"Why" Diana asked.
Another part of me was going to be laid out in front of her, my burning ambition. Yet, after everything I had shown her so far, she had not once outright disagreed with me, and I believed that it was not going to end anytime soon.
But there was something, a gnawing thought in the depth of my mind told me this was a bad idea.
However, my desire and my greed outweighed it all.
"Come with me, I have something to show you," I led the way.
A quick look into her eyes as she scanned the hallway, told me something was bothering her. To drive away the building awkwardness, I had to ask. "Is it you not to your liking?"
Her eyes shifted uncomfortably. "I don't hate it."
This was not the first time she had dodged a topic. I had noticed it during breakfast. The way she reluctantly answered, or how she tried to hide her discomfort. Adorable, and heartwarming as it might be, I had to fix it.
"Then, can you tell me what is bothering you?" I took her hands into mine. Standing there in my hallway, I stared into her eyes, waiting patiently for her to answer. The way she leaned back and forth, the way she fidgeted in the palm of my hands, reminded me of how childlike she was in some matters. "You can tell me. I promise I won't be mad, or sad about it."
"It is a little empty. Doesn't quite feel like home."
'Home'.
It was not a word I had thought about for the longest time. Not since the accident. The day I lost my mom and dad. And honestly, I did not have the desire to.
Looking back now, that was the day. The day I lost my family. My connection to this reality. Since then, I found myself detached from the ongoing of the world, and with the increase in my intelligence, there was truly no need for me to think that otherwise.
For the first time since I sold my old home, and relocated here more than a decade ago, I saw my house for what it was worth. An empty husk.
The question was why? Why was I feeling this way? Feeling the disgust and cold air lingered in my own home… Was this even a home? More importantly, why now?
That was the moment everything clicked. I was no longer blinkly pursuing the endless potential my power represent. No. Since that moment I had a partner. Someone to care for. Someone to ground me to reality. My new reality.
"I see," I answered blankly, taking empty surroundings.
After a long silence, I turned back to Diana, only to see the guild hiding behind her comforting eyes. I pulled her close and planted a loving kiss on her forehead. "What do you think about decorating this place together?"
Before I could conjure up the countless images that were running through my brain, Diana put a stop to it. Her hand rested under my chin, while her thumb was drawing circles on my cheek. With each lap, I felt myself hypnotized further and further by her caring touch.
"We will do it the traditional way. Piece by piece."
"Sure."
"Let us get back to the main topic."
"Oh, yes. The blood," I said, feeling invigorated.
Hand-in-hand, we walked toward my laboratory. Under Diana's questioning gaze, I walked toward a wall and dematerialized it, revealing a passage underneath what had been a solid wall.
This was the only way I could be sure that not even Batman could find the entrance to my real laboratory, where I kept all of my research in handwriting. After all, my brain was the best computer that would exist now, and even in the distant future.
"It must be bad if you are so secretive," Diana said.
"Before you are going to say anything, most of my material are sourced legally, and ethically."
"Most?"
"Yes…" I said anxiousness tainted my voice, "All but the newest subject."
"Why does it sound ominous?"
After the long walk, we arrived at my real laboratory. Unlike the one on top, which copied its decade-appropriate counterpart, this one was state-of-the-art. A few centuries ahead of its time. I had managed to create objects that would defy traditional science.
A healing pod straight out of science fiction.
A gravity belt capable of simulating a million times gravity. I did not understand why I did that when I was only a mortal, maybe I did it to see if I could.
A shielding system powerful enough to withstand a nuclear blast, and good enough to fool even Superman's X-ray.
And countless more scientific instruments.
All were powered by Badassium.
The only thing left for me to do was utilize the magical knowledge I gained from Themyscira, then it would truly become invisible to the outside world.
But Diana only glanced at them before setting her eyes on my new sample.
"What are you planning, Xandros?" Diana asked.
She had never been this serious before. The way she stared at me, unblinkingly, and how she was already reaching for the Lasso, told me she wanted answers.
And answers were what she was going to get.
Under Diana's questioning gaze, I wrapped the Lasso around my hand before continuing.
"With your blood and Ares' body, I would be able to do it. Something I dreamed of. Understanding and replicating the gods' DNA."
"You are trying to create a god?" Diana asked.
"No, Diana. I am using it for me."
"This is a taboo, Xandros. A topic not to be touched, let alone understood by a mortal mind. The universe would not allow it. When, and I mean when Ares found out you used his corpse to conduct your experiment, he would stop at nothing to kill you. Gods could never truly die, you know that?" Staring in her eyes, I did not see anger, only worries. Worries for my safety.
