"Stan..." the new Mixcoac took a nervous step back as Wilbur hard tone broke out, "were you about to just kill a mortal...a child no less?" Wilbur asked with a hard glare as Stan paled.
The dark skinned girl took the opportunity to bolt away from the scene as fast as her legs would allow as more crow tornados appeared to reveal the teachers of the academy arriving at the scene.
"You're going to answer for that !" Schoffner called out pointing her spear at the aztec Inheritor "I could put you under arrest right now for that stunt!" she spat out.
"Oh please like I answer to morty authority!" Stan snapped before widening his eyes when Wilbur spoke up his voice thundering out.
"But you do answer to MINE and the COUNCIL!" Echoed out Wilbur his eyes glowing, "And you're toeing the line to the Necropolis Stanko!"
The mention of the Necropolis made Stan swallowed hard, he had heard of that place. A prison for rogue Inheritors who went too far, it was the worst punishment that could be dealt.
"Now, explain yourselves" Wilbur said sternly his gaze going to Fern and Jancey as the rest of the teachers began to gather around the scene.
"We were simply helping establishing order.." Jancey replied back.
"you call this order!" demanded the blonde haired form of one Olga Pataki.
She was a tall, thin, young woman with short blonde hair in a bobbed flip style with a black headband. Her outfit was a modern toga style dress of green and whites with a golden sash around her waist and sandals. On her back two large butterfly wings of golden and emerald green fluttered slightly.
"This is the opposite of order!" Olga exclaimed, her wings fluttering in agitation, "And why there are so many frozen people! we need to get them out now!" she added pointing at the ice prison.
Huggins narrowed his eyes at Jancey and Fern, the spear still in his grasp.
"Miss Makani!" he called "can you take care of this?"
The woman in question, was a Hawaiian woman with shoulder length brown hair and a crown of red flowers sitting gracefully atop her head. She was wearing a red Hawaiian dress with intricate fire motifs dancing across the fabric, seemingly alive with every movement she made. The floral pattern was bold, almost fiery in its vibrancy, a stark contrast to the serene expression on her face. Her eyes, a warm hazel, held an intensity that suggested she was no stranger to the chaos that unfolded before her.
"Will take just a moment" she said in calm tone as she closed her eyes.
Her hair began shifting colors to become a fiery red that imitated the movements of lava. The air around her grew warm, almost too warm, as she raised her arms and chanted in a language that seemed to resonate with the very earth beneath them. The ice that had imprisoned the protesters began to melt away, revealing their frozen forms. They stumbled out, coughing and gasping for air, their skin a bluish tint but otherwise unharmed.
NOELANI MAKANI-REINCARNATION OF PELE (POLYNESIAN)
Guards and police approached the unfrozen protesters with caution, corralling them and checking for any signs of injury.
"Oh dear" a teacher approached one shivered protested.
It was Mrs. Wingo, a chubby old woman with a somewhat green skin tone. Her small glasses sat precariously on her nose as she surveyed the scene with a mix of concern and curiosity. She was dressed in a native American inspired outfit with intricate star and spider web designs woven into the fabric. Despite her age, she moved with surprising agility as she went from person to person.
"Here cover with this" she said in kind tone as a blanked of great quality weave itself on her hands.
MARGARETE WINGO-REINCARNATION OF THE SPIDER GRANDMOTHER (NORTHAMERICAN)
Mrs. Wingo had always been a pillar of the community, her home known as a place of refuge and wisdom. Her green tinted skin was a gentle reminder of her lineage, a rare trait passed down from her Navajo ancestor, Spider Woman, the weaver of the cosmos. The townsfolk had grown accustomed to her unique appearance, and in times of trouble, they often sought her out for her calming presence.
"Let's get these folks to the hospital," she said to the nearby officers, her voice filled with genuine care. "Make sure they're all okay."
The police nodded moving to assist the still stunned protesters as emergency services were being called in.
"Tch so much drama for a bit of ice" scoffed Fern, watching as the protesters were being led away.
"A bit of Ice?!!" Principal Huggins' gaze was like a storm cloud on Fern, "You could've killed them!" His grip tightened around the spear "Using Ultimate moves on no-inheritors is against the law!" he called throwing the spear on their direction.
