Reborn As Hades In Olympus

Ch. 170: The Hunters & The Hunted

The streets stretched eerily before us, devoid of life. A thick fog rolled in, curling around the lamp posts and consuming the light like ravenous tendrils. The town was silent— too silent— except for the distant crackling of the library's flames. My heart thudded heavily in my chest, though whether from exertion or dread, I couldn't say.

"Why is it so... empty?" Junghkook asked, his voice hushed as if speaking any louder might awaken some unseen horror.

"It's the domain," I said, gripping my walking stick tightly. "They've frozen this part of the town. It's their hunting ground now."

Junghkook shot me a sidelong glance. "Hunting ground? You're just full of great news today, aren't you? But what am I even doing under this domain?"

Ignoring his sarcasm, I pushed forward. The ache in my body was relentless, but I refused to let it slow me down. Not now. Not when every shadow felt like it was watching, waiting.

"Kid, Junghkook what are you doing around with a slingshot and the whisky?" I asked in a cold tone.

He ran his hand down his smooth long hair and avoided eye contact with me before saying. "I guess this must be your first time in this town. There are thieves here, what brought you here anyway and who are you?"

"Why are you so calm and collected under these circumstances?" I asked a question of my own as I pushed away the wheezing pain.

He smiled a bit and said. "Would you rather I panick and get myself killed?"

"Technically that would be a more appropriate reaction." I said without trying to show any sympathy.

He chuckled, I could feel the hint of nervousness underneath. "I read a lot of webtoons and watch movies. Besides I sort of into these sort of things. You still haven't told me who you are."

We turned a corner, and the fog seemed to thicken, muffling our steps and swallowing the sound of our breathing. The buildings loomed like skeletal remains, their windows dark and shattered. My walking stick tapped against the cobblestones, each strike echoing faintly before being consumed by the oppressive silence.

Then came the whisper— a faint, sibilant hiss that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere.

Junghkook froze, his hand tightening on the strap of his crossbag. "Did you hear that?"

I nodded, raising a hand to signal silence. The whisper grew louder, a chorus of malevolent voices speaking in a language that clawed at the edges of my mind.

"They're here," I murmured.

Suddenly, the fog ahead of us swirled violently, coalescing into the shapes of the three cloaked figures. Their golden chains glowed faintly, casting eerie reflections across the empty street.

"Run," I said, my voice low but firm.

"Shit!" Junghkook didn't need to be told twice. He bolted, and I followed, my old legs protesting with every step. The figures didn't give chase immediately, but I could feel their presence pressing down on us, their golden light flickering like hungry flames.

It was like they were bidding their time, relishing in the state of the hunt. It infuriated me to think I was being toyed as such.

We ducked into an alley, the narrow space between buildings offering a temporary reprieve. Junghkook leaned against the wall, his chest heaving.

"We can't keep running," he said, his voice tight with exhaustion. "They'll catch us eventually."

"I know," I admitted, glancing around for anything we could use. The alley was littered with debris— broken crates, rusted pipes, scraps of fabric— but nothing that could stop the hunters.

"I need time," I said, more to myself than to him.

"Time for what?" Junghkook sounded a bit desperate.

"To recover my abilities. To fight them properly." I said my voice showing conviction.

Junghkook frowned. "And how do we do that? Do you need some kind of ritual? A magic potion? A nap?"

Before I could answer, a low growl echoed from the far end of the alley. I turned sharply, my grip tightening on the walking stick. A pair of glowing eyes stared back at us from the darkness.

"Not another one," Junghkook groaned, reaching for his slingshot. "Old man I won't bother you more on why they are after you or how you can do what you do. Tell me, can you really beat them."

The creature stepped into the faint light, revealing a wolf-like form with jet-black fur and golden markings that pulsed like veins of molten metal. Its maw dripped with an otherworldly black ichor, and its gaze was locked on us.

"Stay behind me," I said, raising my stick.

Enjoy more content from empire

The wolf lunged, its movements unnaturally fast. I barely managed to sidestep, swinging the stick with all my strength. The impact sent the creature skidding into a pile of crates, but it recovered almost instantly, snarling as it stalked toward us again.

"Now would be a great time for those powers of yours to kick in," Junghkook said, firing a metal ball at the wolf. It struck the creature's shoulder, but the impact barely fazed it.

"I'm working on it," I muttered, focusing inward. It was not easy dividing my attention between my powers, the creature, my straining mind and body.

I could feel the remnants of my power, like embers in a dying fire. If I could just stoke them, draw them out...

The wolf charged again, and this time, it went for Junghkook. I reacted instinctively, slamming the walking stick into the ground. A burst of energy erupted from the stick, creating a shockwave that sent the wolf flying. The force also knocked Junghkook and me off our feet, but it gave us a moment to breathe.

"That was... something," Junghkook said, picking himself up.

"Not enough," I replied, struggling to stand.

The wolf rose again, its golden markings glowing brighter. It howled, and the sound was answered by a dozen others.

"Time to go," I said, pulling Junghkook to his feet.

We ran again, weaving through the empty streets as the howls grew closer. The fog seemed to thicken with every step, and the oppressive weight of the domain pressed down on us.

Finally, we reached what appeared to be an old church. Its doors were ajar, and faint light flickered from within.

"In here," I said, pushing the doors open.

The interior was dimly lit by a single candelabra on the altar, it was a single candle holder flickering it's flame around thw inners of the church. The air was heavy with the scent of wax and decay. We barricaded the doors with a broken pew and collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath.

"What now?" Junghkook asked, his voice shaky.

I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I closed my eyes and focused inward, searching for the power that had once flowed so easily through me. It was there, faint but present, like a long-lost friend waiting to be called upon.

"I need time," I said finally.

Junghkook nodded, though his expression was uncertain.

Before either of us could say more, a soft voice broke the silence.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Father?"

My heart stopped. I turned slowly, my gaze falling on a figure standing in the doorway of the church.

It was Jessie. My daughter.

I rose to my feet and looked at her with uncertainty, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination.

"Jessie?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

She stepped forward, her movements cautious. "I've been looking for you," she said. "There's so much I need to tell you."

Junghkook looked between us, his confusion evident. "You have a daughter?"

I ignored him, my focus entirely on Jessie. "How... How are you here?"

"There's no time to explain," she said, glancing nervously at the barricaded doors. "They're coming."

The sound of growls and whispers grew louder, and the light from the candelabra flickered ominously.

Jessie reached into her coat and pulled out a small vial filled with a shimmering, golden liquid. "This might help," she seemed to sense that I would attack her if she came closer so she tossed the vial to me.

"What is it?" I asked as I caught it, not checking it at first.

"Your strength," she said simply.

Her eyes were soft and I could not feel any decide or malice from it. But I was still hesitant.

The doors shuddered under the weight of something massive, and the growls turned into snarls.

"Father, since I have been a child I have been having these visions," Jessie urged. "This time it was not a vision, I became transported here somehow."

She still wore the same clothes I had left her in, if she really meant what she said then that could only mean there was more to my rebirth.

The doors splintered in that moment, and the hunters stepped into the church, their golden chains glowing brightly.

I uncorked the vial, the liquid within pulsing with a familiar energy. With a deep breath, I drank it down.

And then, everything changed.