Disclaimer: The works of Campione! and other used series are the sole property of their respective owners.

Important Announcement: Upon recommendation, I've begun cross-posting this story to QQ (Questionable Questing). So if you see it there rest assured it's not being stolen. It's just in case FFN decides to nuke this story from orbit. I don't think that will happen, as my content shouldn't cross any lines that would incite its removal. But this story will abound with adult and dark themes, so who knows. I'm aware of the differing nature of the two sites, but that won't have an impact on the story. They'll be the same version, so you all don't have to worry about getting the lite version.

Part two of the prologue arc is out. There should only be one more such chapter before we get too the story proper.

The AU nature of the story is beginning to manifest itself in this chapter. You'll notice multiple snippets that refer to some mysterious past in the story. It's just a small primer for the alternative backstory I have for Iconoclast compared to Campione! canon. While I respect the canon Campione! author for his work, I never cared for the reasoning behind the Campione system in the original novels or how it operated. So, I wrote my own premise for it in Iconoclast. I don't think it will be much of a stretch, as it stays within Pandora's motivation as a character.

The Campione system in canon is a little less dramatic if I remember correctly. I just felt like adding spectacle to the process, because why not? Plus it gives extra weight to adding in Pandora's family.

Arcturus Black1234: Jace is certainly going to take a hardline approach to individuals and factions that attempt to harm or screw with him. But, this Jace is somewhat different from the Jace of Veneration. He's more cool headed, less prone to anger outbursts, so he'll be more logical about how he goes about this. As for his relationship with the devil factions, well, I'm going to have to disappoint you a little. Jace doesn't have it out for devils as a whole. He would absolutely kill Andros if they crossed paths again, but that disdain is only directed at that specific devil. As Jace learns of devils and their society, he will be taking a suitable approach, that fits his personality and motivations at that time. Outright war? No. Buddy buddy time? No. No matter how characters such as Rias, Sona, or Serafall spin it, Jace will see all the flaws in devil society and attitudes and handle it appropriately.

Roland Tepes: Ascendance to a Campione heals the former human of all prior injuries and maladies. Further more it gives them what I consider a semi-divine body, meaning it is superhuman. Jace will not only be at peak performance, he'll be even stronger than he was before. Not that he'll be arm wrestling Gods of Steel, but in comparison to his fellow God-slayers, Jace will have the highest base physical strength, non-augmented by mystical means or by Authorities. The bad knee was mostly to show off this factoid of the Campione.

Nilthorn: I've intended from the start of this project for Jace to lay claim to territory like most of his fellow Campione. It won't be right away, as Jace will start out with zero interest in behaving like a monarch. In time though his motivations and desires will change, prompting him to found his kingdom/empire. As for what territories, I won't say for now. It's honestly not going to be an unforeseeable mystery, but how Jace gets to that point is what I don't want to reveal. What I can say is that he'll have to fight for it.

Warning: Contains death, some violence, and light gore.

Valorant out.

Iconoclast

Prologue: Part 2: Forgotten Ones/Ascension of the 7th

Sometimes there's no way everyone wins. Sometimes all you can do is carry the weight of your choices. Carry it and move forward.

(Unknown Realm, March 20th?, 2024)

The portal Jace Armell was flung into was normally supposed to take its occupants to Inferno, commonly referred to as Hell. But the disruption to its integrity caused it to wildly translocate its destination. Thus, when Jace finally exited the dimensional rift, he entered a land no mortal had set foot in. Not that he was aware of such matters. The son of man had other concerns to deal with.

Namely, the extreme case of vertigo he was experiencing. Jace groaned miserably as his vision swam. The giant of a man could do naught but lay near senseless on the floor, his body suffering from the mal effects of a disrupted dimensional transportation. When Jace finally recovered enough to see clearly, he attempted to sit upright. He soon regretted that action. His stomach lurched, as its contents forced their way up his throat.

Vomit poured out of his mouth as he wretched. Jace violently spewed up what he felt must have been the entire contents of not only his stomach but his guts as well. It was a thoroughly unpleasant experience, he determined. It stopped after a short while, leaving Jace gasping for air. "That sucked." He groaned out.

Once the spasms stopped, Jace observed his surroundings. What he saw was… less than comforting. He was in another unknown location. Judging from the surrounding encasement of stone, Jace reasoned he was underground. As for how he could see in what should have been an utterly dark environment, glowing crystals. Jutting from the walls at random intervals were multicolored crystals full of incandescent light. Jace didn't question it. It was the least strange thing he'd seen today. Or whatever day it was, as he had no idea how long it had taken to get to this strange, strange location.

If there was one small blessing it was that there were no hostiles with him. The devil Andros was nowhere to be seen, nor the other non-humans Jace noticed around that onyx gate. He was in no immediate danger. Of course, that meant he was all alone with no one to ask for guidance in this situation.

Many would panic in this situation. It would have been reasonable, expected even. Jace though was not one amongst many. He was no stranger to life-or-death situations. He was counting this matter as one. If for no other reason than he had no desire to sit here till he died of dehydration. So, he did the only thing that made sense.

He got up and moved. Jace found that what usually saved his life was nothing more than being proactive. Once he managed to stand up, fighting through the remaining vertigo and his own bad leg, Jace reorientated himself. Now where to go, he thought to himself.

Not that it was much of a question. Jace was in an enclosed room with only one apparent exit, a long hallway, stretching for who knows how long. "Alright, let's go." With that the giant of a man stepped forward into the hallway and stepped forward to face whatever awaited him in this unknown place. Hopefully, he would find a way back home.

