Chapter 98: Chapter 96: Oh Sh*t, I Forgot About Asterion

Chapter 98: Chapter 96: Oh Sh*t, I Forgot About Asterion



The Next Day,

"Ah, what a beautiful day-" Ricky stretched his arms wide, basking in the fresh morning breeze on his patio, unapologetically butt naked and not ashamed in the least.

"Ricky, are you ready-JESUS!" Rachael walked in, only to immediately whip around, shielding her eyes as she caught sight of Ricky standing there, in all his glory.

"Rachael, as you can see, I'm always ready-" Ricky burst into laughter, throwing his arms wide open as if inviting her to admire him.

*BAM*

In a flash of embarrassment and irritation, Rachael flung a fireball his way.

It shot toward him, but just before it could make contact, a shimmering forcefield materialized in front of him, deflecting the flames harmlessly into the air.

"PUT ON SOME PANTS!"

"What is this, communist Russia?" Ricky frowned, unable to see how he should put on his pants after she stormed into his room.

"Fine, I'll leave you so you can put on some pants!" Rcahel rushed out of the room, covering her face that was slightly tinged with a blush.

"You should ask me that after you've stripped and felt this breeze in your birthday suit." Ricky taunted, a smirk tugging at his lips while rubbing his chin as he stared at the clearly uncomfortable Rachael.

He wasn't particularly fond of Rachael, but the thought of her sprawled out face down on the sheets was a tempting visual he couldn't ignore.

Before he could revel in the idea, the door slammed behind her, cutting off his fantasy with a sharp finality.

*BAM*

"Alright, then." Ricky shrugged, turning back to the warm Sicilian sunlight, breathing in the crisp morning air.

For three years, he'd thrown himself into countless schemes, managing to keep up with almost every promise he'd made, almost.

But as he gazed over the horizon, a thought struck him like a bolt.

"Oh sh*t, Asterion!" Ricky muttered, smacking his forehead as the memory of his promise hit him like a freight train.

Only now did Ricky recall how he was supposed to return and ask Asterion if he still wanted to wallow alone in that cave.

But between his clash with Dracula and everything that came after, Asterion had slipped through the cracks.

Ricky wasn't perfect, and his memory was even worse, but despite that, he found himself grimacing.

His stomach twisted uneasily at the thought of that punch, the one that had felt like it turned his internal organs to mush as the regret washed over him, mingling with an overwhelming sense of dread.

Even with his new improved healing abilities, the idea of facing an angry Asterion sent another queasy ripple through him.

That minotaur's punches were nothing to scoff at, and even Ricky's bravado couldn't entirely shrug off the memory of their force.

'Let's get this over with. I'm sure I can bullsh*t my way out of whatever corner he puts me in.' Ricky thought, trying to keep his nerves in check as he turned to Alexander, who was scowling, his eyebrows drawn together in concern.

"You forgot about Asterion until we came back here, didn't you?" Alexander accused, crossing his tiny paws defiantly.

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat~" Ricky stretched the word out,

his tone feigning innocence.

Yet, in an instant, Alexander saw right through him, the little creature's expression betraying no doubt of Ricky's guilt.

Alexander had grown all too familiar with Ricky's habits over time and the moment he noticed Ricky clutching his stomach, a knowing sense of certainty washed over him.

"YOUNG RICKY, HE'S LITERALLY THE FIRST MINOTAUR! THE FIRST M-I-N-O-T-A-U-R!" Alexander stressed, incredulous at Ricky's blatant ignorance, especially at such a critical moment.

"Do you think he'll be mad? Cause I don't think he'll be mad," Ricky shot back, trying to instinctively bullsh*t his way out of Alexander's piercing scrutiny.

"I can't believe you. I cannot believe you," Alexander muttered in disbelief, facepalming as Ricky casually began putting on his pants.

"It's gonna be fine, watch and see, I'll get us out of it-"

"Oh no, not us, you," Alexander said, waving his paws in surrender, eager to distance himself from the situation.

"What happened to being my comrade and seeing this through, huh?" Ricky quipped, his eyes glinting with mischief while the gerbil froze, caught off guard by Ricky's sudden memory of his earlier speech.

"Yeah, not so honorable now, are you?" Ricky smirked, casually scooping up Alexander and settling him on his shoulder.

"T-That, y-you-"

*Ahem*

"I didn't mean-"

"How about you save whatever made-up nonsense you were planning to spit out, reconvene your thoughts, and jot them all down in a letter? Then hit me with it when I'm about to go to sleep." Ricky suggested, poking at old wounds as Alexander let out a hearty laugh.

"Do you really want to start this now? Because I can throw down! What is it that humans say nowadays 'cash in my receipts'?" Alexander squinted his eyes defiantly, causing Ricky to halt and turn to him, the playful banter hanging in the air between them.