The weapon flew a bit before suddenly breaking into multiple little "stars" that moved in unison towards their true owner before forming into a spear again on Stan´s hand.
"Against civilian and unarmed none-inheritors maybe" said lady Yates with a smirk, "but these ones were in possession of Bronze, they are not innocent bystanders. They are a threat to us all" she added pointing at the retreating crowd "not to mention they attacked the mayor WITHOUT any provocation I must add" the new Athena called out with a shrug. "I think the use of...extra force was quite justified"
"Just because they had Bronze doesn't mean we can just go around attacking them!" Schoffner yelled "This is not how we deal with our citizens!" she added with a scoff "and the Mayor is safe and sound!"
"And that certainly doesnt excuse attacking children BRAAAWWK!!!"
Approaching the group with a sense of urgency was a peculiar figure. An old woman, frail in appearance but with an aura that suggested otherwise, walked with a grace that belied her years. Her eyes, magnified by the lenses of her big curved glasses, scanned the scene with a sharpness that was unnerving. Her nose, beak-like and pointed, quivered slightly as if scenting the air for signs of trouble. Her hair was pulled up into a neat bun, adorned with a golden pin that had the delicate shape of a bird's wings. Her attire was a shimmering golden sari with intricate motifs of birds in flight, the material light and airy as if it could take flight at any moment.
"Tch well I wont apologize for defending myself after they looked for a fight Fowl" scoffed the new Nanook "Also children should know better than playing with dangerous weapons!"
"And yet you had no problem throwing the first punch" Schoffner shot back her hand still on her spear.
"We were defending ourselves!" Fern retorted, her eyes narrowing.
"And yet the first one to act was you, Fern," Schoffner countered, not backing down from the intense gaze of the reincarnated goddess. "These people are scared and looking for someone to blame. You didn't exactly help the situation by turning a protest into a battleground!"
One could feel the tension growing between the mortal cop and the bear goddess, the air thick with unspoken accusations and unyielding wills.
"THATS ENOUGH YOU TWO!" called Huggings summoning his own spear and unleashing a powerful cold gale that forced both Schoffner and Fern to take a step back, "This bickering is not helping the situation!"
The goddess of polar bears scoffed.
"Tch you control your pet" she called "oh wait! thats right, you fired her!" Fern smirked, referring to Schoffner's previous job as one of the Valkyries of the new Odin...thats it until he dissolved the group to focus on being principal of the academy.
At her words, the police woman looked ready to murder Fern, but she was cut off by a new arrival.
"I think thats enough of fighting among us" said the new arrival, his voice a mix of authority and calmness that immediately drew everyone's attention.
The man was indeed tall and muscular, with the proud stance of a Greek statue come to life. His short black hair was cut close to his head, emphasizing the sharp angles of his jaw and the piercing gaze of his deep blue eyes. His armor was a gleaming white, reminiscent of the marble statues of ancient warriors, with intricate gold trimming that sparkled in the light of the setting sun.
"The council sent us to ensure order is restored," he said in a tone that left no room for argument.
"Lord Arkantos is right" said Jancey "we can discuss later how wrong or right we are. For now lets focus on the criminals at hand"
Huggings, Fowl and Schoffner narrowed their eyes not hiding the anger they were feeling towards Fern and Jancey, yet the new Athena's words had a hint of truth in them. The crowd had indeed turned into a mob and the presence of the Bronze weaponry was no coincidence.
"Tch this is not over" said the new Odin "we will having words later!"
The crowd had dispersed with the intervention of the teachers and the arrival of emergency services. The townsfolk were being tended to, their fear and anger slowly dissipating with the warmth provided by the blankets and the care of the medical staff. Yet, the damage was done. The tension between the inheritors and the mortals was palpable, a thick fog of suspicion and mistrust hanging over the town like a storm cloud.
Meanwhile, the teachers of Skyrus Academy began to spread out, assessing the damage and offering aid to any injured bystanders. The town square had transformed from a place of unity to a battleground, and it was clear that healing the rift between the inhabitants of Royal Woods would not be a swift process.
