Location: Divine Realm (Infinite Arch)
"Good morning, Supreme Xihe. Are you awake yet?" said a deep, bold male voice.
Xihe turned around with a calm, graceful look.
"That is a question I should ask you, Supreme Ares."
After a yawn, Ares sat on a throne next to the goddess, inside the great infinite arch.
Xihe's skin was very pale, reflecting the light around her. Her long, light copper hair was straight and perfectly styled, decorated with strands of golden light. Her eyes were narrow and clear, like polished glass.
Ares had a powerful build, broad shoulders, and taut muscles beneath black and crimson armor, covered in divine carvings. His dark bronze skin was marked with numerous scars. His hair was long, dark, and unruly, and his eyes glowed red like burning embers.
"Yes... it will be hard to come here every day to watch these mortals fight for me." Ares said with a bored expression.
"If I'm not mistaken, you were among those who opposed this decision." Xihe replied.
Ares chuckled lightly. "That's right. My will to fight always gets the better of me! Although I understand that letting the gods kill each other is not the wisest move."
Xihe smirked. "Supreme Ares, you never really disappoint."
Ares looked down on Aetherion. "And managing all those subordinates, without any communication, in such a vast area... it's difficult, even for me, the greatest general in history!"
"After all, having so many subordinates must have its drawbacks."
Ares seemed to ponder something. "Right... If she's here watching, that means your only subordinate is still alive."
Xihe smiled faintly at his words, just as Bragi took the stage in front of all the gods present.
"Greetings, my dearest companions! Today, the tournament officially begins! I will tell you everything that happens on Aetherion every seven days, or whenever something truly significant happens!"
Some of the deities began to applaud. Bragi seemed to appreciate it.
"Thank you, but I would also like you to applaud the one who will document every moment of this tournament in the Holy Book: our god of writing... Thoth!"
The gods applauded Thoth, who didn't seem to care and simply continued writing in the enormous Holy Book.
Thoth was positioned on a pedestal overlooking Aetherion, hunched over a wooden lectern. He looked like a tall, slender man. His face was hidden behind a golden ibis mask, carved with refined, unreal features. He wore a dark robe embroidered with living hieroglyphics that moved imperceptibly, like sand in the desert wind. His hands were long, elegant, made to write for eternity.
Bragi snapped his fingers, summoned a copy of the Holy Book in his right hand, and began to leaf through it.
"Well, then, let me share some interesting data! On this first day, it seems that the subordinates have taken a defensive approach, avoiding combat as much as possible, and many have already formed alliances!"
Ares looked annoyed. "Just as I thought, the situation will drag on for a long time... But I can't blame them. Being suddenly thrown into such a surreal situation is not easy."
"However, we have recorded a total of thirty thousand deaths." Bragi added, surprising those present.
"What were you saying before? Are you still so confident?" Xihe asked Ares, clearly surprised by the high number of casualties.
"But most of the deaths were caused by factors outside of the fighting between subordinates, mostly accidents, such as poisoning from game or encounters with mythical creatures!"
The deities began to discuss the matter among themselves.
"Of course, it's only been a day and most subordinates are not used to situations like this. As time goes by, we will see more fighting between them and less external causes!" Bragi added.
"With that said, I'm leaving. Enjoy the show that is unfolding below us!" he said, pointing to Aetherion.
Location: Aetherion
A heavy breath can be heard.
"I'll stop here. I think we managed to shake it off..." said a blonde girl, her hair tied in a messy ponytail. Her clear, determined eyes scanned the horizon, set in a dusty face, as she helped another girl to lean against a rock.
"What the hell was that thing?!" asked the sitting girl, worried.
"It looked like a wolf... but definitely much bigger."
"I hope I never see it again..." the sitting girl held her ankle, and the other girl noticed immediately.
"Are you okay, Estrella?"
"Yes... it's just a sprain."
The girl came closer and offered her hand.
"Come on. Let me help you up."
