Six pairs of shoes, three-bathroom breaks, and two pairs of pants later he was in front of the empire state building. Most of the trip was capitalized by hiding a massive indestructible silicon dong. Fortunately, he managed to get a disguise from a flower shop. He scribbled from Zeus to Hera on the package. Honestly, the white box was a mess filled with a ton of red roses and bottles of lube to throw off the XXL dildo's weight. He'd spent some of his own money to better disguise the package.
Every suit turned their head to stare while he carried the package. Some were spirits while others were nosy businessmen. He entered one of the elevators, dialed 666, and waited. "What's in the box?" A man with a salt and pepper beard asked.
"That is the question. I'll let you take a look for twenty bucks." Nero said.
"Oh, I'm not that curious kid but it looks heavy. Maybe I can take it off your hands." The man said. He knew he couldn't lose the box. Every warning bell was sounding in his head. This man was dangerous. If he didn't give him something, he'd look deeper.
Nero theatrically sighed. "A gift to help an estranged couple make up. It probably won't do much but maybe it's the opener they need." Nero said. The man's eyes took on a contemplative look.
"What's your name kid?" The man asked.
"Nero, what's yours mister?" The elevator continued to move at its slow pace.
"Hermes, I think its an alright idea. But do you really want to get into it between a couple's quarrel?" Hermes asked.
"No, I know it's a terrible idea. I'm doing it as a favor. Its already cost me more than I thought it would. Do you know where I can get some durable shoes? This is pair number seven today." He liked every pair he bought but none stood the test of time. Metal shoes didn't have arch support.
"I might have an old pair lying around. If you really want to help the couple, then you'll need a card to go with it. Word's often help, especially if their heartfelt." A mischievous smile spread across the man's face.
"Would you happen to have a copy of Zeus's handwriting?" Hermes's eyes gleamed.
"Sure kid but I want in on this." Nero nodded.
"I'll need to deliver it to Hera's temple. What kind of card should we do?" Hermes looked around conspiratorially.
"That depends on what's really in the box." It was Nero's turn to smile.
Sneak was one of his most valuable skills to date. He stepped through Hera's temple with package in hand. The skill kept leveling the with each step. When it felt like her eyes would land on him, he froze. In the dead of night before the sun rose, he placed the package in front of her statue and laid the card out for her.
Once everything was in place, he hightailed it out. There was no sense in staying to see the fireworks.
"Hurry up my divine stealth won't shield you for much longer." Nero ran the second he was out of her temple. The godlings only shook their head unaware of what was about to happen. When he stepped into Hermes's temple, he felt safe. No thunder rumbled above; Hera hadn't come at him with all her wrath. Everything was as it should be.
"Well that's all the time I have today. It was fun kid we should do it again some time. So who gave you the task?" Hermes asked.
"Well Aphrodite said she'd distract the Landon for me if I delivered the horse dildo to Hera. The card and the context was our doing. I think she meant it as an insult to Hera for being a prude or something. Fortunately, my job was to deliver the XXL horse dildo to Hera's temple." Nero said.
Hermes let out a laugh. "You didn't just skew the message you obliterated it. Good luck getting Dite to fulfill her end. Why do you want golden apples?" Hermes asked.
"Artemis said she'd return my petrified sister to flesh and blood for one." Nero said.
"You didn't kill Medusa, did you?" Hermes asked.
"I crushed her head like a grape, why?" Nero asked.
"Don't tell Athena I helped you then. Medusa is still a touchy spot for her." Hermes said.
"Don't worry, I'm just a clear-sighted mortal. I couldn't possibly sneak into Hera's temple." Nero said.
"I'd advise you not to sleep with Aphrodite either. Ares has a habit of killing her past lovers." Hermes warned.
"I won't and if I meet any of your children, I'll help them if I can." Nero said.
"Thank you, I'd appreciate it. Now get out of here before you're caught." Hermes said. Nero saluted the god and left the temple wearing his new shoes. He approached the edge of Mount Olympus and leapt off.
Cling attached him to the side of the mountain, and he ran with gravity. Wind spirits and harpies flashed by him in a blur. Nero accelerated to his top speed. All of the world became a cyclone of vibrant colors. When he passed through the barrier of Mount Olympus the world transformed into a black and grey canvas. Only the occasional red and yellow car gave life the the land below.
With a leap he became a shooting star. The mist altered his appearance until he became a fire work shooting across the skyline. Nero aimed himself at one of the dirty Manhattan rivers. Cool water splashed around him while cling adjusted to the water increasing his buoyancy. For a heartbeat he was frozen, he needed to readjust.
Cling was a skill he gained from monstrous insects. It used mana to help them cling to walls and ceilings despite their size. In his hands he could do so much more. By increasing his surface area, he could counterbalance any weapon, nothing could knock him over, and he could walk on water.
Standing atop the lake vast amounts of the mist that hid the supernatural wrapped around him. To anyone watching he looked like a guy in a canoe. He sped up and the image changed to a man in a speed boat. Nero sped even faster his body was a blur until the mist kept him hidden. He had a lot of ground to cover.
