Mesopotamia, eastern steppes, 5750 B.C.
The Deviant collapsed against the hardened clay. Several gashes ran across its entire body, and blackish blood welled from the corpse. Thena left it there, moving immediately toward the creature that was still retreating. The wind whipped her hair, and the sun beat down on her back. Chasing Deviants made her feel more alive than ever.
Quickening her pace, she closed the distance with her enemy, ready to impale it on her golden spear. A golden bolt pierced the beast's chest, leaving it sprawled on the ground.
—Ikaris —Thena growled.
—We must return —he did not land.
—That was mine —she bared her teeth at him.
Ikaris narrowed his eyes.
—The city is preparing for a siege —he told her. —We have already wasted enough time with your tantrums.
Thena vanished her weapons.
—Fine —she spat.
She began to walk back toward the city.
"I didn't come here to hide behind walls," she grumbled in her thoughts.
She hated all of Ajak's cowardly decisions. They should be killing Deviants, not being worshipped as gods. And Ajak's dog was the worst: Ikaris was like a mindless droid who obeyed loyally. She kicked a rock hard, letting out a grunt. The male Eternal floated behind her, never taking his eyes off her.
—I'm not going to run away —she spoke to him as if to a child.
—Uh-huh —Ikaris didn't move.
Rolling her eyes, Thena kept walking. She kicked the rocks that crossed her path and accelerated her pace to reach the battle.
—Can't you carry us faster? —she complained.
—I could —Ikaris didn't move either.
—They might need us —she commented.
—I trust the brat can handle the worst of the Deviants —he replied dryly.
—Aw… you like the kid —Thena cooed at him with a smirk.
—I admit she is… competent —Ikaris's voice sounded like a gag.
Thena smiled. She was going to continue teasing him, but she heard a dull thud behind her. Turning, she didn't find Ikaris. She summoned a spear and a shield; she squared her feet and lowered her stance. Ikaris fell from the sky in front of her, hitting the ground with violence. His armor was battered and covered in blood.
Then the Deviant arrived. It was almost human… except for its size. It stood at least three yards tall. It floated slowly toward the two Eternals.
—Hello, Thena —it greeted with Gilgamesh's voice.
Thena put herself on guard.
—We don't have to do this, Thena —it spoke with hands raised in a sign of peace.
—I think we do —she bared her teeth.
She leaped over Ikaris, attempting to stab the Deviant's belly. He dodged her attack, charging his fist with yellow energy.
"Like Gilgamesh," she thought.
That second of distraction allowed him to strike her. The Eternal went flying; her fall kicked up clay and grass. Thena tried to get up, but her leg was twisted at an unnatural angle.
—It is regrettable, Ikaris —the Deviant whispered. —We are merely tools of a god, disposable according to his designs.
—How is it that you are intelligent? —Ikaris spat blood.
—I shouldn't be —the creature said. —But we can evolve, can't we?
—Impossible —Ikaris choked.
Thena reset her leg with a jerk. She bit her tongue to keep from screaming.
—Explain this then —with a grimace, its four eyes glowed.
Golden beams pierced Ikaris's chest, and he fell like a rag doll. Appendages sprouted from the Deviant's back; they were like needles with cosmic energy pulsing within them.
—Rest, Ikaris —it said in a low voice. —Be free from the chains.
It drove two appendages into the sides of Ikaris's neck. Instantly, energy flowed out of the Eternal and into the Deviant. The creature had its eyes closed and its mouth half-open. Thena attacked, severing the appendages attached to Ikaris and driving a spear into her aggressor's chest.
—Don't you see I'm trying to free you from your bonds? —it pleaded. —Thena…
Its speech was interrupted by blue arcs impacting its body. They pushed it back while lightning from the sky fell upon it. Perseus landed next to Ikaris and gathered him in his arms.
—Thena —he called with a growl. —To my back.
She limped until she could cling to his neck. Perseus took off, creating a shockwave. Thena felt the wind scrape her eyes and her arms slip. And then, nothing. They had reached the city. In front of the Eanna, the city center, Thena fell as soon as Perseus neared the ground.
—Thena! —Sersi cried from the gate.
She ran toward them with Druig hot on her heels.
—What happened? —she asked Perseus.
Thena's vision was blurry.
—A Deviant with…
She couldn't maintain consciousness, sliding into the blackness of sleep.
Mesopotamia, The Domo, 5750 B.C.
—What Deviant could have done this? —Sersi whispered, running her hands over Ikaris's battered body.
—A tough bastard —Druig replied.
They were in the Domo, watching Ajak treat their companions' wounds. The Eternal leader said nothing, keeping her lips pursed. Thena's wounds were closing slowly; Ikaris was physically recovered, but showed no signs of regaining consciousness.
—Ikaris! —Thena's scream made them all jump.
