Long plan made simple: get the backing of the High Council then take back the Underworld. Pre-step one is that I have to get back into full shape. My nanobots need an upgrade. That means surgery, a surgery that will take about 16 hours. A surgery that I will be fully conscious and will be feeling every single fucking probe, cut and adjustment.

Groaning, I make my way to the shower room after the surgery. Got to wash off the blood, now. When I enter the shower room, it’s full of people. Think of a gym washroom, that’s how the shower room is. No privacy, fights breaking out regularly; only there’s no guards. If you start the fight you had better be able to finish it or take the beating. I make my way over to an empty shower stall, but the biggest guy in the room blocks my path. “So you’re Marethyu,” the big guy says, he spits when he says my name. Sighing, “Aye, I am. Who are you?” Laughing, he replies, “The guy who’s gonna cream you. That’s all you needa know.”

Sighing again, “Can I wash off the blood first? I’d just slip out of your hands.” In response, Muscle Head tries to grab me. I easily side step and do a quick jab to his solarplexius, winding him. “Rule one of the shower room, make sure you can either finish the fight or take the beating like a champ,” I say. “Now that's a punch. I’m Xena and I’m gonna kill you for touching me.” Shrugging, I backed under a running shower quick enough to rinse off some of my blood. Stepping out, I dodge under his grab and immediately counter with a kick to his knee. Now in Xena’s guard and with him off balanced, I pepper him with light strikes to his torso; making him back off.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

At this point, I notice that everyone in the room is watching us fight. A couple of people are watching with smirks, others are smiling, all are taking bets. “I call five percent of the winnings when I win!” I called out. Xena only took notice of the crowd after I called that out. Laughing, he says,”You won’t be getting a drachma. You’ll be dead.” Assuming a fighting stance I brace myself for the fight to prove that I still have the skills. A punch comes hurtling towards me after a single step from the man, I take it straight to the chest. Surprise crosses Xena’s face when he feels his hand break on impact. Smiling like the mad man that I am, I break his other arm with four attacks, each attack breaking bone on impact. Dropping low to the ground, a kick to his left shin splinters the fibula and tibula. “Are you done yet, Xena?” He looks up at me with fear in his eyes, unable to talk. I grab his jaw and bring his face right to mine. “Tell Seraph I am coming to take back what is rightfully mine.” I throw the giant man to the door, I am built like a tall lanky twig. He was a mountain of a man. That is how much the nanobots boost my strength too.

Everyone is silent after watching what I did. Looking around, “Where’s my five percent? I want it when I leave.” I finish rinsing off the blood from the surgery. The money is given to me right as I am leaving. Outside, Scatty hands me my robe. “Did you have to do that kind of show of strength there? You could have done that in one of the sparring rooms.” Holding up the small bag of gold, “I would not have gotten this in a sparring room though.” Scatty just nods in agreement, and we walk on in silence back to Nyx and Lilith.