After traveling from the east coast to the west the sun began to set. Aphrodite was nowhere in sight and the mountain was open to him. He stared at the towering mountain ahead of him. The sky itself threatened to crash upon the earth. Nero sucked in a breath and prepared for a fight. Just before he entered, he felt a disturbance.
"What the heck did you do?"
"Its good to see you too Aphrodite. I'm doing fine. I even managed to deliver that battering ram you called a dildo." Nero said.
"I know you delivered it. Hera and Zeus haven't been seen or heard from all day. My husband won't talk to me and even Ares is gone. What in hades did you do?" Aphrodite demanded.
"I wrote Hera a very sweet card in Zeus's handwriting and added it with flowers and lube." Aphrodite blanched.
"Did my son Eros guide your hand?" She demanded.
"No but Nemesis might have helped with the wording a bit. I thought the best way to sell it was with drunken remorse. The run to New York gave me time to think. There were so many pieces on the board and so many ways this could go wrong. I didn't want to give you any excuse not to help me." Nero said.
"How did you rope Ares and Hephaestus into this?" She asked and took a step back. Nero didn't say a word. "You will tell me." She yelled.
Nero felt a powerful compulsion fall over him. A smile stretched his face. "Ok, I'll tell you. Hephaestus was needed to bring the god binding chain and Ares had to bind Zeus. I'm sure they're laying low now."
"Is she trying to usurp him, again?" Aphrodite asked.
"I'll give you a hint. The safe word is golden apple." She froze and a smile spread across her face. A billion stars lit up in her eyes and she took on the appearance of a 13-year-old girl. Aphrodite paced and gushed out words in ancient Greece.
"Genius, inventive, and handsome if I didn't know you were a mortal, I'd peg you for a son of Hermes." Her smile grew bigger. "Get it peg like what Hera is doing to Zeus. He doesn't know the safe word, so she'll think its all apart of the game." Aphrodite whispered between giggles. "If he finds out your going to die."
"I'm not worried about that. She'll also be too busy pegging the king of the gods to notice a few missing golden apples." Nero added.
She grabbed his hand into hers. "New best friend lets go get you some golden apples. What are they for?" She asked. They entered the garden of Hesperides with little fuss. Atlas stood in place holding up the sky with a solemn expression on his face.
"I'm assuming you're here to steal some golden apples. You know the deal take my burden and I'll retrieve them for you." Nero blinked at the titan a few times.
"Sorry but I'd rather fight the dragon. Wasn't there a pillar that used to do this job?" Nero asked.
"Unfortunately, it was destroyed, and I was forced to take up this burden for the world." Nero stared at the titan. It was thanks to this being that they lived at all. Atlas kept the world safe and never shirked his responsibility. That was something that needed to be rewarded. He lowered his head to the titan.
"I'll find a way to rebuild that tower stronger than the one before. Then you'll be able to rest your shoulder and spend time with your daughters again." Nero said.
"You won't be able to if you die to the dragon. Aphrodite, why do you travel with this bold clear-sighted mortal." She answered in ancient Greek. Nero narrowed his eyes before sighing.
Nero opened his skill list and accepted two skills he was wary of. The last time he'd accepted such skills he was debilitated by his own mana supply. It took four years to fully master his mana. Vitality was different, it would increase his lifeforce. This time he selected two powerful vitality skills.
VIT has reached 100 skill acquired
Cellular Coolant System I lvl1 VIT skill
Type: Passive
Attribute: Biomechanical
Effect 1: +100HP x skill lvl
Effect 2: (0.1% HP x skill lvl) is added to all Physical stats excluding VIT
Description: A biomechanical organelle added to each cell. It excretes a fluid that cools down the cells when they overheat.
VIT has reached 1000 new skill acquired
Unrelenting Form I lvl1
Type: Passive
Attribute: Phantasmal
Effect 1: +1000HP x skill lvl
Effect 2: (+1 x skill lvl) is added to S stats.
Description: More than flesh and blood powers this body. The body knows that it should stay together and will fight to do so unless you allow it.
Light surrounded his body and energy radiated from every pour. Every cell in his body was on fire while one by one they changed. The light only subsided when a cooling sensation took hold. But that was nothing compared to the new mystical force flowing through his body. Nero felt surer of himself. His body felt more solid than ever before.
"What was that?" Aphrodite demanded
"Just some adjustments. Dragons breath fire, so I thought I needed a way to stay cool." Aphrodite's look made him feel less than certain. He decided to check his stats. Bit numbers made him feel better.
HP 69.14k
MP 211.03k
ATK 54.47k
DEF 53.41k
SATK 1.33k
SDEF 1.47k
SPD 63.55k
ACC 195.168
Forturne 82.41
"I'm guessing it doesn't breathe fire." Nero muttered.
"No, it really doesn't. Landon is a venomous hundred headed dragon." They passed into the garden.
A calm welcoming feeling flowed through the garden. This place felt like peace. He didn't like it. Roses of a thousand different shades of red, white, and yellow lined the garden. Miles of flowers and ponds littered the garden. Each held its own style. This could be considered a garden that held gardens. In the center of it all was a truly massive tree. Heavy on its branches were golden apples. Nero felt a twinge of fear sweep through his body. A wiggling sensation just beneath the skin told him something was waking up. This place made him restless.
