Hermes had just been pushed into the interdimensional ocean by Mira. She seemed to be drifting between life and death, she saw a strange rabbit-like creature. "Hello Prophet, my name is Ozzy. I'm the opener of the seal of your guardian (or more accurately, the creature that lies in your soul, how you will fully realize your Avatar state. Hermes asked the creature a number of questions. Hermes felt weightless as she drifted through the interdimensional ocean, caught between consciousness and oblivion. The currents around her shimmered with shifting colors—blues that bled into gold, reds that flickers like candle flames. She couldn't tell if she was sinking or floating, but she was certain of one thing: the creature before her was not of this world. Ozzy, the rabbit-like being, twitched its long ears and regarded her with glowing silver eyes. "I can see the questions burning inside you, Prophet," it said, its voice an eerie mix of soft chimes and whispers. "Ask, and I will answer." Hermes hesitated, then spoke, her voice echoing unnaturally in the vast space. "What do you mean by 'guardian'? I don't have anything like that inside me."
Ozzy chuckled, a sound like wind through hollow bones. "Oh, but you do. It has always been there, slumbering, waiting. You are its vessel, just as it is your shield, your weapon, your awakening. And now, because of Mira, you are closer than ever to fully realizing it." Hermes frowned. Mira. The betrayal still stung, but there was no time for anger. "So what happens now? What does it mean to fully awaken?" Ozzy hopped closer, tilting its head. "It means power, Prophet. Power unlike anything you have ever known. But it also means choice. Will you embrace it? Will you let it consume you? Or will you learn to wield it before it wields you?"
The currents around Hermes swirled faster, and suddenly, she could feel something deep within her stirring—something ancient, something vast. A presence she had never noticed before, but that had always been there. It pulsed in time with her heartbeat, whispering in a language she almost understood. Ozzy's eyes gleamed. "Your guardian wakes. Now, Prophet, let us see what you are truly capable of." Hermes appeared in a dark ocean, there was a giant octopus. It was clearly the size of a large continent with over 1,000 eyes, it said "I am the monster that dwells in your soul, will you not form a contract with me that will stabilize your true power." Hermes awoke to the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant sound of flowing water. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and blooming flowers, a strange contrast to the cool stone beneath her. The golden light of the sun filtered down in delicate beams, illuminating the vibrant green canopy above, yet despite the open sky, the towering cave walls on either side enclosed the space like a sacred, hidden sanctuary.
Vines draped down from the rocky edges, swaying slightly in an unseen breeze, their emerald leaves catching the sunlight like tiny mirrors. Bioluminescent fungi clung to the cavern walls, casting a soft blue glow that pulsed rhythmically, as if breathing with the life of the cave. Delicate white flowers sprouted between the cracks in the stone, their petals trembling with the whisper of an unseen wind.
The air itself seemed alive, humming with an energy both serene and ancient. The sound of distant water echoed softly, mingling with the chirping of unseen birds that seemed too ethereal to be entirely real. Every breath Hermes took filled her lungs with a refreshing, almost otherworldly vitality, easing the pain of her wounds.
And then, amidst the beauty of this strange, dreamlike place, a shadow stood—dark, elegant, and unmistakably familiar. The demon goddess Uvia, clad in flowing black, her long dark hair cascading over her shoulders like strands of midnight. At her feet, a small imp, its tiny clawed hands glowing faintly with healing magic, worked diligently to mend the knife wounds that had nearly claimed Hermes' life.
Uvia's crimson eyes met Hermes' with a knowing gaze, and a faint smirk played upon her lips. "Welcome back, Prophet," she murmured, her voice as smooth as silk, yet carrying the weight of something far more dangerous. "You have a long journey ahead of you." Hermes asked: "Where am I?" Uvia laughed: "Well put simply your in the demon realm, it's a world of countless worlds inside of it, all ruled over by the sovereign your friend and our majesty (Demi) whether they're aware of it or not." The narrator: "The Demon Realm is a gigantic realm made of Qadar the magical element that is like a combination of fire and water, it's about 100,000,000,000 times larger than the known-universe (of the reader), and every drop of water is a separate microverse, really it's about the size of the universe the main-story takes place in (i.e. one of the droplet microverses is that big)." Uvia went on to explain that Mira was likely a member of the Council of Archon where there was a semi-rebellious faction within the court of King Apollo which lay on the exact opposite end of the Universe though not at the level of Mu: the Great Continent. Uvia wasn't sure why the Council of Archon is after Demi but she had a surprise. It was Oghuz and Dreadmarch, two former foes now allies. "They will be your agents, we're placing you in a water-droplet that's full of blind-followers of Demi, so if anyone finds out who you are, well a friend of Demi's is a friend of theirs." Uvia sighed: "You need to join us, the Demon Faction at least for now."
