On his way to pick up Mesta, Hound gets a notification from Penny
"Toxic liquid reserves full, please empty them the first chance you get" Penny announces to him
"Awesome on top of having to meet up with them I also need to take a leek" Hound complains "Now where the hell is the nearest toilet?"
Hound manages to quickly find the nearest restroom as Penny had already scanned the vicinity and within a matter of minutes he relieves himself himself after which he washes his hands but while doing so, he feels a presence behind him.
"So you're the crazed individual that stomped an Amygdala to death" Says a female voice
"The names Hound and who might you be?" Hound asks as he turns around to find a four meter females cyclops that bares no mouth, has long teal hair, car ears, piercings on her eyebrows and a few golden egyptian markings around her eye and right arm, wearing a lot of jewelry, high heels and a long white dress.
"I'm one of the Avatars of Nyanyanthotep, you can call me aunty Nyannyan"
"Well I'll be damned" Hound states in a surprised tone
"How so?" Nyanyanthotep questions
"Mother warned me about beings such as yourself and man am I glad she was right" Hound says in a fearful yet excited tone
"You what?" Nyarlathotep says in surprise and intrigue
Meanwhile Vapdra is waiting for everyone to arrive and he barely notices Xynevir as she rushes and knocks him on the ground with her speed during which she kisses him as he tries to get himself upl
"Master finally, it was boring without you" She says as she lifts her head up
"Good to see you too Xynevir" Vapdra says as his back is killing him from the impact
"Should I leave and come back later?" Mesta questions them
"Now that we got here?" The Avatar of Nyatlathotep says as she and Hound approach the group
"Who the hell is she?" asks Mesta "I was expecting a short dragon….not an oversized kitten"
"You may call me Aunty Nyannyan" she say to the group
"Keep your claws away from my Master" Xynevir aggressively says to her "Master you should be cautious she has a similar smell to the Amygdala" she says to Vapdra directly
"Yes thank you Xynevir" Vapdra replies to her ""Wait hold on a second" Vapdra says confused "First of, who the hell is she and if you didn't get Mesta…" he turns to Mesta "how did you end up here?"
"Well because I wanted to use the gate to go to one of the earths" Mesta replies
"One of the earths" Hound repeats confused
"Yeah one of the ten earths we can travel to" Mesta replies "Or at least that's what they said"
"Okay so I have an idea" Hound replies
"…Okay…" Mesta responds confused
"The Hermit downright" Hound almost yells as the card creates a pocket dimension that sucks them all in. Inside the dimension is a small room surrounded by full glass windows which show the outside whereas the surrounded area is small Japanese styled room with a round table and green cloth on it.
"So is there anything we are going to do to pass the time" Nyannyan asks
"We could play Poker" Vapdra says intrigued
"What is Poker?" Xynevir thinks to herself
"And have your groupie take off her clothes when she loses" Hound says arrogantly
"Fuck you" Vapdra replies
"Isn't anyone going to address what just happened?" Mesta asks "A card just created this in the middle of the street, a card that Hound pulled out of nowhere"
"I would guess he pulled it out of his ass" Vapdra replies
"Thing is" Mesta responds as a smile forms "You had assured me that Hound didn't posses any powers"
"Which holds true" Vapdra interrupts him "The deck he has along with the sword he is carrying are borrowed powers"
"A deck…a sword?" Mesta almost yells "And when were you planning on telling me this?"
"You are blaming me?" Vapdra asks "He should have been the one who should have disclosed it"
"Fair point" Mesta replies "But still you knew about it and you were hiding it"
"I thought Hound was going to share it at some point" Vapdra replies
"So are we playing Poker or what?" Hound asks getting unimpressed looks from both Vapdra and Mesta "What…Vapdra was the one who proposed it?"
"Are you even part of this conversation?" Mesta asks "Like am I the only one who is alerted by the whole thing?"
