Akashic_Tales Originals
Hades, Inc.: The Billionaire God of Death's Chaotic System
Chapter 14: Gala of Souls (2)
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The Convergence Chamber was a vast circular room dominated by a structure that resembled a massive gyroscope, concentric rings of some dark material rotating slowly around a central sphere of pulsing energy. The rings were inscribed with symbols from multiple mythological traditions, all glowing with an eerie blue-white light.
Around the perimeter of the room, technicians in white lab coats monitored equipment that appeared to be a hybrid of cutting-edge technology and arcane artifacts. And suspended above it all was a holographic display showing what could only be described as a map of reality itself, layers upon layers of interconnected realms, with Heaven and Hell clearly marked at opposite ends and a new structure taking shape between them.
"The buffer realm," Kyra breathed, understanding immediately what she was seeing. "They're actually building it."
"Not just building it," Haiden corrected, his voice tight with controlled anger. "Powering it with harvested soul fragments."
He pointed to a series of containers along one wall, each holding what appeared to be luminous mist that swirled and occasionally formed fleeting human features, fragments of souls, stored like batteries.
"This is abominable," Haiden continued, moving further into the room. The technicians, noticing their presence, froze in alarm. "Soul manipulation on this scale violates every cosmic law."
One of the technicians reached for an alarm button, but Haiden's glare stopped him cold. The temperature in the room dropped several degrees as shadows gathered around the God of Death.
"I wouldn't," Haiden advised quietly. The technician slowly withdrew his hand.
Kyra moved to one of the monitoring stations, her detective instincts taking over. The screen displayed what appeared to be a ledger of transactions, names, dates, and amounts, alongside measurements labeled "Essence Quotient."
"Haiden, look at this," she called. "They're keeping records of everyone who's purchased their 'salvation packages.' And these numbers, they're tracking how much soul energy they've harvested from each client."
Haiden joined her, his expression darkening as he scanned the data. "These aren't just wealthy clients. There are names here from every level of society. They're expanding their operation."
"But why?" Kyra asked. "What's the purpose of creating this buffer realm?"
"An excellent question, Detective Moon."
They turned to find Dr. Elara Voss standing in the doorway, flanked by four guards who were clearly not human, their eyes now glowing with supernatural energy, their forms slightly distorted as if struggling to maintain human appearance.
"I had hoped to introduce you to our work more gradually," Dr. Voss continued, entering the chamber with calm confidence. "The presentation downstairs was designed to ease potential partners into our vision. But since you've decided to skip ahead..."
She made a gesture, and the holographic display expanded, showing the buffer realm in greater detail. Unlike the structured hierarchies of Heaven and Hell, this new realm appeared more fluid, with areas that shifted and changed based on the desires and expectations of its inhabitants.
"The Transcendence Initiative," Dr. Voss explained, her voice taking on the cadence of a practiced presentation. "A new approach to afterlife management. For too long, souls have been sorted into rigid categories, rewarded or punished based on arbitrary moral standards established eons ago. We're offering an alternative, a self-determining afterlife where souls can shape their own eternal experience."
"By stealing fragments of their essence without their knowledge," Haiden countered, his divine nature becoming more apparent as his anger grew. Shadows gathered around him, and the air crackled with power. "By disrupting the cosmic balance that maintains reality itself."
Dr. Voss seemed unperturbed by his display of power. "Not stealing, Mr. Black, or should I say, Lord Hades? Redistributing, Each soul contributes a small portion of its energy to maintain the collective realm. A fair exchange for freedom from divine judgment."
"And the murders?" Kyra demanded. "Were those a 'fair exchange' too?"
"Unfortunate necessities," Dr. Voss replied with a dismissive wave. "Some clients discovered more than they should have. Adjustments were required."
"You're insane," Kyra said flatly. "You're killing people and harvesting souls to build some kind of metaphysical timeshare."
Dr. Voss laughed, the sound unnaturally perfect. "Such a limited perspective. We're not building a timeshare, Detective Moon. We're creating evolution. The next step in cosmic development."
"You're creating instability," Haiden corrected. "The buffer realm is drawing energy from both Heaven and Hell, weakening the foundations of established afterlives. If this continues, the entire system could collapse."
"Systems evolve or die," Dr. Voss replied. "The old order has become stagnant. Souls processed like products on an assembly line, assigned to eternal fates based on outdated moral frameworks. We offer choice, agency, self-determination."
"At the cost of cosmic balance," Haiden argued. "This isn't evolution, it's exploitation."
