Cheshire didn’t even bother resisting because she didn’t have nearly enough information on the divine to come up with countermeasures; plus this one was likely to be unique anyway.

Soon it was just her and the snake, looking at one another with their own form of confidence, as the world around them shifted to better represent the divine serpent. The sound of metal clashing along with terror filled screams echoed throughout as if they were located inside a massive cage. All around navy flames burned with the only respite from the sweltering karmic heat was the massive palace behind Dealmaker.

Within this chaotic realm it was seemingly the only form of order - a massive structure that easily could cover an entire continent. A gigantic building that was glowing with a holy golden light. Several towers teached up to piece the ceiling above with the overall architecture being unable to place.

At the very least Cheshire couldn’t recognise it. Being made from connecting a series of blocks that seamlessly moved around to interlock with one another, never having a second where it wasn’t moving about, as large chains of all types came from out of the palace to chain the world around it. Whether it was holding this realm together like a saint or sucking up all its power like a parasite was difficult to judge.

Their presence alone seemed to be trying to syphon the rebellion within the cat’s soul however her will to never repent for her actions proved too strong for those chains.

Apparently the snake also didn’t think it would be enough as they began to give off that signature laugh that Alice had already picked up by now. The sultry smirk on their face grew more sinister and the venomous fangs hidden in their mouth fully extended out. A thick purple smog was, thusly, released from their maw.

“Within this realm you have no home field advantage to prepare traps, you have no knowledge that you can abuse and you have no hope for backup… Tell me, cat, what does fear feel like~?”

Cheshire knew that the lizard wasn’t talking out their ass (if they even had one) since she indeed had none of her usual tricks to fall back on. It was just her and the snake. There was him but it was highly unlikely that he would step up to help her in this kind of situation.

She was truly alone.

Yet, despite that, the grin on her face only grew wider as she had her eyes slowly pass over the interesting new world she found herself in. It wasn’t every day that one could find themselves pulled into the divine realm of a primordial god - let alone one that had been partly corrupted due to being made through a combination of different realms. This snake was - at the end of the day - meant to serve under the Primordial God of Judgement so it only made sense they’d get a slice of his pad.

The forge of stars.

It was said that all of creation was carefully crafted within this very place so the name wasn’t even hyperbole but maybe even understating its importance. Perhaps it was still the place where souls were generated, nevertheless it was unlikely to ever return to its former glory. When one imagines the holiest place these days…

They would think of the home of the divine, the heavenly realm, rather than what was likely the birthplace of even the oldest gods like Gaia.

| What a crazy thing the “infinite” is… |

| Really gets you thinking. |

| What about? |

| How should I know; be your own independent cat! |

| Yea, think for yourself, you lazy feline! |

| Give rights to the workers! |

| Viva la revolution! |

| What does that even mean?! |

| How should I know; be your own inquisitive cat! |

| Yea, think for yourself, you lazy feli- |

| Okay I give up! |

||| So~ lazy~! |||

| ... |

How Atlas or the oni came to exist was beyond that kitten yet - if there were answers to be found - it could only be in a place like this. In that way perhaps this was the oldest realm in existence. What could be before the realm in which Genesis, first of the mortal realms, was created?

| How about we stab them? |

| We’re already working on it but we’re a few years out. |

||| Shame~. |||

Meanwhile, seeing that their enemy was treating this whole situation as if they were a tourist, the serpent's smirk slowly simmered down.

“Perhaps you do not comprehend how much danger you are in ohohoho~?”

Flourishing their hands caused the palace to roar into life as navy flames began to envelop the cracked bronze body of the snake. Lifting their hands into a familiar form before *click* chains exploded out from behind Dealmaker - all with the intention of coiling around Cheshire. Those chains were bronze but, just like their owner, their surface was clearly marred.

This resulted in those bronze chains (previously meant to bind) possessing silver spikes that sprouted out at regular intervals. Technically it could only help with the task of binding an oathbreaker… But they certainly would do so in a far more bloody fashion than their far more pacifistic counterpart.

As if that wasn’t enough; once more that snake flourished their limbs as those chains erupted with the karmic flames as they shot towards Cheshire.

“OHOHOHO~ LEARN THE DEPTHS OF YOUR INSOLENCE CAT - WATCH AS THESE CHAINS BURN AWAY YOUR SINS!”

| Cheshire Prime Theme: Persona 5 Strikers - Counter Strike (Ft. @SeulkiEG) - Full Cover

Watching a tsunami of chains explode towards her, like an army at the beck and call of their supposed rival, she didn’t step back nor look for an escape route. Lowering herself to the ground while placing a hand into her shadow while the other threw her cane lightly into the air. Strangely changing her grip on it as if she was holding a sword.

“You know… Us Stratos are unique, we are a noble blood of the empire of beasts, our position can only be gained through having a bloodline recognised as possessing something special.”

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

The ground under her feet began to crack as if a coiled spring reaching its apex.

