“So why are you helping me?” Jonathan asked. “What’s in it for you?”

  “What’s in it for me? Why, freedom. The Nine trapped me here, as one of the few beings able to fight them. Why don’t you ask your little pet, Sarnakthros?”

  The avatar snapped his fingers, and Jonathan felt the mental presence of Sarnakthros appear within him. Then, with a strange lurching feeling, a shadowy figure made out of darkness and fire was torn from his body.

  Sarnakthros blinked once, a strangely mortal mannerism, before setting eyes on the Divinity avatar. His eyes, glowing coals of burning red, flickered with rage. “You!”

  “Sarnakthros. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” The avatar laughed bitterly. “It seems that you’ve fallen upon hard times as well.”

  “Don’t listen to this… this thing!” Sarnakthros spat. “He’s been a thorn in the side of the universe since its dawn!”

  “Has it been so long that you don’t remember my name, cousin? Has it been so long that while you’ve sunken to the depths of weakness, I’ve surpassed even your siblings?” The golden god spat out, the words having a physical effect on Sarnakthros.

  “I do remember, Alcadram,” Sarnakthros said reluctantly. “How could I forget? You nearly killed me after all.”

  Alcadram nodded sadly. “I did. That was before. Now, as much as it pains me to admit it, we’re on the same side, united by Jonathan. Can we put aside bygone woes in search of a better future?”

  Sarnakthros’ shadowy form twitched. “I…” he sighed. “I suppose I can. I suppose we can.”

  Chapter 2

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Joanthan was seemingly forgotten as the two cosmic beings talked, trying to forge some sort of allyship where previously there had only been hate. Sarnakthros literally relied on Jonathan’s body for his life, and Alcadram seemed to think that Jonathan was also his salvation. As a result, the two enemies were desperately trying to become friends. Jonathan had to say, it wasn’t really working.

  “Alright,” he interrupted, raising his hands. “You two clearly can’t get it together.”

  “What did you say?” Sarnakthros replied, a note of anger in his tone. “Do you think it’s easy to forgive someone like Alcadram? Someone who reveled in his torture of me after my defeat? Someone who it took nine gods to seal away?”

  Jonathan frowned. “I don’t see what that last bit has to do with anything, given that you were betrayed by the other eight gods. Also, I thought you just said that he almost killed you. Torture?”

  Sarnakthros paused for a moment. “Fine. It wasn’t really torture. It’s just that gods don’t take defeat very well. Not only is it an assault on our egos, but the very root of our power. Gods are meant to rule, not to grovel in the dirt.”

  “Some clearly are,” Alcadram said, a mirth filled grin on his face.

  Jonathan frowned at him. “Not helping,” he replied. “I thought you were trying to let bygones be bygones? Sarnakthros seems to be the one you need to convince here.”

  “Fine,” Alcadram replied, taking a step away. “We both need you. I will refrain from making any more… taunts.”

  “Good,” Jonathan said. “Now, can we get back to whatever it was we were doing here? My allies are still in the Hells, and I’m afraid that something is going to happen to them there.”

  “Don’t worry about that,” Alcadram reassured. “Time here is vastly accelerated in comparison to the universal norm. Yet another form of torture. You spent a decade in that trial, but I would say that only a few days have passed outside.”

  “A decade?” Jonathan said incredulously. “I thought that was all just an illusion.”

  “That also means that you have a surplus of time in which to train your newfound abilities,” Alcadram reminded. “You should make as much of that as you can. You have a few months, given that you used up most of your time here in the trial.”

  Sarnakthros nodded. “With two gods to help you, your strength will skyrocket, even without the presence of the System. When you return to the Hells, you will be far stronger than ever before.”

  “Well, let’s get started,” Jonathan said. “I think it’s high time I learned more about godhood.”