Ch. 109: Back In The Underworld
Back in the Underworld, the portal before shimred with a swirling ring of golden light, its energy crackling softly like distant thunder. The massive circle was eerily reminiscent of the temporal rift generator— no doubt Hephaestus had perfectly imitated its design. Inside the portal, the familiar sight of my room appeared, a place I hadn't set foot in for a long ti.
It wasn't an illusion, but a direct manifestation, tethered by the intricate weave of space and ti.
I marveled at how Hers had achieved this with just a tap of his finger, when it had taken Hephestus centuries to learn how to replicate such powers. The thought brought a wry smile to my lips.
"About the, you know, alliance thing— we'll be in touch, right?" Aphrodite's voice broke my reverie just as I was about to step through the portal.
I turned back, catching her eye. There was sothing in her expression, a flicker of uncertainty. "Of course we will, you dummy," I replied, though my voice had an edge to it. She was being coy, masking her true concerns behind casual words, but I knew better than to probe her now. We had ti to figure things out, or so I hoped.
With that, I stepped through the golden ring and was instantly transported back to my room in the Underworld. The shift was seamless, almost disorienting, and for a brief mont, I felt a strange nostalgia. I hadn't been here since... since everything had gone wrong. Zeus' 2000th birthday. Hers' death.
The battle with Poseidon. The chaotic spiral that had led to my current path. Each event flashed through my mind in quick succession, a storm of mories I wasn't ready to confront.
Hers was already inside, moving swiftly, gathering the clothes Aphrodite had given with his usual effortless speed. "That was fun," he remarked, his voice a mixture of sarcasm and genuine enthusiasm.
I didn't respond imdiately, instead letting my gaze sweep across the room. It looked untouched, yet there was an unsettling aura about it, as if it held echoes of the past. The more I stood there, the heavier it felt. I was back where it all began, but I wasn't the sa person who had left.
"Hers," I said, my voice low, "don't you have sowhere to be right now?"
He clicked his tongue, muttering sothing under his breath before responding. "Nah, my guys can handle things. Unless I get a direct request from the high gods, I'm free."
A light smile tugged at my lips despite myself. He was like a moth drawn to a fla— always hovering near . "Then make yourself at ho," I said, turning toward the bathroom. "I will be taking a long shower."
As I headed toward the bathroom, Hers yelped in mock excitent. "Yay! I'm not getting kicked out this ti. But I'll be staying here. Your dogs don't like , you know."
No kidding, I thought with a smirk.
Once inside the bathroom, I closed the door behind and started undressing. The steam from the hot water rose in thick swirls, clinging to the walls, wrapping in its warmth. The mont I subrged myself in the bath, the heat enveloped my body, but the relaxation I sought eluded . My thoughts drifted, chaotic and unbidden.
My fingers traced the water's surface, feeling the tension within rise instead of dissipate.
As I soaked, the itching began— a strange, prickling sensation creeping over my skin. At first, I ignored it, attributing it to the long absence from my own domain. But the itching worsened, intensifying to the point of irritation. My skin crawled, as though sothing was shifting beneath the surface. Your journey continues with мѵʟ
"Am I... allergic to hot water?" I muttered to myself, stepping out of the tub and inspecting my body. The reflection in the mirror showed my toned muscles and rippling abs, a body honed through countless battles and trials. But sothing was off. The skin itched uncontrollably, as though rejecting the heat.
I moved to the cold water tap, hoping the coolness would soothe whatever was wrong. The mont the icy stream hit my skin, the itching began to fade. But then, sothing even more bizarre occurred. My body started absorbing the cold water— like a sponge. It didn't feel cold, not even remotely. Instead, a surge of strength coursed through , unfamiliar yet intoxicating.
My skin... it was turning white, slowly draining of its usual hue.
"By the gods." I whispered, pulling away from the water. The instant I stepped back, my body returned to its normal color. But under the cold water, the transformation had been undeniable. White skin, enhanced strength— it was unsettling.
I reached out again, cautiously, and watched in shock as my hand once more turned pale under the cold stream. My fingers flexed, stronger, faster. I pulled my hand back, my breath catching in my throat. "What the hell does this an?" I asked aloud, my mind racing. Why does my body change color under cold water?
And more importantly, Why do I feel stronger?
Instinctively, I summoned the black book, the cursed object that had been my guide and my curse. It materialized before , floating in midair, its pages fluttering like they were caught in an invisible wind.
"You," I growled. "Why the hell is my body bleaching in cold water?"
The pages flipped rapidly, and words appeared in neat, flowing script: You were bathed in cold water? I don't recomnd that.
My irritation flared. "Well, what is it?" I snapped, glaring at the book. "You know I hate when you keep things from ."
The pages hesitated, blank for a mont, as if the book was deliberating. Then the words returned: This has been part of for as long as I can rember. Cold water triggers sothing in — my skin turns white, and my body beco stronger for a ti.
I slamd the book shut, sending it crashing to the floor. "Just why the hell is everything with you so damn complicated. You're over a thousand years old and you still don't know what's going on with this body? How many more surprises are you hiding from ?"
The book floated back up, undeterred, opening once again: How is the formation of the new alliance progressing?
"Don't change the subject!" I snarled. But then I exhaled deeply, trying to steady myself. This was not the ti to lose control. Not now. Not with so much at stake. "Talos and Aphrodite are in," I said more calmly, wiping the water from my face.
"Hers is next. And Hecate."
That's progress, the book responded.
I wrapped a towel around myself, the weight of my next words hanging in the air. "This alliance won't just prevent the future. I'll rewrite the story, reshape this world. And not just for the gods' sake."
The book remained still for a mont, then wrote: I trust you. We'll see what kind of future you bring. It's not like I can stop you.
I glared at the book, my voice cold. "No. You can't."
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