Ring - 2nd

Realm - Divine

THIRD PERSON POV

Hanna found it hard to keep the Lion under control. Its mind wasn't hard to quell but it wasn't easy to get a grip on when it was free of her influence or not. Even worse was its growing intelligence. Once it tried to take her out when she'd gotten her guard down. Hanna kept her eye on it from then on.

Fortunately, the essence she was wasting on replenishing her Enthrallment was hunted down by the lion. However, the hunting brought up more problems for her. The first skill she used to get the lion was an eye contact skill. Something she'd noted only after one of the lion's attempts to flee. So she'd created a new and different skill.

**Enthralling Charm- Mesmerizing Gaze:**

Hanna fixes her gaze upon a single enemy, captivating them with her tranquil presence. This mesmerizing gaze enthralls the target, causing them to become docile and compliant for a short period. While enthralled, the enemy may act in Hanna's favor, fighting on her behalf or revealing valuable information under her influence.

**Enthralling Charm - Tranquil Melody:**

Hanna sings a song infused with divine energy, soothing the minds and hearts of her enemies. This soothing melody enthralls foes, lulling them into a state of peaceful submission and rendering them harmless for a short duration. Enthralled enemies may even be willed to fall into a deep and restful sleep, or to keep an already enthralled enemy under control. While enthralled, the enemy may act in Hanna's favor, fighting on her behalf or revealing valuable information under her influence.

At the moment she wanted to test how many entities could be under it. Especially if she could focus the enthrallment on one figure without alerting others.

A snarl from the Lion alerted her to prey. Getting close she crouched next to it and whispered. It was a way to both keep it Enthralled and also converse. Divine lions seemed to possess a certain intelligence that other creatures in the mortal realms didn't.

The lion bobbed its head in a direction. Hanna moved back a bit keeping its head in front of her before checking for the prey. "Woah. So pretty".She whispered again. The cat's ears flicked. She rubbed its back.

"I'll try something new. Start creeping close. If my plan fails you strike. Okay?". The lion simply crawled ahead and she smiled. Looking ahead Hanna hoped her plan worked. She needed the essence orbs to grow her essence and also go to the next level. Hopefully, getting more powerful would make her charm over the beast permanent.

'Watching my back is such a pain. Nothing I'm not used to though'. She focused on the prey. A pair of white deer-like creatures. Their horns were curved and pointed to the sky, It made her cast a glance up.

'Can't believe I almost failed to catch such a sight'. Being on edge had kept her from admiring the environment. It was hard to miss the sight above, one of those things that once you saw couldn't be unseen. The sky was dark and there were no clouds in sight.

Hanging like a very large moon beyond the atmosphere of the realm was a shimmering indigo and midnight blue planet. Hanna was certain it was a realm. It was too large taking almost 75% of the sky. But it didn't stop there. Waves of magenta, purples, blues, greens, reds, and greens swirled all over the body. The glow of silver that was nearly invisible around it explained the bit of light in the divine realm.

"Makes me wonder if it's nighttime now. How would daytime look?". Focusing back on the hunt Hanna activated the skill she wanted to use.

Singing would scare the creatures away. She needed something that would draw them in without them realizing it. Shutting her eyes she imagined a soft and unseen wave of mercy that carried calming and peaceful waves across the forest and in all directions from her. Either flowing in a way she wanted or around her.

**Enthralling Charm - Captivating Aura:**

Hanna radiates a captivating aura of divine energy that enchants enemies within its radius. This captivating aura enthralls foes, compelling them to submit to Hanni's will and become docile and compliant for a short duration. Enthralled enemies may even come to Hanni's aid, fighting on her behalf or revealing valuable information under her influence.

A slight smirk was all the expression she gave at her success. She could sense and see golden waves of what looked like thick air flow escape from her and in all directions. Focusing she tried pushing it in the direction of the prey and the encroaching lion.

She sensed the moment her aura reached the lion. It felt like passing over a familiar energy. Hers.

'So I can use it to know when it's under my control or not'. Her smirk broadened as her aura drew closer to the prey. When it reached she felt the difference. It was like the warmth the Lion had was missing in them.

'Time to warm you up'.

"Come" she whispered. Expressing her desire for the creatures through her aura and also saying it. The pair raised their still-grazing heads and looked in her direction. Slowly they began trotting up to her.