Uvia laughed: "Well we can't kill Ungar because he's immortal but know this. If you refuse to join us. We will kill all of your friends, "your friends from school, Talus, Zaiyal, Qayyim, etc.," and we're not bluffing, we currently have access to incredibly strong fighters."
Hermes' heart pounded. She could still see them—Talus, Zaiyal, Qayyim—their laughter, their warmth, their unwavering belief in her. The very thought of them being hunted, butchered in her name, made her stomach churn with a rage she could barely contain. "You're bluffing," she said through gritted teeth, her fists clenching. "Demi—if they truly are the ruler of this realm—would never allow it."
Uvia smirked, stepping closer, her crimson eyes gleaming like polished rubies. "Wouldn't they?" she whispered, amusement lacing her voice. "Demi's reach is great, but even a sovereign cannot watch every corner of existence at once. The Council of Archon has already made their move. We must act now, or you'll lose everything before you even understand what's at stake." Hermes swallowed hard. Every instinct told her not to trust Uvia, not to fall into the grasp of the Demon Faction. But what choice did she have? For now, she had to play their game. She let out a slow breath. "Fine," she said. "I'll join you. But only to protect my friends." Uvia's smirk widened. "Good," she purred. "Then let us begin."
The cavern walls trembled, the air thickening as a portal of shimmering black flame opened before them. Oghuz and Dreadmarch stepped forward without hesitation, their forms vanishing into the abyss. Uvia extended a hand toward Hermes, the sharp elegance of her fingers glowing with an eerie light. "Come now, Prophet," she said. "Let's see if you truly have what it takes to survive in the Demon Realm." Hermes hesitated for only a moment before stepping into the darkness. Hermes was sent off to her apartment, was told to change her appearance, she cut her hair, dyed it black and fell backwards on her bed, her innocent glow was dead, she closed her eyes and went to sleep. The future was unclear, and one question remained: ….."Why Mira? Why did you do that to me? Mira?"
Meanwhile back on Helios.
Meanwhile back on Planet Helios, Ungar, Qayyim, Zaiyal, Talus, Prince Lupus, Kazan, and Phyron were defending the Qatari army in a battle against Atheist Idol-Worshippers. The war machine attacked from below while from above the seven warriors flew through the air blasting the heretics and disbelievers below with their Ki (Chi) blasts. Some of the soldiers on the other side were fighting in armor that allowed them to fly like what our heroes could do naturally. Our heroes took them on with martial arts from the sky. The battlefield was chaos incarnate. Below, the relentless march of war machines crushed the earth, their mechanical legs pounding into the ground as they advanced on the Qatari army. Towering, armored behemoths adorned with blasphemous sigils belched fire and destruction, their weapons carving through the ranks of the faithful with brutal efficiency. The air was thick with smoke, the scent of burning metal and scorched flesh mingling into a nightmarish perfume of war. Above it all, seven warriors fought like gods among mortals. Prince Lupus led the charge, his white fur streaked with blood and soot, his pink eyes gleaming with battle lust. He tore through the enemy ranks with savage precision, claws slashing through steel and bone alike. Beside him, Kazan, his half-human daughter, fought with a wild, untamed energy, her short pink hair whipping through the wind as she dodged energy blasts with impossible speed. Her fists glowed with raw power, striking like thunder against the enemy soldiers who dared to challenge her.
Zaiyal, the Solarian warrior, was a living tempest. His spiky black hair seemed to stand on end with the sheer force of his energy, his emerald aura burning bright as he carved through the battlefield with inhuman speed. He moved like a phantom, appearing and disappearing in streaks of light, each movement leaving devastation in its wake. And at his side, Qayyim, his human wife, fought with unwavering resolve. She was not as powerful as her husband, but her skill was undeniable. Her blade danced through the air, severing limbs, deflecting blasts, and cutting down the foes who dared to approach her. Talus, the demon warrior, a former-member of the Mozaku (Demon Clan) let loose a primal roar, his fangs bared in a bloodthirsty grin. His spiky white hair stood wild, his green eyes alight with fury. Claws extended, he ripped through enemy ranks like a beast unleashed, his pale skin stained crimson with the blood of his enemies. He reveled in the slaughter, his every movement a ballet of death and destruction.
Phyron, the fire-wielder, was an inferno unto himself. His spiky red hair flickered like flames as he soared through the battlefield, his body wreathed in a blaze so hot that the very air around him shimmered. He rained down fire upon the heretics below, his blasts igniting entire platoons, turning their machines into molten wrecks. And then there was Ungar. The warrior in dark grey armor stood at the center of the storm, his presence an ominous shadow over the battlefield. He did not speak, nor did he make unnecessary movements. He simply advanced, his cape billowing in the wind, his red eyes glowing like twin embers through the visor of his horned helmet. Where he walked, destruction followed. His every strike shattered armor, his very presence sent waves of terror rippling through the enemy ranks.
