Chapter 81 - Betrayal's Wrath, Choices of Fate, and the Void's Ambush - Part 2

Present Time

After the two women calmed down, Orach dropped his Super Saiyan transformation and informed them about killing the God that cursed Barbara. He suggested they return to Diana's apartment in DC. However, Barbara, after a moment of happiness at the death of the hideous god, took a determined stance. "I need to go back to that temple and collect the belongings of our fallen team members. I led them and it's my responsibility to deliver their belongings to their families, apologize, and accept any punishment to help them move on."

Diana looked like she wanted to protest but held back. After a moment, she sighed and said, "I'll join you." She reached out to hold her friend's hand, offering comfort and support.

Orach was hesitant to agree, knowing Barbara would be returning to the site of her trauma. But seeing the determination in her eyes, he simply nodded and led the way. Upon entering the decrepit temple, Barbara shivered with fear. Diana squeezed her hand gently, giving her a reassuring smile. Barbara closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded, her eyes once again filled with resolve. They moved through the temple, collecting the belongings of their colleagues. Seeing the remains of promising grad students brought sadness and guilt to Barbara's eyes once more. But remembering how Orach had killed the beast Urzkartagan calmed her, and she sighed deeply.

When they were ready, Orach created a ripple in space, and the three of them walked through to Diana's apartment's living room.

"Oh no! I forgot to contact the Wayne Tech crew," exclaimed Barbara as soon as they landed.

"Don't worry about that. I'll take care of it," said Orach, raising his hand and tapping his terminal to have Mother Empress handle it.

"Yeah, Barb, don't worry. Why don't you go have a nice warm bath? I'll bring you some clothes," suggested Diana, seeing Orach taking care of Barbara's worries.

Barbara nodded and headed toward the bathroom in Diana's room. Diana followed, taking out a fresh change of clothes for Barbara to borrow. After informing Barbara that she had left the clothes on the bed, she returned to the living room.

Diana joined Orach on the sofa, lifting his arm to wrap around her and resting her head on his shoulder. She shut her eyes, enjoying a moment of silence. The events had been a roller coaster of emotional turmoil. Her heart was filled with sadness for what happened to her best friend, guilt for not being there when needed, and wrath toward whoever or whatever caused it. As she calmed down, a doubt surfaced in her mind.

After a moment, she opened her eyes, climbed over Orach, and straddled him. With her hands on his shoulders and looking deep into his eyes, she asked in a serious tone, "You knew something was off with Barbara's expedition, didn't you?"

Orach had a feeling this was coming. Meeting her gaze, he replied calmly, "Not the specifics, but Bruce and I suspected ulterior motives from Veronica Cale's actions. It seemed odd that a woman covertly against you, Wonder Woman, would support a known supporter and friend of Wonder Woman so persistently. However, with Wayne Tech handling most arrangements and everyone on Barbara's team passing background checks, we didn't see any issue. We didn't want to act on mere suspicions and ruin Barbara's opportunity. Bruce has been investigating her company's activities while I kept a passive watch on Barbara, ready to assist if needed."

Slap

Diana slapped Orach's face, her eyes watery and filled with hurt. "If you and Bruce had doubts about Veronica Cale, why didn't you tell me? I could have convinced her or stopped the expedition. Why does my friend have to suffer? Why, Orach? Why?" she cried, clutching his shirt collar.

Orach didn't blame her. He wanted to be there for her, to let her vent her emotions instead of bottling them up. He held her tight, allowing her to release her pain.

As the tears subsided, Diana rested her head against Orach's chest. "We'll make things right, Diana," Orach whispered, gently stroking her hair. "We'll ensure Barbara gets the justice she deserves. You'll be there for her, and I'll be here to support you."

Diana nodded, drawing strength from Orach's unwavering support.

Barbara, alone in the bathroom, sank into the warm bath. The water soothed her aching muscles, but her mind raced with thoughts and emotions. The ambush, the loss of her team, her nightmarish experience, and her transformation weighed heavily on her.