"I mean I don't feel anything malicious" Vapdra replies
"What…you spidy sense isn't tiggling?" Mesta asks sarcastically
"You could say that" Vapdra replis
"What?" Mesta yells at Xynevir who is looking at him intensely
"Let's just not provoke each other" Vapdra states raising his next to his head palms facing away from his face " I admit that I am in the wrong and should have said something, but we four formed an alliance yesterday and based on what we said and how we feel apparently I don't think we still feel ready to show all of our cards to each other"
"The feeling is mutual" Hound casually responds
"But besides that" Vapdra adds "Shouldn't you be a little less cautious of the people you call allies in the first place"
"It never hurts to be cautious" Mesta replies "But you are right"
"Also it seems like we might have some things to share" Vapdra adds "I mean you did mention ten earths we can travel to"
"And the sword" Mesta adds
"So how about we play some Poker while discussing that instead" Vapdra proposes
"Sure" Mesta lets out
"So what are we using as chips?" Hound questions
"I don't know but I do have these" Vapdra says as pulls out 4 bags of pistachios
"Alright I'll bet….these 45acp bullets" Hound states clearing out a few magazines
"Since every obscure thing is viable" Nyannyanthotep replies "I'll go with these skulls" she puts a few fake looking skulls with smoke coming out of the eye sockets
"Nothing to offer up" Mesta sighs
"Alright pistachios, bullets and skulls…..it will be extremely awkward to bet" Vapdra points out
"Leave it to aunty Nyanyan to make it easier" Nyannyanthotep states playfully
"…..Okay…." Vapdra says questioning the situation
"Can we just start already I'm itching to destroy you in poker" Mesta says to Vapdra
Nyarlathotep takes all of the items at her side, opens the bags and then uses a spell to transform all of the items into poker chips, making the pistachios the 10s, the bullets the 100s and the skulls the 1000s.
"Okay we solved a problem, but what about the deck and dealer?" Vapdra questions
"Mine" Hound says as he pulls out his deck
"Isn't that closer to a tarot deck?" Vapdra questions
"Yes" Nyannyanthotep replies "But if we remove these ones, then the deck is exactly like a usual poker deck"
Vapdra and Mesta look at each other and without a second thought grab the deck and start inspecting it from top to bottom, suffle it and deal a few times between themselves before giving it back.
"And I'll be the dealer" Says Nyannyanthotep in a happy tone
"Should we trust them?" Mesta asks Vapdra and Xynevir
"Let's just work with it for now" Vapdra replies
"No objections" replies Xynevir
From next round the betting starts and along with it a conversation where things that they learned both yesterday and today are getting disgussed
"Fold" Hound says throwing his cards closer to Nyannyanthotep
"So then it would be safe to assume that most if not all pantheons exist" Vapdra questions as he knocks on the table
"I mean it makes sense if can go to ten different earths" Mesta replies "And according to the Gods you have seen around it should be a certainty"
"Yet it still bothers me why there are only ten earths when there are more than 10 pantheons" Vapdra replies
"Good question" Mesta replies "But I am still bothered by the sword"
"Like I said it is a nodachi" Hound replies "And it is called the River of Souls"
"Why is it called that?" Mesta asks
"Because it holds about as many demon souls as all nine circles of hell contain" Hound replies
"Sounds like an overkill" Mesta replies
"Yeah it does sound like an overkill" Vapdra says casually "Last I remember, it only contained a little over four thousand demon souls"
"Pardon?" Mesta questions "You know about that nodachi"
"Well I wasn't completely sure" Vapdra replies "But now I am fairly certain that it is the same sword by best friend Frost used to wield"
"And where is he now?" Hound asks intrigued
"Inside of it" Vapdra replies
"Come again?" Hound asks
"Long story short, this particular demon sword is of unknown origin" Vapdra replies "And with every single thing powerful there is a cost"
"That being life?" Mesta assumes
"So what…" Hound says sarcastically "If this body dies I'll just get a new one"
"I didn't say your life but your soul, your whole being" Vapdra replies "If your soul leaves your body an empty shell remains and that shell will be nothing like your own self"
"Uh huh" Hound replies "And how long do I have to live?"