"Homer's Odyssey, this is a mess"
The voice was gruff and slightly out of breath, as the middle-aged man in question pushed through the dispersing crowd. He was indeed overweight, his green eyes peeking out from the shadows of his heavy lids. The bald spot on his head was gleaming with sweat from the effort of his exertion. His goatee was trimmed neatly, giving him an air of dignity that his physical state failed to convey.
He was dressed in a peculiar fashion, a stark contrast to the modern clothing of the townsfolk. His armor was a vibrant green, reminiscent of the lush foliage of the forest that surrounded the town. It was a Japanese-style cuirass, adorned with intricate golden clouds that swirled and danced across the metal plates, giving the illusion of a tempestuous storm frozen in time. The kanji of wind was emblazoned on his chest, fluttering as if caught in a breeze even when the air was still. His outfit was completed by a set of baggy pants and a billowing overcoat, both in the same emerald hue as the rest of his attire.
The man's green eyes searched the chaotic scene, his gaze sharp despite his heavy frame. He took in the shivering townsfolk, the shattered ice, and the glaring tension between the police and the inheritors. His goatee twitched as he took a deep breath, the weight of the situation settling on his broad shoulders.
"Tch I see more a waste of power" called a harsh female tone. "Seriously! THIS is why I train the kids; so they wont waste energy in flashing moves and other trivial things!"
A tall, muscled woman with short spiky orange hair strode into the fray. Her attire was a sight to behold, a blend of Native American warrior garb with beetle motifs that glinted iridescently under the fading light. The beetle's shell served as her armor, a vibrant orange with hints of gold that mirrored her hair. Her eyes were sharp, a piercing blue that seemed to see through the chaos and straight into the heart of the problem. She had a stern look on her face, her full lips drawn into a tight line as she surveyed the scene before her.
"Im talking about the fact a manifestation almost turned into a massacre like this, Laraine" the japanese wearing inheritor retorted, his eyes flashing with irritation "If we had been just one minute more late you can bet that brute of Fern would have done something stupid!"
The woman rolled her eyes.
"Relax Lancer, I know Fern, she is...passionated and like flashy moves but she wouldn't do anything without reason." Laraine said, her voice carrying a hint of defensiveness towards her fellow reincarnation and spar partner on their free days.
Lancer grunted in response, his arms folding across his chest as he looked around the square.
"Without reason...yeah sure" Lancer muttered under his breath, his eyes not leaving the retreating figure of Fern. Despite Laraine's defense, he couldn't shake off the feeling that she had been itching for a fight, and he didn't trust her intentions one bit.
Some distance away, a cop was trying to get some difficult protesters into the vehicles.
"Come on folks," he said in a tired but firm voice, "dont make things more difficult for yourselves."
"You idiots!! those freaks will kill us all!" screamed a man as the police officers tried to restrain him, his eyes bulging with fear and hatred.
"Humans must band together!!! dont be dogs of the gods!!" another protestor yelled, his eyes wild with fear.
"Ragnarok will triumph!!" another protestor shouted, his fists clenched in the air, before being dragged away by the officers.
The chaos of the town square was slowly being contained, but the fear and anger remained. The sound of shattering glass and distant shouts echoed through the streets, a grim reminder of the tumult that had engulfed the town.
"You wont catch me alive!!!"
One protester, a young man with desperation in his eyes, managed to break free from the officers' grip. His heart pounded in his chest as he saw his chance to escape the clutches of the authorities and spread the word of Ragnarok. He had seen the video too, and he knew that the gods were not to be trusted. His adrenaline surged as he pushed through the remaining protesters and security forces; his eyes searching for an escape route.
"Stop!! Freeze!!"
Police were already on his heels as the young man bolted down the street, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His eyes darted back and forth, searching for a way out of the open.
Suddenly, he looked back and stumbled to a halt, his eyes widening in horror as he saw a literal wall of darkness advancing towards him. It grew taller and denser by the second, swallowing the light and sound around it. The shadows seemed alive, writhing and twisting like a serpent made of pure malevolence. The wall of darkness was a stark contrast to the bright lights of the town hall and the fading sunlight that painted the rest of the streets in a warm orange glow.
A demonic form began taking form, a horned-glowing eyes figure emerged from the darkness, and the young protester felt his heart sink into his stomach as two dark wings spread out from its back. The creature was unlike anything he had ever seen, a monstrosity born from the very shadows themselves.
