The group sat down outside, the crisp air wrapping around them as they eased into conversation.
Volk: Hey kid, what's Greece like?
Lykos: Huh, oh... it's a very strict place when it comes to the names of heroes and gods. If you even smell like you're gonna talk bad about someone like that, then... you'll find yourself in a lot of trouble.
Volk: Really now? That sounds stupid. What's the point of putting them on a pedestal if people like us can do the same or even better?
Alepou: Well, over there it's always been about our gods and heroes, especially in the early days. Some old folk claim that they got to visit Mount Olympus when all our gods used to inhabit it.
Volk: Hmm... speaking of gods and all that... when the fuck is Thor getting here? I was ready for a fight.
Lykos: Hopefully soon, because I want to sleep.
Volk leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, a glint of curiosity in his eyes.
Volk: Hey wait, Ly, I'm curious. What really happens to you when your eyes turn white when you're all mad? I did tell you I was gonna interrogate you.
Lykos: You mean Argos?
Volk: Yeah, him.
Lykos: Well... he's the other me. He developed when I was young.
Sobaka: Alright then, but why does he seem more powerful than you? Can't you do all the same things he can?
Lykos hesitated, running a hand through his hair.
Lykos: I think I can, but... I'm new to this power stuff, and I don't wanna lose control and let him out. I can't always come back easily.
Kitsune: Alright, what brings you back then?
Lykos looked to his left and fake coughed. The group instinctively followed his gaze.
Alepou: Huh, what's going on? Why are you all looking at me?
Okami: Understood.
Sobaka: How did he even... appear? Become a thing? I don't know how to phrase it.
Lykos exhaled, leaning back slightly.
Lykos: Well...
He recounted a story from his childhood—how three bullies had pushed things too far, hurting him, Skylos, and Alepou. He described how something inside him had snapped that day, and Argos had been born from the trauma of watching his friends suffer.
Volk: Hold up, you're telling me that no one else saw this?
Lykos: Heh... back home, we were separated into different villages by ages. We were all kids from the age of 4 to 9 in that one.
Sobaka: How the fuck did you all even eat?
Alepou: We ate three times during the school day. There was a cafeteria that had three adults, and they got switched out every week.
Okami: Alright, but... what about the weekends?
Lykos, Alepou, and Skylos spoke in eerie unison.
Lykos, Alepou, and Skylos: A weekend doesn't exist until you're 14.
Okami: What the actual fuck.
Lykos: Anyway, yeah... that's about it.
Okami: Hold up... if Argos isn't you, then... what does he think about us?
Lykos locked eyes with Okami, his expression unreadable.
Lykos: Wanna find out?
Volk: Is that a good idea?
Lykos smirked.
Lykos: I'm sure I can control myself... him. If anything goes bad.
Alepou: Wait, you never told me you could do this at will.
Lykos: Only when he wants to.
Oh, so now you want to let me out... Argos stirred in his head.
Lykos' smile widened as his hair darkened into jet black.
Skylos: Oh no...
Argos: This is a first.
Okami: Yo, what the fuck? I never understood how your clothes just change.
Argos: So, he's telling me to tell you what I think about all of you guys.
Sobaka: This should be interesting.
Argos' gaze shifted to Okami, his expression darkening.
Argos: Well, Okami... I hate you.
Okami: Huh?
Argos: Volk... eh.
Volk burst into laughter.
Argos: Kitsune... I have an interest in you.
Kitsune: HUH?
Okami: EXCUSE ME?!
Argos: Sobaka... you're alright.
Sobaka: That's... good?
Argos: I thought Inu was cool... even if he's not here anymore.
Kitsune: I'm sure he appreciates that... wherever he is now.
Argos: Skylos... you're... you.
Skylos: How should I take that?
Argos: Alepou... small.
Alepou clenched her fist.
Alepou: You...
Argos: Oh, and Fidi's cool too.
Argos' hair faded back to brown as he grinned.
Lykos: That... could've gone bett—
Alepou's fist connected with his face, sending him tumbling off his chair.
Lykos: Ow.
Alepou: OH! SORRY, LY!
Okami: Why does he hate me?!
Volk: He hates you more than me, HA!
Before Okami could retort, the ground rumbled beneath them.
Okami: Ah shit...
Lykos: I guess we had enough of a break...
They all looked up. The sky darkened with thick gray clouds, lightning slicing through the heavens. Thunder roared.
Volk: Does he always do this?
Okami: Egotistical fuck.
Fidi stepped outside, his expression grave.
Fidi: Alright, anyone without a Telum will provide support while we fight.
Alepou: Right.
A crack of lightning split the sky, and Thor descended before them, his hammer sparking with raw power.
Thor: No games this time.
Before anyone could react, he hurled his hammer at Lykos and sent a bolt of lightning at Okami. Lykos leapt, dodging the hammer. Volk lunged forward, seizing the weapon mid-air, his muscles tensing as he held it tight, stopping Thor from recalling it. Okami spun his scythe into position, blocking the lightning strike.
Fidi's spear flew through the air, but Thor caught it effortlessly, hurling it far from reach.
Fidi was already recalling it, but it would take a minute. Lykos gripped his axe and launched himself at Thor, swinging down—but Thor stepped back, shocking him instead. Alepou reacted fast, encasing Lykos in a protective bubble, shielding him from the electricity.
Skylos sent his clones sprinting toward Thor to create a distraction. From a distance, Kitsune extended her finger and fired a barrage of flames. Thor merely smirked, his body crackling with energy, rendering him untouchable. He let loose an electrical explosion, sending Lykos and Okami flying, shattering Skylos' clones.
Fidi's spear returned. Volk stomped the ground, causing a shockwave to stagger Thor. Lykos and Okami regrouped, attacking simultaneously. The impact shook the battlefield, and Thor's hammer—his Telum—began to crack.
The sky trembles as the hammer breaks, crackling with raw energy. A deep, rolling thunder shakes the heavens, and in the instant the weapon reaches its peak, the clouds split apart, vomiting jagged bolts of lightning in all directions. Blinding arcs lash out, dancing like wild serpents across the sky, illuminating the world in an electric haze. Then, with a deafening CRACK, the energy converges on the hammer, detonating in a blinding white explosion. A shockwave of raw power ripples outward, sending sparks cascading like molten stars, as the very air vibrates with the fury of the storm.
Lightning rained down. The hammer shattered. Thor's form flickered, fading into nothingness.
The skies cleared.
Skylos: Is that all?... That felt way too easy for a god...
Fidi: It would appear so...
Lykos: Great, now time to sleep... good night, everybody.
Lykos staggered inside, collapsing into bed.
Alepou: For once, he's right...
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