"Take them down". She whispered directing to the lion while watching to see if it would affect the influence on the prey. Nothing. They kept coming. 'Nice'.

She urged them to keep coming until suddenly the Lion drifted out of hiding. She felt the moment the first one broke free of her mental grip. It spun and ran.

'Stop'. The grip failed. The second broke free as well and she faced it.

'Run to me'. She felt the grip latch on and it took off bounding faster towards her. 'So my orders should never endanger my thrall or they'll break free'. It was a good thing to learn with the deer and not the lion.

"Shit. It's coming at me".Hanna wasn't an animal person and only got along with the Lion since it was under her control. The deer wouldn't stop running since it perceived danger. "Wait. I can make it sleep".

Willing it she watched the lion catch the other fleeing deer. 'Sleep'. Her grip shook. Realizing she had to convince the deer it would be safe she spoke again 'Sleep. You'll be safe'. She pushed her will and images of the lion obeying her to it. The grip stopped its shaking. The deer's speed dropped just as it got to her.

'Sleep'.Its speed reached minimum and it began trotting to her. Its eyes blinked rapidly. 'Sleep'. It collapsed at her feet.

"It worked".

The deep-throated rumble of the lion as it returned dragging the other deer with it made Hanna smile brighter.

****

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Ring - 1st

Realm - SOL

STRYDER'S POV

The stream I brought the rest of my Pantheon to was both amazing and crazy. Yet there was something off about it. It was almost like I could sense that something in the water was weird. Should I even be calling it water considering it was almost like lava? I felt like terminologies here would be vastly confusing and annoying to grasp.

"Tastes almost like water to me, but doesn't give me that refreshing feeling or taste". Hellion shook his head rising back to his feet from where he was crouched next to the stream. Girded in armor and with a longsword at his hip he looked every part a god, Titan. It was quite amazing.

Thorin took a step forward and dipped a palm in. "Feels okay. But I'm sensing this underlying feeling of strangeness". He frowned. I nodded at him.

"It's like something that shouldn't be there, is". I supplied. He nodded back.

"We do need to get across. The Eye is that way...." Hellion pointed. "...and since we don't need to drink water we don't have to be bothered by whatever the water holds. Though we'll have a problem if there's sea creature in there".

"Maybe now we won't be. But later we might have to be bothered. Especially if there's a sea monster".Mera turned to the fairies. "Can we take on sea monsters as we are?".

Tirsti giggled and flew closer but Myrsi beat her to it. "One of you may find it hard but not impossible". Tirsti glared at her before talking.

"Together, it'd be bullying".

"Unless you act reckless and stupid". Antmo shot down whatever stupid ideas we may have.

" I... I'll cross first. With my speed I can get out if something attacks me". The rest nodded. It was not something to disagree on since I was the fastest. Looking at the water, I could see my reflection, and man did I look nothing like my real self. I had an idea of what I would look like with what I saw with the others but it still shocked me.

"Water reflects if you wanna check yourself out". Mera announced standing next to me. I stiffened a bit in embarrassment realizing I should be running across but settled when I realized they were all preoccupied with what they looked like.

"I'm going now". I announced and they all nodded. I took a look at the water and wondered if I could run over it. 'My skill did say over any terrain'. With a mental equivalent to a shrug, I looked across the stream and activated Titan Flash. The realm blurred into a confused mess of motion and pause.

Behind me, the others became frozen, and yet at the same time, each slight twitch and move I made propelled me fast. So fast that it seemed they vanished and reappeared way back. But it was just me. I was standing on solid ground across the stream and nothing happened. The others looked impressed and it was hard to fight down a smile.

"Alright, I'll get you lot over now". Before I could do anything Mera took a running start and bounded right over the stream. Thorin was close behind her with Blaze in tow. Hellion's mode of crossing was similar to mine. He took a running start and then he was across.

"Is that..." Mera moved to ask but he shook his head.

"I'm fast for short movements. Already tried to create a similar skill but I can't". He looked at me with a shrug. "She's the fastest woman alive". A smile broke out on my lips and he returned it.

"Alright. Let's move out". Thorin waved us ahead. I didn't bother scouting since using my skills would waste essence. If we got attacked then we'd just fight back. Still Thorin and Hellion had us maintain the formation we had.

