Against all odds

Henrietta had just finished teleporting everyone to the edge of Gaia’s domain, which contained only a single massive planet that made even Yggdrasil, the world tree passing through its core, appear tiny in comparison.

Compared to gods like Razim, Dukbium, and Vayu, Gaia’s world gave birth to demigods of all sorts of affinities, and all floated into space, ready to fight alongside their goddess in the incoming war.

They numbered at least twenty times the amount of troops Seth had at his disposal and were the most fearsome force in the simulation. The massive tree towering over Gaia’s armies, growing straight through Gaia’s world core, was as terrifying as it was awe-inspiring.

The multiple miniature worlds that hung onto the roots and branches of the world tree were all surrounded by demigod-level beings, ready to join Gaia in forming the incoming threat.

“This is a little… overwhelming,” commented Maya on Seth’s side, her eyes scanning the sheer number of enemy troops.

“It is, but with Yggdrasil and Gaia’s strict control, they have no divine crowns to rely on besides Yggdrasil and Gaia’s. They might overwhelm us in sheer quantity, but we have the advantage regarding quality,” replied Seth.

“But is that enough?” asked Hollie. “It might have been better to have the seven and eighth shell ascended join us here and not spread throughout the simulation….”

Seth shook his head, “That would have been pointless. We can only rely on the ninth shell ascended. Any weaker ones would have been nothing more than cannon fodder.”

“But do we even have a chance? Even if we can deal with Gaia and Yggdrasil, the demigods will eat us alive… not to mention our armies,” said Henrietta.

“We do. The demigods on Yggdrasil’s side are all borrowing power from her, so they are extremely weak. The ones we must worry about are the demigods from Gaia’s world. They are the real threat,” said Seth as he turned toward Maya, “I’m going to take Yggdrasil alone. I need you all to deal with Gaia and her army.”

Maya frowned and looked at the number of demigods on Yggdrasil’s side as she asked, “Are you sure? They are so many…”

“They are no issue. The real issue is Fenrir, who will undoubtedly show its face once the war begins. I am the only one that can hope to manage the All-devouring wolf. Having all our troops and three gods face Gaia and her armies should be a good match,” said Seth with a thoughtful look.

“Alright. We’ll try to finish as soon as possible and help you out,” said Lisa from the back.

Seth smiled wryly and shook his head, “Finish? I only hope you can match her in force….”

Lisa’s eyes widened as she looked at the woman floating ahead of the enemy armies, “Is she really that strong?”

“You’re all young compared to her. You’ll understand when you face her how terrifying a god of her age can be. Be careful, and most importantly, ensure you don’t do anything reckless. Just fight to protect our demigods and keep her busy.”

As Seth discussed things with his women, the ascended behind them were losing their initial enthusiasm. When they noticed the army they were up against, they wondered if Seth was out of his mind.

Amid everything, Gaia drifted forward, carelessly approaching Seth and his entourage.

Feeling energies building up around him, Seth shook his head and said, “Don’t bother. It’s just an avatar.”

Gaia drifted to stand just a few feet before Seth, “We meet again, Seth...”

“Congratulations appear to be in order. Managing to claim a divinity for the second time. Not a simple feat.”

Seth smiled at Gaia and nodded, “I hoped to throw you a surprise party, but I guess someone forgot its neutrality again.”

Gaia covered her mouth as she giggled and passed her eyes over the girls behind Seth, mostly scanning Lisa and Henrietta, “After robbing the power of my family again, you have quite the gal to come to my doorstep and complain about the world will giving me some tips.”

The smile in her eyes faded as she looked back at Seth, “I used to have a lot of respect for you. The first to challenge the Tower. The first to win its trials. The first to have the courage to change the status quo in the world.”

“Despite knowing your interests and goal will eventually conflict with mine, I still respected you. You were exactly what mother hoped would rise from this world, but then you took it upon yourself to arbitrarily sacrifice her children for your egotistic goals.”

“If this way doesn’t lead you to the destination you envisioned, what are you going to sacrifice next? Are your people even safe from the same fate you forced upon my brothers and sisters?”