Memories of her colleagues flooded back. Promising, bright individuals with futures ahead of them, now brutally cut short. Tears mingled with the bathwater as she vowed to honor their memory and make amends with their families. She remembered Bruce's face and their time together, how she had hoped to work on their relationship after this expedition. But now, she felt broken, a mix of human and animal, a freak. She feared rejection from Bruce because of what she had become.

Emerging from the bath, Barbara felt a small sense of renewal. Standing in front of the mirror, she observed her new form, furry ears, tail, new strength. She knew Orach was right. She vowed to train and make this new power truly hers, to never feel helpless or out of control again. Wrapping herself in a towel, she dressed in the clothes Diana provided and returned to the living room.

Diana and Orach looked up as she entered. Seeing Diana straddling Orach, Barbara was stunned, her mouth agape. Diana, realizing her compromising position, blushed and moved to sit next to Orach, giving a sheepish smile. "Had a nice bath? How are the clothes?"

Barbara nodded, "Yes, thank you! Though I doubt I can always wear skirts. I can transform back to human, but I want to get the feel for this new form first. So, Di, you're going to help me modify some clothes to accommodate my tail." She waved her tail for emphasis.

Diana chuckled, "Oh, don't worry. I'll be glad to help. I've built experience dealing with people with tails." She pointed at Orach, making them both laugh while Orach carried a confused expression.

Barbara's expression changed as she looked at Orach. "Orach, you mentioned there was more to what happened to my team. Our guide's suspicious behavior before the attack... Are you suspecting Veronica Cale?"

Orach nodded, taking out the beacon. "This is your beacon. It received a deactivation code traced back to Empire Enterprises. Suffice it to say, she's responsible for your predicament. But I believe there's more to uncover. When I killed that god, I saw memory fragments of two people discussing something with him, mentioning Miss Cale. It seemed she's being forced to do their bidding."

Diana and Barbara were both upset and angry.

Diana suggested, "We need to visit Empire Enterprises. Veronica Cale needs to answer for her actions. She can clarify who else was involved and why they targeted Barb."

Barbara, filled with a sense of vengeance, nodded. "Whether she is the mastermind or a pawn in someone else's game, we'll expose her and ensure she pays for what she's done."

Orach nodded, "I'm going to have Mother Empress…" Suddenly, he felt a wave of nausea and immediately transformed into his Super Saiyan God form, spreading his God Ki to find the source of the disturbance. Realizing it was similar to when Flash messed with the Time Laws, he turned toward Central City.

Noticing change in his expression, Diana and Barbara were shocked. "Orach, what happened?" Diana asked.

Orach opened his eyes, revealing a chill in his eye as his expression turned blank. His killing intent leaking from him making both Diana and Barbara step back. He was enraged, sensing a violation of Time Laws. Someone had purposefully created a breach into the time stream. Even without the specifics, he could tell that someone was trying to travel through the river of time. What really angered him was the location of this disturbance, STAR Labs. He deduced that the Flash was purposefully tampering with time despite his warning last time.

Barbara, feeling scared and her fur standing on end, asked, "Diana, what's up with Orach?"

Diana, feeling Orach's emotions flare through their connection, said, "Something has him enraged." She then turned to Orach, stepped forward, grasped his hand, and asked, "Orach, calm down. Tell me what happened? What has you so angry?"

Orach, feeling her touch, grasped her hand back, reined in his killing intent, and turned to look into Diana's eyes and said,"Someone is tampering with the Time Laws in a big way, creating a breach in the river of time. The disturbance is in Central City. I need to go there."

Diana finally understood why Orach reacted this way. He had informed her about how dangerous messing with Time Laws could be and about his conversation with Flash during one of their dates. She nodded, "Understood. Let's go. Since it's Central City, I'll contact the Flash to understand the situation and have him join us."

Orach stared at her for a moment before letting out a sigh and replied, "Diana, the source of this disturbance is STAR Labs. It's the Flash that's messing with the Time Laws."

Hearing this, Diana was shocked and replied, "What? Why would he? You warned him against messing with time." Her expression turned serious with a hint of anger surfacing.

