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In the beginning, there was only Aertha and Sky. From their love sprang three children. Other Gods came into existence as there became a need for them, born of the elements, and some of the energies of the creatures they created.
Everything was peaceful, and the children played as children did—if you were God-children. They shaped the planes of the world with their games. They took turns creating creatures to roam the planet, and everything was peaceful until they decided to create sentient beings. Yoichi, the secondborn, created humans. He gave them free will and watched over them with joy.
His elder brother, Afuwan created demonic creatures to prey upon Yoichis creations. The brothers fought for decades, choosing one champion after another, because their parents forbid that they fight directly. Afuwans demons were winning, until through a fluke, Yoichi passed some of his powers to a human, a priest. Afuwan became angry and hurled himself at his brother.
Mountains fell, and the seas trembled as they fought and Toshinori, the youngest, became distressed with all of the destruction. With his help and the backing of their parents, Afuwan was sealed into the void for breaking their parents' sole rule, but not without taking the eldest with him.
“And there he remained… until now! Afuwan has found a way to gain allies among Gods and men alike, and War God Katsuki is calling upon us to fight to preserve our lives, our families, and our freedom!”
The roar of the crowd echoed in his ears as Eijirou, First Priest of the Temple of War lowered his hand to his side. The world was in chaos. The oracles could see no future other than darkness. That had to be changed.
As Iida, the messenger God had worked himself to exhaustion, they had gathered their army. It was going to be a tough battle, and Eijirou wasn’t sure they were enough.
Afuwan had been patient, and smart, using cracks in his prison to get close to the one person no one had expected him to corrupt. His nephew, Tomura—the God of Death.
Now corrupted by his uncle's power in mind and body, the Dark God had gained other allies, Gods who had sided with Afuwanin in his struggle against his siblings.
Dabi, the god of Discord.
Himiko, the Goddess of Spilled Blood, Sister to the War God…and there were others. Some had joined willingly, and some were corrupted by the evil Gods.
All were enemies.
Eijirou hoped that the amassed group in front of them was enough.
He watched as the War God stepped forward in all of his splendor, and couldn’t help being awed. His wheat-colored hair shone in the sun as he held his helm tucked under his arm. Izuku, a Demi-God, the son of All-Might, and a human woman stood at his side. The two were unmatched in battle and strength, though one was mortal, and one Immortal. They shared a weighted glance, and Izuku spoke.
“ The God of Death has fallen to Afuwan, which means you may face those you have lost. We must stand firm. Afuwan… All For One. He cares for nothing but himself—”
“ Blah, Blah Blah...Look at all of the people who came for us today hmm?”
Izuku was interrupted by a sneering voice from above. Eijirou watched his head whip around even as Katsuki drew his sword with a clang.
“Dabi… What are you doing here?” The God of Discord sneered at his brother, patchwork skin stretching at the corner of his mouth.
“I exist wherever there’s strife, You knew that once… We were allies”
Katsuki snorted and threw back his head.
“ I refused to be controlled by a loser like Afuwan.”
Blue flames danced in the air around the God of Discord, the corruption showing in the darkness that surrounded him.
“ Then die a free God.”
A figure darted in front of Katsuki, the clang of metal against metal ringing through the air as Izuku knocked aside a knife thrown at the God of War.
Eijirou moved forward from where he stood and grabbed the weapon before it could be snatched up by the one who had thrown it.
Feral golden eyes stared hungrily at the mortal priest as a blonde figure with a crazed grin stood from the shadows.
“I wonder what you would look like in red.”
He danced back as she pulled out a second knife and slashed it at him. He felt a thin line of pain across his chest before retaliating.
Kirishima didn’t see much of the fight, as he was occupied with Himiko. He could hear the chaos around him as all hell broke loose. The dagger he had picked up was in his hand, but no mortal weapon could kill a God. He used it anyway, alternating between his one-handed sword and the shorter blade.
As he fought, he noticed a deep black stain on the knife. Remembering the wild crazy eyes of Dabi before the attack he had a suspicion… Taking a chance he drove the blade into Himiko's shoulder. She fell to the ground, a grey sheen spreading from the blade's entry point.
Blood of Stone.
Gods couldn’t be killed, but they weren’t immune to a myriad of potions. Blood of Stone was a potion made using the blood of Aertha herself. It turned the one affected into a statue for all eternity.
As he looked at the statue of the Goddess the clashing of weapons around him grew louder. He took in the battlefield he had been mostly blind to while fighting—even her allies wouldn’t try to take Himiko’s prey.
Light shone from above as Katsuki and Izuku traded off against the God of Death himself.
Tomura had arrived sometime during the battle.
The Warrior-Priest looked at the blade in his hand and knew what he had to do. He had to get the weapon to Katsuki. Sealing the Death God in stone would be the only way to end this. Eijirou lifted his sword and dove into the fray. He was mortal, but as the high priest of War he had some divine protection. His strength was matched by none other than a demi-God, he was a man among men. His great heartbeat in his ribcage as he moved closer to the main battle. The very earth shook as Katsukis’ glowing fist impacted Tomuras chest with a great explosion. He was so close...
