Naga-Jin was quite pleased as he looked down upon his disciple. His humanoid form sat on his throne in the heavens. Minako Rize was quite good he truly was pleasantly surprised about how quickly she adapted to situations…however that temper needed to be refined and channeled in a better way.

Standing up he looked around his temple in the heavens. He had picked this area because it was not often traveled and the heavens were massive. Seemingly unending the heavens were quite mysterious even to us supposed gods. Naga-Jin had spent a long time exploring while his kind were exiled from the heavens while he was not. The things he knew would make these new usurpers tremble in fear with what lies in the darkest corners of the heavens, and by extension the world they watched over.

With a sigh he turned around and walked through the empty temple thousands of years these gods have ruled as the apparent rulers of the heavens, but they don’t even leave the city of temples to know what they claim to rule. What fools.

Outside the secluded temple were numerous waterfalls that fell into a deep valley. The clouds wisped around the peaks of small finger like mountains that stretched out as far as the eye could see. Naga-Jin particularly enjoyed this part of being a deity. The heavens were truly a fascinating place. At the edge of his secluded domain four figures floated in the air.

“What do we have here? Visitors all the way out here?... Interesting.” Naga-Jin spoke to himself a twisted smile grew onto his face.

With little hesitation he summoned an ethereal portal and stepped through it. In an instant his vision blurred and refocused into a new area on the peak of one of the finger like mountains just below the floating figures.

Each one had an air of youthfulness that most of the gods did not have. One was tall and lanky with brownish red hair. The one in the middle was average height for a human with sea green hair and sharp eyes that exuded a domineering presence. The last was a plump slightly overweight human looking man with narrow mean looking eyes that contrasted with his chunky cheeks. “Welcome to my domain. It is not often I get visitors this far away from the city of temples. To whom do I owe the pleasure?”

Naga-Jin decided it was best to try and probe the situation first before instantly acting out in violence.

“My name is Ethre minor god under god of the Southern seas.” The sea green haired one spoke. “This is Guali and Pliam minor gods who serve the Primearch of the City of Temples, Saerei” he said gesturing to the two besides him.

“Mmm, The Pantheon finds themselves so far from their own domain? To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“The Pantheon had laid claim to these mountains and all the regions in all directions for a hundred horizons. We have been commanded to find any rogue deities and offer them the opportunity to join the official domain of the pantheon.” Ethre said with a proud and haughty look on his face.

Naga-Jin smiled innocently “and should I refuse this offer? I am not one for teamwork and pointless organizations.”

The proud look quickly faded from Ethre’s face as he floated down from the sky and landed on the ground several yards in front of Naga-Jin’s face. The other two quickly followed suite.

“Then we take your domain forcibly. The kindness of Saerei and the rest of the major deities is not infinite. They offer you the honor of becoming part of a glorious heavenly empire. I suggest you take it” Ethre’s voice said in Naga-Jin’s opinion a laughably intimidating manner.

Well this is problematic I was looking forward to surprising all of them at the next meeting, but maybe this will be even sweeter to see the panic and chaos this brings.

Walking to the side keeping one eye on the three minor gods Naga-Jin put his hands behind his back. “I have no interest in giving up a domain that until recently the pantheon had no interest in. What right do they have to take my temple which I constructed and created myself?”

“Divine mandate. Really it doesn’t matter. You have no hope of resisting. One lowly rogue deity cannot refuse the might of the pantheon.”

“Really? You know not what forces you are dealing with yet you have the audacity to order me… Naga-Jin to give up my pedestal? Perhaps before you make such claims you should know first whom you are dealing with.”

“Naga-Jin?” the plumb one known as Pliam asked curiously “I never heard of no deity by that name.”

“You are young and newly minted minor gods” pausing for a moment Naga-Jin smiled “leave and tell your precious masters that I said hello.”

Turning around he began to walk away bluffing he was going to ignore their order.

“Arrogance of the highest order! You will pay for your disrespect.”

They all drew out their swords they had at their side none of which Naga-Jin found particularly impressive. Gripping his own blade he drew it out. The hilt which was golden was the shape of a serpent which ended with the mouth open and the blade of the sword coming out of it.

“So I must force you out? Do not make me laugh I have been a god longer than all you combined!” Naga-Jin said ending it with a slight hiss.

At that moment Naga-Jin launched himself in a spinning fashion at his first victim the tall lanky one. Before he could react the tall one had been cleaved in two dissipating into the air. Turning around he spun quickly sending a kick to the head of the fat one sending him flying into a nearby boulder. With swift and deadly precision he launched another attack on Ethre who parried him sending him several steps back. A look of panic and worry covered his face as he clutched his weapon tightly.

“You will pay for…”

Just as Ethre was about to bloviate about revenge Naga-Jin took the moment to stab him through the neck without a single moment’s hesitation. Causing him to dissipate as well. Sheathing his sword Naga-Jin turned to the plump deity who was still recovering from the kick.

A long sigh came from Naga-Jin’s lips as he crouched down next to the plump deity “now why did you make me go and do that?”

“yo- yoo- you killed them!” the plump god said his voice trembling with fear.

“No you silly fool you cannot kill a god. You can banish them you can cause them to reform back at their temple. You can even exile them or imprison them, but you cannot kill them. Give it a couple months… they will reform in their patron god’s temples or their own shrine.”

The trembling plump god relaxed slightly as he heard those words. “Wh—what are you going to do with me? Not do the same thing?”

Naga-Jin raised one of his eyebrows “No, dear foolish child why on earth would I waste the effort. I need you to carry back a message to the council at one of their meetings. Tell them Naga-Jin serpent god of venom says hello and that he will see them soon. I don’t really care what you tell them, but do warn them not to send anymore roaches into my domain…. Also to keep a seat warm for me.” Naga-Jin snickered at the end.

Grabbing the plump one by the throat he lifted him up before tossing him out of the edge of his domain sending him tumbling from one of the peaks.

It’s been too long since I’ve fought… I’ve sort have missed it. Those fools of the pantheon are sure to have a fit after hearing my name.

…

Outside the grand hall of the gods a voice echoed from its core.

“SAY THAT AGAIN!” the voice roared.

“Lord Saerei…h—he said his name was Naga-Jin serpent god of venom and that to keep a seat warm for him” the plump god known as Pliam said nervously.

“Call the council…NOW!” he yelled gripping the sides of his throne.