Arkadin roared almost gleefully as he tore through the planet’s surface, levelling mountains and setting forests ablaze. Each time one of the other deities would try and stop him, he would grab them and bury them under rubble, trapping them briefly. The Thantophor didn’t care any more, he had unleashed his true, destructive ways and he was genuinely enjoying it.
“Brother, please, you’re causing irrevers-”
Epani didn’t get a chance to answer as Arkadin grabbed her by the neck and threw her into the nearest pit of magma spewing from the ground. He knew the Panelix would quickly climb out of that molten mess, but Arkadin didn’t care as long as it caused her pain.
“Arkadin, why are you doing this?”
Kairos had been vaguely smart, trying to keep himself out of Arkadin’s reach, but just like Epani, he wandered too close. Arkadin though decided to throw him into a freezing ocean halfway across the planet, rather than into lava. Arkadin enjoyed having a little variety.
His last sibling, Yisini, had scuttled off somewhere. Arkadin didn’t mind that either. He had plans for Yisini, but they’d come later.
In the distance, a little ship hovered. One Arkadin hadn’t noticed yet. Clearly the Thantophor was more preoccupied with his fellow deities than with an insignificant object floating on its own.
“Thank heavens you answered!” Levik almost shouted down the communication channel. “Tenuk, we need your help. Your help and Kohra’s help. And preferably your friends as well.”
“What is going on?” Tenuk asked from the other end.
“The Thantophor has gone insane and we think he’s going to destroy the whole universe!”
“We?”
“The Panelix asked me to steal some things for her. But it’s all a huge mess. The Thantophor has gone all… I don’t know, super-powerful and is trying to kill the other gods. Elkay here seems to think we can talk some sense into him but I know you and Kohra know the Thantophor better than I do!”
The line went silent briefly. “Where are you?”
“I’ve sent you our coordinates.”
Another silence. Levik could hear some sort of commotion in the background.
“Alright. I’ll gather everyone. Can you hold on for three hours? That’s the absolute fastest we can get there.”
Levik glanced at his fellow crew mates. “Yeah, I guess. Not like we have any other choice.”
“We’ll be there as soon as possible.”
“Thank you.”
The connection closed. Levik took a deep breath.
“We can hold for three hours, right?”
Talok and Ct’Era both shrugged.
“As long as we remain in the atmosphere,” Elkay muttered, “we should be fine…”
“I damn hope so!” Talok whispered as he peered out the window.
Below them, planet’s surface was beginning to fracture and crack. The planet’s core began to ooze out from the larger cracks, only to be quickly cooled by torrents of water, forming unusually flat plates which also began to crack. Among the remains of a burning forest though, Yisini appeared, holding something in her hand.
“Arky! Stop!”
The Thantophor immediately turned to Yisini. “Really? You’re asking me to stop?”
“I… I am…” Yisini swiftly realised that she had ousted herself and tried to flee, but Arkadin was having none of it. In a single leap, Arkadin was on top of her, pinning Yisini down and pressing his burning claws against her skin. “AAAAhhhha! Please Arky! You’re hurting me!”
“Yet you didn’t care at all when you hurt me.”
Yisini tried to roll over, away from Arkadin’s claws. She reached to a small chain on her neck and ripped it away, throwing the chain into the distance. But as Yisini attempted to wriggle away from Arkadin’s searing grasp, the Thantophor tightened his grip on her.
“You don’t…”
“I don’t what, Yisini? I don’t get to hurt you the way you hurt me?”
“That’s not…”
The Allbirther’s words erupted into screams of agony as Arkadin’s jaws bit deep into Yisini’s shoulder and he started tearing chunks of flesh and scales out of her arms.
Arkadin almost laughed as he spat out a mouthful of scales. “How does it feel, dear sister? Granted, this physical pain is nothing compared to what you did to me, but we can at least try to make it even.”
Yisini tried not to scream, knowing it would only satisfy Arkadin’s bloodlust further. She peered over to where she had thrown her chain and muttered several words to herself.
“Are you praying for someone to save you?” the Thantophor taunted.
“Yeah… Him…”
Something heavy and antlered knocked Arkadin off Yisini, sending him scrawling along the ground. Kenon stood proud as he picked Yisini up, cradling her in his arms and healing her wounds before putting her back down.
“You disappoint me, Arkadin. I always thought you were better than petty revenge.”
The Thantophor wiped the blood and dirt off his face and snarled. “Really, Kenon? You’re going to try and talk down to me? You’re just as complicit as they are.”
“No, I will not talk down to you, son…” Kenon drew his weapon, his blessed golden staff. “But I will do whatever it takes to stop you from killing everything.”
“You damn hypocrite!” Arkadin roared as he charged forward, only for Kenon to leap out of the way. “You wanted this universe dead not too long ago! Yet here you are, pretending to be its saviour!”
Again, Arkadin charged forward, claws slashing and teeth gnashing. He curled himself around Kenon, clawing and biting, trying to bring Kenon to his knees. Yisini took the opportunity to slip away into what remained of the burning undergrowth.
Once the coast was somewhat clear, she shrunk herself down then teleported herself to the nearest safe spot, only to find another large set of claws at her throat.
“You did this!” Ct’Era hissed.
“I know…” Yisini finally admitted. “I’m sorry. But I hope you mortals have a plan, because Kenon can only hold him back for so long and we don’t have much time left…”