Chapter 169: Anger
Who would’ve thought he’d run into a Dragon King here, deep in the forest, on his way back to the castle?
Certainly not Hades.
But now, with the beast standing before him, he had no choice but to figure out a way to escape.
From what he had already seen and felt, he knew he didn’t stand a chance. This man was no ordinary opponent—he was a monster.
That was why Hades’s entire focus was on finding a way out.
"There is no escape for you, boy," the Dragon King cut into his thoughts. His voice was heavy, laced with mockery. "You will die here. That much, I promise."
Hades let out a wry smile, his body slowly mending thanks to his heightened regeneration.
"Oh? And why are you so sure of that?" he asked, buying time.
He had already contacted Luna and explained the situation. He wasn’t foolish enough to think he could face this alone. Of course, he hated troubling them—but right now, he had no other choice.
Cravanvor folded his arms, his golden eyes narrowing. "Tell me, boy. Did your mother ever tell you how many sacrifices she made because of you?"
The sudden change in tone made Hades pause. His frown gave the Dragon King all the reason he needed to continue.
"The prophecy spread across every corner of the world. The prophecy that a child of the Aethernox family would carry the heir of Chaos. And when such news reached those who despised the true Chaos King..." Cravanvor’s lips curved into a cold smile. "Well, I don’t need to tell you what they tried to do."
Hades narrowed his eyes. "Why are you telling me all this?"
Cravanvor let out a deep, cruel laugh. "To let you drown in guilt before death claims you." In a flash, the Dragon King appeared right in front of him. His voice lowered, sharp as a blade. "Have you met any member of your clan until now? Even one?"
Hades said nothing.
"No," Cravanvor answered for him. "Because they were all burned alive before your mother’s very eyes. And still—she refused to give up on you." He raised a finger and pressed it firmly against Hades’s chest. "Their blood is on your shoulders."
Hades clenched his jaw. He didn’t know the full story of his mother’s family, but he had always known about the prophecy. That was the reason she had hidden him away in the human realm—to protect him until he was strong enough to stand on his own.
’Is that really true...?’ The thought weighed heavily on him. Had his mother truly sacrificed everything—her own family—for him?
Cravanvor finally stepped back, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. "I believe in fairness. As much as I want to tear you apart piece by piece, I’ll give you a chance. Defeat one of my soldiers, and I will let you live."
Hades took a long, steady breath. He knew what was coming.
As expected, the Dragon King motioned with his hand, and the silver-headed warrior on the left lunged at him.
Hades clicked his tongue, twisting his body to dodge the sweeping claws before leaping back.
The silver one grinned, slamming his palms together.
*DOOM!*
The air cracked, sending a jolt through Hades’s body. His ears rang as pressure rattled his skull.
No time to recover. The beast was already on him, both fists locked together as he brought them crashing down.
**BOOOOM!**
The ground split from the impact. Hades managed to raise his arm just in time, shielding himself from being crushed flat. His muscles screamed under the force, but he endured.
In the same instant, Hades pressed his palm against the silver one’s stomach and forced a spike to erupt from inside.
*SQUELCH*
The sound was satisfying, and a faint smirk crossed Hades’s lips.
But the grin didn’t last.
"Tehe~ That tickles," the beast chuckled, eyes glinting with madness. With a swift kick, he sent Hades flying like a ragdoll.
"Khuak!" Hades spat blood as his body slammed into a tree, snapping it from the middle.
His regeneration kicked in, knitting his wounds together—but the pain was still raw, still slowing him down.
[About to die, kid?]
Hades coughed, then chuckled to himself. ’Not yet... but I’d really appreciate some help right about now.’
*DHAK!*
*CRACK!*
A massive fist slammed into the tree beside him, splitting it down the middle. Hades barely had time to tilt his head before the trunk exploded into fragments.
The silver one loomed above him, grinning wide.
Hades leapt back, dirt scattering under his heels.
Then a voice echoed inside him—calm but commanding.
[Follow my lead. Don’t try anything on your own.]
