“Well… a–after that little intermission… we should head to Mars now,” Sol said awkwardly.

  “A–according to the c–celestial map, Mars is located at coordinates 144,16,248,4 of universe 7; dimension 4,662, reality 517,482.

  We’ll need to pass through several w–wormholes. Please f–follow me; we’ll arrive in minutes.”

  Everyone nodded.

  Rodrigo glanced toward Tania. She blushed, embarrassed, and looked away—

  but he smiled at her anyway.

  Sol conjured a chariot made of pure red energy, pulled by four glowing crimson horses.

  Everything was translucent, made of divine light.

  The solar god whispered the coordinates in Latin to the horses, and they shot forward at incredible speed.

  The whole of Orniskem traveled together inside the shimmering carriage.

  Rodrigo stared in awe at the universe around them—more beautiful than any earthly night sky.

  So many colors, so many celestial bodies.

  Each wormhole swallowed them into darkness for seconds, then spat them back into a vibrant cosmic sea.

  It was freezing cold, but he could endure it.

  They finally reached Mars in about fifteen Earth minutes.

  Rodrigo caught sight of a tiny blue sphere far away—Earth—and felt a wave of nostalgia.

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  Around Mars, a translucent barrier surrounded the entire planet, with only a single tube-like entrance.

  “A d–dimensional sh–shield. They w–want us all to enter from a s–single point,” Sol said.

  “I’ve seen people entering pocket dimensions all the time. Can’t we do the same?” Rodrigo asked.

  “N–no,” Sol replied.

  “Pocket dimensions are one–way—anything divine can e–enter but can’t leave.

  Dimensional shields like this one—or the one around Palas—allow neither entry nor exit.

  We’ll be trapped until we defeat whoever made it. I assume that’s Ares.”

  “Won’t we get trapped if we go in?” Tania asked, trying to reclaim her role as group leader.

  “It’s obviously a trap,” Mitras said.

  “But trust Lady Athena’s predictions. We’ll crush them.”

  “Agreed,” everyone said.

  “Ares has twelve war gods under him. We—excluding the malakim—are nine.

  Athena and Horus will make us eleven against their thirteen.

  Listen, do not waste your manna or ichor fighting malakim,” Mitras warned.

  “We’ll handle the enemy malakim,” the malak commander said.

  “If they release behemoth, igigi, or nephilim, we’ll have to fight too.

  But trust the strength of our malakim first,” Mitras continued.

  The malakim shouted in unison.

  “We must also rescue the malak named Anpiel. Recovering him is vital. Don’t forget,” Mitras added.

  Everyone nodded.

  “We’re coming for you soon, Anpiel,” Epona said determinedly.

  “Good. Then let’s bring a real war to these cowards—

  and show them why Orniskem stands above them!” Mitras roared.

  Everyone shouted with him and headed toward the barrier’s entrance.

  Meanwhile, on Mars, Ares sat on his throne.

  A malak approached to report that Athena’s forces were approaching the gate.

  Ares rose, his crimson cape billowing behind him.

  “Then today,” he said with a wicked smile,

  “is the day we return to Lel.”