The garden was silent except for Leo's ragged breathing.

  Six hours.

  The words echoed in his mind like a death sentence. Six hours until the Second Prince—his brother—arrived to kill him.

  Bharati sheathed her talwar, her talent still flaring as she read the residual signature Acheron left behind. "That was divine energy. Not Rift. Not corrupted. Pure godhood."

  "My sister," Leo said, the words still strange on his tongue.

  "Your sister, who just warned you that your brother is coming to murder you." Bharati's voice was steady, but her hands shook slightly. "We need to move. Now."

  Leonidas opened the system to find out what his power could do and how it could help.

  [Death's Touch: Each stack applies Soul Rot, dealing damage over time based on vitality. Soul Rot damage increases per stack. At 4 stacks, damage ignores resistances and armour

  [Eclipse Dominion: black-gold light that destroys and purifies]

  [Shadow Sovereignty: can control/weaponise your shadow]

  Bharati watched, talent reading him.

  "Leo, your essence has changed. Before, I was reading humans with divine energy, but now I'm reading something else," Bharati said.

  "What is it?"

  Bharati said, hesitating, "Demigod. Low-tier deity. Something BETWEEN mortal and god."

  Leonidas gasped in shock.

  "That woman—Acheron—she was full divinity. Pure god-blood. You're... ascending. Becoming what you were always meant to be," Bharati said.

  "Is that good or bad?" Leo asked.

  "Depends on whether you can control it before your brother arrives," Bharati said.

  "We need to evacuate the palace. Get civilians away from—" Leo said, his voice getting higher.

  "No," Bharati said with confidence.

  "What?" Leo asked, confused.

  "If we evacuate, it shows weakness. The nobles will panic. My father won't leave. He'll see it as abandoning his throne," Bharati said, looking up to the sky. "Besides, where would they run? Divine battles don't care about distance. If Moros wants to kill you, nowhere in this kingdom is safe."

  Palace servants approached cautiously. They had seen the purple Rift, Acheron walking out of it and then vanishing back.

  Some whispered: "demon," "cursed one," "the bringer of doom."

  Leonidas overheard them, realising he was the reason for their fears.

  Maybe they are right. Maybe I am the monster.

  He remembered his Grandpa's words: "Never give up."

  He remembered he had already died once, running from pain.

  He remembered Bharati, Arjuna, and Edward, who chose to help him.

  "Call Arjuna. Tell him to meet us at the throne room," Leo said to Bharati.

  "What are you planning?" Bharati asked.

  "If the Second Prince wants a public execution, I'll give him a public FIGHT," Leonidas said.

  They moved through the palace as storm clouds choked the sky. In the distance, thunder sounded like screaming. The Underworld was coming.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  And Leo was done running.

  Leonidas entered the war room with Arjuna.

  Arjuna scanned Leo with his eyes, focusing on Leo.

  Arjuna saw his shadow move independently.

  His hand went to his bow instinctively.

  Leo briefly explained that his actual father was Thanatos and that the Second Prince was coming.

  Arjuna processed it, then asked, "Can you beat him?"

  "I don't know yet. I quite literally just got these powers," Leo said.

  "Then you have six hours to learn," Arjuna said.

  Bharati laid down the facts.

  Moros was coming.

  He was probably combat-experienced.

  Full divinity, not half-sealed like Leo.

  Leonidas had certain disadvantages:

  He was inexperienced with divine powers.

  Only 50% unsealed, while Moros was 100% divine.

  Soul strain from three merged powers.

  He might lose control mid-fight.

  Arjuna asked his sister, "Where do we set up the fight?"

  "The courtyard is spacious. It won't cause any collateral damage."

  They had come up with a plan, which was:

  Evacuate inner palace servants, non-combatants to bunkers.

  Arjuna and Bharati would clear the courtyard.

  Leo would prepare—testing powers, meditation, stabilisation.

  When Moros arrived, Leo would issue a FORMAL CHALLENGE.

  One-on-one duel with allies on standby if Moros cheated.

  They all ran to the courtyard to help him control his power.

  It was a large open space with stone floors, surrounded by pillars.

  Arjuna placed down stone dummies, and at Leo's request, he also brought a tree, ripping it from the ground before carrying it to the courtyard.