"Usually 13 years" Vapdra replies
"Usually?" Hound questions
"Under normal circumstances the sword gives its user its full power for 13 whole years and then sucks their soul" Vapdra replies "But for some reason this isn't the case with you"
"How can you tell?"Hound asks
"Becuase of how active the sword is" Vapdra replies
"Makes you wonder" Mesta replies "Still is the fact remains that we don't yet understand the whole situation about the 'New Gods'"
"Ra did explain that people are bound to become 'New Gods' after completing all six of the trials" Penny replies
"But is it really true though?" Mesta wonders
"I can't say for certain" Vapdra replies
"We will see in time" Hound replies
"Flash royal" Nyannyanthotep announces as everyone pays up
"Still I intend to find out" Vapdra states
After that the Nyannyanthotep distributes the chips and cards anew and when that happens, the discussion ends and they start get more serious about the game until few games later where Vapdra finally snaps as he becomes certain after silently observing Nyannyanthotep for so long.
"Fucking cat has double Aces again" Vapdra calls out Nyannyan
"Are you sure about that?" Hound questions
"It's fucking obvious" Vapdra says irritated "Every time she does her eye is basically glowing"
"…No…" Nyannyan says hiding her cards
"She's lying" Xynevir immediately replies
"Show your cards" Mesta demands
"Nephew they are bullying aunty" Nyannyan says to Hound
"All of you stop…" Hound requests "Just stop it"
"Fuck that" Mesta replies "She is obviously cheating"
"Proof?" Hound questions
"Her double aces" Vapdra says showing Nyannyanthotep's cards
"That doesn't prove anything" Hound replies
"This over-sized kitten had double Aces the best starting hand" Mesta responds "One of third of the games no less"
"Proof man" Hound denies it "Proof"
"To add to this even if we just go by the previous games, when Mesta was basically guaranteed to win, either you or her got the winning cards all the damn time" Vapdra explains
"And?" Hound questions
"Fuck do you mean and?" Mesta asks "She is the only dealer we have from the very beginning"
"Not to mention your Tarot deck" Xynevir adds " It is obviously a magical object which proves how the card positions could easily be manipulated without noricing"
"No it certainly does not" Hound replies
"Prove it" Vapdra replies "Prove that the magical aspect of the cards cannot affect their positioning while inside or outside the deck"
Hound is left wondering and it is then that Mesta climbs on the table and pulls out a knife
"Usually under those circumstances" Mesta points the knife to Nyarlathotep "We pluck out the eyes off cheaters" he brings his knife closer to her eye "This would make us even"
"Put your knife down slowly" Hound demands pulling out his loading pistol
"Okay…let's settle down a little" Vapdra yells getting in between Hound and Mesta "How about we just split the chips again and restart with a new deck and dealer?"
"Fair enough" Mesta says "But if it weren't a normal game between 'friends' and odd chips I wouldn't be so lax"
"Restart it is" Hound sighs as he suffles the deck ready to deal
"We're not doing this again with your deck" Vapdra states
"Then?" Hound asks
"I'll provide the deck" Mesta replies "We can use Xynevir as the new dealer"
"Leave it to the Italian mobster to be carrying a deck" replies Vapdra
"Italian…what gave you that idea?" Mesta questions "I am Albanian"
"Well you introduced yourself as Don" Vapdra replies "Add your appearance and the baguettes you threw"
"Wrong national stereotype" Hound corrects
"How the fuck do you mix up French with Italians?" Mesta questions
"In my defence" Vapdra replies "Italians enjoy eating bread along with their pasta"
"You're not saving face" Mesta replies "But anyways, do you have a problem with Xynevir being the dealer?" he asks Hound
"Why her?" Hound asks
"Because she is a total beginner" Mesta points out "Whoever saw how she played during each of the rounds, it's obvious that she neither cheater nor knows how to play poker" he turns to Xynevir "You cool with it?"
"No objections" Xynevir replies
Before the next round starts, Xynevir struggles to shuffle the deck and Mesta offers to teach her and after only showing her each type of snuffle once, she immediately picks up one it and gives the deck a suffle as if she were a pro at it. An hour passes and the tide has turned in Vapdra's favor but for the last two games, barely anything has changed and they have reached a standstill.
"Alright I give up" Hound states "This is going nowhere and I'm becoming extremely bored"
"I'm out as well" Mesta responds "Hound has been a total kill joy"
"I mean, you haven't even taken a risk in the past hour" Vapdra says to Hound "The safest option is your obvious choice, always" he sighs " I mean, how do you expect something interesting to happen?"
