As the relentless chase unfolds, Adonis is stunned by the sheer speed and agility Monries exhibits, darting through the decaying rubble of once-formidable skyscrapers. He struggles to keep up, amazed by her ability to vanish into the shadows and reappear in distant, disconnected darkness. It reminds him of his own shadow-stepping technique from his days as an assassin for the Lost Emperor. But there's a stark difference—Adonis's technique required connected shadows, while Monries emerged hundreds of feet away from one shadow to another, seemingly defying the laws of connection. Her mastery of the shadows intrigues him. Could it be that she's tapping into the Shadow Realm? A lost, forgotten plane, a space in between the light and dark realms—destroyed, or so Adonis had believed, in the War of the Gods. Yet now, seeing her abilities, he begins to suspect that such a realm might still exist.
Adonis calls out, "If you're truly trying to escape, why do you keep reappearing? I don't wish to harm you! If you really want to speak, then stop running!"
Before Monries can respond, another voice booms through the wreckage, a commanding presence filled with menace. "Leave now or I will show you the power even the gods fear," the voice warns.
Adonis throws his head back and laughs, the sound echoing across the ruins. "HAHAHA! Do you even know who I am? I AM ADONIS! The man who fought gods themselves! I fear no man—not even the gods themselves as mighty as they are; they tremble before me."
Monries' voice breaks through the tension, trembling with fear. "Stop, don't fight him, Tlaloc! He's too strong, even for you! He survived the touch of death itself—he's different."
Emerging from the shadows, a figure steps forward—Tlaloc, clad in ancient armor, a sword in one hand, and a shield in the other. His fierce, determined eyes are locked onto Adonis. "Ah, I see," Adonis muses, "a Spartan. That explains your challenge. Very well, I'll play your little game, but know this—I won't kill you."
Tlaloc's fury ignites at Adonis's words. "How dare you speak so lightly of me!" he roars. "I am one of the Thirteen Spartans who battled gods! The strongest of men! Banished for my actions, I've only grown stronger since!"
Without warning, Tlaloc charges, his sword swinging wildly. Yet Adonis effortlessly evades each strike, studying him, analyzing every move. He asks calmly as he dodges, "What powers are you hiding? I sense something within you. The flame in your heart burns blue—you're connected to water. But there's more. What abilities do you wield?"
With each missed attack, Tlaloc's rage builds. His breath grows ragged, and his once-powerful swings become sluggish. Sensing Tlaloc nearing the point of exhaustion, Adonis delivers a swift but respectful strike, knocking the warrior down without robbing him of his honor. Tlaloc collapses, defeated but not humiliated, his pride bruised more than his body.
As Tlaloc lies on the ground, gasping for breath, Adonis turns away. "You can join us, Monries," he calls, "and you too, Tlaloc. but I also have questions for you both."
Monries, overwhelmed by a flood of emotions, runs to Adonis, clinging to him, her tears soaking his chest. "Finally," she whispers, "someone I can hold without causing death. Someone I don't have to fear touching."
Adonis, puzzled, looks down at her. "What do you mean? Why would I die just by holding you?"
She hesitates, her voice trembling. "I-I have a curse. They call it the Hand of Death. Anyone I touch… dies an early death."
Adonis chuckles softly, his voice full of warmth. "Well, it's hard to kill someone who's already killed the god of death himself." Monries looks up at him in disbelief, but he only smiles wider.
As they start walking back together, Tlaloc trails behind, burdened by the weight of his failure. He can't shake the humiliation of his defeat, yet he knows nothing of Adonis's true past. Still, his feelings of inadequacy grow heavier with each step. Adonis, sensing the emotions swirling within Tlaloc, stops and turns to him.
"Tlaloc," Adonis says, his tone gentle but firm, "I understand you're upset about your loss, but you're a mortal man. I am something far worse. I am the son of the Celestials—born of the Sun and the Moon. I am Adonis Nox. I was trained from a young age to fight beings far beyond gods. What you faced was merely the tip of the iceberg. You fought someone known as the Slayer of Gods and the Butcher of Men. Do not take your loss too harshly."
Before Adonis can finish his thought, a sinister voice cuts through the air like a blade. "Aha… brother," the voice sneers, sending a chill down Adonis's spine. "So this is where you've chosen to hide."
Adonis's face darkens with fury. "What do you want, Odroduc?"
Odroduc, his smile dripping with malice, replies, "Do you remember what father and Atreocx used to say when they wanted a chat?"
Adonis's eyes narrow. "Akukho sigwebo," he whispers coldly.
"Exactly," Odroduc grins, sitting down and pulling out a massive bottle of strong wine. "Well, brother, I have one more thing to say to you… 'Akukho sigwebo.' Sit. We need to talk."