() (Uknown Realm, March 20th?, 2024)

As Jace trudged through the dimly lit corridors of this subterranean environment he noticed something off. First it was getting hot. By small degrees, but it was noticeable. More than that though there was a pressure that seemed to envelop him from all sides. Stranger still the farther he traveled, the greater the weight of the feeling and the heat. It was starting to go from a mild sensation to a burdening weight. The weirdest of all, it was not a purely physical sensation. It weighed down on his mind as much as his body. His instincts were warning him. Of what Jace could only describe it as one thing. Danger.

Jace paused. Jace trusted his instincts, they had kept him alive for over seven years. But never had they warned him that death was so close at hand. The giant of a man ruminated over this. Jace was no coward, but he was not reckless either. He knew when to be bold and when to play it cool. If his instincts were telling him he was close to death, he would listen. The question then was what would he do? Jace considered his options.

Or rather he dismissed what were not options. He could not turn back; he had been following a single winding pathway. Turning back meant just going back to where he came from. Waiting here was not an option either, it meant the same as turning around. Just dying from lack of water. Therefore, Jace had only one option. March forward, regardless of the possible danger. At least that presented a slim chance of survival.

Jace kept going. He kept going till the pressure on him was permeating his body. Till it caused him pain. Till he could barely think straight. Till the heat was scalding him. Until he saw a light. Not one of the dim crystals, but a brighter light. It did not look like sunlight unfortunately. But for Jace it was enough. It represented an opportunity to get out of this blasted underground.

Jace hobbled to the light, his legs trudging along. The giant of a man reached the end of the corridor, then pass through the threshold to the light. For a moment he was blinded. When his vision cleared Jace could not believe his eyes.

The cavern was huge. Wider and deeper than multiple American football stadiums laid together. High enough that Jace could not see the ceiling. That was not what captured Jace's attention though. Instead, his eyes were fixated on the burning mass of fire in the center of the cavern.

It was massive, its height reaching the size of a small skyscraper. As for its girth Jace could only guess, it was just too big and fluid in shape to get an accurate estimate. The burning mass of fire was just too huge to properly comprehend.

A sudden roar broke Jace out of his reverie. It was no roar of a beast. It sounded more like the roar of wildfire. One that was burning uncontrollably and devouring everything in its path. Jace could almost physically feel the energy of the roar buffet him. To the human's amazement and horror, he realized something. The burning mass of fire was looking at straight at him.

There were no eyes, no face, anything to show it was looking at him. He did not understand how, but he knew he was being observed. He could feel the pressure that had been weighing down on him increase fivefold. It forced him to his knees, the rocky floor clashing with his bones. Jace didn't register the pain in his knees, the aching throb of his left leg. Overwhelmed by the immense presence of the inferno entity(?), Jace's breathing became labored. It was only because his head was bowed, Jace saw red on the ground beneath him. It was a dark red liquid, Jace knew all too well.

Blood.

The stain of blood on the ground grew, as Jace finally felt the drip down his face. His right hand came up to feel his nose and he understood. It was his blood. The vital fluid was falling freely from him. Jace was not prone to randomly bleeding from an orifice. He knew this was unnatural and it was all due to the inferno entity(?) Jace felt something in him snap at this realization. And understood something.

He was angry.

Jace forced his head upright against the pressure, forcing him to kneel. He stared at the inferno and did something out of character for his usual cool demeanor. He snarled. He despised this. He despised being forced to kneel. He despised how helpless he felt in this thing's presence. And he would not tolerate it. The indignity fueled his building anger. It burned. Burned worse and even hotter than the scalding air on his skin and lungs. The feeling turned from anger to rage.

How dare this thing make him kneel. How dare it make him feel helpless. It reminded him of a time past he preferred not to relive. He hated that most of all. He would not tolerate this indignity. Jace rose. It was not easy. In fact, it was the most strenuous action he had ever felt. But that burning rage gave him the motivation, the strength to rise. Slowly, he went from on his knees, to crouched, then standing at his full height. Then Jace did something that was downright insane. He roared at the inferno.

His howl was bestial. The cry coming out of his throat was strangely human in a way though. It was something that evoked a primal state of man. The human roared till his throat went hoarse, only then did he stop. But while his voice may have been spent, the feeling in him was not. That rage was still burning hot.

'A child of man?'

Jace was drawn out from his trance by a voice. Strangely enough, it sounded like it came from within his head.

'I had not expected to see one of your kind ever again. How did you end up here of all places?' The voice was melodic, feminine, and mysteriously ancient sounding.

"Who's there?!" Jace yelled at the outlying space, unsure where the speaker was.

The voice answered, 'Here child. Look over yonder.'

Jace felt a tug, curious, he followed it. It drew his attention to a small spot over a hundred meters away. He had not seen it before as his attention has been focused on the inferno. Now though he saw it, a small figure in the distance. It sat on the ground facing away from him.

'Come child. I wish to speak with you. Hurry, you have not long.' The voice bid Jace, its tone urgent.

Jace debated it for a moment. He had no way of knowing who or what, the figure in the distance was. But. The figure was his only lead on where he was or how to get home. He made his decision and began walking toward the figure. It was an arduous walk; the pressure was still invasive, and he soon understood why the figure said he didn't have long. The bleeding from his nose didn't cease. Instead, the bleeding not only continued, but worsened. Jace began bleeding from his ears, his eyes, he even coughed up blood. He realized he was dying. That did not stop him though. It was the longest walk of his life, near agony. Yet he soldiered on, driven by that burning rage.