"AHHHHHHH!!!!" the protester screamed, his voice cracking with terror as he stared into the abyss that was the demonic figure before him.
The police managed to catch up at him in time to see him faint on the spot, his body going limp and falling to the ground as if the fear had drained all strength from him.
"Tch...weak" the demonic figure shrunk down losing its monstrous features, revealing the slender frame of a tall, slender old woman with glasses over her eyes, wearing a black button up dress and boots.
LUCILLE BITTERS-REINCARNATION OF CHERNOBOG (SLAVIC)
The woman scoffed at the sun before shadows wrapped around her forming a cloak of darkness that covered her whole body and fluttered like a cape with the same eerie grace she had when she was a demonic creature. She looked over the fainting protester with a mix of annoyance and amusement.
"What a pathetic display," she said in a voice that could freeze the blood, the shadows seeming to pulse around her in sync with her words. "this hardly counts as a reason to bring me out into this disgusting day"
The cops looked unsure if approach to collect the unconscious protester or the terrifying woman that had just emerged from the shadows.
"Oh for the love of...cant you simply DO YOUR JOBS!" yelled a stern male voice that made the cops jump.
They turned to find a man with short, dark hair neatly combed back with a straight cut and slightly trimmed on the sides. His hairline was so sharp it could have been drawn by a straightedge, and his skin had a pale, almost yellowish cast to it. His facial features were severe, with a stern expression that was almost menacing. His eyes were small and dark, with a piercing quality that made one feel as though they were looking into the soul of someone who was not entirely stable. They were set close together, giving him a slightly unnerving look. His nose was long and thin, the tip drooping slightly as if it had been weighted down by the gravity of his perpetual scowl. His mouth was small, the lips thin and pressed together tightly, as if he was constantly holding back a tide of anger or displeasure. The lines around his eyes and mouth were deep, etched into his skin like the furrows of a farmer's field after a hard day's work, lending him a moody or restless air. His cheeks were bony and sunken, making his face appear gaunt. His jaw was square and prominent, giving him a look of determination that was almost as unyielding granite.
Yet the thing that called more their attention, was his body. It was a peculiar mix of human and bee-like characteristics, giving him a slightly unsettling aura. His frame was thin, almost fragile looking, but the way he carried himself spoke of hidden strength and power. He was dressed with some decorative armor with Mayan symbols and bee motifs, which only added to the peculiarity of his presence.
His back was slightly arched, with a pair of translucent, almost ethereal, insect wings sprouting from his shoulder blades. These wings were a deep black on the edge with an iridescence membrane that shimmered under the sun light.
ANTHONY DEMARTINO-REINCARNATION OF AH MUZEN CAB (MAYAN)
"SERIOUSLY!" he called in anger "we have better things to do that lose time with YOU!" the bee-god pointed at the cops "Get him out of here and keep the peace!"
The cops nodded, one of them moving to check the protester's pulse while the other started to handcuff him, his eyes still glancing fearfully at the shadowy figure of Mrs. Bitters.
"You expect us to take him to jail too?" she called with a growl, a hint of annoyance in her icy voice.
The cops hurried to take the unconscious protested away.
"Tch useless donut eaters" Bitter said with a growl of anger.
"No surprise they pushing the brats we teach to come out faster" added Anthony crossing his insect-like arms.
Laraine looked at him with a raised eyebrow as she and Lancer approached them.
"You know as much as we do that we can't just hold them in school forever. Plus, its our duty to ensure they are ready to become the future of our world." she said passionately.
Bitters raised an eyebrow.
"Then we are doom" she said in flat tone.
"Your lack of faith is disheartening, Mrs. Bitters" Lancer said with a shake of his head.
"Im just being realistic" she replied with a shrug.
"Well, realistic or not, we are all in this together" said Laraine with a sigh. "We need to find the truth behind this video and the real culprits before things get out of hand."
"I think you wanted to add a...more..at the end of that phrase" said Mrs Makani as she walked to her fellow teachers "which, after this disaster, dont think will take much for things to get worst" she added with a sigh.
First the monster escape at the elementary school, then the hydra at the park, then this video causing a riot...add the fact no guilty parties have been found yet for the first incident and you have an almost perfect recipe for disaster.
