"Ash Brimstone."
The name resonated through the gathering, capturing everyone's attention. Eager gazes swept the room, searching for the enigmatic figure who bore this name. Klaus, too, found himself intrigued by the unexpected presence of Ash Brimstone.
However, the name remained unanswered in the crowd as silence enveloped the room, punctuated only by murmurs of curiosity.
"It appears Ash still remains in Under World, tending to duties alongside his father," XVII's words broke the hush, eliciting startled reactions from those present.
"Under World? It's real?" Rose voiced her astonishment, echoing the sentiments of many.
"Indeed, it exists," XVII confirmed. "It is the realm overseen by Nekro, the God of Fire, and inhabited by the demon kind."
"Demon kind?" Shade's bewilderment mirrored that of others. "Yeah, my head's already hurting."
"Yes," XVII continued. "The demon kind is the second creation of the Gods, succeeding the monster kind that once roamed Main World millennia ago, before the advent of humankind. However, realizing the imperfections of the Monster kind, the Gods, led by Siege, eradicated them, leaving Humans as the predominant race on Earth. The demons, on the other hand, find their home in Under World."
"Demons, real demons..." Rose mused silently, surprised by the revelation.
The news reverberated through the assembly, stirring a chorus of reactions that took some time to settle. Amid the hubbub, a question emerged from the crowd, shifting the focus once again.
"If Ash resides in the Under World, does that mean he's not human but a demon?"
Quinn's inquiry hung in the air, drawing the gaze of many towards XVII for an answer. The response only deepened the intrigue.
"Indeed, that is correct," XVII affirmed.
The revelation that Ash Brimstone, the unexpected powerhouse, was not even human but a demon left everyone stunned. However, before the topic could unravel further, a voice interjected from the midst of the crowd.
"The Gods have no sense of battle if they truly think their ranking is accurate."
A weighty silence settled over the room as the unidentified individual emerged from the crowd, striding purposefully toward XVII.
"If you expect me to sit back and accept that those other three names hold a higher rank than mine in terms of strength, then both you and the Gods must be delusional."
The declaration sent shockwaves through the assembly, leaving Klaus and the others astounded. The audacity of someone questioning the Gods and labeling them as "delusional" was unexpected and unprecedented.
As the stranger approached XVII, his commanding presence became evident. Tall and well-built, his muscular physique exuded an aura of strength earned through rigorous training. His golden blond hair featured a subtle fade on the left side, while the longer portion cascaded over his right ear, partially concealing his right eye. The inflection in his speech hinted at a distinct accent, adding to the air of mystery surrounding him.
"Rest assured, our assessments are accurate. There is no need for concern," XVII responded, meeting the stranger's gaze with calm assurance.
"I assure you, they are not," the newcomer retorted, his tone brimming with conviction.
The escalating tension left everyone on edge, uncomfortably aware of the brewing confrontation.
"If you believe that the Gods' rankings are more nonsensical than your personal fantasies, then you are truly beyond delusional," another's biting words sliced through the atmosphere from behind.
A stunned hush fell over the gathering, all eyes turning towards the individual who voiced such a harsh indictment.
And, as anticipated, the speaker of these words was none other than X, seated at a chair near the exit, far from the center of attention.
"What did you say?" the blond teenager challenged X, his voice edged with indignation as he confronted the source of the statement.
"I don't repeat myself, especially to livestock," X replied calmly, his icy gaze meeting the blond's defiant stare.
The retort ignited a spark of fury in the blond, propelling him toward X. Simultaneously, X stood his ground, the tension palpable as the two faced off.
Locked in a confrontation of wills, their intense gazes clashed. Curiously, Klaus noted that the stranger's hand trembled ever so slightly, a minute sign of the emotions bubbling beneath the surface.
However, the same couldn't be said for X. A visible disdain contorted his features, expressing his complete lack of patience for the encounter.
As the standoff persisted, neither side willing to yield, Klaus discerned a silent escalation—the strangers' fists clenched, and X's hand hovered near his waist, resting near the concealed firearm.
Amid this unspoken clash, the room brimmed with tension, awaiting the next move that would determine the outcome of their unanticipated confrontation.
"That's enough, Arthur," a voice cut through the tension, prompting Klaus to turn and see Lance approaching the two fiery demigods.
"Continuing down this path will only result in more embarrassment for you," Lance continued, his tone carrying a firm authority.
"Brother, I'm confident I can handle him," the blond stranger now identified as Arthur responded defiantly.
"If you genuinely believe so, then you clearly do not belong on the ranking list," Lance retorted, his words laden with a hint of disappointment.
A flicker of shame crossed Arthur's face as he lowered his gaze, gradually unclenching his fists.
"Very well, brother," Arthur conceded with a tinge of anger, storming out of the room.
