章 104: Return to Sol
- Traveling group -
It was nighttime when the group stepped foot into Sol. They all looked over at the lights of the buildings in the distance. Peter went to put the staff back into the supply cart, attempting to listen in on Lao and Dimitri as he did.
"So this is where it happened?" Dimitri rhetorically asked.
"Yes," Lao said. "This place is usually quite peaceful."
Dimitri sighed. "Well, show me around."
"Do you have the med-" Lao was interrupted.
"I have the medicine, let's go," Dimitri interrupted.
Peter sat down in the supply cart after hearing that. He made a sigh of relief.
'I don't think Lao will be a good guide for ya Dimitri,' Peter thought. 'Maybe he just wants to get a better image of what the battle was like?'
Death and Lucifer were awkwardly silent. They both had things they wanted to say about Sol but both were stuck in their heads. Lao and Dimitri walking ahead of them made Lucifer speak first.
"Do you have the echo?" Lucifer asked.
Dimitri held up the echo while continuing to walk.
"Speaking of the past," Lucifer said to Death, "how have the reparations for the damages been?"
Death sighed. "Ra and Zeus were appeased, and Cthulhu seemed happy enough that Cytus was killed."
Lucifer looked to the right. "I still think there's a case to be made that if Ra and Zeus were actually paying attention to this zone the need for your blight wouldn't have existed."
Death spoke in a serious tone. "Lucifer..."
Lucifer tilted his head left and gave a sideways glance to Death. "I'm not going to say that kind of thing when we're in earshot of them."
Death switched his tone back to friendly, "You know, Zeus might actually be friendly with you now. He doesn't just respect ancients."
Lucifer closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm at the bottom of the upper ranks. I know you view the system as only having five levels but gods like Zeus get more in-depth with it. He didn't treat me well when I was a top-ranked demigod, he won't treat me well now."
"Let's not think about it too much," Death suggested. "Why don't we get something to drink and talk about what we plan on telling Hades?"
Lucifer grinned. "Why not? I'm sure he'll appreciate all the new stories. It's unbelievable how much the human world has changed in such a short time."
The group entered the marketplace of Sol. Lucifer and Death walked ahead, leaving Sabu, Heinrich, Yvere, Peter, and Elijah in the back to deal with questions about the uništi.
"I'm not the owner, Lucifer is, ask him," Yvere repeated to the swarm of merchants. "Little help!" she whispered to Peter.
Peter, holding the reins of Lao's uništi, shouted, "WE AREN'T SELLIN' THEM!"
The merchants flinched at the sound of Peter's voice and backed off. There were still stares from all over but the bombardment of purchase requests stopped. Yvere gave a thankful smile to Peter.
Heinrich stared at Sabu's constantly shifting eyes. "Your eyes are going to fall out of your head if you keep doing that. Especially with the strain of the you-know-what."
Sabu stopped looking around and sighed. "I can't help it. I know the situation is different but that doesn't change what happened."
- Ash and Kahvis -
Ash was walking around with Kahvis, taking in the atmosphere of the resistance's headquarters. She grinned as she looked around at the various races exchanging stories with each other. The mix of orcs, vampires, elves, lycans, demons, and humans made for a very diverse scene.
"You really built something here," Ash said.
"It's not finished yet," Kahvis responded. "They know that."
Ash put her hands behind her head. "Yeah yeah, I know. I didn't join you looking for some mixed utopia. It's a shame what this kind of place takes to build. Speaking of, when exactly are you planning on moving forward?"
Kahvis looked around slowly. "Don't ask me that here."
Kahvis led Ash to a more secluded area. The sound of the headquarters could still barely be heard.
Kahvis gave a serious look at Ash. "I've been patient because of your ties with Lucifer but that ends now. I need an actual idea of why you want to help us?"
Ash folded her arms and smiled. "I guess things are moving forward sooner rather than later, huh?"
Kahvis's face scrunched with irritation. "Just tell me your reason. I, all of us, have enough to deal with without these types of games."
Ash unfolded her arms and held out her hands. She placed her hands palms up and created flames in the shapes of people on horses.
"Let me refresh your knowledge first," Ash said as the flames began to move. "The Riders of the apocalypse."
"I'm aware of the Riders," Kahvis said, their eyes fixated on the flames.
"Of course, most are," Ash responded. "I'm sure you're also aware of the fact that there are worshippers of the Riders. Some of those worshippers created the Church of Death, which later became the Church of Life and Death." The flames in her hands turned into a building surrounded by cloaked people."
"Right..." Kahvis nodded. "What does that have to do with your reasons for joining us?"
Ash chuckled. "You're very knowledgeable of this world, so tell me, do you remember one of the ancient teachings of the Church of Death?"
Kahvis's eyes kept following the flames. "Is 'Immortality is false, all things die' the one you're referring to?"
Ash placed her hands parallel to each other and proceeded to spell out her words with fire. "'Should the gods ever grow complacent once again, should they believe themselves immortal, it is our duty as living beings, to return them to the void with the others.'"
Kahvis stopped watching the flames and looked at Ash. "That teaching was removed because of fears that it would worsen the relationship between lessers and gods. Fury's teachings were seen as the most problematic. All the Riders' teachings had their problems..."
Ash stopped channeling her flames. Her smile became melancholy as she spoke.
"As rough as Fury's teachings were, I believe in the idea behind them. I had resolved myself long ago to just sit back and wait for another Ragnarok, but with your appearance and everything that's happened, I feel like I'll get my chance to realize Fury's ideals."
Kahvis tilted their head. "So you simply wish to kill gods?"
Ash mimicked Kahvis. "Is that a problem?"
"As long as you don't point your magic at us," Kahvis said with confidence.
- Ash -
Ash and Kahvis separated. Ash pulled out her book with the burnt cover and read it as she walked back through the headquarters.
Her thoughts were filled with the teachings. 'Death can be a mercy, and life cruel. We survive until our inevitable ends, where we can be reunited with the void. A true afterlife is no paradise, no prison, nothing. It is merely the place we become a part of. All will reunite in the void as one, even the stars.'
Ash made a gentle smile as she continued reading. 'We don't hope for salvation, nor do we pray. We must create the world we want, lest we risk living in a world of ashes.'
クリエイターの想い 
Gama_Ser
Gama_Ser Chapter fact #41
Sol is considered one of the best drinking spots in the world but rarely sees patronage from other gods.
"Death might singlehandedly be tipping the popularity of alcoholic drinks in Ra's favor."
- Lucifer during a drinking session with Death
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"Please don't say that. Bes is the reason for Ra's beer's popularity."
- Death while tipping a barrel of beer into his mouth
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"I still prefer Valhallan draught."
- Saint
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