The blonde sat up, panting heavily. Her head spun from side to side with wide, frantic eyes.
—You are safe, Thena —Ajak said in a maternal tone.
—No —Thena struggled to get out of the medical bed. —He will come…
—Who? —Druig asked.
—I… —Thena hesitated. —He never said his name.
—The Deviant? —Druig snorted. —I didn't know they could talk.
Thena glared at him. Despite not being the target of her wrath, Sersi shuddered.
—There are stories… —Ajak whispered.
Everyone turned to look at her; her jaw was tense. She left the room at a hurried pace, and Sersi followed her, with the others close behind. Ajak entered the control room, straight to the master console. She typed feverishly, scrolling through navigation data and files from other Eternal groups.
—Kro —she said with venom.
—What? —Sersi asked.
—Thena —she called with a hard voice. —Tell me everything that happened.
She obeyed. Sersi listened to how he drove strange appendages into Ikaris's neck and how he seemed to ignore all of Thena's slashes. Sersi gasped when she explained that the creature used the powers of Gilgamesh and Ikaris to defeat them.
—He must have had your powers, Ajak —Druig pointed out. —Thena said her attacks did nothing to him.
Ajak nodded.
—But how? —Sersi demanded in a high-pitched voice.
—He is known as Kro the Hunter —Ajak spat. —He hunts Eternals throughout the cosmos.
Sersi stopped feeling the floor. Her head spun until she saw spots. The words "hunts Eternals throughout the cosmos" made her nauseous.
—How many teams? —Druig seemed to be turning green as he asked.
—At least twelve —Ajak replied, tears welling in her eyes.
The three recoiled as if they had been struck. They said nothing; they couldn't. The silence pressed against Sersi's ears and made her skin crawl. Therefore, when Phastos burst into the Domo, his heavy body echoing in the hallways, the noise was deafening.
—Ajak! —Later she would deny it, but Sersi let out an undignified shriek. —Sprite is running out of ideas!
For a second, Sersi looked at him without understanding.
—Really? —Phastos looked at them incredulously. Then he saw the screen. —What did you find?
—The one who attacked Thena and Ikaris —Druig slid down the wall and buried his head between his knees.
—And? —Phastos frowned.
—He is an Eternal hunter —Sersi whispered, her stomach turning.
Phastos didn't speak; in fact, he froze, and his skin took on a sickly hue. Sersi could sympathize with him, especially because the inventor really did seem to need a bucket to vomit in. Or so Sersi thought as she saw him run out.
—We have to warn the rest —Ajak remembered.
A switch seemed to flip in Sersi. She stumbled trying to leave the Domo and ran through the halls until she emerged to the surface, in the inner garden of the Eanna. She dodged nervous priestesses and children who wanted to approach her. Outside, hurricane-force winds blew, nearly knocking her down. Sand scraped her face, and she kept her eyes half-closed.
Mesopotamia, Uruk City, 5750 B.C. (minutes before).
He took a claw swipe directly to the chest. Only the essence of Styx in his soul prevented him from dying instantly.
—You are strong, Eternal —the Deviant cooed. It used Thena's voice, with a raspy distortion. His enemy looked like a panther. Golden veins coursed through its skin.
—And you are very annoying —Perseus stepped back, readying his fists.
"I really miss you, Riptide," he thought sadly. He had never been the best at pancratium.
The beast lunged at him. Perseus matched its movement, charging lightning in his fists. The impact sent airwaves that resonated outside the city. Both fell in a tangle of limbs. He kicked the beast, sending it flying into a group of expectant Deviants. The creature recovered without issue, twisting its body before impact and gripping the ground.
It was preparing for another onslaught when he was struck from behind. He was lifted off the ground. Before he could reorient himself, a Deviant paw appeared in his face. The blow made him see stars, and he spun violently. They let him recover. He spat out dirt.
—You come for more, little Eternal —Ikaris's voice came from his new enemy, a kind of Colchis Bull.
—What do you think —lightning filled his body—, you filthy vermin.
—You should work on your insults —the new Deviant growled.
Perseus charged at it. The bull didn't move; its horns glowed gold, and a bolt shot from the creature's head, hitting him square in the chest. The panther didn't stay idle: it took him in its jaws and shook him until he was dizzy. Once again, he was thrown against the ground, his breath knocked out.
—And do you have names? —Perseus gasped.
—You can call me Metris —the panther purred in his face.
—Brush your teeth, bitch —he admitted it wasn't smart. Metris raised her paw and created golden claws on them. The blow drove Perseus deeper into the ground.
—You are quite insolent for someone already defeated —the bull complained. —Just wait until the boss drains you; you're going to enjoy it.
Perseus rolled onto his back, his body trembling. The afternoon breeze brushed his bare back.
—Father!
Perseus tensed as he saw Ishtar turn the corner of the wall. Gilgamesh trotted behind her and Kingo brought up the rear.
