Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest-Chapter 361: Unworthy

Cronus’ choice to give up on his body was sharp—proof of a quick-witted and analytic mind. But how could it not look stupid to Adam?

"You saved yourself from the pot, only to leap into the frying pan!" Lightning bolts crackled around his hammer, striking and charring the ground in a deafening cacophony only overwhelmed by his wrathful voice. "And I’ll fry you really well, trust me—crispy on the outside, deader than dead on the inside."

"It’s useless..."

BAM

That’s the only thing Cronus managed to say before the hammer engulfed his soul in blinding arcs. They switched and contorted like snakes, coiling around him.

He tried to escape, but Zeus’ golden chains kept him in place. Worst, he felt the lightning infiltrate the nexus of his powers—where he had hidden his essence from the thieving mortal.

Dread clawed at him, his spectral form shuddering as he felt a seal form. No... it was much more terrifying than that. He lost connection to his essence—to his identity as the embodiment of time.

Right now, he was nothing more than a ghost isolated in a divine tribunal. Yet, the judge was a fuming mortal...

He? The cosmic ruler? Judged by a mortal? He clenched his jaw. If it was a joke, he didn’t find it amusing in the slightest.

But the time wasn’t for misplaced pride. If swallowing this humiliation to rise again was all it took, he would. Just like he had during the Titanomachy.

He begrudgingly forced his voice to sound amiable and lowered his head slightly. "We’ve started on the wrong foot, mort... great warrior. I should have acknowledged you, perhaps even talked to you as a superior since you’re the key to my freedom. Let me correct this oversight, and let’s start anew, shall we?"

A shaky smile curved his lips. "I have much to offer—the other four Titans’ loyalty, magical knowledge long forgotten by mortals and my authority. With me, any crooked strategy Zeus sets will fall flat. I can revert time and save millions of your soldiers."

Every word was a hammer blow aimed at mortals’ desires, and who understood them better than he did? He had built a golden age for them, safe from illness and poverty.

"What do you say, great warrior?" Confidence returned to his smile.

Yet, his eyes widened, and his breath caught in his throat as he saw Adam raise his god slayer and smirk.

"You forgot to add you could castrate me like you did with your father. No. There are things I can’t forgive as a man." His eyes narrowed into slits. "Beyond that, I don’t need someone obsessed with control. But don’t worry. You won’t have to think about it any longer, for eternal peace beckons."

"I can’t die, unreasonable fool!" Dropping all pretense, Cronus roared.

But he swung, his blade tearing a scalding gash through space. "My Oath Keeper Wrath’s Divine Tribunal doesn’t just seal your essence. It prevents you from reviving or escaping your fate!"

"Nonsense!" Despite denying it, he, who had predated death, felt her intense glare on his trembling muscles. Would he really die? He couldn’t risk it! "Rallying the Hecatonchires isn’t enough to overthrow Zeus. You need us. You need ME!"

SWOOSH

Despite his final plea, only a noise of ripping and a blinding pain answered him.

He felt the scalding blade cleave his defenseless soul like paper, felt the scarlet plasma vaporise his existence, and felt the dark, chaotic flames in its center devour his sealed energy. No! It was stripping his authority away!

He watched the golden river of time representing him vanish into the relentless, chaotic flow in horror. There was no remaining doubt in his mind. That mortal could kill him! He opened his mouth, roaring. "You can’t!" But only a weak gurgle escaped his lips.

The three Hecatonchires watched on the side, shadows dancing on their grim faces. They had thought they would guard Cronus until the end of times. Yet, here they were, watching a mortal free him from his miserable life of torments.

Briareus sighed as Cronus’ soul collapsed, then drifted into Adam. "You betrayed your promise to free us, but I wish you a peaceful rest... brother."

Cottus and Gyge nodded, conflicted sighs escaping their lips.

Yet, their melancholy rapidly faded at the feeling they got from Adam and how he changed.

He clenched his fists, his chaotic body roaring to life. He sensed it digest and carve something—a divine trait like the one he got from Odin’s eye—into his cells.

His system stirred, notifications rumbling in his ears and popping before his eyes in a grand spectacle.

[You’ve assimilated Cronus’ trait: Tyrant of the Golden Age.]

[You can establish a golden age zone within your domain. Inside, your people’s ageing is slowed to a crawl. ]

[You are immune to temporal effects, time-based attacks, or timeline erasure.]

Landing on the ground, he grinned. ’Not exactly the time manipulation I wanted, but still incredibly useful.’

How could he be disappointed? Time had no hold on him anymore, not to mention the benefits for his citizens.

Another notification that made his eyes sparkle followed.

[You have defeated the tier 9 level 100 Titan: Cronus, Supreme Ruler Over Time & Civilization. You have gained 400.000.000 experience points.]

’That’s it? That’s not enough to max out...’ At least he would finally surpass his level before he had used the scroll of absolution... still it felt somewhat low for someone like Cronus.

’Well, I still have four Titans to kill.’ He clenched his fists, anticipating the next notification.

[Promotion quest completed. The gods’ authority can’t break the tier barrier.]

[Assessing the lord’s reputation and how much impact his name has on mortal populations.]

He nodded, his fists trembling. This was it—the moment he stepped into the realm of divinities.

However, a wave of rage washed his eagerness away as the notification glitched.

[The Greek and Northern pantheons are forcefully cancelling the process.]