The battlefield lay quiet. Ash and blood were painted everywhere. Corpses of monsters and humans littered the ground. The air still contained residual divine energy, heavy and suffocating like thick smoke
Orion stood there. His yes darted across the carnage. Hercules's clutches hit his side, blood soaking through his lion pelt, and Susanoo learned heavily on his katana, panting through clenched teeth
Then, through the settling dust, a presence stirred.
At first, it was just a shadow, then a silhouette. A man strolled casually into view, barefoot, long golden hair dragging behind him like a cloak made of light. Circling his four heads, a golden headband hovered around it like a halo. He stretched, yawning with exaggerated laziness, as if he had just woken up from a 1000-year nap.
He didn't walk like a warrior
He didn't carry himself like a god.
He walked as if he had nothing to prove.
As the light hit him, his golden eyes shimmied faintly with chaotic energy.
An orge suddenly leapt from a crumbled rooftop behind him, screaming mid-air, claims aimed at his throat
The man didn't flinch. Still mid-yawn, he tilted his head, raised one fist, posture relaxed, expression bored.
CRACK
His fist collided with the orge skull, sending it crashing into the ground. The pavement split beneath the impact. The creature didn't even have time to make noise
ORion whispered to himself, "What the hell..."
The barefoot man turned his golden gaze on them."So," He said casually, "what happened to you guys?"
"Shiva," Heracles answered, His voice hoarse.
"Tried to kill all of us", Susanoo added. "Would've succeeded if if been a second later."
The man's eyes drifted towards Orion. He sniffed the air once, twice and then smirked.
"You smell of stars."
Orion blinked. "That's... what Shiva said to me."
The man laughed- a full, echoing sound that bounced off the broken buildings around them. IT was unhinged and joyful, like the laughter of someone who had lived too long and seen too much.
"Of course he did," the man grinned, moving forward. "Today's special. Long ago, gods and monsters were sealed away- buried under chains that no human could ever hope to access. Today. Those chains start to crack."
Orion's stomach turned. Today is my birthday. I just turned eighteen."
He didn't say it out loud, but the idea twisted in his gut.
Susanoo stepped forward. "The seal isn't broken yet. This wasn't the full wave-just a tremor."
The man nodded."True. What's coming next will make this look like a starter activity," he began to stretch his arms. "Name's Wukong, by the way"
Orion blinked."Sun Wukong... the Monkey King?"
"In the flesh." He turned towards Orion with an odd glint in his eye."So, kid... now that you have had your first taste of what's coming- what're you gonna do? Crawl home and cry? Or join us?
Orion hesitated
He thought about the chimera, the black flames, Shiva's fury and the gods bleeding behind him. He had no family waiting for him at home. His dad had never been seen, and his mum had died at a young age. Orion had always been fending for himself; however, this was a new threat that could not be dealt with by himself
"No," he said, "There is no way that they could go back the same. Not after what I saw."
Wukong's grin widened. "Good answer. You come with us. We'll keep you alive or die trying. I'll also answer any questions you have. Not all at once, Woulnt be fun that way."
Heracles crouched next to Orion."Hop on. We need to leave.Fast.This area is going to be overrun soon."
Orion climbed on. In an instant, the group took off, leaping across shattered rooftops, sprinting through fractured alleys. The ruined city became a blur under their feet.
Nestled deep within the forest edge stood the remains of a forgotten temple. Vines draped the cracked marble, and faint gold runes shimmered along the stone. The air was still unmoved by time
Susanoo pushed the gate open." This temple belonged to Harpocrates. No one will find us here."
Inside, ancient stone slabs were softened by moss. A tiny spring bubbled quietly in the centre. Its water is faintly glowing
Herackes dropped Orion next to the spring. Wukong plopped cross-legged onto a broken pillar, spinning his staff with ideal grace.
He pointed at Orion."Welcome to your new life. Any question?"
Orion looked around at the gods beside him.
He nonned
"Yeah," He said. "I've got a few."