"Thank you..." Estrella took her hand and let herself be pulled up.
Estrella had short, curly brown hair that reached just below her nape, now disheveled after only a day. Her dark green eyes radiated kindness and positivity. Her face wasn't perfect, but it exuded a warm, sunny charm. Her body wasn't built for battle, nor did she move like someone born to fight, but there was a calmness in her gestures that made you want to protect her.
"We need to leave. That creature might still be nearby."
"Yes, I think so too. Just... if you get tired of carrying me, we'll stop... We need to be alert for whatever happens."
The girl slung Estrella over her shoulder and started walking in the opposite direction they had come from, when suddenly, a male scream echoed nearby, startling them both.
"What do we do? It was really close..." Estrella asked, visibly worried.
Just what we needed... The scream came from the direction we were going... and going back is not an option! - The girl thought, looking around, then looking down at Estrella's ankle.
"We have no choice, we'll have to go around it." the girl said, drawing her sword.
The weapon was an extremely dark black, almost as if a sliver of darkness had been forged into a blade. The weapon had a thin, elegant shape.
"So..." Estrella hesitated.
"So we'll continue this way," the girl continued, "but we'll widen the path, passing through the trees. This way we'll avoid any more trouble."
She started to walk, but Estrella didn't move, stopping them both. The girl turned to her, confused.
"Dana... are you telling me we won't check to see if that guy needs help?"
"He's too dangerous, and you know it! What if we come across a creature like the one before, or worse? What would we do then? Fight it? And besides, what are the chances of anyone surviving?"
Dana's words disappointed Estrella, who pulled away from her support. Then she picked up her bow, the color of moonlight, with a delicate string and symbols of stars, wolves, moons, and leaves carved along the curve.
"I'm going, with or without you…" Estrella began to limp in the direction of the scream.
Dana watched her for a moment, then sighed.
"Let's say we survive a fight with a mythical creature. Let's say we find survivors, but what if they have bad intentions? Would we be able to kill them if we had to?"
Estrella stopped and turned to Dana, uncertainty in her eyes.
"I… I don't know."
"Then why…"
"But I do know this: I couldn't live with myself if I let someone die without even trying to save them! It's only been a day… I still have enough humanity left to do that!"
Estrella turned again and continued walking toward the sound.
She really risks her life for someone she's never met? There's no point... - Dana thought, watching her limp away. But then she considered Estrella's words.
Why am I thinking about this? Of course she's right!
Dana sighed again and joined her.
"Okay, okay... I'll come too. Here, let me help you."
Estrella looked at Dana and smiled. "Thank you." She leaned against her again.
They continued walking, Dana lost in her thoughts.
She's right... but if things get out of hand, I'll drag her away if I have to. Our lives matter more...
[A few minutes later]
The two girls arrived at the place where they thought the scream was coming from, but there were no signs of blood or a real struggle.
"Do you see anything?" Estrella asked, puzzled.
"Nothing." Dana replied, scanning the area.
"That's strange..."
"Just as I thought. We were too late."
Dana started walking again, with Estrella remaining with a disappointed expression. Dana noticed.
"It's not our fault. We tried, like you said."
"I know..."
"And look, there's no evidence of a real defeat, so maybe someone survived. Or even more people." Dana added, trying to comfort her.
Estrella nodded.
"Okay, let's keep moving before nightfall. We need to find a safe place to rest, and maybe some food."
"Yes." Estrella leaned against Dana again.
A moment before the two could begin walking, a figure emerged from the shadows of the forest, partially hidden by the tall grass. The sudden presence startled them.
"Who's there!?"
The man paused briefly... then continued walking.
Dana gently removed Estrella's arm from his shoulders.
"I have a bad feeling about this... get ready!"
Both girls immediately armed themselves, tense and ready.
"This is your final warning! Stop immediately... there are two of us and we are both armed!"
Estrella readied her arrow, though her posture was shaking, her nerves were tense.
