CHAPTER 53: UNLIKELY ALLIES

Sunlight filtered lazily through the glass walls of the RAM testing center as Hermes stepped out into the open air. The cheers, the rankings, the claps on the back... all of it felt like white noise now. His mind was too full.

Too aware.

Somner followed close behind, carrying a water bottle and looking mildly concerned about Hermes’ expression.

Aphrodite trailed after them, a rolled sheet of paper clutched delicately in his hand like it was a relic.

"You can breathe now, Master." Somner said, nudging Hermes with a soft smile. "You passed. You got your shiny A-rank badge and everything."

Hermes barely registered the words. "Aphrodite, the paper?"

The pink-haired boy blinked, then handed the scroll to Hermes with both hands like he was presenting a sacred scroll.

"Here. I wrote down everything I heard."

Hermes unrolled it immediately. His eyes scanned the neat, slanted script. Every line was written in Aphrodite’s elegant cursive, with little hearts and punctuation so precise it could have been printed.

"Pretty handwriting" Somner murmured with a smirk, peeking over Hermes’ shoulder. "It’s like reading a love letter. A really messed up one."

At first, the thoughts were benign. Casual.

[He’s doing well today. Seems more focused. A-class, maybe. I should congratulate him personally later.]

But as Hermes kept reading, the thoughts turned darker.

[Good thing he doesn’t remember. Would’ve been a problem if he tried freeing that voidspawn again.]

Hermes froze. The words pierced straight through the ice wall in his chest.

[Friday’s concussion worked in my favor. That ice cold Ymir really does hit too hard sometimes. A minor fracture was a small price to pay for a clean excuse.]

[Rewind applied successfully. Rolled back to Monday. Easy. Then Cryoshift to immobilize consciousness. Like putting a lid on a boiling pot.]

[He looked so peaceful. Just breathing. Blinking. No thoughts, no protests. Just mine.]

Hermes’ hands shook. He forced himself to keep reading.

[Hypnosis commands worked well too. Good thing I took those classes in the force. Told him to fight with Somner, withdraw from Cloud Nine, isolate himself. No suspicion. Just like that.]

[He trusts too easily. That’s what makes him dangerous. Not his power. His faith in people. And he can use those allies against our divine plan.]

Somner’s expression darkened as he read beside him. His jaw tightened.

"Son of a bitch," he muttered. "He used Rewind to reset your mind like a broken console."

Hermes said nothing, eyes locked to the page.

Then, it got worse.

[Hmm he’s getting clearer now. A few cracks in the ice. Should I rewind his memories again? Or maybe... something more permanent. Like reverting his mind all the way back to that of a newborn.]

[No need for violence. That’s too crude. Better to get him labeled a Threat. Let the system take care of him. I’ll volunteer to oversee his ’rehabilitation’.]

Hermes’ stomach churned.

But Aphrodite hadn’t stopped writing there. His pen caught everything.

[He’s like a Power Bank. That’s what he is. A living chalice. Drink his fluids, take the powers. No different than a serum. A little disgusting, but efficient. Elixir of the gods, I’d say.]

[With enough samples, I could start transferring powers wholesale. Remove Threats. Give gifts to the worthy. A new world.]

[No more villains. No more danger. Only those who deserve to wield strength.]

[And I will be the harbinger of salvation.]

The words bled off the page like poison.Hermes lowered the scroll, jaw clenched. He couldn’t speak. Could barely breathe.

Somner, beside him, looked murderous. "He sees himself as some kind of goddamn savior."

"He’s not a savior." Hermes said, voice hoarse. "A butcher. He just hides it behind gold trim and pretty words."

Before Somner could reply, a voice spoke up.

"Quite the Messiah complex he has there."

Hermes turned with a jolt.

Ymir and Magni stood a few feet away, having apparently read over his shoulder in silence. Ymir’s arms were crossed, his face unreadable. Magni gave a single solemn nod.

"You two were here this whole time?" Hermes asked, half in disbelief.

"We waited outside!" Magni said. "Didn’t want to interrupt. But that paper practically screamed ’danger’ from across the plaza."

Ymir snorted. "Told you the moment I saw his weird glowing clock and his ’please don’t kill villains’ attitude, there was something off. Nobody’s that perfect unless they’re hiding a pile of corpses."

Hermes let out a bitter laugh, low and humorless. "You weren’t wrong."

Magni folded his arms. "So. What now, Brother Modi?"

Somner stepped forward. "We expose him. Carefully. Hermes can’t take him down alone. Not with Eirwyn’s influence."

"He already has a plan." Aphrodite added softly. "We talked about it. The RAM test was just to get me here. I’m the excuse. The real goal is evidence."

Hermes nodded. "We can’t just throw this paper to the press and expect results. People will say it’s forged. I need to catch him in the act. Again."

"We?" Ymir raised a brow. "And why would I ever team up with you, Potentia?"

"Since I realized he erased my memories to isolate me... He could easily do that with anyone too. " Hermes snapped. "I can’t let that happen again. I need you all. You’re the only ones I trust."

Magni grinned. "Aww. Look who’s getting sentimental."

Aphrodite clutched his book to his chest. "I’ll do whatever you need. Even if I had to mind-read that psychopath again.... Though it honestly made me nauseous."

Somner clapped his shoulder. "You did amazing, Ditee~ You got us the intel we needed."

"Seriously." Hermes looked around the group. "I don’t deserve any of you."

"Damn right you don’t." Ymir muttered, then added, "But that’s not the point. While I’d rather not get involved with this... You are my employee. I’m not going to let some power-hungry delusional fool use you for his world-changing schemes."

They stood there for a moment. Five unlikely allies—a power thief, a narcissistic hypnotist, a socially-awkward psychic, a fire-hearted guardian, and a walking freezer. Together, against a hero everyone else believed to be a savior.

"He wants to use me like a battery." Hermes said. "Use my body like I’m just a—"

"Don’t." Somner said sharply. "You’re not. You’re not just some Power Bank. You’re a person. MY person."

Hermes blinked.

Somner turned away quickly, ears red. "I just meant—um. You matter. Okay?"

Ymir groaned. "Let’s move this pity party somewhere with chairs. I’m not standing around getting sunburned over your trauma."

Hermes chuckled despite everything. "Fine. We plan. We gather more evidence. We stay close. And we don’t let him know we’re on to him."

Magni put a hand on Hermes’ shoulder. "You’re not alone, Brother. Let’s bring the bastard down."

Hermes held the scroll one last time, then rolled it up tight and tucked it into his coat. His heartbeat steadied.

This wasn’t just about revenge anymore.

It was justice.

And this time, he would make sure the wolf in sheep’s clothing had nowhere left to hide.