After a walk-through hell, Jace finally reached the figure. The figure was small. About the median size of an average human woman. The figure was clad in ancient looking linen cloth, something wrought straight out of Ancient Greece. Her, at least it looked like a she to Jace, hair was long and the color of gold. Not blonde, but a solid sheen of metallic gold. Her skin gleamed with a metallic sheen, like a bronze mirror. Her back was still turned to Jace when he approached. He stopped at her side, facing her. Her eyes were closed.

She still didn't turn, but Jace could feel that her attention was on him. It was a far smaller, gentler presence than the inferno. Instead of a presence that was overwhelming, her attention was more curious than anything else.

When she spoke, this time it was not within Jace's head. Her voice was still inhumanly rich, containing a weight that should not have been possible. "I never thought I'd see a child of man again. Or anyone for that matter. I thought for sure I would linger here in the darkness for the rest of time alone."

Jace had no idea what she was talking about. All he could understand was the extreme loneliness in her voice. "I don't understand. What are you talking about? Why do you keep calling me that?" Jace questioned.

The not a human woman did not answer Jace's questions. "Never mind that child, you have not the time. What is your name?" She asked a question instead.

Jace answered, "Jace Armell."

The non-human woman seemed to savor Jace's name. "Jace Armell. The last soul one I'll ever meet. It is good to meet you, Jace. And I am sorry to say you are going to die."

Jace grimaced. "Yeah, I figured. This thing is killing me." He gestured toward the inferno, the anger in him surfacing for a moment in a scowl.

The non-human woman's expression saddened, her lips turning into a frown. "Yes. An unfortunate consequence of being in an Ancient One's presence for mortals." Her expression turned even sadder for a reason unknown to Jace. "I am sorry child, if only we had been stronger, you would live to see tomorrow."

Jace did not know who she was referring to. Rather than ask that question he posed a different one. "Do you know how to send me home?"

The non-human woman nodded. Jace felt a surge of hope, if she could send him home…

"I cannot though." She dashed Jace's hope. The giant of a man demanded to know why.

"Why not? If you know how just tell me." He demanded.

The non-human woman shook her head sadly. "Child of man tis not that easy. To send you home wouldst cost concentration I cannot afford. The only reason you still live now is because of the work my comrades and I worked so long ago. Work I still labor on, even at this very moment. Were it not for the ritual I am applying even now, you would die immediately. Perhaps if I was at my prime, I could send you home while maintaining the ritual for the time it would cost to do so. I am weakened though, too weak to do as you request."

Jace… let it go. That rage was still in him, but it wasn't directed at this woman. It would be wrong to direct it at her. "I see." The giant of a man said tightly.

The non-human woman patted her lap. Jace, surprised, stared at her strangely. A sad smile adorned her face. "Come child. At least allow me to offer this comfort in your final moments. Know some measure of peace in my embrace." Her tone was kind. It was warm. It was a lullaby to Jace's tired self.

"No." Jace refused.

The non-human woman's expression remained compassionate. "Child, I understand you're upset but-"

Jace cut her off. "I refuse to die here. At least die for nothing." Jace pointed straight at the inferno with his index finger. "How do I kill it?"

The non-human woman's lips parted in a surprised o. She finally turned her head toward the human before her. "Child?" Was her ineloquent response.

Jace's expression tightened, as he coughed up more blood. The vital fluid running down his face he responded, "I said, how do I kill it. If I'm going to die, I am damn well going to do it on my terms. Now, how do you kill this thing." Jace was not going to lie down and die. If he was doomed to die here, it would not be in vain. He was going to take down the thing that was killing him and nothing would stop him.

Her eyes opened for the first time since Jace had arrived. They were pure orbs of glowing gold. A smile, neither sad nor bitter, graced her face. She laughed. It was rich, amused, and in some strange way uplifting. When she stopped Jace was left just staring at her, wondering what had come over the golden eyed woman. "Ah. When was the last time I heard such foolish talk? I wonder is this what my old friend meant when she spoke of the potential of humanity?" She said amusedly.

"What are you talking about?" Jace questioned in confusion. He shook his head a moment later. "Never mind. You still haven't answered the question."

The golden eyed woman nodded in confirmation. "Indeed. There is a way. After all this time this Ancient One is dormant enough to subsume into the void. But I cannot do it alone. Nor can you. It will take both of us. But you will still die. In far worse agony than now. And it is no guarantee. If you are not strong enough it will fail. Do you wish to proceed?" The question hung in the air.

"I do." Jace affirmed without hesitation. If he was going to die anyways, he might as well give it a shot.

"Very good. Now entrust yourself to me." The golden eyed woman reached out her hand towards Jace. He reached out and grasped the appendage.

"Brace yourself. You must endure till the end. Otherwise, it will all be for naught." She warned.

Jace nodded with conviction.

The golden eyed woman gave one last sincere smile. Her eyes flashed.

Then, Jace's world was pain. Pure and utter pain.

He couldn't move. He could scarcely breathe. Every nerve was alight with agony. He didn't even feel himself fall to the ground. Yet despite the agony coursing through his body, he felt something else.

