As the group hesitated at the threshold of the metropolis, the air around
them thickened with an unseen weight. The city's towering structures loomed like silent
sentinels, their crystalline surfaces reflecting fractured images of the travelers. The
guardians, standing resolute before them, awaited Hermes' decision.
Hermes steadied herself. The remnants of the Prophet Elvatorr's power still pulsed
within her, urging her forward, yet the magnitude of the moment was undeniable. Talus
meanwhile was stirring, Ungar shouted: "Look at the hospital! We need to get Talus
treated as soon as possible!" The group landed at the hospital and after a quick check up
Talus was admitted into the hospital. Everyone else showed up in the waiting room, Uvia
announced: "I have several more of your friends here." They were Mozi: the purple
intannaned alien, Guan-Fu the slug alien, Red Ace and Green Wisp. The Green Wisp for his part announced: "Walahi, that Talus is as headstrong as always, the creep deserves
what he gets." Ungar shouted: "Hey don't put all the blame on him, we're all at fault with
this!" Red Ace for his part asked Green Wisp if he wanted to find a good barber shop in
the area. Mozi replied: "He should be fine, I heard about the parasite. Now that the
impurity is dealt with he should recover in no time." Guan Fu stated: "Indeed, the balance
in his heart though conceited is open to the void. It should make it easier for his body to
recover." Zaiyal said: "Hopefully he learns something from all this." Out of nowhere a
loud voice was heard screaming it was Demi: "TALUS???!!!! TALUS?????!!!! What
happened to Talus!!!! WHERE IS HE?????!!!!" Zaiyal, Guan-Fu, Red Ace, Green
Wisp, Mozi and Narcis Martreya, stood there like shaking leaves as they were torn
down like bowling pins as Demi crashed into them to get to Ungar. "Ungar?! What
happened to Talus, is he okay???!!!" Ungar shrugged: "He's fine, he's in that hospital
room: Room 502." Demi surged into the room. Zaiyal rubbed his head: "The bastard got
at least one person to care."
Demi began to harass the doctor as Ungar began to speak about what was going to
happen next. "Listen I know a man that will help Hermes train and hone her Avatar and
Prophetic abilities. His name is Zaldor. But we need to use our time here valuablly. This
is not a vacation. And the threat looms over us like a nightmare. We need to all be ready."
Meanwhile, back in the Imperial Qatari officer's quarters, back in the present the
Imperial Officer continued to question Nova. "Excuse me, what does this have to do with
your treason? We all commend you for helping Prophet Hermes deal with the Gnosis and
the Old God but that doesn't wipe clean your crimes against the Empire and its "Meta
Program." Talus took a deep breath and inhaled his cigarette, blowing out a puff of
smoke. He looked out at the beautiful scenery: "You know If I succeeded and I had
become God, the world would undoubtedly have become a better place. But I guess I
need to put my faith in this upstart Prophet. But even still, imagine if I were God, I would
end all wars, universal hunger, the next stage would be to go from world to world and end
all suffering. But I guess I tried and failed, thankfully I'm blessed that my daughter and
all her friends have forgiven me but even still... It's clear to me that indeed God is not
good, he is very bad and he should have been overthrown long ago." The Imperial
slammed his fist on the table, "Is this your poor excuse, you took part in treason against
the Empire because you wanted to play God." Nova took another swipe of his cigarette:
In the Bible it says: "You shall put no other gods before me." That's a command from
God in Exodus 20:3. I'm an atheist so I never bought such nonsense. The Muhammadan
Qur'an says: "Allah - there is no Creator except him - he is the All-Powerful,
All-Sustainer," that's in Ayat Al-Kursi." Nova breathed in, "you know I named my daughter 'Qayyim,' after a famous 14th century Muslim scholar of the Sunni Hanbali
tradition named Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya (d. 1350), he was the
student of another famous Sunni Hanbali Imam of the Athari tradition named Ibn
Taymiyya. Ibn al-Qayyim once said: "Allah (God) has made patience the means for
attaining His love, His companionship, His help and support, and His good rewards. This
is suf icient honour and blessings." - In his work Patience and Guidance.
