CHAPTER EIGHTTEEN

After a long slumber, Viscus had finally awakened. Viscus was among those who wanted to thwart the ancient god of madness. His power grew the fastest having the entire world of Dark Athyx to himself. Of course, having so many different variants of undead species, Viscus favored the wraiths over all others. He ignored the others, even though many of them worshipped him. Due to his lack of interest in his followers outside of the wraith species, new demi-gods ascended into power. The shroud of protection empowered by the Marble of Godly Doom hid their whereabouts from the seeker-titans and even from the Forgotten One. Viscus had fallen into a slumber out of weakness from the creation of the Athyxian galaxy, but had awakened empowered. His power was well above what it was before the fall of their former worlds. His body had also been fueled by his personal godly realm that he had stolen long ago and bonded with to make it his own—the plane of Oblivion. It had become a part of the internal multiverse of the Athyxian Realms protected from the invasion or detection of madness. Viscus looked over his world, Dark Athyx. A shroud of negative energy encased its atmosphere, sickening the life that formed on the world and empowering the undead. The living humans did not survive for more than thirty years before they collapsed and became a random form of undead. Other, longer living races survived longer and became the more prominent undead types such as vampires. Vampires hated wraiths because the wraiths wanted to wipe out all life in the name of Viscus. Vampires and other undead needed the living to feed upon. Wraiths needed to feed as well. They just did not care whether they survived as long as the living also died. Such was the dogma of Oblivion. Viscus was pleased with his world. Only a few demi-gods had risen while he slept. They will be destroyed easily enough! He thought. He watched the vampire demi-god destroy several of his wraiths on the world. The demi-god was not at the level of a god that was required to create their godly realm away from the prime material plane. Demi-gods dwelled among the mortals and were commonly mistaken as regular immortals due to their minimal power and influence. Viscus teleported to the site where the demi-god vampire had just slain the wraiths.

"You dare defile my world by laying waste to my most prized worshippers?" Viscus hissed.

"Viscus! You are real. I thought you were only myth." The vampire demi-god replied in shock.

"You have worn out your welcome and the time of your rule is over." Viscus declared. He unleashed a mighty blast of energy that would have felled any god below the intermediate levels of power. The demi-god was shielded by an unseen energy surge.

"What?" Viscus gasped. The vampire demi-god looked around in disbelief as well.

"The myth of the Marble of Godly Doom is real as well!" The vampire demi-god chuckled. "You cannot override the laws of the relic."

"Laws of the relic?" Viscus growled in disbelief.

"I am only a demi-god. I can do what I like. Only mortals, immortals, and fellow demi-gods can challenge my power. Each level of power is limited to those right above, the same or below. You are too powerful to challenge me, Lord Viscus. And I am too weak to challenge you." The vampire demi-god explained before teleporting away.

"This could get annoying," Viscus hacked. He teleported away to find his brother.

*****

Enamor had awaken on his godly realm. He felt more powerful than before but unlike Viscus, he shared the power of his world with many gods. He had been chosen along with his brother to be the two major authorities of the pantheon.

"How long have I slept?" Enamor asked as he gazed upon his world. He saw that the other gods still slept for the most part, but were also beginning to wake up. There were gods he could sense that were not a part of their original ritual that were in power now. Demi-gods had risen while they slept as well.

Viscus appeared before his brother and collapsed, weakened by the powerful positive energy of the godly realm. Enamor sensed his brother and turned to see him.

"Viscus, why do you come here? You could be destroyed." Enamor gasped. Viscus looked up to his brother with a wry smile.

"You won't let that happen, brother." Viscus groaned. Enamor nodded and diminished the positive energy that was killing his brother in their vicinity. Viscus felt his strength returning slowly and rose to his feet as enamor approached.

"Why do you come here?" Enamor asked again.

"Many things have occurred while we slumbered, brother." Viscus replied.

"I was just coming to that conclusion myself." Enamor mentioned.

"It seems that the relic that formed with the creation of our seed of life or galaxy as some call it, holds the true power of the pantheon." Viscus groaned.

"A relic? That shouldn't be a problem. A relic will not overthrow or destroy us. It has no sentience, right?" Enamor asked.

"None that I have sensed. But I do sense that it is far more powerful than either of us." Viscus warned.

"So what is its purpose?" Enamor asked.