"Precisely why I am angry. Diana, stay here with Barbara and…" While Orach was speaking, he once more felt a disturbance, but this time a large one. When he turned to look at the direction of Central City, he felt a major violation of the time laws, all signs pointing to a paradox event. Sensing this, he knew he had to move out since paradox events are generally catastrophic.

"Diana, I need to go. But I will return to you. You are my home." Orach said as he leaned in and kissed Diana, surprising her. Just then, using his Ki, he made her go to sleep while in his arms. Barbara, seeing this, was alarmed and shouted, "Orach! What are you doing?"

Orach handed the sleeping Diana to Barbara and said, "Barbara, I can't have her following me on this. I want her safe. There is a chance I'll be leaving this world for a while. But, like I promised Diana, I will return to her. So, while I know she can take care of herself, I ask you to please stay by her side and take care of Diana for me. As far as Veronica Cale is concerned, work with Diana on the matter. She has terminals that can utilize my AI partner, Mother Empress's assistance. Mother Empress can help find out everything you need. Also, don't forget about Bruce. I know he liked spending time with you, so when you are comfortable, meet him. Don't shut him out because of what happened. He isn't a weak man to give you up because of your transformation." With that said, he gave her a smile to the stunned Barbara, opened a ripple in space, and walked through after taking a final glance at Diana's face.

"...Fool," said Barbara, holding her unconscious friend. She understood his care and love, but knew Diana would be hurt and angry when she woke up.

Barbara sat on the couch, cradling Diana's head. She felt a mix of anger, fear, and determination. Orach was off to confront a significant threat, and she had to ensure Diana's safety.

"I've got Di, but you better come back, Orach, or she won't rest till she finds you." Barbara whispered, looking towards the sky outside the balcony. A tear rolled down her cheek as she remembered Bruce, "Bruce...will you really accept this me?"

Central City

A breach in the sky was rapidly expanding above Central City, near STAR Labs, threatening to swallow the entire city.

Pipeline of the STAR Lab particle accelerator

Orach stepped through a ripple in space, using more Ki than usual to stabilize the disturbed space-time. He immediately noticed a dead body being pulled into the disturbance and used his Ki to pull it closer. Recognizing the body as Eddie Thawne, a police detective and friend of the Flash, Orach realized the gravity of the situation. The Flash had evidently made a catastrophic error that cost his friend's life.

Orach knew he needed to understand the situation. Normally, he would tap into the time laws of the area to glimpse into the past, but the disturbed state of the laws rendered that impossible. Instead, he adopted a more localized approach. Grasping Eddie's shoulder, Orach tapped into the time laws using the body as an anchor. Closing his eyes, he witnessed the events leading up to Eddie's death. The origin of the paradox and the chain of events became clear, and Orach felt a surge of anger towards Barry Allen. Barry had recklessly time-traveled to save his mother, despite Orach's warnings, resulting in a temporal disaster.

Orach also noted another key factor, Iris West. The fluctuating future articles highlighting disastrous events that the Reverse Flash had shown Eddie featured bylines mentioning 'Iris West-Allen'. Orach didn't believe in coincidences. He had already cemented the timeline during the invasion event, making Eddie and Iris's love and impending marriage a natural flow of events. Barry and Iris getting together in this timeline due to any factor from the old timeline would be unnatural and could lead to unforeseen consequences. With clarity on what needed to be done, Orach decided to act.

Realizing the urgency, Orach decided to bend his principles for the first time in ages. He channeled his Ki, pouring it into Eddie's lifeless body to repair the damage and reverse the flow of time. As Eddie's eyes flickered open, they radiated confusion and fear.

"What? What is this? What is happening? Didn't I die?" Eddie's voice trembled with bewilderment.

"You did, but only for a few minutes. You're fortunate. Had I arrived any later, reviving you would have been impossible," Orach replied, his tone calm yet firm. "At that point, only the supreme ruler of death could have brought you back."

"Huh? You! You're that alien from another dimension! You brought me back from the dead? No, please let me die! We need to defeat the Reverse Flash!" Eddie's voice was a mix of excitement and anxiety.

