"Divine Energy? What's that?"
Atlas did know that he was brimming with unbelievable power but he wasn't sure whether to call his energy reserves 'divine'.
Apollo shook his head in response. "Long explanation. On the other hand, the first thing we will do here is pick a divinity. Note, it must be modern or have modern relevance,"
Atlas understood. It was like how Zeus was the God of the Sky, and Athena was the Goddess of Knowledge. It was an easy concept to understand, but he didn't really know what to choose. He looked to be in deep thought causing Apollo to elaborate more on it.
"It also has to be something you're slightly attracted to or something that has followed or haunted you your entire life,"
As Apollo said that, Atlas felt the choices narrow down to a few.
"God of Money and Hard Work?" he suggested causing Apollo to give an approving look.
"It isn't bad, but I was thinking more of something that will pop out more. Money doesn't have value in some places, and as long as some people want to do something about it, then the value of money would cease to exist."
"I was actually thinking something along the lines of God of Gangsters."
He said it seriously, as though he hadn't given a second thought to it.
Atlas looked at Apollo once more and it seemed like the God wasn't actually joking about him becoming the God of Gangsters. In fact, a serious look appeared on his face as he said this.
"Look Atlas, I will not beat around the bush with you. Me and the rest of the Greek pantheon already selected your divinity. You're going to be the God of Organized Crime, Hard Work and Wealth."
It pissed Atlas off that. When it came to organized crime, Atlas felt frustrated.
"Are you messing around with me?"
Apollo put his head down, but Atlas knew that it meant agreement.
"Fuck it, I'm out. Let those dumbass Gods come after me. I just want peace!"
He began to walk away when Apollo's voice called out again.
"Don't you want to know about your father? About what happened to him?!"
Atlas ignored Apollo and kept on moving, but the God still yelled from behind him.
There was a reason Atlas had a bone-deep hatred for gangsters and heroes. His father was supposedly killed by gangsters while trying to save people. It pissed him off. He knew he had a family at home, so why did he have to play the hero?
The gangsters themselves could have avoided the entire situation if they took the right path in the first place!
As he thought about the entire situation, Apollo appeared in front of him.
"Can you just wait?"
Atlas said nothing and walked around Apollo without a second thought.
"Come on Atlas. There's a reason for this whole thing. It's for your own sake, please." The god looked ready to cry as he kept on appearing before Atlas.
Atlas finally stopped.
"What do you have to say? What excuses are you willing to offer? Are you going to say it's for my mom's sake? We both know it's because you guys are dying that you're seeking out my help."
Apollo hesitated for a while and saw that Atlas was about to leave and head back home.
"There's a reason for this, actually. A lot of Gods and deities have been investing in crime recently and we were hoping to kill two birds with one stone when you ascend to godhood. So, apart from restoring ourselves then we could also gain indirect control over those other Gods."
He spoke with blunt honesty but quickly followed up, seeing as his words could be easily misunderstood.
"Besides all that, then you'll be able to figure out the reason for your father's death when you investigate the gangs."
Atlas sighed, and his shoulders fell into a depressed slump. He had conceded.
"What do you know about my father's death?"
Apollo's eyes were like two burning suns when he realized Atlas had agreed to his proposal.
"He wasn't killed by a human."
"Then what kind of creature?" Atlas asked again.
"We don't know. It could be a monster or a god or even one of many races of creatures on earth,"
Atlas nodded. "That's all I need." he eyed Apollo suspiciously for a second as he continued. "So, how do I start claiming this divinity?"
Apollo was glad to hear that Atlas was ready to start and clapped his hands in joy.
"Well, since you're the God of Organized Crime, then the first thing you need to do is form a gang, uh, I mean, Organization."
The god laughed sheepishly seeing Atlas' irritated expression.
"Okay, it's formed," Atlas nodded seriously.
"You can't form an Organization with only one person!" Apollo yelled like he was pointing out the obvious.
"Fine, then you and Rin are included."
Apollo looked at Atlas with a dumbfounded expression. Some Titans were unbelievably intelligent like Atlas, but all in all, they were still Titans and were incredibly stubborn and difficult to reason with.
"Whatever. We need to spread our name for now." He said and dragged Atlas off to a shady part of the city.
Atlas grew increasingly irritated with the terms used. He was not going to call himself a gangster and he wouldn't bring himself to the level of street thugs.
'If I'm able to obtain the allegiance of the gangsters in this area in one year, then I wonder If I can become the God of Organized Crime?'
As he thought that, Apollo shook his head.
"I can't read your mind but your actions have proven what your thought process will be. It won't be so easy. If you had picked a minor divinity, then it would have been more or less easy, but I'll have you know that organized crime isn't so little that you can become a god from some small city,"
A bright light emerged from where Apollo was pulling him, and Atlas finally noticed where he was. It was a large pit-like arena. Dozens of men and women gathered around yelling and throwing vulgar words.
Intoxicating smells filled the entire area as people carried alcoholic substances and smoked even more dangerous substances. Atlas stared into the centre of the pit where two large men fought dangerously. Eventually, one slumped to the ground, and the other raised his hands in victory.
'He's dead.'
Atlas stared at the entire scene and realized that he was no longer living in fairytale land.
From that moment on, every fight would be a battle for his life exactly like the one he experienced against the Giant
Apollo held up a hideous black mask and smiled. "Gear up for battle, Mr Titan,"
****
Author's Note: Follow my Instagram @purplemidnightnovels
For more updates on God Of Gangsters and access to short stories, go to my p.a.t.r.e.o.n: Purple_Midnight