An island of steel floated upon an endless ocean of magma. The air glistened with sparks and groaned with the cries and whirring of machinery that forged. Upon that metallic island stood a city of industry with pipes and whirling; every building being that of a factory filled with mechanical workers. The only water that could be found were in hissing buckets as red-hot steel drowned itself in them. Here through fire and water were creations made, both new and old, each bearing the mark of Hephaestus.
All the while, as smoke and smog drifted upward from the surface, the sky was a cool celestial blue; the stars being ever so faintly visible.
At the heart of this metallic land, stood an ancient tower. Its width and length were farther than any city to be built and its height was so grand that the mortal realm's atmosphere would only scratch a tenth of its base. Each floor archived and protected either an original or a copy of every invention that man or god had ever found or made, both known and forgotten and even some that Hephestus himself planned to one day give.
Near the edge of this forging world, across a mighty iron bridge, where the realm's defenses were their strongest, was a flat circular structure with a hollow center; its sides were covered with symbols, each one pertaining to a different god. At present Hephaestus's symbol was the only one to glow.
But then, the symbol of Bacchus, an image of grapes within a chalice, began to glow. A red portal then began to form as the structure made a humming sound like guttural chanting. When the portal fully formed, with every edge of it reaching the limits of the hollow center, machines walked out of the portal carrying carts and carts of wine, an image of grapes within a chalice, the mark of Bacchus, upon the crates.
A metallic skull hovered nearby, watching with its empty sockets. Wires and steel limbs dangled from every surface of the skull, save for the front. When it saw the machines exiting the portal, it flew downward and started to scan each machine before making a high-pitched beeping noise, giving them approval to proceed. Suddenly, when the last machine walked past it, the skull stopped and was motionless.
Coming out of the portal was not a machine, but the goddess Hel. Her face was expressionless. The skull spoke, every word sounding as if it was a fire that was speaking and sounding forced as it paused between each word, "YOU. HAVE. NOT. BEEN. PERMITTED. ENTRY: USURPER. HEL. LEAVE. AT. ONCE."
"I thought your master would have gotten around to changing that by now," muttered Hel as she looked up at the far tower, peering through the black fog, "I am aware, but I will speak to your master."
The skull floated motionlessly, processing her words before it unhinged its mouth open, a ticking sound like a clock as it did so. Out from the shined a blue light; the image of Hephaestus flickering into existence, a scowl on his face, "I should have known that when I felt a divine force enter my realm, it would have been you; using the one path you could've taken to get here without resistance. What do you want?"
The goddess cleared her throat, "I wish to help."
Hephaestus pulled out a thin piece of metal and began chewing it, "And how do you plan to do that? Make this thing feel sorry for all it's done?"
"I wish to try and peer into its fate and its past. Such a thing has eluded me," Hephaestus wore the piece of metal to a point with his teeth and began now picking the same teeth with it, "but if I am able to see it, we might be able to learn much more than we normally could."
Hephaestus bit off a large piece of the metal before spitting it out, "Fine, Inspector nine seven-seven point zero, escort Hel to my location please." The blue light faded and turned off, the image of Hephaestus going with it.
The mouth of the skull closed as it spoke, "FOLLOW."
Meanwhile at the peak of the tower, where the air was clearest and one could see the land in its entirety, within a dimly lit room and bounded by chains that glowed with divine runes, dangled the Red Hood Lifelessly; his beard almost grazing the floor. The sound of a switch echoed through the room and a bright light shined down on Gael, his eyes pitch black from shadows.
Before the beast in red stood Hephaestus, three machines floating at his side: each an iron skull of a cyclops, each of their singular eyes glowing with a red light. As Hephaestus stared at the Red Hood he spoke, "Begin spiritual scan." Suddenly one of the skulls flew over and flew around Gael, a red beam radiating from the eye and touching every piece of the Red Hood, "physical condition and status on subject?"
Another skull started scanning the Red Hood, but only briefly before speaking in hushed distorted voice, "Unconscious due to runes obtained from facility zero one being at maximum power. Body: heavily damaged and mutated. Armor and skin have fused. Underdeveloped bones protruding from the spine and into the cloak have been detected. Signs of life have also been detected within the cloak. Lastly, only one eye is able to properly perceive sight."
Hephaestus nodded; he would have to thank the Order sometime for finding that old facility beneath Lescetie. Ever since then he's found out all sorts of new things the old chief god made; those runes included. Perhaps he would give them a new invention? hmm, nah, perhaps he'll instead reteach the humans something they forgot about. No doubt it will keep that war going on for a little longer, but he didn't care about that.
The god brought his mind back on track as he stepped closer, staring at the Red Hood in the eyes. He wondered how this being was supposedly immortal. After all, this figure still retained some injuries such as one only having one good eye or that gnashing hole in its bloated chest.
Hephaestus began looking at the armor of the Red Hood. It was so terribly worn and scratched that he felt disgusted seeing it. He then poked around the Red Hood with the edge of his hammer, confirming that the armor had indeed fused itself to the skin. It would no doubt be awfully painful for such armor to be removed. It would also probably be painful to successfully remove that cloak, for no doubt a few bones would have to be ripped along with it.