Power. He felt a raging dam of energy flood his being, like the sun was being forced into every inch of his body. It was intoxicating. If Jace had been capable of coherent thought, he would have wondered if this was what the power of a deity felt like. He probably would have realized it was that power that was causing the intense agony in him.

Jace endured. It was the only way to put it. He did not grit his teeth. He did not scream in pain. He simply endured. For what felt like an eternity Jace endured. He endured until he finally felt too weak to hold onto the golden eyed woman's hand.

His grasp nearly slipped and with it his life.

But something flashed before Jace's eyes. A woman's face. It was not the face of the golden eyed woman. No. It was a far more familiar face to Jace Armell. A sad, pleading face. He heard a voice whisper to him, though no one spoke. The voice was purely in his head, and it was not the golden eyed woman.

The voice whispered only one word to Jace. Fight. Jace's eyes flew open. His grip on the golden eyed woman tightened. He endured again.

Another eternity passed.

Then. It was finally over.

() (Unknown Place, March 20th?, 2024)

She had never expected to meet another sentient being after all this time. Especially not a human. She had resigned herself to isolation with the only company being her charge. The Ancient One though was poor company. It tended not to have much conversational skill. Still, this was a fate she had chosen for herself.

But it was still nice to have company, if even for just a brief respite. Imagine her surprise when the child of man was determined to lay low the Ancient One. What absurdity! Yet. It was a moving sentiment, that foolishness. How could she not be moved after witnessing such determination. She finally understood the pride her old friend took in watching over humanity. They were truly full of potential. It reminded her of the old days. Back when they had taken up the mission she was about to fulfill at long last.

So, she offered a chance. Nothing more than the slimmest of chances. But the child of man, took it anyway, knowing the consequences. Now though, he would need to prove his medal. She would do her part; he would have to do his.

It was glorious. How Jace Armell struggled with all his might. How he endured even as she siphoned off his life force. How he managed to withstand the divine might that surged in his veins, even as it should have burnt him out. She knew not what motivated him so, but when it seemed he was spent, he clung on even tighter for the few crucial seconds to finish the ritual.

It took nearly every scrap of what he was, but they succeeded.

The Ancient One began to fade. It's ability to sustain its own existence overcome by their combined might. Granted it had been weakened substantially, to near dormancy already. But it had been defeated at last.

She smiled as she observed the Ancient One merge with her old friends' realm. At last, it was over.

Well, not yet. One last task awaited her.

The golden eyed woman looked down to the corpse of Jace Armell. His body had turned into a withered husk. He was unquestionably dead. Yet the soul still lingered. It was the last moments before final departure to the realms of the dead.

A compassionate smile formed on her face. She reached out not with her hands, but with her Authority. It was not the true purpose of her divinity, but it was within her capabilities. She gently cusped the soul of Jace Armell. She cradled the tiny thing. It was weary, but still reacted to her metaphysical touch. She smiled, even in death this child of man would not lie still.

She did not have to do this. She could simply let Jace Armell rest. That way she could reclaim her place on the earth. It was the easiest option. But it was not the sincere one. Jace Armell deserved better, she thought to herself. He had helped her fulfill her ambition. No. The dream of her and her friends. He deserved another chance. And while she could not grant it, she knew someone that might be able to.

She could already feel her old friend frantically searching about for the disturbance they had just made. All she needed to do was light the way.

One last surge of power from the old golden eyed deity. A small link was formed. Just as she was going to say the greeting, she had long hoped to give… she was spoken over.

"I CAN'T BELIVE YOU'RE STILL IN EXISTENCE! I THOUGHT YOU HAD PERISHED!" The voice was jubilant. Not to mention loud.

She had to suppress a chuckle; her old friend was still excitable as ever. Sensing another overwhelming burst, she made her move fast. "It's good to see you as well old friend. Now please, just listen." She begged.

The other speaker seemed to choke on her words, before saying "Okay. Go ahead." Her tone was still happy but restrained. Slightly.

"I will soon be joining our comrades. But before I do, I need to send this child to you." The golden eyed deity spoke seriously. "His name is Jace Armell. Please do what you can for him, he aided me in sending off the Ancient One you sensed."

The voice paused before responding, the speaker was unsure of how to proceed. When they finally spoke, it was of equal measures of pride… and remorse. "I understand. Thank you. For… everything." Another pause. "Was he truly instrumental in slaying the Ancient One?"

The golden eyed deity smiled proudly, though she wondered at her friend's choice of words. Slaying? Though she did not let it dominate her thoughts. "Yes. He was magnificent. I see now what you spoke of when you mentioned the potential of humanity."

Her friend's tone became more proud and less remorseful as she said the following. "I… I set up a system for humans. If he really did what you said, I can help him live again. He'll… live, live as a champion!"

The term meant nothing to her. She did know what a champion was. The golden eyed deity did not understand, but she trusted her friend. If she had not, she would not have come this far in the first place. "That sounds wonderful. I entrust him to you, old friend."

The other speaker did not respond right away. It took a few seconds, and when she did it was a tearful response. "I promise, I'll take good care of him. I don't know his fate, but it'll be one worthy of you. Please don't worry, I'll see too everything."

The golden eyed deity sighed in relief, her task near done. She strengthened the link to her old friend. She gently pushed the soul of Jace Armell through the link. When she felt her old friend take custody of Jace Armell's soul she smiled beautifully.

"Thank you, old friend. I'll miss you." The golden eyed deity said with the utmost sincerity.

The other speaker responded, her voice quavering, as if she was about to cry. "I'll… miss you too."

