Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest-Chapter 366: The Cap Heist

The ground trembled like roiling waves as two sharp blades grazed Adam’s cheek, but his smirk broadened. The same trick wouldn’t work twice, and the cap was his!

With a stomp that cracked the ground beneath his feet and his hands firmly gripping the cap, he launched his body upward.

"What?!" Hades’ eyes widened as his weapon pierced nothing. But, shock soon turned into horror, and Tartarus’ red sky replaced its rocky floor.

Mid-air, Adam twisted. Using the cap as an anchor, he swung around with the momentum, flipping over Hades’ head. The motion’s centrifugal force turned the artifact into a pivot point—one that turned the tremors and Hades’ forward momentum into weaknesses. With a grunt, he redirected the god’s force by hurling him toward the approaching Titans as he landed.

And in his trembling fingers was the golden cap.

The invisibility veiling Hades instantly vanished, revealing the dark bident he had used to strike and his flapping dark toga adorned with golden Greek embroideries lining his collar.

But he ignored the god’s shining amethyst earrings, divine rings, and outraged roar. Even the Titans’ delighted yelps didn’t reach him. Instead, he shoved the cap on his head and flipped them all a middle finger. A cool sensation spread through his body for a split second before shadows emerged to shroud him in their embrace.

They could play together for all he cared. He had achieved his goals and got a pleasant bonus. Delaying would only increase risks. More importantly, he didn’t feel like he was escaping now that he had deprived the god of his possession using pure skills.

Not wasting a second, chaos engulfed his palm, then swirled into a portal. He leapt back, diving to the other side without watching how Hades would defend himself against the Titans.

He emerged beside the Styx’s source, his eyes landing on its trembling waters, a direct show of the Titan’s fear. How could she not, before her hundred armed big brothers?

Not that it mattered to him. They had to leave, and now! He raised his cap, turning visible again as he tapped Garduck’s slumped shoulder. "Told you I was behind you."

His general’s eyes widened before he lunged into a hug, his voice quivering in relief and suppressed guilt. "You’re safe! It’s my fault if I can’t support you in those moments, but things will change." He pulled back, eyes narrowing and fingers tight around Cottus’ arm. "You won’t ever face danger alone, Adam. I swear it upon my name."

Adam nodded, then gazed at the Hecatonchires. "I freed the Titans to keep the bastard busy, but we can’t waste a second." He opened another portal, this one leading to the rotten pier extending into the Acheron. "The exit is right behind. Move in first, I..."

He paused, a conflicted frown creasing his brows. Hades’ temporary weakness was as much of an opportunity as it was a risk—the risk of letting greed and ambition motivate his actions. Despite everything he had gotten, he couldn’t help but turn toward the Elysian fields.

He sighed, knowing it was perhaps a fatal mistake, especially with Achilles out cold in Briareus’ arms. Without him, he had no guide but would still go; to protect his territory, strengthen his weak army, and summon at least one monstrous mythical figure. "I’ll get something first."

Garduck let out a heavy exhale but nodded, nonetheless. It was part of the initial plan in the first place. If Adam felt confident, he had to trust him more than ever.

He gestured to the Hecatonchires. "Let’s leave this forsaken realm once and for all! We’ll wait for you outside the tunnel. Adam, you must return safely!"

Adam watched them leave, raising his thumb. Then, he lowered his cap, sliced space open, and leapt above the Cocytus. Nine dark plasma pillars erupted behind his back, propelling him toward his destination with booming noises. Faster than ever after ascending, the wind felt like a wall trying to slow him down, to crush him, but he hastened against the pressure, enduring it. Every second mattered.

And he was right.

The light sealing the gods’ authority flickered like a candle assaulted by a violent gale.

Inside a deep pit in Tartarus, gloom flashed across Hades’ eyes. As soon as the accursed thieving mortal left, the four Titans slammed him down. The tremor of the impact still coursed through his battered body. His breath came out shallow, with disturbing gurgles because of the blood filling his pierced lungs.

He tried to sit up, his clothes, charred and torn, drifting around him. What a humiliation for the great Hades. But everything was in vain. After all, who could kill the ruler of death?

Fury burned in his dark eyes, and his clenched jaw trembled as another colossal fist crashed into the pit. The pain—he hated it. Why must he suffer like a criminal instead of enjoying his wife’s presence in Elysium’s bright fields? This mortal! He had caused everything. ƒreewebɳovel.com

Before the impact registered, however, his fingers twitched into fists. Tsunamis of darkness erupted, icy, definitive—death. His authority had returned.

Menoetius, who was swinging, instantly palled while Iapetus, Hyperion, and

Coeus stepped back as the darkness shaped itself into a giant taller than them.

His somber lips curled, gloating flashing in his eyes. "I hope you had your minute of fun for your future look grim. Squirming chains will be the least of your worries, for I guarantee a world of maddening suffering—the kind you can’t even imagine."

Any trace of mockery faded from his voice. It turned icy, filled with unbound anger. Dark thorns flourished in Tartarus, followed by hails of horrifying bidents. The ground splintered, and the earth cried under his powers as he spoke. "Pathetic losers. We’ve defeated you at your prime. Yet, you dare raise your hands against me while weakened? Preposterous."

Hyperion moved before his brothers with a growl, his radiance facing off the darkness. Blazing stars appeared around him, splitting the wind to meet the bidents.

At the same moment, Iapetus created a shield thicker than a mountain and held it above their heads. But he trembled. They all did. The memories of the Titanomachy were still fresh, and although Hades was far from the strongest Olympian physically, he was... a genius administrator, an unmatched manipulator of death energies, and in his domain.

Darkness, light, and weapons sizzled in a deafening clash. Defiant roars, trying to snuff fear erupted, and muscles groaned for two brief minutes. Yet, only deathly silence followed rather than delighted screams.

Void-like darkness crawled on the mountains, revealing four chained Titans after it faded as Hades snorted in ridicule. "I’ll take care of you after placing the mortal right at Cronus’ spot."

He dissolved into shadows, gritting his teeth and cleaving the underworld to the Elysian fields. "To think I’ll hate someone as much as I hated this tyrant father of mine."