[Musutafu: 1 hour before]
[Point of view: Third person]
The city of Musutafu, normally bustling with energy, was plunged into a tense calm following the recent terrorist attack. Even as the days passed, uncertainty and fear remained in the air.
Heroes patrolled the streets more frequently, and police officers could be seen on alert on every corner.
New checkpoints had been set up and surveillance drones were patrolling the main avenues.
The civilians, although trying to continue with their routine, could not help but look over their shoulders with unease.
Terror still beat in their hearts.
The country's most important politicians and heroes had held press conferences in an attempt to reassure the population.
However, the truth was that there were still no clear clues as to who was responsible.
Some outlets blamed a group of unknown villains, while others suggested the disaster was caused by an out-of-control Quirk.
There was no definitive evidence, and theories only fueled fear.
High atop a downtown building, a giant screen broadcast the country's most-watched newscast.
"The death toll from the terrorist attack has risen to 200, with more than 500 injured still recovering," the presenter reported in a grave and solemn tone. "Authorities have not yet identified the perpetrators, but they have offered a multimillion-dollar reward for any relevant information."
The footage showed ruined buildings, streets covered in debris, and ambulances transporting the wounded. Among the archive videos, the scene of an explosion consuming an entire avenue was repeated over and over again.
—The government insists that citizens' safety is guaranteed, but the latest reports indicate that people remain fearful and distrustful. According to recent polls, 68% of the population believes there will be another attack in the coming months.
The image changed to show a towering man, dressed in a blue and gold suit.
—To calm the situation, the number one hero has announced a press conference tomorrow in Musutafu. He is expected to address public concerns and provide details on the ongoing investigations.
In front of the huge screen, a young woman watched the broadcast attentively.
She was a girl with straight brown hair and thick bangs, which covered most of her face.
Her school uniform, though immaculate, was somewhat wrinkled from the tension in her body. Her hands gripped the straps of her backpack tightly while her gaze remained fixed on the screen.
Sigh.
Not that he cared much about politics or press conferences, but anything was better than thinking about the end of his school day.
Today, at least, she'd managed to get out without incident. She hadn't been pushed, her lunch taken, or her backpack hidden.
Maybe, just maybe, I could get home without any problems.
He looked down and started walking.
"If I hurry, I can get there before dark," she whispered to herself.
He took a different route than usual, hoping to avoid any unwanted encounters. But then, a chill ran down his spine.
Something wasn't right.
The sound of footsteps was heard behind her. Quick, light... But unmistakable.
A knot formed in her stomach.
His body stiffened.
Before she could react, she felt a hand firmly place on her shoulder.
—Hooonguito-chan!
The mocking tone chilled his blood.
His breathing stopped for a moment, and cold sweat began to accumulate on his forehead.
Heart pounding in her chest, she turned slowly, coming face to face with a group of four girls.
The one in front, the one who had touched her, had pink hair and a smile as wide as it was cruel. Her uniform was perfectly tailored, with the skirt tucked in to make it look shorter and the tie slightly loosened. Her friends, with equally striking hair colors, giggled maliciously behind her.
"Were you going to leave without saying goodbye? That's very rude of you, Kinoko," the pink-haired girl said, leaning forward slightly, invading her personal space.
"I..." the girl murmured, swallowing.
The words caught in her throat. Her body wanted to move, wanted to flee, but her legs wouldn't respond.
—Me what? Were you ignoring us again? That's not very nice, mushroom-chan.
The other girls laughed.
"You know, I found a perfect place to hang out," the leader continued, holding her shoulders tighter. "I think we'll have a lot of fun."
He had no chance to protest.
Before she could do anything, she was pushed forward, completely surrounding her.
I knew what was coming.
I've been through this before.
And all I could do was pray that this time it wouldn't be worse than the last.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Outskirts of the city]
The group of girls finally arrived at their destination. They walked along with carefree laughter, chatting about cute boys and the "fun" they were about to have.