The golden eyed deity began to fade, her final task done, and her strength exhausted. "Goodbye. Pandora." She said gently.

"Goodbye. Elpis." Pandora sobbingly reciprocated.

With that the golden eyed deity melded into the realm of her old friends.

() (Unknown Realm, March 20th?, 2024)

Pandora wanted to cry. She so desperately wanted to cry. After untold millennia one of her cherished friends had reached out to her. Only to announce her own end. It was a cruel joke. One that was all too unfunny. It stung into the depths of her immortal heart.

Yet despite the sorrow afflicting her, she did not wail. Her family would not have judged her for such a thing. Pandora would have judged herself for doing so. Crying here would mean everything she, they, had sacrificed for had been for nothing.

No.

She would not invalidate the path they had taken. Pandora steeled herself. She had a duty to see too.

Her expression turned gentle as she looked down on the son of man in her embrace. He was currently a pitiful thing. A small dimly glowing sphere. Dead, with his soul barely held together by her Authority, and helpless. But that was alright. He wouldn't be that way for long.

"It's okay now, I've got you." She cooed, at Jace's soul. To her delight, the son of man's ethereal soul leaned into her embrace. She knew it was an instinctive response too rather than an intentional one, but it warmed her immortal heart all the same.

She chose to savor this moment, as experience told her too. Her chosen rarely visited her, fewer still reciprocated her affection. But that was alright. She was their mother all the same. Her love was doled out regardless of if they recognized her as such. So great was her love for her chosen children.

Jace for his part was only passingly aware of what was occurring. He had died, and his soul had been reduced to a mere scrap of its former self. The only thing remaining from his tribulation prior was a small part of him. A stubborn part that refused to give up. Why? That fragment of Jace Armell remembered. A single memory, the one that had given him the strength to nearly obliterate himself in order to achieve victory. Of a woman's sad, pleading face.

Pandora continued to speak to Jace even though he could not respond. "You did so well Jace, I'm proud of you. You've more than earned this reward." A melancholic expression overtook Pandora. "Forgive me, my son. This curse will be your fate. But I promise for all the hardship, it will be worth the sacrifice and hurt." Pandora gently caressed the sole remaining piece of Jace Armell's existence.

Pandora breathed in deeply before speaking. When she did it was not with the cuteness she had before. Now, it was with authority and might. "Let it be known, I, Pandora, the compassionate one, the fool who brought forth the greatest calamity, and a single ray of hope in the darkness; declare this child to be my new son."

Pandora gently smiled upon the fragment of Jace's soul. While it was not cognizant of what Pandora said, it was capable of reacting to the warmth and love she was radiating. Jace's soul gleamed just a little brighter.

"Everyone present your blessing and your hatred onto this child. The one who dared to overturn the wheel of fate. He, who dared to slay the divine. He shall be reborn as the newest of the God-Slaying Kings, the seventh Demon-King. He shall bear an unknowable fate, the only assurance being chaos! Please bestow the sacred Words of Power upon this child."

Upon Pandora's words, a massive bellow blared across the realm. It was more than sound; it was raw primal emotion given voice. An ocean of mindless rage, lakes of curiosity, rivers of desire, and a few drops of joy. It was unnatural, no force in nature should have been able to create such a sound. An eternal proclamation of battle, bloodshed and strife. The sheer intensity of the roar should have been enough to snuff out the pitiful fragment of Jace Armell. Whilst in Pandora's embrace though, no harm could come to him, not now, nor when he returned for his final rest.

"Epimetheus, Prometheus." Pandora called out to the surrounding emptiness. Two shimmering veils quivered in the space adjacent to Pandora. Out of the veils, stepped figures from a bygone era. Giants. The figures were giants, standing at least four meters tall each. One was a mass of muscle, a living mountain. The other was far leaner, sculpted like a Grecian statue. Aside from their size they heavily resembled humans. As they neared closer to Pandora they shrunk down, to less giant proportions, roughly 2.4m(8ft).

The muscular giant kneeled beside Pandora on her left, dwarfing her much smaller frame. He reached out one meaty paw towards the ethereal Jace. He probed at the scrap of Jace's soul. His touch was gentle despite his massive size and great strength. Epimetheus spoke, "So, this is the one who defied all odds. What a sight to behold it must have been. If only I could have witnessed, it myself." His voice was strong, first and foremost. Second, it was full of fatherly pride.

The leaner giant kneeled beside Pandor as well, settling on her right. His well-formed hand reached out toward Jace as well, though he did not grasp Jace's remaining hand. Instead, it rose to hover over the center of Jace's soul. "Just by the skin of his teeth brother. Anymore and his soul would have been consumed utterly. I wonder what drove him to such lengths." Prometheus commented, his voice eloquent and refined.

Pandora proudly smiled down at Jace, saying "Who knows. What matters is that he accomplished something we thought impossible. After all, what other human can claim to have defeated one of the Elders."

"Indeed. Never in all our days did I ever imagine a child of man would achieve such a feat." Epimetheus chuckled with mirth, a wide grin on his face. "He'll make a fine son."

Prometheus frowned, his expression was serious in comparison to his siblings. "Speaking of such matters… do you truly intend to go through with the ritual?" He questioned.

Pandora's lips smoothed into a thin line, her happiness calming down. "Yes." Was her firm reply.

