New York City pulsed beneath a cloudy sky, glowing with the hum of streetlights and the buzz of a million thoughts. The city never slept. Neither did its shadows.
From his perch atop a half-forgotten rooftop, Tet watched it all unfold—the chaos, the movement, the quiet tragedies. His gaze drifted toward Central Park, where two monsters stalked a group of oblivious teenagers. Demigods. None of them would survive that encounter.
His frown deepened.
"System," he said aloud, standing with slow grace, "how many demigods die annually to monster attacks?"
[Estimated: Several dozen globally. Highest concentration of deaths in North America, particularly the greater New York region.]
Tet clicked his tongue. "Tch. Unacceptable. That's a waste of good pieces before the board is even set."
He descended from the rooftop, walking into the streets of Manhattan unnoticed, the night parting for him like mist. He wandered without aim, observing humans in their natural habitat—laughing, rushing, arguing, loving. The flickering signs, honking cabs, the smell of pretzels and roasted nuts from street vendors. It was… oddly charming.
After a few blocks, he stopped in front of a modest café tucked between two looming office buildings. A little place called Hearth's Glow.
Warm light spilled from inside, golden and gentle. He tilted his head curiously. Something radiated from within—gentle, ancient, peaceful.
Intrigued, Tet entered.
The little bell above the door chimed, and the aroma of honey, cinnamon, and fresh bread filled the air. Only a few people sat scattered inside, and at a corner table near the fireplace sat a woman with auburn hair tied in a loose braid, a soft maroon sweater wrapped around her frame, and gentle eyes that flicked toward him the moment he entered.
Her gaze narrowed slightly, curious and knowing all at once.
Tet smiled and approached. "Would you mind if I joined you?"
The woman looked at him for a long moment—then nodded with a calm, welcoming smile. "Of course."
He sat across from her, crossing one leg over the other as the waitress came by. "Just a tea," he said with a bright grin. "Something warm."
As the waitress left, the woman spoke again. "You're not from around here."
"No," Tet said cheerfully. "You could say I'm… visiting."
"You're not just a visitor," she replied, stirring her own tea. "You're a god. But not one of us. Far beyond, aren't you?"
Tet's grin sharpened just slightly. "Very perceptive, Lady Hestia."
She nodded in acknowledgment. "And you are powerful. More than even my brothers and sisters. But your presence… doesn't feel malicious."
"That's because it isn't," he said, resting his chin on one hand. "I have no interest in conquest or chaos. My goals are long-term. Grand. And in the end, they may even benefit your kind."
She raised an eyebrow. "May?"
"I'm not omniscient," he admitted. "I'm just good at games."
She chuckled softly at that. "Then I assume this is one of your moves?"
"Perhaps." His tea arrived and he took a sip, nodding appreciatively. "Delightful."
There was a pause between them—a comfortable silence in a room warmed by flickering firelight.
Hestia finally spoke again, gently, "Why show yourself to me?"
Tet looked out the window at the city beyond. "Because you are kind. Because you are the hearth—the first and the last, the one they always overlook but who binds them together. If there is any Olympian I trust not to shout my existence to the skies… it's you."
She smiled, her eyes glowing faintly. "And you're right."
Tet turned back to her, gaze suddenly sharp. "You may not tell the others of me. Not yet. I'm not ready to reveal myself. The game hasn't started."
"Understood," Hestia said simply. "But if you are true to your word, and your intentions stay clean… I would be honored to call you a friend."
Tet's expression softened into something more genuine. He lifted his teacup in a toast. "To new friends."
She mirrored the gesture. "To warm fires and honest games."
---
Later that night…
High above the city once again, Tet activated the system.
[Avatar Creation Protocol: Confirmed.]
A shimmering light gave birth to a towering figure clad in Rathalos armor, the Imperial Longsword glinting with fiery menace across his back.
"Your orders are simple," Tet said, his voice firm. "Sweep the city. Hunt monsters. Protect demigods. Keep your presence hidden. And do not let the gods see you. I am not ready."
The avatar gave a silent nod before leaping into the night, disappearing into the urban jungle like a phantom.
Tet watched him go, then glanced back toward the café far below, where a single light still glowed in the window.
The world was changing.
And Tet had just made his first move.