"Maybe but unlike your groupie" Hound replies "I remained in the game"
"Meh...what's the point if no risks are involved?" Mesta questions
"People have higher chances of surviving" Hound replies
"How did we get to that?" Vapdra asks
"He asked why I don't take risks" Hound replies "Well there you have it"
After a few moments of awkward silence they all can listen to someone calling out to Hound, Vapdra and Xynevir. All three of them realize that the voice calling for them is Robin's, Hound then immediately undoes his card and everyone is transported in front of the portals yet again.
"Alright cool I'm off have fun" Hound says as he starts leaving the premises
"But I was calling out to you as well" Robin says mildly disappointed
"Yeah well I have other things to do" Hound replies
"Not enough time to even travel to earth" Robin responds
"What are we waiting for" Hound immediately says changing the direction he is walking towards
"That was quick" Mesta thinks to himself "But how are do we even do this?"
"By using the Yggdrasil of course" Robin states
"Okay I set the stakes too low" Mesta replies "I mean how does it work?"
"I just thought you had asked about it during the first day" Robin says slowly realizing that no one else had even considered to ask about it based on their reactions "Well we ask from Heimdal to open the way for any of the earths and any specific place on it"
"Alright" Vapdra says embarrassed "And what are we having for lunch?"
"Lunch you serious?" Hound asks
"I agree with Vapdra it may be closer to the afternoon but I do need something to eat" Mesta replies
"How about Beer und Wurst" Robin responds while his saliva is about to escape his mouth
The group votes on the idea and aside from Hound everyone is on board with the idea and so they go to Heimdal and Robin does the talking while the others stay a little further away but to their surprise it takes a little bit of convincing for some reason to get him to let them through. After Heimdal agrees, almost everyone goes through but for Hound who finds an opportunity to shoulder bump Heimdal but he notices Hound and tries to avoid him though in the end he doesn't manage to dodge him. Fortunately enough the situation doesn't escalate and both Hound and Robin get questioned by Mesta and Vapdra but they just manage to dodge and bullshit their way off the conversation. As they walk through the portal they get a small grlimpse of Yggdrasil and its dense pathways which are devoid of any life but strangely feel cozy and comfortable to pass through. Once they reach the earth, the group finds itself in the outskirts of a small town that looks quite old fashioned, gothic style buildings and a lot of odd clothing they aren't quite familiar with.
"Vapdra" Hound yells
"Yes?"Vapdra yells back to him
"Get your ass over here" Hound replies still yelling
"What do you want?" Vapdra asks after joining in with Hound
"I know who this Bear is" Hound states confidently
"Excuse me what?"Vapdra asks with a confused look
"Long story short, she is Calisto, one of the many females that Zeus violated and Hera cursed" Hound says
"Okay...and you can tell that how?" Vapdra asks as he confirms it himself by using his eyes
"She was sobbing" Hound explains "While hunting and that's not just unusual, that's unheard of, for both animals in general not just Bears"
"Alright so you need me here for?" Vapdra asks confused
"Obviously to undo the spell" Hound bluntly states
"How the hell am I supposed to do that?" Vapdra questions
"Your mumbo jumbo magic shit...duh" Hound points out
"I never said I'm a spellcaster or a magician" Vapdra replies
"You're useless" Hound says sighing
"Why don't you use one of your cards instead?" Vapdra asks
"I doubt they work" Hound replies
Vapdra thinks for a moment and looks behind him, at Xynevir
"Yes Master?" Xynevir says with a smile
"Yes...well, I was wondering, so you know how to break curses" Vapdra asks
"Are you sure it's curse and not a Hex or Geas Master?" Xynevir asks
"They differ?" Hound asks surprised
"Obviously" Xynevir responds
"So you can't undo it" Hound states
"I never said that, I just asked if you're sure what kind of spell it is" Xynevir explains
"We aren't" Vapdra replies "Still can you do it?"
