Chapter 24
They later appeared in the Axis Nexus, a place connecting all the worlds together. A large floating land mass, which had formed on a skull of a beast, slowly drifted. It had beautiful flowers and an enchanted aurora atmosphere blending in with the cosmos giving it an unreal appearance.
Nyx sat beside a majestic, mature man in the prime of life with a robust, muscular athletic build, wavy shoulder-length hair, and a thick, flowing dark beard, Zeus. Close to him was a specter and an eagle perched on it.
Seated beside him was a pale, soft, unblemished skin, a mark of divine status and aristocratic beauty, wide, luminous, and cow-like eyes, which symbolized her nobility and calm beauty.
She gave warm smile to Nyx.
"How nice of you to be her right Zeus?"
She turned to Zeus who sipped from his wine glass nervously.
Both women looked at each other and with a devious smile laying on their lips. Nemesis, Nemisis and Lilith occupied the empty seat close by.
A tall, imposing figure rose up with a cup of mead in his hands. He had a thick, cascading gray beard denoting immense age and status. He had only one visible eye.
He wore a purple tunic and cloak of imported luxurious fabrics, a gold ring, along with heavy gold armbands showcasing his immense wealth, winter cloaks pinned at the shoulder with large, ornate golden jewelry featuring animal-style carvings.
This is Odin.
"Well, it seems the night has finally arrived, and with some new faces," he said. "Welcome all to this feast I don't even know why we are having it."
"Father." a blazing red-bearded and red haired man with broad-shoulders said. He looked heavily muscled and was eating an entire leg of an oxen.
A short-handled hammer lay beside the meat; he had on iron gauntlets and a belt wearing rugged hides.
"If I may, we need not hear your boring introductions."
"Silence, earthly princess Thor. I was wondering when you did dye your hair to fit the human media depiction of you." Odin said with a chuckle.
Zeus laughed.
"Hey old man," Thor pointed the leg bone at Zeus. "At least I didn't die by my angered son."
He then pointed it at Odin, "It hurt me to see you to be known as a wise peace-seeking father."
"Watch your tongue boy," Zeus said, with a lightning bolt forming in hand.
"Why don't you make me" Thor placed a hand on his hammer.
"gods I'm, I right" A short human-sized monkey stared at Nemisis.
He had a fiery-gold eyes golden, his body hair was golden, paired with a receding crown typical of a macaque with a tight golden headband a simple silk shirt paired with a tiger-skin kilt tied around his waist. A heavy iron staff banded with gold at both ends laid on the table before him.
Nemesis focused her gaze at him, "Well if it isn't the Hubris himself."
Wukong smiled, "Never thought you did be here this time. Finally got to meet the one whose name is tied to Adrasteia."
Nemesis slammed a scale on the table, which drew attention to them.
"I always saw this coming." A broad, lion-like chest, golden-hued figure said.
He had long arms that his fingers could reach his knees without bending over. Sacred symbols etched onto the soles of his feet and palms, and subtle webbing connecting the fingers and toes. He is draped in simple, layered red monk robes covering one shoulder and seated in the full lotus position.
Beside him was a muscular human body with the sharp, alert head of a canine, wearing a traditional pleated royal kilt around his waist.
He nodded his head in agreement.
Wukong leaned in. "Interesting, I'm I going to atone for my crimes?" Wukong tossed a grape in his mouth.
"I always like testing my judgement at flies like you, the one who claims to be 'equal to the heavens'" she scoffs. "How cute."
"You nearly broke the table, lady. I call for justice for this harmless table!" Wukong teased. "Not to mention, disrupting a perfectly good feast seems like a crime against balance to me."
"Look at the scales! See how they tip violently? Every time you leaped across the sky, every time you struck down a divine decree, you stole luck from the mortal realm.
For you to be this great, millions must suffer in lack. Your very existence is a cosmic theft!" she said.
"You forget one thing, goddess'' he said.
"And what might that be?" she asked.
"I didn't ask for your permission to exist. When the heavens came after me, I didn't steal their peace—I just showed them that their walls are made of clay.
If your 'universal law' can be broken by a monkey with a heavy stick, maybe your law wasn't all that strong to begin with." he said. "And what do you have to say with them confusing your name, making it a title for a mortal enemy. Those you seek justice for even know little of your existence."
"Wukong." Buddha said calmly. "The teacup can only hold so much water before it ruins the table. You can't go up against her. Mind your arrogance."
Sun Wukong sighed, bowing slightly toward Buddha, though his eyes stay glued to Nemesis.
