"No one who possesses snow would find any hardship in exchanging it for jewels and pearls. This world is like snow exposed to the sun, which continues to melt until it disappears altogether, while the next life is like a precious stone that never passes away."
- the Persian Muslim scholar, Imam Al-Ghazali (c. 1058-1111).
The realm of Apollo was an expanse beyond mortal comprehension—over 50 trillion times the size of the known universe. It was a place where reality bent to the will of its divine inhabitants, where the laws of physics were mere suggestions, and where time flowed like a river with infinite branches. The sky above was an endless aurora, shifting in colors unknown to human eyes, casting a radiant glow over golden spires that stretched beyond the horizon. Floating citadels carved from celestial stone hovered over vast oceans of liquid light. The air hummed with divine energy, resonating like a chorus of cosmic melodies. At the heart of this realm lay the Grand Council of Deities, an assembly of the most powerful gods, their thrones arranged in a spiral that reached toward infinity. Here, the fate of countless worlds was debated, and the will of Apollo, the god of light and prophecy, was carried out with unwavering authority.
X and Zed materialized at the gates of the council, their forms shifting momentarily as the realm adjusted to their presence. They wore face masks, obscuring their expressions, yet their presence alone was enough to ripple through the divine energies of the realm. Before they could take another step, a figure appeared before them—a girl with turquoise hair flowing like silk in a divine breeze, her piercing purple eyes locked onto them with measured intensity. In her grasp was a sword unlike any other, its blade an extension of her very essence, shimmering with celestial fire. "I am Qora, Goddess of Swordcraft and War," she declared, her voice both serene and unyielding. "State your purpose, or be cut down where you stand."
The air grew heavy as X and Zed faced the divine warrior, the first challenge in a realm where only gods could rule. Zed explained who they were, that they were members of the Council of Archon. Qora was satisfied, "Oh I've heard of you, follow me I'll take you to the meeting, the King (Apollo) will be there, there is a serious threat that has to be dealt with, or so I've heard." X and Zed followed Qora through the grand corridors of the celestial stronghold, their every step resonating through the divine architecture. The golden halls pulsed with an energy unlike anything found in the mortal realm—each wall and pillar breathed with a life of its own, shifting subtly in response to the thoughts of the gods who walked them. Beyond towering archways, the council chamber loomed—a vast arena of cosmic grandeur. The spiral thrones of the deities stretched into the infinite expanse, each seat occupied by a being of unfathomable power. Some radiated light brighter than a thousand suns, while others cloaked themselves in veils of shadow, their presence known only by the pull of their gravity. Ethereal glyphs floated through the chamber, inscribing new prophecies as the gods spoke, weaving the future into being even as they debated it.
At the center of it all sat Apollo. The god of light and prophecy was draped in robes woven from the very fabric of the cosmos, shifting with celestial radiance. His golden hair burned like a living star, and his eyes—voids of infinite wisdom—pierced through the veils of time itself. He exuded an aura of effortless authority, his mere presence bending the space around him into perfect harmony. There was a wrath in him as well, a being of unbridled power. Qora led them forward, stopping just short of the god-king's gaze. "My lord," she said, lowering her head in a rare moment of deference. "The Council of Archon has sent its envoys." Apollo's eyes flicked toward X and Zed, scrutinizing them beyond mortal perception. "You stand before the assembly of gods," he intoned, his voice resonating through the chamber like the chime of celestial bells. "Speak your purpose." X took a step forward, his voice steady despite the overwhelming presence of divinity. "We come with knowledge of a threat that transcends the boundaries of existence. A force has stirred in the Void Beyond, one that seeks to unmake the very foundation of creation. And we believe there's an independent monster existing in mortal form that could unwittingly aid it." A murmur rippled through the gods. Some leaned forward, intrigued. Others narrowed their eyes, skeptical. Apollo remained still, absorbing their words. Then he spoke. "The Void Beyond has been silent for eons. What proof do you bring that this threat is real?" Zed stepped beside X, raising a hand. A rift tore open in the space between them, unveiling a swirling abyss of blackened energy. Within it, a shadow moved—a presence that seemed to devour the very essence of the light around it. The room dimmed, divine energies recoiling at the sight. "This," Zed said, his voice a quiet warning. "A fragment of what lies beyond. It should not exist here. And yet, it does." A hush fell over the chamber.
