Typhaon helped Daniel sit on the chair.
The seat creaked as Daniel slumped back, utterly exhausted.
His body had given out after he finally relaxed.
The dim light from the cube illuminated his pale face, streaked with tears that he wiped away while laughing softly.
“I’m fine now. We should go and meet the leaders of the Awakeners,” Daniel said.
“Is it about giving them exclusive access to the Akashic Records?” Typhaon asked.
“Yes. I couldn’t build the exclusive access before since it is complicated.
“But now that I’ve completed the Records, I have free time.
“I can make them exclusive access like they wanted,” Daniel explained.
Typhaon’s brows furrowed.
Daniel’s condition was clearly at the verge of a breakdown.
“No need for that now. The leaders of the Awakeners said you can do it at your own pace,” Typhaon reassured him gently, placing a hand on Daniel’s shoulder.
“Huh? Really?”
“Indeed, it is true.”
“That’s nice. I guess I can finally take a vacation.”
Daniel was looking forward to talking with Selene too.
The warmth in his chest contrasted the ache of his fatigued body.
Suddenly, Typhaon raised his head.
His eyes narrowed as he sensed an approaching presence beyond the wooden door.
He turned back to Daniel.
“I’ve built an Academy around your house. Demigod Academy.
“Since I don’t have an identity, being a monster, I used your identity for it.
“Think of the Academy as your home and use it for your vacations,” Typhaon explained in a gentle voice.
“Vacation in an academy….?”
“Hahaha, don’t worry. There is a nice resort with a lakeside view.
Read new chapters at empire
“There’s even a burning mountain range and a sky rock island if you want to go on a tour.”
“How big is that place?”
Daniel’s mouth parted slightly.
“Big enough for you to enjoy to your heart’s content.”
The Academy was Typhaon’s way of repenting for his mistakes.
It would become a sanctuary and a training ground, raising heroes who would one day protect and save the world.
But more importantly, it was a home he built solely for Daniel.
A home where he could rest.
“From today, you are the headmaster of this place,” Typhaon said.
“Isn’t that your job?” Daniel questioned.
“I’ve spent a bit too much time in the world of the living.
“It was time I returned to the Underworld. Making you the headmaster is my way of getting the job here off my back,” Typhaon chuckled.
He could feel the presence – that stood just outside the door – growing impatient.
Daniel was unaware of it and Typhaon intended to keep it that way.
Before Daniel could say anything, Typhaon spoke up again, his expression softening.
“You should rest and talk with Selene. I will come back after some time.”
“Okay.”
Typhaon left the room.
Outside was the hallway.
He found Zeus standing there, arms crossed.
A faint crackle of electricity trailed along his fingertips.
The two stared at each other.
“I saw the status screen,” Zeus said, his voice as commanding as ever.
“Good to know it is working as intended,” Typhaon answered.
“Can I meet Daniel?” Zeus asked.
“Why?”
“I’m here to request privileged access to the Records for the top-rank awakeners and Gods. It will help us—”
“Daniel has implemented a system in the Records that increases your access level depending on your qualification.
“Use it instead of asking for privileged access,” Typhaon said, recalling Daniel’s detailed explanation from earlier.
Zeus frowned upon getting cut off mid sentence.
“We can get the techniques of the future from the Records.
“It’s important for us. Those techniques are needed if we want to protect the world.”
Typhaon’s gaze darkened as he stepped closer.
“Who is ‘we’ here?”
Typhaon recalled the broken state Daniel had been in.
He blamed himself for pushing Daniel down that path.
But not again.
“Daniel has done his part. Please allow him to retire and rest.”
“Rest? The world needs him—”
“He has saved the world twice already. He has no obligation to sacrifice himself more for the world.”
“Saved from you, didn’t he?” Zeus taunted.
When he got no response from Typhaon, he took a step forward.
He intended to go past Typhaon and meet Daniel directly.
Typhaon raised his hand and stopped Zeus from taking another step.
“If you take another step,” Typhaon said in a low but threatening voice, “I’ll make you need to save the world a third time.”
“Is that a threat?” Zeus’s voice was icy cold.
“That depends on where your foot lands.”
Zeus glared at Typhaon.
“Stop being selfish. Daniel has gained the power to change the world—”
“Gained?”
A terrifying pressure erupted from Typhaon.
The floor cracked beneath his feet.
“He has ‘gained’ power?”
The air trembled as Typhaon’s fury grew.
“Daniel sacrificed everything to create the Record!
“That man no longer remembers who he is.
“He wept tears of joy without knowing why he was happy.
“Don’t insult his suffering by saying he ‘gained power.'”
Zeus felt the weight of those words.
For the briefest moment, his gaze faltered.
“He lost everything while saving the world twice,” Typhaon continued. “Twice, he saved this damned place. Let him rest.
“He has no duty to save it again or help it anymore. He had done more than enough.”
Zeus clenched his jaw.
The truth in Typhaon’s words was undeniable.
But…
“Move,” he commanded. “Or I’ll make you move.”
Typhaon’s eyes narrowed.
“The brat who used to tremble at the mere mention of my name thinks he can make me move?”
He let out a savage grin, revealing jagged teeth formed from bark and stone.
“Try it.”
A heartbeat passed.
No one moved.
The air crackled with suppressed tension.
Zeus opened his mouth to speak but stopped when a voice echoed in his mind.
“Return.”
Gaia voice resonated.
‘I need to meet Daniel first,’ Zeus thought back.
“No,” Gaia’s voice echoed again. “Leave this be. Typhaon is right. He has earned his peace.”
‘You don’t need to worry. I can overpower Daniel with force easily if he refuses-‘
‘The Moon is moving.’
Gaia’s words made Zeus freeze.
‘Moon? Why is she moving now?’
‘You know why. She warned us against making Daniel work unless he approaches us first.’
Zeus clenched his fists.
‘What if we don’t listen to her?’ Zeus asked.
‘Zeus—’
‘Gaia, there are millions of humans living on Earth,’ Zeus interrupted her.
He continued.
‘Not everyone is happy to be alive, but everyone is trying. Just one guy’s involvement can ease their suffering. And he is saying he doesn’t want to work? We aren’t in the wrong by forcing him to-‘
“Daniel is a Grim Reaper too.”
Typhaon’s voice cut through the telepathic conversation like a blade.
His towering, tree-like figure loomed in the hallway as he looked down on Zeus.
“Touch him, and you will have war with the Underworld.”
The temperature seemed to drop.
The presence of Death and Darkness flared around Typhaon, as if proving his threat.
Zeus fell silent.
The threat was not just words.
Typhaon alone would’ve been a problem.
Adding the Moon to the equation was already pushing the boundaries of what the Association could handle.
But if the Underworld became involved…
They had no chance.
Zeus gritted his teeth but took a step back. For now.