SPIRIT OF JUSTICE
Eons ago, no one knew when exactly and no one knew if what I am going to tell you was true. Eons ago, there was the Light, the Father, he created the Titans. An apparently perfect species, perfect beings in everything. Towering stature, alabaster skin, and dragon pupils. For an age beyond counting, the Light was not also God but also King of the Titans. My memories were not complete yet. I could only grasp fragmented images... the choosing... the selection... I did not remember why the Light was no longer the King... I remember...
The Titans' society was a masterpiece of architectural grandeur and technological marvel, there were prestigious families. Among them, one in particular drew less attention, the Imperius. They were rich, but not like the others, they were less favored. They bore two heirs: Solarius, the elder, bathed in the golden light of favor, and Aurelius, the younger, cloaked in its dimming glow.
Solarius was the embodiment of Titan perfection. Intellect, appearance, skill, charisma—he possessed them all in breathtaking abundance. Everyone's favorite, engaged to the sole daughter of the Zenith, Altair. The Zenith, a perfect family of revered priests, the epitome of Titan purity, their bloodline untouched, their devotion absolute. But it was here where everything started to go wrong. Aurelius was secretly in love with Altair. Princess Altair, her hair cascaded like spun moonlight, her eyes held the blue fire of distant stars, her skin possessed the same ethereal luminescence as Hera II.
Aurelius was already jealous of his older brother, but he said nothing. Aurelius admired Altair, the woman was simply perfect, his beauty was ecstatic even among the Titans—the Titans are not emotional beings, it was rare for a Titan to like or feel attracted, it happens but it is rare that is why the society of the Titans is mostly old, romantic relationships are rare.
Centuries passed and many competed for Altair Zenith's heart, but the hero Solarius was the only one who managed to have her heart. In fact the interest was only on her part, at first, Solarius only focused on his duties as a swordsman and high magistrate.
But Altaïr managed the feat, conquered the blond hero and began the secret relationship. Aurelius watched, a silent observer as Altair and Solarius's connection deepened. What started with stolen whispers through her window blossomed into clandestine walks beneath the twin moons, then escalated to stolen kisses, passionate embraces. Until the night they surrendered to the intoxicating intimacy, Aurelius witnessed from afar, his jealousy morphing into a consuming inferno.
When Altair conceived. Aurelius, a twisted joy coursed through him. Consumed by envy and desire for revenge, whispering the scandalous secret into the ears of the Zenith family. His hope for retribution, for the lovers to be cast out and punished, was dashed. Instead, they were wed. The populace, in their detached way, celebrated the union, conveniently overlooking the transgression. Aurelius seethed.
The world, seemingly untouched by discord, was now tainted by Aurelius's envy, a festering wound upon his soul. He was four years younger than Solarius and Altair, yet he already carried the weight of a thousand grudges.
Solarius Imperius, the brilliant genius ascended to the presidency of the Empire's Senate, the pinnacle of political power. He was now the most important and powerful Titan, a beacon of excellence. Aurelius, meanwhile, toiled in the army, his achievements unnoticed, his resentment growing with each passing day.
Then, on a night when the cold light of our world's moon bathed his tears, a vision appeared. A dark woman, cloaked in mystery and allure, ignited a spark of desire within Aurelius. She supposedly resided in the moon's shadowed half, and Aurelius, driven by love and desire, returned every night to see her.
Like his older brother, he engaged in a relationship unbound by the sacred rites of marriage. One night, amidst the throes of pleasure, she whispered a strange request in his ear, her voice like the rustling of dark silk, — H-Honey... Say yes... Please...
The young man, lost in the intoxicating momentary pleasure, letting himself be carried away by the orgasm of pleasure, cried out. — YES! I'LL GIVE YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT...!
In this moment, here at this moment. In that fateful moment, the Titan's golden age began its descent into twilight. The fall of the Titans. Darkness, a primordial force, seeped into Aurelius's being, his core filled with Heavenly Qi was invaded by deep and dense darkness, it was pure black energy.
His eyes turned the color of a starless night, his canines elongated, and his heart became a vessel of shadows. He craved power and the authority of God. He unleashed a storm of violence, slaughtering millions, and seized the throne. Many Titans fled, among them Solarius, Altair, the Zenith and Imperius families.
The society that lived in the Light knew darkness.
The Light, bound by the cosmic law he created, could not directly intervene. His power was too immense; its touch would obliterate all. He could only watch painfully, a silent witness to the unfolding tragedy.
Solarius led his people to safety, his heart heavy with despair. He pleaded the Light for aid, and the Light bestowed upon him His Essence. Solarius, realizing he could not defeat Aurelius being the only Absolute Titan and with Aurelius' seemingly invincible army of darkness, Solarius' learned to create similar Essences, empowering other Titans. Thus, were born the billions of MegaTitans.
A cataclysmic dark war engulfed the world. Solarius and his MegaTitans eventually triumphed, banishing Aurelius, now known as Apokolips, and his dark legions. But the conflict did not end. The world was cleaved in two, a realm of Light and realm of Darkness, locked in an eternal struggle. And the Light, our Father, wept...
And other eons passed. Nine Titans of Light ascended the throne, the last being Tyron Zephyros, who was overthrown in a bloody coup. The MegaTitans, his subjects, succumbed to corruption.