Apollo's gaze remained locked on the rift, unreadable. Then, slowly, he rose from his throne. "Then it seems," he said, his voice carrying the weight of prophecy, "we have a war to prepare for." X tsked, "It's not that simple your majesty. For there is an independent creature in mortal form that we know for a fact is not associated with this terrible monster, if there is a monster inside of her it is an amoral creature but its destructive capacity is unbelievable, in short it can control the Qadar in this universe. In one instance the being seemed to become one with the universe. This being goes by the name of "Hermes," and she claims to be a Prophet of the one-true God." Apollo laughed, "The one true God, out of many one rules and that is myself. This Outside God is nothing more than a fairy tale." X interjected: "The outside god may be a fantasy your majesty but this being isn't, there's a monster inside this deity we believe its at most amoral which makes it less dangerous in one way, but yet its power is overpowering and the girl who's the vessel of it can hardly contain it." Apollo smirked, "And the other thing." Zed said: "The Fullvalda." Apollo looked intrigued. Zed went on: "We know little about it but this is what we know as confirmed by countless celestial scientists and scientific organizations over the last 100,000 years. The Fullvalda is a demonic entity of unknown origin that has tentacles on its face and appears like an octopus faced man, made of darkness, dark matter, fire and red dust seemingly like that of the Planet Mars. It has destroyed countless realities. Currently it has destroyed multiple infinities of reality and it appears to be hundreds of millions of infinities old [we know that makes little sense but even the gods of this realm have a hard time recording those kinds of long periods of time]. But the point is, it's coming to our reality. It would have been here in about 500 years which is already too close for comfort and our scientists are working hard to stop it. But more importantly, this entity inside this girl which is going on a power trip is so powerful that it's Qadar is weakening the fabric of the universe almost like it's one with the power of the Cosmic Energy around us and its make it easier for the beast "the Sovereign or Fullvalda to break through into our world." King Apollo: "I heard a little about this creature but I had no idea how serious this was." Apollo rested his hand on his cheek. Before this there were two apocalyptic events that occurred in King Apollo's reign. The incident with the Egyptian god Ra's daughter Bastet, who ran across the entire Continent of Mu at lightning speed and then after growing bored of that attacked the realm of the gods until confronting King Apollo and was sealed into the realm of Hell (or the void), and handled by King Yama and the lords of hell themselves. And another event which was like a coup a being named "Gelden," it's unclear if he was one of the gods or some other being but he was knight with a hood covering his face who randomly showed up killed all of the Imperial Knights the most powerful or formally most powerful beings after King Apollo in that universe and then confronting King Apollo subdueing him with intentionally not killing him and without saying a word simply disappeared.
King Apollo snarled: "This threat was even greater than those two." Zed said: "There's one more thing you're liege, this creature the Fullvalda is capable of mind-controlling the weak in different realms. As time goes by his will will grow stronger and be able to control people and make them work for itself like some kind of mind-controlling parasite. The longer this girl is alive and the longer she breaks down the fabric of this universe the stronger his influence will grow over the minds of the powerful, so see you we must kill her as soon as possible." King Apollo nodded: "And a threat to my rule as well. This girl could even dethrone me, she must be stopped." X pointed to a woman, it was Mira, "Mira, can tell you all about this so-called Prophet (Hermes)." Mira began to speak and now the real troubles of the time had now revealed themselves.
