to interrupt this process a bit, even if it wasn't normal for some gods, there were many who had it pretty easy. Hades was one of these gods, and here in his part of Tenkai, was where all soul refreshing took place, all souls would come through his domain regardless of where they entered Tenkai from.
"Huh? What's going on? I could have sworn I was swallowed by that monster's flames?"
"Calm yourself. Everything will be explained in time." A voice similar to Zeus' rang out.
"Zeus? No… That voice is different."
"You're half right. Zeus and I are like two sides of the same coin. We are one in the same, and we are also two separate brothers. It might confuse you, so just think of me as his brother. It isn't really a wrong assumption."
"I- I see… Where am I right now?"
"Tenkai, specifically in my domain. I manage everything there is to manage when it comes to death, and soul reincarnation. I take the souls, clean them, and then return them to the ones who manage life… It's a dreary job… So I like to take some interesting souls out of circulation and have them keep me company." Hades gestured behind the soul. "Maxim, look behind you."
Maxim looked, and saw people he'd lost decades ago. As it stretched back, further and further back, the smiles grew more unfamiliar, yet they all felt close.
"You are all members of Hera's or Zeus' familias down on Gekai." Hades continued. "This is more than I usually like to take out of circulation, but, with one soul that arrived before begging me, and my brother practically demanding it, I made an exception. Oh, here he comes now…"
"Hey there, It's good to finally meet you. Well, perhaps there were better circumstances, but anyway, the name's Albert." Maxim's eyes widened. "But we can talk later, for now, you should bear witness to the struggle of your allies."
Maxim watched the scene unfolding on a crystal monitor. "No! Empress get out of there! Get back to Meda!"
"We all go through something like that." Albert commented. "My girl is still somewhere in the dungeon. And my lover, well, she's become the dragon's new eye, against her will."
The screen focused on Alraj. "Come on Alraj! Get those three out of there!" .. "Huh, Lyca, what are you doing?! No, don't stay, get out of there! Zald! Wake up! Help them, PLEASE!" He fell to knees, but he kept his eyes on the screen to bear witness to his allies' sacrifices.
"It's never an easy thing to bear. But we must." Albert knelt, placing a firm hand on Maxim's shoulder. "Once all of you who will arrive, do. I'll reveal something to all of you. You might not like it… But I hope it will provide some ease of comfort."
It wasn't much longer before all but three souls- who went to fight- arrived here in Tenkai. "I'll let you all catch up with each other. You may watch the screen as much as you want. All you need to control it, is this thing… Click the button to watch what you want to see."
The familias gathered, and talked about what happened. When they saw Alraj make it back home, they took a collective sigh of relief. And then Albert took the stage.
"There's something important I need you all to know." He started, the sight of the last handful's reaction causing pause. "Most of you have already long since surpassed me. Maxim, you especially, I doubt I'd measure up to you."
"You mean?"
"The dragon grew far stronger since the time that I fought it. And that isn't just because it absorbed my lover. It just grew that strong. I struggle to think it could be defeated now."
"Don't say that!" Lyca shouted. "That boy will prove it wrong for sure! Watch! You'll see what he does!"
"Lyca… There's someone else here who's wanted to see you." Hades mentioned.
A werewolf, with features similar to Lyca's, stepped into the visible area. The two looked at each other, and knew it instantly. They were sisters…
"Sister, It's been so long."
"So you died too?"
"Yes, it was about 9 years ago now. I was killed by an amazoness for breaking Telskyurian law. I wanted to escape with my newborn son. Unfortunately, I was killed before the moon came. And my son was condemned to grow up in his earliest years, in that wretched country…" She started crying. "Thank you, for teaching your nephew everything I couldn't."
"So, Shurry really was my nephew." Lyca teared up, and hugged her sister. "Before I died, I made sure to arrange that he got mother's necklace."
"She would have loved that…"
…
"So, this is Tenkai."
"ALRAJ! What are you doing here?"
"Freya and Loki familias attacked out of nowhere. I did my best, but I was exhausted, and overwhelmed. Please tell me that he made it in time to save Meteria?"
"He did. Wanna watch what he did after?" …
"Damn. He personally introduced them all to a mandatory ground nap."
A little later…
"That's the letter I wrote to him."
The mirror changed its view, to focus on Shurry's face. Lyca, and her sister felt the howl from there, and replied at the same time… Their response, causing a star to flicker.
"So that's the boy. He's something else. I might like to watch him more often." Albert said, taking an interest. "You know, Lyca, you might just be right, I might've been wrong. The potential to defeat that dragon still lives."
"That's right, though you've passed, hope has not. I'll keep you here as long as you want. You're all heroes. Perhaps one day you'll grow into young gods yourselves. It won't be easy though."
…