Who seemed to be Arthur's second personality, in reality I was the first personality. I was the fusion of the ten Titans of Light and their Heralds, the true self, the Absolute Titan, trapped within an incomplete vessel.
The Titanification process, meant to forge the perfect body, was interrupted, shattered by an unknown figure. The intended vessel, instead of embodying absolute power, became fragile, incapable of containing even the might of a MegaTitan, the small self was a part that had not yet been fused.
What should be the body of the Absolute Titan, was the body of a normal, weak and insignificant Titan. That body couldn't even handle the power of a MegaTitan, let alone the Absolute.
That frail body was vulnerable to Zeus, a being who, in my true and prime form, would be as insignificant as dust. Now, however…
The body needed rest, respite from the battle against a mere insect. I knew Zeus would not be defeated so easily, but the Treadway's body was nearing its breaking point. More power would shatter it.
— Repent of your ways! — I commanded; my gaze fixed on his charred form.
— AAAAAHHHH!!! — Zeus' ravaged and unrecognizable body was a testament to the raw power of the Essence of Light. His skin removed, his flesh exposed, and his agonized cries echoed across the battlefield.
A two-meter giant writhing in pain. The ground around him smoldered, the lingering heat a testament to the divine energy that ravaged even the corrupted form of this lesser body. A luminous vapor, like burning incense, rose from my wounds as the Sacred Flames consumed me from within.
It was time to end this.
I raised my hand, preparing to deliver the final blow. — Sword... — I began, only to be interrupted by the thunder king's sinister recovery.
His incinerated flesh knitted back together, new white skin forming, long, deep white hair cascading down his back. His form shifted, becoming smaller, extremely well defined, curves accentuating themselves. His chest, hips, and buttocks swelled, revealing a voluptuous feminine form.
Hera II!
The miserable imposter had assumed her form.
— Would you kill your dear wife...? — Zeus, now Hera II, smirked, his naked form a grotesque mockery. He placed a hand on his hip, an air of arrogance radiating from him.
I raised my eyebrow. — You're really foolish. If I had any doubts, they are gone now. — My jaw tightened. — You think I'm Treadway? — I scoffed. — I want to understand something... Did you use her form in a desperate attempt to make me hesitate? And you used magic... In front of me...?
I genuinely wanted to understand his reasoning. Did he not realize I was not the naive, younger self? Was he so blinded by arrogance that he couldn't see the truth? It is strange how ignorant this human was, consumed by his own wisdom and pride. I could feel the fear emanating from his family, the so-called Olympian "gods". My mission was clear: to eradicate this world from its filth, to prepare it for the coming war.
Zeus lunged; his fist aimed at my face. — I want to see if you're as cold as they say... — he growled.
I sighed, raising my hand. — As you wish... — I murmured, then lowered it, slashing the air in a vertical arc.
— This is the end... Sword of Faith! — I roared, unleashing a beam of pure golden light.
…
At our camp, Butler watched the confrontation with an analytical eye, his hands clasped behind his back. — The war is over. Zeus is dead! — he whispered, turning towards the tents being organized.
…
On the battlefield, Poseidon, having set aside the Saint, sprinted towards Zeus, his instincts screaming danger. Everyone, including myself, knew this was the decisive blow. My body was failing, the burns now fourth degree. The Treadway's body was saying goodbye...
— BROTHER!! — Poseidon cried, throwing himself in front of Zeus, shielding him from the impending strike.
I smiled. Two birds with one strike.
The light intensified as the blade descended. — Slash! — The technique cleaved through Poseidon's chest, killing him instantly.
The force of the blow sent both bodies hurtling through the air. The reign of the self-proclaimed gods was over.
The Sword of Faith, a technique of the Absolute Titan, was unstoppable. It was clear that this body could not withstand the discharge of power from an Absolute Titan, it was collapsing. Blood streamed from my eyes, my mouth, and the Sacred Flames that coursed through my veins, burning me from within.
Weakness washed over me, the Absolute Titan. my eyes blared, my balance faltered. I was nearing my end. A part of me resisted, clinging to existence, but another part welcomed the release.
Stumbling, I raised a clenched fist in a final, defiant gesture. — Olympus! — I croaked, my voice barely a whisper. — You better make sure I die. If I survive... it's the end of you all! — My strength gave way, my arm falling limp.
I surrendered to the inevitable, collapsing to the ground. I could hear the cries of my soldiers, their voices filled with grief and despair.
"Little me, I think this is it..." I sighed, lifeblood draining from my body.
I had experienced this transition before, countless times. I knew the process of "death" well. It was... peaceful.
Titans do not truly die, not those of the Light, at least. They simply transition to another plane of existence. This was not an ending, but a beginning, a passage to the Sacred World, I was at peace. I felt a sense of calm acceptance. It was a pity that I couldn't finish cleansing this world of the darkness that festered within it.
Questions lingered, though, nagging at my fading consciousness. "Was I born to die here? Will another Titan of Light be chosen? Did the Light made me reborn, only a year and a half ago, just to die here?! I'm like a newborn..." I mused, my senses overwhelmed by the sudden opening of the heavens, the brilliant sunlight assaulting my eyes.
A strange thought struck me. "Where are the physicians? I need first aid, or do they think I am dead? The Treadway should have had children... Dying without heirs is complicated..." I processed.
"You should have had heirs..." I mused, my mind slowing down. "In your position, you needed to ensure that things didn't end with you..."