Arophile: Hiiaaa!
With a fluid and powerful movement, he stretched his body and burst the tentacles of the monster that was gripping him, thus freeing himself from its deadly embrace.
But the monster, relentless, regenerated in less than a second, as if time itself bent before its will.
Without losing a moment, Arophile launched a devastating energy beam that pulverized the entire body of the monster. Yet, again, the creature reformed, defying all logic.
The monster screamed: "Raaaaaahhh!"
Arophile, wearing a mischievous smile:
- Very well! I see your regeneration is formidable. But, devil, what a tenacious monster!
Suddenly, Arophile's body was enveloped in a black and mystical aura. His eyes lit up with an incandescent red, a reflection of a primordial power.
Arophile:
- Death Cannon.
A sphere of destruction, as vast as the moon, formed between his hands, the fruit of the magic of a primordial demon, ready to annihilate the opponent.
But a presence behind him made him interrupt his attack.
Arophile:
- Who dares disturb my concentration?
He turned around and saw Apollon.
Arophile, surprised:
- Lord Apollon? How is it that you are still here?
Apollo, with an enigmatic smile:
- I deliberately let this monster imprison and devour me, in order to observe your reaction. And I must say, Arophile, you will make an excellent divine advisor. I do not say this often, but I am proud of you.
A slight blush colored Arophile's cheeks.
Arophile:
- Lord Apollo… You escaped from a sealed prison? By this monster? Its offensive power is weak, certainly, but its seal should be an eternal imprisonment. How could you free yourself?
Apollo burst out laughing deeply.
Apollo:
- Hahaha! My life is far more impressive than you think. Sealing myself has little effect: I can withdraw whenever I want.
Arophile remained speechless, admiring.
Arophile:
- I hope that one day, I can be as impressive.
The monster tried once again its smoke sealing technique.
Arophile stepped back, but Apollo remained still. The smoke reached him, covering him, but nothing happened.
Apollo:
- Reflections of the Persecutor.
The monster's technique turned against itself, trapping it in a tiny bubble that the god could hold in his hand.
Apollo:
- I will take this to Zeus. Let's see which god could still be mistaken now.
Suddenly, Apollo fell silent, lost in thought. Then, he turned to Arophile.
Apollo:
- It is time to leave, Arophile.
Arophile:
- At your command, my lord.
Both disappeared in a flash of light.
---
## The Divine Council
Within the celestial castle, Zeus continued his conversation with Mü Thanatos.
Mü Thanatos:
- How to distinguish primordial gods from other deities?
Zeus:
- Primordial gods occupy the top of the divine hierarchy, just after the original beings. We possess indisputable authority, the very word of the Father God, which grants us the power to decide everything, without exception since Viraya and even above...
### The Supremacy of Viraya over Lower States:
In the cosmic order, Viraya stands as an inaccessible summit, a reality whose very existence escapes the understanding of all that lies below. Madhurya, with its myriad transcendent layers, already seems immeasurable to the eyes of gods and lower entities. Yet, before Viraya, all the grandeur of Madhurya fades like a shadow before the light.
No law, no concept, no entity born from Madhurya or its lower strata can even touch the surface of Viraya. For the inhabitants of Madhurya, Viraya is neither a place nor an accessible state: it is the very negation of their limits, the source of an existence of a higher order. Where Madhurya unfolds into infinity, Viraya absolutely transcends it, containing and surpassing it like a dream forgotten by its dreamer.
For Viraya, all the layers, all the powers, all the possibilities of Madhurya and the lower states are but abstractions, fragments of unreality without substance. The beings of Viraya do not even perceive Madhurya: the ontological distance is such that the very notion of superiority becomes insufficient. It is no longer a mere gap of power or knowledge, but a difference of existence so extreme that Madhurya, with all its complexity, is but an insignificant point in the immensity of Viraya.
Thus, the supremacy of Viraya is not domination: it is total transcendence, a state of being that relegates all that is below to the state of echo or illusion, infinitely surpassed and forever out of reach.
This is the superiority of primordial gods over the rest from their states of existence.
A knock echoed at the door.
Zeus:
- Enter!
The door opened, revealing Apollo.
Apollo:
- Greetings, my lord Zeus, and to you, goddess of polarities, Mü Thanatos. My mission is accomplished, I am ready to report.
Zeus gave a sly smile.
Zeus:
- Speak.
Apollo:
- The demon who insulted you has fled. Its threat is negligible. This mission was more a chore than anything else. I suggest not wasting your time with such microbes; send a lesser god instead.
Zeus:
- Hm… I want to see the fight.
Apollo:
- Very well. *Tradendae memoriae.*
A flash shot from Apollo's head, projecting the images of the fight into Zeus's abode, who could thus witness every moment as if he were there.
Zeus:
- I see… I beg your pardon, dear Apollo, for entrusting you with a mission so unworthy of your greatness. It did not deserve your time, and I deeply apologize.
Apollo:
- May the Father hear your words, my lord. I accept your apologies.
Zeus:
- Thank you, Apollo. I was able to observe an *error deorum*.