The townsfolk were on edge, their fear of the gods' power and the unknown growing with every passing moment. It didnt took a genius to see that the trust between normal people and the inheritors was fracturing, and if it shattered completely, there would be no putting it back together.
"The Council expects us to deal with this swiftly and with a clear message," Jancey spoke up, her voice cutting through the tension like a sword as she walked to the teachers "We cannot allow the actions of a few to dictate the fate of our entire community."
The teachers looked at each other, some nodding solemnly while others couldn't help but shoot glances of doubt and anger towards the reincarnation of Athena as she and the other two were the ones that had initially engaged the crowd with such ferocity. The tension in the group was thick, a silent battle of wills and accusations that no one dared to voice aloud.
"Lets...just finish clean up around here and then we go talk with the mayor" said Lancer, his eyes still on the retreating cops and the chaos that was slowly dissolving.
The group dispersed to help the townspeople and clean up the mess. As they worked, the teachers couldn't help but keep an eye on the surrounding streets, wary of any sign of trouble that might re-ignite the chaos.
Whatever was mortal...or divine...that was the question.
(Skyrus Academy)
The bell rang announcing the next class.
Young inheritors rushed through the hallways of Skyrus Academy, their chatter a mix of excitement and apprehension. Chandler, his heart racing, slipped away from the bustling crowd. He had an urgent call to make, one that, thanks to the situation going on outside, couldnt wait.
The reincarnated Zeus found refuge in an empty, dimly lit classroom, with walls adorned with ancient maps and diagrams of mythological creatures. He pulled out his phone with trembling hands, the weight of his recent actions sinking in.
"Ugg how is that me trying to reveal that freak of Larry ends up like this?"
Or most likely, think himself as a victim of a plot he didn't anticipate.
He quickly dialed the number he knew by heart, his thumb moving over the screen with more precision than he had ever managed in his classes.
BEEP
BEEP
BEEP.
"I was expecting your call" said a female voice on the other side "let me guess...either you want an actually solution to your problem...or you simply will...thunder your way as always?"
Chandler's face turned red with anger at the words of the woman; if it wasnt because she was the best lawyer he had and because she had help him cover more than one...incident....he would have fired her...literal speaking!
"No, what I want is your boy toy to get rid of those 4 immediately!" Chandler snapped into the phone..before flinching and looking around hopping no one heard him.
"Ok...so thunder your way it is" said the woman with a sigh.
On the other side of the phone, in a luxury office building, was a curvy young woman of Hispanic heritage. She had brown hair in a shoulder-length long bob and dressed in a professional black suit that was tailored to accentuate her figure.
"Out of curiosity, you really didnt see this coming?" asked the woman "I mean, get those Ragnarok out of jail is one thing, but basically kidnap them, locked them away and make them do that video? That's like playing with fire in a room full of gasoline and then complaining when you get burn." she added with a sigh.
Chandler scoffed.
"Look, I just wanted to stir things up a bit, not start a witch hunt" that would have come later once he had his followers begging him to arrest Larry.
The lawyer, Ms. Barlow, rolled her eyes on her end, her hand moving to her forehead in exasperation.
"Look, I understand that your intentions were...less than noble, but you must realize the gravity of the situation," she replied calmly despite her frustration with her client's lack of foresight, "The town is on the brink of chaos. You can't just expect to manipulate events like a chess game without consequences."
Chandler scoffed again, pacing the room.
"Please! if the original Zeus and any of my predecessors could why not me?" Chandler's voice was laced with defiance as he leaned against the desk.
"Chandler, this is not the time for your ego. We need to handle this situation with care before it escalates any further" Ms. Barlow's tone was firm, yet there was a hint of concern in it. "If not is already, or you think Royal Woods is the only town with Ragnarok followers in? if and when this gets out you can bet we will get called from the central office and I dont think you will be able to evade miss Theseus this time"
The new Zeus rolled his eyes.
"Please that woman and her whole lineage have serve my predecessors from centuries" Chandler retorted talking about the head Muse of the Zeus temple "and she's just a glorified babysitter!"
Mrs. Barlow took a deep breath, trying to keep her cool with the stubborn godling.