Unfortunately, we were yet to meet any foe. I didn't know if I was the only one who wanted to find a beast. A look around showed I wasn't.

"The demand for essence will be harsh with the need to always have essence to refill". Hellion shook his head at me confirming what we were all thinking. We need to kill beasts not just for their essence but to have backup essence orbs.

"I have a feeling it's going to get old". Hellion nodded to Mera. Thorin just shrugged.

"We're Titans. I think there'll be a way to solve that later. For now...".

"I hear something". Mera stopped us. My heart leaped in my chest. 'What is even a heart? Did I even have a heart? My stupid thought returned to the situation as the sound of footfalls, roars, clanks, wing beats, and clicking became audible. I didn't even realize I was smiling until I saw everyone else also smiling.

"Finally". Mera smirked.

"Don't get complacent". Blaze warned but it was clear he appreciated this too.

"What now?". Mera asked. "Do we find it or...?".

"I don't think we have to bother". Hellion cut her off with a hand wave. I followed his line of sight. "They've found us".

"Woah". Everyone was seeing what Hellion was seeing now. Essence or not it wasn't looking good.

"Bloody Flames". Mera cursed. Everyone looked at her. "What?. It's fitting". She waved around like it was obvious. Blaze scoffed and Thorin chuckled.

"Bloody Flames indeed". He muttered stepping forward. "Are we running?". He asked eyes still on the charging monsters.

"To where?". Blaze tilted his head in visible confusion.

"The stream is too far. Getting there would probably exhaust us. Having Stryder get us there might use up her essence for this fight. No. I believe we make our stand here". Hellion shrugged smiling all the while.

" You just wanted to say that, didn't you?".Mera was already moving a bit to the right. Hellion smiled.

"How do we keep them from flanking us?". Thorin asked eyeing Hellion.

"We can't. We'll just have to engage all of them. Oh and what do you know there's five of them". He frowned. "cover Feels too coincidental".

We could already make out individual shapes and forms now. "That's not looking good". Mera shook her head.

"It's not". Blaze sighed. Our eyes went to the one fast creature. Its limbs stretching out and increasing its pace. It was ahead of the others by a few feet and its face was terrifying.

"Think you can take that one out?" Hellion was looking at me. I eyed the creature first and looked at the rest. As much as I didn't want the ugly thing, this was a game and we all had to pull our weight on this Pantheon thing. Plus, with its long gangly limbs and speed, I was best suited to it. I nodded.

He nodded and looked at Blaze. "Blaze will offer ranged and Control if we need it, or just take out that bird".

"Looks nothing like a bird". The Titan grumbled.

"Mera can go all Bam on that rattler, I'll take that weird-looking porcupine. Thorin...". The hammer titan turned to Hellion. " Try smashing yours fast". The only reply was a loving caress of the hammer, a toothy grin, and a kiss on his hammer's side. Everyone rolled their eyes.

The creatures were near.

"Man. Mine is nasty.". Mera complained. Blaze scoffed again and the sound of chains hitting the ground told us he was prepped. Hellion drew his sword free of his scabbard and I followed with my short swords. Mera beat her knuckles together, the knuckles causing sparks of flames.

I moved to Blaze's left. Mera took a good step forward standing at the tip as did Hellion, giving us a Bident shape.

"They're actually not that scary. Plus their numbers matching us seems advantageous". Thorin looked optimistic. No one spoke at first then Hellion shook his head crushing the optimism.

"Even two would be a problem for us now when we know nothing about the difference in damage we can inflict and have next to no experience in fighting". He looked worried but the determination in his golden eyes was confusingly easy to see.

"Hellion's right. We don't know what we can do. Mera be careful. Stryder never stop moving if you're in danger and once any falls we're all in agreement that you need its essence more. Right?". Thorin looked at everyone.

"Thorin's right. And hopefully it's not as dangerous as we fear". Everyone turned to Hellion. " As I fear". He corrected rolling his eyes. The creatures were closer now and we could see their features clearer. Horrific and monstrous. 'Well, they were monsters".

"Any advice guys?". Mera looked up to the safely out-of-reach fairies. The five looked at each other and then down to them. "Don't die?". Ziei answered unsure. Antmo slapped her head.

"Hey. I don't see you giving advice". The fairy cried looking aggrieved. Antmo just eyed her with dead eyes and then looked down at them.

