I stood before the Temple of the Gods. The majestic structure was simple on the plateau but was huge enough to cast its shadow over Elysium below.

From here, on the final step before the temple proper was the Divine Terrace, one could see the power of the divine, and the blessings of the world below.

There were 108 discs, each kilometer round, that overlapped to form the stairway to heaven. The discs were very close at first but began to space further and further apart.

Until the Divine Terrace presented itself. The perfectly flat marble that one had to walk a full kilometer to reach the overly large temple.

I leaned on the marble railings, intricate scenes of the pantheons were etched through the solid rock and were highlighted during the rise and fall of each day's sunlight.

The winds that would normally buffet such a mountain top were suppressed to a gentle breeze. Here on the Stairway to Heaven, the full blessings of all gods showed their presence.

Plants bloomed regardless of the season. Fruits were quick to regrow. The intricate river system formed small streams that one could drink from at any height.

I ignored it all and stared down onto the city below.

Elysium sprawled before me. The hundred trillion people that formed the core of the city proper spread out for over 510 million square kilometers.

Towers spired into the air, and underground. Water cities existed above and below the liquid surface. The Floating provinces held yet more people.

All under the rule of the Jade Emperor. Long may be live. Forever may he rule.

Yet the current Jade Emperor was dying. The time for the 255th ceremony of ascension was quickly coming up, and that meant the trails were to begin.

This was to be a ceremony for the history books as well. With over ten thousand children, the 254th Jade Emperor had lived an especially long life, as the chosen of Ra.

This meant that even if only a tenth joined in, that was over a thousand participants. This meant that having a good Patreon was important.

Alexander, the eldest son, was already nearly ten thousand years old. He had the blessings of Zeus and could summon thunder at will.

Ashera, the fifteenth daughter, had captured the attention of Aphrodite and was said to be under the protection of a dozen heroes.

Yet, I, a son of no renown, had nothing. I had no glory like Alexander or Icarus. Victors of a thousand campaigns to the savages that threw themselves at the bountiful kingdom.

Nor did I have the charisma of Ashera, Gwendolyn, Serasha… who could command legions of devout followers.

I stared at the stump of what was my right arm, and then my stump of a right leg. In the place of flesh, was the cold metals of iron and bronze.

They were makeshift contraptions formed from scraps. While the food and room were free, one had to earn their worth. All I could afford was to rummage in the dumps of Elysium.

My worth was scraps. A bronze-level power that was certainly lackluster against my diamond leveled siblings.

I had stepped on Alexander's cape by accident once nearly a hundred years ago. With his bare hands, he had ripped off my right leg which was the culprit, and my right arm for trying to defend myself.

The setting sun caught the mural of the gods. The holes etched into the railings showed the many gods that protected Elysium.

The red glow of the setting sun was much like my heart. A passion not to rule, but to kill.

Because he was strong, he had crippled me. For no other reason than because he could.

Before that day, I had never exchanged a single word, and yet it was something that changed my life.

It had also changed the life of my mother, who needed care and medicine. Something not afforded to a devalued concubine.

I could only eke out coins by menials tasks. Glorified paper-pushing for the city dumps was all I could get. A crippled boy was not the greatest prospect for an employee.

Not when there were so many people who could also apply.

If it wasn’t for Uncle Jack, my mother would be dead.

The sunset as the final tip of the glowing orb dipped below the horizon.

I straightened and made my over to the temple itself.

Each step made the temple grow. Until it towered overhead as one stood before its only step.

With each pillar measuring at a kilometer high and formed from hardened platinum, it was a testament to those that watched over the people.

The diamond roof was sculpted to fracture the unyielding sunlight into a dance of soft colors when one entered the temple itself.

I made my way in, under the full moon was bathed the empty temple within a soft pearl-like color.

I made my way over to the end of the temple. A surprisingly simple setup that held only a round table as its sole alter.

It was at waist height and was ten meters round.

Offerings would be placed on the table, and the worshipper would whisper

I hobbled my way over to the empty table.

The various worshippers and priests had always kept the temple in immaculate condition.

I stared at the table as I finally reached it.

My fake joints creaked as I kneeled before the table. I had no offerings. I had no belongings. I would do almost anything to move forward.

"I offer nothing," I began as regretted my choices. I had nothing of value that I would ever offer. "I can only swear to uphold my promise…"

I took a deep breath. I could only count on the fact that the gods were anything but unified. Sure they protected Elysium, but there were many reasons that it was so.

The city was their greatest source of worship, and without it, they would fade into the ether.

"I only desire two things. Power to prolong the life of my mother, and death to my eldest brother Alexander…" I whispered to the empty altar.

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I had nothing. I would also promise nothing else.

