Chapter 296 - Hercules

The next morning...

"Oh my god! I'm so happy for you, for both of you!" Nicole exclaimed as she rushed in to hug her brother and best friend, "I didn't know you were planning for kids!"

"We weren't. It's just a happy coincidence." Nina replied to her, while Arnold just embraced them a little tighter, hoping to live the best moment of his life a little longer, "Okay. You two siblings talk while I decide what to cook for breakfast."

"I'm so happy! I can't imagine I'm gonna be an aunt soon!" Nicole said once Nina had left, "Who else knows?"

"For now, it's just the three of us. And I don't wanna make a big announcement about it either. The lesser people know about, the better." Arnold mumbled while glancing towards the kitchen. 

"Why so? Oh, wait... I see." Nicole finally understood why Arnold wanted to keep his unborn child a secret. 

"Yeah. It's regarding the next phase. With our enemies hiding in plain sight, who knows what they'll do to get to a vassal. And putting Nina in between all of this crap is the last thing I want to do."

There was an awkward moment of silence between the two. Both the brother and the sister were granted unimaginable power thanks to these Gods. With the free will to use the power as they feel fit, as long as they completed the quests given to them. They were so similar, and yet they hadn't talked about the origin of their powers before. It was the first time, they had acknowledged something regarding their systems in front of each other. 

"It been a long time, hasn't it?" Arnold smiled wanly, trying to remember his pipsqueak of a sister, Nicole was all those years ago. 

"It has, and we've come so far. Who would've thought someone like us would become the strongest warriors of the nation? I wouldn't." Nicole smiled as well, "I still hate you for leaving me here alone and going off to Rio. It's one of my dream locations to visit."

Arnold lifted his brows before laughing, "I didn't have much of a choice, you know. Not like going there did me much good, I just learned a few things about mental peace and shit, that's about it. Also, I might have to go there soon."

"Is it regarding the attack from the wolves?"

Arnold nodded, "We may have been able to take care of them, but they weren't our only enemy. Someone helped them stage the attack. Someone financially strong enough to traffic so many immigrants to America and hide them. Until we get them, we're still under threat of another attack. That's why I need to find out just who the fck dared to mess with us."

Rage spewed out along with Arnold's words. He hated how helpless the Black family was under the surprise attack. Had he been in a coma for one more day then God knows what would've become of his family along with the city of angels. 

Nicole placed her hand on top of her brother's clenched fist, "You weren't alone then, and you're not alone now. Don't worry about Nina while you're gone. I'll be sure to drop in to check on her every now and then. Thankfully, the dungeon activity has slowed down so it's not like I'm super busy either. So, go and find the answers you want. I'll be here to protect my best friend."

Arnold felt like a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He was planning on leaving a bunch of automatons and hounds under Talos' command to protect Nina while he's gone but with Nicole's suggestion, his mind was at peace. He had been wanting to ask Nicole but he couldn't ask his sister to risk her life. After all, deep down Arnold was still the same overprotective brother he had always been.

"You don't have to stay here all the time." Arnold said after clearing his throat, "I'll be back every night. I'll also leave my summons to protect her in my absence but having you here would put my mind to ease."

"Breakfast is ready!" Nina's voice echoed from the kitchen as the siblings left to have some much-needed food. 

****

In a dark place... A realm no mortal had ever stepped foot in, rung rhythmic earth-shattering sound. The floor shook with every punch the man threw at the wall in front of him. Heavy beads of sweat poured down his head, but the man didn't stop, he kept punching. Fighting was his only religion, fighting is what he lived for. In his days as a mortal, he had slain hundreds of beasts, took down dozens of kingdoms, killed a handful of godly beings, yet it wasn't enough. It wasn't enough for him to enter the Pantheon of Gods. 

Boom

Boom

Boom

He kept throwing punch after punch. Training for his next task, his next kill, when someone placed a hand on his broad brown shoulder. The dark cellar illuminated, showing details that weren't visible before.

The room was made up of strong grey rocks. Sturdy enough to take on inhumane beating without showing a crack. In the corner of the room lay a helmet made of the skin of a lion, one of the beasts the man had slain in his era. Numerous weapons lay at his feet, enough weapons to kill a god. There was nothing else worth noticing in the room. Except for the two men. 

On the other hand, the well-built man in front of the man with thunderous eyes was not short in any way, shape or form. He too had long hair but it was black, and an equally bushy beard. His brown skin had scars all over. Some of them were caused by mortals while the others by mystical beasts he had killed. 

"Why are you here, father?" The bronze-skinned man asked. His back still turned towards his visitor.

"To present you with an opportunity... An opportunity to enter the Pantheon." The man with lightning running through his veins replied. 

"What do I have to do?" 

"Kill Shiva's vassal. You do that and I'll make sure no one raises their voice while you take what's yours."

"I'll do it. I've been waiting for the opportunity to come, and now that it has... I'll finish him for slaying a demigod."

"I knew you wouldn't disappoint me, Hercules." Zeus smiled before disappearing into nothingness.