Meanwhile back in Echo-07, Hermes, Nelly and Baala we're all playing a board-game in their apartment. The following day they would have to return to the Tower of Babel and Baala would come with them. Baala told Hermes about all the TV shows she liked and everything else. Meanwhile, back in Echo-07, Hermes, Nelly, and Baala were deep into their board game, the dim glow of neon lights flickering through the apartment window. The game had started as a simple distraction, a way to pass the time before their return to the Tower of Babel. But as the hours stretched on, it had become something more—a rare moment of normalcy, a fragile bubble where past regrets and looming battles were momentarily forgotten.
Baala leaned back against the couch, studying the board with narrowed eyes. "I swear, Hermes, if you sabotage me again, I'm flipping this whole table." Hermes smirked, rolling the dice with exaggerated nonchalance. "I have no idea what you're talking about." Nelly groaned. "You two are impossible. Can we just finish one game without threats of destruction?" Baala shot Hermes a playful glare before turning her attention back to the board. The tension that had filled the air earlier, from their discussions of faith and rebellion, had loosened. For now, they were just three people in a cramped apartment, enjoying each other's company. As the game continued, Baala began rattling off her favorite TV shows, animatedly explaining their plots and characters. Hermes, who had little patience for entertainment outside of philosophy and strategy, found herself surprisingly engaged. Baala had a way of making even the most mundane topics feel weighty, as if the fate of the universe somehow hinged on whether or not a character made the right decision in a season finale. "So, let me get this straight," Hermes said, rubbing her temples. "The entire point of the show is that they're stuck in a time loop, but only the cat knows?" "Exactly!" Baala beamed. "And the cat keeps trying to warn them, but no one listens because—" A sharp knock at the door cut her off. The three of them exchanged wary glances. At this hour, unexpected visitors were never a good sign. Nelly was the first to move, stepping toward the door with measured caution. Hermes tensed, her fingers subtly drifting toward the blade she always kept within reach.
Nelly cracked the door open just enough to see who it was. A courier stood outside, wrapped in a long coat against the night chill. "Delivery for Hermes," he said, holding out a small, metallic case. Hermes frowned, stepping forward to take it. The courier offered a nod before disappearing down the hallway, his footsteps fading into the night. "What is it?" Baala asked, shifting closer. Hermes turned the case over in her hands. It was unmarked, sleek, and cold to the touch. A quiet sense of unease crept over her. "I don't know." She set it on the table and pressed the latch. With a soft hiss, the case unlocked, revealing a single data chip resting in the velvet-lined interior. Inscribed on its surface was a symbol she hadn't seen in years—a sigil from a past she had long tried to bury. Nelly inhaled sharply. "That's from the Tower, isn't it?" Hermes nodded, her expression unreadable. "It means someone inside wants to talk." Baala frowned. "And that's a good thing? I wish I was a grown-up then I'd understand these things." Hermes exhaled, her fingers tightening around the chip. "That depends entirely on what they have to say." The board game was forgotten. The illusion of normalcy shattered. Whatever lay ahead, their return to the Tower of Babel was no longer just another mission. It was a reckoning.
Meanwhile, back at the Compound… Zaiyal along with Nova were able to convince the government [the Qatari Empire] to go easy on Dr. Shashine (Shashin). It was agreed he would be a valuable asset, he seemed more disheartened by his former mission, if these Archon forces could destroy he created with such ease what was the point. Additionally, this Prince Lupus figure and the others were too powerful; he realized that from the beginning he didn't stand a chance. But Ungar was concerned he told Nova, "Look we've been trying to avoid the government [the Qataris] but it's time we leaned into them, if we're dealing with a threat as big as the Archon we need to assemble more powerful warriors, we're on the brink of pushing the holy war into outer space. We need someone of supurb power. Nova nodded his head: "I know of someone." Qayyim looked over, "Who, father?" Nova responded: "Talus, Lupus, we'll be heading off to Saul-05. It's a planet that's 2 Light years from Helios. We should be there in one day, i.e. the day after tomorrow." Lupus looked confused, "Who are you talking about?" Nova said: "His name is Mark. And I owe his mother everything." The door cracked open; it was Erisa and Elsa. They said high and reassured everyone that Hermes was safe, Arinsu was going to speak to her about her potential but that's all, and she's growing stronger. Lupus slammed his fist on the table, "Like any of us give a damn, why'd you hold back. Why didn't you free me from the curse and allow me to go after X!!" Erisa responded: "Because you would have only gotten yourself killed. In fact our little kitty cat Ungar is stronger than could take you down." Lupus laughed: "Is that a fact?"