An impact to his side sent him stumbling and he landed in a heap of violet hair and limbs. Desperately climbing to his feet he felt, Eijirou’s hair tingled on end, the smell of ozone filling the air. Between him and the main battle stood Dabi, facing off against the God of Thunder.
The normally smiling God's face was set in an expression of rage. A soft grunt next to him showed that the projectile that had hit him, the source of the violet hair was the Goddess of Music herself. She glanced at him briefly, then dove back into the fray to stand with her husband against the mad God. Eijirou used the distraction to move forward again.
Blue flames hit the ground ahead of him and he turned to see Dabi looking at him with rage on his face as he stared at the dagger in Eijirou's hand.
“ I’m not letting you get there, mortal.”
Eijirou squared up to fight when a massive bolt of lightning struck between them leaving afterimages in his vision.
“Hey! You’re fighting me Patches! Whatever you’ve got, get it to Kats, Priest.” Denki’s grin had an edge to it. “Let's end this.”
Eijirou nodded and took off at a full sprint, intent on getting the Earth Dagger to the war God. He could hear the screams of the fallen around him and all he could hope was that this was the only weapon that could harm a God. Panting he skidded to a stop.
“ War God Katsuki!” He shouted and threw the dagger towards the God as the man's head snapped up, crimson eyes intent on the weapon. Izuku took the distraction to pummel Tomura further.
Relief bloomed in the Warrior-Priests chest as Katsuki's strong hand caught the knife and studied it, a feral grin spreading across his face.
“Oi, Deku.” Kirishima watched as Izuku jumped back both badly injured. He lost sight of the dagger for a moment before the God and Demi-God began to attack Tomura in earnest. Kirishima knew he couldn’t interfere in the battle, and he couldn’t watch more as he was attacked from behind.
All he knew was one moment Katsuki was trying to drive the blade into Tomuras chest, and the next, he was caught in the Death God's strong grip. The knife flew away from them to be picked up by a minion and the Death God started to cackle—only to be cut off as grey crept over his skin, petrifying him.
“ No... NO. I WILL BE KI-”
The battlefield grew silent as Izuku stepped out from behind the God, hand trembling.
He fell to his knees, the injuries from the fight taking their toll even on a Demi-God.
The battle was done. With their leader gone Kirishima watched Dabi vanish into the aether, along with the other dark Gods, and shook his head.
“ Izuku… You can’t fucking do this.” Kirishima turned to see Katsuki crouching over the Demi-God and frowned in concern. He gave Izuku a second glance and lowered his head.
The wounds the Demi-God had taken would have killed a normal mortal, and even Demi-Gods could die if badly enough injured. He knew that the War God and Izuku had a long history… Katsuki had sealed Izuku’s strength in jealousy as a child because the half-mortal had been their father's favored. They had grown closer in adulthood, both strong, but only one unable to die.
“ You’re not allowed to die on me.”
Kirishima watched Izuku reach up to take the War God's hand and squeeze it. “ You can visit me in the afterlife and yell at me there, Kacchan.”
Even his voice seemed weak now. Katsuki turned to kick the statue of the Death God angrily, eyes wet in what the priest knew he would never admit were tears.
The stone God trembled and cracked.
In a golden shimmer of light, the form of All Might took form next to the statue of his Elder brother's child, sadness etched on his features. The King of the Gods lay a hand on the statue's head, his own bowed.
“Rest well nephew, and regain your sanity.” He turned towards his children.
“ Katsuki, you fought we—”
“Shove it, old man? Where were YOU? Izuku’s…”
All Might’s shoulders slumped. “ Father Sky would not allow me to interfere..” He crouched next to Izuku and placed a hand on the Demi-God's chest.
“ He cannot die, for there is no God of Death anymore. He and the others who fell in this battle will live in perpetual pain until a new one comes forth.”
Everyone fell silent at that as All Might leaned forward and whispered something to Izuku.
Kirishima was close enough to see the Demi-God's lips move, though he couldn’t hear the words.
He heard Katsuki shout, the God of War leaping towards his father as the GodKing lit up with a blinding light. He plucked a hair from his head and placed it between the dying mans lips.
“Eat, and I hope that you never regret your decision, my son.”
Kirishima watched the man chew and swallow, a peaceful green light spreading over his form as he rose, the wound gone.
“What the hell did you do?”
Kirishima could feel his God's anger rise, but it was quelled when Izuku stepped forward.
“ Kacchan...I..”
All Might put a hand on his shoulder. “ Welcome, Izuku, God of Peaceful Death.”
Kirishima took a deep breath. Things would change now, a new God, some old ones gone, but it was over.
No.
It would never be over. Not as long as Afuwan would try to escape.
But it was over for now. The sun would rise on a new day and they would heed the warning going forward.
He looked up at the golden figure, the God of War standing victorious, and knew that as long as he was there, they would always win.