In the Outer Void, Apollon and Arophile ventured into unfathomable labyrinths, until they reached a place whose grandeur surpassed comprehension. This world, it was said, was "infinitely vaster than that of Existence."
Arophile, amazed:
What kind of world is this? Where are we?
Apollon, in a deep voice:
This world is called Timeo. It is renowned for its strangeness, for being the stage of a reality where all logic fades away.
Arophile, thoughtful:
I understand... A world infinitely larger than that of Existence, isn't it?
Apollon:
Exactly. There are twenty worlds in total, and fourteen of them surpass Existence in immensity. The others do not.
Arophile:
Why then measure greatness by the standard of the world of Existence?
Apollon, solemn:
Because it was the first world named by man, the original matrix of all others.
Timeo is a world where logic and the order of the gods are but trivialities. Here, everything transcends these principles. The beings who live there defy all description, incarnations of chaos and night, capable of shattering the mind of anyone who dares behold them. This world is an abyss of nightmares, darkness, and endless madness.
Arophile, worried:
Lord Apollon, will this place be useful to you in your quest?
Apollon did not answer. He was plunged into intense concentration, rightly so: three demons appeared, presenting themselves without hesitation.
The first spoke in a hoarse voice:
Since it would be discourteous to slay a god without introducing ourselves, I'll start... I am Demon King number 17.
The second continued:
I am Zérécla, Demon King number 18.
The third, in a cold tone:
I am Ëpres, Demon King number 19.
Sai, a cruel smile on his lips, addressed Apollon:
Here you are, god. You hunted us relentlessly, and we decided to make Timeo your tomb.
Apollon, imperious:
Silence! So there are three of you. Which one of you dared insult Zeus?
Sai, chuckling:
Hahaha, it's me you're looking for...
But he did not have time to finish his sentence. Already, Apollon struck, his fist creating a shockwave so powerful it made Timeo stagger, the Outer Void, the existing worlds, the real world, and even that of Erasa tremble.
In the Underworld, the lesser demons were seized with panic.
On a throne, an entity of unheard-of power rose: Azazel. At his passage, demons stepped aside, demon kings bowed before their all-powerful father.
Lilith, a grateful smile on her lips, addressed him:
Azazel, what force drives you to show yourself like this? It is hardly your custom!
Azazel, baring sharp teeth, replied:
Lilith, such a shock could only awaken me. It is the work of a primordial god... A power that makes my mouth water!
Will you join them? asked Lilith.
No, but I will visit them soon. All this turmoil urges me to send my greetings... Hehehe... HAHAHAHA!
Back in Timeo, Sai had barely absorbed the blow.
Arophile lay on the ground, overwhelmed by a power he had never known.
Sai, admiring:
Well, the god does not joke!
Apollon, impassive:
I will not destroy you. Rejoice, Zeus will take care of you, Sai. As for your brothers and sisters, I will handle them... This world could not bear a total confrontation among the three of us.
With a kick, Apollon transported the five protagonists to another place.
Zérécla, worried:
Where are we?
Apollon, solemn:
You have reason to worry, little demon. Here your fate will be decided. This place, I have just created for the occasion. It is indestructible: fight without restraint!
Arophile, panicked:
Haaaaa, and I cannot fight!
Apollon, with an annoyed gesture, created an indestructible sphere to protect Arophile from the coming battle.
Apollon:
Thus, you can watch without fear.
Ëpres, mocking:
Does the god really think he can defeat all three of us?
A confident smile lit Apollon's face.
Apollon, categorical:
I do not think so... I know it!
In a flash, Apollon disappeared and struck Ëpres in the stomach, throwing him far away. The two other demons rushed at him, but Apollon absorbed their blows, then grabbed them by the heads and slammed them against each other.
Seizing Zérécla by the hair, he struck her repeatedly, while Ëpres, in the rear, launched a frontal attack.
Apollon threw his own sister against Ëpres, watching them both fall.
Sai appeared behind Apollon, multiplying assaults, which the god took without flinching. Then he grabbed Sai by the throat, slammed him violently to the ground, before delivering a kick.
Rising into the air, Apollon declared in a resounding voice:
Apollon:
"Stop Lamps"
Powerful yellow lightning paralyzed the three demon kings, depriving them of all thought.
Apollon then materialized a whip of lightning and struck the demons. At one blow, they were erased from existence.
