Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest-Chapter 369: The Price of Bravado

Lightning crackled, sharp gales roared, and darkness roiled in Hades’ castle, the vibrations travelling the underworld’s every corner.

Adam felt them resonate in his bones even by the Acheron’s desolate bank, each strike weighing on his heart like lead. But seconds were luxuries he couldn’t afford to squander. No, he could only rush to the tunnel and hope Susanoo-No-Mikoto would escape.

He lowered his cap, biting his twisted lip as the underworld’s sky faded into a damp ceiling. His steps echoed at the rhythm of his hammering heart, the scent of mold, the icy mist, and the wraiths’ whispers not registering in his conflicted mind.

Instead, Kusanagi’s cold metal dug into his clenched fist. A new notification had appeared—not the one he wanted to see. Barely thirty seconds had passed since he had escaped, yet...

A heavy sigh escaped his lips. Trying to veil what he had already expected with hope wouldn’t change the truth that hovered in bold letters before his eyes.

[Susanoo-No-Mikoto fought bravely, but Hades’ bident found a way to his heart.]

It was plain but so heavy, at least enough for him to regret his bravado. ’I should have left the second I gripped Kusanagi. Better, I should have left with Garduck and the Hecatonchires. Because of me...’ Regret tore at his heart. ’Because of me, Susanoo will suffer in Tartarus.’

He shook his head, the chaotic rhythm of his charge steadying. There was no denying it; it was his fault. But, lamenting wouldn’t help.

Three times retreating against his beliefs. Saved when powerless against the two insurmountable walls that Hades and Zeus represented. Everything weighed too much. And the speed at which Susanoo lost made it a million times worse. Power! He needed more power—enough to behead these cosmic giants on his own.

"I’ll free you." He gazed back, the cave’s entrance already replaced by decaying moss. But a steely glint flashed in his eyes. "I promise."

Little did he know that Izanami would not let her dear son rot in Tartarus for even a second. Susanoo’s soul had already been recalled to Ne-No-Kuni, where he scratched his head.

"Only thirty seconds? How is Zeus so much stronger than father?"

Izanami’s colorful ceremonial robes ruffled as she chuckled softly. "They are monstrous tyrants." She caressed her son’s hair tenderly, shaking her head. "If you didn’t surprise them, you wouldn’t have lasted two seconds. I’m proud of you."

Susanoo reluctantly nodded before a frown creased his brows. "Why don’t we warn Adam about my safety, though?"

"Why would we?" Izanami sighed. "He’s one of us now, even if still a newborn fumbling on his growing legs. And... I want him to remember this lesson."

Susanoo nodded. A lesson without price was rapidly forgotten. Regret for losing the powerful ally he could have had and imagining the torment he faced was surely enough.

But it wasn’t merely manipulation this time. It was a trade, one that would make Adam a threat to even ancient tyrants. After all, she ruled over her own underworld, and the sword hadn’t appeared in Hades without reason.

"Use it well, Adam. Kusangi is your expedition’s most important reward," she said, her voice a mysterious melody before she faded with Susanoo.

As she did, Hades’ brows twitched as he retrieved his bident from where Susanoo’s impaled chest should have been. "Another underworld ruler... Izanami got us."

Zeus’ lip curled in dissatisfaction. "This bitch is of no importance. Where is the mortal?"

"Gone... I should have stopped him." Hades pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling heavily.

His cap, a part of his mythical identity, was gone with Adam. It wasn’t about cosmic order to him, but something personal. Alas, the painful surprise attack had momentarily distracted him. "He just left the cave. We can’t interfere anymore."

"It shouldn’t be possible." Lightning brewed in Zeus’ eyes, but a deep furrow soon replaced his anger. "He’s the weakest but a god, nonetheless. Why is he unaffected by the rules? How can he step on mortal lands as he wishes?"

"Is it because he ascended? No... Others like him are still bound. I’m missing a piece." Hades tucked his fingers around his chin. "Is it related to my temporary loss of authority?"

Remembering the light that had sealed even his authority, understanding sparked in Zeus’ eyes. "You haven’t seen it from the underworld, but a light robbed every single pantheon of their authorities. I don’t know who or what caused it, but it also restarted his ascension. Could it have negated the rules on him?"

"Impossible!" Hades’ hair bristled in horror. "Only primordials wield this much power, and one won’t be enough to seal every pantheon. Nyx, Tartarus, and Erebus are still sleeping in the underworld. Uranus is long gone, and so is Eros, which leaves only Chaos and Gaia."

"It can’t be Chaos. I banished him outside our universe." Zeus frowned, the answer growing further. "And Gaia... She’s an automatic cosmic life creator. At least I’ve never seen her."

With the list of suspects cleared, yet no culprit, Hades sighed. "Sealing our authorities can’t come without a price—it can’t be done repeatedly. We should focus on the mortal." He pointed through the collapsed wall. "Do we send all our remaining heroes to reinforce the coalition?"

Zeus nodded without talking, his face solemn. He had to stop Adam and the chaotic faction before they brought Chaos back, but a few heroes? Not enough—at least without divine blessings. He fell deep in thought, weighing his options.

***

Meanwhile, Adam emerged from the cave, his eyes landing on Garduck and the Hecatonchires.

They rushed to him, smiling in relief. But he cut them off. "I’ll explain on the way. Let’s return to the territory first."

Garduck nodded, but the Hecatonchires reminded him of his promise to destroy Tartarus when the war against Olympus began.

He nodded, then recounted his near-death experience and how Susanoo had saved him. He clutched Kusanagi the entire time, his voice somber. "We need time to evolve and master our powers."

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AN: Want 5 more tomorrow? Please review and comment XD.

Note: they don’t even consider Tiamat, so they don’t mention her.