"Relax, human. I know what I'm doing. Don't worry about the enemy. I'll handle him. I brought you back for a significant reason. I have a task for you," Orach said, focusing his intense gaze on Eddie.

Though stumped, Eddie nodded and said, "If that's the case, then thank you for reviving me. If you won't ask me to do anything harmful, I'll listen to you."

Orach nodded. As he noticed a body forming nearby, he raised his hand and froze time around it, transforming the enemy into a statue. Eddie, witnessing Orach's immense power firsthand, swallowed hard.

"Now listen. You and Iris West are in love and planned to get married, correct?" Orach inquired, his voice steady.

Eddie, though confused and wary, replied, "Yes."

"Good. Then your task is simple: follow through with your plan and marry Iris West. Take her far away from here or at least away from Barry Allen. That's your task," Orach instructed, his voice resolute.

Eddie's eyes widened in shock. He had been brought back to life only to be asked to continue living it. Though he didn't fully understand why Orach wanted to separate Iris and Barry, he nodded in agreement, recognizing that he had no other choice. Orach, satisfied with Eddie's compliance, opened another ripple and sent Eddie to safety.

As the ripple closed, Orach felt a sharp pain and coughed up a drop of blood. Interfering with the laws of death had its consequences, but for a life in the lower realms, the backlash was minimal. He then created another ripple and transported himself near the time vault.

After gaining access to the vault and downloading all pertinent data, Orach seized the frozen Reverse Flash and opened a ripple leading to the top of a STAR Labs tower. He studied the ominous breach in the sky intently.

"Mother Empress, do you see this? As I suspected, the breach has gathered enough momentum that its origin point no longer matters. Barry's efforts are futile. If this had happened earlier, he might have been able to stop it, but my prior cementing of the timeline has restored the time laws of this world to full strength. Barry simply isn't powerful enough to close this rift," Orach stated, his eyes narrowing with determination.

Mother Empress materialized beside him and replied, "Yes. But I presume you wanted to confirm that, didn't you?"

Orach smiled faintly, "Yes. I plan to use that breach to open a small gap into the void realm and throw this fool there. He'll never be a problem again."

"What's the Void Realm?" Mother Empress asked, her curiosity piqued.

"It's the realm between realms, a place of sheer nothingness where it is said no primordial laws exist. It's the battlefield of true and Primordial Gods, the most perilous place ever. You need to be at least Mid Ultra Instinct Stage to survive there. Despite the absence of laws or Ki, void beasts inhabit the realm and attack anything non-native," Orach explained, his tone grave.

Mother Empress turned serious. "Your current top form is Super Saiyan God Blue. You're still far from reaching the Ultra Instinct Stage. This is incredibly risky."

"I agree, but if it's a small window, I can manage with my understanding of space laws, especially using that breach. But I'm worried about getting thrown into the multiverse," Orach sighed, his concern palpable.

Orach considered the possibility of being thrown into the multiverse. Concerned for Rachel and Diana's well-being, he decided to ensure they had the necessary support in his absence. He began, "Mother Empress, authorization code..."

"Don't," Mother Empress interrupted, her voice firm. "I have made a copy of myself for Rachel and Diana. Even if we end up in the multiverse, they'll have support. When we return, I can reintegrate the copy. I won't leave your side. I go where you go!"

Orach, initially taken aback, broke into a hearty laugh. "Right. You were made by my mother in her image. What was I thinking?" He shook his head, a fond smile playing on his lips as he remembered his mother. Then, looking at Mother Empress with a determined grin, he said, "So, us against all realms, huh?"

Mother Empress smirked, "Always. None stand a chance!"

With a nod of resolve, Orach leaped into the air and flew straight toward the epicenter of the breach, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Outside STAR Labs

As Orach was inside the lab, Barry Allen, overwhelmed by guilt for the consequences of his actions, defied his team's warnings and raced against the expanding singularity. Though he managed a momentary stabilization, the rift quickly resumed its rapid growth. Firestorm, hoping for a solution, flew into the breach, attempting to merge the inner and outer event horizons. Tragically, their efforts only worsened the situation, causing the rift to expand further. Ronnie perished, and Dr. Stein was thrown away by the force of the explosion. Flash, battered and struggling, barely managed to bounce off a piece of debris and was on the verge of falling into the rift.

