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Hades stepped forward, his towering shadow blanketing Jace’s collapsed form. The god’s voice was a steady rumble, heavier now, more tangible. “As my followers grow, so too will your power. A fragment of what they give will feed your abilities. And as your own capabilities expand—your capacity to wield this energy—I will grant you more. But make no mistake, Jace. It must be earned. Prove yourself worthy of it.”

Jace blinked, his vision swimming, just as the interface flared in his mind, its cold, sterile pings cutting through the haze like distant bells.

Jace felt the changes surging through him, raw and unrelenting. The power coursed through his veins, igniting every nerve, every cell, until it felt like his very essence was being rewritten. The shift was undeniable, a fundamental reordering of what he was and what he could be.

His senses sharpened, the world around him snapping into vivid, almost overwhelming clarity. He could hear the faint hum of energy in the air, feel the subtle vibrations in the ground beneath him, as if the earth itself was alive and speaking. His muscles coiled with newfound strength, power humming beneath his skin, ready to explode at a thought.

His mind was faster, sharper, as if a veil had been lifted. Ideas, connections, realizations—they all came in a rush, like floodgates thrown wide open. He wasn’t just stronger—he was more.

System Update

Title Unlocked: Avatar of Hades

Boon—Blessing of the Fallen: +50% to all stats.

New Abilities Unlocked:

* Rebirth Anchor: Establish a respawn point, capable of evolving to absorb nearby magic. The anchor serves as both a sanctuary for recovery and a trap for enemies. Its power grows with each successful use, enhancing its protective properties.

* Chains of Oblivion: Summon dark chains forged in the depths of the underworld. The chains bind enemies and siphon their strength into you, healing you or enhancing your abilities. Potency and duration increase with experience.

* Shadespeak: Commune with the dead, gaining their insights, memories, or even their aid.

Status: All enhancements successfully integrated.

Looks like you just got an upgrade, amigo. Someone’s popular.

The words on the interface blurred, dissolving into insignificance against the raw energy coursing beneath Jace’s skin.

Jace reread Jack’s little note for him. It had been a while since the System had spoken directly to him like that, and if Jace was being honest, he was starting to miss it. There was something oddly comforting about its detached, omniscient presence—and that, for all its cryptic nature, never lied.

Hades regarded him for a long moment, his gaze laced with an emotion that hovered just shy of kindness yet couldn’t be called unkind.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, you’ve got new powers to master, and I have matters that require my attention.” With a deliberate sweep of his cloak, he turned, his shadow curling behind him like a living entity slipping back into the dark.

Persephone watched in silence, her expression unreadable, a statue carved from something more timeless than stone.

Just before disappearing from sight, Hades called back over his shoulder. “Oh, and don’t muff it up, kid. All eyes are on you.”

And then he was gone.

Jace pushed himself to his feet, legs trembling under the burden of divinity, his breath still coming in ragged gasps. The ache in his muscles wasn’t just exhaustion—it was the strain of holding something far greater than he was meant to.

The journey back to the dock felt longer and when he arrived, the dock was empty—no boat in sight.

“Figures,” Jace muttered under his breath. He looked out over the still, black water stretching infinitely into the unknown.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

A sudden glow lit the corner of his vision. A small, vibrant green ball of light darted toward him, zipping in erratic circles before hovering a few feet away.

“Pik,” Jace said softly, feeling a surge of unexpected joy. “Been a while. How in Terra Mythica are you?”

Pik buzzed, the sound somewhere between an over-wound violin string and a laugh too eager to hold back. It bobbed up and down, radiating energy that practically screamed hello.

Jace tilted his head, studying the little creature. “You know what’s odd… I think I knew you,” he said, his voice quieter now, tinged with something close to awe. “Back when I was a baby, right?”

The light flared briefly, bouncing in a way that felt suspiciously like a nod.

Jace exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair. “How do I know? No, no one told me. It’s just—my Truth Affinity—it’s like I get flashes, pieces of stuff I shouldn’t know. Memories I shouldn’t have. It’s like trying to watch a puzzle assemble itself while someone keeps flipping the pieces upside down.”