Lance turned his attention to X and approached him, offering a comment on the unfolding situation.
"I apologize for my brother's outburst. I hope you can understand his frustration."
X's reaction was indifference itself; he merely dropped his hand and exited the scene, leaving Lance to his own devices.
The room was left in stunned silence, the realization dawning upon the witnesses that these two, Arthur and X, were true heavyweights among them, a cut above the rest. It was a stark reminder that attempting to interfere would've been futile except it was Lance.
"Talk about a spectator's POV, huh?" Ace's playful whisper reached Klaus's ears, eliciting a wry smile.
XVII intervened, redirecting the attention and quelling the building tension.
"Each of the sixteen demigods will be assigned a personal trainer who will assist in refining your abilities over the next seven days. These trainers are tailored to match your unique powers and will guide you in managing your energy expenditure during training. Trainers from I through XVI are awaiting you at the entrance of the room, and they will inform you of your respective assignments."
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With XVII's announcement, Klaus and the others began to disperse, heading toward the waiting androids who bore a resemblance to XVII in physical nature. Each android sported a roman numeral from 1 to 16 on their foreheads, indicating their assigned roles.
Klaus was beckoned by the android marked with "IV" on its forehead, while the rest of the demigods found themselves aligned with their designated trainers, indicated by various numerals.
In hindsight, Klaus realized that these androids were designed to share similar appearances, body structures, and genders as their respective demigods. This thoughtful design facilitated clear communication and understanding between each individual and their designated android, allowing for more effective explanations and analysis of training scenarios.
"Hello Klaus Walker, I will be your personal trainer for the duration of your training from here onward. If you would like to practice how to harness your power as well as strategic approaches that suit your body type, I will be your go-to individual to assist with them all."
Klaus lingered in silence for a few moments before breaking it with a resigned "Sure."
The prospect of someone else's presence, especially for the purpose of training, didn't sit well with Klaus. He was accustomed to solitude and independence, making the idea of being guided by another person somewhat uncomfortable.
However, beneath his initial resistance, Klaus recognized the greater purpose that had brought him here. He was determined not to let his pride impede his ability to prevent unfavorable outcomes. Reminding himself of this, he resolved to follow the path that the Gods had set out for him, hoping to uncover more about his power to manipulate light.
After a couple of minutes, Klaus and IV arrived at a room located a bit away from the residential area. Stepping inside, Klaus was taken aback by the room's entirely white interior, devoid of visible walls. This design, he guessed, allowed individuals to harness their abilities without endangering others or the surroundings.
IV's voice cut through the quiet. "I've been informed that you have yet to fully manifest your light abilities, is that correct?"
"I guess," Klaus responded, his uncertainty evident.
"That's precisely what I'm here to help you with," IV stated optimistically. "By the end of our training, you should be able to manipulate light at your will, and perhaps even exceed expectations given your unique nature."
"Unique nature?" Klaus inquired. "What do you mean?"
"I'm not at liberty to disclose all the details just yet, but you are indeed distinct in a few ways. This is why you can harness not only raw light but also its various properties."
Klaus felt a wave of unease at the notion of being singled out. Not everyone yearns to be unique among a specially chosen group, and he was no exception. Nonetheless, Klaus realized that his reservations were secondary to the larger goal he had committed to.
"As long as I can make a difference for a few people, the rest doesn't matter," Klaus reassured IV, his genuine concern evident.
IV's smile was both knowing and appreciative. "Exactly," he murmured, recognizing Klaus's inherent altruism despite his outward demeanor.
"Now, let's delve deeper into the mechanics of your ability. You possess control over light, effectively serving as your own light source. This attribute grants you heightened abilities in the absence of light, making you incredibly fast at night. However, with proper training, you can surpass the power of even the sun itself, rendering time of day irrelevant to your potential."
"Surpass the power of the sun," Klaus repeated softly. The statement was awe-inspiring, albeit daunting. It hinted at months, perhaps even years, of rigorous training and refinement. Each revelation from IV seemed to chip away at Klaus's initial enthusiasm, leaving him apprehensive about the magnitude of the task ahead.
Still, he decided to persevere—for now, at least. As long as the training didn't compromise his sense of self or his objectives, Klaus was willing to embrace this new journey, no matter how challenging it might become.
Six days had elapsed since the gathering of the demigods and the commencement of their training. Klaus had thrown himself wholeheartedly into mastering his powers and honing his skills. This unwavering dedication had kept him in solitude, rendering him practically aloof from the other demigods for the entire period.
Both Rose and Shade had become distant figures in his daily routine. Once his training sessions concluded each day, Klaus would either retreat to the cafeteria for sustenance or head straight to his bed for much-needed rest.
