Mü Thanatos: What I desire is to understand... to understand why she acted that way. Let us go, Apollon. I... I ask your forgiveness for all that I may have made you endure during my life.
Apollon (sighing): May the Father of the gods hear you... Mü Thanatos, your repentance is accepted.
Mü Thanatos: Thank you...
The two deities crossed the threshold of Zara's home and took their seats.
Zara (confused): I... I am sorry. I wanted to suddenly become a unique source... an original sponsor.
Apollon (exclaiming): Ha!... The Father of the gods himself would turn his gaze away from you at this moment!
Zara (lowering her head): You are right... I admit it... I beg you to forgive me...
Mü Thanatos (pointing at a silhouette): Is that... is that your child over there?
Zara: Yes. Her name is Arcane.
Apollon: She is a demigod, isn't she?
Zara closed her eyes, took a long breath, then whispered:
Zara: Fuuuuuh... Yes. She is.
Mü Thanatos: What drove you to such a transgression?
Zara (hesitant): I... I feel even more miserable before you, Mü Thanatos, because you warned me. But... this feeling in me loved that man so deeply human... that I believed killing this feeling would condemn me forever...
The door of the house then opened.
A man entered, carrying Arcane on his shoulders. It was Schiba, Zara's husband.
Schiba: Well! What a surprise. Hello everyone. Zara, is this your family here?
Zara lowered her eyes, a little ashamed.
Zara: In a certain... way, yes.
Schiba: Let me take a closer look then!
Apollon suddenly stood up.
Apollon: Enough. Mü Thanatos, let us go. I have seen enough.
Zara, panicked, tried to hold him back.
Zara: I beg you... Wait!!
Apollon approached, his eyes filled with divine fire.
Apollon: One more word... and I will invoke Authority. I will eradicate all humanity from your colossal dimension. Speak, if you dare.
Zara plunged her gaze into Apollon's... then lowered her head, silent. Her eyes were broken... drowned in sadness, fear... terror. But she forced herself to silence.
Apollon: Mü Thanatos, let us go.
Mü Thanatos briefly looked at Zara. A sincere worry crossed her features, but she did not know how to help her. She then followed Apollon.
Schiba: Hey!! Come back!!
But no one answered. Mü Thanatos and Apollon vanished in a flash.
Schiba (turning): Zara?! What is...?
For the first time since he knew her, Schiba saw her cry.
Schiba: Why? Why these tears? Tell me, I beg you, I do not understand anything!
Arcane: Mom?... Why are you crying?
Schiba gently lowered Arcane from his shoulders.
Schiba: Go play outside for a while, please. Your mother and I need to talk.
Arcane hesitated, then nodded.
Arcane: Okay...
She went out, but she was not fooled. At thirteen, Arcane already knew many things.
Schiba: Zara? I beg you, tell me what is wrong. Seeing your tears is unbearable for me...
He tried to wipe them, but she stepped back.
Zara (sniffling): Don't worry... I can wipe them myself...
She let her tears fall on her hand extended towards the floor.
A drop fell on the wooden floor... and melted it slightly. Such a tiny damage that Schiba did not notice it.
Schiba: You have never cried since I met you. If you cry today... it is serious. Tell me. And who were those people?
Zara: Forget them, I beg you.
Schiba: You are crying, Zara! How could I forget?!
In the realm of the gods, Zeus was fuming, seated on his thunderous throne.
The god of death, Thanato, approached with reverence.
Thanato: My respects, Lord. What is the cause of your anger?
Zeus: This unrest arises from those rebellious gods who trample my laws without fear or respect...
Thanato: I understand. In that case, I withdraw so as not to bother you further.
Zeus: Good. Go.
Thanato disappeared.
No sooner had he vanished than Mü Thanatos and Apollon reappeared before Zeus, in a divine flash.
Zeus (staring at them): You have returned quickly... So? Who is responsible for the offense?
Apollon: Lord... the culprit... is Zara.
Zeus: Zara? What did she dare do?
Apollon: She has...
Zeus frowned.
Zeus: Speak, Apollon. What did she do?!
A heavy silence settled. Mü Thanatos and Apollon exchanged a glance, swallowed.
Apollon: She gave birth to a being of flesh, soul, and spirit. A demigoddess. In doing so, she transcended your laws to satisfy an impure desire.
Zeus remained silent... but his eyes closed under the effect of a cold and absolute anger.
Suddenly, another primordial god appeared: Zirix, the third of the ancients.
Zirix: I greet you, O celestial throne. I come with bitter news... A new world has come into being. The liminal world, or the world of Limbo... created by a demon king named Saï.
Zeus's gaze darkened even more. His mere silence inspired terror.