Whereupon others would promise more, I could not give it. The only thing else would be the potential future. Money that I did not care about… a family that I would never sacrifice.

I had learned enough from the sad reign of my father. He had the power to kill any within the empire, money beyond counting, and more lovers then a district within of the core of the kingdom…

Yet he had nothing. No children that adored him any longer. No love that would stand freely beside him by her choice.

I was far more simple.

A future for my mother, and vengeance for the weak that were trampled by the fools born before me…

I…

Did it just get darker?

I looked up and the light dimmed before it blossomed.

The pearlescent world filled every inch and every corner.

It was also warm. Not hot. Not cold.

I looked around and my eyes eventually wandered back to the altar, where she sat.

I blinked. The woman was fully hooded, and had no real figure… but I felt like calling her a woman.

"Greetings Bronze Prince… or should I call you the silver night, Agoang?" she said as she simply glided off the table and over towards me.

I stared at her. That was a name only my other and uncle called me. Others simply called me Agg. I never told anyone my real name.

"How?" I whispered to her mischievous grin.

"I know everything about you. I have been waiting after all," she whispered back with a soft chuckle.

I was curious at her words, but I knew better than to speak foolishly.

"I will be your Patreon. I will be your power…" she whispered as she trailed a very delicate finger down my cheek and off my chin. It trailed around my neck, and every hair on my body stood up straight from the sheer power she channeled through by just touch alone.

"All I ask… is the first rights of your firstborn," she finished as she settled against my back.

I didn’t see her move. She was in front of me, then she was hugging me from behind.

"I…" Cannot is what I wanted to say. I already told her. I would not sacrifice the innocent. A pointing finger had snaked around and pressed itself against my lips to shush me.

"I meant the first rights. Not first life. I will become your firstborn, regardless of who you lay with. This. This is my condition," she said as she pressed her warm head against mine.

"Why?" I asked, my lips pressed against her soft fingertip.

"Think of it like taking a nap… I need just a few moments to rest. For many, it is the act of sleeping. To go unconscious. For the divine, it is becoming tethered to the mortal world. A vacation of sorts," she explained as her finger left and her arm coiled around me.

I turned my thoughts inward.

I would do almost anything…

"I accept," I whispered as I closed my eyes. I did not know who this goddess was, but I did not matter. I would make the pact and through it, I would fulfill my two desires and hers… if I lived.

"Excellent!" she chirped as she was in front of me again.

I saw her smile and the world flickered as I saw a skulled face stare at me before just as quickly everything faded away, taking me with it.

---

I coughed as I awakened.

I was laying on the altar, and I panicked as I simply rolled off.

If anyone caught me disrespecting the alter, death would only be my sweet release…

I fell onto the floor and with a clang, I fell on my right side, allowing the old scrap parts to take the bulk of the impact.

I groaned pathetically as it hurt when I had landed on the smooth marble. The pain shot into my mind with acute precision.

I rolled over and onto my back as I raised my arm to see what was happening.

My eyes widened and if I wasn't laying back, I swear they would have fallen onto my face.

Instead of the cheap iron and brass, to help liven it up the rusty parts, was smooth orhalcium. It greeted me as it shined in the dull light. I stared and I could also tell that aetherium muscles laid underneath.

These were divine materials and I scrambled up so that I could look at my legs as well. Underneath that ragged pants, it was the same.

I had gone from something that barely works to the complete opposite. It was something that not even my father could easily obtain. Only the gods of the forge could craft such rare alloys in the supernatural forges of the heavenly plains.

A glow dull glow caught my eye. It was etched in blood, and I knew the moment I saw it that it was my own blood. It held only two lines.

[I am the bone of my sword]

[Steel is my body and fire is my blood]

My world turned into sharp pain as the words echoed off my soft and fragile soul. The world turned inside out, and my limbs began to eat into my torso.

I fell to my hands and knees. I couldn’t breathe.

It took what felt like an eternity before I could draw my first breath again.

Then, I heaved as I threw up blood.

I rolled over as I felt something crack inside me. Like popping the joints to let out excess gasses.

The world seemed clearer as I slowly stood up.

Hands helped me up.

The many hooded apostles of the temple were already there, and an aged man who had his hood down greeted me.

"Tell me, Oh prince, who is your Patreon?" the man asked in his old, cracked voice.

I opened my mouth and froze… who the hell did I contract with?

"Headmaster!" a voice screamed out in shock and horror.

The old man glanced over in annoyance. One should be respectful in the temple… His jaw dropped and he had to slap a hand over his heart as his blood pressure spiked.

From the blood, I had thrown up, was a perfectly shaped skull and scythe.

I wondered if this was an ill omen as the headmaster fainted.