"Chandler, Miss Theseus is not someone to underestimate. She's the head of the Muses for a reason, and she has the ear of the Council. You need to get ahead of this before it blows up in your face," she warned, her voice laced with a hint of urgency that made him pause in his pacing.
"Of the council in Greece and Europe" said Chandler back "here on the States, she's just another face in the crowd" he added with a smug tone.
Mrs. Barlow sighed heavily into the phone wondering (not for the first time) why she decided to work for the Zeus temple?
"Look! Just get rid of the evidence today and you and your boy can expect a nice 5 zeros bonus on your check this month" Chandler said, his voice dropping to a whisper.
Oh yeah now she remember...The money was good. specially when there was so many "extra jobs" to deal with the messes that Chandler always made.
"Sigh..I will call him and will try get some of our computer guys to erase the video just to be safe" she replied, scribbling down notes on a pad. "But remember Chandler, if this keeps up I can't keep covering for you. Eventually someone is going to find out."
"Don't you dare threaten me!" Chandler's voice boomed through the phone, his anger palpable. "You're just a hired hand! You do what I say or I'll find someone else!"
CLICK!!
And with that the call was cut.
Mrs. Barlow's eyes narrowed at the sound of the call ending abruptly. She knew Chandler was a hothead, but his lack of foresight was becoming a real concern.
"Ugg all the power of one of the rulers of the cosmo in the hands of an egocentric brat" scoffed the woman "I swear...". She sighed heavily and took a moment to compose herself before dialing another number "Well I guess I shouldn't complain, it keeps me busy and with a big bank account"
The perks of working with the gods were, admittedly, quite tempting. But sometimes, she really wondered if it was worth the headache.
She paused from dialing
"Should I had mention about the shrines in town being attacked?"
At the end she shrugged; he will learn about those later.
As the call ended, Chandler stalked out of the room, his mind racing. The thought of being exposed as the mastermind behind the video was unthinkable. He needed to fix this mess, and fast.
BAM!
The door of the classroom opened with force, banging against the wall, causing Chandler to jump in surprise.
"What the hell do you want?" Chandler snapped, expecting a teacher or perhaps even a student who had heard his outburst and had come to confront him.
"Shishishi"
Instead it was just the janitor, an old Chinese man with mostly shaved head, with a fringe of dark, shoulder-length, straight hair, that hanged down around their face and a wild look in his eyes, leaned on his broom and chuckled to himself.
"Shishishi" the man laughed "well this is a surprise..shouldnt you be on classes young man?" He asked with a knowing smile.
Chandler scoffed at the morty janitor, his eyes narrowing.
"Whats with you old man? You've got something to say or you just like to sneak up on people?" Chandler barked, trying to regain his composure.
Much to his annoyance...the man was using his pinky to pick inside his ear.
"Im sorry you said something? think have something on my ear shishishi" the janitor replied with a laugh.
Chandler feel his anger growing causing some sparks to emerge from his hands.
"Just get out!" he ordered the janitor, his voice echoing with the thunder of his ancestor.
Much to his raising anger...the man simply laughed.
"Shishishi...Im afraid I cant do that young lord" the janitor said still with that same smile that was starting to annoy Chandler to no end "you see, I was asked to clean this classroom and as such I will" He said before continuing his job of sweeping the floor.
"I said get out!" Chandler snapped, the thunder in his voice growing louder.
"My my thats quite the thundering aptitude" said a female voice that made the new Zeus stiff.
On the door way was a teacher with frizzy red hair pulled into an unkempt bun dressed in a simple deep blue dress with reptile pictured on it, red low heels and lizard themed earrings.
"Shishishi good one Ms. Frizzle" laughed the janitor before turning back to Chandler "You see young lord, teachers have priority over mere janitors" He said before resuming his sweeping.
"Hehehe actually you have priority as you clean always before and after us Mr. Wu" laughed the teacher with a kind smile before turning to Chandler "And actually I dont think this is your classroom Mr McCann" she said with a knowing look.
Chandler felt his cheeks burning with embarrassment. He had forgotten where he was for a moment, too caught up in his own anger and fear.
"Fine," he grumbled, stomping out of the room. All he could do for now was to wait and hope that morty of a lawyer he had actually do her work and get rid of the evidence. If not, he would just have to deal with it the old-fashioned way: with brute force.