"Are you sure of this dear sister? This child, his feat aside, received a great deal of help. Can we truly call this defiance? Or was it at the command of another. Is he worthy of our Contract? Will he uphold it?" Prometheus cautioned.

Pandora said nothing for a while. She had to acknowledge the points Prometheus was making. She had not witnessed the event; the location had been unknown to her. She could not just bend the rules, because she felt like it. There were reasons for the rules. Very good reasons.

When she finally spoke, her voice was filled with unshakeable resolve. "I won't let her sacrifice be for nothing. She told me he fought like a warrior. I trust her. He'll fight, fight like the champion he is."

Epimetheus smiled at the hope Pandora fostered. It was the same belief that had enchanted him so long ago. If she was this determined, how could he not support his love. "There you have it brother. You know there's no dissuading her when she's dead set like this."

Prometheus sighed, but it was in a good naturedly way. "No need to make me feel like the villain, brother. I'm only providing the voice of reason." The lean giant smiled; the expression laced with a hint of mockery. "Something you two forget in its entirety all too often." Prometheus nodded in acquiescence, "Very well, dear sister. I shall not object to his adoption, into our little 'family'."

"Good. Then let's begin." Pandora commanded.

The three deities channeled their respective Authorities, but not just any Authorities. These were Authorities shared between the three of them, intertwined and nigh inseparable. It had taken eons to cultivate such bonds between their divinity, but it was necessary. No single one of them could hope, even as deities as powerful as they were individually, to perform this High Art alone. But together they could perform a miracle. Such was the system they had wrought so long ago.

"By the forbidden art we left behind, this is the sacred birth of an illegitimate child, shrouded in darkness, born of a witch and a fool, nurtured by a wiseman. A secret rite of usurpation made possible only through the sacrifice of a deity." These were Pandora's Words of Power, an invocation of divine might. She did not need to say them; she chose to say them. This was a rare ceremony, one that deserved solemness. It was only right. Afterall, she was placing the greatest burden of all on this scion of humanity.

As for what they actually did… Jace's soul the weak pitiful thing it was, soon was no longer weak nor pitiful. It grew, grew till it was the size of Pandora herself. It wavered with pure, raw energy. It no longer glowed; it shone. Shone as bright as a blazing sun. This was the soul of a God-Slaying King.

But what good was a soul, even one so powerful, without a vessel to inhabit?

"This illegitimate child has struck down the calamity, ushering forth hope. By this rite of usurpation, we grant them the divine essence of the sacrifice. May they bear the strength to right the old sins." These were Epimetheus's Words of Power, his part of the system they put in place for this very moment.

Inexplicably, something began coalescing between the three deities. It should have been impossible, for it defied the laws of physics. But that was what an Authority was in essence. Superiority to the mundane laws of matter and energy. An Authority surpassed it all. Therefore, when the body of Jace Armell was crafted anew it was only a miracle, rather than an impossible dream. The body lay on the formless terrain of the realm it inhabited. Only the head lay elsewhere, cradled in Pandora's lap. The diminutive deity placed her hands on either side of Jace Armell's soul, and gently guided his soul down to its new vessel. The shining orb, seamlessly transitioned into its vessel. A moment after, the body's chest rose and fell.

Jace Armell was alive once more. But this ritual was not over yet. One last part had yet to be played.

"Forbidden knowledge was the undoing; forbidden knowledge shall be the path of salvation. My students shall reclaim the throne that was lost so long ago. The Grand Contract is their birthright; the earth their domain." Finally, Prometheus' Words of Power. The last step in this forbidden rite. The soul and the body had been prepared, prepared for this moment.

Divinity in its rawest form manifested in the sky. It was a maelstrom. A chaotic stew of raw power. Prometheus reached out for this maelstrom. The deity beckoned. The maelstrom answered. It flowed down to his waiting palm, swirling in pure chaos. It did not want to obey the command. It wanted to rage freely. But between Pandora, Epimetheus, and Prometheus, they forced it to obey. The raw divinity began condensing, taking on definition.

It took the form of a roaring flame. Fire of a primal earth, of a bygone era. That was what coalesced in Prometheus's hand. That was what he compelled into Jace Armell. It slowly sunk into Jace, until the divine essence was completely subsumed into his existence.

At last, the [Rite of Usurpation] was complete.

Pandora smiled fondly down at her new son. She leaned down to place a kiss on his brow. "Go forth Jace Armell, go forth and set right the wrongs of old. But please remember two things. We love you no matter what. And when it's finally time, we'll be waiting here to welcome you with open arms. Now go." She said with the love of a mother.

Jace's body flashed with an overwhelming light, then he was gone. Back to the waking world.

Thus, the Seventh Campione ascended the throne.

() (An island in Greek territory, March 6th, 2024)

Thunder rumbled in the dark sky. Flashes of lightning interspersed from between the cumulonimbus clouds. The air flew in great gusts above a remote island. And two gods dueled across the earth below.

One, a brilliantly shining youth.

The other, a tall woman wreathed in purple darkness.

The youth wore simple linen robes, ones without any sense of splendidness. He was divinely handsome though, his features impossibly fine, hauntingly perfect. A god.

The woman on bore an immaculate, white chiton of the finest silk. In her hair was a wreath of purple flowers. She was a beauty, her features much like the youth were impossible for a human, she was too perfect. A goddess.

It was not the beauty of the other they were fixed on, though. Each were fixated on the wounds they had received and dealt in turn. The youth's body had a long bleeding gash going from shoulder to stern. The woman had one arm hanging limply, the arm twisted in a painful angle. Both were suffering from the pain of their respective wounds.

