The Divine Immortal chapter 9: The Reckoning (this is the unedited version)

Xerxes is distracted in thought while tending to a herd of animals on his newly created fertile land.

“The magnetic field is strengthening around this wonderful planet but how can I speed up the weather process to prevent droughts.” Xerxes thought, “I would have to create a sufficiently large pressure difference in the air to help kick off the water cycle.”

Suddenly a large portal opens in an open field well behind Xerxes. Xerxes senses the creation stone’s energy from the portal. Xerxes turns and faces a eclectic band of figures in front of him. Xerxes uses the Soulsborne Geode to sense the group’s intentions.

“Ah you must be the heroes of the current multiverse.” Xerxes sensed, “Allow me to explain to everyone here that my intentions are not hostile to you or your peoples”

“If that was true then why did you tear apart planets?!” The Collector retorted

“I required resources to assist the rebirth of my home and I only took desolate, uninhabited objects drifting in the heavens, I would never disturb the sanctity of nature” Xerxes responds kindly

“Then explain all of the species you have stolen from other worlds!” The Collector argues

“Do you mean the species that weren’t properly protected, the species that were being poached, the same species that were threatened by extinction and brought to this sanctuary living in peace. Truly a nefarious plot” Xerxes sarcastically responds

Inkmatas glances at the Collector.

“Clearly your all-knowing goddess has fed you one side of this story, just how much villainy did she try to pin on me!” Xerxes continues.

Xerxes senses the increasing doubt in some of their resolve.

“Allow me to properly educate you on my true intentions” Xerxes says

“My planet was raided of its resources, my peoples were enslaved and murdered, while I sat false imprisoned while my wife was poisoned to death-” Xerxes was interrupted

“I have never seen any such records of this so called travesty, if this did happen then where is the historical proof?!” The Collector overconfidently states

“It was obviously covered up by the organization of true villains known only as Tinted Earth, as for me and my queen, my imprisonment began over 6 million years ago. I am the beloved god-king Xerxes and consort to the true goddess, Kosmas who wielded her power with wisdom and grace far exceeding your ‘gods’ and ‘guardians’ of the stones!” Xerxes explained

Xerxes senses higher amounts of doubt emanating from the group. Mirai, losing patience with the debate, screams.

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH SOULIS?!”

“You mean the Soulsborne Geode guardian who was too cowardly to even wield his power?” Xerxes answers

“I see the geode in your chest right now, did you murder him?!” Mirai yelled again

“And how many innocent civilians did you have to kill in order to spread your revolutionary ideals” Xerxes retorts, “Soulis was not murdered he and I fought honorably to the death, he died a warrior’s death”

Xerxes focuses back on the group and addresses some of the heroes.

“Listen to me carefully, I wish to be your ally, I have no desire to take over, rule, or start revolutions for I am trying to fix the balance of the natural order by having organisms living in harmony with nature. I sense that some of you are just children, some of you aren’t in proper protective gear, some of you are even terminally ill, and others are mechanical weapons with no true will or identity of their own. Is this what your perfect goddess wants, to send children, the sick, and those who can’t say no to do her bidding for her?!” Xerxes questions

Mirai unsheathes her long dark blade.

“ENOUGH OF YOUR LIES YOU MURDEROUS TYRANT!!” Mirai screams while charging at Xerxes

Xerxes sees the charge, unsheathes his colossal sword, buries the blade into the ground, and raises his arm to protect himself. Mirai begins to swing wildly at the guarding Nammuian. Her blade bouncing off Xerxes’s armor left and right.

“Wait Mirai wait!” The Collector shouts

Xerxes does not budge.

“The only way to kill you is with stolen stones!” Mirai yells intensely as she reaches for the stone in his right arm

Mirai grabs at the stone in his right arm and she gets blasted backward by the destruction stone for the stone does not wish to be parted from it’s new vessel. Mirai feels as her entire body painfully disintegrates in front of her eyes. All the heroes gasp as Mirai turns to nothing. The heroes resolve suddenly returns as the anger and shock from seeing Mirai disappearing from existence enrages all of the heroes.

“It always resorts to violence…” Xerxes sighs

Xander, The Collector, Astra, Hakai, Amber, and Byrd all face toward Xerxes. Inkmatas, Rea, Peyton, and Rizu all get behind them while Saike and Sparky stayed in between the close and far ranged fighters.