"This is it!" announced Sakura, the pink-haired girl, stopping in the middle of the bridge and pointing excitedly.
"What's 'this'?" asked Aoi, the blue-haired girl, tilting her head curiously.
"My dad brought me here once, and I discovered something interesting," Sakura continued with a mischievous smile. "Right there, in that makeshift shelter, lives a boy our age."
They all leaned over the edge of the bridge to see what Sakura was pointing at.
Down by the river was an old tent, threadbare and mud-stained. It looked too small for anyone to live in.
"Do you think he's a bum?" asked Kaede, the green-haired woman, leaning dangerously on the railing.
"Or maybe she ran away from home," Aoi added, narrowing her eyes. "Although... don't you think it's weird?"
-What thing?
—If he really is a bum... he doesn't look like one.
The girls fell silent when they saw a boy appear along the path by the river.
He had a relaxed but firm posture, and although his clothes were worn and disheveled, he did not have the unkempt appearance one would expect from someone homeless.
He wasn't haggard or dirty. He had a calm expression, with cold, calculating eyes that contrasted sharply with the light evening breeze.
"He's... handsome," Kaede murmured, surprised.
"I didn't expect that at all," Aoi added. "I always imagined vagrants as crazy old people, not... well, that."
"Do you think he's a prince who ran away from home?" Sakura mocked in an exaggerated tone. "Maybe he's a rebel who gave up his fortune and is now a vigilante!"
Everyone laughed at the idea, except for Kinoko Komori, who looked at the tent with a mixture of discomfort and curiosity.
And that, of course, did not go unnoticed.
"Ohhh!" Kaede crooned, gently pushing her. "Did Tree-ear fall in love?"
"Huh...?" Kinoko instantly tensed, her skin prickling and her hands trembling slightly.
"Look at her! She's all red!" Aoi laughed and pushed her a little harder.
"Don't be mean, Aoi, she's just dreaming of living in a cardboard box with her homeless boyfriend," Sakura mocked, leaning towards her with a poisonous smile.
—N-no... I... —Kinoko tried to step back, but her legs were shaking too much.
Each push brought her closer to the bridge railing. His fingers tightened on her skirt, but he didn't have the courage to fight back. He knew any attempt would only make things worse.
"Hongguito-chan, Hongguito-chan, Hongguito-chan!" Kaede sang in a mocking tone.
"You know what, Kinoko?" Sakura said, leaning even closer to her, her warm breath brushing her ear. "You should get to know him better."
—W-what...?
The sound of laughter mingled with the dull thud of a body hitting the railing.
Kinoko barely had time to process it before she felt hands forcefully push her.
The world tilted precipitously.
Her stomach tightened as her body fell backward, her vision filled with the orange-tinted sky.
The air escaped from her lungs in a strangled scream.
And then, she felt the cutting cold of the water swallowing her whole.
Her body hit the surface with a brutal impact, and the current immediately swept her away.
Water rushed into her nose and throat, drowning her before she could even react. She kicked desperately, her hands flailing in every direction as she struggled to find the surface. But the current was stronger.
On the bridge, the laughter did not stop.
The girls held their stomachs as they laughed uncontrollably, their laughter echoing like twisted twitches in the stillness of the evening.
For them, this was just another game. Another practical joke they'd forget in a matter of days.
But for Kinoko, it was hell.
His lungs burned, his chest tightened unbearably.
He wanted to scream, but all he managed was to swallow more water.
His vision was beginning to darken.
Until a noise cut short the laughter.
A loud splash, followed by a dark silhouette jumping into the river without hesitation.
[POV: Hades]
—Fuck, fuck, fuck!
My thoughts roared like thunder in my head as I ran with all my might toward the shore.
The image of the girl falling into the water repeated itself over and over again in my mind, like a damn nightmare I couldn't erase.
His body had hit the surface with a dull thud, swallowed by the current in the blink of an eye.
But the worst part wasn't seeing her sink.
The worst were them.
The raucous laughter that echoed from the bridge.
