As the first few rays of the sun fell on the city, the dawn broke the night and brought upon another fresh morning.
Though nobody had slept in the city tonight, for the rumour about an incoming war had spread throughout the area, taking away the thought of any drowsiness, for this sleep could end up being the last sleep of their life.
The citizens of the city, the humans and those who were not, walked through the city night preparing in their own way to act against the war. Some were ready to salvage this beautiful opportunity while others were ready to run away at the first call.
They bustled through the streets, collecting materials, stealing them from some, buying them from others. While the others sold their possessions, and then stole them again.
Quiet a peculiar sight one may say.
The demons watched the wickedness of the humans in awe, wondering if they were their long lost brethren. Their were things that even demons failed to understand, wondering how can one be so immoral and petty while being a race that worships the oh-so-noble Gods and Goddesses.
Do the have no shame? The demons wondered before pitying the gods worshipped by the same.
The Angels, angered a bit, a bit embarrassed, kept gawking at the behaviour of the humans. Even though they have heard from the words of the Gods that the humans are a lost kind, it still was different when observed with one's own eyes.
What are we fighting for? The angels questioned as they the saw the one that they were protecting weren't much different from the one they were fighting against. Just the difference of skin and colour.
The Minor Gods didn't descend into the mortal realm, but they sure were observing everything that was going on in the city. They saw how the angels and demons starter mingling and how the humans did what they were best at.
It wasn't a surprise for them with what the humans were doing. They have seen this dozens of times before and it was but history repeating itself with time.
Though a few things that bothered the Minor Gods were the strange behaviour of certain areas such as the Neptune's clinic and the certain parts of underworld that they were unable to see through.
They knew that the Higher Gods were staying in Neptune's clinic hence they didn't dare stalk them, but what confused them was the other place that they were blinded against. Someone powerful was staying there and it made them wary… still, their thoughts lingered as mere thoughts and nobody took any action. The reason was simple. The strongest of the Gods were already there. What more could they have possibly done?
One more small thing that bothered the minor Gods was that at certain times of the day, some of the areas used to get blurred, making it hard to see what was happening there.
But since it happened for only a few minutes at most, the Minir Gods didn't dwell much on it. All the more since there were more pressing issues to deal with here.
After all, a war was approaching. One that will be remembered for ages to come.
…
[Location: At the East City Gate!]
"Good morning Angels," a group of demons walked out of the city, a dozen to be precise, carrying spears and shields each of them.
"May you burn in the deepest pit of hell," the Angels greeted them back.
"Thank you," the Demons nodded.
It was an odd conversation that the nearby humans had a hard time making sense out of. They just looked at the strange greetings of the two groups before going on with their own work. That is, setting shops of armour and weapons to sell.
"What do you think we will be fighting against? While it could be between us as demons vs angels, I honestly don't think so. Things are way too strange for that kind of 'normal, war," one the demon spoke as he munched down on an apple, while looking at the weapons that the human shop sold.
"Must be so. It could be that we may have to fight together? Then the only enemy I could think of are the ancient monsters or nova beings like giants? Or perhaps a new race?" The angel standing beside him guessed as he picked up a steel longsword.
"How much for this one?" The Angel added.
"2 Gold coins," the shopkeeper answered.
"That's daylight robbery, don't you think?" The angel asked calmly.
"Nope. Daylight robbery would be something like that," the shopkeeper pointed in a certain direction where a human threatened a weaker human and took all his belongings.
"…"
"…"
Though in the next moment, a nearby angel beat the robber and gave the items back to the weaker human.
"Are all humans like that?" The demon asked curiously, while the shopkeeper understanding his sentiment answered,
"Not really. You just happened to be in a city ruled by the underworld so you will surely find more robbers and thieves than average. Though essentially, even this is the tip of the iceberg."
Hearing words, the Angel and the demon nodded in enlightenment.
All the things they were witnessing in the city could be described as an extreme niche, and that would explain why gods usually say that not all mortals were bad.
They must have met the worst mortals only. And in a way, it was wrong of them to base the entire mortal population based on the mortals here.
"I guess people like sir Neptune aren't exceptions among humanity, huh? Surely I would like to meet more people like him," the Angel smiled, his joy brimming at the thought of meeting more kind humans like him.
"Neptune? You mean the owner of Neptune's Clinic? Hmmm… I don't trust free services so it could be biased but… he is either a true saint, helping all these people for free… or a demon in hiding that has something great planned for himself," the Shopkeeper interjected.
A slight pause in the conversation before the Demon spoke out,
"Well. He did seem more angelic than the angels I have met. Going as far as helping even the demons for free. Ooof. If that's not kind, I don't know what is."
"Hey. It's starting," another angel called them out, making them look at the black spot in the air about a kilometer away from here. The angel gripped the sword a bit more tighter, before he flicked the two gold coins to the shopkeeper.
And then both of them moved towards their group, getting ready for the war that has barely begun.