"I can certainly try Master" Xynevir says as she starts chanting a spell and casts it onto Calisto but in the end it doesn't appear to be effective
"Apologies Mater" Xynevir says to Vapdra "I'm unable to lift this spell"
"Hooray" Hound yells "You're both useless" he continues with a straight face "No worries Calisto I'll break the spell, no what it takes" the bear then feels the pure but sinister intentions of hound and gets afraid
"Well...I didn't want to use this but whatever" Vapdra says
"What you mean?" Hound asks Vapdra
"I Have a way to lift the spell" Vapdra replies
"So you lied?" Hound remarks
"Not really, I just don't like showing off my tramp cards" Vapdra replies "From day one at least"
Vapdra's appearance then partially changes, his hair become less wavy, his Irises become yellow and he is engulfed in light. Upon that Robin catches a new smell coming off from Vapdra which gives him shivers down his spine. Without waiting another second, Vapdra reaches up to Calisto and touches her, the moment he does her curse is lifted and she returns to her human form completely naked.
"Yes" Hound boasts "Team Hound 1 Olympian gods 0"
Calisto comes to her senses and realizes she finally human again and tears start flowing down her cheeks as she grabs and hugs Hound, Xynevir and Vapdra at the same time.
Suddenly all of them feel a new strong presence coming and staring at them, Looks overhead, they all spot a woman with brunette hair, wearing a long blue dress, a queen's crown, holding a golden scepter accompanied by several birds and tall old looking man wearing covered by a white cloth.
"Who the fuck are those attention whores?" Hound questions
"Zues and Hera" Vapdra replies
"Perfect timing" Hound responds with a smirk
Hera and Zeus descend getting closer and closer to Calisto disregardin the rest but as she does Xynevir gets infront of her and Hound walks up to Hera blocking her path to her and Calisto. Hera starts yelling and questioning who undid her spell "Who was the one responsible for releasing that whore?" which when Hound calms her down with both his words and gestures. When Hera fully calms down, Hound signals her that he wants to tall her and gets close enough to whisper her something to which she obliges and he whispers "I did because I don't like bitches preying on the weak" and without a second to spare, Hound grabs Hera, lowers her and delivers a right knee kick kick in between the legs hitting her in her privates. Everyone is left speechless but Robin feeling the tension increasing, he removes himself from the immediate picture, Xynevir giggles while Vapdra's jaw drops and Calisto collapses on the ground.
"You dare kick my wife's privates?" Zeus yells as Hera drops to the ground
"Well, unless you're blind while also being a rapist then no…I don't just dare, I fucking did" Hound responds and the skies turn black and thunders can be heard
"I will consider forgiving you if you drop to your knees immediately and start begging" Zeus arrogantly states
"No shit you can't control your wife" Hound states "You can't even control your own temper, but if you insist I might as well crash those pebble you call balls"
As they are about to throw down, Vapdra rushes in to try and save what's salvageable but as he does a lighting his the ground, both Hound and Zeus are forcefully pushed back while Vapdra is blown away. As the lightning disappears Thor and Heracles appear and rush over to restrain Hound and Zeus before all hell breaks loose. Even though Hound and Zeus are restrained by gods, they don't even let a moment pass by without them screaming profanities at each other which continues up to the point when everything they yell is completely incomprehensible. Among the attending Gods Ra seem to be making the decisions and as he turns to face Vapdra another God goes to Zeus and takes the gods restraining him, Hera himself and Heracles away leaving Ra back who informs Vapdra that Hound will be punished at a later time before leaving himself.
"Yeah run away you lousy fuck" Hound yells "Before I turn your brothel into summer camp"
"Can't you be any more aggressive?" Vapdra questions Hound
"Here comes the pussy" Hound calls out to Vapdra
"The pussy?" Vapdra asks
"You heard me right the Pussy" Hound answers
"And why exactly am I the pussy?" Vapdra asks irritated
"Because you didn't help" Hound says
"Help, because you needed help to piss off the Olympian pantheon any further?" Vapdra points out
"It's not about pissing them off, it's sending a message" Hound replies
"You can do that in other ways, you don't have to wage war against the fucking gods" Vapdra responds
"Other ways, like what plead my case, make an appeal" Hound says sarcastically
"That's exactly right" Vapdra replies
"Are you fucking retarded, have you seen how the world works?" Hound questions Vapdra
"You're probably referring to the human world" Vapdra says "This is the human world no longer"
"Yeah right, this is the world of gods and mythical beasts, as if that'll make a difference" Hound responds
"There's at least one good case up until now, Ra" Vapdra points out
"One, one out of the thousand trash" Hound says
"Just because you enraged 12 gods, doesn't mean the thousand others are going to side with them" Vapdra tries to point out
"Sure whatever, keep your delusions" Hound replies
"Says the person who acts without thinking" Vapdra points out
"At least I speak my mind and take actions I don't hold my shit back like a pussy, like you" Hound says irritated turning his back on Vapdra ready to leave "The way you act, even the injury Heracles got by you sounds like a fluke to me right now"
"Alright, just so you know" Vapdra says in the calmest way possible "You asked for it" then grabs Hound by the shoulder, turns him around and punches him square in the face.