Just then, a red figure shot towards the rift's center, catching Barry just in time. Injured and barely conscious, Barry looked up to see the cold red eyes and intense aura of Orach.

"Barry, you shouldn't have tampered with time," Orach said sternly.

"Orach… I… just wanted to save my mother. I didn't mean for this to happen," Barry replied weakly, his voice filled with regret.

A part of Orach wanted to end Barry's life right there, but he saw a reflection of his own pain in the young hero. He, too, missed his home, his parents, his world. Sighing deeply, Orach said, "This is the last time I clean up your mess, Barry Allen. There won't be a next time. I WILL kill you if you mess with time again. Live this life, Barry, and find happiness. Also, tell Diana I will be back." Orach then put Barry to sleep, enveloping him in God Ki, and sent him to safety.

Turning his gaze to the rift, Orach dove straight into it, entering the bridge that connected to the multiverse, dragging the frozen Reverse Flash with him. At the chaotic epicenter, he raised his hand and channeled his God Ki, manifesting a sword that shimmered with crimson aura. With deep understanding over space laws, he slashed at the rift's center, creating a scar that opened into the ominous Void Realm. Instantly, the rift's chaotic energy was sucked into the void like a ravenous beast. Without hesitation, Orach hurled the Reverse Flash into the scar. As he watched the villain being consumed by the void, he glimpsed its eerie, desolate expanse, and a strange calmness washed over him.

In that moment, his mind wandered through corridors of painful memories. He recalled innocent souls like little Shin he couldn't save, comrades lost in the Android wars who sacrificed themselves with smiles so he could live, and the lingering uncertainty surrounding the fate of his homeworld, race, and parents from the attack of the Evil God Sevich. Even though he didn't show it, a heavy burden always weighed on his soul, stalling his progress despite his monstrous potential, which even surpassed his prodigious mother. But as he stared into the void, a fleeting moment of peace enveloped him. His soul felt lighter, as if shackles had loosened their grip, allowing him to inch closer to his next level of power.

"Young Master! What's wrong? Why aren't you closing the window?" Mother Empress's voice snapped him back to reality. Shaking his head to clear the confusion, Orach began sealing the void to prevent further complications. Just as he was about to finish, his senses screamed of an incoming attack. With the scar still open, dodging was impossible. Anger surged within him. He knew he would not escape this ambush and resolved to retaliate, giving his attacker a taste of the vengeance that awaited.

Transforming into his most powerful form, Super Saiyan God Blue, Orach felt the very fabric of the lower realm tremble. All life across the multiverse shuddered in fear, sensing the immense God Ki radiating from him. He hadn't expected the first use of his Blue form in this lower realm to be in response to an ambush.

As the attack closed in, Orach turned and unleashed a Ki blast towards his assailant. Though struck and sent hurtling towards the Void, he roared with defiance, his voice echoing through the multiverse. "MARK MY WORDS, THE DAY I RETURN, I WILL HUNT YOU AND GIVE YOU A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH!"

"AARRGGHHHHH!" The attacker screamed in agony as Orach's blast hit. The scar began to close, and in his last moments, Orach glimpsed a large, injured celestial female figure screaming in pain before the void sealed him inside.

Throughout all worlds in the Multiverse

Orach's promise and the agonizing scream of the celestial figure reverberated through the ears of all beings. Whether they were ordinary people, heroes, demons, devils, gods, or other celestial entities, all were alarmed by the events that unfolded. The burst of power from Orach's transformation, which shook the very fabric of creation in the lower realm, and his ominous promise of retribution, echoed throughout all worlds, redefining their understanding of power. This day also proved to many scientists the existence of parallel realities, confirming the multiverse theory. While some celebrated this scientific discovery, others saw it as an opportunity for conquest. Despite their fear, many, driven by the pursuit of knowledge or the greed for new frontiers to conquer, initiated a new arms race, not for weapons, but for ways to traverse the multiverse.

