Extra's Death: I Am the Son of Hades

Ares couldn't refute, even though he knew Zeus' prejudice against Neo was solely due to the Hargraves family name.

"Why do you guys always call me after you've messed everything up?"

Zeus clicked his tongue in irritation.

"Fine. I will deal with Neo Hargraves and Jack Hanma."

"Thank you, and stay safe."

"I don't need well wishes to deal with two brats."

Zeus hung up the call.

The sound of the disconnect echoed in the tent.

Ares exhaled a long sigh and stared at the tent's ceiling.

Hanna, his secretary, could tell Ares was under immense mental pressure.

She watched as he clenched his jaw and his shoulders tensed under the weight of his responsibilities.

He was hiding his burdens.

He couldn't show his weakness in front of his subordinates, especially in hard times like now when they needed his support. He had to act as their pillar.

"It will be fine," Emma spoke up.

The sunlight entering through flapping tent casted shadows across her face, highlighting her furrowed brows.

"I hate to say it, but Neo has higher mastery in Darkness than me. He could overpower me because he was better than me in what I excelled at. He was my natural nemesis.

"But Zeus and Gaia are different. Zeus can use the Life element, and Gaia can use Light and Holy elements. They have high mastery, and—"

"They are perfect counters for Neo," Ares interrupted Emma and massaged his brows.

His exhaustion was evident as he slumped slightly in his chair.

"But they are too far from Neo's current location."

He stared at the device in his hand.

"No, don't do that," Emma said when she realized what Ares was thinking. Her tone grew sharper. "Don't tell Apollo to stop Neo. The strength Neo showed us isn't anything Apollo can handle."

"He can use Sunshine. It's the perfect counter for Neo Hargraves and Jack Hanma, and… it's not like we have another choice."

Ares didn't like putting Apollo against Neo, not when he knew Apollo idolized Neo, even if only a little.

He sighed again and dialed Apollo's number.

The air felt heavier with each passing second.

"It's Ares," he spoke in a somber tone.

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"I see," Apollo answered.

The faint crackle of the line couldn't mask the seriousness in his voice.

Ares' tone and the timing of the call were enough to make Apollo understand the current situation.

"I expected this," Apollo said. "I'm already in Savage Expanse…"

"You can't win against Neo in your current situation."

"…Why are you saying this when you called me to stop Neo?"

Ares didn't answer immediately.

He stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, and sighed again.

"Use [Divine Transformation]. You will win with it"

"I haven't yet learned the Divine Transformation technique."

"Apollo, both of us know why you can't use it," Ares said. The guilt behind his eyes continued to pile up as he added, "You are afraid of using Divine Transformation, aren't you?"

Divine Transformation allowed the awakener to merge with their Spirits.

The technique was created by Gaia… for Apollo.

Apollo's Spirit was Sunshine.

Sunshine was among the strongest Spirits — it was probably the strongest Spirit — in the current era.

Spirits were born when an awakener used a portion of their soul to feed a Spirit Seed and help it bloom.

Thus, a Spirit belonged to the person who gave birth to it.

Apollo might've said Sunshine was contracted with the Association, but Sunshine belonged solely to him.

It was why he had been smug when he explained Sunshine's ability to Neo. Your next journey awaits at empire

"You gave birth to a Spirit that almost single-handedly stopped Niles Radcliff's invasion," Ares said. "You have limitless talent, Apollo. If you put your mind to it, you can learn the Divine Transformation technique easily."

"This isn't the same thing! Fighting Neo isn't—"

"If you lose, then Neo will reach Typhaon."

Ares' voice was solemn.

"You are our only hope, Apollo. I've asked Zeus and Gaia to stop Neo Hargraves too, but I doubt they can reach Savage Expanse on time."

Ares hung up.

The silence that followed was heavier than the conversation itself.

He sighed, the sound hollow and tired.

"Dammit."

He hated pushing Apollo into the corner like this, but there was truth to his words.

Apollo had limitless talent.

A situation like now, where they had no other way out, would push Apollo to his limits, and he might be able to use the Divine Transformation technique.

"You did what you had to," Emma said. "Besides, Zeus and Gaia have more than enough time to stop Neo."

"Yeah…"

Ares muttered.

He hated how convoluted their situation had become.

...

Utah, United States of America, Shadow World

The dimly lit office was nestled within a mountain range.

The jagged peaks loomed like silent sentinels against the dusk-stained sky.

The air inside was heavy with an unspoken tension, the only sound being the rhythmic ticking of a grandfather clock tucked into the corner.

"It went exactly as you said it would go," muttered Perses, the Titan of Destruction.

His voice was as gentle as the water flowing through a quiet forest stream.

"How did you know about this? I didn't know you could see visions of the future."

"…"

Instead of answering Perses, Kronos played with the pen in his hands.

His eyes were distant as he stared at the stormy sky and the gathering clouds swirling ominously through the window.

"So, who are you sending to stop Neo Hargraves and Jack Hanma?" Perses asked.

His tone was light, but the hidden glint in his eyes betrayed his true intent.

"You just want to go there and attack Zeus for your revenge," Kronos told Perses, shaking his head slowly.

"Not at all. I don't want revenge. I'm a gentle guy. You can ask anyone, and they will tell you the same," Perses said with an innocent smile, his sharp canines just barely visible.

Kronos wasn't fooled.

Unlike everyone else, he had seen Perses' true face.

The name Titan of Destruction was perfect for him.

"I'm not sending anyone."

"…?" Perses tilted his head, revealing his surprise and curiosity. "Not sending anyone? What if Neo Hargraves and Jack Hanma reach Typhaon?"

"…"

"Are you helping Neo Hargraves?"

"....."

"Wait really? Whoa, this is big news."

Amazed, Perses watched Kronos' silence with a smile spreading across his face.

"Why are you helping those brats?"

"Leave my office if you have nothing to do."

The room seemed to darken as Kronos' words hung in the air.

Perses nodded but made no move to leave, the flickering lamplight casting a long shadow behind him.

"Francis, how about you give me that Space-Time cube?"

"I told you I won't send you—"

"I will stop the Awakeners from reaching Neo Hargraves."

"…?"

"You want to help Neo, and I will get a chance to fight them."

Perses grinned, his eyes gleaming with dangerous delight.

The space around him seemed to ripple as if reacting to his excitement.

He showed no worry about the world's supposed end if Neo awoke Typhaon.

All he wanted to do was a fight

A battle lunatic, one would call him.

But Kronos knew the truth.

'He is dying to attack the Awakeners because he was caught by surprise by Zeus' attack and defeated pathetically.'

Perses was no battle maniac.

The only reason he intended to fight was because he knew he could shift the blame on Kronos.

Kronos was about to refuse when suddenly he stopped.

The gears in his mind churned.

Arriving at a conclusion, he summoned the Space-Time cube out of thin air.

Its surface shimmered with a faint glow.

With a flick of his wrist, he threw it toward Perses.

"I've planted Gaia's current location in it. Go there and—"

"Thanks."

Perses disappeared in a flash of light before Kronos could complete his words.