Everyone went outside of the compound arriving unannounced we're three five familiar faces. The Bodhisattva Guanyin, Erlang Shen, Sun Wukong, King Gilgamesh and Enkidu all the way from the Spirit Realm. They gave salutations to our heroes while Erlang's dog began to bark and Erisa and Elsa's cat Fluffy. A little white cat with the same green eyes as her owners. Erisa and Elsa greeted Gunayin. "It's been some time, how have you been doing Guanyin?" Guanyin replied: "Excellent, my abode and my Lotus Throne have contained many lost souls who have returned to the Dharma path." Lupus yelled: "Will you all shut-up!! I'm about to kill this kitty-cat!!" Lupus the wolf-like alien he was got in a crouch, "It's over why not consider yourself dead." The fight began and the cat lunged into the air. Ungar didn't hesitate. The moment Lupus crouched, the feline warrior was already in motion, twisting midair to evade the first strike. Lupus lunged with savage speed, claws extending from his fingertips as he slashed forward. Ungar barely dodged, landing lightly on his feet, tail flicking behind him.
"Not bad, little kitty," Lupus growled. "But you're not fast enough." This kitty ran forward. Lupus charged again, his movements a blur. The cat sidestepped at the last second, twisting around to deliver a sharp kick to Lupus's ribs. The impact echoed, but Lupus barely flinched. Instead, he grabbed the cat's leg, yanking him forward before slamming him into the ground. The cat rolling away just as Lupus's fist shattered the earth where he had landed. Watching from the sidelines, Nova folded his arms. "He's holding back." Erisa nodded. "Of course. If Fluffy was fighting seriously, this would already be over." Lupus snarled, his eyes flaring with an unnatural light. "Enough games." His aura surged, raw energy crackling around him as the ground trembled beneath his feet. "I'm ending this." Fluffy sighed and meowed. The cat's eyes narrowed, his own energy rising in response. His body shimmered, blurring for a brief moment before he vanished. Before Lupus could react, a powerful strike landed against his chest, sending him skidding back. Another hit followed, then another, each strike landing faster than the last. Lupus roared, swiping wildly, but each time, his claws met only empty air. Then, Fluffy appeared behind him with his claws out. Lupus had no time to react. A palm strike to his spine sent him sprawling forward. Before he could recover, Fluffy leaped into the air, twisting his body before delivering a devastating kick to Lupus's back. The wolf-like warrior slammed into the ground, coughing as dust billowed around him. Silence fell over the compound. Lupus groaned, pushing himself up onto his hands. "Damn it…" He spat blood, shaking his head. "Alright… alright. You win." He glared up at the little cat, eyes burning with frustration but also something else—respect. "But know this I will grow stronger, and when I've surpassed you, I will destroy you." The tension in the air faded, and the others exhaled. Guanyin chuckled softly. "Well, that was certainly entertaining." Sun Wukong grinned. "Not bad, not bad. That was a proper fight." Erlang Shen's dog let out a sharp bark, and Fluffy responded with a flick of her tail, unimpressed. Elsa scooped up the small white cat, stroking her fur. "Fluffy says she's seen better." Lupus growled but couldn't suppress a small smirk. He wiped the blood from his lip, standing up. "Next time, I won't hold back." Nova thought to himself, "May as well bring Ungar as well, he could be needed to pick this kid up, I know how powerful he is."