Monries and Tlaloc, hidden behind the remains of ancient war mechs, stare wide-eyed at the monstrous figure who claims to be Adonis's brother. They had heard the stories of Odroduc—the Dark Emperor, the failure of the gods—but this was different. Their thoughts raced, lingering on one burning question: Who is Adonis, really? What secrets does he hide?
Before they can process everything, another voice—lighter and far more familiar—calls out. "Adonis, where are you? Did you catch that mean lady yet?"
Odroduc's grin widens, his tone dripping with mockery. "Ah, your little pet has arrived, brother. Shall I put it down for you?"
Adonis's eyes blaze with fury. "If you harm her, I will show you why the gods tremble at my name and why even Death himself dares not claim me."
Tension ripples through the air, heavy and suffocating. The two brothers stand face to face, the weight of their power pressing down on the realm. Their weapons are drawn—Adonis with his sister blades and Odroduc with a spear that looks terrifyingly familiar, the same one he used to destroy their family. The words hang in the air, both men speaking in unison: "Your move."
The clash of their weapons sends shockwaves across the realm, shattering the earth beneath them. Their battle stirs an ancient foe, one that casts a long, dark shadow over both brothers. Six wings unfurl behind the figure, and a four-pointed halo glows above him. The Archangel Gabriel has arrived.
Odroduc, for the first time, trembles. His voice shakes as he speaks. "G-Gabriel… Why are you here?"
The archangel's booming voice reverberates across the battlefield. "HIM," he says, pointing his radiant sword at Adonis. "I am here for him."
Adonis steps forward, his voice defiant. "Here for a rematch? You had to spread your wings last time we fought."
Gabriel's face hardens with irritation. "I am here to relay a message. You, Adonis Nox, have gained notoriety as the man who fought God. Yet, you've never truly challenged him."
The words ignite a spark of anger within Adonis. His sneer reflects both pride and fury. "Only? You think I only fought you? Perhaps you weren't as strong as I remember."
Gabriel's wings flare open, his celestial power flattening the mountains themselves. "You dare speak to me with such arrogance?"
As their weapons clash once more, splitting the skies, a voice of unimaginable power booms down from above: "HALT!"
Both Gabriel and Adonis are knocked back, regaining their balance as a colossal hand separates them. Gabriel kneels, his voice shaking with reverence. "Forgive me, Father. I acted out of emotion."
Adonis recognizing the figure "Y-YOU how can you show yourself after you abandoned father after all he did for you you just left and never helped"
The voice, now calm, replies, "There is nothing to forgive. You defended my will." Then it turns to Adonis. "Adonis Nox, son of Apollo Nox and Monna Nox… I did help."
In a flash of light, God and Gabriel vanish, leaving Adonis screaming into the void. "YOU LET HIM DIE! THAT'S NOT HELPING!"
Adonis turns, rage swirling within him, only to be interrupted by a soft, trembling voice. "Father, stop... please." It's Athena, her eyes brimming with tears. Nyx stands behind her, frozen in a mix of fear and awe.
Odroduc, terrified by what just occurred, seizes the opportunity and vanishes into the shadows, leaving behind only a lingering question: who truly is Adonis Nox?
Adonis turns his gaze back toward Athena, her small figure shaking with fear and concern. Her eyes search his face, and in them, he sees innocence—the one thing that still keeps him grounded amidst the chaos of gods, monsters, and broken realms.
"I-I'm sorry," Adonis whispers, his voice trembling as he drops to his knees. He reaches out toward Athena, pulling her gently into his arms. "I didn't mean to scare you… It's just—" his words falter. Memories of the past flood his mind—his father, his lost family, the weight of wars fought on the backs of realms. He looks away, unable to meet her eyes. "It's just… so much has happened."
Athena clings to him tightly, her soft voice barely audible. "It's alright, Father. I understand. It's just… seeing you like that, it was scary."
Adonis pulls back, stroking her hair softly. "I won't let anyone hurt you. Not ever."
Nyx, standing a few paces away, calls out, her voice stern. "Adonis, what do we do about them?" She nods toward the space where Odroduc had been, where his presence still lingers like a cold shadow in the air. But the Dark Emperor, the brother Adonis despised, is gone—vanished back into the night.
Worried that Odroduc's escape might lead to something far worse, Adonis rises swiftly to his feet. His mind races—what is Odroduc planning? Will he seek reinforcements? Form alliances with the enemies who wish to see him and his family destroyed? He knows there's little time to ponder. They must retreat.
"Back to the bunker!" Adonis commands, his voice filled with urgency. "Now! Everyone go, quickly!"