Main Universe

Orach's powerful release and banishment into the Void Realm did not just impact other realities; it brought changes to the main universe as well.

Olympus

As Orach vanished into the Void Realm, an angry roar echoed from the chamber where the comatose Zeus had been laid.

"WHO DARES ATTACK THIS KING?"

Zeus's furious shout as he abruptly woke startled all the Olympian gods. Hera, Athena, and Artemis, who were in the middle of a discussion about the events that just transpired and about the new power they sensed in Africa, were equally shocked. Hera's face turned grim; she knew her husband was about to cause trouble. While she had initially hoped for their godking, Zeus to wake up, now however after knowing that Zeus fell into a coma because of Orach she truly hoped that Zeus would just remain in a coma or just die. Her disappointment in her husband and her hatred due to his promiscuity all while she stayed loyal to him and their marriage, had been only building up throughout the years and her rage was already at the tipping point. Given her husband's temperament, she feared he would seek revenge driven by his ego, refusing to listen to anyone.

"My queen, I stand by your side. You know the situation and have a favorable relationship with Diana. Only you can lead us. If Zeus, in his anger, decides to attack Orach or Diana, we all will perish," said Athena, her voice filled with both worry and confidence in her analysis of Orach and Diana's power.

"My queen, I agree with Athena. I am at your command. You can't let Zeus take command if he insists on vengeance. I still remember the power I felt from Diana. I can only imagine how powerful her husband is if she herself made me feel pressured," said Artemis.

Hera felt the same but knew that although she was close to a god-king rank, her power was still insufficient compared to a full-fledged god-king like her husband, Zeus. While she wanted to stop Zeus from reclaiming the throne, she knew she couldn't do it alone.

Just then, Zeus's voice thundered through the halls. "HERA!" His displeased expression evident as he entered the throne room. He saw Hera sitting on Olympus's throne with Athena and Artemis by her side. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Hera. "Why did it take you this long to find a way to revive your king?"

Hera, angered by Zeus's rude tone, replied coldly, "The solution to your affliction didn't lie in herbs, king. In fact, you are extremely lucky you woke up. I was ready to declare you dead."

Zeus couldn't believe this woman was speaking to him in such a manner. "How dare you speak to me in that way, woman! I am your king!" But, before he could attack to teach his wife a lesson in his fury, the room darkened, and a chilling presence filled the air.

"Hades," Hera whispered, recognizing the energy.

Hades emerged from the shadows, his eyes locked onto Zeus. "Brother, you must control your temper. Your anger will not serve you here."

Zeus clenched his fists, his eyes burning with rage. "Hades, this is none of your concern. I will not be lectured by you."

Hades stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "It is very much my concern. Your recklessness could lead to the downfall of Olympus. Orach is not an enemy we can face. Hera has managed the situation much better than you ever could."

Before Zeus could retort, the darkness deepened, and from the shadows, Nyx, the Goddess of Night, materialized. Her stunning beauty was immediately evident as she emerged with long, flowing black hair cascading down her back, and piercing green eyes that seemed to glow in the dark. Her skin had a radiant, porcelain-like quality, and her full lips curved into a sly, seductive smile. Her attire was nothing short of mesmerizing. She wore a black leather corset that hugged her curves, paired with a flowing black cloak that shimmered and shone in the faint light. The cloak seemed almost alive, its intricate dark-colored designs shifting and moving, adding to her mystique and allure. The revealing ensemble left her arms and legs exposed, showcasing her flawless form and enhancing her seductive nature.

As she stepped forward, her presence commanded attention, and the very air seemed to grow colder, the night bending to her will. Zeus couldn't help but be mesmerized and tempted by her beauty. Though a part of him still remembered her terror, he couldn't deny how much he wanted to push her down and have his way with her. Seeing the disgusting lust in his eyes, Nyx locked onto Zeus, and with a voice as smooth as velvet and as chilling as a winter's night, she spoke, "Zeus, it seems you have forgotten the power of the night. Perhaps it's time for a reminder."