Tall, unhinged, mocking.
They were laughs of satisfaction. The laughter of someone who enjoys seeing another suffer.
Something in my chest burned with fury.
Every step I took on the wet earth made me feel like my pride was being torn apart.
Why was I running? Why was I throwing myself at her without a second thought? Why was I acting like a stupid mortal?
-Curse!
My jaw tightened until it hurt. My mind screamed at me to stop, that I didn't have to mess with the petty problems of a mere human.
But something inside me wouldn't let me stop.
It was an uncontrollable urge, an irrational need that burned me from within.
Something buried deep inside this body, something that wasn't mine... but was somehow there.
My legs ached, burning with exertion, but I didn't stop. My breathing became erratic, as if my own lungs couldn't keep up with my frenzy.
The blood boiled in my veins, pumping faster than I could bear.
And then, I saw her.
His arms flailed desperately on the surface of the water. His pale, gaunt face surfaced for only a few seconds before being swallowed by the turbulent currents. He couldn't swim. He was drowning.
The fear in their eyes was so pure, so heartbreaking, that my body moved on its own.
I took one step, then two, flexed the muscles in my left leg, and jumped.
At that moment, everything went silent.
The wind roared in my ears, gravity pulled me down mercilessly, the image of dark water approached at a terrifying speed.
My mind went into panic.
—Wait... I can't swim!
The water engulfed me with a brutal blow.
The impact knocked the air out of my lungs and my body immediately sank, swallowed by the current.
Everything became a maelstrom of shadows and cold.
The pressure hit me from all sides, suffocating me, dragging me to the bottom.
I kicked in despair, feeling terror stabbing my chest.
—Damn it! Damn it! Damn this weakness!
The water clouded my senses, blinding me, drowning me.
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. My body writhed in the chaos of the river, a mere doll dragged along by the current.
But then, among the murky swirl of shadows, I saw a figure moving.
She.
Barely distinguishable in the dim water, she struggled with all her might to stay afloat. Her movements were clumsy, desperate, and with each passing second, the current dragged her further out.
If he didn't do something now, he was going to die.
My muscles tensed violently.
My pride roared in protest, furious at being reduced to this pathetic condition. But the pressure in my chest, the same one that had driven me to run, grew even stronger.
And I moved.
My arms reached out in his direction, ignoring the brutality of the water pounding against my body.
An instinct that wasn't mine took control.
An instinct that wanted to save her at all costs.
I gripped her wrist tightly, feeling her cold, slippery skin beneath my fingers.
Her eyes widened in shock and fear. For a moment, she seemed unable to comprehend what was happening.
—Calm down... You'll be fine now, stupid mortal.
My voice came out broken, choked by the effort.
She tried to answer, but the water swallowed us again.
And together, we fight against death.
[Point of view: Third person]
[On the bridge]
The girls watched the scene with a mixture of excitement and mockery. There wasn't a hint of concern on their faces, not even when the unknown boy jumped into the water to save Kinoko.
"How dramatic," Sakura commented with a sly smile. "Don't you think it's too much for a simple fall?"
"Ha ha, yeah. It sounds like a scene from a cheap soap opera," Aoi added, crossing her arms.
"Maybe the bum was just in the mood to play the hero," Kaede mocked, waving her hand as if in dismissal. "Though, who knows, maybe they'll both drown and things will get interesting."
The laughter continued, distorted by the echo of the bridge.
There was no empathy in his words, only a cruel amusement that surrounded them like a malicious aura.
"Well, this is getting boring," Sakura sighed, turning away with her hands in her pockets. "We've done our good deed for the day."
"Yeah, now I'm sure "Mushroom-chan" and the tramp are soulmates or something," Aoi mocked.
The others laughed and began to walk away, leaving the scene behind as if it had never happened.
They didn't care whether Kinoko came out of the water or not. For them, she was already a thing of the past.
But what they didn't notice was that, among the shadows, a small skeleton was following them, moving stealthily behind them.
