Hare of Misfortune

Lips curling as the bottom of her form-fitted bra began to show, Rachel spoke singular, deliberate words that made the display spin to the proper options. Settling on one that turned Dionysus’ golden face white as snow. The stadium became deathly still as her words rang throughout the stands of lesser deities.

”Upgrade: Search. Mostly-dead personifications. Symbol of Victory. Send an acceptance request to Nike to be infused into my soul item.”

Rachel’s gaze lifted to the tortured, naked young woman pinned to the column. Gagged by her own white hair, blinded, and hung in place by her very weapons, with her torn-off wings stapled at her sides. All eyes settled on Dionysus’ proud trophy, a symbol of his unmitigated dominance among the lesser gods and over his intimidating eldest sister, Athena.

”Rachel...” Dionysus snarled, wine barrels bursting around the stadium in a bubbling rage, falling over the quivering personification as vines swarmed the arena. ”If you—”

”If I what?” Rachel grinned, not feeling an ounce of the terrifying pressure the other lesser deities flinched at. ”Hah. You’ll what? Kill Eostre? Do you remember how that went last time?”

Dionysus’ vision fixated on Nike as a tremor ran down her lacerated body, and she lifted her head as if seeing something only visible to her.

”I will make sure you die if you do this, Rachel, and that will only be the begin— No!”

[Request Accepted]

”You planned this—what are you?!” Dionysus raged, face going red and vanishing to appear in front of Nike, fist plunging toward her chest, yet his hand was stopped millimeters before sinking into the woman’s ripped flesh. ”This—damn System... This can’t be happening!”

Rachel could feel his mind slipping, pulling the noose tighter around his own throat as she licked her lips, relishing the tension of tempting a god; the angel next to her smiled, following their gaze.

”If you intend to save the personification. I am inclined to approve of such an act of mercy. Though she will not be of much use to you for some time in her ravaged state.”

Conner’s mouth was open in shock at the tantrum his lesser god was throwing while attempting to kill the personification without effect, and Rachel’s lilting tone cut deep into the Greek god’s pride. The clock on her turn counted down, reaching thirty seconds.

”Hurry up and perform your duty, Arbiter. You wanted this job... So, do your job! Maybe, heh, you should give up the reins to Eostre. You could kill Nike then, right? Haha. I’m waiting, Arbiter! Your adoring fans are waiting! She accepted. Place Nike inside my Living Denier.”

Veins writhing under the lesser god’s skin, he snarled, fingers closing into a fist; Nike shimmered and condensed into a brilliant light. The infuriated man appeared before her in the blink of an eye, wearing a savage, manic smile while shoving the 5th-dimensional, dying personification into her chest, infusing Nike’s divine soul into Nia.

”You...will die, heh-hehe—soon enough, Hare. You...are finished, whoever you really are under that false mortal skin you wear—hide your identity in that Seed, but I know you are something else! Hahaha.”

Rachel stumbled back and regained her balance, still wearing a tempting, impish smile as Nia’s life force surged back. Her outfit was restored in an array of golden light as the wounded personification’s ichor flooded her Living Denier with purifying energy, burning away the impurities. She doubted Nike would stay forever, but there had to be something to gain for saving and harboring the powerful woman when she was down and needed assistance.

Conner clearly did not like the way his literally insane lesser god was now planning on both of them failing; he should have seen it coming, with insanity being attached to his repertoire. The legend stood silently, deep in thought on how to change the tone, because if she died, he died, along with this entire fractured multiverse.

”And just like that,” she laughed, ”a penalty is void. Haha. Who’s next?”

”Ah, that would be me,” the golden-haired angel replied, showing a radiant smile. ”I have become a fan. Penalty: You cannot use Nike in this competition. Let her rest.”

Rachel nodded. ”Reasonable.”

Nia emerged from twinkling lights to stand beside her with a triumphant grin, a hand on her hip, and staring the lesser god down. ”I’m back, you sadistic bitch, and I’ve got the lady wrapped up and tucked into bed with a nice cup of tea.”

Dionysus’ smile personified the insanity that lay underneath the party facade. ”You...will regret that decision...dearly.”

Nia snickered and pointed at the angel that drew the lesser god’s ire, showing a serene cadence. ”Aww, why the long face; did we steal your girl, or did you just run out of wine to jerk off to? How can heaven hurt like hell? Tragic!”

Rachel pointed up at the clock as it counted down for Conner. ”I understand the distance from your idol is bittersweet, but it’s not so bad. C’mon, no one likes a party pooper.”

Rachel began counting down the seconds as the clock ticked for Conner, sweat gathering on his bronze skin as Dionysus gave him an unamused look. The lesser god’s voice was far from entertained as he stared at his squirming champion.

”Choose a location without a moon.”

”I can’t...” Conner hissed, knowing he would choose a nasty monster for her to face. ”If she dies, I die.”

”And you will die in ways you cannot fathom if you do not select a moonless day!”

The angel’s face creased with Nia’s boos, grating against the lesser god’s nerves.

”That hardly—”

”Your turn is over!” Dionysus swept him away to his seat with an enraged flick of his wrist. ”I don’t need a little angel to tell me what is—”

”Location,” Conner stated, grimacing while keeping his focus on the screen as it struck the single digits. ”A sparse forest, mixed with random vegetation and grain fields...under a random moon.”

A tense silence overcame the throng as Rachel sallied over and held up a hand to the resigned legend. ”Oh, c’mon, don’t leave me hanging. Be a good sport!”

Conner groaned, forcing a smile and slapping hands in a high-five. ”We’re going to die.”

”Welcome to the team!” Nia chimed in, giving a grinning peace sign to Dionysus, too furious to even speak.