Hearing the intensity in his tone, Nyx wastes no time. She lifts Monries onto her back and begins sprinting toward the safety of their hidden refuge. Adonis places Athena on his shoulders, making sure she's secure as they too begin to run.
Suddenly, a deafening roar fills the air, followed by the chilling sound of mechanical limbs screeching against the earth. Monstrous mechs—war machines from a bygone era—emerge from the shadows, their engines roaring to life. The sound of their cold, metallic limbs echo like death marching.
Adonis turns sharply, his heart pounding as he catches sight of the enormous army. Thousands of mechs stand in formation, their towering frames creating a wall of destruction between him and his family. His grip tightens around Athena's small form as he sets her down gently. His eyes burn with rage.
"Atlas, protect her!" Adonis shouts as he draws his sword, turning to face the mechanical horde alone.
The barrage comes almost instantly. Bullets tear through the air, their sheer force cutting into Adonis's flesh. He falls to his knees, shielding himself with his sword and bracing against the relentless onslaught. Each impact pushes him closer to the ground, but he refuses to fall completely.
"I can't fight them all like this," he mutters through gritted teeth. His thoughts are a blur of strategy and survival. Outnumbered and wounded, he knows that brute strength alone won't save him.
Reaching into his bag, Adonis pulls out a dark, jagged stone—an artifact of immense power. It's a last resort, something he had hoped never to use again. His hand trembles as he holds it up to the light. "This... there's a chance this kills me," he breathes, staring at the ominous stone. "But I have no other choice."
He looks over his shoulder, glimpsing Athena and Nyx disappearing into the distance. "I have to return to her... I can't leave her again." The memory of his family's loss—the guilt, the endless nights of regret—fuels his resolve.
Adonis slams the stone into the ground. Darkness erupts from his chest, flames of pure shadow spilling out like a torrent of hellfire. He screams in agony as the stone's power rips through his body, transforming him into something far more terrifying. His flesh burns, his veins glow with unnatural energy, and his armor—dripping in blood and fire—begins to fuse with his skin.
He staggers to his feet, his voice distorted and monstrous. "AHAHA! AHAHAHAH!" The laugh that escapes his throat is no longer human. "You dare challenge me? YOU DARE THREATEN MY FAMILY?!"
The power surges through him, turning his once-human form into something unrecognizable—something dark, twisted, and god-like. The mechs surrounding him falter, momentarily taken aback by the unholy transformation. But it's too late.
Adonis charges forward, his eyes glowing with a demonic rage. He slams his shield into one of the towering mechs, knocking it over like a toy. His sword follows, crashing down on its cockpit, killing the pilot instantly. More mechs surge toward him, their guns blazing, but the bullets ricochet off his darkened armor.
Hundreds of foot soldiers descend upon him, swarming like ants, but their efforts are futile. Adonis stands tall, a monstrous force of destruction, cutting through them as if they were nothing. His strength is overwhelming, his mind consumed by the thought of protecting those he loves.
With a guttural roar, Adonis draws the last remnants of the stone's power, his body glowing with an unearthly fire. "I FIGHT FOR THEM!" he screams, the words echoing across the battlefield as he swings his sword with blinding speed, decimating the mechs around him.
But even in his newfound power, something inside him begins to falter. The darkness that fuels him is consuming him, dragging him further into the abyss. He can feel it—his soul slipping away. But he doesn't care. Not as long as they're safe.
"NYX!" Adonis cries out, his voice echoing as he slashes through the remaining mechs. "RUN! DON'T LOOK BACK!"
Far ahead, Nyx hesitates, her heart pounding in her chest as she watches the battle unfold. Tears stream down her face as she clutches Monries tightly. She knows what this means. She knows what Adonis is sacrificing.
Athena, perched on Atlas's shoulder, reaches out toward her father, her small voice trembling. "F-Father..."
Adonis, bloodied and surrounded by the ruins of the mech army, looks up at her, his heart breaking as he sees the fear in her eyes. But this is what he must do. He must protect them—no matter the cost.
With one final surge of power, Adonis raises his sword high, ready to deliver the killing blow to the last of the mechs. But as the dust begins to settle, he falls to one knee, his body finally giving in to the strain of the battle and the stone's dark magic. His vision blurs, the sounds of war fading into the distance.
But then, a voice—a soft, familiar voice—cuts through the haze. "Adonis... come back to us."
Through the fog of pain and darkness, Adonis forces himself to stand once more. He looks toward the horizon, where Nyx, Athena, and Monries wait for him. They are his reason. His light in the void.
With the last of his strength, Adonis takes a step forward, determined to return to them.