Chapter 20: To be brutal
As everyone settled around the grand banquet table, the air filled with the delightful aromas of the diverse dishes prepared by Tezcatlipoca, Hades, and Hestia. Hestia, true to form, was devouring her food with enthusiasm, her plate piled high, evoking a chuckle from Tezcatlipoca, who watched her eat like a dragon savoring a feast.
After a moment, Tezcatlipoca cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the young gods. "Now that all of you young gods are done with your trials, what do you want to learn from the Aztec Pantheon for your war with Cronus?" His voice was steady, yet charged with the gravity of the topic.
A brief silence enveloped the table as everyone exchanged glances, unsure of what knowledge they might need or desire.
Tezcatlipoca took a long sip from his goblet filled with water, the glint in his eyes revealing a mix of mischief and wisdom. "Don't feel pressured to answer right away. I'm going to teach all of you how to be as brutal as the gods in my pantheon. You may not have chosen to come to the Aztec Pantheon, but it happened, didn't it?"
Loki leaned back, his curiosity piqued. "Are you even allowed to train us? What does the head god say about this?" His tone carried a hint of skepticism, and the other gods nodded in agreement.
Tezcatlipoca chuckled, unfazed by Loki's challenge. "You think I need permission to teach? The will of the gods is a complex web, and I have my own ways of influencing it. Besides, a little training never hurt anyone—unless they were weak to begin with."
Hades, who had been quietly observing, interjected, "I understand the value of strength in battle, but what about strategy? Brute force is one thing, but knowing when and how to strike is equally important."
Tezcatlipoca nodded, recognizing Hades' insight. "You are correct, Lord of the Underworld. I will teach you not only the strength and brutality of the Aztecs but also the cunning and strategy behind every move. To conquer Cronus, you will need both."
Hestia, now finished with her second plate, looked up with enthusiasm. "I'm in! I want to learn everything you have to teach! We need to protect our family and everyone we care about."
Demeter added, "If we are to face Cronus, we must also learn about his weaknesses. Any knowledge we can gather will only strengthen our cause."
Tezcatlipoca smiled, pleased with their responses. "Then let's begin our training, starting with the ancient rites and rituals of the Aztec gods. You will learn the importance of sacrifice and the power of intent in battle."
Poseidon raised an eyebrow, intrigued yet cautious. "Sacrifice? You mean to say we'll need to make sacrifices to gain power?"
"Every god knows sacrifice comes in many forms," Tezcatlipoca replied, his tone serious. "It's not just about shedding blood; it's about understanding what you're willing to give up for greater strength and purpose. To wield true power, you must be ready to lose something dear to you."
As the discussion continued, the young gods found themselves captivated by Tezcatlipoca's words, their minds racing with the possibilities. They were ready to embrace the lessons of the Aztec pantheon, determined to gain every advantage they could in their upcoming battle against Cronus.
With the banquet drawing to a close, they felt a renewed sense of purpose and unity, knowing that together, they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.
The next day arrived as Hades was looking at Tezcatlipoca.
Hades looked at Tezcatlipoca. "So um are you sure this is necessary"
Tezcatlipoca looked at them. "Yes why?"
Poseidon just looked. "Really because being tited up in tree with war paint and blood, and then waiting for us to get hit my lighting"
Tezcatlipoca smirked at Poseidon's discomfort, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "This is a sacred ritual of the Aztec pantheon. You must be tied to the tree to invoke the power of the storm gods. The war paint and blood symbolize your connection to both the earth and the divine. Only by facing the elements—lightning, in this case—can you channel the raw power of nature."
Hades, still looking skeptical, glanced at the darkening clouds above them. "I understand the symbolism, but are we really supposed to just sit here and get struck by lightning? There's no… safer way to learn this power?"
Tezcatlipoca crossed his arms, laughing softly. "The path to power is never safe, Hades. You seek the strength to defeat Cronus, yes? Then you must be willing to endure the trials necessary to claim it."
Poseidon, tied up next to Hades on another tree, grumbled. "I get it, but this feels like overkill."
Tezcatlipoca raised an eyebrow, amused. "Overkill? My dear sky god, this is merely the beginning. If you think this is bad, wait until we begin the next phase of your training. Now, stop complaining and brace yourselves. The storm is approaching."
As thunder rumbled in the distance and the wind picked up, Hestia, Demeter, and Hera, standing nearby with similar war paint, exchanged uneasy glances. They were next in line after Hades and Poseidon, and none of them seemed particularly thrilled about the prospect of being struck by lightning.
Hestia, always the optimist, tried to lighten the mood. "Well, at least we'll get some cool lightning powers out of this, right?"