"Like she said. Don't die".

"Aye. What's the difference?".

"I was telling them".

"And I wasn't". Ziei held up a fist. Antmo just shrugged.

"As much as your antics are funny to watch little ones, please don't distract us". Thorin had a tense smile.

"Thorin get ready to stop them. If we attack after they hit your shield we might get an advantage and you'll get an advantage too". Hellion advised. He and Mera quickly stepped back and Thorin took their place collapsing the Bident into a spear.

"Stryder get ready to rush out and dish out strikes to all on your way to your target! Might help even more". Thorin shouted. "Blaze that bird is yours to keep at bay and bring down". With the plan summarized we were all tensed.

I began bouncing on my spot eyes going from the things to everyone. Thorin had a grim smile, Mera was excited and yet nervous her eyes flickering like her flames were being fed with the wind, Hellion looked calculating, always calculating. Blaze, stared back at me and then nodded before looking up to the bird thing. I faced forward, taking a deep breath. They were here

"Alright". Thorin heaved his hammer off his shoulder and bounced it on his palms spinning it and catching it. 'Geez. The strength to do that'. I watched his arm twist and stretch as the muscles tightened and loosened. "Let's begin!". He didn't strike with his hammer as I expected. His left free hand pointed his palm at the things just as they leaped for our throats.

I flinched. Mera did too, Hellion blinked and Thorin's head flinched a bit. Golden light flared into existence as the things were halted mid-air and then thrown right back. I saw a pulse of energy flow right through Thorin's fingers and up his arm, through his body, and straight into his hammer. The thing hummed like it appreciated and then the cracks sizzled and burned with fire.

"Now!!!". He roared swinging his hammer in an overhead swing and down on the monster in front of him just as the shield vanished. The hammer struck the scale with an explosion of sound and heat. A bellow of pain and fury escaped the monster.

"Stryder! Now!". Hellion yelled. In a flash, I vanished from my spot. Mera leaped straight for her prey and Hellion flashed like a short flicker of light from his position and straight to his.

**""

Ring - 6th

Realm - NETHERHEIM

ABEL'S POV

It was like ignoring an itch that needed to be scratched as I guided the girl into creating her fairy while not asking about her life. I wasn't surprised when she chose The Dark One. More surprised she actually mentioned it to me.

"What do we do now Yaito?". The fairy and the girl's fairy were now perched on her head. Something that both annoyed and made me smile. The fairies seemed to make the girl more relaxed for some reason. Probably her childlike mind. Her fairy just like mine had an aggravatingly long name. The girl and I both agreed on a short version like I did mine. Hoinro.

Yaito and Hoinro pointed with tiny hands up north. My North atleast. I saw it the moment I looked that way. It was hard to unsee. A very tall pillar ascending into the sky but not reaching.

"And we do what there?". The look the fairy gave me said it all. That was all the information I would get.

I bit back a grumble and just flapped my wings. "Coming girl". I noticed the slight flinch on hearing my voice then the fairies tapping her. Her wings flapped out too and she rose into the air alongside me but not too far off.

"Alright, you watch my back I watch yours. Cool by you?". I raised an eyebrow. She flinched again. Fortunately, I believe this flinch was more due to my devilish looks than anything else. She nodded quickly and looked away.

"Just so you know. You look just like this". I waved my palm around my face and snorted. That seemed to do the job of making her snort as well. Her eyes eyed me with a childlike temper.

"Alright. Keep up if you can". With as much power as I could put into my flap, I shot off into the air leaving a rattled girl behind.

The loud blast and boom of air behind told me she was coming. Looking back I grinned and laughed. "Too slow girl". Then I dipped and reminded myself to glide. 'Nah'. I turned with my head now pointed to the dark skies and flapped once to catch my descent and then again with the same power as the start shooting up like an arrow.

Behind me, the girl was catching up. A glance showed a wondrous and determined smile. One I always wanted to see in children. Children who found that the world outside their lives had rainbows and sunshine compared to the storm they had weathered through.

It was temporary. 'I might not have all the details I need to put whatever fucker in jail. But I'll do the best here'. I could already think of ways to find out things. Lodging a complaint with the Ancients Inc. or something.

'That may just come out as me being the bad guy or something. Nah. I'll have Dawson take a look. Best a woman handles this especially when I'm retired too'. With