When midnight struck, Typhon’s storm returned. It came just as much with a menacing cold as the first time. Though the clouds were oil black from the night, the clouds that choked out the stars were even darker. Lightning stretching for miles and in spectacular patterns filled the night sky as rain began to pound Medusa’s Island again.

Immediately, the fires that I had created around the ruined temple cinched from the howling rain. They were the only things keeping the Somnia at bay. Now if I remained on the island in the darkness, they would destroy me. Already I could see their obsidian figures approaching me from the shadows.

More would come, and more would resist the light as Caesar’s Orb of Morpheus unleashed greater numbers of them.

Making things worse, the rain was somehow more dense this time. It was more like sheets of rain that made it almost impossible to see several feet ahead. However, it didn’t stop Typhon’s magmic eyes from being observable miles away as he approached.

A wicked smile spread across his bearded face as he thundered closer, sending mini tsunamis across the black sea with each step. Typhon had no doubt that he could destroy me. And in many of the potential futures, it was highly likely I would boil forever in his guts. It was worse than being tortured in a bronze bull, for at least that was temporary. His volcanic intestines would suffocate me with their sulfur and burn my soul alive forever, all to his satisfaction.

Best not to think about it.

As Jupiter’s arch nemesis sloshed through the seas to devour me, the lack of sleep penalty struck me.

* Skill Penalty: Speed reduced by 30%, making movement and reaction times sluggish and prone to error.

* Physical Penalty: More memory blackouts and trouble recognizing familiar faces.

It was an immediate hit. My limbs felt slower as I paced on the small island mountain. This would make fighting tremendously more difficult, especially the blackout.

It would be even worse for Umbra, now in day eight with no sleep, whom I had yet to recall with my golden Friendship Key.

* Skill Penalty: All weapon damage output reduced by 30% due to weakening grip and impaired strength coordination.

* Physical Penalty: Heightened paranoia, believing even allies are conspiring against user.

Fortunately, I had been very busy in preparation. I had nothing to do after all, and needed to stay awake. Not a single moment was wasted after I lay Sporus down to rest. Much of it was spent reading to increase my Historical Insight.

Historical Insight (+lvl 641,825): 7 days, 10 hours, 17 minutes, and 5 seconds into the future of any decision.

With nine skill points, I immediately purchased more wisdom skills to increase the glory gained and my stamina and health regeneration now that I was slower and way more tired than ever before. This was especially important to ward off the lack of sleep debuffs that were impacting my regeneration abilities.

Philosopher’s Gain (+1): lvl 4.

* Boosts glory gained from experiences by 4x.

Aurelian Discipline (+1): lvl 4.

* Increases your stamina and health regeneration by 4x. (Every 2.5 seconds, regain 4 points for each).

* 300% Jupiter enhancement: Every 2.5 seconds, regain 16 points for each

* Lack of Sleep Penalty: Stamina and health regeneration is slowed by 30%. New calculation: Every 3.25 seconds, regain 16 points for each.

Now, receiving damage and fighting would be way less taxing. This was even more true with how powerful my reduction in damage had become with Jupiter’s latest blessing. It would take hundreds of damage points for me to even feel a tickle of pain.

Knowing I was going to face a god, I maxed out my shield skill to make sure I wouldn’t die in one hit.

Shield (+2): lvl 10.

* Protection: Reduces incoming damage by 50%

* Block Chance: 100%

* Stamina Cost: 10 per block

* Additional Effect:

* Further reduces knockback from blocked attacks and increases stagger chance to 15%

* Grants a temporary increase in defense (5%) for 5 seconds after a successful block

* Increases resistance to status effects while blocking (e.g., poison, burn) by 20%

* Reflects 10% of blocked damage back at attacker

* 10% chance to stagger enemies on successful block

* 25% chance to deflect projectiles.

* When blocking, become immune to all damage for 5 seconds. After this effect ends, enemies within a 10-meter radius are blinded and staggered for five seconds. Cooldown: 60 seconds

Now, with being a master in shield blocking, I wouldn’t even flinch at five hundred damage taken. Instead, my enemies would receive half of that in reflected damage. It would be just enough to face a god, whose each blow was at a minimum in the hundreds to a thousand in damage.

To finally boost my health, I lightning teleported to Rome and spent seven hours, all time trapped in my Saturn’s Hourglass Ring, hammering out random items to increase my blacksmithing skill. I didn’t have to worry about much opposition yet, as Caesar had drained most of the asleep Romans to march to Mount Vesuvius where he awaited my coming. Though, he did have his sleeper agents stationed throughout the city, who immediately came after me once I came flying in. Too bad they were infinitesimally slow compared to me.

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Once I had spent five points on it, I repaired the durability of all my gear and weapons. I was only able to do this because I had read enough books on blacksmithing to fill an entire library, and thanks to previous tips from Titus and Decimus. Luckily, the forge I found in the heart of Rome had everything I needed in one place.

Once I was finished, because my glory multiplied by four now, I was able to purchase another point in blacksmithing, allowing me to also repair my legendary gear which had worn down some over the last seven days.

Blacksmithing (+6): lvl 7.

* Can create/repair common weapons and armor

* Weapons and armor gain improved handling and weight distribution, reducing stamina cost by 15% when wielding or wearing them and increasing durability by 20%.

* Can create/repair rare weapons and armor

* Reduces crafting time by 30% and improves the consistency of critical components, boosting weapon damage and armor defense by 10%.

* Can create/repair epic weapons and armor

* Weapons crafted deal 25% more base damage, and armor provides 25% increased defense by adding high-quality reinforcements.

