THEOS

Hours later, the nine suns of Theos sank below the dunes on the horizon and Luke teetered at the edge of the barrier, as he cut down one giant after another. His back was drenched with sweat, splatters of mud and viscous ichor caked his face. The putrid stench of death curdled his nose, but it was worth it. Monsters fell to his blade like flies, and with each one that he felled he was one step closer to the next tier.

+ 3 Stat Points

+ 4 Stat Points

+ 3 Stat Points

The notifications are getting annoying though. He grinned happily as he pulled his sword free from the chest of a monster, he watched with a sense of satisfaction as its limp body fell against the barrier, only for another giant to move forwards and trample over it. But– it’s definitely a good problem to have. He thought to himself, his chest heaving and his breath coming in short bursts.

He was sure that his actions looked strange to the others, and he could feel their gazes lingering on his back, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. There were so many giants that even after killing well over a fifteen-hundred, he had barely made a dent in their numbers. Sure, they could have destroyed them with some high level talismans, but they were stuck here until Heracles cut himself free anyhow.

It might even be worth it telling them how my sword works, if I can stay here all night long, and harvest them to my heart’s content. Hell forget maxing out my bloodline, I might even be able to make a solid dent into the Warrior-tier. He shook his head slightly at the thought. No. I still haven’t seen anything like my sword except for Sophia’s sheep, and even that’s like comparing apples to oranges. Something that used to belong to a near-god could be immensely valuable. But… I’m also a few feet from the son of the literal King of Gods, who happens to be the same guy who killed my swords last owner. Do I really have to be worried about being robbed if everyone I hang around with is richer than me?

Decisions, Decision, Decisions. Whatever. I’ll have to research it more. Another thing on the list. Who am I kidding, that’s been on the list.

He killed another giant, and momentarily deactivated his Technique.

While the First Truth of Death functioned similarly to the First Stance’s, it was both more effective, and the passive mana drain was nearly negligible when weighed against his regeneration. At least when his enemies were low tier brutes that moved slowly, and he wasn’t using the future sight. More than that, the draw remained steady, no more were there sudden surges every time he landed killing blows.

Even so, something, an instinct, told Luke that it wasn’t a good idea to grow completely reliant on it. As such, he had taken to intermittently killing the giants without it being active, while trying to maintain the same easy grace he had with it on.

It wasn’t easy. The giants were still no match for him, but without the near-precognitive sense built in that let him react to attacks as soon as his opponent committed to them, he ended up taking damage. Mostly from stray boulders that the Technique would have guided him past.

Idly he opened his status, stepping back completely into the barrier as he took stock of his free points.

Status | Skills | Quests | Inventory

Name: Lukas King

Tier: Mortal

Mana: 487 906 / 499 000.5

Rate: 15% per hour

Strength: 999

Agility: 999

Constitution: 999

Arcana: 999

Stat Points: 4

Bloodline: Locked. Conditions not met. (4812/10 000)

Charges: 7/10

Spare four, he dumped the rest into his bloodline. Carefully in one hundred point increments, lest he cross some threshold and have another episode reminiscent of his giggling fir, but as far as he could tell the stat was a black hole. Sucking up the points, much like the Arcana stat had when he was still new to the world.

It made him nervous.

Not that it would stop him.

I will have to find somewhere private when I do break through though. Maybe even hold off on any points in bloodline so I don’t cross five thousand here. I don’t think anything is going to happen, but better not risk it.

“Are you done?” Asked Lukeus, walking over to him.

“No.”

“You’re actually pretty good.” He praised him.

“Thanks,” Luke grinned. Cocking his head to the side, wondering where he was going with it. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Heracles still grinding away at the cable. Thin strands of metal splitting off like loose hairs, but there was still a while to go.

“Do you thi–”

Danger Detected.

Luke lifted his hand in the air and stopped him.

Shit. Shit. Shit. He cursed repeatedly. His heart sank in his chest, as nervous energy bubbled inside him.

The night was getting brighter. Something dark shadowed the ground before it exploded over them.

Wooden chips and people rained from the sky. Shimmering bubbles appeared around them as they fell, and they bounced off the ground in the middle of the giant hoard. Screams rang through the air, as they tried to fight.

Pressure. Greater than he had ever felt fell on his shoulders and planted his knees first on the ground.

“She’s here.”

“YOU DARE!” Arke appeared with a single beat of her wings, grasping Heracles by his throat, she carried him in the air. The partially cut cable turned taught. A smile full of sadistic glee came over her face, and she lifted him even higher. He screamed in agony as his leg ripped free from its socket, and hung awkwardly in his skin. “You dare.” She hissed.

Heracles carefully schooled his expression, grinned, and then spat in her face.

She lifted him higher. His limbs stretched in ways that should have been impossible, before the slab of metal that had kept him tethered rose inches off the ground. Held up entirely by the strength of his tissue.

Out of the corner of his eyes, Luke saw Lukeus pull a talisman free from his pocket, and set it free. It made it a dozen feet into the air before a spear of light impaled it onto the ground.

Immediately she let go of Heracles. A sword materialized in her hand, and with a single swing she cut it and the cable connecting him to the hunk of metal.

The ground cratered and the world shook when the metal touched the ground.