"The world is not going to be peaceful for long, Diana. Beings with power that make even Ares afraid would eventually invade Earth. We lost countless times. Humans were enslaved. The Heroes were executed. You are among them. Even if I would not be alive if I remained a mortal, the thoughts hurt me, Diana. I could not let it happen. Not this reality. Nor any other." I hugged Diana close, her eyes stared into mine before realization dawned upon her.
"This is your weight. The reason why you are doing what you are doing. Trying to control the world. Trying to become a god. All of it was to stop this invasion?"
"Yes," I answered. For once, I felt the unbearable weight lifted from my chest.
"How can you be so sure?"
"He is a fix-point, Diana," I said, "In all reality, he will always invade Earth. Since Earth is where the weapon of ultimate destruction laid."
"And you think risking the wrath of the Gods would help us?" Diana looked back at Ares, worries still marred her face. I saw the hate in her eyes, but everything melted into helplessness once she saw the determination in my eyes. "You have other ways, don't you?"
"Yes." I answered, accepting compulsion from the Lasso as I continued, "I wanted power, Diana. Enough power to protect you from any threat that would come our way. And if I were to understand the Gods' DNA, I would be able to liberate you, and give you the power you meant to have."
"It's risky."
"A risk I am willing to take," I said, conviction laced my tone.
"Okay, but if anything life-threatening arises, then you are to stop. Do we have an agreement?"
"Yes, M'Lady."
With that, the conversation ended, and my experiment began. And thanks to the magical knowledge from Themyscira, the process which should have lasted a decade was shortened to a year.
One year of endless work.
Under my shock and disbelief, in my hands were two vials, glowing power, unlike anything I had seen. I stared at them, seemingly lost for words. Because I knew what I created was more than a taboo. And for the first time since the start of my experiment, I was afraid of the consequences.
I did not realize what I did until I was holding the object in my hand.
It turned out I was not studying Ares' divinity. Instead, I was studying the origin of the gods. The power that made Ares the God of War in the first place. As I used my DNA, and power during the creation process, it had mutated into something more than the Greek Pantheon.
"A whole new Pantheon," I whispered to myself in utter disbelief.
"Fascinating… I did not think you would be able to achieve this so soon." A voice ran out from behind me.
Hearing it horrified me. I felt my blood run cold, and the bubbling emotions came to a halt. Standing there was a seemingly ordinary man, in a pristine suit, a regular top hat, and holding a black umbrella, unblemished and without a wrinkle. The only thing that set him apart from an innocent civilian was his Walrus-mustache, a fashion statement that no one other than him dared to do. And of course, the glowing orb in his hand.
"Sir…" I felt the words stuck in my throat and all the courage I thought I had vanished into thin air.
"No need to be alarmed. Unlike last time, you did not anger me," The man said, "This time, however, you amazed me. You did something I had thought was impossible. You touched upon the Source without my permission."
Even with his jolly voice, and calm tone, my heart still tightened, the fear gripped onto my being, as my back soaked with sweat.
"There, there. Since you had uncovered a flaw in my creation, a flaw that no one other than you could replicate. But a flaw nonetheless. Thus, I came with a gift."
"I am honored, Sir."
"Don't thank me yet. Because with your gift is responsibility. So, let's start with the gift, shall we? I will give you a personal dimension to build a Pantheon of your own. You can recruit anyone, as long as you give them this creation. Then, they will become a member of your Pantheon. You can gain them their title, and access to a domain you think they deserve. And you, your domain is creation and life."
I should be happy, right? After all, this was everything I thought I wanted. But him being there, stood in front of me, judging me did not free me from my endless worries. Instead, everything increased a million times over.
"Your responsibility is easy. I am going to put this reality into the deep end. All you need to do is make sure it survives. If you come out on top, I will have a reward for you. If you don't, then I won't be seeing you again. Also, even though I am giving you the right, don't abuse it. Last time was your only warning."
With that, I watched helplessly as the glowing orb of light entered my body. It granted me everything I needed to know about my newfound power, my new dimension. And the key was the vial in my hands.
"And a reminder, you cannot and should not harm any living being actively unless they meant to do you harm first." Those were the last words before the man in front of me disappeared like he was never there to begin with.
Staring at the vial in my hands, the happiness I should have felt was gone. There was only apprehension.
"What did I get myself into?"