The Second Archon War: Interlude 20 (Patreon)

Interlude 20: Lines on a Map

On a balcony overlooking Lake Geneva, five men and a woman sat around a table with piping hot tea. It was a relatively warm day at 25 °C, but the group gathered was used to the tropical climate of South East Asia, and all of them had on long sleeves and pants. 

“So,” the Malaysian Prime Minister said, looking around the table. He was the eldest there, and felt it was his responsibility to break the ice. “There is a new Cold War. Once more, the Americans are on one side. My country was considered 3rd world, but many of our people suffered in the last Cold War. We have a chance to align ourselves one way or another. With the Americans, or against them.”

“I don’t know why we are even having this conversation,” the Vietnamese President said with a shake of his head. “There is only one clear option. Either we can ally with the Americans, or we can ally with the god who has already established dominion over South East Asia.”

“The Endslayer is the obvious choice, but not perhaps the correct one,” the Singaporean president said, looking at the men at the table. She was the only woman present, and Singapore was a former British Colony that had a close relationship with the Anglosphere. Rumor had it that Britain was already signing a treaty with the Protectorate, along with Canada and potentially even Australia.

“The Americans are trying to play at being gods. The Raiden Shogun actually is one,” the Thai Prime Minister pointed out. “Additionally, I believe that…whatever it was that attacked the Russians has to be deadly. It has the Archons afraid. How much more terrified should we be?”

“I disagree that the Archons are gods. Angels, perhaps, but not gods,” the President of the Philippines said. He was the youngest of those present and the only Christian present. As a Catholic, he took the word of the Pope very seriously. Though he also took the Raiden Shogun’s security guarantees even more seriously. 

“That’s a theological tautology. It makes no difference,” the Indonesian President said with a shrug. “What I know is I saw the evidence of Farasha resurrecting the dead. Nothing in the Quran can explain that, short of what Allah can do. Perhaps Nahida Saeed is only a Djinn. But her mother is surely divine. And I know which way my nation will turn if the forces of hell, or whatever this new threat is, invade.”

“How can we know that it is a threat? The Archons removed our memories, and Focalors sealed our ability to speak of it, let alone think of it,” the Singaporean president said, frowning. 

“So, will you rely on the Americans, when they are across the Pacific, and the Raiden Shogun is on our very doorstep? Already, the Dragons have destroyed the global telecommunications network the West created, and the Flower Dragon has replaced it with something under her own control,” the Malaysian Prime Minister asked, his tone somewhat skeptical.

The Thai Prime Minister shrugged. “King Rama has already made it clear the direction that Thailand is going. And frankly, I see no reason to argue against him. In fact, I see reasons to join the coalition against the Americans. The Raiden Shogun has agreed to a duel between her daughters and the Twins. If nothing else, she is protecting us simply by drawing the attention of the Golden Demon.”

“The Philippines has already lost one city because the Shogun did not intervene. Her policy seems to be shifting, and that is only to the good. Our economy has only barely recovered with Japan’s support. If we can convince her to plant a Sacred Sakura tree…even one would be the equivalent of a brand new power plant, and it would be free energy,” the Philippine president said, a gleam of avarice entering his eyes at the thought of unlimited energy.

“So you would become a client state like the Koreans? They are ruled now by their supposed moon god, her daughter,” the Singaporean president argued. 

That got a laugh from the Indonesian president. “Her? Dalnim spends her time either dueling her strongest capes, conducting religious ceremonies like the planting of Sacred Sakura trees, or watching K-dramas!”

“And turning Korea into even more of an oligarchy than it already was,” the Singaporean president said, her tone bitter. “Democracy will be dead in Korea within a generation. The Chaebol have become the new nobility, only now they compete to attain positions as priests in her shrines as much as they do the Assembly.”

