After examining the arrows Artemis shot at me, I determine that their tips are made of plutonium. Not the most traditional arrowhead material… I mull over in my head who my next target should be. I decide the next easiest god to kill will be Hephaestus.
I walk back to Crete and once again begin the investigation process. I travel to the temple of Hephaestus and approach their head priest.
"Father," I say, "I seek to pilgrimage to Hephaestus to pay tribute. Where does he reside?"
"Well, right now he makes his home at the base of Mount Ida. You can’t go, though. The path to his forge is far too dangerous. Only those he blesses could hope to make it across." I nod in thanks and purchase a regional map from a store nearby. I determine I must head North across the Sea of Crete to the mainland. It’s at times like this I am grateful to wield the flux. I focus on the geographical location of Mount Ida in relation to my own and open a flux rift leading to the base of it. My accuracy with rifts is improving. It almost feels like cheating. I spend about an hour circling the mountain before I spot a small cave entrance on the side.
The moment I enter, I notice the path is strewn with moats of hot magma and sharp stalagmites. I activate my thaumostatic harness and safely float over the dangers. Eventually I reach a large stone door. It is locked, so I use my portable hole spell focus to walk through. When I enter, I hear the sound of repeated hammering on an anvil. There, in front of me, is the dimly lit form of a grotesque figure. I can barely make it out, but it looks almost inhuman.
"I take it you are Hephaestus?" The entity jumps in surprise at my voice. He turns around, his face partially hidden by shadows.
"Oh! A visitor! Pardon my rudeness! Yes, I am who you seek. Please, sit down. Let me make you a drink." I am utterly flabbergasted at his politeness.
"Um, thank you. How odd that you act so differently than most other gods I have met. Usually, they all blast me with divine energies the second they see me."
He chuckles a bit. "Ho! I am no such monster! Those you have encountered before me must have been truly terrible! Would you like some tea?"
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"No thank you. I cannot eat or drink." As he pulls up a chair next to mine in the large chamber, his face comes into full view. One of his eyes is missing, he has one nostril, and his throat is terribly swollen. His face truly lives up to the myths. He suddenly widens his eyes.
"That… that armor! May I take a closer look at it?" I nod. He grabs my arm and inspects it. "This is the best handicraft I have ever seen! This forging outdoes anything I have created nearly one hundred fold! You must tell me who made this!"
"Your’s truly." His face becomes stony at these words.
"You… your craftsmanship has surpassed even mine. You must tell me how this has been done. How has a mortal surpassed the god of forging?" His voice is rough like gravel.
"No living creature in the universe besides me could comprehend the answer. I assure you, if I told you your mind would explode." He seems dissatisfied with this answer, but does not press further. "Tell me, why do you not attack me? I have intruded upon your home. You even show me hospitality! I am mortal."
He thinks for a moment. "Let me tell you a story."
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Long ago, the other gods and I were merely mortals. We lived in cities and there was nothing very special about us. However, one day, we were all struck by cosmic energies that seemingly came from the sky. The select few who were hit at random were given incredible power. The power to wield magic and shape reality itself. We were also made completely immortal and invincible. Over time, the other gods have lost their humanity and empathy. I, however, have isolated myself from them, and I still consider myself no greater than any human. I find their rituals and rites despicable, and I hate every last one of them.
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Once again, the origin of gods in this world does not align with the mythos in my home world. This is expected in an infinite multiverse.
"You may well be the only god I have encountered in my travels across dimensions that I am not going to kill. I suppose my companions were correct in their assumption that good gods must exist somewhere."
"…What? Dimensions? Did you kill a god?"
"I have slain Hermes and Artemis."
"But… how!?" His face is filled with horror and disbelief. "Even Olympians cannot kill Olympians! It is impossible!" He calls himself down and puts his hand on his chin. "I see. You must be a power beyond gods. It’s probably for the best that Artemis is dead. That bitch made people sacrifice babies to her. But Hermes is bad news. Zeus will definitely notice that he’s gone." He bolts up from his chair. "I’m sorry, but it’s not safe here. You need to leave immediately."
"I understand. Hopefully our paths will cross again soon and on good terms. If you have anything that can help me in my quest, I would greatly appreciate it."