Apollon: It is this demon... whom I once tormented. Forgive me, Lord Zeus. Allow me to finish him.
Zeus smiled... then burst into a chilling laugh.
Zeus: Hahahaha... HAHAHAHA!
All the gods present were disturbed. This reaction, at this moment, was unnatural.
Zeus: I will handle it personally. No one will stop me. NO ONE.
The other gods remained silent.
Zeus: In seven years... I will act.
All the gods: So be it.
And they vanished.
Ares then appeared, bowing before Zeus.
Zeus: What do you want, Ares?
Ares: Lord, I have only one wish... for we all know that the authority of the Primordials is unshakable. I would like, for just one time... to decide in your place. One single decree. And in exchange... I will render you a great service, whatever it may be.
Zeus: Hm... even now, you would do everything I ask, as always.
Ares: I beg you... imagine how important this wish is to me. It borders on the absurd.
Zeus: Hm... say your wish.
Ares (embarrassed): It is... intimate. I would prefer not to express it before others.
Zeus looked at him, intrigued.
Zeus: That is rare for a god... so be it.
He materialized a luminous sphere streaked with lightning.
Zeus: Here. This sphere will fulfill your wish. One only. But do not abuse it to defy our laws.
Ares: You can trust me, my lord!
Zeus: Very well. You may go.
Ares disappeared.
Zeus remained alone on his throne... when a voice rose within him.
Voice: Zeus, how do you intend to solve all these problems?
Zeus: It is simple. You know I hate constraints. I will erase them. All of them.
Voice: Will you erase Zara for her fault? And her child? Her family? Their dimension?
Zeus thought for a moment.
Zeus: Father of the gods... Is it you who tests me? No. You left us free. And for that, I respect you. You will have your answer... in my actions.
Odin (voice): Hehehe... certainly, you are no ordinary one, Zeus...
A humanoid form made of vapor appeared. It was Odin.
Odin: Even if you can act freely... what do you think of humans?
Zeus: Humans? They cause little trouble... but when they do, it is always senseless. How can such weak beings, lurking in the shadows, commit such things?
Odin: And yet... soon, a human will be born. One only. And he will win your respect, without humiliating you.
Zeus: A prophecy? Is it you who intends to create him?
Odin: Oh, no. He will be the work of Mü Thanatos. The humans she will engender will be... different. Observe her, and you will understand.
Zeus: That intrigues me... Count on me.
Odin: I have faith in you... my divine advisor.
Odin's silhouette dissipated.
Zeus: Mü Thanatos... Yes. She is the only one I cannot understand. And that troubles me... I want to know what she hides.
Elsewhere, far from the eyes of the heavens, a dissonant entity appeared, different from the gods, foreign to sacred laws.
Her sickly body oozed silent corruption, and her mere presence was enough to make humans flee, screaming, from a desecrated church.
The clamor echoed in the stone naves.
Flee! For all the saints, flee! Who dares to defile thus a house of the Lord? It is the Devil himself!!!
Countless and untamable snakes slithered through the sacred building, crawling over broken stained glass, coiling between overturned pews. The atmosphere was saturated with fear. The blood of the faithful formed scarlet rivers on the marble. Death reigned, impassive.
And there, standing at the center of the choir, a monstrous throne-composed of intertwined, living, hissing snakes-rose as a challenge to the divine.
On this throne sat a female figure, wearing a wide hat, her eyes glowing with a supernatural red. The light emanating from her gaze revealed a face similar to that of the demon Erasa.
A cruel smile stretched her lips.
Well... I thought you were mad about miracles... Now you flee before the snakes of miracles? Is the Lord supposed to protect you... absent?
Hehehehe... Haaahahahahaha!
Her laughter filled the space, mixing sarcasm and madness. She was the incarnation of blasphemy, reigning within the sacred itself.
Suddenly, another voice cut through the shadows. A second girl approached, her dark aura vibrating with anticipation.
Sata! Are you aware of the news? One god... One only... would have slain Sai, Ëpres, and Zérécla. Simultaneously.
A thick silence followed, as if even the snakes held their breath.
Sata, the girl on the reptilian throne, slowly raised her head. A gleam of excitement shone in her red eyes.
Oho... Which god could unleash such power? A god who would dare challenge me... Could it be Raiku?
Raiku, standing beside her, crossed his arms with quiet confidence.
And why not go check? After all... we are also Demon Kings. It is time to see if this god can influence us too.
A sardonic grin stretched Sata's lips.
Hehehe... Excellent idea. Let us meet him. Whether his power is light... or turns to ashes beneath our feet.
And in a cloud of snakes and creeping darkness, the Demon Kings left the ruined church, walking toward a confrontation that even the heavens themselves would remember.