AN: Iiii'm baaaaaaacck!

Yeah, I know it's been a while since I've posted anything, but I have some very good reasons.

1. I've been working through PMs to improve the future of this story.

2. School's started back up, as well as a school play, which takes up 10 hours a week by itself.

3. I've the ACT coming up in a few months and I've been studying for it.

4. I'm REALLY good at procrastinating.

...

Okay, maybe that last one isn't a good reason, but it's the truth.

And then a huge announcement before the chapter begins. Flagarach, another Campione fic writer has kindly agreed to be a Beta Reader for this story, as well as giving me tons of humongous advice on the story. Please give him your thanks, as this story wouldn't be the same without his input. Also go check out his own story, It Sits in the Family, a really great fic.

And if you haven't seen it yet, I redid the first chapter with his help, and it's a massive improvement to what it was before, so feel free to check that out first if you haven't yet.

Then the last caveat before the story begins, I took some liberties with Pandora's ritual of creating a Campione. I checked the light novel, anime, and wiki on how it actually went, but they seemed to differ. So I took some cues from them and created something that's pretty close, and I feel it works, but it's by no means official.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own OCs and my amazing talent to put off things until later.

It's only now, years later, that I actually found out about Pandora, the all-giving mother. It certainly explained why I had a very odd sense of annoyance when I woke up on that beach, fully healed. I still don't remember what happened, but I'm pretty sure it has a link to why I still have the worst luck...

"Well now, that was possibly the most interesting last words of one of my children I've ever heard."

That was the first thing I heard, waking up with a sharp snap to consciousness, instead of the usual slow rise to functioning properly. The other thing that I noticed was that my head was lying on something soft and warm, like a heated pillow, while the rest of me felt like it was on something, but there wasn't quite words to describe it. It wasn't warm, or cold, or soft, or hard. It was more of an unknown, something that couldn't be quantified.

I decided it was a good idea to let whoever it was talking know that I was awake, so I could go back to sleeping. "Be quiet. I'm supposed to be dead right now. I'm sure I'm rolling in my grave right now."

I could practically hear the pout from the voice. "Mou, that wasn't very nice. Telling me to be quiet, while she's giving you a lap pillow, no less! Such ingratitude to your mother."

I found myself my feet before I could fully recognize what I was doing, glaring at where the voice came from. The speaker looks like a young girl with purple hair in long twintails, rubbing her forehead with an upset look on her face.

"You are NOT my mother!" my voice was raised, shouting in my anger. "There is only one person who ever was or will be my Mom, and she is dead. You are not her."

The girl continued rubbing her forehead with a small glare. "So mean…"I belatedly realized I must have bumped our heads when I got up so suddenly, and as my anger-fuelled adrenaline began to wear off, I felt a bruise forming on my own, but ignored it.

"From my perspective, it was perfectly reasonable." I folded my arms and gave her a glare of my own. "I have a family, and you are not part of it." I then realized something and became slightly giddy. "Wait, if I am dead, is my Mom here too?" I could tell I was acting like an excited kid, but I didn't care. As long as I could see her, at least once more, nothing else mattered.

A slightly evil grin formed on her face, filled with the promise of revenge. "Nope, this is more of between. The underworld, or otherworld, depending on which you prefer. No dead mothers here, they're a little farther on. You haven't quite reached that level yet. You're still mostly dead-"

"-Which means I'm still slightly alive," I completed glumly. Ah, I was so close to seeing her again, and getting on of those famous hugs. But at the same time, I didn't quite feel like I was ready to die yet. Call it superstition or whatever, but I had a feeling I wasn't done yet with the world of the living.

"Yep!" The strange girl was standing up now, arms planted at her hips, and looking far too smug. "But I could be your step-mom-"

"No."

"Mou! You didn't even let me finish!"

I sighed and decided to brush off the strange conversation, hopefully moving to less volatile waters. "So if I'm only mostly dead, what happens now?" I took a good look around for the first time, and found myself in an all-white landscape, with a lack of any identifying features besides the pushy girl in front of me. It seemed like a wasteland, and brought to mind the concept of limbo. Endless empty space between life and death.

The purple-haired girl folded her arms and turned away in an attempt to seem snobbish. She failed, being as tall as my chest. "Not if you're going to be like that. I'm just trying to help, but I've been rejected! By my own son, no less!"