“So the oligarchs have come out of the shadows to rule openly,” the Thai minister snorted. “You can’t tell me Singapore is a real democracy. One-party rule? You’re far more authoritarian than democratic. If Thailand becomes a monarchy again, what of it? The Shogun has another daughter. Finland just got their own god. Perhaps one of us can woo the Lightning Princess to become our nation’s own deity,” 

The others clearly hadn’t thought of that, and began to mull over the prospect of having Raiden Ami as their patron deity. She was infamously gregarious, with a media empire that had eclipsed Pokemon, Star Wars, and even Disney in its reach and revenue. But, she was also the one who had cleansed an island of demons, had fought and defeated the first known Anemo Hypostasis, something that entire national cape teams would struggle to do, and was apparently capable of dueling the Twins, the deadliest of the Endbringers to date. To have your own personal Endbringer repellent, not to mention closer ties to the Raiden Shogun…and for the low, low price of giving her a television show and an idol group? That was an attractive proposition. 

The Singaporean president cleared her throat. “Well. With Singapore’s reliance on maritime trade, and the Hydro Dragon ruling the waves…we will be forced to ally with the Archons. Even if it is the death of democracy.”

“Cozy up to the Anemo Archon. He seems to approve of the institution,” the Philippine president advised. “Why, Ziz even promised to come and visit the Philippines, and take care of any remaining Manchurian agents left by the Simurgh. It’s not just the Shogun.”

“We intend to more closely align with Nahida Saeed. After all, Indonesia is the largest Muslim nation on Earth Bet,” the Indonesian head of state pointed out. 

“A new age. An age of gods, and demons,” the Vietnamese president said with a shake of his head. “And I say that as a lifelong member of the Vietnamese Communist Party.” 

“The atheists are all either blind, deaf, and dumb, or delusional,” the Thai leader agreed. 

The group nodded, and talk turned to other things. By the end of the day, Ami had received invitations to attend National Anime Expos in each nation, as well as offers for state-sponsored projects that ranged from movies to the Philippines, offering to create her very own video game. Ami was forced to postpone all the offers until after the conclusion of what she referred to as her “training arc,” but the race to tempt the mortal daughter of the Raiden Shogun to ascend as a new god of a new land was on. 

Not far away, a similar meeting was taking place between members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Notably absent were India and nations from Southeast Asia, who were distancing themselves from Great Britain. There were still a large number of sub-Saharan African nations present, along with nations from the Caribbean, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, and of course, Canada and Great Britain. 

This meeting was much stiffer and more formal, taking place in a conference room with dim lighting and the blinds drawn, and the men and women present dressed in formal suits. At the head of the table were the British Prime Minister and the nominal head of state of the Commonwealth, the King. Along with the real power in a room full of heads of state:

Kevin Norton. The Herald. 

“And so you see,” the King said, holding up his hand, from which a golden light shone, “We will not require the Americans or the Archons. We have a chance, now, to bring back the days of strength and power from when Britain ruled the waves and was the dominant force on Earth.”

“You’re mad,” the Australian prime minister said, and stood up. “Completely mad. I’ll not be a part of this. I don’t care for the Raiden Shogun, but this? This is insanity.”

“You would blaspheme against the Cycle?” the Herald asked, and his eyes burned with the fire of a zealot. 

“Fuck your cycle, you c-” the Australian began, but he was interrupted by Kevin. 

“The Cycle is the evolution and uplifting of mankind. When the day comes, you and your people will be left behind when Lord Zion ascends beyond this world!” Kevin snarled, pointing a finger at the Australian. 

His response was a rude gesture, and then the Australian PM stormed out of the room. 

“Now, I trust the rest of you will at least listen?” the King asked, and while many of the others looked uncomfortable, they did not interrupt. 

The King smiled and nodded. “Good. As I was saying, the Herald has granted me the same powers that Lord Zion has been gifting humanity for many years now. It was he who summoned the Archons in the first place, when his wife Eden died in their long voyage to our world. With his power, we will conquer not just other Earths, but the stars themselves. We can see to it that this process is done properly and in good order. That is why Lord Zion selected the British Isles to be the home of his new temple, and why we have come to you. You have not fallen for the Archons lesser gifts, nor the lies of the Americans. Each and every one of you here can accept this gift. There are… benefits, beyond simple powers.”

“You will be granted a second-stage evolution, and many mates with whom to procreate and provide worthy specimens for Lord Zion,” the Herald explained. “Clearly, your genetics have allowed you to rise to the top of human evolution. Now, you will be given the next step in ascension.”