King Gilgamesh and Sun Wukong told Phyron and Lupus that they would be willing to train them both in order to make them stronger. They were both intrigued. Phryon agreed, Lupus stated: "Just give me a few days of training at the Compound after we get back with Nova from picking up this kid and then I'll be happy to take you up on this offer. God knows I have an idea how powerful you both are. I can sense your energy. Just know that when I surpass you I'll conquer your domains from you." Sun replied: "Fine!" Gilgamesh stated: "I believe I'm willing to take that risk." Lupus laughed and thought to himself: "Even if it takes 1,000 years when I surpass them I will make them my slaves, I will do everything, nothing will be beyond my dominion."
Meanwhile, a young kid is planning to commit suicide. He was about to jump off an abandoned building in a ruined modern city, it was on the Planet Saul-05. Just recently his girlfriend cheated on him and he lost his job, not to mention his mother died in his arms when he was eight years old and his uncle died from Cancer before giving him this mysterious book. His life seemed nothing short of finished in his mind. His name was Mark, he was a devout Christian, he was a non-denomiational Protestant and his pastor growing up always told him that suicide was a sin that condemned someone to Hell, something that Christ could and would not forgive. He read a prayer from his pocket Bible that he pulled from his pocket. Psalm 23 1-6: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." He was about to do it but as he almost fell he chickened out at the last second and began to cry. "I'm such a coward," he thought. "I should've just killed myself." Just a month ago Mark had found out that his girlfriend Stacy was cheating with him, she slept with a 6 foot African American SuperHero from Earth-02 named, "Mr. Lightning." When he caught them in the act of copulating they went on to mock him. Mark had magic power but it was relatively weak at least from what he could tell. It was in a long list of terrible things that occurred in his life. He was molested by his maternal uncle, and was terrified to tell his mother because he thought if she told him he would kill her based on what he said. His uncle beat him as well, he exploited him in every way sexually imaginable but also took great delight in beating him. This molestation and violent abuse took place between the ages of 6 and 14, at that point he moved to live full time with his mother. His mother was busy working three jobs so she hardly had time to spend at home and hence he was left at home with his uncle. His mother was a good woman, the only good person he knew, but within a year there was a fire in the house, and the city became a war zone. She was shot by one of the rebels as they left the bombed and burning house. His mother lay dying in his arms when Mark was no older than 15. She gave him her pocket Bible and something else, a strange book, she said: "This is from your father, when you're ready to open it." Mark wasn't ready yet. He was someone who suffered as an Orphan and lived as a Homeless beggar until he was 19. He was 25 in a University for SuperHeroes. But he was willing to throw it all away now. He just tried to kill himself.
Mark sat on the ledge of the ruined building, his breath ragged, his body trembling. The ruins of Saul-05 blazed in the distance, their cold glow a stark contrast to the storm raging inside him. The planet was like Mars with its bizarre red soil. His mind replayed every moment of his suffering—his uncle's monstrous cruelty, his mother's tragic death, the betrayal of Stacy. The weight of it all crushed him, suffocating any hope he had left. His fingers tightened around the small pocket Bible, its leather worn from years of use. He didn't know what he was expecting—some kind of sign, some divine intervention to pull him back from the edge. But nothing came. Just the empty howl of the wind. And then— A voice. "Thinking of jumping, huh?" Mark froze. The voice was deep yet oddly casual, as if this stranger had simply stumbled upon someone debating which sandwich to order rather than contemplating suicide. Slowly, he turned his head. Standing behind him was a tall man in a tattered black coat, his hair wild and silver, his eyes gleaming with something unreadable. Mark swallowed hard. "Who the hell are you?" The man shrugged. "Just a guy who's seen too many people throw their lives away." He stepped closer, his boots crunching against the concrete. "And I gotta say, you don't strike me as the type." Mark let out a bitter laugh. "You don't know a damn thing about me." "Maybe. Maybe not." The man crouched down a few feet away, resting his arms on his knees. "But I do know one thing. If you were really set on dying, you wouldn't have hesitated." Mark clenched his jaw. He hated that the stranger was right. "What do you want?"
