*The Divine Gathering

The celestial palace floated above a sea of clouds, where twelve divine beings had gathered around an ancient circular table.

Celestia, goddess of celebration and luck, bounced excitedly in her seat. “Everyone's here!”

Vespera, demigod of shadows, looked around. “For once, yes.”

Beside her, Seraphiel, demigod of contradictions and unfinished prayers, quietly studied the table. “Something is missing.”

Akari, goddess of war and honor, immediately became alert. “What?”

Before Seraphiel could answer, Alaric, demigod of madness and forbidden knowledge, smiled from the opposite side.

“The twelfth symbol.”

Kaien, god of secrets and fate, opened his fan. “Interesting.”

Elowen, god of knowledge and memory, examined the ancient markings. “There should be twelve.”

Cassian, demigod of stars and hope, adjusted his glasses. “But there are only eleven.”

Suddenly, the palace shook.

A black crack appeared across the ceiling.

Roselle, demigod of passion and fire, jumped up. “Okay, that's definitely not normal!”

Verdelle, goddess of nature and growth, summoned vines beneath her feet. “Something is coming.”

Lunette, demigod of dreams and wishes, nervously hugged her rabbit plush.

Morrigan, goddess of death and rebirth, stepped in front of her. “Stay behind me.”

A gigantic eye appeared inside the crack.

A voice echoed through the palace.

“You have forgotten me.”

Alaric's smile vanished.

“I haven't.”

Akari drew her sword. “Everyone, prepare yourselves.”

The crack exploded.

Dark energy rushed into the room.

Vespera disappeared into the shadows, creating dozens of copies. Celestia summoned glowing stars that bent attacks away from the group. Roselle surrounded herself in flames while Verdelle transformed the flames into enormous flowering vines.

Morrigan covered the battlefield in darkness while Lunette created a protective dream barrier.

Kaien's fan altered the enemy's attacks, making them miss their targets. Elowen's Memory Mirror revealed fragments of the forgotten god's past. Cassian surrounded the others with glowing star sigils.

Akari charged forward.

Seraphiel's fractured halo appeared behind them, releasing chains of light that wrapped around the crack.

“Now!” Seraphiel shouted.

Alaric opened the Forbidden Codex.

“I have an idea.”

Vespera narrowed her eyes. “Is it a good one?”

“No.”

Akari sighed. “Of course.”

Alaric looked at everyone.

“I need all twelve of us.”

They joined their powers.

Stars, shadows, fire, nature, dreams, death, fate, memory, knowledge, war, madness, and divine contradictions collided into one enormous burst of light.

The crack began closing.

The forgotten god screamed before disappearing.

Silence filled the palace.

Celestia slowly raised her hand.

“So... party?”

Everyone stared at her.

Roselle grinned. “Absolutely.”

Verdelle laughed.

Lunette quietly nodded.

Even Morrigan sighed. “Fine.”

Alaric smiled.

“See? Everything worked out perfectly.”

Vespera stared at him.

“You almost got us killed.”

Alaric shrugged.

“Details.”

Seraphiel looked toward the sealed crack.

“It's not over.”

Everyone fell silent.

Far beyond the celestial realm...

One ancient eye opened.

The forgotten god was still watching.*