I took a threatening step forward, hands clutched into fists. "What was that last bit?!"

"Eeh? Nothing, nothing!" She frantically waved her hands back and forth to wave it off. Giving her a baleful look, I allowed it to pass.

"Fine, fine. I know when I'm not wanted-"

"You really don't."

"Hush!" She walked up and gave him a quick kick to the shin. "I was talking!"

Restraining the urge to assault the short brat myself, I took a few deep breaths before responding verbally. "Hmm, well, last I checked, grown women and mothers didn't act quite like that." I allowed my gaze to drift down to her chest, or rather, her lack of one. "Yep. Definitely not grown yet."

She followed my gaze down, pausing for a moment as I looked away, uncomfortable to be staring at a girl's chest at all, before she went red and dashed at me, hitting me ineffectually with her small hands. "I am a grown-up! I'm older than you! I deserve some respect!"

She looked up with a glare. "I even adopted you now! I'm mommy Pandora, and there's also Daddy Epimetheus. You have to respect your parents!"

Still a child. Don't murder. Don't murder. "I said it before. You aren't my mother! And you never will be!"

She backed off and stamped her foot, displaying her displeasure. It would have seemed cute if she wasn't apparently trying to kidnap me via way of adoption. "But it's unofficially official now! You're half god, you know! How can you reject me like that!"

If I recalled, Pandora was simply married to a god, so I guess that was Epimetheus. "I don't think adoption works like that. I'm still human. And like this. No."

"Grouch!"

"Midget!"

"Crossdresser!"

"Overattached stalker!"

"I AM NOT-" Pandora broke off, taking several deep breaths to calm herself before she continued. "Know what? I am the adult here. I am older than you, and more mature. I will not dissolve this sacred ritual into an argument." Seemingly satisfied, she turned back to me with a smug smile. "And besides, you aren't going to remember this anyway, and I know I'm going to do my best to forget, so let's get this over with."

She took a deep breath, and suddenly her presence seemed to magnify, expanding into something larger. I unconsciously took a step back, backing away from the feeling. Suddenly, this small girl who had been almost ineffectual seemed dangerous.

She began to speak, eyes closed and hands clasped in front of her. "Let all those present witness the birth of a new Campione! By the cursed pact of Epimetheus, I raise him once again to be a godslayer, a king. All those present grant their blessing and their hatred upon this child. The eighth Campione!"

I felt a cold wind begin to blow, and many undecipherable jeers and calls seemed to erupt from the air. Overwhelmed, I spun around to search for the cause, but found nothing.

The girl, no; The god, continued her chant, uncaring of my confusion: "Possessing the destiny of battle and loneliness, to never have peace, and never find rest. To be the link between worlds, but part of neither. Please bestow the sacred spell words upon this child!" Arms beginning to raise, and eyes beginning to open, I noticed they were glowing in a mystical glow. Her arms then pushed out in a shooing motion. "Now get out."

I woke up, my head resting on something hard, while my body was supported by a soft shifting bed of sand. I said, "Be quiet. I'm supposed to be dead right now."

Nobody responded, and I opened my eyes only to squint against the bright California sun. "I don't know why I thought that would do anything," I mumbled quietly as I sat up. Partway through the motion, a wave washed over me, threatening to pull me back out to sea.

I yelped, the sound coming out more like a garble in the salt water, and clung onto the sand to keep my place. After the force faded, I coughed, expelling seawater from my lungs, and staggered farther up the beach to keep myself from getting sucked out again.

I relaxed a short way up the beach, taking a seat on the warm sand. "I guess it was all just a dream," Nobody was around, the beach surprisingly empty, so I didn't hesitate to speak my thoughts out loud. "Maybe I fell off the boat while sailing, and just made it all up." Just in case, I rolled up my soaked shirt to check.

While there was a small slit in the middle, there was no sign of any kind of mark to show that I had been impaled through my stomach. No scar, or anything, just smooth skin. I pouted at in in a fit of childishness. I trained every day, and I still didn't have a six-pack!

I sighed again and laid back against the sand, allowing the salty fabric to fall back down. "I suppose it was all just a dream," I murmured to the empty beach.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a red spire of steel poking up out of the water, the city of San Francisco just a little away. To the sides of the last twisted spire was only the ruined wreckage of a once-great bridge. The muted dim of sirens barely audible.