The man studied him for a moment, then nodded toward the book clutched in Mark's hands. "That book—what's in it?" Mark blinked, thrown by the question. "It's a Bible." "No, not that one." The man's eyes darkened. "The other book. The one your mother gave you." A chill ran down Mark's spine. "How do you know about that?" The stranger smirked. "Because I've been looking for you, kid." He stood up, dusting off his coat. "The name's Nova. And if you're ready to stop running from your past, I've got a place for you." Out of the shadows appeared three other figures: Prince Lupus, Ungar and Talus. Mark narrowed his eyes. "Why should I trust you?" Nova sighed. "Because I know what it's like to be lost. To feel like the whole universe has done nothing but chew you up and spit you out." His expression softened, if only slightly. "But I also know what it's like to fight back. And trust me, kid, you've got more fight in you than you realize."
Mark stared at him, his grip on the Bible tightening. A war waged in his mind. Could he really trust this man? Was there even a point in trying anymore? Nova turned away, as if sensing his hesitation. "You can stay here and let your past win." He glanced over his shoulder, his silver hair catching the dim light. "Or you can come with me and find out what you were meant for." For the first time in what felt like years, Mark felt something stir inside him—something small, something fragile. Something akin to purpose, but it was based on nothing.
Look none of you know the cruelty I've gone through. Talus interjected: "I'm someone who committed cruelty to others, I'm paying for it with good deeds. The truth is I wanted to use others for my own gain. Others look down on others and want to conquer everything around them." Lupus folded his arms and scoffed. "But those who punish themselves are just as worthy of wrongs. One should stop punishing yourself with pity. Pity is no better than pride," said Talus. Mark shouted back: "AND WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW?! Shut your damn mouth!" Nova held up a hand, a silent command for calm. His silver eyes didn't waver from Mark's. "I know enough," he said, his tone quiet but firm. "And I know that if you stay here, alone with your pain, it'll consume you. You don't want that." Mark glared at him, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "You think you can just swoop in here and fix me? That you can make everything better?" He let out a bitter laugh. "I'm beyond saving." Nova tilted his head, considering him. "No, you're not. And I'm not here to 'fix' you, we want you to serve as the Leader after the Prophet." His gaze flicked to the book in Mark's other hand—the one his mother had given him all those years ago. "I'm here to help you find out who you really are." Mark's fingers instinctively tightened around the book. He had never dared to open it. Something about it had always felt… off. Heavy, like it carried more than just words. He had assumed it was some kind of family heirloom, but now, looking into Nova's knowing eyes, he wasn't so sure.
Lupus scoffed, stepping forward with his arms crossed. "Enough with the cryptic crap, Nova. We don't have all day." His golden eyes flicked to Mark, sizing him up. "Look, kid. You can wallow in self-pity, or you can grow some spine and come with us. I don't care either way. It won't matter whether you're alive or dead, I will reign over this world, sooner or later it will bow before my feet." Talus sighed. "Lupus, not exactly the best way to convince him."
Ungar, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. His voice was deep, almost soothing despite its roughness. "You're not the only one who's suffered, Mark. But suffering doesn't define you. It's what you do with it that matters. The fact of the matter is that we're all born into a life where suffering is relied upon by people unequally." Mark looked at them—this strange group of warriors who had appeared in the ruins of his world. They weren't saints, that much was clear. But there was something real about them, something he hadn't felt from anyone in years. Still, doubt gnawed at him. "Why me?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper. Nova smiled, just a little. "Because you're stronger than you think. You will with time become the vanguard and protector of the Holy Prophet you will be second only to her. And because that book of yours? It's more important than you realize." Mark hesitated. He looked down at the book, tracing the worn cover with his thumb. His mother's dying words echoed in his mind: "When you're ready." Was he ready? The city around him was silent, the wind his only witness. The ghosts of his past still clung to him, whispering that he was worthless, that he was broken beyond repair. But maybe—just maybe—Nova and his group were right. Maybe he still had something left to fight for. Slowly, hesitantly, Mark stood up from the ledge. He took a deep breath and met Nova's gaze. "Fine," he said. "I'll come with you." Nova's smirk returned. "Good choice." Lupus rolled his eyes. "Took you long enough." Talus just smiled, while Ungar gave a single nod of approval. As they turned to leave, Mark glanced back at the ruined skyline one last time. The pain of his past was still there, but for the first time, it didn't feel quite so suffocating. Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new.