Apollon, disdainful:
Pathetic warm-up... I had to use an elemental god technique to erase them, but the divine whip strikes the chōshinku itself, leaving no trace.
Arophile, dazzled by the speed of the fight, had no respite.
But the three demons reappeared, growling with rage.
Apollon, sarcastic:
I expected to see you again. You just proved you are true demon kings, for only those endowed with a powerful source survive the divine whip.
Zérécla, screaming:
SHUT UP!!!
Apollon, icy:
Who are you to give me orders? "Conversely."
The three demons collapsed, twisted in pain.
Sai, agonizing:
What is happening to us? Aaaargh!
Apollon:
I just returned your attacks, amplified by the divine aura. Sorry, but you are too annoying.
They writhed on the ground, unable to react.
Zérécla, screaming:
AAAAAARRRGH! What pain!
Apollon:
Attacks from gods and great demons strike directly the vital source, passing through the body. It is no surprise the pain is unbearable.
After a moment, Apollon used another technique.
Apollon:
"Infinita visio nocturna abyssi."
[This divine technique traps the soul in its subconscious, the "place of ignorance," where it suffers eternal tortures, physical and psychic. Only the god can end it.]
But the attack was launched hastily, and the demons managed to dodge it.
Zérécla, panting:
What was that attack so carelessly launched? Do you underestimate us?
Apollon:
In truth, this attack never misses its target. But here... you are pathetic. Your defeat was sealed from the first glance, for the "Transcendence" ability activated by itself. When a primordial god faces a threat, Transcendence imposes itself even before the fight begins.
Ëpres, intrigued:
And what does this ability do?
[Transcendence: transcend the opponent to their fundamental point. The user is always superior, rendering any attack ineffective, like a mosquito bite.]
{Impossible to stop, counter, diminish, or cancel.}
Sai, indignant:
That's... cheating!
Apollon:
You attack me three against one, and you talk about cheating?
The demons, furious, transformed. Their aura released a pressure so terrifying that the entire battlefield was shaken.
Arophile, terrified:
What power! This bodes no good!
Apollon, unperturbed, watched what he called "this circus" with weariness.
Transformation complete, the demons rushed at him.
Apollon, in a commanding voice:
On your knees!
The demons were frozen in space, unable to move a finger.
Zérécla, panicked:
What is happening?!
Apollon:
I made the space around you so solid that even beings like you cannot move a finger. Do you really want to keep bothering me?
The demons struggled in vain.
Apollon, exasperated:
"Esurientem tenebris."
Propelled into the void, the demons were engulfed... but returned unharmed seconds later.
Apollon, admiring:
Your Chōshinku are stronger than I thought.
Ëpres:
He mocks us!
But as they tried to attack, they collapsed without understanding.
Ëpres, panicked:
What did he do now?
Apollon:
I transcended your limbs, your bodies, your beings, and your Chōshinku. Now, I control them. Isn't it magnificent? Do you still believe you can defeat me?
Zérécla, defiant:
Of course, you don't scare us!
Apollon:
I would have preferred you abstain...
Suddenly, Apollon's appearance changed. His hair turned red, his gaze became bloody, his body metamorphosed.
Apollon:
Let's see if you survive this. I will use 2% of my power in this form.
The demons, still frozen, trembled.
Apollon:
You may move now, vermin!
They immediately got up and attacked. But Apollon vanished, giving way to a nightmarish creature: several red eyes, long spider legs, a thick black hue. Its very presence radiated a blinding white light.
The whiteness mixing with the demons paralyzed them, who suffered a rain of attacks, each more painful than the last. Screams echoed, the pain became unbearable, and the demons begged for death.
Arophile, terrified in his sphere, covered his ears to no longer hear these cries of agony.
A true nightmare for the demons.
Apollon reappeared, impassive.
Apollon:
This creature is called "Mors Gratis." It can inflict these torments for eternity. The only way out would be to reach me, but how could you, paralyzed at the very root of your chōshinku? Thirty seconds, and already tears flow... Pathetic. I leave you here, delivered to Mors Gratis for eternity, in the name of the gods!
Apollon joined Arophile and his sphere.
Zérécla, in despair:
No! I beg you, god, spare us this torment!
Apollon, his gaze hardened, replied:
Perhaps I should defeat you myself, while Mors Gratis continues its work...