And suddenly... the world changed.
His vision filled with fleeting images—movements that hadn’t happened yet. Every strike, every step, laid out before his eyes as if someone else was guiding his body.
The silver-headed dragon lunged, his fist tearing through the air. Normally, Hades would have blocked, bracing for impact. But this time, he trusted the voice.
He pushed his palm forward instead.
*TING!*
The beast’s fist stopped dead against his hand—then bounced back, as if he had struck steel.
"What?!" the dragon roared, eyes wide in disbelief as he felt his bones creaking.
Hades let out a slow, controlled breath. His body shifted in small, deliberate movements, dragging his feet across the ground as if he’d shed the weight of chains. He felt lighter... sharper... unstoppable.
His palm shot forward, aiming for the beast’s chest. The silver one snarled and sprang back, sure he’d dodged.
But the strike still landed.
*TING!*
"GHAAAK!" the dragon gagged, blood spraying from his mouth as his chest caved in from a blow that shouldn’t have touched him. His body rocketed upward, crashing through branches as he was thrown into the air.
Hades followed. His body felt weightless as he leapt high, spinning midair like a coiled spring about to snap.
He raised his leg—then slammed his heel down into nothing but open space.
*TING!*
The strike didn’t touch him—yet the air itself seemed to shatter.
**BOOOOOM!**
The force crushed down from above like a falling mountain. The dragon’s skull jerked violently, blood spraying as his entire body was smashed into the earth.
The ground split, a crater opening where he landed. Dust and splinters shot into the sky as the silver one’s head slammed into the dirt, leaving him twitching, broken.
Dead.
Hades let out another slow breath as he dropped to the surface, landing with a thud that sent grit spraying from his boots.
"Tch." A hot sting crawled inside him and his vision dimmed at the edges, but he stayed upright—breathing, rooted, and ready for the next assault.
Cravanvor grinned, teeth flashing. "A martial artist, huh? Already spent. Shall I end your pain now?" His voice was soft, mocking.
Hades panted, every inhale a fight, but he lifted his left hand and signaled—come. The gesture was small, tired, almost casual. The soldier took it as an insult and charged.
A green-haired with a heavy hammer barreled forward, roaring, "You’ll pay for your sins!" The hammer fell like a wrecking ball toward Hades’s skull.
Hades rolled aside at the last heartbeat. The hammer smashed into the ground where his head had been and exploded surface into the air. A crater gaped wide and raw, steam rising from the torn soil.
"You can’t run from me!" the soldier bellowed, stamping his foot. He swung again, fierce and wild, every strike meant to kill.
Pain flared inside Hades—hot, biting, like someone set his bones on fire. Black flickered at the edge of his sight. Still, he kept moving.
[That’s the limit of how much I could guide you. I believed your body was prepared. I was wrong.]
Hades slammed his knuckles into the man, but it made no significant damage, allowing the soldiers to headbutt him.
Hades stumbled back, his vision swirling. This was bad.
The soldiers pulled his hammer and swung it on top of his head.
Hades took a deep breath and then cried,
"AHHHHHHHH!!"
The cry was deafening, the hammer slipping away from the soldier’s hold.
Trees were pushed back, the ground trembling under the cry of the beast.
However, Hades was in no shape to let out the cry at its full strength.
The soldiers lost his sense of hearing for a few moments but he was still standing.
"Pfft-that was so pitiful." He muttered, casually draping the hammer on his shoulder.
Hades was breathing unnaturally as he felt weak and on the verge of falling.
’Why in the world do I feel so angry at the moment?’ Because he was again reminded of his weakness?
Because he was told that he couldn’t fight for his existence? That he was worthless?
{Alert! The host’s core is disturbed! Please calm down, host!}
Hades couldn’t hear what the system was saying.
He just wanted to tear everything before him.
However, suddenly, a presence broke that trance.
A familiar person who appeared before him, her back facing him as she said,
"You can rest now, my Lord. I will take care of things here."
It was Averis.
°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading. Will upload two Chapters starting tomorrow