The Landon lounged in wait as it had for millennia. Even relaxed each of its hundred heads kept their eyes trained on him. Vicious fumes bubbled up from its nostrils. Light from the setting sun gleamed scales that were colored a cold black iron. The sun was setting twilight was upon them. Nero felt a smile stretch his cheeks until they hurt.
"What is this feeling?" Nero asked Aphrodite.
"It is love." She said with a smile. The sun crept under the horizon and the moon shone full in her glory.
"I know you're here to help but please don't interfere. I've waited a long time to cut loose." Nero said with pleading eyes.
He stepped forward and shattered the sound barrier. Rose petals shot up high into the air and slowly rained down. Nero's fist collided with the monster's scaled belly. The scale split open and blood erupted from the wound.
Cling activated in an instant altering the surface area of the blow. Instead of expanding the surface area he concentrated it to a single point. Scales ruptured as the force of his blow was placed upon the eye of a needle.
Nero ran up the monster punching holes into scales. Long weeping lines of blood oozed from the monster while he sped up its side.
It flung itself down and rolled. Nero abandoned his attack and leapt up to one of the creature's necks. The heads spotted him and converged on his location. One after another they bit and spat poison. Faster than the eye could perceive they moved with precision and power. None struck another as they moved in an almost choreographed pattern. No matter how long he waited on one neck for the next to bite down they never did. Poison filled the air while he fought the monster. His health bar slowly whittled away while he fought the beast.
While he moved the feeling under his skin grew worse. Cold objects wiggled beneath his skin threatening to burst out. This place made him feel restless. If he wasn't careful the monster would come out. He didn't want that to happen under the light of the moon.
He changed strategy, using cling he captured one neck and stuck to another. Nero ran around coiling the necks together. They bit around him and sprayed poison until the air was filled with droplets of venom. Despite the divine nature of the monster the venom was bound by the laws of physics. If he moved fast enough, he could generate a layer of air pressure to disperse the noxious mist away.
Blood fell upon his body making his skin shift. Every blow started to heal his HP. A red haze grew around his body. Nero had thought he'd abandoned his monstrous nature upon his second death. While he was bed ridden, it never woke up. He thought it would be dormant forever. That didn't seem to be the case.
He held on tightly to the monstrous presence within. His new skill leveled when it tried to change his form. It bulged against his skin only for his body to take its proper place again. Another battle began while he bloodied the Landon. If he lost control, then everything was lost. He'd expose himself to the world.
Nero hopped off the monster and let himself fall. It stood up and gathered itself. Blood covered the ground spreading to every corner of the garden. The monster let out a powerful cry as it readied for their final clash. Something felt off in his chest.
He wanted to use his power and enjoy it. This fight was supposed to let him fight to his fullest. Instead most of his focus was on restraining his monstrous side.
"What am I feeling now?" He asked the goddess.
"This is heart break, but I don't know why your feeling it." She said.
"This fight is about to end but not in the way I wanted it to. I'm going to use a power I shouldn't." Nero raised his palm and a white orb appeared. It liquidated and spread across his body. A white skin suit covered his form and he was filled with unending strength. He held back the vibrations that threated to turn everything around him to dust. All that power was held for when he needed it.
"White form technique: Punch." Nero yelled and ran through the monster's unleashed breath attack. He unleashed minor vibrations tormenting the air and disrupting the Landon's toxic breath. Three golden halos appeared in front of his fist as he punched forward. A beam of white light blasted the Landon.
The world stilled and the Landon froze. Its heads shook and its once minor wounds ripped open. The monster twisted unnaturally shattering its own spine. Ligaments ripped and its eyes burst open. Blood and brains erupted from its sockets and its entrails spilled out. He heard the nymphs who guarded the garden scream in terror at the sight before them. The monster let out a final agonizing cry before turning into blissful golden dust.
Nero turned to see Aphrodite her eyes were wide as saucers and her mouth hung open. I'll explain later. He approached the tree.
"Please take the golden apples we won't stop you. Just leave us alone. You already killed poor Landon please take the apples and go." One of the nymphs said.
"Sorry about that, I'm on a time limit. I wanted to make that fight last and enjoy it but when he reforms please tell him I'm sorry." Nero said with a small bow. He took seven apples.
With a sigh, he tossed one each to the nymphs. "I didn't want to show you girls that."
He approached Aphrodite and tossed her an apple. She didn't say a word while they left the garden. "I suppose you were victorious." Atlas muttered.
"Think fast." Nero said and tossed the titan an apple.
"Thank you mortal but I'll remember your kindness." Atlas said. He saluted the titan while they left.
"Alright spill it, what was that power? A magician shouldn't be that strong." Aphrodite asked.
Author's Note: Like it hate it please leave a review and tell me what you think. I'm going to write the next chapter soon and shed some light on what's going on with Nero and why he couldn't find her before. Any other questions leave them in a review and i'll answer them in the next chapter if they don't interfere with the story.