Raising myself onto my knees, I faced the devastation head on for a moment, before bowing my head and closing my eyes. "Why?" My voice was shaking, and I had a lump in my throat. "Why'd I live, while they all died!" I was beginning to cry now, hot tears cascading down my face, burning trails of sorrow.

My fist impacted the sand, a puff of sand blasting into the air. "I was the one who fought that guy! I chose to climb on! Why did they have to pay the price for my arrogance!" I sank down, hands clenched into fists, my face pressing against the warm sand. The warm summer sun beat down happily as I cried, belying the tragedy just a short distance away.

"They weren't doing anything!

"They were innocent!

"Why did I have to live, when they deserved it more!"

I don't know how long I cried, too wrapped up in releasing my frustrations and fears all at once. When I finally rose, flecks of sand stuck to my face, I felt almost dead inside, like I didn't have any more emotions to release. In front of me, where my fist had hit the sand, there was a small crater of sand, pushed out by the force of my blow.

Uncaring, I stumbled to my feet, and slowly made my way back to the city proper. It was all a daze until I found Father and Lhendia, where I collapsed upon them, only mumbling, "I want to go home," before I drifted off to an exhausted sleep. I had killed a god, and there were going to be repercussions for it eventually. But right then? I just wanted the comfort of my family.

Excerpt from intercepted Whitengamot report on odd disappearance of Heretic God off the coast of California

It was discovered on the 17th of July, 2013 at 14:37 GST, that a Heretic God had manifested 30 miles off the coast of California. It took the form of a large mediaeval ship and a mass of fog, which covered the bay for about a mile around the point of origin.

The origin point was detected to be the Farallon islands, and on further investigation, it was discovered that a group of cultists had created a ring about the islands. Their exact affiliation is currently unknown, but they chanted for three days without stopping to summon a god. The Heretic God was summoned without a need for mass human sacrifice; but as a consequence, the magical backlash was severe, and there are traces of magical implosions about the island, setting the newly summoned god free.

It was discovered as soon as the alert was sounded, that John Pluto Smith, the resident Campione of the USA district, was absent on other business, and would not be able to arrive for a short time. We were directed to attempt to keep the ship at bay through spells, and not to approach it directly; as we had no personnel capable of facing a Heretic God directly.

Our spells were completely ineffective against the boat, it continued up the channel and collided directly with the Golden Gate Bridge, destroying it and killing over 1,000 un-evacuated people, although the exact number is unknown for now.

We kept a safe distance, not daring to get too close after the event. But we were sadly unable to know what exactly happened on board. Some of our agents placed higher up attempted to get a view, but could not make out details clearly, only that some kind of battle seemed to be happening.

We also attempted to launch helicopters for an aerial view, but by the time they were in the air, the Heretic God had already made it's disappearance.

Shortly after crashing through the Golden Gate Bridge, the boat stopped for a few minutes. Then it dissolved into golden particles along with the Heretic God and anyone upon it, cementing the fact that both the boat and crew were created by an authority. It is unknown whether the Heretic God was slain, or activated another authority to transport itself away. No wreckage or bodies were found.

It is as of yet unknown what Heretic God it was, as it disappeared before we could receive a definite answer. It is possible that it had been killed, and we now have a new Campione in the world.

We do have a few witches attempting to gain a reading on the area, but they seem unable to pick up anything but faint traces of the same fog as at the event. It is theorized that the fog has the capability to hide magical signatures, so it may be difficult to find either the god or new Campione, as we still do not know for sure what happened to cause the god to vanish.

The event was officially declared to be a sudden typhoon that picked up in the bay, and due to the pressure differences, caused the fog, while a chunk of seabed was picked up by it, and collided into the bridge to cause the destruction. Interviewing those who had their Magic awakened by the event is still continuing, although we have gathered several new recruits by now.

As of now, it is unknown what happened to the Heretic God, and whether it is still at large. Stay in contact, and warn any nearby outposts if you see any sign of strange fog.

Excerpt from report filed into the archives of the History Compilation Committee, on 2nd of September, 2013

Today, at 8:15 AM, a Heretic God was defeated in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Heretic god has been positively identified as Achilles, a hero of great renown from the Greek Iliad.