Her words hung in the air, the darkness around her deepening, as if the night itself was preparing to obey her every command. She released her divine might, and her presence's pressure made even the gods shiver. Zeus, reminded of her terror, shuddered and took a step back in fear. Seeing the fool in front of her realizing the reality of the situation, she nodded and then said, "Zeus, you are a fool if you think you can challenge Orach. I have seen his power, and it is unlike anything you can imagine. His power shakes the very foundation of all creation. You are nothing but an ant in front of his power."

Zeus's eyes widened, but his pride refused to let him back down. "I am the king of the gods! I fear no one!"

Nyx's eyes glowed with an ethereal light and said, "Then you are doomed to fall and no longer qualify to be the king and leader of the pantheon. Know this Zeus, from today onwards, I, Primordial Goddess of the Night, hereby recognize Hera as the new leader of Olympus. Move against her and you will face my wrath."

The room fell silent as Nyx's words hung in the air. Zeus, though visibly shaken, masked his fear with a sneer. "Very well, Nyx. I will heed your warning. For now." Zeus then left, holding in his anger.

As Hera, Nyx, and Hades saw Zeus leave, they all knew this god-king wouldn't give up so easily.

Though Hera appreciated their support, she was still cautious since both Hades and Nyx had a history of creating chaos on occasion. She then said, "Hades and Primordial Goddess Nyx, I thank you for your support. But, might I ask, why?"

Hades replied, "I have seen and felt that being's power through the souls of the dead who lost their lives by that being's hands. I have felt their dread in face of his power and made the determination that it's in our best interest not to make him an enemy. Hence, knowing you are on good terms with his beloved, I decided to support you. Now, that was my reason, but I would like to know your reason, Nyx. Why support Hera?"

Nyx turned to look at both Hades and Hera before calmly stating, "A while back, my curiosity got the better of me. I tried peeking at Orach." Nyx, remembering that day, felt a shiver of fear, recalling those red eyes that looked into her very being despite being under the cover of the night and the element of darkness. She crossed her arms and held on to them tightly to calm herself before continuing, "None have been able to pierce my veil of darkness. In my hubris and confidence in my control of darkness, I got close to look at him. But, the moment I got close to him, my link with the darkness element was shaken. I, who am darkness itself, lost control over it. It was as if darkness itself wanted to submit to him. Then, when he felt my presence and looked right at me, I felt his gaze pierce through me." Reaching this point, she couldn't help but let out a helpless chuckle and continued, "That day, I, Primordial Goddess of Night, actually knelt. I knelt in sheer terror. HAHAHA. I, BORN FROM CHAOS, couldn't do anything!"

Her helplessness and fear were felt by all who heard her words. Hera, who had witnessed the Goddess from the higher realm, could understand Nyx's fear well.

Nyx, after a moment, recovered her calm. "Pardon me, Queen of Olympus, for losing my composure like that. But that should be enough to show you just why I want you leading the Olympian gods. I know he isn't malicious and won't attack unless his bottom line is crossed. Seeing that I didn't have any ill intention, he only gave me a warning and let me go. So, Queen, continue to lead Olympus well."

Hera nodded, feeling the weight of Nyx's words. "I understand. Thank you, Nyx, for your support and your honesty. I will do my best to lead Olympus wisely and ensure that we do not provoke Orach."

Nyx nodded on hearing this and then retreated into the shadows. Soon, Hades too, after promising his support and saying his farewell, left for his domain, leaving behind Hera, Athena, and Artemis to sigh in relief and continue their discussion. Soon, the news spread throughout Olympus, and all begrudgingly agreed and submitted.

In his chamber, however, Zeus's mind raced. He knew he couldn't face Orach directly, not with the other gods on Olympus presently against him. But he wouldn't let this slight go unpunished.

From the dark corners of his mind, he suddenly remembered Tartarus and its prisoners, and Zeus began to scheme. He would find a way to exact his revenge, even if it meant bending his own rules. And when the time came, he vowed to reclaim his throne and his pride.

Olympus would tremble once more under the wrath of Zeus, the king who would not be denied.