I've always
thought Ibn Qayyim was a great intellectual but I've never been the patient type. Others
like the 19th century Danish Lutheran Christian thinker Søren Kierkegaard (d. 1855),
who defended Christianity and Christian metaphysics spoke to me personally when he
said: "In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate
confidant... My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known — no wonder, then,
that I return the love," from his work Either/Or: A Fragment of Life. I've always been a
very depressed man, Commissar, I read that's all I did, I read Nietzsche, Plato, Aristotle,
Confucius, Al-Ghazali, Socrates, Schopenhauer, etc., I found solace in books. But living
in an imperfect world with an impatient mind. I'm afraid it is too much to bear." The
Commissar was about to blow a gasket, "Get to the point, traitor!" Nova exhaled another
long plume of smoke, his gaze fixed on the cityscape outside. He tapped his cigarette
against the ashtray, the embers smoldering like the remnants of forgotten ambitions. "The
point, Commissar?" he muttered. "The point is that I spent my entire life looking for
answers—through power, through philosophy, through war. And what did I find? A
universe run by indifferent gods and cruel men. You call it treason, I call it an attempt to
finally fix this broken reality. I've learned it is wrong to replace God and I will no longer
try to take his role, but I set out to destroy God, and therefore I guess I'll go off with this
Prophet in her mission to convert all the atheists and disbelievers, and for a time we have
similar or at least interest that are not immediately at odds."
The Imperial Commissar's patience wore thin. His clenched fists trembled against
the table. "You are a man of incredible greed, Nova," Nova exhaled another long plume
of smoke, his gaze fixed on the cityscape outside. He tapped his cigarette against the
ashtray, the embers smoldering like the remnants of forgotten ambitions. "The point,
Commissar?" he muttered. "The point is that I spent my entire life looking for
answers—through power, through philosophy, through war. And what did I find? A
universe run by indifferent gods and cruel men. You call it treason, I call it an attempt to
finally fix this broken reality. But know this..., you're entire world will be conquered by
this Prophet, watch your entire empire and Federation rolled back like sand receding on a
coastline, you're days are numbered, your state will soon lose all authority, for you,
underestimate the power of religion, if you try to kill her, the movement will only grow
stronger" The Imperial Commissar's patience wore thin. His clenched fists trembled against the interrogation table.
"You are a man of wasted potential, Nova," he spat. "A
scholar, a warrior, a leader—you could have been great, yet you chose to betray your own
kind. You speak of gods and justice, but your actions speak only of arrogance. You
wished to play God, but you are no Prophet, and certainly no savior." Nova chuckled, low
and bitter. "No, I'm not. But neither is your Empire, no matter how much you all pretend
to be. You cling to order as if it is righteousness, yet your 'Meta Program' is just another
leash around the neck of free will. You wanted gods? You wanted a prophecy? Well,
you've got one now." He smirked, flicking his cigarette onto the cold metal table. "Her
name is Hermes, and whether you like it or not, she's going to change everything." The
Commissar leaned forward, his dark eyes burning with barely restrained fury. "Then why
are you here? If you truly believe in this so-called Prophet, then why did you fight her,
you live streamed the battle yourself, why do you sit in chains before me, answering for
your crimes like a common traitor?" Nova smiled—a slow, knowing expression that sent
a chill through the room. "Because unlike you, I understand something vital," he said, his
voice almost amused. "Revolutions are never clean. They require sacrifices, mistakes,
and, yes, even traitors. But tell me, Commissar, if your Empire is so righteous, why does
it fear one girl so much?" The room fell silent. The Commissar's jaw tensed, but he did
not answer.
Meanwhile, returning to the past, back in the hospital, Talus stirred in his bed, his
fingers twitching against the sheets. His dreams were filled with echoes—whispers of
ancient beings, fragments of war, and visions of a battle yet to come. In the waking
world, Hermes stood outside his door, lost in thought. She could still feel the remnants of
Elvatorr's power coursing through her veins, an undeniable force that refused to fade.
Zaiyal and Ungar approached her, their expressions solemn. "Demi's still in there making
a scene," Zaiyal muttered, rubbing his temples. "That girl's louder than an exploding
star." Ungar ignored him. His gaze was fixed on Hermes. "We don't have much time," he
said. "Zaldor is expecting us, and if you're going to master your Avatar ability, you need
to start now." Hermes hesitated. She had spent her entire life trying to understand her
place in the universe, and now, in the span of days, everything had changed. She was no
longer just a warrior—she was something more, something ancient, something meant to
reshape the course of history. She exhaled. "Then let's go," she said. Before they could
go, Uvia said "take this one with you." Uvia was followed by a short Dark Elf with dark
hair and red eyes about 5 '4 or 5' 5 and a red cape. "This is "Barabbas," he's a dark elf
and a strong warrior. I chose him to be an asset to your team, he'll stay behind to make
sure Demi is under control while taking care of Talus." Ungar replied: "As long as Narcis
stays with them." Uvia nodded. A flashback appeared in Barabbas's mind. Uvia said:
"Now remember, your job is to keep an eye on Talus, if all works well when this threat is dealt with he might be swayed to join the forces of the Demon Realm. He could be a
powerful ally."
