What do I gain? Satisfaction.

Theoktonos

I will kill you

Go on. Try me.

If you dare.

I'd do anything to see your corpse.

Come on then. Kill me.

I was planning to.

But, before you do, hear me out.

What do you gain?

If you kill me, what do you gain?

You're simply perpetuating a pointless cycle of death.

What's the point of killing me?

Cosmology/The Attack

The satisfaction of revenge.

The knowledge that my family is avenged.

Avenged? What even is revenge?

It's a stupid concept, is it not?

We're above it, are we not?

You can move past it.

Limiting your goals to a puny human? How pathetic.

I don't care what you are.

Like you said, I am a God. I'll do what I want.

If that means murdering a lowly human, then so be it.

I don't care how many mortal lives are lost.

I would tear The Cosmos to shreds if it meant killing you

&#x3C;p class=&#x22;ql-align-center&#x22;&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;*&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;strong style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;THIS TEXT CONTAINS ELEMENTS THAT MAY BE DISTURBING&#x3C;/strong&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;.*&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p class=&#x22;ql-align-center&#x22;&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;*&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;strong style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED&#x3C;/strong&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;.*&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;Misosa sheathed his humongous sword, taking in the now clear, and less claustrophobic used-to-be forest. He walked back over to Mitera,&#x26;nbsp; and held out his hand.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Are you alright? I&#x2019;m terribly sorry if you got hurt, I-&#x201D;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;No, no. Thank you for protecting my baby. I should be apologising for the inconvenience to you.&#x201D; She said, still cradling it in her arms.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;We should get out of here.&#x201D; Misosa said, looking around at the now barren wasteland. &#x201C;Make sure to hold tight onto your baby.&#x201D; He said, gesturing to the child, still in her arms, she tightened her grip around it. Misosa lightly placed a hand on her shoulder. &#x201C;Whatever you do, do not open your eyes while you are in there, you hear me? And make sure the baby doesn&#x2019;t either.&#x201D; She nodded, and used her hand to cover their eyes. &#x201C;I need you to promise me. The place that we&#x2019;ll be going is not one for a mortal such as yourself.&#x201D; She nodded once again, and shut her eyes tight.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;I promise.&#x201D; Misosa smiled. &#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;em style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;Since I&#x2019;m not alone, I&#x2019;ll have to use Limbo. Annoying. I hate that place.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Brace yourself.&#x201D; Misosa warned. As he did, energy started to form infront of them. &#x201C;Sas kal&#xF3;, ken&#xED;. D&#xF3;se mou, Misosa, mia e&#xED;sodo.&#x201D; He chanted. A gaping void formed before them. Not black. Not white. Not anything. A chasm of nothing. It stood there, and didn&#x2019;t. &#x201C;Step forwards, with caution. Focus on me, ignore anything you may feel when you are in it.&#x201D; She had a determined look on her face. She stepped forwards, as did Misosa. They entered. Absolute nothing. Not even them. It was pure emptiness, no light, no dark. Mitera struggled against an infinite and infinitesimal force, trying to make sense of her impossible surroundings. She writhed and squirmed, trying desperately to resist the urge to&#x2026;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;OPEN YOUR EYES.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;OPEN.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;OPEN.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;OPEN.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;OPEN.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;OPEN THEM.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;The voices overwhelming her. But they weren&#x2019;t. They didn&#x2019;t. Yet it was unbearable at the same time. Nothing made sense. Only if she opened her eyes..&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;She opened them, her eyelids parting to reveal her rich brown eyes. She began to scream, into the unending abyss. She saw it. But didn&#x27;t. What looked like and didn&#x2019;t look like charred skeletons, clawing at her flesh, gnawing down on her body. Her mind trembled, attempting to prevent her from keeping her eyes open but she couldn&#x2019;t close them, as if an invisible force was tugging at each eyelid, keeping them apart.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;She blacked out, her mind barely holding on to her sanity.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;13 Years earlier&#x2026;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;I woke up to a splitting headache. I lay there for&#x2026;who knows how long, almost battling against the pain. A few coherent thoughts fluttered through the sea of fever dreams.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;Damn. I messed up bad, didn&#x2019;t I?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;God, this hurts.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;How do I get rid of this?