Apollo:
- Yes, my lord. Wait!
Apollo produced a small bubble in his hand.
Apollo:
- It is inside.
Mü Thanatos, intrigued:
- Excuse me, but what is an *error deorum*?
Zeus:
- An *error deorum* is a monstrous creature born from a god's mistake.
Mü Thanatos:
- What mistake? Can gods make faults?
Zeus:
- Yes. By breaking divine commandments, these errors generate terrifying creatures, even more powerful if the fault is grave. These *errors deorum* once devoured entire worlds. They possess powers similar to gods but lack reason.
Mü Thanatos:
- Worlds?
Apollo:
- Once, there were more than one hundred thousand worlds. These creatures destroyed eight, including one as vast beyond as the world of gods.
Mü Thanatos:
- Yet the one you sealed seems unimpressive up close.
Apollo:
- Their power can grow in many ways, like mythical demons. They can absorb other beings and their powers, or increase according to the sin committed by beings, whether they exist or not. Their existence is linked to the plague and the god responsible for the fault.
Mü Thanatos:
- That is terrifying.
Apollo:
- No, it is simply frustrating that a god continues to flout the laws.
Zeus, furious:
- Tell me about it, dear Apollo! I swear to eliminate this unjust god before he causes more harm.
Mü Thanatos:
- Zeus!
Zeus:
- I will find him on Earth and crush him.
Mü Thanatos:
- Calm yourself, Zeus. Apollo and I will take care of it.
Apollo:
- She is right, my lord. Sit down, let us find the culprit.
Zeus extended his hand, holding the bubble containing the *error deorum*.
Zeus:
- Killing these creatures is not simple. Their existence is tied to their source, and if I eliminate the guilty god, he will perish as well.
Apollo:
- We will need patience and caution.
Zeus:
- Indeed. But it is essential to preserve this creature until we find its author, to judge him.
Apollo:
- Excellent idea, my lord.
Zeus nodded.
Apollo:
- Let us go, goddess Mü Thanatos.
Mü Thanatos:
- Understood.
The two deities left the room.
---
## Fifteen Years Later
Time passed quickly in this dimension, although worlds close to that of existence are outside time, except the realm of myths, subject to the same temporal laws.
In a modest house, smoke gently escaped from the chimney. Inside, Zara was busy preparing a meal, chopping small vegetables which she placed in a pot.
A child of about thirteen years old ran in.
Arcane:
- Mom!
Zara turned around, smiling.
Zara:
- Oh, Arcane, how are you, my baby?
Arcane, pouting:
- I'm fine, mom, but stop calling me "baby," I'm a big girl now.
Zara:
- Ah, very well, big girl… Go play outside, your father will be here soon.
Arcane:
- Okay, mom.
She was about to leave, but changed her mind.
Arcane:
- Mom, I forgot to show you something!
Zara nodded.
Arcane stretched her hands forward and made dancing flames appear.
Arcane:
- It's pretty, isn't it? I did it all by myself!
Zara's gaze remained cold, devoid of pride.
Arcane, worried:
- Mom? Are you okay?
Zara placed a tender hand on her daughter's head.
Zara:
- Arcane, my child, you must never use your powers lightly. There are people who would not appreciate that.
Arcane:
- Oh… They don't like magic?
Zara thought for a moment, then a melancholic smile lit her face.
(Can I go back? No, it's irreparable. I had a child with a human, which is forbidden… The worst is that I love this life, and I love Shiba as on the first day.)
Zara:
- My treasure, do me a favor: use your powers only in cases of absolute necessity. Never otherwise.
Arcane:
- Understood, mom.
Zara kissed her daughter's forehead.
Zara:
- You can go play now.
Arcane walked away, but soon returned running.
Arcane:
- Mom, you have visitors.
Zara frowned, surprised.
At the door stood Mü Thanatos and Apollo.
Zara:
- Eh? But how…?
Apollo, in a stern tone:
- Silence! You are the one who broke one of the commandments. Zeus is furious because of you.
Zara remained frozen, unable to respond. What she had done was shameful, unacceptable for a goddess.
Thousands of questions swirled in her mind, and sweat beaded on her forehead.
Zara, stammering:
- I… I must…
Mü Thanatos placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Mü Thanatos:
- Try to calm yourself.
Zara:
- It's impossible. What I did is terrible. Seeing you here reminds me of the gravity of my act.
Apollo, contemptuous:
- Your behavior is insane. You are the creator of living beings in this timeline, and to be attached to them in this way is madness.
Zara:
- I am sorry, Lord Apollo. I know Zeus will punish me severely, and I deserve it. Mü Thanatos had already advised me to repress this feeling, but I let myself be deceived by him.
Apollo opened his mouth to reply, but Mü Thanatos covered it with her hand.
Mü Thanatos:
- For now, we must speak with her calmly.
Zara:
- Very well, let us go to my place.
Zara went back inside, while Mü Thanatos released Apollo.
The latter, visibly upset, asked:
Apollo:
- May I know why you acted this way?