Prologue
The decision that changed humanity
Gods.
For centuries, they were venerated by all the planet's peoples, but most of them loathe humans more than anything else and have no use for their prayers and offerings. They no longer have any fun unleashing their whims on poor humans helpless to the catastrophes caused by them.
One goddess, however, has decided to stand alone against her fellow gods.
DRUCA: GODDESS OF BLESSINGS AND LUCK
"If they think humans are going to be decimated without me urging them to fight, the gods are stupider than anything I've ever imagined..."
Druca has long green hair and wears an elegant yellow, green and white outfit that reaches down to the ground. Around her neck is a long turquoise ribbon with which she wraps her right arm, and finally, she's wearing white heels. She decided to leave the pantheon to which she was related. As a result, some of the gods have taken a dim view of her, and no human remembers her.
The goddess walks down a dark corridor, alone. Eventually, she reaches a large room filled with light. Many random gods can be found there, and they look askance at Druca.
"What is she doing here?"
"I don't know, isn't she supposed to be the fallen goddess?"
Many gods talk behind Druca's back, but this doesn't seem to bother her. She continues walking until she comes to an office that serves as a reception desk.
She slams her hand on the desk, startling the god sitting there.
"You, I want you to send a registered delivery to all the Pantheons."
"Druca?! This place is forbidden to you, you'd better leave before I inform the divine authorities."
"Tell them I intend to defy the gods, all the gods if need be."
There's a long silence in the great hall before the gods burst into laughter. The god standing before Druca recovers from his emotions to answer the goddess.
"You think you can face all the gods alone? You couldn't stand up to a dozen."
"I'll be helped by humans."
The gods laughed even louder than before.
"Oh, that's a good one! Is she the joke goddess or what?" a god says, laughing out loud.
Druca remains unmoved, displaying a very serious look.
"This affront could be the subject of unimaginable torture if I inform the right people." said the god at his desk, regaining his seriousness.
"Do what I told you, saying that the message comes from me."
The god takes a shiny parchment and starts writing on it.
"Any god could guess that only you could say such an infamous thing…"
MOUNT OLYMPUS: DOMAIN OF THE GREEK GODS
A table stands inside a large room representing the Olympian Assembly, seating twelve chairs. A chair, however, stands out if you can call that a chair. It's a throne, a throne adorned with gold and sculpture.
An overweight god with a glass in his hand speaks up.
"When will he arrive? It's not good to be late for the party."
DIONYSUS: GOD OF WINE, FESTIVITIES AND ECSTASY
Once again, Dionysus spoke with his deep voice and frankness. He's always up for a party and lacks seriousness, which isn't to the taste of all his fellows. And once again, a certain god didn't take it well.
"Father can afford a slight delay and this is NOT a party." a magnificent god with blond hair says, interrupting Dionysus.
APOLLO: GOD OF MUSIC AND ARCHERY
Apollo is undoubtedly the most beautiful god on Olympus, and he knows it. He always expresses himself in this way, and many women fall under his spell even before he speaks, his words making women who have resisted his physical charm fall for him.
Suddenly, all the gods fell silent. The sight of one being caused this, a god who took his place on the throne.
"I think you know why I've called you here…" he says, sitting down
ZEUS: RULER OF MOUNT OLYMPUS
Without a doubt, the other Olympian gods hold Zeus in high esteem. A god with blue hair and beard, referencing the power of the lightning he wields.
"Well, I see my brother is absent." Zeus turns to the seat on his right
Once again, Poseidon had more important things to do...
"He's not the only one."
These words come from an angelic voice, and so does the person who possesses it.
APHRODITE: GODDESS OF LOVE, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE
The goddess who would make any mortal fall in love with her. Her rose-scented purple hair and bare breasts visible through a sheer dress are enough to make men drool, and women too.
"Indeed, your husband is away, Aphrodite." Zeus spoke, stroking his beard.
"Don't refer to him that way!" the goddess said, crossing her arms over her imposing chest.
Hephaestus, Aphrodite's husband, is known for his incontrovertible ugliness. As goddess of beauty, Aphrodite hates to hear that she is married to such a being, having set her sights on Ares.
There's a sudden silence after Aphrodite's way of expressing herself to Zeus. Another goddess adorned with a golden headdress resumed the initial course of the discussion.
"Let's get back to the affront of this renegade goddess."
HERA: GODDESS OF MARRIAGE AND WOMEN
The wife of Zeus could afford to direct a modicum of the conversations of this divine assembly.
"You're right, my dear. If this traitor wants to fight, she'll get a fight."
"I want to take care of it!"
An imposing god suddenly stood up, wearing a red toga and a warrior's helmet. His face can't be seen.
ARES: GOD OF WAR, WEAPONS AND VIOLENCE
It's certain that Ares would never refuse a fight.
"Calm down, my son. You can't handle this on your own. What this goddess is asking for is a tournament." Zeus says, grabbing a parchment.
He unfolded it and began to read.
