Divine Ascension: Reborn as a God of Power

Chapter 28 - The Council of New Gods (Part 2)

When the day of the Council arrived, Aegle and I changed into our best clothes (I did so mainly because she pressured me) and waited for Hermes to come and pick us up, which he did right on time, not a second too early or too late.

He appeared in the middle of the clearing with a flash of golden light, dressed more formally than usual, though with his usual carefree air. He looked us up and down with a mocking smile.

"Well, well. Who would have thought that the Guardian of Power also knows how to wear robes without looking like a homeless?"

"Don't get used to it."

"And you, Aegle? Impeccable, as always. If someone had told me you were a Hesperid, I would have thought they were exaggerating."

Aegle laughed gracefully. "And if someone had told me you knew how to give sincere compliments, I would have thought they were exaggerating too."

"Touché," said Hermes, and then he snapped his fingers. "Well, it's time."

With a single gesture, he opened a glowing portal in the air. A gust of warm wind brushed our faces. Aegle took my hand naturally, and together we crossed the threshold, guided by Hermes.

On the other side, we were greeted by a large hall made of white marble and carved glass, suspended above what appeared to be a floating platform in the middle of the sky. The sun shone through a translucent dome, where golden clouds floated slowly, as if time itself moved more slowly there.

The gala had already begun.

Dozens of divine figures gathered in small groups. Some had auras so intense that they could almost be touched, others were more discreet but no less imposing. There were youthful-looking gods, some with animal features or glowing wings. Others were completely human in appearance, but with a distinct divine aura.

A semicircle of marble columns surrounded the place, decorated with divine emblems in constant motion. In the center, a round table—literally round and floating without support—seemed to await the start of the meeting.

"Wow..." Aegle murmured. 'I didn't expect something so... lavish."

"I did," I said without thinking. "That's why I asked you to come with me, love."

In response, Aegle turned to look at me and gave me a flirtatious smile.

Meanwhile, Hermes stepped forward, turning on his heels.

"Welcome to the First Council of New Gods. Try not to fight, break anything, and please... try not to murder anyone. At least not until after the toast."

"That already happened before?"

"More than once. And in smaller councils."

Aegle and I looked at each other. I just snorted and adjusted my cloak.

"Now what?"

"Now you introduce yourself," said Hermes, pointing to the table. "And pray that you don't get to sit next to the god of eternal wine. The last one who did has been drunk for three centuries."

As soon as we took a few steps toward the center of the room, I noticed several glances turning toward us. They weren't hostile, but they weren't neutral either. Curiosity, evaluation, interest. I suppose it wasn't every day that a new god with a reputation for repeatedly rejecting an invitation to Olympus appeared at a gala.

The murmurs among those present grew louder, and before I could say anything sarcastic, Hermes clapped his hands loudly, and the sound echoed throughout the hall.

"Attention, gods present! I present to you Akhon, Guardian of Kaeron, God of Power and Guardian of the City of Kaeron, and for better or worse, one of the most remarkable gods there is."

More laughter than I expected. I guess some people liked theatrical entrances.

I stepped forward, still holding Aegle's hand, and bowed my head in a slight reverence.

"It's a pleasure. I didn't think I would be greeted with such fanfare, so... thank you, I guess."

Then a figure approached from the center of the room. His gait was relaxed, but each step seemed deliberate. Dark hair with crimson highlights fell over a tunic decorated with infernal motifs and intertwined lightning bolts. He carried a cup of wine in his hand, though it didn't look like he had drunk much. Yet.

I recognized him almost immediately, based on Hermes' description. This had to be Zagreus.

One glance was enough to see that he was everything Hermes had suggested: arrogant, self-assured, brilliant... and with an aura that exuded power and ambition.

"So this is the famous Akhon I've heard so much about," he said, stopping in front of me. His smile was that of someone who was used to being the center of attention. "I thought you'd be taller."

"I thought you'd be less of an asshole," I replied without thinking, keeping my smile.

There was a pause. For a second, I thought I'd put my foot in it. But then Zagreus burst out laughing.

"I like you. At least you're not one of those who grovel to get me to like them. Welcome to the council. This is a celebration, not an interview. So relax. You're one of us now."

I nodded. "Thanks for the invitation. I don't usually attend things like this."