* Can create/repair legendary weapons and armor

With all of my gear and armor being fully repaired and enhanced with extra damage and durability, I would be unstoppable.

Health (+180): lvl 11 (0/120)

* Health now 150/150

Glory (+800): 5,830

Level (+1): 70 (140/720)

But I knew the challenge in fighting Typhon would be nearly impossible if we did not create an opening to strike him. In every single future where we came in as we were, Umbra would be killed in seconds and I would be snatched from the air after being stunned by lightning. In those grim futures, I boiled alive, forever in the dark abyss of his stomach as he bellowed in malicious laughter.

The thought of that future made me want to puke.

Like with my previous dual with the giants Cacus and Caca, we were going to need some hooks. Luckily, my blacksmithing skill and ability to read every book imaginable through my Tome of Infinite Tomes, including crafting books, allowed me to forge what was necessary in my time bubble.

As for the special enchantment, I rushed into Magnus the Enchanter’s emporium to steal an enchantment scroll I needed. He, like so many other Romans, was gone.

However, I still lost some honor in stealing.

Honor (-50): 10

I rolled my eyes as I stuffed the scroll into my bag and escaped before Caesar’s Mercury-blessed could get me.

“There,” I said, wiping the dripping sweat from my brow as I finished the hooks an unfathomable amount of time later after many time bubbles. Everything in me wanted to collapse. The physical and mental exertion forging for endless hours was too much, even on a full night’s rest. It felt like I had been stuck in a washing machine with how dizzy I was, the increasing number of blackouts, and how utterly drained I had become.

I wouldn’t have been able to make it if not for my stamina boosts.

Taking a deep breath, I stood up straight from the crafting table, stretching my back before grabbing the monstrosity I had built.

Item: Titan Hooks (Legendary)

* Description: These two imposing, oversized iron hooks are designed for large-scale combat, specifically crafted to grapple with colossal foes like Typhon. Each hook is attached to a magically reinforced chain, capable of piercing even the toughest scales. Once embedded, they release a powerful electric surge that weakens the target and makes them more vulnerable to subsequent attacks. Ideal for immobilizing limbs or scaling massive enemies, the Titan Hooks serve as both a weapon and a tactical tool in battle.

* Damage: 75 (per hook)

* Durability: 900

* Weight: 8 kg

* Special Effects: Each time the hooks strike, they emit a powerful burst of lightning, dealing 30% additional electrical damage and stunning the opponent for 1 second.

* Worth: 80,000 Denarii

Hoisting the Titan Hooks on my back, I lightning teleported back to Medusa’s Island.

Glory (+40, -5,000): 870

Level: 70 (180/720)

Now, as I watched Typhon approach and summoned Umbra with my Friendship Key, there was a part of me that wanted to go back and make something for the Somnia who would horde us during the battle. They would arise out of the dark clouds and overwhelm Umbra and me, seemingly in endless supply. There was no way to stop them.

The only way to win was to defeat Typhon fast.

Umbra appeared out of thin air, thrashing around in surprise and roaring with fire.

You have no idea how long I had spent looking for her, he screamed, his red scaled face somehow a deeper shade of red as he blushed.

“You can hang out with her after,” I said, pointing to the glowing volcanic eyes of Typhon who shook the sea with every step. “We’ve got a god to kill.”

Technically, he’s just a monster, but who cares, Umbra said, frowning at the Titan Hooks. I’m assuming those are for him?

I nodded, explaining to him the Somnia problem and the need for speed. As I talked, the shadows around us began pushing past the fire, though it wounded them. The Somnia were desperate to kill us, and they were getting bolder.

“Let’s go,” I said, heaving the Titan Hooks onto his back after looping the long chain around his spiked neck. Umbra took off instantly, afraid to be so close to the silent, obsidian shadowmen.

Typhon roared in excitement as Umbra took to the skies. He chucked several balls of fire at us and lightning bolts, which we were able to dodge thanks to my insight. Once we were in the clouds, Typhon leaped from the sea, using his terrible wings to lift him up with us. Right off the bat, his two snake feet lunged at us from below, almost knocking out Umbra had it not been for my last minute guidance.

“Bank left!” I screamed, being mindful of the Somnia who were emerging from the clouds to chase us with impossible strength and agility, somehow weightless though they looked like black marble. “If twenty get onto us, we will fall asleep in fifteen seconds. Stay away from them!”

I gripped the Titan Hooks as Umbra weaved precariously in and out of jumping Somnia, whom I was only able to dodge with my Shadowmail armor, becoming one with the shadow myself. Umbra had to spew fire to torch those who got too close. But the longer we encircled Typhon, trying to get closer to hook him, the more the Somnia grew. By the time we got even within a decent range, there must have been at least a thousand chasing us in the dark clouds, with Typhon hurling lightning bolts and his snake feet at us simultaneously.

Where are they all coming from? I thought with disbelief. I could see in the futures that their numbers would grow to tens of thousands if we didn’t do something soon to stop their entrance or kill Typhon. We would stand no chance then.

It was a miracle we weren’t killed or seized upon. Without my Historical Insight, we would have died. Still, I could hardly focus on the ever changing futures and the painful present with my mind so tired and numb and with thousands of fatal distractions.

I can’t concentrate, Umbra shouted, his voice straining with fatigue, we need to—

Umbra must have blacked out, for his body went limp for a moment. It was enough to give the Somnia a chance to swarm us. All at once, a hundred Somnia leaped onto him and surrounded me, raising their fists to crush me while the god Typhon raised his snake hands to do the same.