The hale youth was smiling, as if pleased by the current situation. The beautiful woman on the other hand was scowling, far less thrilled than the hale youth. Both gods were assessing the situation. Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of their opponent. Determining their next course of action.

The goddess's serpentine purple-amethyst eyes glowed with a dark light. She spoke, and the world listened. Or rather, it obeyed her command. Darkness, pure and utter darkness, overtook the world. The darkness overtook the light filtering through the clouds, until nothing remained but an utter pitch-black emptiness. This was an Authority. The power, the essence, the concept of Divinity. The goddess's Authority in this case was one that brought forth the Old Night. An era of old, one now only dreamed of in man's nightmares. A time before mankind discovered the power of fire, where once the sun set, man was a helpless creature who huddled in the dark, terrified of all the horrors that lurked in the folds of that dark. That was what the goddess of [Darkness] had ushered forth.

The god, unlike a man, was not fazed by this return of an old horror. He smiled, even as the light emanating from his frame was consumed by the darkness leaving him without sight. This was nothing for him. For this, this was one of the evil's he was meant to combat and defeat.

The god spoke, then there was light. A brilliant, grossly incandescent light. The light burned away the darkness, wherever its rays met the emptiness. The Old Night was forced away as the concept of the [Dawn] and [Light] was restored. The center of this light was the [Sun]. It hung not in the sky, but hovered over the earth, blazing away with its illuminating rays. It took not the form of a sphere but a stallion. The [Stallion] was magnificent, a wonderous god-like visage.

The goddess took sight of the [Stallion] and knew what had to be done. Her scythe was brought to the fore then… transmuted. The weapon made of shadows changed forms, losing its concept as a weapon, and instead gaining new attributes of defense. A shield or rather an aegis. The aegis bore the face of a terrible snake haired woman. The goddess braced her aegis not a second too soon. The [Stallion] reared up, letting loose a celestial cry, then it charged. At the speed of light.

The [Stallion] crashed into the aegis. The goddess was not pushed back, as the impact was a metaphysical one rather than a material one. One based in the opposing forces of their divinity, a battle of concepts. Regardless, the goddess gritted her teeth, as she resisted the immense power behind the [Stallion]. She knew failure to do so would very likely mean defeat. The [Stallion, the god in solar form, was still sentient, and able to understand the situation. It redoubled its efforts, intensifying the assault on the goddess' aegis. The goddess poured more divine power into the aegis, desperately attempting to resist the inexorable force. Then as suddenly as the clash had begun, it ended.

The goddess's eyes widened, wondering where the power of her foe had gone. She found out a moment later when she felt a strong force applied to her aegis once again. But instead of it being directed toward her, it was applied upwards. The aegis was thrust above her head, it was then she saw the god. He was back in the form of the [Youth, and his hands were raised above his head, the position from where he'd shoved her aegis upwards. A vicious smile on this face, he took one step forward towards the goddess, then unleashed a heavy blow.

Unable to dodge in time, the goddess was forced to take the blow directly. It landed on her lower ribcage, shattering her divine bones. The god followed up with two more blows, each one just as punishing as the first one. The goddess was launched backwards from the force of the last blow, careening through the air. When she finally stopped, the goddess was lying face down on the ground. A normal human would have been done after that. Unable to continue, not after taking that kind of punishment. The goddess was not a human though, she was an immortal, one renowned for battle. While not a God of Steel, she was still tough, and she refused to lie down her and admit defeat. So, she rose, as fast as her battered body would allow. To her surprise she was not assailed during this period of vulnerability. It would have been an opportune time to attack, especially if the god wished to end her.

Yet the god remained where he was. Seemingly content to wait. The goddess noted the patient expression the god bore and scowled. She knew he was toying with her now. He could have won right away if he had followed up. Instead, he was letting her recover, so he could enjoy the battle further. The goddess did not like to be toyed with. It was an insult she would not tolerate.

Her eyes flashed again, another Authority coming to the fore. If the god was so patient she would ensure his patience lasted an eternity; as stone. The god's smile fell as he felt the goddess's Authority begin its work. He lost sensation in his toes, then the rest of his feet. It was a slow process, as the god's own divine protection worked against [Eye of the Medusa]. But the petrification was taking hold. Even the fertile ground beneath the [Youth]'s feet, was turning to grey stone. The goddess admonished the god, telling him his arrogance would be put to an end today.

The god cast his head down… then lifted in in uproarious laughter. A face that could only be called maniac, the god's expression was one of something beyond the edge of sanity. The god lifted his right arm to the heavens. In his open palm, it manifested. A splendid golden sword. It was a long as the god was tall and just as wide. It was beautiful, a creation beyond the abilities of mankind to produce. It was this gleaming [Golden Sword] that the god thrust down into the earth, now stone, directly beneath him.

The creation of divine power then did something wonderous. It rebuked the goddess's enchantment. The petrification of the earth was undone, or rather it was annulled. The [Golden Sword] then performed its work on the god himself, restoring his divine body from the stone. The god flexed, swinging his weapon and incarnation with ease. He spoke to the goddess, praising her efforts. The hale, youth told her she was a splendid opponent and that he was grateful to meet her in battle. The goddess took the praise cooly, analyzing the Authority that had disrupted her own. She was a Goddess of Wisdom, given time she could use divine intuition to gain knowledge of anything. She'd been doing so since the beginning of this fight. She already knew her opponent by this point, so she rapidly gained knowledge on the [Golden Sword].

