High above the mortal realm, where human eyes could not reach, the gods had made the sky their home. They built their own world above, watching over mortals from their lofty abodes. Yet, this divine existence was not without its complications.
The gods, with their differing opinions and cultures, eventually separated themselves into distinct pantheons. This division helped maintain a semblance of harmony. Zeus, after overthrowing his father, established Olympus, an immense palace where he and his family resided, along with the other gods who became known as the Olympians.
But Zeus and the Olympians were not the only deities in the heavens.
There were the Gods of Valhalla, who held their banquets in the grand halls of Asgard. The Gods of Amun ruled over their own domains, carrying the legacy of ancient Egypt. The Kamis, the spiritual beings of Shinto, watched over Japan from their sacred shrines. The Gods of Babylonia, whose ancient powers shaped the cradle of civilization, also chose their own paths.
Despite their differences, the gods did not remain isolated. They often came together, crossing the boundaries of their pantheons to discuss, debate, and enjoy their immortal lives. Today, in a secluded and ethereal space, a particular reunion of divine beings was taking place.
“Ha~ I am bored…” A woman’s voice echoed through the serene gathering, her tone dripping with ennui. The speaker was divinely beautiful, with long white hair cascading down her back and glowing pink eyes. Her flowing white dress barely concealed her voluptuous figure, some strands of her hair teasingly slipping into the deep valley of her twin peaks.
Her slightly tanned skin added to her irresistible allure.
She was Ishtar, the Mesopotamian Goddess of Love, War, and Fertility.
“You should show more elegance as a goddess, Ishtar,” a serene voice replied. The speaker had long, dark hair and eyes that glowed like the sun. She wore a stunning white kimono that covered her entire body, and she sipped from a cup filled with divine water as she spoke.
She was Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess of Shinto.
“Indeed,” a melodious giggle chimed in from another divine beauty. She had long, bright red hair styled in unique, intricate braids, and her purple eyes glowed mischievously as she looked at Ishtar with amusement.
She was Freyja, the Norse Goddess of Love and Beauty.
A goddess sighed at their quarrel. “Should we discuss the matter of importance today?” asked Isis. Her long black hair fell down in intricate locks, adorned with several golden ornaments. Her silver eyes shone beautifully, and black tattoos framed her eyes, adding to her regal presence.
“I wish we could, Isis, but two people are missing,” Amaterasu replied, glancing at the two empty seats. They had invited Khione and another goddess, but neither had arrived.
“Sorry I’m late, everyone!” Suddenly, a cheerful voice rang out.
One of the empty seats was now occupied by a divine beauty with long pink hair and matching pink eyes. With Aphrodite’s arrival, five goddesses were now present, each surpassing the standards of divine beauty. Even among the gods, their presence could cause one to lose reason.
Ishtar clicked her tongue in annoyance at the sight of Aphrodite. Freyja also seemed displeased.
“Aphrodite? What are you doing here?” Isis asked, surprised.
“Oh, Khione is missing, so I’m here in her place. Don’t worry, I know enough about the Heroes summoned by Khione to speak on her behalf,” Aphrodite said with a cheerful smile.
“We can’t accept that. Just leave already,” Ishtar snapped.
“Oh, come on, Ishtar! Are you still upset about Adonis? He left me too in the end!” Aphrodite shook her head with a teasing smile.
“It’s fine. Let’s not waste time,” Amaterasu interjected, raising her hand before Freyja could also lash out at Aphrodite.
“We are here to discuss the sudden summoning orchestrated by Tenebria. They shouldn’t even be capable of such a summoning. They shouldn’t even be aware of divine summoning,” Amaterasu said, her tone serious, drawing the attention of all present.
No one seemed to have good intentions towards Tenebria, except for Aphrodite, who wore a small, meaningful smile.
“I’ve heard a little about him. They summoned only one hero. He is called the Hero of Darkness,” Isis said, her finger resting thoughtfully on her chin.
“Oh? Hero of Darkness, interesting,” Ishtar’s pink eyes narrowed curiously as she licked her lips. Her earlier boredom seemed to vanish.
For a moment, Aphrodite’s expression turned frighteningly cold, but she quickly replaced it with a smile.
“It’s a single hero. Why are you scared of him?” Freyja asked, her tone disinterested regarding the Hero of Darkness.
“He has awakened the supreme dark magic. The same kind used by the Mad King of Tenebria,” Amaterasu said, and silence fell over the group.
They all knew very well about the Mad King, arguably the most dangerous mortal in recent history. His dark magic had caused untold casualties in all the kingdoms blessed by these goddesses, leaving them with a deep-seated aversion to dark magic.
If the new Hero of Tenebria had indeed awakened the same dark magic, he was a threat they could not ignore.
“Well, I can see you’re upset, but unfortunately, we Olympians won’t take part in whatever you have planned for the Hero of Darkness,” Aphrodite interrupted.
“What?” Amaterasu frowned.
“You must already be aware. A certain prince kidnapped a foreign princess, and a great war is about to erupt at any moment. We will be watching over that war. I will be busy as well,” Aphrodite explained.
“Oh, I heard about that. If I remember correctly, that war was caused by you because you tricked the prince into kidnapping the princess, right?” Freyja laughed with disdain.
Aphrodite kept her smile. “You’re speaking just like those losers Athena and Hera. But I won in the end,” she said, puffing out her chest.
“Then I suppose you won’t take the Achaeans’ side?” Isis asked, referring to the Greeks, including Sparta.
“Of course not. I will support my side until the end. The Trojans.” Aphrodite confirmed before abruptly disappearing.
“This little bitch…” Ishtar seemed a bit upset.
“Leave it. I have already taken steps to inquire about the Hero of Darkness. The best outcome would be to get rid of him,” Amaterasu said.
“You mean?”
“Yes, Isis. I sent the heroes I have summoned in Kastoria for a first battle against the demons at their border,” Amaterasu confirmed.
Amaterasu was the one who had assisted Kastoria in summoning heroes from another world. She wasn’t alone in this; other kingdoms and empires supported by the goddesses present here had also summoned heroes.
“Do you think they will suffice, or do you need help from my heroes?” Ishtar teased.
The heroes of the Babylonian Empire were reputed among the gods to be the strongest.
“Sending just Phoebe should be enough to wipe out their armies, though,” Ishtar added with a giggle.
Amaterasu responded with a cold look. Her heroes were also very strong, but she had to admit that the heroes supported by Ishtar seemed to be the strongest, along with those supported by Isis and Freyja. In contrast, the heroes summoned by Khione were reputed to be the weakest among all the classes of heroes summoned.
“Since Amaterasu is taking care of it, I won’t ask my heroes to intervene,” Freyja said, leaving with a smile.
“If you need my help, I will assist you, Amaterasu, but until then, I will not ask my heroes to fight. We have our own problems in Sumatra,” Isis said with a wry smile before disappearing.
“Well, good luck, Amaterasu,” Ishtar said and then vanished as well.
In the end, only Amaterasu remained. She was a bit apprehensive about the Hero of Darkness, but she believed in her heroes.
“I will confirm it with Kaguya for the attack,” she muttered to herself and then left as well.