The low hum of chatter echoed through the hall, carved deep into the mountain's stone. At the core of the mountain, the group sat in a circle around a firepit, as monkey servants brought trays of beef, sticky rice, glazed vegetables, and jugs of spiced wine. The smell of roasted meat and herbs captivated the air.
Nezha leaned back, resting his spear beside him, while Orion sat legs crossed beside Silver and Heracles.
The werewolf tore into a hunk of beef with frightening enthusiasm, and grease stained his jaw. He devoured with both hands- growling, crunching bones, and slurping rice all at once.
Orion stared in disbelief. "Does he even chew?"
Across from him, Heracles laughed, already halfway through his fourth serving. His muscles bulged with each motion, broad as a bear, with veins snaking down his arms like tiny rivers.
Orion glanced down at himself- lean, wiry, still marked with scars. He turned to Susanoo, who sat perfectly upright, carefully slicing his beef into precise cubes. He chewed slowly, wiping his lip with a cloth after every bite; every motion was calm and deliberate.
Even Wukong, who sat beside Susanoo, was somewhere in between—his toned arms marked by battles, his frame compact but undeniably powerful. Orion could tell there was no wasted space on his body. He had the kind of strength that lived in motion, not bulk.
They're all so unique, Orion thought. But all of them are Strong.
Wukong took a bite of his beef, chewed casually, then looked over at Nezha. "So," he said, swirling his cup of wine. "What have you been up to since the seal cracked?"
Nezha took a sip of his cup and tapped his fingers against the rim. "Not much," he said. "But I did find something interesting."
The fire crackled as the group gave him their attention.
"The veil between realms is still thin," Nezha continued. "Travel is possible but limited. That said, some of the divine domains are starting to manifest again. Olympus is back—floating strong above Greece. But others like Avalon... and Kailasa?" He shook his head. "Haven't reappeared."
Wukong scoffed and laughed. "Kailasa? Shiva doesn't need a home. That bum would meditate in a volcano and call it luxury."
Nezha chuckled. "He probably would."
"It's strange though," he went on, tone shifting. "There's no real pattern to what is returning and what isn't. I don't think it's random- but I don't think it's natural, either."
He looked around the circle.
He looked around the group.
"One thing I do know- Zeus is number one on the demons' hit list."
Orion tensed. A chill ran through his spine. Just hearing demons brought back the stench of sulfur.
He looked Nezha dead in the eye.
"Do you think... they can kill Zeus?"
The fire seemed to flicker harder, like the question shifted the air.
Nezha cracked his neck and stretched forward. "There are demons out there- old ones- that could go toe to toe with any god. Zeus included. But..."
Wukong cut in, waving a finger. "They'd never get the chance. The type of demons Nezhas is thinking of- if they ever tried to step out of the underworld, the angels would sense it."
Nezha nodded. "Exactly. Moving at that level sets off alarms. And let's not forget the Greeks—they've been one of the strongest pantheons since the dawn of time. It'd be suicidal to charge them head-on."
Susanoos' cup slipped from his fingers. It clattered on the stone.
"They must have a plan," he spoke quietly. "No one makes that kind of threat without a path to follow."
Silver, mouth still full, laughed through a chunk of beef. "Underestimating demons," he mumbled, "Is the first step of dying."
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and threw a bone into the fire.
"As a monster, I can tell you- some of our kind might see this as an opportunity. The gods have never been loved by all. If demons offer the chance to rewrite the world... there'll be monsters that will join them without hesitation."
Orion looked stunned. "But... why? Why would monsters ally with demons?"
Silver shrugged. "Simple. Same enemy."
He leaned forward, eyes glowing faintly in the light.
"Most monsters just want to be left alone. But gods? They hunt us. Banish us. Seal us. Make a sport of our deaths. Now the gods are vulnerable, and something worse is on the rise? Sounds like karma to some folks."
Wukong sighed, resting his chin on his fist. "He's not wrong," he muttered. "I can already think of a few who'd throw their lot in with Hell just to watch Olympus burn."
"The first dragon comes to mind."
Silver immediately choked on his drink.
"She? Oh, she'd join in a heartbeat," he muttered, as if dragged into a nightmare. "I can already hear her voice. 'Chaos is the true balance,' or whatever nonsense she spouted."
The room went quiet for a moment.
Nezha took a breath. "I still have more to investigate. There's too much we don't know yet."
Orion leaned in. "What's the biggest issue you're facing right now?"
Nezha didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he turned to Wukong.
"Where do you stand in all of this?" he asked, his voice calm but firm. "Are you going to stay on the sidelines… or are you getting involved?"
The fire snapped loudly between them.
Wukong didn't speak. Not yet.
But the flame in his eyes said more than words ever could.