Fort Arashi

Akuro watched as his troops moved towards the gates of hell, entering the Midrealm in mass. A massive three headed dog with chains enshrouding it's body sat by the doors. The exit didn't simply lead out into the real world, it was more like a portal. Once you walk through the red wall of aura, you emerge through cracks in the earth in your desired location.

Mettrag and Kessana had already built a fort in the center of what used to be New York, and what Akuro now called Fort Arashi, the beginning of the greatest storm. He got the name not just from his recent battle with Raijin, but also as a symbol. A symbol of the first life to be taken for this war between he and the gods, the first bolt of lighting in a storm of many.

He stood, arms crossed, atop a Boulder as waves of demons marched forward. He wore a large black cloak, torn and ripped at the ends and two holes cut into the shoulders, elbows and his hands where the metal spikes protruded from his body. The cloak was open down the middle, exposing his bare chest while the hood was pulled over his head.

Inari walked up behind him, watching in awe as the demons moved in a constant flow towards the gates.

"Do you really intend to kill the gods?" She asked.

"I do." Akuro answered simply. "And you are going to stay out of my way."

"Out of your way?" She asked, then sighed, realizing that was the same thing he always said, not matter what. It was always the same story with him, anyone in his way, no matter who it was, was an enemy to him. "Fine. I won't try to stop you, but what do you plan on doing after the war?"

Akuro was quiet for a moment. He wasn't certain of what he'd do, if he was to be honest, he had no idea. Up until then, he's only been living in the moment with no concern for the future. He had no intent to change that.

"It doesn't matter." He said. "All that matters is the fall of of the gods."

Inari watched Akuro, as if she were trying to peer into his soul and find something missing, but she shook her head. "Do as you will."

"I plan on it."

•

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God sat below a small tree with soft brown wood and lush leaves that seemed to give off a faint glow, golden flowers illuminating the small garden in full bloom.

Aphrodite sat, legs crossed, a couple feet away, her eyes closed in concentration. The garden was silent for a long time, relaxing and calm, but then Aphrodite suddenly gasped, hunching over.

"See something, did you?" God asked, not even opening his eyes to look at her.

"The gates of hell have opened, the demons seem to be creating some kind of fort in the city called New York, or what's left of it.." Aphrodite said. "There appear to be three Archdemons at the surface currently and a steady stream of lesser demons... there is also a space of emptiness, like a hazy blackness, I can't see anything there, and that is where they are all going."

"I see, that's the work of the maiden of the night, Kessana. She can nullify our sight. It would appear that they are constructing a base of operations on the surface..." God spoke. "Which also means Raijin failed, so he must be dead."

"Which means.."

"The war has officially begun, and our enemy has first blood."

"Why don't we just attack full force and wipe them out? They are out in the open.." Aphrodite offered.

"Because I doubt they'd set up there without some kind of trap in mind. There must be a reason they chose their current location."

"Why didn't they just stay in Xinoll?"

"I'm guessing it has something to do with Raijin invading them without taking the known routes. It must've thrown them off guard so now they don't think Xinoll is safe, which is a correct presumption." God grinned. "That boy... he is crafty. He reminds me of him..."

"Him?"

"Don't worry about it." God said, waving his hand. "You say only three Archdemons are on the surface?"

"From what I saw before they went into the null zone, yes."

"Hmm, then send Notus. We will use him to test their strength a bit, maybe even weaken them. I think poking and prodding them from a distance is the best move for now, since we don't know what they are capable of."

"Yes, I will relay the message immediately, your majesty." Aphrodite bowed, then vanished behind a wooden door.

When she was gone, God couldn't hold his smile any longer. It had been a long time since he'd been at war, and he couldn't help but be excited to spill blood.

•

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•

Tetsuno stood atop one of the watch towers constructed by Mettrag's troops, watching as streams of demons poured onto the surface from the gashes in the earth, red light illuminating the immense crater that was made from previous battles. The night sky was cloudy and dark, not a single star in sight, the moon being the only light in the infinite darkness of the night, casting an eerie glow through the clouds.

"Tetsuno!" Came Kessana's voice. "What are you doing? Shouldn't you be helping us?"

Tetsuno's head tilted as he turned to look back at her. She was standing at the top of the stairs glaring at him. He attempted to speak to her, but only inaudible, ghostly whispers came out of his mouth.

"I don't care if you are supposed to be on watch or not. There is no way the gods will be so hasty to attack us this soon, just help us."

Tetsuno hissed, plumping himself down on the edge of the watch tower.

Kessana let out a frustrated groan. "Fine, do whatever you want, don't come crying to me when..." her words faded out of earshot as she descended the stairs.