“Did you just remember who I am?” He asked her.

“You’re awfully proud, for someone who hides under his father’s name.” She taunted him. “But I don’t think you quite understand what you cost me today.”

“I don’t really care.”

“I know.” She nodded, rubbing his cheek with her thumb. “It’s unfortunate that I can’t punish you more than I have. I much prefer not torturing bystanders.”

“Wha–”

A rock appeared in her palm and she stuffed it into his face.

“My dear. It’s much too late to regret your decision now. You should just watch,” she said. “It’s more fun that way.” Constructs made of blinding light appeared in the air, and restrained the Son of Zeus. A ring on each ankle and each wrist, pulling every limb in a different direction.

His ring began to glow, and a talisman appeared in between them. Another spear of light impaled it, stopping whatever function it was supposed to have.

She snorted. Pulling the ring from his finger, she tossed and turned it in her hands, before carelessly flinging it through the horizon.

Her wings flapped, and the next moment she was standing in front of Luke and Lukeus.

“Hmmm. A nobody… And look at that, Cyzicus’s grandchild.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Waves of anxiety rolled through Luke as he tried to think of a way out of their situation. With every ounce of his will he could muster, he craned his neck to see the women that had haunted and hunted him, standing before a paralyzed friend.

Walking in slow circles around Lukeus, she nodded in satisfaction. Rings of light appeared around him and lifted him in the air.

“What’s– the – point of THIS?” Lukeus yelled as he struggled within his bond.

“The point? The point is that your meddling cost me millennia!” She hissed. Spittle flying from her mouth and onto Lukeus’s face. “Millennia I have spent relentlessly searching. Risking death countless times for the smallest of clues. Traveling to places from where no one returns. I. KILLED. A. GOD. All in pursuit of–” She took a deep breath. Closing her eyes, she hung in the air, trying to reclaim her exposure. “The point is I’m angry. The point is that his arrogance has cost me!” She yelled pointing at Heracles. “And I need to make him pay. I need to make you suffer.” She smiled.

A sword made of light appeared in her hand, in between him and her.

“WAIT.” Luke yelled. Struggling with every ounce of his will to climb to his feet and failing miserably.

“Who are you?” She asked.

“I’m… Nobody. But let’s think this through alright. I've heard more than enough about your uh… plan to find the thief. I think we can both agree that it wasn’t the best, right?”

The pressure doubled. Then it tripled.

He felt his body ache and his bones began to fracture as an invisible unstoppable force pressed him into the ground.

“Take care with how you speak.”

Danger Detected.

No shit.

Her sword vanished, and Lukeus appeared beside him.

A shadow appeared above their head, and before he could react, or get out of the way, a slab of metal fell onto them, and flattened them to the ground.

“GRrkek.” Lukeus wheezed.

“A fitting punishment, is it not?” Her voice echoed in Luke’s ears “They gave you the tools to free yourself from my trap, and now they shall be crushed under it. It won’t make up for what I’ve lost, but– It’s better than nothing. Don’t you think Zeusson”

Host in imminent danger.

Would you like to use a Charge to escape?

Yes/No

The message blinked in front of him, and for some reason, instead of feeling relief at a prospective way out, all he felt was anger.

Everything hurt, he was likely about to die, but for some reason he really, really did not want to hit yes.

Was this how it was always going to be? Would he escape now, like he did from Carim? Would she trace him to wherever the Seed took him again? Would he have to start over from scratch, and repeat the same process over and over and over, until he finally ran out of Charges, and she ripped the God Seed free from his soul?

No. He directed his thoughts to the Seed, and the message disappeared, but strangely enough, the option to use a charge didn’t.

I run now, and this whole quest would have been for nothing. Running from Carim would have been for nothing. Killing all those people in the tomb would have been for nothing.

Closing his eyes, he strained against the metal barrier with everything he had. Using his inventory, he sent a vial of warrior-tier healing potion straight into his mouth, and tuned out the world around him. Desperately raking his mind for a solution, his mind latched onto his only hope.

Quest Alert: Advance to Warrior

He grinned into the dirt, as the Seed confirmed his own thoughts. There was another way. Maybe. She wanted to see them suffer, so he’d make sure he suffered for as long as possible.

Focusing on his manasink, he started shoveling mana into it.

Eight-seven points of mana convert to one Stat Point. Eight-seven points of mana convert to one Stat Point. Eight-seven points of mana convert to one Stat Point.

He repeated the mantra in his head over and over and over again. Ignoring the agonizing pain in his head, in favor of his only hope for staying alive, forcing through one torturous point after another into the ring.

He felt like a sword was stabbing into his head, and his vision turned red as blood spilled from his eyes. He didn’t stop. He didn’t give in.

Some barrier seemed to break in his mind, and suddenly the pain gave way to numbness. Mana poured out of him, into the ring. It grew hot on his finger, but he didn’t stop. Right now, it was his only hope.

Seconds or maybe hours later, he finally ran out.

Status | Skills | Quests | Inventory

Stat Points: 5611

Bloodline: Locked. Conditions not met. (4812/10 000)

Charges: 7/10

He dumped them all into his bloodline. The world turned white. The pain ebbed away. A giant sat on a throne, and looked at him with surprise.

“You live then.”