The group reappeared in a burst of energy, materialising in the grand hall of Nyx's temple. Moonlight filtered through the obsidian pillars, casting long, dancing shadows. The air was still.
Heracles stretched, cracking his knuckles, and broke the silence.
"Well… that Gathering went brilliantly, don't you think?" he joked, voice filled with sarcasm.
Orion stood off to the side, silent, eyes fixed on the marble floor. Blood and soot clung to his tunic.
Heracles glanced over, clapped him on the back with a heavy, crimson-slicked hand.
"Why so glum, chum?"
Orion didn't meet his eyes.
"I'm still not strong enough," he muttered. "Bjorn's my age—maybe even younger—and he fought like a monster. He held his ground against Apollo and Artemis like it was nothing.
Wukong, leaning against a cracked pillar, shrugged.
"You're thinking about it too much. If they wanted to kill him, they would have."
Heracles crossed his arms.
"You've got heart, kid. That counts. But strength doesn't come from wishing—it comes from grinding. Your time'll come."
At the mention of training, Silver got up immediately, ears twitching with excitement.
"Yes! Let's train! All of us—we won't stop until our bodies break!"
Wukong rolled his eyes.
"Easy, mutt. We've got bigger things to talk about."
He looked at Orion.
"I know you've got a thousand questions—but wait until Nyx and Susanoo get back. We'll need everyone present."
The group slowly dispersed. Orion quietly retreated to his chamber.
Inside his room, dim candlelight flickered against the walls. Orion sat alone, hunched on the edge of his bed, eyes closed, replaying every moment of the fight. Bjorn's hellfire. The demonic sword. That final slash of burning crimson light.
Too fast. Too strong.
He took a shaky breath—and then, in the darkness behind his closed eyes, something stirred.
A single star appeared.
Floating in an infinite void, the blue flame pulsed with unnatural energy. It shimmered like crystal and bled light like liquid fire—neither alive nor dead, it felt ancient. It burned without heat, and it watched him.
Orion's eyes flew open. His body jolted forward, drenched in cold sweat.
"What… was that?"
He gripped the sides of his bed, trying to shake the image from his mind.
But the star remained—burning—deep inside.
Orion stepped into the temple corridor. Nyx stood at the far end, her black robes drifting like shadow in the morning light.
"Good morning," she greeted softly. "Come to the main hall. We need to talk."
He followed her, deciding not to mention what happened in his room last night.
Inside the war room, a large stone table sat at the centre. Susanoo, Wukong, Heracles, and Silver were already seated, the tension still hanging heavy from the previous day.
Orion sat.
Wukong was the first to speak.
"Let's keep it simple. You ask the questions, kid—we'll give the answers."
Orion nodded.
"Who were those things that attacked the Gathering?"
Nyx answered.
"Demons. As ancient as the gods and the monsters. They come from every corner of the Nine Realms—but mostly dwell in the depths of the Underworld."
Wukong continued, more grim.
"I've had my share of run-ins with them. They're chaotic, volatile… they crave destruction for the sake of it. That's why they're kept in check by the angels."
Orion blinked.
"Angels?"
Wukong nodded.
"Yeah. God's messengers. But don't get it twisted—they don't act unless He commands it. They don't care about mortal wars or divine politics. Only one thing gets them involved—demons. The war between angels and demons is older than memory."
Silver tapped the table, brow furrowed.
"But this… this is different. Never in history have demons declared war on the gods themselves. It's unthinkable."
Susanoo leaned forward.
"And here's what bothers me—they know the angels would never let something like that go unpunished. So why provoke the gods now?"
Nyx responded slowly, her voice calm.
"Something's changed. They're not acting like mindless beasts anymore. This… was calculated. Coordinated."
"What about Bjorn? Who is he?" Orion asked.
Wukong's expression darkened.
"I don't know. I've never seen him before, and I've seen almost everything. But the fact that he's aligned with demons…? That's not normal."
Nyx looked at the ceiling.
"I saw a storm in his soul. Blood, fire, death. He's a harbinger of something… and it's coming fast."
Orion looked down, his voice quieter now.
"Why do we need to get involved? Let the gods fight their war. Zeus didn't seem like someone worth protecting."
Wukong let out a dry laugh.
"You just insulted Heracles' dad, you know."
Heracles raised a hand to stop him.
"Zeus is a bastard—no one's arguing that. But if the demons win… they won't stop at Olympus. They'll move from realm to realm, burning everything. Gods, monsters, mortals. All the same to them."
Orion asked the final question.
"So… what's our next move?"
Wukong leaned back, eyes scanning the room.
"We wait. We train. And we watch."
He looked to the sky.
"The world's changing fast. Humans are growing stronger—heroes are rising from all corners of the earth. Too many players, too many sides. But when the smoke clears… only the strongest survive."
Silver grinned, fangs showing.
"Then we train. No more wasting time."
He looked at Orion.
"From now on—we're in this together."
Orion clenched his fists, the fire returning to his eyes.
"Then bring it on."