[Meanwhile, at the river]
The water was freezing.
It bit into the skin like it had teeth, sinking into every fiber of Hades's body as he struggled between surface and depth.
I couldn't breathe.
Water filled his nose, his throat, his lungs. Despair hit him like a hammer blow to the chest as he felt his body not respond as it should.
"Damn it!" he growled in his mind, as the currents dragged him along like a simple piece of driftwood.
I couldn't believe it. A god, trapped in this misery.
His pride burned hotter than his lungs, hotter than his muscles, which craved oxygen. He felt pathetic, weak. He hated it. He hated this fragility, hated this mortal body that drowned so easily, that he couldn't even swim.
But more than anything, I hated what I was feeling.
A part of him screamed, demanding that he not give up. It wasn't his own voice. It was something else. Something that refused to let that girl die.
The beating of his heart pounded violently in his ears, like war drums.
He had to move.
With a strength he didn't know he had, he reached out and caught the girl.
Kinoko was submerged, kicking weakly as the water swallowed her. Her expression was pure terror. Her eyes trembled, her mouth opened and closed as if she were trying to scream, but only bubbles came out.
She didn't know how to swim either.
-Curse!
Hades pulled her towards him with a sharp yank, clinging to her slender body like an anchor.
Kinoko sobbed, clutching his shirt with trembling fingers. She was terrified.
"Don't let go!" he roared, though his voice was drowned out by the roar of the river.
The current kept carrying them. Her body protested, her instinct told her to stop fighting, to surrender to the water. But no. She wouldn't.
He refused to die here.
He refused to let the mortal die.
His gaze scanned the surroundings, desperately searching for a way out.
There were rocks jutting out ahead. If I could reach them...
The next whirlpool hit him hard, throwing him against one of those rocks.
A sharp pain shot through his back, but he didn't let go of Kinoko.
With a grunt, he forced his arm to move and gripped the rock with all his might. His fingers tore against the rough surface, but he didn't care.
"Hold on to me!" he shouted.
Kinoko moaned, barely conscious, but obeyed. She clung to his arm with all her might, her nails digging into his skin.
Every muscle in Hades burned with exertion, but he ignored the pain.
With one last push of sheer willpower, he used the rock for support and managed to lift Kinoko high enough to drag her out of the water.
She fell to her knees on the bank, coughing and gasping, her eyes filling with tears.
But Hades hadn't come out yet.
His hands slipped from the rock, his body continued to be pulled by the current.
—No... not again!
With a roar of pure rage, he dug his fingers into the muddy earth and forced his body to move.
Every muscle screamed in protest, but refused to let go.
With a final effort, he dragged himself out of the water, landing on his back next to Kinoko.
The cold air filled her lungs, and for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, she could breathe.
He stood there, staring up at the dark sky, his body trembling from the cold and exhaustion.
"I don't remember... Gaia having... that much power..." he murmured between gasps.
Kinoko sobbed beside him, hugging herself, still trembling.
But they were alive.
And Hades, his gaze lost in the firmament, felt something strange in his chest. Something he didn't want to acknowledge.
[Several minutes later]
Night had completely claimed the city.
Darkness tried to plunge it into darkness, but human modernity had managed to prevail against such an ancient enemy.
However, beneath the bridge, the light of civilization had no power. There, darkness claimed its territory unchallenged.
But Hades wasn't willing to give in to the night so easily.
He took Kinoko's shoulder firmly, not allowing her to resist, and forced her to follow him.
His clothes were soaked, and although he wasn't afraid of getting sick, he knew his mortal body wasn't as resilient as a god's.
—Come on. We need to dry off.
Kinoko did not dare to protest and followed him silently.
Once they found the orange tent, Hades knelt down and began piling dry branches and leaves into the circle of rocks with cold ashes from a previous campfire.
His body was still trembling from the cold, but his pride prevented him from showing it.
He bent down and rubbed two stones between his hands, trying to create sparks. But his fingers were clumsy, slippery from the icy water.