"This note is addressed to the gods of all the pantheons. The fallen goddess, Druca, asks for a fight in honor of humanity. This confrontation will take the form of a tournament between gods and humans."
"Humans? She wants humans to face gods?" Dionysus spoke, spitting out his wine all over the table.
Apollo showed a look of disgust at this but didn't bother to speak, maybe this happened quite often after all... Zeus continued, ignoring what had just happened.
"Each side will have to choose thirteen fighters. The first to reach seven victories will choose the fate of humanity."
"Thirteen? Pretty daring, considering what that number means to humans." a god spoke softly
HERMES: GOD OF ROADS, THIEVES AND TRADE
Hermes was another attractive god, with wings on his shoes and head. His body is probably the slimmest of the gods.
"Lord Zeus, do you intend to take part in this joust?" Apollo spoke eloquently.
"It would be futile; any god can kill a human. Our presence is too important for such things."
Indeed, mortal weapons are no match for the gods. They have existed for millennia, and will continue to exist for those to come. A human being is but dust that comes and goes, compared to the life cycle of a god.
"So, we're not going to see this battle?" Ares regretfully exclaimed
Zeus began to laugh.
"No, but that doesn't mean I want the Greek gods to be left out of this event."
The ruler of Mount Olympus turns to a brunette goddess in golden armor.
"Athena, my dear child. I want you to take part in this tournament. Make sure you fight in the first few rounds. If seven victories are necessary to win, we'll only need seven fights."
Athena, who had remained silent until now, stood up and greeted her father.
"I won't disappoint you, Father." Athena bowed her head in respect.
ASGARD: DOMAIN OF THE NORDIC GODS
"Well, you know all about this goddess' message."
A god wearing an eye patch has just spoken before a handful of other gods. He looked like a bum, but he's actually the most powerful god here.
ODIN: ALMIGHTY GOD OF THE NORDIC PANTHEON
An imposing god rises from his seat, his eyes filled with lightning.
"I wish to take part in this battle, Father."
He raises his hand above his head and a hammer comes down after a few seconds.
THOR: GOD OF LIGHTNING AND THUNDER
"Take it easy, Thor. My mind is made up. I'll send one Norse god to battle."
Odin stands up and turns his gaze to a red-haired god.
"Baldur, you'll be that god. Your bodily strength will be an asset, even if I doubt a human could hurt a god."
"It's not going to be entertaining..." Baldur muttered into his beard.
Baldur was not wrong. A god is already immortal, but on top of that, Baldur was made invulnerable to anything that might exist. Odin's eye, however, seemed lost in a kind of vision.
"The future... for once, it seems unclear." Odin seems distraught.
"What do you see, Father?" Thor asked
"Death, I see the death of a god."
Odin's vision of the future is clear and accurate. So, a blurred vision showing the death of a god could only be bad for the deities...
A god who had been silent until then began to laugh.
"I thought I was the only one who made such convincing jokes."
LOKI: GOD OF MISCHIEF, DISCORD AND ILLUSIONS
Loki was slumped in his seat, amusing himself by creating small illusions in his hand.
"This is no joke, Loki. It's far too real to be staged..."
Druca walks silently down a beautifully ornamented corridor. After a few more steps, she stops in front of a door that opens automatically.
"Yeah, take that, you little shit!"
A young girl with black hair and pointed ears is playing on a cell phone. She also wears a black off-the-shoulder-top, a red skirt and black tights.
"Still playing your games, Selira?"
"Fuck, yeah. I love humans for creating such a thing." Selira exclaimed, eyes glued to the screen.
A yawn can be heard. On a splendid bed in the corner of the room, a young girl wakes up. She has long, knee-length blond hair and two small white horns. She also has pointed ears, but longer than Selira's. She's wearing a pastel purple robe that she covers with a pink sweater, way too big for her.
"What's happening?" she says, covering her mouth as another yawn escapes.
"Ah, Phearl, I see you're awake." Druca turns to the young girl.
"Awake? I would have slept a little longer... Twenty hours or so... that's reasonable."
Indeed, this young girl could spend an eternity sleeping if it were up to her. She struggles out of bed and comes to sit next to Selira, forgetting to wear shoes as usual.
"If I'm here, it's for a reason of the utmost importance." Druca said in a serious tone.
"I know all about it, but Phearl, she's been asleep since last night, so you'll have to tell her."
"Huh?" Phearl is completely lost.
Druca kneels before Phearl with extreme delicacy and takes her hands.
"The day I've been waiting for has arrived. Today the gods will pay for their crimes."
The young blonde's eyes opened wide.
"Really? But... how are you going to do it?"
"By organizing a tournament. Valiant humans will face thirteen gods to save all humanity." Druca stands back up.
"But- a human can't take on a god." Phearl began to stress.
Druca, on the other hand, laughed and covered her mouth.
"Come on, I've got more than one everything in my bag. I am, after all, the goddess of blessings."
"And I hope those gods will get their asses fucked." Selira said cheerfully.
"Selira! You can't say such- atrocities."
Druca laughed as Phearl began to lecture Selira, a situation that is not new.