Demeter sighed. "Let's hope it's worth it."
The sky darkened further, and Tezcatlipoca raised his arms, chanting in the ancient Aztec language. The air grew thick with energy, and the tension built as the gods awaited the coming storm.
Metis sigehd. "This is ridiculous"
She walked up to where Hades was tied up, as she was ready to un tie him and Poseidon, she was also cover in blood and paint, then lighting strikes all 3 of them down, as then they someone landing from the a gaitn flying snake
Tezcatlipoca looked at the wing serpent. "Hey there Kukulkan, how have you been"
Kukulkan laughed a with a voice that would female. "I was just seeing this happens and saw someone trying to interrupt so I sent a few lightning using the wind, hey it worked".
Kukulkan body then glowed, as the she turned into a woman, with silver hair and bellow they silver hair was green, she had bit darker skin, but it was more tanned then anything, she was holding no weapon but clearly was wearing Aztec worrier, she had emerald green eyes, that seemed to be them same colour as Nuckler energy
Tezcatlipoca just looked at her. "So you choose to be a woman this them, and a beautiful one in that fact"
Kukulkan grinned as she approached, her emerald eyes gleaming with playful mischief. "I thought it'd be fun to switch things up for a while. After all, when you're a god, why limit yourself to just one form? Besides, the reactions are always priceless."
Metis, who had just recovered from the shock of being struck by lightning, rubbed her head as she glared at Kukulkan. "You didn't have to zap us, you know."
Kukulkan laughed softly, her voice melodic. "Oh, but where's the fun in that? You were about to ruin a perfectly good trial. Tezcatlipoca's methods might be extreme, but they work. Trust me."
Tezcatlipoca chuckled, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group. "She's right, Metis. The trial must be completed as intended. The power of the storm is not something you can just skip. Besides, lightning has its way of… invigorating those who survive it."
Hades, still tied to the tree, groaned as the electricity crackled faintly around him. "Well, I'm feeling pretty 'invigorated' already."
Poseidon, equally singed, glared at Kukulkan. "Next time, a little warning would be nice."
Kukulkan winked. "No promises."
Hestia, who had been watching the whole scene, approached with a raised eyebrow. "So... are we all getting hit by lightning, or is this just a special treat for these three?"
Tezcatlipoca grinned. "Oh, don't worry, Hestia. Your turn is coming soon enough. Kukulkan's just helping speed things along."
Kukulkan shrugged casually. "What can I say? I like to keep things interesting."
As the storm above began to gather strength once more, and the air hummed with electric energy, Metis sighed, wiping some of the paint and blood off her arms. "Ridiculous," she muttered again, but this time there was a hint of acceptance in her voice. After all, they were gods, and extreme trials seemed to come with the territory.
"Let's just get this over with," Poseidon muttered, bracing himself for the next lightning strike.
Zeus looked at Kukulkan. "Ok this is going to sound very rude but why are you a woman"
Kukulkan chuckled softly, her emerald eyes shimmering with amusement as she looked at Zeus. "Oh, my dear young sea god," she began, her tone playful yet wise, "unlike you Olympians, us Aztec gods don't have a fixed gender. We flow between forms, between masculine and feminine, as we see fit. It's part of our nature, of our power."
Zeus, still slightly confused but intrigued, raised an eyebrow. "So, you just... choose?"
Kukulkan nodded. "Exactly. It's all about preference in the moment. Right now, I enjoy this form, but I could just as easily become something else. We don't tie ourselves to one image. We embrace change and fluidity."
Hades, despite still being tied up, smirked. "It's a freedom we don't usually experience, Zeus. Might be a good lesson for you."
Poseidon, still recovering from the earlier lightning strike, grumbled. "I'm all for change, but can we not change into something that keeps hitting us with lightning?"
Kukulkan laughed, her voice rich and full of life. "Ah, but where's the fun in that, Poseidon? You're learning strength in ways you never expected."
Zeus scratched his head, finally understanding. "I see… so it's more about being true to yourself, no matter the form."
"Exactly," Kukulkan replied, her smile warm but filled with the power of the god she was. "True power is in embracing every aspect of yourself, without fear or hesitation. It's something you Olympians might need in your war with Cronus."
Tezcatlipoca clapped his hands together, turning his attention to Metis, who was still recovering from the earlier lightning strike. "Well, Metis, since you, uh, accidentally got involved in this little trial, I guess we'll have to make do. Skadi, you don't have a partner, so looks like there's no extra for you." He shrugged. "That's nice, makes things simpler."
He then looked over to Hera and Hestia, who were standing nearby. "Alright, Hera, Hestia—you're up. Time for your turn."
