Leon POV
I think I just fleeced the guy, I got 10,000 for free. John said that I didn't even have to fight him if I didn't want to since he just gave me the money and didn't make me sign a contract, in the underworld and every other realm or whatever, a contract is taken very seriously, but if you don't sign one, you can basically say anything and not do it, he just gave me the money and...well, he didn't make me sign one. But I might as well humor the guy. Besides, he seems to be a decently respected figure around here, i want to test my strength, just to see how I'd fare against most people.
You can pay a coin for his fight history, and he took much more effort just to take down 3 guards at once, he also fights with no weapons, so that's an advantage, but he does wear armor, so...that could change things a bit. Unlike before though, a regular fight will require you to bring your own equipment. So I just bought a vest, arm guards, shin guards, and other light protective gear. I then asked for a cloth mask that is magically enchanted to filter all sorts of air, that alone cost 5000, but it seems useful as my opponent does have a record of using sleeping gas.
It would be cheaper just to buy a full gas mask, but I need my glasses and I didn't like how stuffy it felt.
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Lux POV
I stared at the email, my mind still reeling from the revelation. Leon is my brother. The words echoed in my head, over and over, refusing to sink in completely. I forced myself to focus, to think about the implications. My gaze drifted to the monitor where a live feed from the arena was displayed, showing Leon facing off against a hippo man who had challenged him.
I've been keeping tabs on him, trying to study what powers or abilities we share similarities with that can help narrow down who our parents are, but nothing. Gods' children can have different powers or attributes from their parents, so it shouldn't help much, but I currently do not have any lead.
The hippo man was a tower compared to Leon, he is a demigod, son of Ares, with a build of raw brute strength. But as I watched, it became clear that none of that mattered. Leon barely flinched as the hulking figure charged at him, roaring with rage. With a swift, almost lazy movement, Leon sidestepped the charge and delivered a devastating blow to the hippo man's side, sending him staggering back.
The hippo man tried to retaliate, swinging his massive arms, but Leon was faster. Every attempt to land a hit was met with a counterstrike that seemed effortless. Leon's movements were precise, almost surgical. He didn't just overpower his opponent. he outclassed him entirely. The fight was over before it even really began. In a final, brutal sequence, Leon used his legs to sweep the hippo man and delivered a crushing blow to the head.
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Leon hadn't given his opponent a chance, he had systematically taken him apart with a level of skill that was terrifying. And yet, there was something almost casual about the way he fought, as if this was just another task to be completed, nothing more. I checked his record and saw that he had proper training in self-defense to protect himself, but still...his strength...just how could a demigod be so strong? Demigods are strong physically, especially the son of Ares, but Leon overwhelmed him completely.
This is my brother. The thought settled in my mind, bringing with it a thousand questions. How could this be? I didn't know who my parents were...I had never known. That part of my past was a mystery...but now there was Leon. He was the only clue, the only connection I had to the truth. My parents are someone of high status...but this just confused me even more. But as I thought about it more, I couldn't ignore the fact that I didn't like Leon, not really. And I doubted he liked me either. We were practically strangers, connected only by some vague, shared lineage that neither of us had asked for.
"Shit...the redemption arc started and it's already so bad..."
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Leon POV
Seriously? That's it?
I was being so cautious and everything. I guess those protestors sending assassins after me was the right move after all, having this kind of strength would scare the living heck out of anyone. I then bought a couple more books to learn about the underworld itself, one book was forbidden though, it was on how to kill or god, which was considered forbidden knowledge.
So I'm now just chilling in my cell, reading the books I got. Mike got some as well, and he plans to read them to help out too after promising to join me. But once again, the peace was rudely interrupted by a guard.
"You have a visitor." the guard said as he opened my cell.
"Damn, I'm popular now...if it's the lightbulb, tell her that I'm not interested."
"You can't refuse a summon."
"I see...might as well then."
With a shrug, I got up and followed him, wondering who could possibly want to see me in this place.
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"Ah, Lux," I said the moment my eyes landed on Lux as I took a seat across from her, "Starting your redemption arc already? I've gotta say, I'm impressed. It's early, but you might actually have a chance at being liked by the readers."
She didn't respond to my jab, but instead, her gaze remained cool, steady. Then, without a word, she handed me a printed document. I read it, and I didn't see anything useful, it's just like an ordinary medical report of sorts, but closer to the bottom...
"Huh...You're my sister...that can't be...I'm nowhere near as bitchy."
"Tch...I can't believe that we're related." Lux clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"So...why are you showing me this? If you think I want to see or know who my birth parents are, then no thank you. I have a good family already, and I rather not get involved in this mess...since you're my sister, you can just set me free, right? So when do we start?"
"I can't set you free once I have sentenced you and even if I could, I wouldn't."
"Wow, thanks, lightbulb, if we're done here, I got some books to catch up on."
"Do you remember anything about our parents? Anything at all?"
"Nope, and I do not care to find out. Thanks for telling me that we're related, but my judgment of you still doesn't change, you forced me down here, and you took me away from my family...I'll get back to them, and there's nothing you can do about it. Remember that."