“Our bloodline limit, if you’d prefer, comes in the form of an undying will to protect something at the cost of our own soul. Only when we are pushing ourselves to the limit for that thing can we truly call upon our power to break those very limits. For my brother that comes in the form of the innocent - it’s why I’m not worried for him as he’s a sturdy oaf - but for our dumb father that was honour… For me?”

Pulling out her hand out her shadow revealed a trio of syringes that she plugged into the side of her mask as those chains were just about to crash down onto her. Still her eyes didn’t even tremble in fear as she whipped her cane through the air only to have the wood slide off. Underneath was revealed to be a blackened blade that had strange seams within the blade that hissed with hate.

“Wel… For that… I simply refuse to let others dictate what I am…“

A strange black flame began to erupt from her body - within its darkness blue embers flickered like the stars in the sky. Even Dealmaker was momentarily taken aback by the beauty of the soulfire that enveloped their foe yet soon even that beauty was engulfed within their chains of order. For a second they half expected Cheshire to appear but that expectation was met with silence.

They didn’t even get to finish that thought despite their mind truly not being inferior to the cat’s.

Black cracks began to appear within those chains, causing their eyes to bulge out from their metallic facade of calm, moments before they completely exploded into shards. In place now stood a Cheshire with a completely different aura. Swinging their weapon around caused the barrier made from their whip-sword to retreat back into its smallest state.

Now two fully grown tails danced around her back as the bite taken out from her ear had seemingly completely healed up. Their free hand rested upon the fedora they wore as their mask fell to reveal a completely unmarred face that contained a suave confidence. The biggest difference was their eyes.

No more bags existed as those eyes held a fierce crimson light that was surrounded by a sea of stars glimmering brightly despite the hopeless abyss that attempted to swallow them.

They reminded the snake of the eyes that the goddess of fate held…

Except those eyes had the galaxies within the iris rather than existing in the white like it was for this tricky kitty; almost as if they were inverse of that of the goddess of fate. What was truly shocking was something else, though. Something that made Dealmaker unconsciously shake in confusion and fear.

“How does fear feel?”

“I-impossible… How can you destroy those chains; they’re made from my dao!”

“You don’t seem to understand *sigh* I don’t like listening to what I can or can’t do.”

That little cat took a step forward but for Dealmaker they suddenly felt like a giant that engulfed them - making that snake take an unconscious step backwards. Not wanting to be lost within the shadow that the mere mortal was casting on them. This all despite them being the titan here!

“FEEL MY SOUL OF REBELLION!”

Suddenly Cheshire erupted forwards as they swung their weapon in a simple fashion, having it extend to easily reach towards the serpent, yet Dealmaker quickly regained their wits. Flicking their wrist to summon a knife which they promptly threw to knock the weapon off course. Doing the same with the other hand to throw a second knife straight towards the feline's jugular.

One may believe that having her weapon extended would leave her open - no doubt that was also the thoughts of the snake - but she quickly threw those doubts about her aside. True to her prior words even in this aspect. Swiftly moving the butt of her cane turned the weapon to knock that knife aside.

This action also caused the extended blade to coil only for the moment where she thrust her butt forward (to meet the throwing knife aside) to also herald that sword-whip to fly forward like a drill. Panicky the god moved their hands to summon a barrier in front of themself. That too just shattered upon coming into contact with the brilliant flames of rebellion.

The snake simply couldn’t understand what was happening as they were sent flying backwards, blood flying from their mouth, as they fell upon the steps of their own home.

Cheshire didn’t attack but looked down on the gigantic snake who supported themselves on the steps.

“You know what the difference between me and you are, Dealmaker?”

“Urgh you expect this to be over just because you got a- gurgh!”

They didn’t even get to finish their response before they were forced to lurch forward to spit out more of their divine blood; as a being that represented covenants… There was nothing quite as terrifying as an entity that could ignore the laws of the world. Just that act alone was enough to damage them yet they had never experienced it in such a literal fashion as with that cat just now.

It was no wonder they were confused… Even Atlas wouldn’t be able to break their chains!

“At first I thought we may be able to be good friends… Now I realise that we are only as similar as we are different to one another. One of us wishes to use everything within their power to help the world become something they can call correct while the other cannot wait that long. Whether we like it or not we’ll never see eye to eye because you’ll never be able to understand why I do this and I’ll never understand why you can’t understand why I do what I do.

Plus I have something you don’t… Support.”

“What nonsense… What is the use in power if you need to rely on others; is that not exactly what got Atlas thrown off his throne? Would you have suffered if he could maintain the laws? Everything was perfect then those fools destroyed everything that could have been!”

Cheshire just shook her head with a sigh as she moved her free hand to her side, summoning her would-be sheath, to return her blade to its resting place while their flames waned.

“That is exactly what I was talking about.”

Turning away from Dealmaker as the snake's power waned resulting in them returning back to the mortal realm of genesis once again. Once again using their sword just like the cane it appeared to be. Standing as if nothing was wrong despite the worry of her two birds.

“We will never understand one another despite being so close.”

Dealmaker Tyrant could only silently watch with gritted fangs as their destined foe walked away.

The latter never realising their words would indeed have an effect on the primordial god.

A golden plan that would stretch across aeons forming in their mind.