—More Eternals…
Makkari arrived like a golden bolt, striking Metris's side. She zoomed away and returned with momentum; she repeated the action over and over, striking the Deviant.
—Enough! —she roared. She raised a paw, striking Makkari's chest with energy.
The speedster Eternal flew toward the wall and went through it. Perseus seized the moment to go after Metris. He grabbed her by the snout, letting electricity flow through her body. Metris shrieked, writhing and clawing at the air.
He was torn from the earth once more. This time, toward the riverbank and buried in the mud. The last thing he heard was Ishtar's scream. Then, the black nothing of unconsciousness arrived.
With a gasp, he found himself in the stormy space of his mind. Thunderclouds wove webs of lightning that rumbled in his ears. The arid ground stung his back. Perseus sat up, panting and shaking like a sapling in a hurricane.
—They said I wouldn't have any more of this shit! —he sputtered, staggering as he stood up.
—We said you wouldn't have any more demigod dreams, little god —a thundering voice growled.
Perseus turned, looking for the owner. It was his uncle, Zeus. Dressed in his sharp business suit and frowning at him with electrifying blue eyes.
—And what is this then? —he muttered.
—Before I answer you, nephew —Zeus approached; the smell of ozone came with him—, answer this yourself: where are our essences?
Perseus frowned.
—In my soul —he said carefully. His own answer hit him like a newly awakened minotaur. —Are we in my soul?
—We are, nephew —Perseus winced at the title.
—I don't understand.
Zeus laughed, a dry laugh like the Sahara.
—In that, only my daughter truly understands all of this —the King of Olympus growled.
—I lost —Perseus blurted out.
Zeus nodded, with no trace of condemnation in his gaze. Perseus grew angry. He expected to be reprimanded, to be insulted. The silent Zeus was truly creepy.
—You did —his uncle agreed. —Because you are still thinking like a little god.
—I don't understand.
Zeus struck him with a bolt; Perseus didn't even move from his spot.
—You have within you the power of thirty-eight gods! —he roared. —You insult your ancestry by limiting your power, nephew!
Perseus was stunned. He had never thought of it that way.
—I thought you wanted me to find champions for your domains —he whispered.
Zeus laughed, a laugh worthy of Dionysus in withdrawal.
—The mortals of this dimension could not withstand our power! —he laughed. —And even if they could, we sealed our essences in you, Perseus. You are us, and we are part of you.
—They told me I had to restore the Flame of the West…
—And that remains your mission —Zeus nodded. —But our flame cannot be replicated, boy. You must create your own Flame of the West. Nothing can be replicated in the land of the gods; find your center, Perseus… Only there will you be able to raise the Flame of the West.
—I see —Perseus lost focus in his eyes.
Zeus sighed.
—It is time to wake up, Perseus —he said. —My great-niece is in danger because of your recklessness.
Perseus tensed. He had forgotten the battle! He cursed his uncontrolled emotions. He concentrated on waking up, using every ounce of energy to break the hold of unconsciousness. Slowly, the image of Zeus and his soul-scape began to fade.
—One more thing, nephew —Zeus softened his voice. —Regarding your defeat… there is no better teacher than her.
With those words, he opened his eyes in the mud of the Buranun. Electricity coursed around him and, for the first time, the smell of ozone came with it. For the first time, Perseus felt free.
Mesopotamia, Uruk City, 5750 B.C. (seconds before).
The moment her father went flying, Ishtar screamed for him. She felt like that day when she was fishing with her parents; no matter how powerful she was, she was still a child watching her father die. Gilgamesh barely held the line against the mindless Deviants, and Kingo had run to take cover with Makkari's body.
Ishtar saw red. She roared at the beast that took her father away, ignoring Gilgamesh's shout; she only wanted the blood of that thing. But she didn't get very far. The Deviant lashed out with a claw swipe she couldn't dodge, slicing her belly open. The young woman fell to the ground, pressing her abdomen with her hand so her viscera wouldn't slip out.
She didn't respond. She could barely think with the pain coursing through her.
—Mm? —the Deviant weighed its options. —Well, the boss said to bring him all the Eternals. —It bared its teeth at her. —But you will be a fine feast for me.
Appendages emerged from its shoulders, stretching toward her neck. Ishtar closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Sorry, Mom," she thought, going limp before her captor.
—GET AWAY FROM HER!
The roar came first, and a strange acrid smell flooded her senses. She snapped her eyes open, seeing a whip of blue lightning strike the Deviant. A warm mantle filled her; visions of the sun over the reeds and the imposing man standing in front of her assaulted her confused mind.
—Father… —she whispered.
—Take her, Gilgamesh —Perseus said with an animalistic voice.
The big man didn't argue, lifting her with an unknown gentleness.
"Father," she whispered in her mind, losing consciousness with a soft smile.