But the man did not stop: he stepped out completely into the open, revealing himself.
He was not human.
He was a creature with the upper body human, the lower body that of a horse, armed with a long spear.
Estrella took a step back, panicking.
"A centaur!"
Seeing her fear, Dana instinctively grabbed Estrella's arm and pulled her back.
"Run!"
The two of them tried to run away, but the centaur quickly caught up with her.
The creature tried to hit Dana with its spear, but she dodged. Estrella, from behind, tried to hit it with an arrow.
"Watch out!" Dana shouted as the centaur raised its front legs to strike Estrella.
She tried to dodge, but her injured ankle flared with pain, making her too slow. It hit her hard in the stomach, sending her flying back a few feet.
"Estrella!" Dana shouted, trying to run towards her, but the centaur wouldn't let go.
Dana dodged each attack, then blocked the final blow with her sword, but the centaur's strength was overwhelming. Her grip gave way and the weapon fell.
The centaur braced for the final blow. Dana stood still, awaiting her fate. But just then, an arrow sliced through the air and struck the creature in the shoulder, knocking her weapon off her feet.
"Quick! Grab the spear and finish him!" a male voice shouted.
Dana reacted quickly. She grabbed the fallen spear.
She hesitated—just a moment—but the centaur quickly recovered and charged again.
Instinctively, Dana thrust the spear forward, tearing open its stomach.
Dana stood still, stunned by what she had done. She stared at the creature's body, then suddenly began to vomit.
"Are you okay?" a boy asked, walking toward her.
Dana wiped her mouth and looked at him.
"Yes... I'm alive..."
Then, she jumped up and ran to check on Estrella.
"Is she okay?" the boy asked, visibly worried.
Dana breathed a sigh of relief. "She's just unconscious."
"Good, I'm glad to hear—" the boy was cut off when Dana suddenly pulled her sword from the boy's scabbard and pointed it at him.
"Who are you!?"
The boy raised his hands, alarmed.
"Calm down! I'm not your enemy!"
"Good. I'm glad to hear that... But I'll be the judge of whether it's true."
The boy sighed. "My name is Dalai!"
"So, Dalai... what were you doing here?"
"I was with a group of people when the centaur attacked us. He killed everyone and injured me!" Dalai showed a wound on his left arm, roughly bandaged with a torn piece of cloth. "Believe me, I'm the only one who made it out alive."
Dana took a moment to think.
Those screams must have been from the people he mentioned... But I can't trust him that easily.
She looked at Estrella, still unconscious, with concern written on her face.
Stop thinking like Estrella...
"Dalai, can I trust you?" Dana's sudden change in tone surprised Dalai. He looked puzzled.
"I swear you can."
Dana slowly lowered her sword.
"I can't protect her alone... so I need help."
She handed the sword to Dalai, who took it and carefully sheathed it.
"I'll help you!" he said sincerely.
Dana smiled at that, leaving Dalai momentarily stunned.
Dalai was tall, but not imposing. His short, dark hair was slightly tidy, and his brown eyes were large and deep.
"Thank you. I appreciate it." Dana said, then retrieved her sword from the ground.
"But just to be clear..." Dalai continued, "I don't trust you or your friend. I'll stay here until our goals are aligned. That's all."
Dana looked at him, nodding.
"Understood. Don't worry, the feeling is mutual."
She approached him with Estrella's bow and handed it to him.
"You carry this. I'll carry Estrella."
Dana picked Estrella up as Dalai watched her carefully.
"Are you sure you can carry her?"
"Yes. She's light... Maybe because of the blessing."
"Right..."
The two of them started walking away.
"By the way," Dana asked, "how did you hit the centaur with the bow? Estrella practiced for a whole day and couldn't hit anything, not even targets that were a few inches away. Have you ever used a bow before?"
"Actually... I don't even know how I did it..." Dalai replied.
Dana looked at him, confused. "Oh..."