Pik buzzed again, this time with a deeper vibration, and for a moment, Jace felt it—a rush of images, sensations, and emotions flooding his mind, like someone whispering a story directly into his thoughts. It wasn’t words, exactly, but it was clear. The concept that came back was friend and something about an offer to help.

His brow furrowed, and he leaned closer. “Hold on… Did I just understand you?”

The buzzing shifted, sharper now, almost like laughter. Jace’s lips twitched into a half-smile, a mix of disbelief and amusement.

“Well, that’s new. You’ve been holding out on me, haven’t you, Pik? Or is it my new abilities?”

Pik’s glow pulsed in a way that was undeniably cheeky. Jace chuckled, shaking his head, the warmth of ease settling over him.

But, the moment didn’t last.

A subtle movement tugged at the corner of his vision, a shadow stirring where no shadow should be. His amusement drained away, replaced by instinct as his hand snapped to his sword. The blade whispered free, its edge gleaming in the faint light.

For a heartbeat, it felt like control. A burst of light spread through the hilt, and then—just like that—control was gone. Flowers sprouted along the blade’s edge, delicate blossoms of pink and white climbing the steel like ivy, soft and completely useless.

Jace blinked at the floral betrayal, then at Pik, whose glow had dimmed to something suspiciously akin to embarrassment. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered, the shadow creeping closer.

Laughter rang out, soft and musical. “Grayson,” Persephone said, stepping from the shadows, her golden hair catching the faint light like a halo.

Jace sighed, lowering the flower-covered sword. “Perseph,” he replied with a tilt of his head, his voice dry. “Nice trick.”

Her lips quirked in amusement. “Perseph?” she repeated, her tone curious.

“What?” Jace shrugged, the picture of nonchalance. “You gods get to call me whatever you want—Jason, Grayson, yadda yadda. So, fair’s fair. I get to hand out nicknames too. Now, what’s the deal? Here to try and sucker me into another quest? Because spoiler alert—I’m not so easy to manipulate these days.”

She arched a brow, her expression teetering between amusement and mild annoyance, but ultimately let it slide. “No tricks, no manipulation,” she replied, her voice smooth and lilting, but with an edge sharp enough to draw blood. “I came to offer advice. Take it or don’t—that part is up to you.”

“Oh?” Jace crossed his arms, his wariness plain. “And what’s the catch?”

“No catch.” Her gaze softened, though it still held its unyielding edge. “In what’s to come, remember your friends. They will be your greatest strength.”

Her voice dropped, quieter now, but carrying a gravity that seemed to settle into the marrow of his bones. “Sometimes, the darkness is not your enemy but your ally. And remember, Grayson, that the largest tree grows from the smallest seed.”

She raised her hand, and a small pinprick of light appeared between her fingers. It hovered there, glowing faintly, before she released it. The light drifted downward, touching the ground and sprouting into a tiny tree, its branches glowing with a radiant warmth that filled the space for a fleeting moment. Then it vanished, the light fading into nothingness.

As did Persephone.

“Great,” Jace muttered, throwing his hands in the air. “Just once—once—I’d like to have a chat with a god and skip the whole riddle routine. Is that too much to ask?“ He shook his head, frustration simmering beneath his breath.

He stared at the spot where Persephone had stood moments ago, now empty as if she’d never been there.

From the shadows at the water’s edge, Bob emerged with his rickety old boat, the skeletal ferryman framed against the dim, eerie glow of the underworld.

Of course.

Jace let out a long sigh and climbed into the boat, casting a side-eye at Bob. “Oh, don’t even start, Bob. I know you were out there in the dark, biding your time, stalling me for Persephone.”

Bob didn’t speak.

Jace groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Yeah, thought so. And here I was, thinking we were bros, Bob. Bros don’t leave bros hanging like that.”

Bob’s shoulders twitched, a motion so slight it could almost be mistaken for a shrug.

By the time Jace reached his quarters in the Fields Below, the faint pink dust from the flowers had disappeared, leaving no trace.

Jace could still feel it, lingering beneath his skin—the power, the gift—a reminder of what had changed and the brittle humanity he fought to hold onto. A gift in preparation for whatever was coming tomorrow.

Tomorrow. The word hung in the air, neither promise nor threat, just a certainty.

Tomorrow, everything would change.