&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;em style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;I wonder if this is what a hangover feels like.&#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;Over a period of time, I could slowly feel the pain depleting, however. I held onto that thought with all my might. I simmered in that boiling pot of pain for what felt like an eternity, until someone came into my room. I only just realised I was back in bed, where I has fallen asleep on the covers&#x2026; how long ago? I couldn&#x2019;t tell. Was it the same day as the encounter with Iroas and Tachytita? I looked at the person out of the corner of my eye, not turning my head for fear of causing even more pain.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Oh? You&#x2019;re awake?&#x201D; It was a feminine voice. I turned my head slightly, as to try to make out fully who it was. Oh, it was Iroas. &#x201C;Sorry about last night, I didn&#x2019;t think about what would happen if I&#x2019;d actually hit you.&#x201D; He apologised.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;It&#x2019;s fine.&#x201D; I managed out. &#x201C;I was careless enough to let you, so blame me.&#x201D;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Do you need a wet flannel or something?&#x201D; He asked, gesturing to the one he already had prepared in his hands.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Yes please.&#x201D; I muttered. I remember reading that wet flannels really help with headaches.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;But man, you sure are a tough nut!&#x201D; Iroas remarked. &#x201C;The staff here checked for any possible brain damage, and the only thing you suffered was a major concussion!&#x201D; Saying that as if it&#x2019;s anything to scoff at. &#x201C;And you were insanely quick at adapting to it, too! People usually take nine or so days to recover from something like that, and you&#x2019;ve already almost fully healed in a couple hours! You really are something else, you know that?&#x201D; He placed the flannel on my forehead. It was surprisingly soothing. &#x201C;Anyway, you should be all fixed up in a few hours, by your rate of adaption, just in time for the first Mageia Control lesson! How lucky!&#x201D; He beamed at me from my periferie.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Looking forward to it.&#x201D; I breathed, only half-lying. Right now, I hated the idea. I just want to lie down and recover, but I know that if what Iroas is saying is true, my non-concussed self would love the idea of going.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;Great!&#x201D; He exclaimed. &#x201C;See you then!&#x201D;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;A couple hours later&#x2026;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;I sat crossed-legged in an open hall, separated into two lines of six, in front of Stereotita who was facing us.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x201C;NOW!&#x201D; He boomed, with that abnormally loud voice of his. &#x201C;I HOPE YOU&#x2019;RE ALL EXCITED FOR THIS!&#x201D; He said. He waited for a response, to a silent crowd. &#x201C;Well, this is your first &#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;em style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;proper &#x3C;/em&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;lesson with me, so I can understand if you&#x2019;re shy!&#x201D; We&#x2019;re not shy, well, I can&#x2019;t really speak on behalf of everyone else, but I doubt they aren&#x2019;t thinking the same as me. &#x201C;But anyways,&#x201D; he said, &#x201C;first, to access and to be able to fully understand your magic, or Mageia, you&#x2019;ll need to find your core.&#x201D; He explained. &#x201C;To find it, you need to focus on your body, shut out the outside world.&#x201D; I shut my eyes, and imagined my heart beat, my breaths, my blood pumping through my veins. &#x201C;Now, search yourself until you find it, trust me, you will know when you do.&#x201D; I slowly imagined and &#x2018;searched&#x2019; every nook and cranny of my body with my mind, scanning my arteries, checking my organs, when I felt a surge of energy, as if the world had just been enhanced ten fold. That must be it!&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;I&#x2019;d found it.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;&#x2014;------------------------------------------TO BE CONTINUED&#x2014;----------------------------------------------&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;Author&#x2019;s note: And there you go! Another chapter in the bag, hope you enjoyed it!&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;P.S Please read the interlude chapter (the chapter directly after this), it provides a good explanation on the world of Pantheon, and also has a very short story that I hope you will like! It is canon by the way, and is a main plot point in Thymos&#x2019; l (Rank Seven&#x2019;s) life.&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;P.S.S Like and follow the page and I&#x2019;ll consider releasing your family &#x1F60A;&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;span style=&#x22;background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);&#x22;&#x3E;P.S.S.S Rate the chapter /10 and tell me your least and most favourite characters so far in the comments below!&#x3C;/span&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

&#x3C;p&#x3E;A man wielding an abrupt azure blade walks away from the now collapsed palace. A smirk on his face.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

Pantheon