Dr. Voss's perfect features hardened. "I expected more vision from you, Lord Hades. You, who abandoned your post to live among mortals. Surely you of all divine beings can appreciate the desire for change, for freedom from predetermined roles."
The comparison struck uncomfortably close to home, and Haiden momentarily faltered. Seeing his hesitation, Dr. Voss pressed her advantage.
"Join us," she offered, her voice softening. "Your knowledge of afterlife systems would be invaluable to our work. Together, we could reshape existence itself, create something truly new."
For a moment, the chamber was silent save for the humming of the gyroscopic structure and the soft whirring of equipment. Kyra looked at Haiden, uncertain what he would do. The offer clearly resonated with some part of him, the part that had grown weary of divine responsibility and sought escape in the mortal world.
Then Haiden's gaze fell on the containers of soul fragments, and his resolve hardened.
"There's a difference," he said quietly, "between seeking personal change and exploiting others to achieve it. I left Hell in capable hands, with systems designed to maintain balance. I didn't tear apart souls to fund my retirement."
He stepped forward, power radiating from him in palpable waves. The technicians backed away in fear, and even Dr. Voss's perfect composure showed cracks.
"This ends now," Haiden declared. "The buffer realm will be dismantled. The soul fragments returned to their owners. And you, Mediator, will face judgment for your actions."
Dr. Voss's beautiful face transformed with rage. "You have no authority here, Death God. You abandoned your throne. And we are beyond your jurisdiction, neither Heaven nor Hell, but something new."
"Perhaps," Haiden acknowledged. "But I'm not alone."
As if on cue, the air behind them shimmered, and Aria appeared, her celestial nature fully manifest. Her wings spread wide, filling the chamber with divine light that made the guards hiss and shield their eyes.
"By authority of the Celestial Council," Aria announced, her voice carrying the harmonics of true angelic speech, "this operation is condemned as a violation of cosmic law."
Dr. Voss's confidence wavered further, but she wasn't finished. She raised her hand, and the gyroscopic structure began to spin faster, the energy at its center pulsing with increasing intensity.
"You're too late," she declared. "The convergence has begun. The buffer realm is manifesting fully in this location, the primary intersection point of Seoul's ley lines. Once complete, it will be beyond your reach."
The air in the chamber began to distort more dramatically. Reality itself seemed to bend and warp, creating a sensation of vertigo that made Kyra grab onto a nearby console for support. Through the distortion, she could see glimpses of another place, a realm of shifting landscapes and impossible architecture, populated by translucent figures that might have been souls.
"Haiden!" she called out in alarm. "What's happening?"
"She's forcing a full manifestation," he replied, his voice strained as he fought against the reality distortion. "Trying to pull the buffer realm fully into our world at this location."
"Can you stop it?" Kyra asked, the detective in her remaining focused on the objective despite the mind-bending events unfolding around her.
Haiden exchanged a look with Aria, some silent communication passing between divine beings. Then he nodded grimly.
"Yes, but it won't be subtle. And you'll need to get those soul fragments to safety."
Understanding immediately, Kyra moved toward the containers along the wall, fighting against the increasing gravitational distortion that made each step feel like wading through mud.
Meanwhile, Haiden and Aria positioned themselves on opposite sides of the gyroscopic structure. As divine beings representing death and celestial light, opposites in the cosmic spectrum, they created a natural counterbalance to the forced convergence.
"On my mark," Haiden called out, his voice now carrying the resonant power of his true nature. "Three, two, one, now!"
Both beings released their power simultaneously, Haiden's darkness and Aria's light colliding with the energy at the center of the gyroscope. The resulting explosion of power sent a shockwave through the chamber, knocking technicians off their feet and shattering equipment.
Dr. Voss screamed in rage and frustration as the holographic display flickered and distorted, showing the buffer realm beginning to destabilize. The reality distortion intensified briefly, then began to recede as Haiden and Aria's combined power forced the realms back into proper alignment.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Kyra reached the soul containers. Each was about the size of a shoebox, made of some crystalline material that hummed with energy. There were dozens of them, far too many to carry.
"Jinx," she said into her earpiece, "I need an extraction plan for multiple artifacts. Top floor, north wall."
"On it," came the immediate reply. "Emergency protocol activated. Stand by."
Seconds later, the wall beside the containers shimmered and distorted, revealing what appeared to be a portal of swirling energy. Through it, Kyra could see Elysium's tech lab, with Jinx standing ready beside complex equipment.
"Hurry!" Jinx called through the portal. "This connection won't hold long!"