“Phalanx in front of all the archers, standard military strategy” Xerxes sighs

Before the close range heroes could even advance, Xerxes immediately warps to the heroes in the rear. Xerxes appears in front of Inkmatas, Inkmatas quickly blasts an Inkstone fireball at Xerxes’s helmet and the fireball dissipates. Xerxes alters her jacket into giant stones mittens covering her hands, which the heavier weight pulls the light witch down to the ground. Suddenly Xerxes feels the ground biting his ankles, Xerxes looks at the source of the magic, and sees Peyton. Xerxes stares at Peyton for a second, smirks, and he uses his powerful leg to kick the hungry ground back at her. The rocks and debris knock Peyton unconscious. Rea quickly creates some vines around Xerxes hands to quick cuff them together. Xerxes brakes free from the vines and lunges at Rea. Xerxes stops himself before striking the queen,

“I recognize this illness, you should not be here” Xerxes informs Rea as he suddenly warps her to the middle of the sheep herd grazing in the grass.

Xerxes suddenly get feels water in his throat choking him. Xerxes turns around, warps to Rizu, uses the Soulsborne Geode to suggest to sleep. Rizu faints to the floor as Xerxes spits the water out of his mouth. Xerxes turns around and sees two massive blood hydras stare at him.

“What kind of legendary creatures are these?” Xerxes curiously questions

“Quick, while he’s busy, we have to protect our magic users!” The Collector commands

Saike concentrates heavily on controlling the blood hydras while Hakai runs to Rizu, Sparky, Astra, and Byrd rally around Amber and Saike. As the blood hydras begin to lunge and bite at Xerxes, Amber conjures up holy shackles in an attempt to restrain Xerxes and make him vulnerable. Xander and the Collector attempt to flank Xerxes, as Xander unsheathes his royal sword and the Collector activates his sword of creation, Xerxes sees all the attacks coming simultaneously, Xerxes chuckles.

“Finally, some legitimate strategies”

Xander and Collector swing and stab as hard as they can while the blood hydras and the holy shackles bind Xerxes in places. The weapons merely bounce off his armor.

“That might have worked 3 stones ago” Xerxes boasts as he slams his right arm into the ground.

The rocks underneath Xander and Collector’s feet shatter as destruction blasts through the ground launching them into the air. Xerxes uses the creation stone to grasp one of the hydra’s heads and forces the blood to coagulate. The hydras stiffen and become motionless.

Saike immediately falls to the ground as the hydras shatter upon impact of the ground. Saike felt multiple wounds. Amber tries to once again bind Xerxes but he warps out Amber’s sight. Amber look at Xander who is unconscious on the ground while the Collector is struggling to get up. Amber walks to The Collector and tries to heal him with Byrd following behind his love. Suddenly Xerxes reappears in front of Amber.

“I don’t wish to harm such a divine being but I can’t have you interfering” Xerxes says

Byrd quickly swings his arms back to defend her. Xerxes watches as byrd’s arm shoots back at bullet speed.

“Get away from her!” Byrd yelled as he shot his fist at max speed.

Xerxes effortlessly catches the punch with his hand. Xerxes uses the materiallite stone to implant visions of unfathomable and incomprehensible images. Byrd falls to his knees and sobs at the sights of the uncontrolled visions racing through his unprepared mind. Amber takes a step back and makes her spear appear in her hands. Xerxes looks at Amber.

“I suggest you to not attack” Xerxes warns

“What have you done to him? !” Amber cried

Xerxes sighs and then emits a bright flash of bright light from the quartz to blind her. Amber falls to the ground and Xerxes looks at the Collector and sees the two robotic heroes standing guard over him. Sparky and Astra combine their creation and electricity powers to shoot a powerful wave of energy at Xerxes. Xerxes holds out his right arm to repel the attack.

“Such simple metal used for body” Xerxes questions

The Space stone and the Materiallite Quartz begin to glow. Suddenly Xerxes releases a tiny magnetar. The microscopic celestial body hurls itself at the two mechanical heroes and slamming them into each other with the force of the cosmos to magnetize them. After a second, the magnetar dissipates leaving the two robots in a pile of junk. Xerxes looks at Hakai who stands over Rizu’s body. Hakai sheathes her sword and Xerxes warps the two heroes home.

“Why didn’t you kill us?!” The Collector groans

Xerxes looks at the Collector and grabs his sword.

“I was never your enemy but you invaded my planet and started this fight, now let me retire you to your studies so I can continue repairing this multiverse and do what your gods refuse act upon.” Xerxes explained

Xerxes warps all the heroes back home but Inkmatas and Amber.

“Now I need to prepare chambers for my new guests.” Xerxes sighed.

Eggy: *walks into a room with all the defeated heroes*

You see this is what happens when you don't invite me to anything.

*walks out*

Eggy: but what if you could CHANGE Xerxes?

Xerxes: ...

Collector: I think we're gonna have to kill this guy Eggy.

Eggy: damn...