Adventures of John: Gods of War
Chapter 1: Discussion with Deities
Author's Note: Sorry for my tardiness everyone. I've been very busy recently and haven't had much time to write. Hopefully I can finish this story before anything too crazy happens, as I want to keep you as up-to-date as possible. Facing all these so-called gods, I've been wondering something. Where do you think they get their power? Does being worshipped somehow give one the powers that people believe they have? Why can some of these beings die when others can't? Where they once human, and then being worshipped made them what they are, or did they come into being simply because people believed in them? So many questions, so few answers. I doubt even they remember that far back.
"Hey there guys," I muttered nervously. "Nice to see the two of you, and your friends as well. You wouldn't happen to be here to reminisce about old times, would you?"
"We are not your friends, child!" Thor exclaimed, brandishing his hammer. "You stole from Asgard and evaded my wrath for years, but now the time has finally come for you to pay the price!"
"Are you sure?" I asked. "I could have sworn that the time for me to pay was next week. Let me just check my calendar…"
"Enough of your games!" Ares shouted, his eyes looking as if flames were about to leap out of them. "I too have a score to settle with you."
"I remember," I commented, sitting on the hood of my car casually. "How long did it take your daddy to put you back together again? He must have been furious with you." Ares roared in rage and flames burst from the ground around him, but a wave of my hand turned those flames into confetti. "But why did you two bring your girlfriends along? Surely two of the deadliest gods in mythology don't need their help, unless… you're afraid."
"Afraid!?" Thor exclaimed, stepping forward menacingly, his hammer crackling with electricity. "It is you who should be afraid, mortal!"
He was probably right. After all, seeing as we were in the mortal realm, I wasn't exactly my adventurous self. It was quite a contrast really, a single lanky teenage boy, facing five of the deadliest beings in the world, each of which were frightening to behold. But then again, I had already defeated one of them in the past. And while they may think of themselves as gods, I'm a Christian. While I couldn't deny these so-called deities had power, I knew that "god" was not a title they deserved. I also knew from experience that they were not undefeatable. And in the case of some of them, they could even be killed.
"Did all of you come here just for little old me?" I asked them. I shook my head at that thought. "No, that's not right. Warmonger and Thunderhead over here I would get, but you ladies? We haven't even met yet. Now, I am aware of how annoying I can be, but even I have difficulty making enemies when I never even met them. So, with that said, why are you here?"
It couldn't be a coincidence that this was happening now, while Order and Chaos were at war and the barriers between the realms were collapsing. I couldn't see any of the creatures that represent the influence of Chaos, but I could sense it emanating off of them. Why I see the influence of Chaos as a bunch of blobs I still don't know, but I could tell, looking at this five false gods, that they weren't simply being influenced by Chaos. They had embraced it completely, until it filled their whole being.
"You're outlaws!" I laughed in realization. "The different pantheons have all chosen Order. They think that they will get to keep their power that way. But Order just didn't work for you, did it? No, you five are five of the most bloodthirsty deities in mythology. Kali, the Hindu goddess of destruction, Sekhmet, the Egyptian goddess of war and savagery, the Morrigan, Irish goddess of violent death, and Ares, the Greek god of war and bloodshed. Thor here might have a nicer reputation due to his comic books, but anyone who has fought the Thunderer knows how bloodthirsty he really is. If Order wins this war, that means that there will be no more wars afterwards. You five couldn't stand that, now could you? Without war and bloodshed, you would be useless. So you betrayed your pantheons. Ra's champion, Shiva's wife, and Odin's favorite son betraying their pantheons. This war is truly turning things upside-down."
"We are not here to discuss the war," Thor stated. "We are here to kill you."
"Then why haven't you?" I replied. "You've had every opportunity to do so since you arrived here. I understand why you waited until now to try. With the diplomatic immunity I have in the affairs of the pantheons, you couldn't fight me without some severe punishment. Now that you have rebelled against your pantheons however, you feel that now you have your chance. But killing me isn't really what you want."
"Then what is it?" the Morrigan inquired, her red eyes gleaming. "I must say I am intrigued. These two promised me a show, and they have yet to deliver."
"They want to prove that they are better than I am," I told her. "Killing me wouldn't be enough, especially with you three helping. No, they want to give me a humiliating defeat and from the looks in their eyes, I'd say that Sekhmet and Kali are interested in testing my mettle as well." I paused, looking over the group. "Let us settle this with a series of duels. First Sekhmet, then Kali, then Ares, then Thor. Am I correct in believing that you are not interested in dueling me, Morrigan?"
"You are."
"Good. Unfortunately, I have my final exams this week, so I'm afraid the duels will have to wait until Thursday, when they are all done. Each duel will take place at noon, and will take place in the realm of your choosing. The duels will be won when one of the duelists either dies, surrenders, or is unable to keep fighting. Fighting can be done with magic or whatever weapons are available. Do these terms seem fair for you?"
"Why should we wait on you?" Ares demanded.
"Because education comes first," I replied, rudely forcing them through a tear in the barriers between the realms with a flick of my wrist.