"I hear you, Master. But she's the one knocking over the teacups."
He leaned in close to Nemesis, his golden eyes flashing. "So, what's it going to be, Lady? Are we going to keep staring at your little toy, or are you actually going to try and make me pay for my drink?"
"I see you want to go through it again. Listen to Buddha, kid. I am someone you don't want to mess with." she Nemisis. "Would you like to go against him rather.''
Nemisis spat out his wine, "What?"
"Don't be silly, Nemesis," Anubis said. "Who is mad enough to challenge a sleeping one and a heartless one at it."
"sleeping? heartless?" Nemisis brows furrowed.
"How strong is your resolve?" Nemesis added. "You've made it so your titles mean nothing to your ear."
"I don't know if his fate is worse than mine or not," Thor said, and chugged three cups of mead. "Not being able to hear your name."
As they continued to talk, the voices faded out, Nemisis could only see the movement of their lips but heard nothing. Lilith's hand began to tremble.
"Did you hear all that?" Zeus asked Nemisis.
"Hear what?" he asked.
Wukong looked at Nemisis, "So, what do they call you oh scary heartless one?" he teased.
"Oh, Nemisis, but with an 'i' instead of 'e'." Nemisis replied.
Wukong looked at Nemesis then at Nemisis. He then squint his eyes, "Are you two related?"
"No, she and my mom are friends," he replied.
"Speaking of your mother," Buddha said. "I doubt she will be coming to today's feast."
"So what brings you here, little Nemisis?" Zeus asked.
"And whom might that question be at?" Nyx calmly asked.
"I... I mean him of course." His voice cracked.
"You were always portrayed powerful. It's hard to watch you in this state" Odin mocked.
"I am here to ask the whereabouts of the world serpent." Nemisis said.
Thor stared at him, silent then he spoke. "You will find him at where he has always been. Say, why don't you help me wipe him and the his other serpentine friend?. I believe the world has had enough of their shenanigans"
"Foolish boy," Odin called.
"In search of the 9th Daimon, I presume," Buddha said. "If you find him, tell him I am still looking for that tea talk."
"Come, my little one," Nyx said. "Let me feed you in preparation for your journey."
Nyx grabbed Nemisis and sat him down. She began to feed him meat and wine like a mother feeds her baby. Zeus looked at them, then at Hera, who stared at him dead in the eye. He then took a sip firm his wine glass.
Wukong looked at Lilith. "And whom might you be?"
"She is his significant other," Nemesis said. "They have some weird master and slave kink."
Lilith blushed.
"I am ready to send him whenever you are," Thor said.
Nemesis looked at her mother, Nyx, who was forcing food into Nemisis's mouth.
"Mom! He had enough" she said.
She pulled Nemisis from Nyx's grasps.
"Oh my dear, tell me when again will I get to feed the &#$$#@ of the $%##@!!"
Nemisis looked around, confused.
Nemesis hugged Nemisis. "Remember to visit when you have the time."
"Okay, but-"
Thor struck his hammer, and a chariot driven by goats swooped int carrying Nemisis and Lilith. Before Nemisis could finish his sentence, they disappeared into the cosmos.
Wukong turned to Nemesis. "My offer is still available."
Nemesis smiled.
Odin rubbed his fingers between his eyes. "This is going to be a long feast."
"And I am not surprised." a voice said from behind.
A well-built yet dancer-like and graceful stood behind, featuring broad shoulders, a deep chest, and a slender waist. His tone is mystical dark blue, and he had broad, lotus-petal-shaped eyes radiating with immense presence.
A mayurpichha tucked neatly into his dark, curly hair. Clothed in bright yellow silk garments that shine like lightning against his dark skin.
Beside him was a woman with smooth face of a young maiden. She wore a crown of fresh flowers and bright green feathers from the quetzal bird seated in her hair.
She wore detailed, upper-class garments and a decorated cape. Heavy gold necklaces, large earrings, and arm bracelets adorned her, along small green horns on her head.
"Krishna, Xochiquetzal, glad you could make it" Odin said.
"I can feel it," Xochiquetzal said. "A Great One was here."
"It was just a vessel," Nemesis said.
"Then the vessel needs to be disposed of. It has lost its purpose." Krishna said.
"That is something non of us can be bothered with," Buddha said. "Haven't you seen fate lately?"
[ In the dark void exists a being.
But don't be fooled-
For this being is the void itself...
and beyond even that.
The darkness is merely its presence.
Then-
a bloody red eye opened.
2/9 eyes are opened ]