A pall of smoke hung over the ravaged landscape, casting a sickly orange glow over the ruins of the battle.
The air reeked of sweat, smoke and blood, and the once pristine fields in Xanthea were now scarred and blackened.
As the remaining gods and goddesses struggled to come to terms with the sheer scale of destruction, Buddha called an urgent gathering to discuss the fate of the dead and what they would do to Boros.
"Our realm lies in ruins, and our numbers are dwindling" Meng Po lamented, her voice heavy with defeat.
"Where can we possibly gather now, when our home has been destroyed?" Buddha's expression was grim, his eyes clouded with uncertainty, "I too, am at a loss", he admitted.
"But perhaps…." Odin's voice cut through the despondency, his eyes glinting with a hint of steel. "We shall seek an audience with...'him.'
The air seemed to vibrate with the unspoken name, and the gods exchanged uneasy glances.
"Very well, then" Buddha replied, his voice firm with resolve.
"Let us proceed to the abode of the enigmatic one….. to the 'Sanctum of Oracles.' Prepare yourselves, gods, for the encounter that will shape the destiny of our realm. Let's go to where 'he' awaits" Buddha continued.
Meanwhile, in the shadows, a figure awaited news of the war's outcome.
"Master, the conflict has reached its conclusion," a servant announced, bowing low. "Lord Ouroboros has been apprehended."
A slow, sinister smile spread across the master's face like a crack in the earth. "Excellent, the waiting game is finally over."
"They will be coming to me now….."
At last, the gods stood before the 'Sanctum of Oracles', its towering entrance a monolith of ancient power rumored to be the origin of 'Nexus' itself.
The air was heavy with foreboding, the shadows cast by the flickering torches twisting and writhing like living things.
The master's servants, their eyes downcast, bowed as the gods approached.
And then with a slow, deliberate movement, Buddha pushed open the massive doors, revealing a presence that seemed to fill the very air with an unspeakable power.
'Great one' he declared, his voice low and awestruck, 'we have arrived….'
"Even on a good day, this place would be forbidden," Odin whispered to himself, his eyes scanning the foreboding surroundings.
"I've witnessed 'god entities' meet their end for daring to tread too close to the 'Sanctum'.
He sure is a cruel one….
"The god of Life 'Yuiitsu Muni."
As they entered, their eyes adjusted to the dim light, revealing a figure seated upon a throne of imposing grandeur.
His legs were crossed, his left hand cradling his chin, and his gaze seemed to bore into their very souls.
With a subtle gesture, he beckoned them to sit. Their eyes widened as they took in the sight of a long, polished table, adorned with an exact same number of chairs to match their own.
It was as if he had anticipated their arrival to the very last detail.
"Well?" the voice was like a rusty gate, scraping the silence.
"Where is he?" the servants exchanged nervous glances before one of them spoke up, "he's right here my lord"
"Handle him with care...he's an elder god after all" A low menacing chuckle rumbled through the air, making the gods exchange uneasy glances.
Buddha stepped forward "I will oversee the report. It is only fitting that I, the Enlightened one, should chronicle the events that have transpired."
"Enlightened?" The voice was like a velvet wrapped dagger, slicing through the air with precision.
"Are you implying that you possess a deeper understanding than I?"
Buddha's eyes locked onto the speaker's his gaze unwavering.
"No, Great One, he replied, his voice smooth as silk. "I merely acknowledged my role as chronicler of this event."
A low, ominous chuckle seemed to vibrate through the air. "Watch your tongue, Buddha…. lest it prove sharper than a serpent's tooth."
"Yes…. Great One I'll be careful next time, I sincerely apologize"
"What is the death toll?" The Great One's voice was a solemn drumbeat, echoing through the 'Sanctum'.
"Nine hundred and sixty, 'Great One'," Buddha replied with a somber tone.
"And how many gods apart from myself, are present in this room?" asked Yuiitsu.
Buddha's gaze swept the assembly before responding, "Thirty, Great One." The Great One's eyes narrowed, his voice taking on a hint of steel.
"Then where are the remaining ten?" Buddha's expression was grim. "They succumbed to their wounds on our journey to the 'Sanctum', Great One."
The Great One's gaze lingered on Buddha, as if searching for something. "Why were they not included in the initial count?" Buddha's shoulders rose in a subtle shrug.
"No matter" the Great One murmured, his tone dripping with an unspoken warning.
"Buddha," the Great One's voice summoned, echoing through the breeze on a summer's day.
"Yes, Great One," Buddha replied, his tone respectful.
"Refresh my memory on the Celestial Hierarchy." Buddha's eyes closed, as if in reverence, before he began to recite the sacred order.
"From the pinnacle of divine power, we have the 'Elder gods', those ancient beings of unbridled might. Beneath them, the 'Omni gods', possessors of limitless potential. The 'Arch gods', carriers of wisdom and strength, follow in their footsteps.
Then, the 'Greater gods' shining exemplars of divine virtue. The 'Lesser gods', 'Mortal gods', 'Cursed gods' and 'Fallen gods' complete the pantheon, each occupying their appointed station within the celestial firmament." Buddha concludes.
"I see" the Great One replied, "But I sense a void in my understanding." the Great One murmured, his eyes narrowing like a crescent moon.