A group of heretics in flight armor surged toward him, their rifles charging with deadly energy. But Ungar raised a single gauntleted hand, and in an instant, the gravity around them twisted violently. The soldiers screamed as their bodies were crushed by the sheer force of his power, their bones snapping like dry twigs before they exploded into dust.
The sky was a battlefield unto itself. The warriors weaved through the air, engaging in martial combat with the enemy's airborne forces. Lupus locked claws with a heretic commander, their battle a flurry of slashes and counterstrikes. Kazan flipped through the air, landing on the shoulders of a flying soldier before twisting his neck with a single snap. Talus and Phyron fought back to back, unleashing a devastating combination of fire and brute strength that left nothing but smoldering corpses in their wake.
Zaiyal and Qayyim worked in perfect harmony, a blur of motion as they cut down wave after wave of enemy forces. Despite their overwhelming strength, the battle was far from over. The enemy was relentless, their numbers seemingly endless. And then, from the horizon, something massive stirred.
A shadow fell over the battlefield as a colossal war machine, larger than anything the warriors had ever faced, emerged from the dust. It was a monstrous construct of steel and dark sorcery, its surface etched with runes that pulsed with unnatural energy. Cannons the size of fortresses swiveled into place, their barrels glowing with the light of a thousand suns. Ungar's red eyes burned brighter as he gazed upon the new threat. He tightened his fists, the metal groaning under the pressure. But Prince Lupus put out his hand destroying the machine in one blast, the army broke and the battle was won.
After the battle Kazan asked her father. "Hey dad, now that the battle's over can I have some credits, me and my friends are going shopping later today." Prince Lupus replied: "Did your mother say it was alright?" Kazan said: "Yeah dad, you can ask her." Lupus sighed: Pulled out his wrist and typed into it, "there I sent you some credits." Kazan shrieked and hugged Lupus saying: "thanks, you're the best daddy ever!" But Lupus could only think of one thing. "Now that that Prophet is out of the way, I have to manipulate that girl Mira. Excellent, I should have my empire back in no time. And then I can one day rule over this world as a god."
Meanwhile – The Demon Realm
Hermes lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling of her apartment. She had done what Uvia asked—cut her hair, dyed it black, erased the last remnants of her past self. The innocent glow that once radiated from her had dimmed, replaced by something cold, something hardened. She had made her choice. She had agreed to work with the Demon Faction. But as she closed her eyes, the question still gnawed at her soul.
"Why, Mira?"
"Why did you do that to me?"
No answer came, only the silence of the void.
Back at Nova's Compound:
Nova was in his study when Alan (Hermes' husband) entered the room. "Nova I have something to bring up, I wanted to make sure Mira was still asleep [she claimed to need rest after she was traumatized by the death of her friend]. Alan leaned against the cold metal wall, arms crossed, his expression tense. "I'm telling you, Mira killed Hermes," he said firmly. "I don't have proof, but I know it." Nova exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Of course you don't have proof," he said, rubbing his temples. "Because it doesn't make sense." Alan narrowed his eyes. "What doesn't?"
Nova leaned forward, his tone calm but laced with an undercurrent of suspicion. "Think about it. The clone Hermes was fighting—it was unstable. Yeah, it was powerful, but it could have shattered at any moment. I could tell that at a glance. And yet, somehow, it not only managed to kill Hermes, but it also conveniently destroyed both of their bodies beyond recognition? That's too clean." Alan hesitated but said nothing. "And then there's Mira," Nova continued. "Captured by the very thing that was supposedly trying to destroy Hermes? What would be the point of that? If this thing had Mira in its grasp, it should have just killed her—it was foolish to use her (Mira) as leverage. If anything, Mira's 'capture' only served as motivation for Hermes to fight harder and destroy the clone as quickly as possible." Alan clenched his jaw. "So what are you saying? That Mira staged her own kidnapping?" Nova shrugged. "I'm saying the story doesn't add up. But without proof, we're just chasing shadows." He locked eyes with Alan, his voice turning serious. "And that's why you're not going to mention this to anyone. Not yet." Alan frowned. "Why not?"
"Because the wrong people hearing this could be a disaster," Nova replied. "The only ones I'd trust with this are Ungar and Narcis. They're inquisitive—they've probably already started piecing things together on their own. But until we have something concrete, this stays between us." Alan exhaled sharply, nodding. "Fine. But if I'm right—" Nova cut him off. "Then we'll deal with it when the time comes. For now, we wait." A heavy silence settled between them. Neither liked it, but for now, suspicion wasn't enough. They needed the truth. And the truth was still out there, waiting to be uncovered.
In Mira's Room at Nova's Compound, Mira got up thinking of stabbing Hermes over and over again. After all this she (Mira) began to laugh hysterically with tears in her eyes. What was the reason for any of this?
THE END (End of Book V).