He cursed under his breath.
—Damn hands...!
The fire refused to be born. Each attempt ended in failure, and its rage grew with every passing second.
Kinoko, who had been watching him silently, finally gathered the courage to speak.
—Let me try...
Hades gave him a sideways glance, annoyed by the suggestion.
-Rest.
The order was firm and sharp.
And at the very moment he spoke those words, a spark was born between the stones.
The fire came to life, as if it had been waiting for the right moment to challenge the darkness.
The flames flickered, growing slowly into a warm bonfire that illuminated their faces.
Hades watched the flames with a smirk, feeling, if only a little, like the god he used to be.
And feeling benevolent, he took a small can of tuna and threw it in the direction of the shocked girl.
—Here, I suppose you haven't eaten anything yet.
Kinoko barely reacted in time to catch the can against her chest, staring at the object in surprise. She hadn't expected... this?
A gesture of kindness.
No, it wasn't kindness. This was just a small mercy from a god toward a mere mortal who would die if she went hungry.
She stared at the can for a moment and then, gathering as much courage as she could muster, opened her mouth to speak:
—What... what is this?
"Food," Hades replied without even looking at her, as he took a small can with the words "Nuka-Cola" printed on it.
Frowning, he examined the can and studied the pull ring with a hole at the top.
—How is it possible to package a liquid in this metal container...?
The god's murmur went unnoticed by Kinoko, but not the expression of concentration he had while analyzing the can.
Then, with a sharp pull, he opened it.
A soft gassing sound escaped, and Hades's eyes widened slightly. He peered inside cautiously before bringing the can to his lips.
The first sip was... interesting.
The sweet yet bubbly taste ran through her mouth, dancing across her taste buds, only to travel down her throat, her eyes lighting up with a mixture of surprise and pleasure.
"Wow..." he murmured, impressed by the elixir of mortals.
And without a second thought, he brought the can back to his mouth and began to drink greedily.
Fatal error.
Gas built up in his throat, and before he could react, a coughing fit shook him violently.
—Gkh! Kh! Damn!
But the real tragedy came when some of the liquid trickled down his nose.
-Fuck!
The heat hit him like a Titan's slap, and Hades leaned forward, raising a hand to his face as the bubbling gas tormented him.
The scene was too much for Kinoko.
The girl brought a hand to her mouth, her shoulders shaking with the effort of containing her laughter.
But in the end... he couldn't.
—Hahahaha! You're an idiot!
Hades, still recovering from the soda attack, looked up with a frown.
—Shut up, mortal!
But Kinoko couldn't.
—Hahaha! You almost choked on soda!
—I saved your life, you damn ingrate!
—Yes, and you almost died from a can!
The god snorted angrily, crossing his arms in indignation.
—If you laugh one more second, I'll send you back to the river.
Kinoko, still smiling, raised both hands in surrender.
—Okay, okay... I'll shut up now.
But the way he kept holding back his laughter while looking away said otherwise.
Silence settled between them.
The fire crackled softly, casting dancing shadows across their faces. Night enveloped everything around them, crickets chirped, the wind blew gently, and for a moment, it seemed like the world had shrunk to just the two of them and the campfire.
Kinoko hugged herself, enjoying the warmth.
Hades, his pride still wounded, looked at the fire with an impassive expression.
But out of the corner of his eye, he saw how the flames were reflected in the girl's eyes.
Her wet hair gleamed with the orange glow, and for a moment, the god noticed how... serene she looked.
He shook his head, pushing away any unnecessary thoughts.
"Thank you..." Kinoko whispered suddenly, breaking the silence.
Hades raised an eyebrow.
—What did you say?
She looked at him for a second before looking down.
-Nothing.
Hades clicked his tongue.
—Don't waste my time.
Kinoko rolled her eyes.
—I said thanks. For saving me... Even though you're an idiot.
Hades snorted arrogantly, looking away.
—It's only natural for a god to help a mere mortal in trouble. You don't have to say that.