“What about the Endbringers? Those were created by Zion, were they not?” the South African President demanded, his expression hard. “Johannesburg was destroyed by the Behemoth. A million people died.”

“The Testing is an important part of the Cycle. You will be tested, and your people. It is through the testing that we ascend. For now, however, Lord Zion has promised that those who conduct their own testing by building his temples and holding his rituals will not be troubled by the Endbringers. Only those nations that follow the rebellious Archons will be tested,” the Herald stated. 

That got the attention of many. Those present were from nations which decidedly lacked an Archon. Africa and the Americas were completely empty of the Archons, and aside from Northern Africa, where Nahida Saeed had taken an interest, the rest of the continent was mostly ruled by warlords. The officials present were often from governments in exile, or those under the thumb of powerful parahumans like Moord Nag, or living disasters like Ash Beast, who simply devastated entire regions. 

“And you will just give us these powers? No strings attached? How do we know you’re not mind-controlling us? The Archons claim that parahumans are possessed by demons,” the Samoan Chief of State demanded. 

“What need has Lord Zion of mind control?” Kevin asked, spreading his hands. “If you choose not to follow, then you are unworthy, and you and your genetic line will be rejected and ended.”

The Samoan chief shared a look with the New Zealand Prime minister. Both stood without speaking and left the room together. After a moment, the Governor General of Jamaica stood as well. “I am a good Christian man. I agree with the Americans. No aliens or false gods. Humanity can stand with Christ, or with no one.”

The Canadian Prime Minister nodded and got up as well, followed by most of the other Caribbean nations, Cyprus, and Malta. They all departed, leaving the King and British Prime Minister with, ironically enough, Barbados, Nauru, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands, and twenty African nations. 

“Well,” the King said, folding his hands together and rubbing them nervously while glancing at Kevin Norton. “It seems the wheat has been sifted from the chaff, eh?”

“So when do we get these powers?” the President of Namibia demanded. “Or will we too be forced to compete in a blood sport for your amusement?”

“Why, now, of course,” Kevin said. “Rise, and come to me to receive your benediction.”

Two dozen new parahumans left that conference room. The New Commonwealth was established, with Cyclism as its official religion. Before the week was out, dozens of temples dedicated to Lord Zion began construction. The British Government sanctioned the bloody contests already taking place in London, and more spread throughout the countryside. Across Africa, bloody sacrifices of human flesh were offered in exchange for the granting of terrible powers. 

The Warrior would have his data.

And the summoning of the Final Endbringer began in earnest. Sin was great. And the beast it would bring forth would bring the world to its knees.

Alexandria shook the hand of the Canadian Prime Minister. “Thank you for coming. So, Zion has made his move?”

“I fear he has,” the Prime Minister said with a grimace, and took the offered seat. “It was madness. The King of England was never like his mother, God rest her soul, but he’s clearly gone mad. He offered power in exchange for slavery.”

The Canadian leader outlined the meeting, and Alexandria listened soberly. 

“...and so, we obviously cannot align with the Cyclists, but we equally cannot ally with the Archons. I half suspect that this is all a ruse, just like the Tsaritsa’s supposed conflict with Venti and Nahida. They might be engineering this whole thing to bring humanity under their thumb,” the Prime Minister finished.

Alexandria nodded grimly. “I think you’re right. Which is why those of us who will fight for humanity must draw closer together.”

“Yes. My cabinet has reviewed the Articles of Union.” The Prime Minister gave a doleful smile. “I suppose I’ll be the last Canadian Prime Minister, then.”

“And I, the last American President. But in these dark times, let us stand together, united as one people, against all alien invaders,” Alexandria said. 

And with a handshake, the pact was signed. It would take several years yet, but the United North American Hegemony would be established. Several nations in the Caribbean would be swallowed up as well, and there was intense pressure for Mexico to join, though she would resist just long enough to be spared the dark fate of Khaenri’ah. 

America and Canada began their true delve into the Abyss. 

But before their fall, they would shine the brightest of any power humanity, or even the gods, had ever achieved.