A month had passed since the battle against the Heroes of Kastoria had drawn to its conclusion. The chaos that once reigned had given way to a new order—my order. Through the subjugation of Amaterasu, the mighty goddess herself, I had gained dominion not only over her but also over Kaguya, one of the most powerful forces in the Kastoria kingdom.
With their submission, Kastoria had effectively fallen into my grasp.
At first, Amaterasu was visibly shaken by her sudden enslavement, the sheer disbelief reflected in her once-imperious gaze. She, a goddess, bound by mere mortal hands. But much like Khione before her, she began to accept the chains fate had shackled her with. Slowly, her defiance dulled, replaced by the resignation that crept into her every movement. Yet, I knew that wasn’t enough.
I had once entertained the idea of ‘breaking’ them down further—both her and Kaguya—manipulating their feelings with my abnormal Luck Stat, twisting their very souls until they developed a perverse, inexplicable affection toward me like Medea had and Amelia and Courtney slowly had started developping. A deep, irrational loyalty borne not from respect but from something far darker.
But now, the time for such indulgences had slipped away. Larger threats loomed, and my focus could not waver.
I stood in the training room, my body weighed down under the relentless pull of artificially enhanced gravity. The pressure was immense, as though hundreds of kilograms bore down on every fiber of my being. My breath came slow and controlled as I brought the training to an end, my muscles tense beneath the strain.
With a wave of my hand, I canceled the gravity spell, the invisible force lifting instantly, allowing me to move freely once more.
Walking toward the mirror, I caught sight of my reflection. My chest was bare, revealing a physique honed to the point of perfection. I wasn’t bulky, but every muscle was defined, a testament to my rigorous training. My skin, however, told a different story—littered with scars. Yet those marks were not what held my attention. It was the cracks.
The cracks, spreading across my skin like jagged fissures in broken glass, were far more painful and far more sinister than any scar. They had appeared when I sacrificed fifty years of my lifespan in pursuit of greater power, and since then, they had only grown worse. Now, the cracks marred even my face, a visible sign that my time was running out.
If nothing was done, I had only a month left to live. Death seemed inevitable.
And yet, I felt no fear. Not even the faintest tremor of dread coursed through me. Perhaps it was because I had already cheated death once, escaping its cold clutches when all seemed lost. Or maybe it was because, deep down, I trusted that I wouldn’t die at all—that there was still a way out, a way to survive this. I didn’t know.
But one thing was certain: I would not allow death to claim me without a fight.
In the past month, I had spent almost every waking moment in this space, training relentlessly, pushing my body and mind beyond their limits. I had to grow stronger. I had to reach the strength of the gods themselves—and I had to do it fast.
Of course, true power takes time to cultivate, but ever since I enslaved Khione, I’d noticed something remarkable—my training had started to yield faster results. My progress, which once felt like a slow grind, had accelerated in ways that seemed almost unnatural. It wasn’t just my strength or speed; everything about my abilities was improving at an enhanced rate.
Then, after I bound Amaterasu to my will, I felt an even greater surge—this time in my vitality, a boundless energy flowing through me like never before.
It became clear to me: every time I enslaved someone, I gained something from them, something that made me stronger. With Khione, it was the speed of my progression, an accelerated growth that defied normal limits. With Amaterasu, it was vitality—a raw, invigorating force that made me feel nearly invincible.
I couldn’t deny it: Khione’s Forbidden Skill was far more powerful than I had originally thought, especially when applied to divine beings. The potential was staggering.
It was almost laughable, though. Khione, with all her power, had never dared to use that skill on other gods because of some foolish laws—some archaic rules that kept her cowering in fear of the consequences. What a waste. I, on the other hand, didn’t give a damn about such trivialities. Laws and divine wrath meant nothing to me.
If anything, my desire to enslave more goddesses only intensified the more I realized the benefits.
Why not enslave male gods as well, you ask? Simple. It would be a complete waste. I had no interest in having men around me, let alone under my control. More importantly, submission was far easier to achieve through seduction, as I had learned with Khione. The process was not only more efficient but infinitely more enjoyable.
Unfortunately, such a potent skill came with limitations. It required time to recharge, and right now, I had only one Seal available. That Seal would have to be reserved for an emergency—a last resort in case things spiraled out of control. There would be no careless indulgence.
Suddenly, a soft, sultry voice broke the silence behind me. “You’re doing well, Nate. Aren’t you?”
I turned to see Aphrodite standing there, her presence as intoxicating as ever. I hadn’t seen her in two weeks. She approached me with her signature grace, her eyes gleaming as she smiled.
“Are you ready?” she asked, her fingertips brushing against my face.
I wiped the sweat from my brow as I began to dress. “Ready? For the foolish war between Greeks and Trojans? Yes.” I shrugged as I pulled on a fresh set of clothes. The notion of the war was absurd, but I would be prepared nonetheless.
Aphrodite’s eyes gleamed with intrigue as she tilted her head. “What about the princess? Will she accept?” Her question referred to Azeliah, and I could sense her curiosity.
Azariah… I already knew what her answer would be. She had no interest in getting involved in a meaningless war, especially one with no direct impact on Tenebria. But this wasn’t about Tenebria’s involvement in the war—it was about me. And I had a way of making things happen when I needed them to.
“You want only me to fight alongside the Trojans, right? I will, as I promised,” I said calmly, meeting Aphrodite’s expectant gaze.
Her lips curled into a wider smile, a slow, sensual gesture as she leaned in, licking my cheek in a playful yet intimate way. Her touch always carried an odd mix of seduction and danger, as though she reveled in toying with those around her, no matter how powerful.
“I’m so happy you’ll be there to fight with me…” she purred, her voice dripping with a sweetness.
I brushed off the display, my mind focused on more pressing matters. “But I will not fight at the front, nor will I fight alone,” I said. “I will intervene when necessary to secure victory—that’s all.”
I had no intention of charging headlong into the chaos of the Trojan War. Exposing myself too much would be reckless, especially when I knew what was truly at stake. The gods of Olympus would all be present, that much was certain. If I made too bold a move, if I appeared too much of a threat, it could draw their collective attention. And while I had grown stronger—much stronger—I knew my limits.
I couldn’t take on multiple gods at once, let alone some of the stronger ones.
Still, now that I had been pulled into this game, I wasn’t going to approach it with half measures. The Trojan War was an opportunity, not just a battlefield. I would use it to solve two problems: my deteriorating lifespan and Khione’s imprisonment. She had been under Aphrodite’s so-called protection for some time, cut off from any world, rendered powerless.
The reason for her confinement was simple—Poseidon. His control over her had bound her fate, and until he was dealt with, she would remain in chains.
“Will Poseidon be there?” I asked, my tone growing more serious as I looked Aphrodite in the eye.
Her smile didn’t falter, but her expression sharpened slightly. “No, but if you wish, I can make it happen,” she replied, her glowing pink eyes twinkling with mischief and power.
I nodded. It was exactly what I wanted.
Poseidon was far stronger than I was, of that there was no doubt. But strength alone wasn’t everything. Timing was crucial, and this war was the perfect moment to strike. I would use the confusion, the clash of heroes and gods, to set my plan in motion. Poseidon’s death would not only free Khione but rid me of a powerful enemy who had long stood in my way. The opportunity was too perfect to pass up.
“Why do you ask?”
Fixing my hair back, I replied.
“I want him dead.”
“!” Aphrodite’s whole body shivered at my words, her cheeks flushing pink as she looked at me as if I was the most amazing thing she had seen in the world.