Achilles first appeared and began to lay siege, in a way, to the city of Istanbul. He would kill anybody that left it's walls, much as his legend. Eventually, Lord Salvatore Doni arrived, and began to fight with him, albeit with much property destruction.

Between Achilles unbreakable skin, and Lord Doni's Authority the Ripping Arm of Silver, the two were at an impasse until a sudden bank of fog appeared. It seemed remarkably similar to earlier this year at the Golden Gate Bridge. The sudden fog bank swallowed up both the Campione and the Heretic God, and then dispersed shortly afterwards, leaving behind a wounded Achilles, and a confused Lord Doni.

Lord Doni later reported that he could not see anything inside the mist, and while he could cut it with ease, it was swiftly replaced, rendering him ineffectual. He could not find either what caused the mist or the Heretic God while he was inside. Upon the mist's dispersal and killing the Heretic God, Lord Doni revealed that it did not qualify as a fair kill, and so he did not gain any new authorities. (Side note from a bystander. "Good thing, too! The last thing we need is that idiot with any more power!")

It is unknown whether the strange fog was the presence of the same Heretic God as earlier this year, or a previously unknown Campione, who killed the god. The History Compilation Committee will be keeping an eye out for any signs of this mysterious being, and what they are after.

Excerpt from Letter from Paolo Blandelli of the Copper-Black Cross, to Diana Milito of the Bronze-Black Cross, dated 5th December, 2013

My close associate, I take this opportunity to reach out to you and share some private information that our faction has come across. I do not entirely understand what forces are at work, but we may need to set aside our differences for a time if my suspicions are correct.

Yesterday, a Heretic God materialized in the middle of Cicily, Italy, in the midst of one of our bases. This was during a visit from the American ambassadors of the Sorcerous Sacrilege Investigation. It was a twin god, and immediately declared it's identity as Castor and Pollux of the Greek Argonauts, decimating any forces that attacked them.

As our forces lay defeated, and the Heretic God was about to do as in their legend, and take them, a thick cloud bank rolled in. Much like the two earlier events this year in July and September. The god was encompassed by the cloud, and all the vanquished could hear was a roaring sound and the clashing of steel for several minutes.

At one point a loud roar of anger was heard, and a small figure wearing a cloak that hid their entire body, possibly female from the body shape, was sent flying out of the cloud. Before anything could be seen or done though, the figure leapt back into the fray. Soon, the bank dissipated and all that remained was the dissolving god. There were signs of a fight, arrows piercing the ground, and a great horse lay dead with a slit throat. But the mysterious cloaked figure was nowhere to be seen.

It is suspected by members of our association that this is the rumored 8th Campione, but we have no proof, and have no idea where the hidden figure currently resides.

I have taken the liberty to ensure you are aware of this potentially crucial information, in the hopes that you will be generous in the times to come.

Excerpt from Letter from Diana Milito of the Bronze-Black Cross, to Paolo Blandelli of the Copper-Black Cross, dated 6th December, 2013

I and my organization are grateful to you for your generous offer of information which we had already had our spies steal.

And I don't care. You're still not getting my good Alexandrian wine.

Excerpt from Letter from Paolo Blandelli of the Copper-Black Cross, to Diana Milito of the Bronze-Black Cross, dated 6th December, 2013

But Diana…!

End AN: Yeah, they're probably seriously OOC, but I think I prefer it this way a bit. I enjoy seeing a more childish Pandora, and I will admit to taking a few liberties as to the leaders of the crosses, since I don't have a good grasp of their personalities through the LN. So I suppose they ended up a little childish as well. Or at least one of them did.

One of the biggest things I would like feedback on is how well I did on both the humor and the emotional part of this chapter. I tried to make it at least somewhat lighthearted, but I also wanted to really hit in that people died. That's something that can get overlooked in movies, books, and even a few fics, although I think those are rarer. So I wanted to draw attention to the fact that that's over a thousand people with hopes, dreams, and lives of their own that were wiped out because an insane god decided to have some fun before he eventually died.

And then lastly, yeah, this was a seriously short chapter. Originally, these were actually two separate chapters, since they seemed to split like that, but I cobbled them together into one since they were both two short. I also have the next one or two chapters written, but I need to rewrite them before I actually put them up. I don't know how long it'll be until the next update, but hopefully not as long as this one.

Ciao, and see you guys next chapter!