"Even?" Ricky asked, raising an eyebrow as Alexander nodded and patted him on the shoulder with his tiny paw.

"Indeed."

5 minutes later,

"Morning, sunshine. How was the full moon earlier?" Ricky laughed as he spotted Rachael waiting for him off to the side.

"Ha, ha, real funny." Rachael retorted, rolling her eyes, though he could see her ears turning a shade of crimson.

"So, where are you taking me? Wait, don't tell me, are we going to meet Satan this time?" Rachael asked, trailing behind him as he shook his head.

"Nah, I haven't met the guy yet." Ricky replied nonchalantly, turning the corner as Rachael shot him a bewildered look.

"What do you mean you haven't met him yet?" Rachael demanded, quickening her pace to catch up with him as he headed toward the graveyard.

"I mean, with all the nonsense I keep getting entangled in, it's only a matter of time before I'm dragged into a war between Heaven and Hell." Ricky explained, glancing over his

shoulder. Rachael's eyes widened in horror.

"Don't tell me there's going to be another war?" Rachael gasped, instinctively covering her

face as Ricky frowned in response.

"Huh, no I was over exaggerating-wait, there have been wars before-"

"Ricky, knowledge on the pantheons can wait, we have arrived."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Standing before them was the entombment of Daedalus, and Ricky let out a light sigh as he

approached the ornate door.

Ricky then pressed his hand against its cool surface, allowing himself to deepen into the

darkness beyond.

As he appeared within the tomb, Rachael flinched at the sudden shift, her gaze darting to the inscriptions lining the walls.

The ancient runes glowed softly in the dim light, and after a moment's hesitation, she reached out to touch them as well, curiosity overtaking her initial trepidation.

"An echo," Ricky replied abruptly, glancing at the statue to his right.

Alexander, perched on his shoulder, gripped his paws tightly, his frustration barely contained

as he wanted to be the first one to answer.

"CORRECT!" The statue roared, its voice reverberating through the chamber.

With a thunderous sound, the double doors swung open, revealing the darkness beyond. Ricky

stepped inside with a nonchalant attitude.

"Huh?" Rachael muttered, her brow furrowing in confusion as Alexander turned to her, nodding in agreement, mirroring her bewilderment as he shared the same sentiment. "What is this place, why are their ancient greek runes on the entrance-"

"It's the tomb of Daedalus." Ricky explained, casually waving his hand as he walked toward

the trio of stone statues.

"We're here to see a buddy of mine." Ricky's voice was nonchalant, walking towards the three statues who loomed tall and imposing, their ancient features etched with wisdom and secrets

long forgotten.

"Greetings, we are the three, who speak three!"

Three stone statues loomed before three podiums, each adorned with a unique puzzle that triggered a heavy sigh from Ricky, a wave of déjà vu washing over him.

"Yeah, yeah, solve the puzzles and answer your stupid riddle." Ricky muttered dismissively,

waving his hands to preempt any responses from the statues.

"Correct!" The statue on the far right acknowledged, its voice booming with an ancient

authority.

"Wait Daedalus? So those wings you always fly around with-"

"The wings he used to escape with his son who flew too close to the sun." Ricky interrupted

Rachael, finishing her words while Alexander rubbed his furry head on his shoulder.

Rachael blinked in exasperation, clearly baffled, while Alexander squinted, mentally scrambling to remember what the next riddle might be.

The statues shifted slightly, their stone eyes narrowing as if they'd been robbed of the chance

to deliver their ancient riddle with full gravitas.

Walking over to the middle one, Ricky saw dozens of jumbled pieces, and his mind twitched.

Ricky had an itch once more, the very same one that happened whenever he found a mechanical instrument or technology not functioning correctly.

"I think we should first consider their height and-" Rachael observed, trying to contribute

but Ricky waved his hand.

"No, their entire way of talking is a riddle in itself." Ricky promptly answered as if it was once

again obvious, receiving glares from the statues.

"What's the riddle?" Rachael curiously asked, walking to his side to see him solving the

puzzles from left to right.

"A-"

"It's a joke. A setup, development, and punchline, which means the order is middle, left, and

right." Ricky explained, gesturing to the statues in sequence while slicking his hand through

his hair.

"DAMMIT, RICKY!" Alexander yelled, hopping up and down in frustration, wanting nothing more than to solve at least one puzzle faster than Ricky and relish that victory, but once again,

he was a second too slow.

"I have cities-"

"A map." Ricky answered smoothly, just as he finished the last puzzle piece.

"Correct!" The statute on the right boomed, its voice echoing through the chamber as the

stone doors creaked open.