"SPIRITUAL SCAN COMPLETE," spoke the cyclops machine as it hovered its way back to the god's side. Suddenly right as the skull returned, the two giant doors there were the entrance to the chamber opened, the goddess Hel walking in with the inspector droid flying beside her.
"Is he awake?" Asked Hel, the inspector droid already left with no hesitation.
"Nah, the divine runes from Lescetie are making sure of that. Even if he were awake, he wouldn't be able to move at all," Hephaestus gave a dry and cold chuckle, "and all thanks to the Order finding that facility."
"The royal makai would have found it if the roles were reversed."
Hephaestus rolled his eyes as he mumbled under his breath, "Then why didn't you know of it in the first place?" he then cleared his throat and spoke loud enough for Hel to understand him, "In any case, I'll step back and let you do whatever it is... you're doing. But don't think I won't be watching."
"That's fine, Hephaestus. I have no desire to cause any more trouble."
"Sure," Hephaestus grunted as he, with the hit of a hammer on a nearby wall, created a doorway and left; the three cyclops machines followed suit before the door disappeared in sparks.
The smithing entered a room that was almost as dark as pitch, his footsteps echoing across the metal floor. A dim red light shined upon him, "Brontes, show me the scan of the Red Hood's soul."
Instantly the machine that commenced the spiritual scan flew ahead, shining a light upon a giant machine of buttons and wires and a multitude of boxes with frames of dimly glass in their center; humming quietly as it automatically moderated the containment for the Red Hood. It flew until it reached the side of the machine where there appeared to be slots and inserted a piece of machinery that protruded from its mouth. Instantly the glass frames lit up as words and images appeared. All the while Hephaestus studied what he was looking at.
At first glance it seemed something similar to demonic energy with it being made of a dark material, however he quickly noticed the differences. A mamono soul when not in humanoid form, and in turn when there was enough demonic energy to be formed on its own, were more like liquid spheres. Meanwhile, it was something more akin to a countless raging flames of different shades of grey and white and black, though sometimes he swore he saw it turn red or dark purple or even a deep blue. Meanwhile sometimes those flames looked like tentacles, or humanoid limbs stretched outward or looked more like something akin to a plant and its roots.
Meanwhile, in its center was a dark hole that was shaped like a serpent's pupil with a pure white outline. However, compared to the rest of the soul, it was calm and perfectly still, unlike the ever-moving energy around it.
Wait, did he see two white outlines in there... or was that his imagination? He snapped himself back, he had to focus. What was this composition? It obviously was not demonic energy from what he's seen, nor was it mana, and neither was it anything compared to the gods or anything else in-between.
"Show me its composition, if possible," instantly new information appeared on screen displaying the info, "I've seen this before, Steropes pull up the material composition of the divine artifacts."
The next cyclops skull flew over to where the buttons were and inserted commands into the machine. The material composition of each known divine artifact was then swiftly displayed. The god's eyes widened as a suspicion grew in his mind. The divine artifacts, and this soul, were exactly the same in composition save for the shell of the artifacts were composed of magic from the original chief god.
So many things were now becoming clearer to him. The device he saw that kunoichi took from that laboratory, the chained creature and the events that happened when it was reported to have been consumed by the Red Hood. They were all connected and were all in some way working together. At least, that was the suspicion growing in his mind as he slowly looked at his divine hammer, "Have we been at war with you, without even knowing it?"
The god held out his divine hammer, "Argus, put it in my hammer containment and bind it with the same type of chains used for the Red Hood." the last skull that was yet to be at the large machine complied and grabbed the hammer before flying off, "Begin production of the machines that the T.F.U. have recently begun creating... but, put in built in wireless controls for me to use. Also, turn on the lights."
The lights of the chamber blared up, revealing behind the god the lifeless Talos standing motionlessly. Behind the machine large containers filled to the brim with Hephaestus's own blood, "Remove Talos's core, we will for now supply him energy the old fashion way. Oh, and request a meeting with the other gods."
Hephaestus would not risk underestimating his prisoner, and the Dark knew it.
(-)
An island garden floated upon an ocean of crimson wine, the warm water bubbling with intoxicating flavors and the sky echoing with intoxicating music. The garden was filled with every kind of tree and plant that had been and would be used to produce every kind of alcohol. Within the heart of this garden was a great tree, the very branches stretching for miles as they swayed holding large grapes.
The tree's roots stretched far and out from the garden, in and out of the ocean of wine with marble structures and bridges built upon parts of it. Some of the buildings were wine cellars, while others were bars filled with the servants of Bacchus drunk and naked; each either playing music or merely drinking, while others were partaking in each other's company. At the far end of the land, at the tip of the farthest root, was a hollow circular structure, its sides etched with the symbols of each god but Bacchus's own being the only one that glowed.
But from the base of each structure, a waterfall of wine poured out endlessly.
Meanwhile near the top of the tree, within a great bedroom chamber that overlooked the land, stood Petre staring out the window.