"I know. That's why I wanted you here. New gods need to unite. To create something greater. Olympus isn't the only throne in the heavens, you know? Here, everyone has a voice. Even you, Guardian."

With one last smile, Zagreus raised his glass to me in a toast and then walked away to talk to another delegation of gods.

"Well..." I said, letting out the breath I had been holding. "That wasn't so bad."

"You were great,' said Aegle, squeezing my hand. "And your response was perfect. I love you for that."

"For that?"

"Don't get me wrong, I mean the way you are, Akhon. You're one of the few gods I know who doesn't act like an asshole."

I gave her an honest smile and led her over to where several groups of gods were chatting animatedly. It was time to socialize.

We crossed paths with a cat-faced god in a purple robe, who offered us floating grapes without saying a word. Further on, an ice goddess greeted us with an elegant bow, and another—who looked more like a column of fire with eyes—watched us with interest.

One by one, we began to introduce ourselves, exchanging words, jokes, and anecdotes. It was a heavenly circus... and I, curiously, didn't feel out of place.

After a while of socializing—and politely declining at least three glasses of ambrosia that smelled too strong to not leave me with no memory the next day—I began to relax. Aegle was talking to a goddess of spring who seemed interested in Kaeron's crops, while I chatted with a certain Theros, a minor god of echoes and rumors who knew more about me than I did myself.

That's when a magical tinkling sound rang out throughout the hall. The conversations ceased, and all the cups were raised almost instinctively. Zagreus reappeared, this time standing on a raised platform, his cup held high and his well-practiced host's smile in full display.

"Dear and glorious ones," he began, his voice magically amplified, "today we raise our glasses not only to the existence of this new council, but to the promise of what we can build together. A new future, new alliances... and new opportunities to show Olympus that we matter."

A round of applause followed, though some did so more out of protocol than genuine enthusiasm.

"Let's drink to who we are, to who we will be, and to what old Olympus never dared to imagine!"

We all raised our glasses. Even me. I took a sip. It wasn't bad, it tasted like something between sweet wine and bottled lightning.

And just when everything seemed to be going surprisingly well... a cry rang out from across the main table.

"I told you not to touch it, you idiot!"

We turned almost in unison. Two gods had stood up. One appeared to be a god of volcanic fire, or at least that's what he looked like with his magma body and obsidian horns; the other seemed to be more of a sea deity with tentacles for hair. In front of them, a bowl of exotic fruits appeared to have been overturned, and a small elemental salamander was spitting fire at a giant oyster.

"That was my sacred familiar, you idiot!" shouted the sailor, as his hands began to glow with abyssal energy.

"Well, don't put it next to the hot sauce if you don't want him to mistake it for an appetizer!" bellowed the other, literally setting his hair on fire.

The first blow came quickly. A wave of pressurized water slammed into a column. The counterattack was a rain of fiery fragments that exploded on the table. Instantly, several gods rose to separate them... or rather, to join the fight out of sheer enthusiasm.

And then, chaos.

A god with raven wings swooped down on a shadow demigod who, as I could hear, had made an inappropriate joke. A goddess of mirrors began to duplicate herself, throwing illusory versions of herself throughout the hall. That was when I saw Zagreus, who had summoned a spear made of lightning and threw it at a creature with a glass body that reflected the impact toward another group of guests.

Apparently, even the host was joining the party.

"Does this always happen?" I asked, ducking as a table flew over our heads.

Hermes, who had reappeared at our side with a glass in his hand and an amused expression, replied as if we were talking about the weather.

"The fight? Yes. It's almost a tradition at any gathering of gods, more or less. There comes a point where the egos don't fit in the room and someone breaks something. But don't worry, it's nothing personal. They get bored in a few minutes."

"You mean this is part of the event?"

"What's a council of gods without a little battle between egomaniacs with cosmic powers?"

Aegle looked at me with a raised eyebrow, clearly ready to intervene if anyone dared to touch us.

"Are we just going to stand here watching, or are we going to participate?" I asked, halfway between joking and resignation.

"You decide," she replied, smiling. "But if anyone ruins my dress, I swear by Artemis that I'll smash a vase over their head."

I didn't know whether to laugh or start channeling my divine energy... so I did both.

And there we were: in the middle of a battlefield enveloped in music, lights, screams, and magic bolts flying through the air. My first invitation to an event, and it ended up looking like a coliseum arena.

Perfect. Now it was time to kick some asses.