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It was warm and pleasant. Sleep addled mind and eyes resting in true warmth. The smell of sulfur curled in around any who dared approach. Perfect for the mount of his great lord. Large white eyes opened into the haze of his nest in the volcano he called home. His lips curled back into a smile as the distinct and soft pitter patter of feet could be heard among the churning of molten earth and rocks falling.
"Gigantomachia, rise."
He listened to his master's order and complied, uncurling from his nest to reveal an absolutely massive form, much larger than a mere river spirit he was sometimes compared to appearance wise. His large maw revealed something similar to a phantasmal smile.
"As you command my lord," he spoke as softly as he could, his voice still loud and imposing. His head lowered in respect to his lord, the god of the underworld. Was he to report to the heavens under his lord's words? Was he to add another treasure to the trove he protected for his master?
The smile on his master's face told him neither were quite right.
"We are to ride to the heavens. There is something that has been brought to my attention," he stated vaguely with a hint of irritation and satisfaction on his tongue.
"As you command, my lord."
Gigantomachia remained still as his master walked behind his head, then climbed atop.
"Ascend."
Without hesitation, Gigantomachia sped through his cavern into the core of the volcano he used as his nest. He then shot upward to the small opening above, his force pulling molten earth behind him. Mortals perishing was of no concern when his master required him to rise to the heavens. Leaving the warmth of the volcano into the coolness of the surface and even colder temperatures when entering the heavens was of no concern to Gigantomachia. He was more determined to appease his master with whatever he required or desired.
Piercing through the clouds, he soared above the heavenly temple for a brief moment, his body arching so his master was above all, before landing on the heavenly ground hidden among the clouds. His master did not get off, so Gigantomachia kept his head low. His eyes wandered to the castle before him that housed other gods that were "heavenly" in nature, whatever that truly meant.
As Gigantomachia understood it, it was the gods that stole from his master. They who had stolen his master's younger brother and growing god Yoichi.
And speak of the god, he approaches, an adorable and irritable look on his face as his master would say.
"Look at what you have done!" he scorned.
"Hello to you too, little brother."
The younger brother continued, not even politely greeting his older brother with the respect he deserved.
"You have sent hundreds to their deaths!"
"Hm? Pity. You would think mortals would remain outside of what is clearly my domain. It is their own fault for living under my shadow."
"You are not the mountain."
Gigantomachia narrowed his eyes as the other gods began to approach. Filthy family stealers. Seven stood behind his master's brother, the strongest of the gods that had seduced and entrapped the younger brother's mind.
"Well, what else was I supposed to do," his master said as he left the mounted position on Gigantomachia's back, "When I hear that you have new blood?"
Yoichi's face paled slightly.
"Who has or has not had a child is none of your concern."
"Nonsense. A child of godly blood should be noticed by all. Let me guess, your husband's brood?"
"My husband has never sired an offspring and you know it. He is devoted to our family."
"Yes. Yes. Whatever you say," his master brushed off, clearly not entirely believing it. He looked somewhat aloof as his eyes rove over the celestial land. Searching for any indication of the half god child. A wicked smile came to his face.
"Was the child a part of the villages that I just destroyed?" he asked in great amusement. Yoichi's glare said more than words ever could.
"Hisashi-"
"It was, wasn't it? What a pity then. I guess they just weren't meant to be."
Yoichi's face grew livid. He looked like he was about to yell something when his husband placed his hand on his shoulder. To quell his anger? To quiet him? Nonetheless, Yoichi fell silent. Annoying. But no more so than a demigod looking to serve this pantheon of family snatchers.
"Well, I guess then I have nothing more to do here, unless you are coming home brother?"
"Never going to happen."
"Pity. Well, I'll see you at the next birth. Or death, all the same really."
With that, he mounted Gigantomachia once more. In a show of power, they took to the sky above, and then pierced the heavenly ground as they began to burrow through the clouds to reenter the volcano that they had set off. Gigantomachia danced among the soaring rocks and plumes of toxic gas that would kill lesser creatures. Eyes sparkled with delight as magma became lava turning the landscape into a fiery inferno. A beautiful spectacle to behold as villages burned especially bright as homes of dried wood quickly caught on fire.
A true work of art to behold that he had created as his master's order. All was as it should be.
He entered the volcano knowing that it was only a matter of time before he would do so once more.
Down in the ashy ruin of one such unfortunate village, suffering was visible as far as the eye could see. People had perished in their homes, at their work, or even the few that had tried to run. The mountain had become an epicenter of death. Among the death and corpses, a lone young boy had survived. His lineage as a child of a god had spared him the fate the rest of the village had suffered, leaving him all alone. Which god? He did not know. His mother said one day he would know. But now Izuku was unsure.
This eruption was the act of a god. The god of war and destruction no doubt considering the quiet mountain gave no warning before a powerful Fuzanglong emerged. He could only hope that whatever the cause of the eruption was for something important. What dealings and important missions the heavens require was far more important than a few villages right?
He felt his eyes grow hot as tears began to trail down his ash coated cheeks. His vision grew blurry as the cooling embers faded to gray and the burnt remains of everything took on the same unfeeling black and gray, leeching away all the life that Izuku had ever known in one brilliantly vibrant moment that would no doubt haunt him for the rest of his days.