Kyra began passing the containers through, handling each with care despite the urgency. Each one contained fragments of multiple souls, people who had been deceived, their very essence harvested without true consent.
Across the chamber, the battle for cosmic realignment continued. Haiden and Aria maintained their power output, forcing the buffer realm back into its proper dimensional position, while Dr. Voss and her guards fought to maintain the convergence.
"You fools!" Dr. Voss shouted, her perfect appearance now cracking to reveal something else beneath, something neither human nor divine, but a hybrid entity of disturbing proportions. "Do you have any idea what you're destroying? The potential? The freedom?"
"Freedom built on exploitation isn't freedom at all," Haiden replied, his voice strained but resolute. "It's just another form of tyranny."
With a final surge of combined power, Haiden and Aria closed the forced convergence. The gyroscopic structure collapsed in on itself, imploding with a sound like reality tearing and then mending. The holographic display flickered one last time before going dark, and the reality distortions vanished, leaving the chamber in sudden, almost deafening normalcy.
In the aftermath, Dr. Voss stood amid the wreckage of her ambitions, her perfect facade now completely shattered. What remained was a being of patchwork nature, parts human, parts divine, parts something else entirely. Her true form as the Mediator revealed.
"This isn't over," she hissed, her voice now a discordant blend of multiple tones. "The buffer realm still exists. The souls are still mine. You've merely delayed the inevitable evolution."
"Perhaps," Haiden acknowledged, approaching her with the measured steps of a judge approaching a condemned prisoner. "But your operation on Earth is finished. And you will answer for your crimes against the cosmic order."
Before he could reach her, Dr. Voss, the Mediator, made a desperate gesture. The floor beneath her feet cracked open, revealing not the building's lower level but a swirling vortex of energy, a direct portal to the buffer realm.
"Until next time, Death God," she said with a twisted smile. "The game of realms has only just begun."
With that, she stepped backward into the portal, which sealed itself immediately after her passage, leaving only cracked marble in its wake.
Haiden cursed in a language so ancient it made the air vibrate. "She escaped."
"But not with these," Kyra called, having successfully transferred the last of the soul containers through Jinx's portal. "We've recovered the harvested soul fragments. And we have their records, their research, everything we need to understand how they built the buffer realm."
Aria approached, her celestial glow dimming as she resumed a more human appearance. "The Celestial Council will want a full report. This conspiracy goes deeper than we imagined if the Mediator could create a being like that, neither fully divine nor mortal."
"Agreed," Haiden said, his own divine manifestation receding as the immediate danger passed. "But first, we need to secure this location and ensure no trace of the convergence remains. The last thing we need is curious mortals stumbling into interdimensional rifts."
As if on cue, alarms began blaring throughout the building. "Security breach on the top floor," announced an automated voice. "All personnel evacuate immediately. Containment protocols activated."
"That's our cue to leave," Haiden decided, moving quickly to Kyra's side. "Jinx's portal?"
"Closed after the last container went through," Kyra reported. "She couldn't maintain it any longer."
"Then we do this the old-fashioned way," Haiden said, drawing a symbol in the air that tore reality itself, creating a swirling portal of darkness. "Ladies first."
Kyra hesitated only briefly before stepping through, followed by Aria. Haiden came last, sealing the portal behind him just as security forces burst into the Convergence Chamber.
They emerged in Haiden's office at Elysium Towers, where Luna, Jinx, Gabriel, and Cerberus awaited them anxiously. The soul containers were arranged carefully on a large conference table, each now secured with protective wards.
"Well," Luna said dryly as they appeared, "I see the infiltration was eventful."
"You could say that," Kyra replied, suddenly aware of how disheveled she must look. Madame Hye's beautiful gown was torn in several places, and her carefully styled hair had come completely undone. "We found the Mediator, stopped a forced realm convergence, and rescued several hundred soul fragments."
"All before the main course was served at the gala," Haiden added with grim humor. "Though I'm afraid we left rather abruptly. Our social standing in Seoul's elite circles may never recover."
Despite the attempt at levity, the gravity of what they'd discovered hung heavy in the room. The Mediator had escaped. The buffer realm still existed. And they had only begun to understand the full scope of the conspiracy.
"What happens now?" Gabriel asked, looking at the soul containers with a mixture of fascination and horror.
"Now," Haiden said, his expression turning serious, "we prepare for dinner with Chaos. Because after what we've seen tonight, I'm more convinced than ever that my father knows something about all this."