Meanwhile back in the Demon Realm, Hermes walked into a hidden room in the tower and saw a man with a coolie hat sitting on the floor smoking a long pipe. This man was Arinsu. The air in the hidden chamber of the Tower was thick with the scent of burning herbs. The dim light flickered against the stone walls, casting long shadows over the man sitting in the center of the room. Hermes hesitated in the doorway, taking in the sight before him. The man, clad in a dark robe with a wide-brimmed coolie hat shielding his face, exhaled a slow stream of smoke from his long pipe. His aura was unmistakable—calm yet weighty, like a storm waiting to break. Arinsu. Hermes took a cautious step forward. "So, you're the one pulling the strings behind this?" Arinsu let out a soft chuckle, his voice carrying the weight of ages. "Pulling strings? No, Hermes. I merely see the tapestry as it is woven." He tapped the side of his pipe, dislodging the embers onto a bronze tray. "And right now, the threads are unraveling."
Hermes clenched her fists. "You wrote something about something called "Archons," in the note you sent to Nelly's house. I need answers. The Archons… they have agents in the Kingdom of the Tower. They're moving against us, aren't they?" Arinsu nodded slowly. "They have always been moving, even when you were blind to their presence." He gestured to the floor, where a circular pattern had been inscribed in gold, ancient symbols weaving into an intricate design. "The Prophet is their target. You always has been." Hermes' breath hitched. "Why? What do they want with me?"
"The same thing they have always wanted," Arinsu said, his voice heavy with knowing. "They want you dead, they believe there's a monster if you soul that's beyond their control, everyday you get stronger and a greater threat to the Universe in their estimation." She leaned forward, eyes glinting from beneath his hat. "And they will not stop until she is dead." Hermes felt the weight of the words settle in her chest. She had suspected as much, but to hear it confirmed was something else entirely. "And this new sidekick I'm supposed to partner up with Mark, how does he fit into this?" Arinsu took another long drag from his pipe before answering. "The boy is a key, though he does not yet know it. The book his mother left him—its pages hold truths that even the Archons and the gods fear, he has a demon in his heart as well."
Hermes frowned. "And you? What's your stake in all this?" Arinsu smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "My stake. The world is not meant to be ruled by celestial tyrants who claim righteousness while drowning in their own corruption." He stood, his movements slow but deliberate. "You seek to protect God's word as his Apostle. I seek to dismantle the chains the Archons have placed upon reality itself." Hermes exhaled sharply, her mind racing. "Then we're on the same side. I was always suspicious. But I guess you're a good egg afterall." "Of course." Arinsu tilted his head. "But be warned—this war is older than you, older than any kingdom. If you wish to walk this path, you must be willing to sacrifice more than you ever thought possible." Hermes' grip tightened on her sword hilt. She had already sacrificed so much. There was no turning back now. "I'm ready," she said.
Meanwhile back at the compound. Ungar and the others had brought Mark back to the compound. Mark was introduced to everyone for the first time. Several months went by and Mark became more and more familiar with his new group of friends slowly over time. Eventually within two months Mark attended a party at Nova's home. Everyone was there. Ungar, Narcis, Sarai, Lupus was silent and brooding: he spent the last couple months training non-stop in the Simulation Room. Day after day grueling training pushed him to the limit. All some poultry paralysis techniques couldn't work on him again. Mark was being honored by everyone the Multiverse versions of several of his new friends, the Rock Creature, Taco Man, he had gained quite a friendship with recovering villain Phyron. Phyron had a similar background to Mark; he was not molested in his childhood but he was beaten and physically abused. Him and his younger sister who had disappeared long ago were shuttled around to orphanage after orphanage often beaten and starved. This began at the age of 6 when his parents both died in a terrible fire. Ironically years later Phryon grew into maturity at the age of 19 he learned he had these miraculous powers of controlling fire, he always suspected he was responsible for the death of his parents. That regret turned him to the dark side, he began a life of crime as a supervillain. Eventually beginning his career as a "hero-killer," and going after world-domination. But his plans for world domination came to a screeching halt when Ungar defeated him.