Kinoko watched him for a moment and then smiled sideways.
—You're a tsundere, aren't you?
Hades turned his head sharply, frowning.
—What the hell does that mean?
Kinoko laughed again, enjoying the moment.
The fire continued to dance between them, illuminating their faces with its soft glow.
A silence fell between them before Hades broke it.
"Aren't you going to eat that?" he asked, pointing at the small can of tuna the girl was holding.
She looked at him and frowned.
—I don't have a spoon.
Hades rolled his eyes in exaggeration.
—Fingers are the universal, deadly spoon.
—That's disgusting.
—It's practical.
—You're stupid.
The girl sighed and, without thinking much more, threw the can straight into the God's face.
A loud thud echoed through the night as the object landed squarely on his forehead.
For a second, Hades just blinked, his expression blank.
Then the pain overtook him, and he brought a hand to his head, slightly wobbly on the log where he was sitting.
"You..." he murmured, his tone dark. "You dare to hurt a God!"
The roar of his voice made the girl let out a small squeal. Without a second thought, she stood up and ran off in the opposite direction.
Hades watched her flee, and for a moment, his expression was that of a predator on the prowl. His lips curved into a malicious smile before he launched himself after her.
—Come back here, you insolent brat! I'll teach you to respect the Gods!
The chase began under the Musutafu Bridge.
The girl dodged stones and puddles, laughing between gasps as the God followed close behind her, enjoying the game.
At first, his voice had been filled with fury, but soon, his threatening shouts mingled with laughter.
The footsteps on the damp earth echoed along with their laughter, transforming the previous tension into a night tinged with joy and freedom.
When the girl finally stopped, breathless, Hades leaned back on his knees, pretending not to be that tired.
"You didn't last five minutes," he said with a mocking smile.
"I wasn't really running away!" she protested, puffing out her cheeks.
Hades let out a laugh and sank down onto the wet grass, staring up at the night sky by the fire.
—You are unbearable, mortal.
"You too," she replied with a small smile, sitting next to him.
A soft night wind blew between them, and for a moment, the silence was comfortable.
After all the chaos of the water, the adrenaline, and the fear, this felt like a respite. A moment of calm neither of them would admit they needed.
The girl turned her head slightly and saw Hades with his hair disheveled, the moon reflecting in his crimson eyes.
His expression was no longer arrogant or proud, but simply relaxed.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, turning his face toward her with a raised eyebrow.
She quickly looked away.
-Nothing!
Hades smiled, amused by her reaction, but said nothing more. He just raised the can of tuna with a casual gesture.
—So, can I keep it?
—Do what you want.
Laughter filled the night again, an echo of the strange relationship they were unwittingly building.
[The next day]
A new day dawned over the city of Musutafu as the rising sun bathed the figure of Hades, sitting on an old log, in its golden light.
Last night's fun had left him more exhausted than he'd thought. For the first time in a long time, he'd experienced what it was like to laugh and play with someone else.
Slowly, the ancient God began to awaken from his unconsciousness.
He half-opened his eyes, staring at the last embers of last night's campfire. The once-dancing flames were now just small orange glows, murmuring faint whispers of warmth in the chilly early morning air.
Hades still felt sleepy, but as he closed his eyes again, memories of the previous night came flooding back.
He remembered how, after running until they were out of breath, they both just sat there on the wet grass, letting the glow of the embers cover them.
"Hah... this is ridiculous..." the girl muttered, rubbing her arms. "I almost drowned a little while ago, and now I'm here, sitting with a supposed God, as if nothing ever happened."
Hades snorted derisively.
—I'd say you should feel honored. Not everyone has the privilege of sharing a campfire with a divine being.
"Privilege? Please. I was the one who took your breath away during the race," she replied with a satisfied smile.
—As far as I can remember, you ran out of breath after five minutes.
-Of course not!
Hades rolled his eyes, but couldn't stop a barely perceptible smile from forming on his face.