"the intricacies of the battle remain shrouded in mystery, Pray, enlighten me."
Buddha's expression turned contrite, his voice infused with a deep respect.
"Forgive me, Great One. I have withheld the tale of the battle, but I shall unveil the truth to you now. Allow me to guide you through the labyrinth of events that transpired." Buddha began, his voice weaving a spell of entrancement.
"Two members of 'the council of gods', fueled by hubris, charged at Lord Boros and met their demise.
This spark ignited the inferno of war. Zeus unleashed his divine fury, sending Lord Boros into the air.
Odin seized this opportunity, striking with precision. I too, engaged Lord Boros in hand-to-hand combat, but his skill proved superior.
Ares and Faunus crafted a diversion, depriving the Lord of his flaming swords, which Hades then claimed, though at the cost of their lives.
Lord Boros's wrath was unrelenting, claiming the lives of two of Zeus's sons, igniting his fury severing Lord Boros's head, yet it reattached.
The horror galvanized the gods, sending them surging forward in a frenzy of steel and divine energy. In the chaos, Odin seized the opening, his skin imbued with the essence of the 'god ember', weakening the enemy. Meng Po then wiped his memory. Thus the battle unfolded." Buddha concluded Yuiitsu exhaled a heavy sigh, the sound echoing through the 'Sanctum' like a mournful dirge.
"I presume the council members have met their demise?" Buddha bowed his head in affirmation,
"Yes my Lord." Yuiitsu's gaze narrowed, his eyes burning with an inner fire.
"So let us revisit the events of the battle. You possessed the swiftness to engage Boros in hand-to-hand combat. Odin too, demonstrated remarkable speed, striking the enemy with precision. Zeus's blow was so formidable that is severed Boros's head and Meng Po even managed to touch the enemy's face."
Yuiitsu exhaled another heavy sigh. "With the council's demise, I propose a new order," Yuiitsu declared, his voice ringing like a clarion call.
Buddha's eyes shone with anticipation, "We would be deeply honored to hear your vision, my Lord."
Yuiitsu's gaze swept the assembly, his eyes lingering on each face."Odin, your valour and strength have earned you a new station, I promote you from 'Arch god' to 'Omni god', a position worthy of your unyielding spirit."
Zeus and Meng Po exchanged glances, their faces aglow with hope.
"Zeus your unwavering dedication to justice has earned you a similar honor, I promote you from 'Arch god' to 'Omni god'."
Meng Po's eyes sparkled with tears as Yuiitsu continued, and you Meng Po, your selflessness and wisdom have earned you a place among the 'Arch gods'. And to all the gods gathered here today, I declare you are henceforth members of the 'Council of gods', a new order forged in the crucible of war and sacrifice.
Together, we shall confront the darkness, and emerge victorious or perish in attempt." Yuiitsu concluded.
"As members of the Council of gods, you are bound by sacred oaths and ancient traditions, Yuiitsu declared, his voice weaving a spell of anticipation.
"To wield the power of the council, you must first master the art of controlling 'Nexus' and gain a 'Longinius' ability, a legendary power that has been passed down through the ages."
" Zeus and Meng Po have already unlocked their 'Longinius' abilities – Zeus, the thunder longinius and Meng Po, the dream longinius but they are yet to master it."
"As for the rest of, your journey begins now, you will be allowed one attendant, a loyal companion who will stand by your side as you navigate the trails that are to come. Over time, as your dedication to the council grows, so too will the number of attendants at your command. But for now, let us focus on the task at hand: unlocking your longinius abilities, your training begins immediately and I shall...…"
"May I speak my Lord" Odin interrupts his voice slicing through the tension like a finely honed blade.
Yuiitsu's gaze narrowed, inviting Odin to continue. "What do we do about …..him." Odin's eyes flicked towards the unconscious body of Boros, his expression a masked with concern.
Zeus's response was immediate, his voice a low ominous rumble "I say we kill him." the council erupted into a chorus of gasps and murmured dissent.
Meng Po's voice rose above the din, her tone incredulous.
"Kill? Is that truly our only option?"
Buddha's eyes gleamed with a hint of calculation as he replied, "it's not such a bad idea Meng Po."
Yuiitsu's voice cut through the chaos, a stern rebuke.
"Silence! You think killing him is a viable solution? None of you in this room possess the power to take his life. He lies unconscious only because Odin managed to touch him with the 'god ember'. Let's not forget the reality of our situation."
"The god ember, a sacred relic forged in the heart of the divine, holds the power to seal a god's body, soul and nexus for ten thousand years," Yuiitsu explained his voice weaving a spell of awe.
"When Odin touched him with the ember, it ravaged his nexus reducing his power to a mere fraction of it's former glory – a level lower than that of a mortal human. The ember's hold will last for a thousand years at most. By then, even Meng Po's powers of forgetfulness will begin to wane, and he will start to regain his memories." Yuiitsu's gaze swept the council, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity.
"We will not take his life instead, we will send him to live among the humans he sought to eradicate. Let him walk among them, and become a shadow of his former self. Are there any among you who object to this course of action?" the council's response was a unanimous declaration, their voices rising as one.
"No my Lord."
Yuiitsu's expression was a mask of stern resolve.
"Good."
"....your training begins now."