Since then the evil in Phyron's heart decreased at an astonishing rate and soon it seemed the evil in his heart would be extinguished. But another was much slower to be changed even though he now had a wife and child. Prince Lupus still desired universal supremacy to have the entire Cosmos bow before him and to continue his conquests as long as more creation lay outside his grasp. Lupus had a great childhood. His mother died giving birth to him but his father treated him like a golden child. Him and his father conquered planets. He once asked his father as they were busy destroying Alphari civilization. "Father, is it possible that anyone can overcome us?" His father replied: "Possible for someone to overcome me it is more than possible, for you it is out of the question. You have already far surpassed me. There's no chance anyone could defeat you, you're second to none." Lupus replied: "You mean to say I'll be number one or I'll be nothing." His father the king laughed: "Not even close. This is no OR it's an impossibility like dry water or wet fire. It won't happen because destiny has proclaimed you will ascend above all else until your name rings into eternity. IT'S YOUR DIVINE BIRTHRIGHT!" Lupus smiled as the civilization went up in flames from below. Years later it seemed that his father's words rang hollow. He began to walk down the hall of the compound when he was interrupted by a voice, it was Mark. "Hey, how's it going?" Lupus turned around. "Look boy they might tell you, that you're my boss, but let me tell you I don't follow some cheap Prophet or her errand boy." Mark simply replied: "I haven't talked to you all that much but I just wanted a chance to thank you. I already thanked everyone else for letting me into the crew. You were the only one left. Before I met everyone my girlfriend had just cheated on me, I had been bullied at school, I had an almost non-existent sex life, I had prospects to get married and have children that I thought could never get fulfilled, my mother was dead, I had no friends, there was nothing to live for, so thank you for giving me a purpose."
Lupus laughed: "You're dating life, your friends, is that really what you care about?!" Mark, an eyebrow raised, replied: "But you have a wife and a child, certainly you care about that and a group of friends, I was never popular in school." Lupus began howling in laughter: "Hahahaha….HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! YOU HAVE NO AMBITION! NO PROSPECTS! You care about such pointless things!! Friends, sex, love-life, etc. those things mean nothing!! You should view women and men alike as ants you shouldn't desire sex or love at all. If you're angry at this woman who had an affair, destroy her and that man with ease and then divorce it from your heart. You're tired of being bullied, get stronger and destroy them! You care about pointless things!! You should be more like me…" Mark said with a pause in his voice: "What do you mean?" Lupus giggled: "I'm glad you asked. All I desire is to rule over all beings as God and it's not an if it's a when. Know that in this world you're equal to everyone else, equally inferior after you're ruler. You scramble around like insects while your king sits upon a golden throne! You should consider it an honor if you live to witness the day when Prince Lupus reigns supreme over the Cosmos. Now do you understand?" After all this Mark had an unexpected reaction. Mark was crying and telling Lupus: "thank you." Which confused Lupus, he actually gasped. "People always treated me like I was different from anyone else. Thank you for saying that I'm the same as everyone else. I always felt little, but in a way what you said made me feel better… maybe it sounds strange but it's something I've needed to hear my entire life." Lupus growled: "Whatever, I'll just tell you what I tell everyone else: just stay the hell out of my way." As he walked away Mark smiled: "Things we're turning out different this time, maybe he could be happy." As Lupus walked down the hall he walked by Ungar who was brooding in a dark corner. "You've really grown into quite the softy Lupus, it's a story that's been told time and time again. I was a bad-guy myself at one point, it takes a lot to grow." Lupus growled in anger: "Shut your damn mouth! You know nothing about who I am and what I'm capable of."