The blade of hellfire hurled towards Orion like a falling star, searing, fast and unstoppable.
But just as the wave was about to collide, a bright shield of golden light shimmered into existence, stopping it dead with a loud boom. The light crackled, sending sparks flying like shooting stars, but it held.
From behind Orion, two figures emerged.
Apollo stood tall, his arm raised as sunlight streamed from his palm. Beside him, Artemis dashed forward like a silver comet, her scythe spinning with crescent precision.
Bjorn's eyes narrowed. "The Sun and Moon. How cute."
With a smirk, Artemis struck. Her scythe sang through the air-slash after slash. Bjorn parried with calm grace, hellfire dancing with every motion. He twisted around the final blow; however, Apollo appeared behind him in an instant, his blade slicing into Bjorn's side.
Bjorn jumped back, clutching the wound. Red blood oozed down his side, sizzling as it touched the ground. He laughed.
"Unfair," Bjorn said, wiping his lip with the back of his hand. "I'm fighting divine twins? Where's my backup?"
He flicked his katana, taking a fighting stance. His grin didn't reach his eyes. They burned with purpose.
Orion, catching his breath, clenched his fist. Again. Saved by others. Even now.
He lowered his gaze. I need to get stronger. I can't keep being rescued.
Before the clash could resume, the floor beneath them cracked with a sickening squelch. From a pool of thick, black ooze, a figure emerged.
The being stood tall, bare-chested and lean, with worn, torn trousers hanging off his hips. His skin was pale, with veins that pulsed black and unnaturally beneath the surface. His eyes were pools of dark, violent, wide and ancient. A mocking grin crept across his face.
"Enough," the demon said lazily. "Bjorn, it's time to leave."
Bjorn whipped his head toward him, snarling. "Beelzebub, I wasn't done."
Beelzebub chuckled. His voice was like silk soaked in venom. "Even in your prime, you couldn't handle them."
Apollo didn't wait. He charged forward, divine blade raised- but Beelzebub caught it effortlessly with his bare hand.
"Hot," he remarked with a grin, then lifted his foot, slamming it into Apollo's chest, sending him crashing.
Artemis moved like lightning, her scythe a blur- but before it landed, threads of darkness snapped around it like puppet strings, halting her swing mid-air. The force bounced her backwards, gritting her teeth in frustration.
Beelzebub turned to Bjorn again. "Now do you understand?"
Orion took this opportunity to leave- he had to find Wukong and silver. This wasn't the mission. This wasn't the plan.
Beelzebub's head snapped towards him.
"Well, well," he said with delighted surprise. "Is that who I think it is?"
Orion froze, half-turning. "I'm praying to all the Gods you're not talking about me..."
Bjorn, unfazed, replied, "It is. I was in the middle of waking him up."
Beelzebub scoffed. "Screw that. Let's just kidnap him."
Orion's eyes widened, preparing to draw his bow- when a voice yawned beside him.
"I'd like to see you try."
Wukong stood there casually, staff slung over his shoulder, stretching like he had just woken up.
Beelzebub grinned. "It's been a while, Great sage."
Wukong rolled his eyes. "Trust me. Not long enough."
"What's this little stunt about?" Wukong asked, eyes narrowing.
Beelzebub's tone turned childlike. "Oh, you know. Death of the gods, duh."
Wukong laughed. "The angels won't let today slide."
Beelzebub's grin vanished. "Then we'll kill them too."
The air thickened. Wukong slowly lowered his staff.
Beelzebub raised his hand. "Relax, monkey king. This was just the opening ceremony. We're done here."
A portal of pitch black opened behind him.
He turned back, waving lazily. "See you around, Great sage."
Bjorn hesitated. He stared into Orion's eyes- deep, searching, heavy.
"You need to get much stronger," he said flatly, then vanished into the portal.
Wukong turned towards Orion. "You alright?"
Orion nodded slowly. "Yeah... but I've got so many questions."
"Of course you do," Wukong muttered. "But first- we get the hell out of here."
He gestured towards Hercules and silver. Heracles was drenched in demon blood, panting with battle lust. Silver, however, was curled in a corner, fast asleep like nothing had happened.
Wukong bit his thumb, drawing a drop of blood. He let it drop on the floor. A red glow spread from where it landed, forming a teleportation circle.
Before they could activate it, Odin appeared just outside the edge of the glyph, cloak swaying with authority.
He looked at Orion.
"That boy beside you... Who is he?"
Wukong didn't even glance his way. "None of your business, old man."
Odin chuckled, eyes burning.
"I'm going to kill your little dragon friend. And then you're next."
Wukong slowly turned his head. "Is that a declaration of war?"
"No," Odin replied. "Just me… reading the future."
And with that, the teleportation circle lit up, carving them away from the battlefield, the echoes of prophecy, pride, and chaos following behind.