The knowledge she gained was not comforting. This would be a troublesome aspect of the god to deal with. Even worse than the [Stallion]'s shining light. She could not outright defeat this ability, no. It was one that would merely tear apart any assault made of divinity thrown against it. She needed an opening, one to allow her to slip past the guard of the youth.

The god though would not grant this. He soared threw the air, [Golden Sword] in hand, and began his assault on the goddess.

The two entered what was to be the final clash of their battle.

The god and goddess acquitted themselves well. Each struggled for victory. One to draw out the full breath of his opponent's capability, for his own enjoyment. The other, too bring defeat to her foe, shatter that arrogance that had led to this battle. But there could only be one victor. Only one could emerge triumphant.

That victor was the hale, youth. The god succeeded in driving the goddess into a corner. Severing her divinity piece by piece, he advanced until he could reach her. He brought forth the [Golden Sword]. In a mighty slash he carved the goddess from shoulder to hip. The goddess fell to her knees, exhausted from their bout and the injuries sustained. The god brought his sword up high, an executioner's chop to deal the final blow.

He brought the sword down, onto the goddess's delicate neck.

The sword sliced through her divine flesh with ease, severing her head from her neck. The goddess's head fell to the earth below. It bounced, rolled a little, then lay still. The god brought his sword to his side, as he examined his handiwork. The goddess had been slain, that was irrefutable. But something was amiss. Her body had yet to fall, still kneeling upon the ground. That and the god's instincts for battle were telling him it wasn't quite over yet.

The god realized the truth of the situation when two large snakes sprouted from the neck of the corpse. The snakes latched themselves onto the god, biting and constricting him. They bound the god, keeping him in place, binding themselves tighter to his frame. The god felt the venom rapidly spread into his veins. The venom sapped his strength, making it easier for the snakes to hold him in place.

The corpse of the goddess dissolved into wispy shadows. In its place was a maiden, a young thing, appearing no older than a child of twelve summers. The maiden was panting, her expression was one of exhaustion. This was the goddess, albeit in a weaker form compared to her complete self. A product of suffering a mortal wound at the hands of the divinity severing sword and her hasty resurrection.

The god looked upon the maiden and understood what had happened. He frowned, evidently displeased by the situation. The god struggled to free himself of the snakes. They held fast though, resisting his efforts. The goddess, still recovering, took heed of the situation. It was a perilous one. She swiftly assessed her options. One, she could wait for the venom of her snakes to kill the god; it would work. But would it be fast enough? Two, she could flee. If she ran right now the maiden could evade the god. Doing so would allow her to rest, recover her full strength, and then come back more prepared. Those were her only two options that were feasible. Which one?

The god answered the question for the maiden. The god released his [Golden Sword, switching to another Authority. Power swelled in the god's frame, saturating every ounce of his body. The god flexed and this time the snake's nor their venom could keep him still. He crossed his arms, each of his hands reaching out for the head of a snake.

As the god struggled to get free the goddess understood. The battle was over for her. She could not hope to win as she was now, not with this particular opponent. Therefore, she chose to withdraw while she could still. It stung her pride, but there was nothing else she could do. Any further continuance of the fight would merely lead to her demise on the mortal plain. She hurried, her divinity so raw and tender, protested, but she forced it regardless.

Just in time as well. The god crushed the heads of the snakes just as a portal of shadows opened behind the goddess. The maiden goddess gave one last look promising vengeance to the god. Then she stumbled into her portal on shaky limbs. The god, free of the constriction, saw the goddess begin to flee. He could have pursued. He might have caught her if he tried. He chose not to. The god had already achieved victory, with the goddess retreating. Chasing her down was less a warrior's victory and more the style of a butcher.

Besides he thought, next time she would be more prepared, for their inevitable rematch. It would be glorious. The anticipation brought a smile to his face. Now though what to do? Even as he basked in the glow of victory, he was craving the next fight. One that would fulfill his desire to experience defeat. A battle that would satiate his [Heresy].

The youth looked toward the sky, as he pondered. The sky. The sky? Ah, yes! That would do splendidly the youth thought. The sky was a perfect choice. Which one though? Which one could possibly dethrone him as the strongest?

A particular figure came to mind. The youth pondered on that figure for a moment. Would he fight? The answer was yes. His pride would allow nothing less if he was invoked. His might was known to the hale, youth. It had been might that had shaken the Mediterranean in its time. Excellent, excellent! It would be a great battle, one that could possibly bring him defeat. With his opponent in mind, the god set out. It would take some preparation, but it would be all too easy for the youth. Afterall, the target of his battle lust, would do half the work. He just needed to prepare the site of battle and offer challenge.

The Heretic God smiled as he took off, his divine mind full of thoughts of the battle to come.

It was because of this; he never noticed the faintly glowing object left behind at the site of battle. It was a small circular stone carving. One bearing on its face a form not dissimilar to the goddess that had been forced to flee. The eyes of the stone façade glowed with a purplish light. The earth below it flattened out, forming a depression. The stone sigil rolled as its support from the earth fell away. It rolled till it reached the bottom of the depression, landing in the sea below.

The stone sigil followed the currents, not ones of water, but of magic. The leylines of the earth or dragon veins as many magi called them. It followed them to a distant shore. By the time it reached that shore, days had passed. There it would remain, waiting for someone to find it.

()