Seth shook his head and said, “What I did has little to do with my goal. I only took over from destruction because I had no choice. As for creation, he still lives on -“

“Lives on? Is that what that bitch said?” interrupted Gaia with a scoff. “I don’t know if you are stupid or just too ignorant to realize the truth. Yes, we are all born of the All-mother and are parts of her beings that she had discarded to create us, but we’re also our own living entities. Just like all other wills, we have feelings and emotions.”

“Why do you think the All-mother has sacrificed herself to stop the Sovereign instead of absorbing us all to regain her strength? Do you think she couldn’t kill us herself and regain the power she had lost?”

“She did it because she loved us as her real children. You and that twisted manifestation of desire are both stepping on that sacrifice. You’re all playing god with the wills of my brothers and sisters for your own goals. She wants to gain the power of the All-mother while you want out of this world. You’re both two self-centered bastards.”

Seth frowned, and Lust’s voice resounded in his soul, ‘Don’t listen to her. She’s trying to confuse you and lower the morale of your armies. Look behind you. Everyone is already afraid.’

‘I know…’

Seth turned to look at the ascended behind him, and they were indeed afraid, just as Lust had pointed out, but Seth knew that Gaia’s words were also not exactly wrong.

He completely overtook the greater will ruling over destruction. Still, the other wills were all under Perception’s control, feeding the seed growing inside Katy while their power was left under the control of his lovers.

“You might be partially right, Gaia,” said Seth with a sigh. “But we’re not the villains you make us out to be.”

“While destruction is completely gone, the others are just dormant. I couldn’t afford their wills polluting the ones close to me. Look at Water and Light’s cases. Both agreed to feed the seed on their own…. If the others had done that, I would never have had to use my source to control their wills. “

Gaia scoffed again, shaking her head, “I hoped to be able to speak to you and come to an understanding, but it appears that the witch has already polluted your mind. Claiming you don’t want other wills polluting the ones close to you while you carry two wills inside you, allowing them to dictate your actions….” Quite ironic, don’t you think?

As Seth opened his mouth to speak, Gaia raised her hand and said, “Don’t bother. I have no further interest in whatever you have to say. We’ll let our power speak from now on.”

Following Gaia’s words, her body dissolved into dust, and energies of all kinds flared up from her army’s side. The pressure of Gaia’s forces washed over Endora’s demigods, making the already fearful army of Asteria even more tempted to retreat.

Seth turned to Hollie, and she nodded before spreading her energy to deliver Seth’s words clearly to everyone behind.

Seth cleared his throat and said, “Don’t believe the enemy’s words.”

Seth’s destruction divinity cleared the pressure washing over his forces as he spoke.

“Believe what you had all witnessed in the past, not the enemy leader’s words. Remember what Endora started as and where it is now. She only tries to make you hesitate, so she might have the upper hand in the war.”

“And yes, we are severely outnumbered but remember, we have four gods on our side, while the enemy only has two, one of which has no real combat capabilities. Also, Leora and Razim will make short work of Dukbium and join to reinforce us soon.”

With the fear that had made its way into the hearts of Endora’s demigods turning into confusion and hesitation, Seth’s sources flared with energy, emanating a pressure several times higher than the one Gaia’s troops could create.

Seth’s eyes focused on Yggdrasil, and he roared, “Onwards. To war.”

Following his words, his wives all took energy form and started drifting toward Gaia and her armies. Blair also roared, “Charge,” his body getting covered in a draft of air as he followed the others in the charge.

The armies of Endora hesitated momentarily before joining the charge with a roar of their own. They were still fearful and doubtful they could win, but they knew what losing a war meant. Endora, their world, and their lives will most likely be forfeited. Despite the odds being stacked against them, they had to fight and give it their all, hoping their Emperor could pull off another miracle.

While Gaia and Endora’s armies were approaching one another, out of the tallest worlds in Yggdrasil’s crown, a presence that even managed to match Seth’s appeared, standing directly opposite him.

A mighty silver wolf stood right above Yggdrasil, its body the size of an entire planet. Silvery flames kept sparkling around its fur as its eyes, filled with madness and hunger, stared directly at Seth.

Its massive maw opened to declare the start of the war that would decide the fate of the entire simulation.

*ROAR*