CHAPTER 83: THE MOST WANTED GOD

"Zero"

He snapped his eyes open, then slammed his foot into the ground.

The water tore itself apart with a low, rumbling groan and spiraled around him like it recognized him.

Kael stood in the center. Tall. Still. With a crooked grin pulling at his lips.

The shadows curled at his heels. His shoulders didn’t tense.

The water didn’t fall. It spun. Fast and furious.

Circling around him like a living beast obeying its master.

The force of it carved a crater beneath his feet, but the ground remained dry. The place he stood on was untouched by even a single drop of water.

He stood there, firm. Then he slowly lifted his head, slow and steady, and his gaze met Liz.

Liz stood on top of Cyrus. The wind swept through her hair, brushing it across her face. She stood still. He couldn’t read her expressions at first, but when her eyes met his. Something softened in her gaze, and then, slowly, a smile began to form. It was quiet. The kind that didn’t need words to express.

Then she moved.

Without a word, she leapt from Cyrus’s back. Her arms spread wide. Her body twisted as she dove toward him like a falling star.

Kael’s grin widened.

He dropped low. His knees bent just enough to build force. Then he launched upward. Shadows trailed behind him like a cloak. His body cut through the rising mist in a clean arc. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t blink. His body moved before his mind could react, drawn to her like nothing else existed.

They met in the air.

"You left me in bed alone," she muttered, then swung her fist and struck him on the face.

Kael pushed himself up, one hand on his jaw. The spot she struck him—

"Damn. You hit hard," he muttered, flexing it once. "Pretty sure something cracked."

He brushed the dust off his shoulder and smeared his face with the back of his hand before flashing her a crooked grin.

He stared up at her from below. She was back on top of Cyrus.

"I didn’t mean to," he said, taking a breath of air. "I was doing important god stuff."

Liz hovered above him, arms crossed. The River Styx began to part around her, like even the water was afraid.

"Oh, important god stuff?" she echoed, tilting her head. "Was it so important that you left me alone?"

"Well, kinda. But you looked peaceful."

"I looked peaceful?" Her voice cracked just enough to sting.

She lifted her hand, and fire began to form. It looked dense—hot, concentrated—like a miniature sun burning in her palm.

"Do I look peaceful now?"

He opened his mouth to say, Well, you look crazy now.

But he closed it instead.

Then she dropped it.

Instantly, Kael parted the water. His shadow rose, coating the fireball, but it kept dissolving the shadow. That’s when he realized she was regaining her old strength. And soon, she would remember her past life.

His shadow lunged upward, now layering over the fireball again and again, until it could hold. The darkness consumed the light and pressed it, devouring it completely.

He let out a breath of relief, then shot toward her, and she leapt off Cyrus again. He caught her mid-flight. His arms wrapped tight around her waist. Her hands gripped his shoulders without a second thought. She stared into his eyes, and he could tell—she hadn’t decided yet if she wanted to fully hug him or hit him again.

"I’m sorry," he muttered, his voice low.

She yanked him close and kissed him—but still somewhat angry.

"You better be," she added. "What were you doing? What was all the noise?"

He nodded, then gave her a half-grin.

"Oh, you heard that? Yeah, okay, look," he said, letting out a nervous little laugh.

"I was doing Hades stuff, alright? Like, real god stuff. Then I don’t know, I kinda fell asleep here, and next thing I know, I wake up in a dream. Orion and Selene were there, they were getting attacked, so I gave them the weapon I made, you know, to keep them safe."

He paused, eyes wide.

"And now I’m here."

He blinked.

"So... we good now?"

Liz didn’t answer. Instead, she smacked him on the head.

"Slow down."

They hopped on Cyrus and headed back to the castle, where he explained everything to her again—but this time slower, and with more detail.

After hearing that both Selene and Orion were okay, Liz crossed her arms and looked at him.

"So when are you going to rescue them?"

Kael shook his head.

"They’ll be fine for a while. But I need to find some Cyclopes first."

She narrowed her eyes. "Cyclopes?"

He nodded. "But I don’t know where to find them."

"I need weapons. Real ones. The Underworld is defenseless right now. Some of my army has godly blood, but most of them are still human. If we’re going to fight off divine soldiers and beasts, I need weapons that can help them hold the line."

Liz stared at him for a second, then gave him a look like he was the dumbest man alive.

"They’re working inside the volcano," she said. "On the highest peak—well, the second highest. After Mount Olympus."

Kael blinked. "How do you know?" He blinked again. "And wait... what volcano?"

She stared harder. "Seriously? The one near Hephtharion. Weren’t you paying attention in class?"

"What were you doing in class?" she added, raising an eyebrow.

Kael shrugged, completely casual. "God stuff."

She sighed.

"So we can leave today?" he asked. "I need to recruit them."

Liz gave him a long, exhausted look.

"You do realize you’re the most wanted guy in the world right now, right? After what you pulled?"

Kael frowned. "I thought it was just in the academy?"

She smacked him on the head again.

"No. It’s the whole world. They all want the blessing. You are the most wanted man alive."

A smile slowly crept onto his face.

"I feel so special."

As he approached the castle, his mother stood waiting at the top of the steps.

Her arms were folded, her posture composed like a queen, but her eyes said more than words ever could. Quiet pride shimmered in her gaze, steady and unmistakable.

Next to her stood the Sins and the Desires.

They didn’t move. Just watched him, each of them still, shadows draped across their bodies like armor.

And off to the side, the soldiers were already on one knee.

The entire courtyard was still. Nothing moved.

He walked forward, slow, with his head held high, holding Liz’s hand, and Cyrus followed behind them.