After a bit of asking around and mind-probing, we eventually conclude the temple to Hermes is at the center of the city. How did the gods find out I was here? And why did that woman attack us? How did Hermes know we came to kill them? As I ponder this troubling dilemma, Winter speaks to me.

"There are people watching us," he says in a low voice. I look to where he is gesturing. I spot a cloaked figure, but it immediately runs away when it realizes I’ve seen it.

"This is very troubling," I say. "On the one hand, I suppose it is foolish for me to assume the Olympians of this world operate the same as the myths told in my home world. On the other hand, if they aren’t omniscient, who told them we were here?" Before I can continue my thought, we arrive at the temple of Hermes. It is elegantly decorated, with marble and minerals one would expect for the time period. Two legionaries stand at guard at the door. "May we enter, gentlemen?" I ask them.

"No you may not, sir. The high priestess is away on an important mission right now." Oops. I sigh and bend their media to my will, causing both men to step aside and make way for us. The Psychinomicon certainly was extremely useful. As we enter, we find it is empty. We occasionally pass a priest wandering the halls, but we eventually find our way to the pews. The vis in this room is much different than the raw, unshaped vis this world had displayed so far. Hermes must have enchanted this room.

"Hermes," I shout aloud, startling my companions, "I assume you can hear me! I recognize the aura in this room is woven into a scrying enchantment! When you sent that woman after us, you were merely sending her to her death. If you somehow knew we were here, you must have known she would have died. Quite cowardly! And I thought the Olympians of Greece were supposed to be mighty!" The Greek pantheon is very proud. I highly doubt a member could take a personal attack on their character.

My intuition is very good. Too good, perhaps. The vis in the room shifts erratically. Suddenly, with a burst of light, standing before me, is a 6 foot tall European man with a muscular build and glowing eyes. "You’ve got my attention now."

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Fuck. I didn’t think he’d come here himself.

"Well, you fucking insect? Did you insult me and belittle me just to mock me? Should I just kill you where you stand? Or perhaps I’ll turn you into a slug and pour salt on you?" He says in an extremely agitated tone.

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My companions look at each other nervously. He’s emitting an absurd amount of Essentia. Motus (Movement), mostly. To be expected. The main problem is his speed. He ran here so fast it looked like he teleported. Even if I can freeze time, how will I damage him? His flesh is practically made of Praemunio (Protection), and the Exanimis (Undead) Essentia in his skeletal structure will just revive his body before his soul leaves if I somehow manage to kill him. There was no more time to think; had I responded one second later we would all have died instantly.

"Hello, your lordship. I apologize for insulting you, but it was necessary to get your attention. I wanted to ask why you sent that woman after us, that’s all. We have just arrived here, and I don’t believe we’ve done anything to insult you."

He chuckles, his eyes flaring. "Your voice is quite unpleasant, isn’t it? A little intimidating, even. I simply acted on what I was told to do. Zeus contacted me and said to eliminate you as you posed a threat to us. I think he’s rather foolish, though. You’re clearly all just mortals. How could you possibly harm us?"

"…'Just' mortals?" Contain yourself. Do not lash out. "Yes, I suppose we are." He hasn’t noticed I’ve been charging my soul’s energy this whole time. It seems I truly am the only one in all of reality capable of perceiving Thaumaturgy, souls, and media. That may be the only thing that’s going to save me in this situation. "Although, perhaps you underestimate us."

He raises an eyebrow and laughs in amusement. "I am a god, you fool! How could I possibly be even challenged, let alone harmed by you!? You are foolish! Perhaps I’ll turn you into a slug after all." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a knife. Your arrogance will be your death. I telepathically signal my companions to back up as far as they can in the room as Hermes approaches me with his knife drawn. He puts it up to my armored throat and begins pushing it in. Now.

In a massive explosion of blue energy, I channel all of my soul’s power that I have been building up and push it out of myself. Hermes widens his eyes and tries to dodge, but even with his speed, he cannot react fast enough. Physical attacks never would have worked. My Doombolts, however, break the soul’s connection to the brain. Nothing can defend against that.

Hermes is utterly incinerated by the attack, and although his body begins reforming almost immediately afterwards, his eyes remain lifeless.

Absolutely fatigued from channeling so much of my soul’s power into one attack, I strain my head to look over at my companions. All of them are unconscious, but they were at a sufficient distance and all of them live. I pant heavily.

"Your greatest weapon, speed, was enough to kill all of my companions. Even your strong attacks would have had trouble against my runic shielding, though. What an annoying bitch." I use my casting gauntlet’s noble soul to telekinetically pick up my unconscious companions and walk out of the now-flaming temple.