When he was first brought here, he loved this place, all those years ago, back when his father was alive. Back when she was alive. Despite how warm and intoxicating it felt to be here, with all its merriment and cheer, this place felt empty and hollow to him, and he felt alone.
It was not that long, and already he was contemplating jumping out the window or just burst through the door and made a mad dash for the exit. But Petre already knew how that would go, because he's tried both before. To state she was furious in those moments would be an understatement. There was no running from her here.
Then he heard Bacchus's drunken babbling through the walls; causing him to subconsciously shake.
The door slammed open as a naked and drunken Bacchus stumbled her way in. Petre couldn't bear to turn our look at her as he heard her giggling get closer to him. He jolted slightly as he felt one of her hands perch itself on his shoulder as she slurred, "It's sho good to have you back. I wash worried, I thought you were running away from me, staying wisth that Red Hood," her hand slid off Petre's shoulder, "Butsh I know my Petre would never leave me," he felt her hand reach for his groin, "So don't worry," she hiccupped, "I'll make the pain from him go away. Poor Petre, he must have terrified you~".
Petre's eyes began to twitch, and his fists tightened. He knew it would be pointless, but nonetheless with a burst of defiance he pushed her away. She stumbled and fell on her rear with a growl. Slowly Petre turned to see the goddess frowning at him, "Ouch, Petre... What'sh wrong with you?" She got up with a sly smile, "Oh I know what you needsh. Have some wine," she held out her chalice towards Petre, the golden skull on the chalice staring at him, the darkness within its empty sockets peering into his soul.
He stared, frozen before stammering, "N-no, no more."
Bacchus's smile instantly was gone, "I wasn't asking. DRINK."
Petre began to breathe hard as fear filled his thoughts. He knew what would happen if he refused, he knew what would happen if he continued to be on her bad side. He could still feel the previous times he defied her. Not a single part of him wanted to experience that again! And yet, his hate for her made him want to force her, just to spite her, even if it was futile. He felt the words forcefully leave his lips, "no."
A shadow formed over Bacchus's eyes as she stared before suddenly tugging back the chalice as if she was ripping something out. Immediately, Petre began to curl over as he vomited a gushing, never-ending spring of steaming hot wine and blood. He slowly fell down to the ground in a puddle of the liquid he was still vomiting out, as he felt each and every organ in his body fail one by one. He then felt his skin shrivel up and wrinkle.
His vision grew blurry, his head pulsed, and he could barely breathe. When he finally stopped vomiting, he was a corpse that was wheezing for air. He could barely hear or sense anything around him. Slowly the goddess walked closer to Petre and knelt in front of him. She then held the chalice close to Petre's face, its golden skull still staring back at him, "drink," she said.
He struggled to look through his blurry vision, but he could see her cold glare at him. His heart was now beating like a war drum in his chest as he knew he only had one choice. All other wine here could not help him, Bacchus had long since made sure of that, and so only the divine wine directly from the chalice could save him. He looked down at his hands.
Bacchus had brought the withdrawal symptoms to their absolute peak and already his fingers were so thin he could clearly see his own bones. He shakily looked back up and reluctantly drank from the chalice; with every gulp his body was healed until he was slowly back to himself again. He wanted to stop, but Bacchus placed her hand on his head and forced him to keep drinking from the chalice.
"You should be thankful," she said, "You're the onlysh one I have allowed to drink from this chalice. Outshide of a fight of course hehe. Justh remember, I'm the only one who truly loves you. Not your dead father, and not the whore of a woman who tried to steal you from me. Just me."
Petre's thoughts became muddled, and his emotions fogged as a crooked smile formed on his face, "There's my Petre," She tilted his smiling face up, "See?" Bacchus giggled, "you do love me, you love our time together. You're just too stubborn to admit it. After all, your just like me, in more ways than one, I made sure of that~"
The goddess stared at Petre with a smile, lovingly, as if looking at a mirror, "Now, let's get those clothes off!"
The goddess undressed Petre before pushing him to the bed as he watched in a drunken stupor. She then placed the chalice beside the bed. The part of him that hated this, that would have been in utter disgust, was drowned out as she got ready to mount him. But then, at the last moment she stopped as a frown formed on her face. She closed her eyes and gave an annoyed sigh, "OF COURSE!" She shouted angrily, "THEY HOST A MEETING NOW OF ALL TIMES!"
She got off and angrily reached for her chalice, "I'll be back Petre. Hopefshuly not too long," she mumbled before seemingly melting into a puddle of wine and disappearing.
Petre laid there for hours, staring blankly at the ceiling as if dead as he slowly became sober again. When he realized what had happened, what he allowed to happen, he felt nothing but shame, guilt, hate, and disgust as he laid there naked. He wanted to scream. All the while, as Petre felt those emotions swell within him, the motionless and cold puddle that Petre had vomited a short while ago began to bubble.
Bacchus was underestimating her prisoner, and the Dark knew it.
(A/N)
I have officially decided that after this ark, I'll do what I mentioned in the author's note of the previous chapter.