Hera and Hestia exchanged glances, both of them clearly unsure of what was coming next but knowing they had no choice in the matter. Hera adjusted her new pet cat in her arms, sighing before stepping forward. "Alright, fine. What's this going to be about?"
Tezcatlipoca grinned mischievously, clearly enjoying their apprehension. "You'll find out soon enough. But remember—brutality is key. You'll need to be just as ruthless as any Aztec god if you hope to survive Cronus."
Hestia rolled her eyes, her fiery hair flickering in anticipation. "Great, more trials of fire and blood," she muttered. "Just what I needed."
Kukulkan smirked from the sidelines, her gaze still locked on the Olympians. "Welcome to our world," she said with a wink.
Tezcatlipoca took a step back, giving Hera and Hestia room as he began to explain the parameters of their trial. "This challenge will test not only your physical abilities but also your mental resilience and teamwork. You'll be pitted against some of the fiercest beasts from the Aztec mythos."
Hera crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "And what exactly do you mean by 'fiercest beasts'?"
"Ah, you'll see," Tezcatlipoca replied with a cryptic smile. He then snapped his fingers, and the air shimmered. In an instant, the ground trembled as a portal opened, revealing a dark, swirling void.
From this void, two massive feathered serpents slithered out, their scales glistening in the sunlight like molten gold. Their eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity, and they hissed menacingly as they coiled around each other, ready for battle.
"Meet the Xiuhcoatl," Tezcatlipoca announced. "These creatures embody the essence of fire and fury. Defeat them, and you'll gain not only their respect but a taste of true power."
Hestia clenched her fists, a determined look on her face. "So we need to fight these things together? It'll be just like old times."
Hera nodded, her eyes narrowing at the serpents. "We can't let them intimidate us. We have to strategize."
"Exactly," Tezcatlipoca said, excitement lighting up his eyes. "You'll need to work in perfect harmony. No mistakes, no hesitation. Think of it as a dance of death. If you hesitate, they will strike."
As the Xiuhcoatl slithered closer, Hestia and Hera moved into position. Hestia summoned flames to her hands, creating a flickering barrier of fire between them and the beasts. Hera, feeling the weight of her role as queen of the gods, called upon her own powers to enhance her strength.
"Ready?" Hestia asked, her voice steady.
"Always," Hera replied, her confidence shining through.
With a roar, the Xiuhcoatl lunged forward, flames erupting from their mouths. Hestia met their attack with a burst of fire, while Hera summoned a storm of lightning, combining their powers in a dazzling display of elemental fury. The two goddesses worked in perfect synchrony, countering the serpents' strikes with precision.
Tezcatlipoca watched with satisfaction, cheering them on. "That's it! Show them the power of the Olympians!"
As the battle raged on, the ground shook with each clash, and sparks of magic filled the air. Hestia leapt high, sending waves of fire towards one serpent, while Hera unleashed a torrent of lightning to distract the other.
"Now, Hestia!" Hera called out. "Go for the underbelly!"
Hestia nodded, channeling all her strength into a single fiery strike. As she soared above the Xiuhcoatl, she sent a massive wave of flame directly at its exposed underbelly. The serpent let out a deafening roar as the flames engulfed it, staggering backward.
Hera took advantage of the distraction, summoning a bolt of lightning that struck the other serpent squarely in the eye. It writhed in pain, giving Hestia the opening she needed to launch her final attack.
With a fierce cry, Hestia combined her flames with Hera's lightning, creating a massive explosion of energy that enveloped both Xiuhcoatl. The ground shook violently as the two creatures were overwhelmed, their bodies collapsing under the combined might of the two goddesses.
Panting, Hestia and Hera landed gracefully, the ashes of their foes swirling around them like dark feathers. Tezcatlipoca clapped, clearly impressed. "Well done! You've not only defeated them but demonstrated the power of teamwork. This will serve you well in the battles to come."
Kukulkan nodded in approval. "You both fought with honor and skill. I see great potential in you."
Hera wiped the sweat from her brow, a triumphant smile on her face. "Thanks. That was intense."
Hestia grinned, her energy still pulsing with victory. "And fun! I can't believe how well we worked together."
Tezcatlipoca gestured toward the portal. "You have both earned your place among the Aztec pantheon. Step through and receive your reward."
As they approached the portal, Hestia turned back, a spark of mischief in her eyes. "Just so you know, I'm keeping this as a pet," she said, gesturing at the remnants of the defeated Xiuhcoatl.
Hera laughed, shaking her head. "I think we should focus on the trials ahead, but I admire your spirit!"
With one last look at the battle-scarred ground, the two goddesses stepped through the portal, ready to embrace whatever awaited them in the next realm of their trials.
To be continued
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