Hound gets blown back and rolls around three times before he forces his body off the ground and gets on his feet straight and takes out his nodachi the River of Souls with his right hand while taking out a double barrel shotgun strapped on his back with his left. He rushes towards Vapdra when Vapdra does the same, a few meters before they meet Hound comes to a stop tuns to getting his shotgun in front of him and shoots at Vapdra. The pellets hit and bounce off Vapdra's body which surprises Hound but he shoots again only for the same thing to happen. Vapdra continues closing in the gap and when he does he goes for a high side kick aiming at Hound's head but Hound blocks grabs his and with a swift motion pierces it once and immediately retracts the blade. Vapdra lets out a small grunt as the wound quickly closes up and he jumps back on one leg to create distance, along with the dark spot around his eyes, the sclera turns red and when it does Vapdra dashes forward and goes for a veritcal high kick that barely grazes Hound's chin as Hound titled his head up to avoid the hit. Midway through Vapdra's kick, Hound step his right backwards and goes for a hook but Vapdra notices that and with his increased speed, he puts his foot down, grabs Hound's punch which is halfway and with a swift spin gets Hound feet off the ground and in the same motion throws him face first on to the ground. Hound on his way down avoided most of the impact by getting his right hand holding on the ground first, after Vapdra lets go Hound pushes himself off the ground with one hand just enough to allow himself to land with a simple shift of his body way and when he lands, he dashes forward and does two diagonal and one horizontal slash that graze Vapdra on his arms and torso.
When Hound stops the attacks, Vapdra goes in for a straight but Hound thrust the blade in to the ground and fire explosion launches him backwards. Vapdra manages to land on his feet meters away from Hound and when the smoke disperses, Hound and Vapdra look at each other.
"Prick" Hound yells at Vapdra
"Asshole" Vapdra yells back
They start dashing but stop just a few steps later as Vapdra dodges with a back step a fire ball from Robin while Hound steps to the side to avoid a dark sphere shot from Xynevir.
"Are you both knuckleheads….huh" Robin asks as steam is coming off his nose "I expected as much from that hot head over there" he points at Hound "But not from you Vapdra, I'm disappointed"
"…" before Vapdra can say a word he is cut off by Robin
"You're on the same team, aren't you?" Robin asks
"Who ever said we were?" Hound questions
"Shut up I'm not finished" Robin yells at Hound "You should have been talking on how to appeal and how to reduce whatever punishment is coming your way, not duking it out, you should be communicating"
"This is a form of communication believe as well" Vapdra replies
"Which is solving what exactly?" Robin questions Vapdra
"Showing the other how fed up we are with each other" Hound replies "Since one of us isn't willing to listen, this made things easier"
"Ain't that mature" Robin points out while walking away
Hound at the same time walks backwards flipping them off walking towards a portal that got opened by him using the Tower card downright.
"Master" Xynevir says "Why do you disagree with Robin?"
"Because it wasn't about solving the issue" Vapdra explains "It was more of a way to establish a connection by showcasing our powers through battle"
"The same way we are used to" Xynevir replies
"Yeah…" Vapdra says reluctantly
"So Nurt Mesta initially attacked to test our strength" Xynevir concludes "But weren't you insisting we take a more passive approach to things"
"I still insist" Vapdra replies "But occasionally you can still let go, just not all out"
"Why not?" Xynevir asks disappointed
"Because we shouldn't paint targets at our back" Vapdra explains "Still if you find yourself in a peculiar situation you should use your full power"
"Shame you didn't get to have a meal" Xynevir sighs
"Ain't you my lucky charm" Vapdra replies as he smells meat
"Thank you" Xynevir replies confused "But what do you mean?"
