( Meanwhile. )
[ Atlantis Region ]
[ Atlantis Private Medic Centre. ]
The S-Rank Hunter Tristan Torrent, son of Theseus, son of Poseidon.
Currently, still guarding his female partner, a fellow S-Rank Victoria Volta.
Or, perhaps...
What she should've been.
" Victoria... " Tristan says to Victoria, covered in a white blanket, holding her cold hands while remembering what his father and grandfather said to him.
( Hours ago. )
* The Heart Detector beeps, it beeps slower and slower each passing. *
" Her Gift Core's gone*... " Theseus says as he looks down on the weakened woman.
" I don't know what happened during the Abyss Tower Event, but something must've made her lose it, or perhaps... "
" It was Aphrodite, my young ones... " Poseidon comes into the place, he comes in as he looks at Victoria who is being treated.
When stating that, Poseidon then explains, that Aphrodite, one of Olympus' Primary Gods had been officially confirmed dead, by flesh and spirit.
" Her god was killed. " Poseidon explains.
" As we come to investigate the Abyss Tower's Rubbles left in the T District, we traced some of Aphrodite's energies there. "
" It comes within what we suspected of some graves. " Poseidon mentions three piles of rocks within the rubles, written in names*.
" We believed Aphrodite died when she was fully merged with her 'Avatar' at the time, we suspected the one the grave writings written as Park Kara. " Poseidon tells.
" Foolish woman, using a Tier 3 Inquisitor as an Avatar. " Poseidon mocks the late goddess.
" An Inquisitor? " Tristan still doesn't follow, his mind is too focused on Victoria.
" That's not the concern, Tristan. " Poseidon tells him while brushing the thoughts of Aphrodite from his head.
" The most concerning thing is, since young Victoria's Gifter is gone, she would need another Gift Core if you still want her to return to her 'usual state'. "
" But there's a problem. "
" Which is... " Poseidon inhales hard.
* Poseidon exhales. *
" I can't give her, a Gift Core. " Poseidon tells Tristan which surprised him, he asks Poseidon why and...
" Because, she had once belonged to Aphrodite, boy! " Poseidon tells.
" If you're still wondering why, your girl's goddess, Aphrodite, always made sure to Monopolize her Gifted Mortals, using her Divine Power through the Cores to alter some of their physiology. "
" Thus making her Gifted within her control and making sure their all hers to the very inch of their bodies... "
" Do you know what this means? " Poseidon asks Tristan as Tristan could only feel shocked to hear it.
" So, Victoria... won't. "
" The girl is not the only one who's having a Coma, son. " Theseus adds himself to the conversation, revealing to Tristan that all of Aphrodite's Gifted Mortals are now dying, all of them from the recent report.
" All... of them...? " Tristan shivered, hearing this from his father as Theseus and Poseidon looked at each other.
" Worst case scenario, my grandson... "
" Within this state, the girl will be less likely to return to you. "
" Especially in this state, alongside those like her... "
" I may be a god myself, but Aphrodite is the one who knew how to save her, yet. "
" The way of Victoria's returning is gone alongside Aphrodite herself. "
" So, in any way... " Poseidon stops as he sees Tristan's saddened expression, he feels broken to hear such revelation.
" That means... " Tristan says it and stutters, all of his body shivers.
" Yes, my young one. "
" Your Victoria will likely follow her goddess' fate. " Poseidon says it as suddenly Victoria's heart is getting weaker and weaker.
" Victoria! " Tristan calls for her, he even sounds the alarm for the Medics to come, but.
" It's no use... " Poseidon tells his grandson as Victoria's heart stops, it stops, which makes Tristan saddened more and more.
" Victoria...! "
...
( Return to the Present. )
" What should I do? " Tristan asks himself as he holds Victoria's cold hands, as her corpse is already been cleaned up before it can be given a proper burial.
Her parents had been told, just sometime before Poseidon's Orgy even started, an event so cold-hearted as Poseidon brushed aside Tristan's sadness with his debauchery event. An event that was so hyped, that most of his Kingdom's staff forget the importance of Tristan's girlfriend being properly buried.
" Your parents are going to come here, Victoria... " Tristan says to the dead Victoria as he knows that her parents will come from the Back Gate of Atlantis itself, Poseidon's orders.
" Dammit, Grandfather...! " Tristan curses Poseidon within his heart as he silently cries within.
During his cries, however, the room's door was opened.
" What do you want!? " Tristan asks the person who just came in.
" Are you going to mock me, as I cried for Victoria's death...? "
" Father? " Tristan asks, still not looking at what came behind him, as the person behind then throws something beside him.
" Huh? " Tristan sees it, he sees a monstrous horned beast, with the same hair color as his father's, filled with blood, mutilated.
" Gah! " Tristan was startled as he saw who just come in.
" Hello there, Tristan Torrent. " said the person as he came with a soft smile.
" Fancy meeting you here. " Tristan sees the visitor as he witnesses a very familiar face.
" Why are you doing here!? " Tristan asks, summoning his Powers in front of the unwanted familiar visitor.
" Oho... "
" Is that your greetings for me? "
" C'mon, don't be mad... "
" The last time we met, I only choked your neck alongside that of Yukino's*... " said the visitor.
" And that's why I will greet you with waves of destruction! "
" How dare you show yourself again before me!? you're unwanted here!? "
" WHITE DEMON! " Tristan calls the visitor's renowned Title, attacking him as he shows him his way of greeting an unwanted guest.
" Unwanted? " the White Demon asks as Tristan wants to shower him with his attacks.
" I thought I already registered?* " he says as what happens, happens.
_____________
Extra:
* Her Gift Core's gone.
Poseidon mentions what happened during Chapter 185: Swallowed Thunder Part 1. This happens before Chapter 280: The Demon Hunt, the Chapter where Victoria is Rehabilitated which Tristan had been keeping an eye on ever since the Tower.
Remember, Victoria's Gifter God is Aphrodite, you all knew what happened to her during the Event. What a misfortune, for her.
* Poseidon mentions three piles of rocks within the rubles, written in names.
Exists in Chapter 209: Towerfall Part 1. These rocks, and graves, are the graves of three characters that are related to the White Demon during the time.
* The last time we met, I only choked your neck alongside that of Yukino's.
It happened also in Chapter 209: Towerfall Part 1.
* I thought I already registered.
He means his registration in Chapter 347: Atlantis Ambush Part 2