Barabbas agreed but he was more concerned long term with becoming a
demon king himself. After this had occurred Demi stormed out of the room: "How can
you be so calm about this?! Talus is in serious trouble?!" She paused for a second:
"Barabbas what are you doing here?" Barabbas confessed: "To make sure you don't lose
yourself." Demi stuck her tongue out at him: "Well stop I'm your god aren't I?" Uvia
interrupted: "He will, I ordered him too." Demi was distraught but turned around: "You
guys aren't going anywhere until Talus gets better!!"
She heard Talus murmuring in his sleep and quickly went back to take care of him.
The hospital room was quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of the monitors. Talus's
fingers twitched against the sheets, his mind caught in a storm of memories and visions.
He saw flashes of battles, celestial beings locked in cosmic conflict, and a great shadow
looming over the horizon. His breathing quickened as the images became clearer, more
vivid. Outside his door, Hermes stood still, deep in thought. Zaiyal and Ungar flanked
her, their expressions serious. "We need to move," Ungar said again, his voice firm.
"Every second we waste, we lose ground."Hermes exhaled, her hands tightening into
fists, "right!" After they took off Talus shook in his sleep in a cold sweat. He saw many
different figures: "Ungar, Demi, Sun Wukong, Erlang Shen, Zaiyal, Tatu, and
Hermes," standing like giants over him. He screamed: "Yes I've been waiting so long for
this, I was always the strongest, Lucifer was nothing to me!! But now I stand beneath the
shoulders of giants!! For the first time I rejoice... I am weak." Talus woke up, he saw
Demi resting on the table next to him. "That woman, why did she wait for me? She's an
incredible warrior far stronger than me, why would she waste her time with me?" He
looked forward, and saw Barabbas. "And who are you?" Barabbas said: "I'm Barabbas,
I'm a Dark Elf, to be perfectly frank I've been sent to help you guys out but I wish to be
one of the great demon kings, this is just a means to an end." Talus began to laugh first
quietly and then loudly, which annoyed Barabbas: "What's so god-damned funny?" Talus
grunted: "You are! What a ridiculous dream. You should desire strength for the sake of
strength alone!!" Barabbas huffed: "Uvia, told me you would say that." Talus said: "Look
what it can accomplish." Talus showed a flash of his energy which stunned Barabbas and
brought him to his knees. He said: "Master." Talus was shocked: "MASTER?! What are
you talking about?" Barabbas said: "If I ever want to become a great demon king the only
way is to follow a demon god like you, if you'll have me I promise to consolidate
strength even after I reach my goal as a demon king, even when I accomplish the limits of
my desired power, I will continue to become stronger for the sake of growing stronger
and breaking past my limits." After a long pause Talus said, "I thought no one got it, you
got yourself a deal."
Everyone had returned, Ungar, Hermes, etc. Demi finally woke up, "TALUS
YOU'RE OKAY!!" She hugged him relentlessly, "Get off me woman, get off me this
instant!" said Talus. Demi shouted: "No way you big silly! I'm not letting go of you ever
again, mmmmmmmm." Talus said exhausted: "Damnit, you are impossible!" Zaiyal said:
"What happened with Barabbas, why is he kneeling?" Barabbas exclaimed: "Great news,
Talus agreed to be my Sensei." Ungar chuckled: "Is that so? Well good for you, but you
have a little training of your own to do, Zaldor wants to see you. He has a technique that
will unlock your avatar. He unlocked everyone except you three [meaning Demi, Zaiyal
and Barabbas] two days ago." Talus shouted: "I've been out for two days and you've all
acquired your avatars. Get me out of this bed now! I demand to unlock my potential!"
Hermes crossed her arms. "Then get ready. The real fight hasn't even started yet." Talus
smirked. "Good." Demi, still clinging to him, suddenly shouted, "NO! He's not going
anywhere until he's fully healed!" Talus shouted: "GET OFF ME WOMAN, WE'RE
ALL GOING!" Everyone turned to look at her. Hermes' eye twitched: "Let's just go..."