There was a moment of comfortable silence between them, where only the crackling of the embers filled the air. Then the girl turned her head toward him and spoke in a lighter tone.
—By the way, my name is Kinoko Komori.
Hades raised an eyebrow and looked at her out of the corner of his eye.
—You have the name of a mushroom.
"Yes, yes, very original," she replied sarcastically. "My Quirk is related to that."
"Do you have a mushroom Quirk?" Hades asked skeptically.
—I can make spores grow on any surface, even people.
Hades narrowed his eyes, trying to find some real use for that ability.
—It seems pretty useless.
"Hey, I could fill an entire camp with food with this if I wanted," Kinoko protested, crossing her arms. "Besides, I doubt you have any. You didn't use it while we were at the river."
—You're right... I don't have a Quirk. I have divine power. It's completely different.
Kinoko let out a laugh and shook her head.
—Whatever you say, "Wandering God."
The memory faded as Hades returned to the present.
A sigh escaped her lips as she noticed the now fully illuminated sky. She stretched a little, feeling the slight stiffness in her muscles before standing up.
"Guess it's time to see if that brat is still occupying my home," he muttered to himself as he walked toward his old tent.
But to his surprise, he found it wide open.
Hades raised an eyebrow, suspicious. He entered cautiously, expecting to find some mess, but all he saw was a neatly stacked pile of mushrooms along with a small note.
He took it and read it aloud.
—"Thank you for helping me, Hades-san. As a token of my gratitude, here's your breakfast. I hope you like mushrooms..."
Hades lowered the note and looked at the pile of mushrooms with an inscrutable expression.
—I guess it won't hurt to eat some.
And with that, he dropped to the ground, picking up a mushroom and putting it in his mouth without much thought.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Several hours later]
The hours passed slowly in Musutafu, as Hades wandered the streets like a silent spectator. His steps were slow, and his gaze lifted with some curiosity toward the colossal structures that mortals had erected over time.
"Who would have thought such a short-lived race would be capable of building all this?" he murmured sarcastically, looking at the city with a mixture of fascination and contempt.
The buildings rose like giants of metal and glass, defying the heavens.
Cars roared to life, and billboard lights flickered like artificial fireflies.
The bustle of the crowd, the overlapping voices, the aroma of food on the street corners... It was all a cacophony of existence that, for some reason, felt strangely compelling.
It was a chaotic world. Disordered. But in its disorder, Hades found a strange harmony.
However, his attention was drawn to something else: a dispute in the middle of the street.
He stopped, watching with interest the scene before him.
A green-haired boy trembled as a younger man of a more robust build and ash-blond hair faced him with an expression of utter contempt.
Hades narrowed his eyes. Not because the situation seemed strange to him, but because the atmosphere surrounding the two boys had a peculiar quality.
The blond radiated aggression.
His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white, and his eyes burned as brightly as a spark about to burst into flame.
The other one, the one with green hair, seemed the complete opposite.
His posture was hunched, as if he wanted to make himself smaller, and every fiber of his being screamed submission.
"A useless guy like you never saved me! You heard me, Deku!" the blond spat, venom in his voice.
The green-haired boy hesitated, his mouth opening as if he wanted to say something, but his own voice betrayed him.
—B-bu... but, Kacchan...
The blond gritted his teeth in fury, his patience running out.
—Do you have your ears for decoration?
The scream echoed through the street, causing the other young man to shrink even further. A couple of passersby turned to look, but no one intervened.
Hades watched the scene with boredom at first, with no intention of intervening. But something changed when the blond, noticing his presence, turned around with an even more irritated expression.
—And you, who the fuck are you, damn extra? Can't you see I'm busy here!
Hades's gaze hardened instantly.
He had tolerated the scandal, he had ignored the stupid fight... but a mere mortal dared to address him with such insolence.
Hades took a step forward, his shadow falling over the blond boy like a cloak of darkness.
—What did you just call me, damn mortal?
TO BE CONTINUED.