Ch. 106: Apollo
KER—CHUK!
The door creaked open, the noise echoing through the quiet room before it softly clicked shut again. Footsteps soon followed, deliberate and slow, drawing closer. The air felt heavier, the dim lighting casting deep shadows along the walls of the narrow hallway. I remained seated, one leg casually crossed over the other, the half-filled glass of grape wine resting in my hand. The rich scent of fruit filled the room, but I barely noticed. My focus was elsewhere.
Aphrodite stood beside me, silent and composed, though I could sense the tension in her. The goddess was usually so poised, her presence calming. But not today. Today, even she was uneasy. I could feel the slight tremor in her breath, though she tried to hide it. After all, she knew what was coming. She knew who was coming.
Apollo.
The golden boy of Olympus. He wasn’t exactly a god who could slip by unnoticed, nor was he someone who ever tried to. The hallway seemed to brighten as he entered, his aura radiating as if he were the sun personified. And in some ways, he was.
As he stepped into view, I had to admit, he was breathtaking. His hair was a cascade of shimmering gold, reminiscent of Zeus but softer, more refined. His eyes, bright and piercing, gleamed with a kind of self-assured arrogance that only someone like him could carry. A flashy jacket, trousers that screamed opulence, and sneakers of all things. It was a confusing blend of high status and casual irreverence. His right ear caught the light, showcasing a shimmering earring, a small but loud proclamation of his vanity.
From head to toe, Apollo was a walking representation of excess. His smile was blindingly handsome, but beneath it, I could already sense the toxicity that bubbled beneath the surface.
“What’s this, Aphrodite? You didn’t even come to greet me at the door.” His voice dripped with mock disappointment, though his eyes sparkled with amusement. “No warm welcome for your dear brother?”
Then, as his gaze slid toward me, the air shifted. His face faltered, and his expression twisted in an ugly grimace, his chin wrinkling in a way that made even his celestial beauty look grotesque for a moment.
“Oh?” His tone turned flat, disgust bubbling up from his throat. “Hades… is that you?”
No, it’s your ghost, I mused silently, sipping from my glass without so much as looking in his direction.
Apollo’s approach was measured, though the disdain was palpable. He tried to conceal it behind a veneer of politeness, but I had lived long enough to see through such acts. His scorn was as obvious as the sun he was worshipped as.
I had been scorned enough in my previous life— human and god alike seemed to enjoy looking down on others. This was nothing new.
Apollo stopped just short of the sofa, his gaze turning toward Aphrodite. She had remained silent throughout the entire exchange, following my command to the letter. I hadn’t needed to test her loyalty, but it was a useful reminder of the control I wielded over her.
“What’s wrong, Aphrodite?” Apollo’s voice sharpened. “Cat got your tongue? Or maybe Hades is here to collect your soul.” His eyes darted to me with a flash of venom. “Why is he even here?” He asked more to himself than any of us.
I took another sip of wine, ignoring the blatant disrespect. It was clear Apollo hadn’t learned any manners in his time within all the free time he had galavanting. I could see his fists clenching in his pockets. His pride had been wounded by something— perhaps a romantic rejection from Aphrodite. Typical Apollo.
“Hey, Aphrodite! Are you going to keep ignoring me?” His voice grew louder, more demanding. “Should I—”
Enough.
Without a word, I unleashed the full force of my aura, a will that surged like a tidal wave. Apollo’s body seized, though not from fear— he was too proud for that. I lifted my head, just enough to acknowledge him without turning to meet his gaze.
“Do you know what happens to children who don’t know their place?” I asked, my voice low but filled with menace. “They don’t end up well.”
Apollo’s gaze burned into me, but his pride kept him from showing fear. Instead, he sneered. “Are you threatening me, Hades?” he asked, his tone dripping with arrogance. “I never thought you had the galls to oppose me.”
Did I hear that correctly? I wondered, my patience thinning.
I rose from the couch, and beside me, I felt Aphrodite tremble. I had promised her I wouldn’t kill him, so long as he didn’t push me too far.
“Are you going to—”
WHAM!
Apollo’s words were cut short as my fist connected with his jaw, sending him flying across the room. His body skidded through the air, a grunt escaping his lips as he collided with the far wall. Smoke hissed from his arms where he had managed to block the blow.
“You’re getting slow, old man,” Apollo taunted, though his voice trembled slightly.
He was sharp but naive. He had blocked the first hit, but he hadn’t realized I had already struck twice.
Before he could recover, his arms dropped limply by his sides, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
“What… did you do to me?” he gasped. “I can’t move!”
“Of course you can’t.” I stepped closer, looming over him. “I struck your vital points before I landed the blow. You’re paralyzed.” I spoke without pride. After facing gods like Poseidon, defeating Apollo was no feat worth boasting about.
“Damn you, Hades!” Apollo spat, his voice raw with frustration.
I turned to Aphrodite, who had remained silent throughout the confrontation. “You can deal with him now,” I said calmly. “I’ll release him when you’re done.”
Aphrodite suppressed a small laugh, her eyes flickering with amusement. “Right,” she said softly.
Apollo struggled weakly against the paralysis, whining like a wounded animal. “Release me, Hades! This is humiliating!”
How unsightly for a god, I thought as I returned to my seat.
Aphrodite approached Apollo, her voice soft yet firm. “Apollo, calm down. You should have known better than to treat Hades like this. He’s older, wiser, and far more powerful than any of us.”
Apollo snarled, refusing to accept her words. “Hades has never shown me hostility before! I thought he was… just some mindless shadow.”
I remained silent, unbothered by his insults. His words were like the complaints of a spoiled child who had never faced real consequences.
“Stop being annoying,” Aphrodite said, her tone sharp. “Let’s get to why you’re really here.”
Apollo’s face twisted in disbelief. “Annoying? Me?! That’s an insult!”
Aphrodite sighed heavily, clearly growing tired of his theatrics. “The sooner you explain why you’re here, the sooner Hades will release you.”
Apollo fumed for a moment longer, then, with a burst of rage, he managed to break free from my paralysis. His body collapsed to the ground, drenched in sweat, his breathing ragged.
“You overestimate yourself,” I said coldly, watching as he wiped his face with a handkerchief that shimmered with golden threads.
I guess he did have some talent or is it because I did not strike him with my full force, I pondered.
Still seething, Apollo sat down, maintaining a distance from me as he glared in Aphrodite’s direction.
Aphrodite, ever the diplomat, handed him a glass of fruit juice. “Now that you’ve calmed down, why are you here?”
Apollo hesitated, his cheeks reddening slightly. “Do I have to say it in front of him?” he asked, his eyes flicking toward me nervously.
I locked eyes with him, my gaze cold and unyielding. He looked away quickly.
Aphrodite sighed. “Get to the point, Apollo.”
I felt something interesting would happen if I stayed.
After another brief pause, Apollo’s face twisted into an expression of desperation. His voice cracked as he screamed, “Please marry me, Aphrodite!”
I smirked to myself. I had been right to wait, something interesting did happen.
If I revive a magic castle I will mass release 10 chapters