He turned to Kyra, concern evident in his eyes. "Are you alright? That was more supernatural chaos than most mortals encounter in a lifetime, let alone an evening."
Kyra took a moment to assess herself. She was physically exhausted, mentally overwhelmed, and still processing the reality-bending events she'd witnessed. But beneath it all was a sense of purpose, of having confronted something truly evil and made a difference.
"I'm okay," she assured him. "Though I think I'll need to redefine my understanding of 'okay' after tonight."
Haiden smiled, a genuine expression that transformed his usually guarded features. "You continue to impress me, Detective Moon. Most mortals would be catatonic after experiencing a forced realm convergence."
"I'm not most mortals," Kyra replied simply.
"No," Haiden agreed, his gaze lingering on her with something that might have been admiration or perhaps something more. "You certainly are not."
The moment was interrupted by Jinx clearing her throat dramatically. "Not to break up whatever this is," she said, gesturing between them, "but we have several hundred soul fragments to process, a building full of witnesses to mind-wipe, and approximately eighteen hours until dinner with Grandpa Chaos. Maybe save the meaningful gazes for later?"
Haiden shot his niece a look that would have terrified lesser beings, but Jinx merely grinned unrepentantly.
"She's right," Luna interjected smoothly. "We need to secure these soul fragments and analyze the data you recovered. And you both should rest before tomorrow's... family gathering."
"Agreed," Haiden said, turning back to business. "Luna, coordinate with Aria on the soul fragments. We need to determine if they can be restored to their original owners or if the damage is permanent. Jinx, extract everything you can from their systems before they manage to wipe them. Gabriel, report to Ariel, Heaven needs to know what we've discovered."
Everyone nodded and moved to their tasks, leaving Haiden and Kyra momentarily alone.
"I should get you home," Haiden said. "You need rest before tomorrow."
Kyra nodded, suddenly aware of how exhausted she truly was. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving her drained both physically and mentally.
"Tomorrow," she said, the reality of it sinking in. "Dinner with Chaos. After tonight, that should seem less intimidating, but somehow it doesn't."
"If it helps," Haiden offered with a small smile, "my father is actually quite charming when he wants to be. It's when he's being charming that you should be most worried."
"Noted," Kyra replied, returning the smile despite her fatigue. "Beware of charming primordial entities bearing gifts."
As they left the office, Kyra couldn't help but reflect on how drastically her life had changed in just a week. From a dedicated but conventional detective to someone who had just helped prevent a cosmic catastrophe and was now preparing for dinner with the embodiment of Chaos itself.
And somehow, despite the danger and the mind-bending revelations, she wouldn't have it any other way.
[System Update: Major Quest Progress]
[Quest: Infiltrate Transcendence Foundation Gala - COMPLETE]
[Reward: Critical Intelligence About The Mediator - UNLOCKED]
[New Knowledge: The Mediator's identity confirmed as Dr. Elara Voss, hybrid entity of unknown origin]
[New Quest: Prepare for Dinner with Chaos]
[Reward: Divine Insight into Cosmic Conspiracy]
[Penalty: Temporal Displacement (24-hour duration)]
Haiden read the floating text as they rode the elevator down to the lobby. The System's assessment confirmed what he already knew, they had made significant progress, but the larger conspiracy remained unresolved.
Tomorrow's dinner with Chaos would be crucial. His father rarely involved himself directly in cosmic affairs these days, preferring to watch and occasionally nudge events for his own amusement. The fact that he had specifically invited them all, including a mortal detective, suggested he had a personal interest in the Mediator's activities.
As they exited Elysium Towers into the cool night air, Seoul's skyline glittered around them, the city blissfully unaware of how close it had come to becoming ground zero for a cosmic convergence.
"Your car is waiting," Haiden said, gesturing to the sleek black vehicle idling at the curb. "I've instructed the driver to take you directly home. Try to get some rest."
"What about you?" Kyra asked, noticing he wasn't joining her.
"I need to help process the soul fragments," Haiden explained. "As a former Judge of the Dead, I have... specialized knowledge that might help identify their origins."
Kyra nodded in understanding. "I'll see you tomorrow, then. What time should I be ready?"
"I'll pick you up at noon," Haiden replied. "Chaos exists outside conventional time, but he's developed a fondness for Sunday brunch in recent eons."
With that surreal statement hanging in the air between them, Kyra slid into the waiting car. As it pulled away from the curb, she caught a final glimpse of Haiden standing before his corporate tower, a retired god preparing for a family reunion that might determine the fate of all afterlives.
Just another weekend in her new reality.