"Because you are" Vapdra replies as he materializes a gold ingot in his hand "Now follow"
Meanwhile Mesta has left to explore the world in his own way. Walking around he notices a lot of differences from his own world, the buildings around are smaller and there are little to none that are more than three stories tall, there aren't any places even remotely representing the slums while everything has an older and cozier aesthetic than his own world. Aside from the all the differences he notices there are a lot of similarities as well, when it comes to the clothing, the way roads are built and even when it comes to talking, walking, body language and the existence of electricity. While strolling around, he finds himself in front of a zeppelin that is gathering people around potentially to give a tour of the surrounding area.
"So" Robin says which momentarily catches Medta off guard "You're thinking of getting on it huh?"
"Yes, but first things first" Mesta replies "Where did you pop off from?"
"Well Hound kicked Hera square in the 'nuts' so to say" Robin relpies leaving Mesta speechless "And since things started heating up i just left and followed your sent"
"You dare call me smelly you fucking Lizard?" Mesta asks loudly enough that other people start giving him funny looks which confuses him
"Just a hint" Robin says "You are the only one who can see my real form, everyone else sees me as a human" he winks
"Hint he says" Mesta thinks to himself "Have you gone through the whole ride?" Mesta asks
"I haven't had the chance to" Robin replies "Why…are you buying?"
"I might" Mesta replies
"With what money?" Robin questions "I mean the price isn't that high if you aren't aiming for VIP but i doubt you have their currency, not to mention language barrier"
"Here's is where you're mistaken, i can speak German fluently and i am going to pay with these" Mesta shows off a few coins of the currency they are using
"They do seem real, too real" Robin says as he checks them out "Did you steal them?"
"They are technically counterfeit" Mesta replies "But if they pass the inspection who am i to say otherwise"
Then both of them go towards the zeppelin and once Mesta pays for the tickets, the person in front seems suspicious of them and starts doing a few tests on the coins Mesta handed over getting them to the side before letting them board. Once he does the final test, he seems satisfied and lets them board the zeppelin without further problems. Mesta and Robin start checking around the zeppelin finding it quite luxurious but a lot of the spots and places are off limits to them most of which aren't specifically used for the personnel of the zeppelin. Up until half way of the tour everything seems to be going smoothly as the circle around the vast area from above able to see waterfalls, forest and mountains otherwise inaccessible or hard to get to based on other people's testimonies. It is at the half point that a loud noise startles everyone including the crew.
"This is your Captain speaking" they hear as an announcement "He are experiencing minor problems with the air bags of the zeppelin but fear not, we are currently on route to reach the landing zone"
As the announcement ends a few more popping sounds can be heard one after another which inevitably forces the crew and the pilot to sound the alarm and prepare everyone for impact.
"This can't be right" Mesta thinks among the panic "These air ships should have been perfectly created to be able to lift and withstand its own weight and the passengers"
As he continues thinking a few more popping sounds can be heard as the zeppelin starts losing altitude. Mesta then remembers some things they said during rake off about the zeppelin's landing mechanisms and a certain mountain in the tour and so he starts heading towards the cockpit. Along the way some of the crew tries to stop him and he starts running to avoid them and two more of the crew tries to block the door of the cockpit and in response Mesta dashes even faster and a few cenimeters before reaching them, he jumps and with a double kick he breaks the door and shoots off the pilots seat.
"What the hell are you idiots doing get him out of here" says the Pilot
"Wait" Mesta yells as two people grab his hands and pick him up "I know how to save this flight"
"Oh really…?" asks the pilot "What could you possibly do?"
"My plan makes use of the landing mechanism of the Zeppelin" Mesta yells as they take him away "What do you even have to lose?" he asks "There isn't even any water or snow nearby to contain the impact"
"Fine" the pilot turns around "Release him" he orders
"But…" they ask
"Just do it" the pilot says terrified "It's not as if he is lying"
"How much air do we have left?" Mesta asks
"Enough" replies the pilot "To at least maintain the altitude above 2 thousand meters above air for the next few minutes"
"Alright" Mesta replies thinking about it "Turn the ship and go full speed for mount Legierung"
"Okay" Replies the pilot
"Hold on" says the second the in command "Why go crush in the mountain?"