Nonetheless, those six days of rigorous training had not been in vain. They had yielded progress that Klaus found gratifying as he reflected on his journey thus far.
Upon concluding his final training session with IV, who had been his dedicated instructor, Klaus decided to make his way to the cafeteria. As he traversed the corridors, he found himself glancing down at his palms, a sense of achievement washing over him. The strides he had taken in understanding and mastering his abilities were discernible, and he carried this realization with pride.
Suddenly, an intense luminosity emanated from all directions, converging upon his arms. The brilliance enveloped his palms, swirling with incredible intensity as it adhered to his limbs. The light obeyed his command, a testament to the progress he had achieved in manipulating it. With a practiced gesture, Klaus guided the luminous cascade, directing it to spiral outward before retracting it. Remarkably, the brilliance neither impaired his vision nor posed any discomfort—an aspect that resonated with his unique connection to light.
Arriving at the cafeteria, Klaus's thoughts were momentarily diverted as he spotted Rose, who had evidently also concluded her training session.
CONVERSATION
Rose: Oh, hey, dream boy.
Klaus: Hey, Rose. Haven't seen you in a while.
Rose: Awwww, you were worried about me.
Klaus: Don't make this weird.
Rose: *giggling* Just messing around. So what's been going on with you? How was training?
Klaus: It was okay, I guess.
Rose: Wouldn't be you if you didn't say that. Well, mine went great. Manage to understand and control my powers now.
Klaus: I thought you already had control over it?
Rose: Yeah, but now I managed to perfect the ability. Instead of just making someone fall in love with me, I'm now able to control the person's entire emotions.
Klaus: So, like, making them hate someone close to them?
Rose: Yup. That, and I can increase the extent of my control, basically compelling the person to fight for me or even sacrifice their life if necessary.
Klaus: Wow.
Rose: Yeah. How about you? Any luck with your light abilities?
Klaus: I guess you can say that. Just managed to learn how to control the light around and manipulate it.
Rose: Oh, cool. Though, I guess light isn't really built for offense, is it?
Klaus: Guess not.
And just as Klaus finished speaking, a set of hands covered his eyes from behind. With a playful giggle, a voice chimed in with a teasing question.
"Guess who, baby."
The voice carried a hint of flirtatiousness and a subtle Latina accent, giving Klaus a clear clue about the person's identity.
"Iris, I presume," Klaus replied knowingly.
The hands retreated from his eyes, instead wrapping around his shoulders from behind. Iris leaned in, her head appearing beside his left shoulder, a mischievous smile on her lips.
"You know me so well," she remarked, her grip tightening as she pressed herself against him.
This display of affection left Rose feeling both angered and annoyed by Iris's audacious behavior.
CONVERSATION
Rose: Can't you see we're in the middle of a conversation?
Iris stared back in annoyance, responding to Rose.
Iris: Oh, beat it, flat chest.
It took a brief moment for Rose to fully absorb the statement, her expression shifting abruptly from distaste to fury.
Rose: *gasps* I'll have you know that I'm a solid C cup and that's the perfect size.
Iris: Sure, surfboard.
This made Rose extremely furious.
Rose: Y'know what, screw you. At least I'm not a flabby whore like you.
Iris: Oh, you wish you had these double D's.
Rose: Dream on, cow.
Iris: Vaca? Oh, I will cut you, puta.
Rose: Bring it on, bitch.
As they exchanged grins, Klaus grew tired of their needless chatter and had already departed before they could even register his absence.
Rose: See, you scared him away.
Iris: Oh, I'm sure you're already used to boys running away from you.
Rose: You wanna go, bitch?
After a few more heated exchanges, they both left. By then, Klaus had already acquired his food and returned to his room.
The next day, Klaus and the others rose early as they were instructed to. They all prepared and headed for the arena location that had been provided to them the previous day by their instructors, immediately after their training.
Upon arrival, Klaus found that most of the other demigods were already seated, awaiting the presence of the Gods to announce how the event would proceed.
After a few minutes, the remaining demigods arrived and joined the others, all sitting and waiting for further instructions.
As XVII approached the front of the arena and declared that the seven days of training had officially concluded, indicating the drop of the golden ball, the unmistakable force compelling everyone to kneel indicated the arrival of a God.
This time, when a beam of light appeared in front of the arena and all the demigods knelt, a swirling motion of the air around them followed. The God descended and landed directly on the main stage.
The intense light emanating from the wings of the God spread throughout the entire field. His bright wings covered his eight-foot-tall body as he landed with one knee on the floor and his palms touching the surface. The brightness was blinding, making it impossible for the demigods to see him clearly.
As he rose from his landing position, his halo, which had been hovering behind him, vanished, and his wings retracted into his back. At this point, the demigods could already discern the identity of the God, especially from Klaus's response.
"Father."