"It seems to uphold laws of some kind that limit who we as gods can interact with." Viscus stated. Enamor looked at his brother skeptically.

"You mean there is another god that you do not like and it would not permit you to destroy it?" Enamor barley held in a chuckle. He knew his brother too well.

"Very funny!" Viscus hissed. "As powerful as we have become, I do not like being governed by some unseen force I cannot challenge."

"For now I would think this to be a good thing to aid our ongoing peace. That will help us survive and remain hidden from the Forgotten One." Enamor said.

"Perhaps," Viscus said skeptically. Viscus had his secrets that only he and the Keeper of Secrets knew.

"Let us summon the gods who united with us in this ritual as well as the ones that have risen while we slept." Enamor declared. The two brothers sent a powerful telepathic message out across their multiverse summoning all gods to their current location. In a matter of moments the gods began arriving. It did not take long. Those that did not take part in the ritual of creation were reluctant to come but had no choice. It was law and they had to abide.

"WELCOME!" Enamor said loudly for all to hear. "Many of you were a part of our creation ritual. Others rose to power while we all slumbered. We are the true authorities. While we do not plan to threaten you or your worshippers, we do advise that you abide the laws of the pantheon."

"Who are you?" Bolnarg barked.

"I am Enamor and this is my brother, Viscus. We are the authorities of the pantheon. There are those that united with us to create this seed of life or as my brother has informed me that some of you call it a galaxy. We are your creators. Your gods, you might say." Enamor answered.

"I serve no god. I am Bolnarg!" The orc god protested.

"Believe what you like! Without our creation ritual, you would not exist. We are you creators, so show some respect." Enamor warned. Bolnarg lowered his eyes, just a little.

"Those of us who did not take part in this creation, and somehow found our way here rather than been created by your seed of life, are we also welcome?" Armco asked curiously.

"You are an imprisoned god of devils are you not?" Enamor asked.

"I was once imprisoned," Armco answered vaguely.

"So has madness taken Hell?" Viscus dared to ask what he knew his brother would not. Armco lowered his head sadly.

"Yes, Hell has fallen but I have already begun to forge a new Hell, here in this new seed of life." Armco announced proudly.

"Where is this Hell?" Viscus continued the dark conversation.

"It is beneath the prime as it was elsewhere." Armco assured.

"Show me!" Viscus hissed. He teleported in an instant in front of Armco who did not flinch. Armco took the ghostly hand and teleported them both to view Hell in person.

"We do not threaten any of you. We only wish to work together to keep our diversity and peace intact. There are powerful forces outside this realm that none of us can hope to defeat at the moment. We hide here building our powers and search for hidden secrets that would aid us in our fight against this power. Any that would break the laws of the pantheon would be banished outside the protection of the seed of life where madness reigns." Enamor warned.

"Most of us are only demi-god powers these days. We will be forced to mingle with the mortals." Odin said, knowing the laws of the divine well.

"For a time, you will be able to influence mortals and begin your ascension once more. After which you will ascend form the realm of mortals and will not be able to personally visit them anymore. You will need to forge new godly realms to call home." Enamor said.

"What of those that are currently at war?" Na-Dene dared to ask.

"Unless it is against a power below, equal, or above your own then all wars must stop now!" Enamor declared. Na-Dene hissed defiantly.

"OUTRAGEOUS!" Bolnarg barked. Enamor flared up his positive energy plane around the two defiant gods and brought them to their knees in awe and pain.

"You resist law? You defy the commands that would keep you safe? You would not be so defiant if you knew the power that hunts us all! War will be upon us all soon enough if we are not careful. Having as many allies as we can at the moment is a benefit, mighty Bolnarg, god of the orcs and mistress of chaos, and queen of the dark elves, Na-Dene." Enamor read their minds and knew their titles and histories at will.

"Enamor, we do plan on stopping the seeker-titans don't we? Zeus asked. Enamor dissipated his power upon the two defying gods before looking to Zeus.

"That is the plan. I just want us all on the same page first." Enamor replied.

"We need neutral ground to meet a council of sorts." Odin offered.

"All-Father, please take charge of this project as you are wise. I ask that you forge this place of council and appoint the laws that we all must abide while we are present." Enamor said. Odin nodded with honor.

"This first meeting is adjourned! Master, Odin will summon us for the next meeting. Until then, peace be with you all." Enamor said and the gods began vanishing from his realm.