Meanwhile, Ninshubur awakened and saw Ishtar seated before her in a lotus position, holding her broken sword in her right hand.

  "Milady, what happened?" Ninshubur asked.

  "Well, take a guess. I was right after all, and Ares was defeated by these people," Ishtar replied with a smile.

  "Your insight never ceases to amaze me. Please forgive me for doubting you," Ninshubur said.

  "That’s why I told you—never doubt me," Ishtar replied, giving her a thumbs-up.

  "And what will happen now?" Ninshubur asked.

  "We’ll join Orniskem, obviously," Ishtar answered.

  "If that is what you believe is best, I will follow your decision," replied Ishtar’s attendant.

  At that moment, Al-Qaum and Menrva arrived, flying toward the group. Mitras and Sol, who were closer, recognized them and greeted them.

  "I’m glad to see you’re all right, Al-Qaum—and who is the young lady?" Mitras asked.

  "I… I…" Menrva stammered.

  "What’s wrong?" Mitras asked, intrigued.

  "I just want to know if Lady Athena is safe!" Menrva shouted, her voice suddenly loud.

  Sol and Mitras stared in surprise at the girl, who was red as an apple, her face filled with anxiety.

  "O-of course, she’s… over there," Sol replied, pointing toward Athena.

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  Without another word, Menrva flew off toward where Athena was.

  "My apologies for her behavior. She’s been obsessed with the goddess Athena since she was very young. Her name is Menrva, and she is quite powerful," Al-Qaum explained.

  "Well, Ares certainly had a strange bunch under him," Mitras remarked.

  "Who are you calling strange?" Al-Qaum asked irritably.

  "Well, I didn’t mean you," Mitras replied sheepishly—only to realize Al-Qaum had fallen asleep mid-conversation.

  "Don’t fall asleep in the middle of a conversation!" Mitras and Sol shouted in unison.

  "Oh—sorry," Al-Qaum replied as he woke up.

  Everyone laughed, but then Al-Qaum’s expression turned grim.

  "There is something I must tell you about what happened while you were fighting Ares. I believe it concerns all of you," said the Nabataean god.

  Al-Qaum recounted the appearance of the man from the Land of Manu, and how he took Khonsu and Sekhmet with him.

  "I cannot describe him properly, but even while he concealed his power, it felt immense—so great that not even Ares in his final transformation could have so much as touched him," Al-Qaum said.

  "His name is Serapis," a voice spoke from behind them.

  It was Horus, his abdomen bandaged where Athena had struck him. Maahes and Montu stood at his side.

  "Lord Horus, are you well?" Mitras asked.

  "That bargain-bin goddess wouldn’t have been able to defeat me, even with my divine power at its lowest. Still, it’s disgraceful that that fool Ares managed to control me," Horus replied.

  "If Khonsu survived, that’s our fault for not killing him," Maahes said.

  "In the chaos of the battle, we forgot about him," Montu added.

  "No one is blaming you," Horus said as he sat down.

  "Who exactly is this Serapis?" Mitras asked.

  "As Al-Qaum said, he is the current Anunnaki of the Land of Manu. El appointed him after realizing that Amon had no intention of signing peace with Lel," the falcon god replied.

  "Is he… our enemy?" Sol asked nervously.

  "Yours? No. He is my enemy—and the enemy of these two gentlemen here. This is a matter of the Land of Manu, and we will resolve it ourselves," Horus said firmly.

  At that moment, Athena descended, floating, holding Ares’ severed head by the hair in her right hand. Everyone turned toward her and approached.

  Behind her, Menrva walked alongside Athena, still blushing and wearing a shy expression.

  "All right, everyone. It’s time to leave this depressing planet and return to Pallas. We’ll be holding an emergency meeting," the goddess announced.