Ricky walked through the door, seeing four statues this time each holding a door with the

color's red, blue, yellow, and green but turning around immediately.

Rachael followed his line of sight, seeing the fifth statue holding a rusted door and watching

him start to form psychic stairs to climb.

"Riddle, hit me with it." Ricky climbed onto the ledge and beckoned to the statue.

"What is both a father and a mother but neither a parent nor a child-"

"A bir-"

"A BIRD!" Alexander shouted triumphantly, beating Ricky to the answer with a satisfied

gleam in his eye.

without breaking a sweat if he truly wanted to.

Asterion was one of the strongest supernatural beings in Greek mythology, a titan whose might was barely matched even by Hercules himself. In fact, the only reason Hercules had ever won their wrestling matches was because Asterion

had vowed not to engage in his berserk state, a promise that only served to highlight the sheer

power he could unleash if he chose to.

No one truly understood the full extent of Asterion's power since whenever he found himself

backed into a corner, he always held back, mindful of those around him who needed protection.

This restraint had become second nature, a testament to his desire to safeguard others rather

than unleash the full force of his abilities.

Asterion's strength was a double-edged sword; while he could easily overwhelm any adversary, he prioritized the safety of his aides, allowing them to believe they were safe in his

presence.

"How can you just stand there as if we haven't just met someone from the realm of the gods?"

Rachael yelled, her exasperation palpable as she clutched her head, feeling the world around

her spin in disarray.

"I guess, like this?" Ricky looked at himself simply standing in place, then gazed back at her

and shrugged.

It wasn't that Rachael underestimated Ricky or looked down on him; she had never hidden her

thoughts.

Yet, the more time she spent within his sphere of influence, the more she began to grasp the

immense gravitational pull of the powerful figures that surrounded him.

When Rachael first met Agatha, she was taken aback by her strength and upon meeting

Veredelet had left her equally stunned.

But standing before Asterion, the forefather of all minotaurs, she found her perspective on

Ricky shifting entirely.

Meanwhile, Ricky sat casually to the side, seemingly oblivious to the sheer power that Asterion exuded.

Rachael, with her years of training and experience, recognized the weight of Asterion's

presence, while Ricky remained unfazed, unaware of the gravity of the moment unfolding

before him.

Technically speaking, Asterion's lineage is even more remarkable, as his grandfather is

Poseidon.

This connection stems from the fact that Asterion's father was a creation of the god of the

sea, adding a profound depth to Asterion's heritage.

As the forefather of all minotaurs, he not only embodies the strength and ferocity associated

with his kind but also carries the weight of divine lineage, intertwining his existence with the

very fabric of Greek mythology.

"What's the deal, anyway? Asterion is a really cool guy-minotaur," Ricky quickly corrected himself but Rachael, however, shook her head vehemently. "That's exactly why I'm so wary, Ricky. The Greek gods are known for being completely unreasonable. Asterion is technically the grandson of Poseidon, so I had to expect the worst," Rachael said, rising to her feet, a hint of concern etched across her face.

"Everything involving the Greek pantheon always ends up twice as complicated as it should be. That's why the Van Helsings stopped interacting with them a hundred years ago." Rachael

said, wiping the sweat from her forehead as if trying to dispel the lingering tension in the air. "Entirely unreasonable, huh?" Ricky glanced at Alexander, who was silently whistling to himself on the side, seemingly unfazed by the gravity of the situation. "W-Well I wouldn't say unreasonable, merely an acquired taste." Alexander, feeling the pressuring gaze of Ricky, coughed out a response. "Uh huh, are they really that bad I mean I've heard some of the myths-" "No, the myths don't highlight all their cruel and arrogant deeds. It doesn't just stop with the

Greek gods; it extends to all Greek creations," Rachael explained, her voice tinged with

exasperation as Ricky's gaze seemed to bore deeper into Alexander.

"Even the monsters and other beings of the mythos possess this superiority complex, so

seeing Asterion being understanding and reasonable is-...well, it's a rare sight." Rachael

continued, noticing Ricky's frown. "Are you guys sure that your not exaggerating-"

"We're sure." Both Alexander and Rachael replied in unison, their expressions flat and devoid

of emotion as Ricky rubbed his forehead in frustration before raising his hands in defeat.

"You know what? I'm putting this aside since it's not the current issue." Ricky declared,

shaking off the conversation.

Richy then turned toward the exit, ready to move on, only to realize Rachael wasn't following

as her hesitation caught his attention, and he paused, glancing back at her. "Who are you?" Rachael's sudden question halted Ricky in his tracks, causing him to turn

back, confusion etched on his face.

"What?" Ricky asked, glancing at Alexander, who shrugged in response, equally puzzled.