  Leonidas used his first new move, Death's Touch. He rushed in, touching the tree. The tree began to slowly decay. Suddenly, he had 2 more stacks.

  The tree decayed faster. Its green leaves turned grey, its bark weakening.

  Soul Rot had already started to occur on the tree.

  In 20 seconds, the tree had become dead.

  "What was that?" Bharati asked, confused.

  "It is Soul Rot," Leo replied before then testing the next power, Shadow Sovereignty.

  His shadow reached out at the dummy like tendrils.

  It then wrapped around the stone dummy before pulling forward. The stone dummy instantly shattered.

  "Wow, Leo, that was impressive, but will this be enough to beat him?" Arjuna said, his voice deepening.

  Suddenly, the air temperature dropped.

  The clouds above them turned bloody red.

  Bharati sensed it. She felt the Rift energy disable as a portal formed from the sky.

  Bharati felt the signature was like a collapsing star that wanted to consume all.

  She felt several other presences, although massive, felt tiny in front of the larger aura.

  "He's not coming alone," Bharati said.

  "How many?" Arjuna asked.

  "The main signature is Moros. But there are... six? Eight? Lesser divine presences," Bharati said.

  A booming voice echoed from the sky. "Hello, little brother."

  Leo's ears rang.

  His divine energy flared up defensively.

  Bharati stumbled, hands over her ears.

  Arjuna's bow cracked, the string snapping from pressure alone.

  Eight humanoid figures in black armour emerged from the Rift. They were likely servants of Moros.

  Faces hidden behind helms moved in perfect sync, surrounding the courtyard, providing no escape.

  A tall figure in robes emerged.

  Carrying a WAR Banner.

  The banner showed the Crown of Bone, crossed with a sword.

  It was the symbol of Hades. They stood before the servant, then they slammed the banner to the ground.

  The ground turned into an arena of bones.

  Moros finally stepped out, landing on the arena with force and power.

  Moros was 7 feet tall and muscular, with dark hair that was perfectly styled. He would be considered handsome.

  He had GOLDEN eyes inherited from Persephone.

  He wore black and gold robes.

  His sword was at his side, his blade screaming with the souls he had captured.

  Moros's energy came out like a raging storm.

  Leo's knees buckled.

  Bharati couldn't read his signature. It was too vast.

  Arjuna could barely breathe.

  The WEIGHT of a true god.

  He was beautiful yet terrifying, like a force of nature.

  He studied Leo like an insect.

  He tilted his head, almost curious.

  "So. The hidden prince finally awakens."

  "Brother. How MORTAL of you. We share blood, little one. That doesn't make us family."

  Each step made the ground crack as he approached Leo.

  "Father warned me you existed. Thanatos's bastard. The prophesied one. I didn't believe him. Surely Death wouldn't be so FOOLISH as to sire an heir."

  "And yet here I am."

  Moros's smile faded.

  "Yes. Here you are. Do you know how many 'prophesied ones' I've killed? Seven. SEVEN siblings who thought they were special. The First Prince thought he was invincible. I fed him to Cerberus. What makes you think YOU'RE different?"

  "Because I've already died once. Death doesn't scare me anymore," Leo said.

  "Died? Ah. The reincarnation. Father mentioned that. A human soul in a divine body. How... QUAINT," Moros said.

  "By divine rite, I challenge you. Prince to Prince. One-on-one combat," Leo screamed out.

  The Herald SLAMMED the banner.

  "Challenge issued! Second, Prince Moros, son of Hades and Persephone! Fifth Prince Leonidas, son of Thanatos and Nyx! Terms: Single combat. Victory by death or yield."

  "You DARE invoke formal challenge? Against ME?" Moros said, almost smirking.

  He looked at his servants, at the courtyard, at Leo.

  He laughed again, genuine this time.

  "Very well. I accept," Moros said before drawing his longsword, the Harvester of Souls.

  "I'll grant you the honour of dying like royalty. Show me what Father's 'hidden weapon' can do."

  Divine energy EXPLODED outward.

  The servants retreated to the edges.

  The arena was SET.

  Bharati and Arjuna were pulled back by an invisible force.

  Leo summoned his tachi, wrapping it in black and red flames.

  His shadow wrapped around him into armour.

  Both Princes stared at each other.

  "Die, you dirty bastard," Moros screamed out.