"We aren't going to crush, we are going to use it as breaks" Mesta replies
"Huh?" asks the second in command
"He is referring to magnetic breaking" The pilot replies "We are going to use the mountain which is filled with minerals, specifically aluminum to break our speed and fall"
"Exactly" Mesta replies
"That's absurd" the second in command replies "If the whole mountain was made our of pure aluminum yes, but this is raw material we are talking about completely impure"
"That's why will go through it" Mesta replies
"What?" says the pilot "I thought we were going around it"
"Trust me" Mesta replies materializing a knife from a part of the door
"What's your name son" the pilot asks
"Nurt Mesta" Mesta replies
"I'm Adolf Hitler" the pilot replies
"Nice to meet you" Mesta replies as he questions his choices
"Likewise" replies Adolf "You said through the mountain right?"
"Yes, through the mountain" Mesta responds
"Well it's our funeral" Adolf says as the others start praying
"One last question" Mesta says
"Sure" Adolf responds
"How wide is the zeppelin?" Mesta asks
"37 meters is the widest the boarding space gets" Adolf replies "The upper department should be around 45"
"Alright just below my range" Mesta thinks relieved
"Why you ask?" Adolf asks
"No real reason" Mesta replies
Minutes pass by and most of the crew and passengers unaware of the plan stay faithful that they'll survive the crush while everyone else excluding Mesta and the pilot have lost all hope and passed out from drinking. Few meters before the mountain is in Mesta's range, the pilot opens up the landing equipment giving power to the electromagnet around the zeppelin, ten meters, eight, five, two, none, Mesta yells "Force Construct" and the mountain starts caving in as the sides starts turning into pure aluminum, the zeppelin starts speed starts slowing down but the fall continues and Mesta keeps on it. The have almost reached half way through the mountain but the zeppelin hasn't stopped moving and neither has Mesta and they keep going but Mesta manages to stay ahead constructing and deconstructing the mountain to slow down the zeppelin. They reach the exit and when they do, Mesta collapses on his knees coughing blood while he bleeds from his ears as well but the zeppelin has finally stopped moving forward.
"Crap" Mesta sasy in between coughs
"What?" Asks the pilot
"There is no more aluminum" replies Mesta as he falls on the ground unconscious
The zeppelin then falls continues falling down and crushes without making much of an impact and the pilot is relieved momentarily before rushing Mesta to the infirmary. Mesta wakes up after a few hours to find himself on a medical bed looking at the ceiling with blood pumped into his veins and next to him sitting Adolf, Robin, a nurse and a person dressed in all black.
"I'm going to get the doctor" Says the nurse leaving
"Welcome back" says Adolf "You don't need to get up, just rest"
"Huh and here I thought people from the mafia couldn't be heroes" Robin says
Mesta doesn't replies just stares at both of them as they just get up and leave him rest a little before the doctor checks up on him.
"Quite the ride this was huh?" Mesta hears the unknown individuals voice in his head
"Who are you?" Mesta asks him
"I'm Thanatos" he replies "You know the greek diety of Death"
"Isn't that supposed to Hades?" Mesta asks
"No, he is the god of the dead" Thanatos replies "I'm the god of death, specifically the god of natural death"
"So then are you here because I'm dying?" Mesta asks
"No, I'm just impressed you survived and helped all those people as well" Thanatos responds "But I have to say it is weird that you can perceive me"
"Weird...why?" Mesta asks
"Because as you guessed only people who are close to death should be able to see me" Thanatos replies "That or people who have special eyes"
"Special eyes" Mesta thinks "Like the eyes of truth?"
"Not only those" Thanatos says surprised "But yes those included"
"So then what do you want?" Mesta asks
"Tell you what" Thanatos states "Since I'm in a good mood I'll give you some advice"
"How come?" Mesta asks
"Because you saved so many people" Thanatos says
"I doubt that" Mesta replies
"It has nothing to do with Hitler mind you" Thanatos says leaving Mesta surprised "You shouldn't trust any of the Gods from the God council or Robin"
"Why should I trust what you are telling me?" Mesta asks
"It's your choice to trust me" Thanatos replies "And by the way you should be aware that this reality is off limits to the Gods and New gods such as yourself"