"Who is Ricky Luciano? Take away the Black Knight, strip away the mana user-leave him with nothing but himself." Rachael's earnest inquiry lingered in the air, prompting Ricky to

pause and genuinely consider her words.

"Who are you?" Rachael rubbed her arm, knowing it was out of her element to ask such a question but she couldn't help but utter these words. "I guess I'd be a normal mobster." Ricky began, a hint of bitterness creeping into his voice. "Return to my family and burn everyone who exiled me in the first place." Ricky spoke before

a flash of red glimmered in his eyes, igniting with the memories of those families who had

forced his father's hand, who had pushed him away from everything he once knew. Though he couldn't be completely mad, Ricky knew he had grown a lot during his time away. Even if he had stayed, he had to believe that nothing would have changed; he would have been

the same sorry for himself drunk who always ran away. So, while it wasn't the outcome he had wanted, he understood that everything that had

happened to him had only made him stronger.

Ricky could only relent to the truth that life had shaped him into someone who could confront

the past with newfound strength.

"You're a mobster?" Rachael asked, her surprise evident as Ricky nodded.

"I mean, I was. But after I was exiled from the other families because I was a mutant-" "You're a mutant!" Rachael exclaimed, astonished. Ricky raised an eyebrow, a bit confused,

as he had literally shown his powers before, but Rachael had misinterpreted that as magic.

"How did I never know about this?" Rachael questioned, clearly flabbergasted while holding her forehead.

"Because you never bothered to ask! Every time I tried to talk, you shunned me away," Ricky replied, his tone light yet pointed as its edge made Rachael flinch. "From the three years I've known you, and that entire year we spent in the same cabin, all I know about you is that you're Abraham's granddaughter, and all you know about me is that I'm the Black Knight." Ricky said, spreading his arms in exasperation, looking at her with

disbelief at how she could even have the courage to ask such a dumb question. Now that Ricky had brought it up, Rachael felt incredibly shallow as she had a wealth of knowledge about him, primarily because his personality was open and inviting, especially to

the girls he often tried to impress.

Ricky didn't hesitate to share his thoughts, revealing everything from his ambitions to his

fears during their training sessions, while she had given him the cold shoulder time and time

again.

Rachael had often pointed out Ricky's cowardice directly to his face, dismissing him as

someone who shied away from challenges.

Yet here she was, isolating herself from him, a cowardly move that formed a sense of guilt.

It struck her as ironic that she had been so quick to judge Ricky when she had, in her own way,

been avoiding the deeper connection they could have had.

Then that guilt washed over her as she recalled the countless times she had turned away when

he tried to engage with her.

It was then that Rachael slowly opened those doors she had always kept closed, doors that

unknowingly led her toward the path of motherhood.

"Sorry, about being a b*tch for the past three years." Rachael rubbed her arms, the admission hanging heavy in the air.

It was a rare moment of vulnerability, since she had inherited this closed off approach to the

world from her grandfather that formed an innate struggle to open up to people.

"Alexander, I must be dreaming." Ricky's jaw dropped in disbelief, unable to process what he

had just heard.

Never in his life did he think he'd hear Rachael actually apologize. "You are certainly not," Alexander echoed, his eyes wide with surprise as he had known

Rachael long enough to understand the gravity of her words. Apologies were not her usual forte, and he had never seen her express regret over anything.

"Ricky, I have finished my walkabout," Asterion announced, his deep voice reverberating

slightly in the air as he approached the two.

"You ready?" Ricky asked, his tone questioning, gesturing towards the door to the side and

what awaited them outside.

"I am."

As Ricky pushed open the door, a rush of vibrant light spilled into the dim space, revealing the

breathtaking scenery beyond.

Asterion stepped through, his imposing form casting a long shadow against the golden rays

of morning.

The gentle wind stirred his white fur, causing it to ripple like a flowing stream, and the

warmth of the sun embraced him, wrapping him in a nostalgic glow he thought he had long

forgotten.

The air was alive with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, each scent a reminder of a

world full of beauty and possibility.

Asterion closed his eyes for a moment, allowing himself to fully experience the sensations

around him.

The warmth on his skin, the gentle rustle of leaves, the symphony of birdsong, it all melded

into a feeling of serenity that he hadn't felt in ages.

This

was a moment to savor, a gift that reminded him of his connection to life and the love he

had once known.

"So, Asterion, how does the morning sun feel after all these years?" Ricky asked, his laughter

ringing through the air as he observed Asterion reveling in the beauty of the world around

him, just as he had promised.

Asterion's gaze remained fixed on the horizon, where the sun spilled golden light over the landscape, casting long shadows and illuminating the vibrant colors of the flowers that

dotted the meadow as he inhaled deeply, the crisp morning air filling his lungs with a sense of

renewal.

"It feels right."