Extra's Death: I Am the Son of Hades novel Chapter 606

Zagreus sighed. "Bit your tongue again?"

"…N-No," Gremory's embarrassed mumble came through.

"Send two Stage 4 Grim Reapers to my location."

"Stage 4? Right… understood. I'll make the arrangements."

Zagreus lowered the badge and looked at Nameless Death, who raised an eyebrow.

"Stage 4 Grim Reapers?" Nameless asked.

"They are stronger ones," Zagreus said simply. "Now you can go back to your forging."

"Didn't you say they are coming and I should greet them?"

"How would they come right now, dumb fuck? Do you think everything is free and has nothing to do like you?"

Nameless stared at him for a few seconds, then decided it wasn't worth arguing.

He went back to adjusting the forge equipment. Meanwhile, in the underworld, things began to stir.

…

Gremory POV

Gremory didn't waste a second.

Her fingers danced across the communication relic, causing lines of black energy to flow through the air like threads.

"First prince asked for Stage 4s, but if he needs someone powerful then, maybe I should contact…"

She made her decision.

Her pale lips moved quickly as she reached out to Barbatos and Asmodea.

Both were among the handful of Grim Reapers not fully occupied with the ongoing Grim Reaper disciple competition.

Most of the powerful Grim Reapers were either supervising matches or handling evaluation duties.

Barbatos's job was to protect the underworld in case of invasion.

He was technically on standby unless something urgent threatened the realm's borders.

Asmodea, on the other hand, had seen her disciple lose in the very first round, freeing her from the remainder of the event.

"Barbatos, Asmodea, the First Prince has summoned Grim Reapers to his location. Can I count on the two of you?" she said, her tone urgent but composed.

A low hum echoed back through the communication device.

"I'll be there shortly," Barbatos replied, his voice calm and steady, like always.

"I've got time," came Asmodea's response. "Prepare the portal. We'll depart as soon as we arrive."

Gremory exhaled. A flicker of relief crossed her face.

She moved quickly to set up the trans-dimensional portal, channeling power into the ritual matrix carved into the ground of the Nexus.

…

Asmodea POV

Asmodea ended the call with Gremory and turned to face the young woman kneeling in front of her.

Leonora had a calm expression even though she was kneeling in front of the grim reaper.

The battle robe she wore looked untouched, because she hadn't actually fought.

The Grim Reaper's golden eyes narrowed.

"Why did you withdraw in the first round?" Asmodea asked, arms crossed. Her voice wasn't angry, but there was a visible edge of irritation.

Leonora smiled like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"I would have been defeated either way, Master. So I decided it would be better to give up."

Asmodea's brow twitched.

"You could've still fought the weaker disciples."

"Master," Leonora said sweetly, "you have much stronger disciples than me. Me losing won't damage your reputation."

The corner of Asmodea's lips lifted in a cold smile.

A chill swept through the air, and Leonora's spirit cat—a small black feline with blue fire for eyes—suddenly bristled.

It looked at its master with a look of sheer betrayal.

The ominous feeling was already sinking in.

"Well then," Asmodea said, "since you're so free, you can come with me."

"Eh?"

"We've been summoned. The First Prince himself is calling."

Leonora's smile stiffened. The cat let out a low mewl of despair.

"But I thought I was too weak…"

"You are," Asmodea said with a grin, "which is why you'll carry my things and keep quiet."

…

Barbatos POV

Barbatos arrived first.

His stride was unhurried as he entered Gremory's castle.

A few moments later, Asmodea entered with Leonora in tow.

Unlike her usual ethereal elegance, today she wore a traveling cloak, and her steps were brisk.

Leonora dragged her feet, holding a small black bag that radiated divine energy. Her face was blank, and her spirit cat sat on her shoulder like a defeated soldier.

Barbatos nodded at both of them.

"Asmodea. It's good to see you."

"Mhm," Asmodea returned the nod. "You look the same as always."

"You expected otherwise?"

"Yes, the grim reapers had a bet that since the fashion is changing in the Underworld because of this stupid disciple of mine, you would soon change into something better that those robes that hide your entire appearance."

Barbatos nodded, the walked forward.

Asmodea chuckled, seeing him as unbothered as always.

A moment later, another figure followed. _{freewebnøvel.coɱ}

Trailing behind her was a massive three-headed dog, Cereberus. Each of its heads moved independently. Their glowing eyes scanned the area.

"First Prince!" Gremory bowed once, then again, and again. "I am terribly sorry! It took far longer than it should have to gather them—there were issues with the disciple competition and—"

"I'm not upset," Zagreus said, raising a hand to halt her flood of apologies.

Still, Gremory bowed once more for good measure.

Asmodea, standing nearby, let out a quiet sigh.

"She's still the same," she murmured. "It's like these Reapers don't even try to change."

Barbatos stood to the side, silent as ever. He said nothing, though his hooded head did shift slightly when Cereberus growled.

Zagreus noticed it too.

He turned toward the beast.

Cereberus, normally excited to see him, wasn't barking or leaping forward like it used to.

None of the heads were wagging their tails.

Instead, they were looking around, growling like they were warning something away.

They were glaring at the air.

Or rather, the Chaos Elementals that existed everywhere.

"Cereberus," Barbatos finally spoke, addressing the beast calmly. "You don't need to be worried."

The middle head stopped growling. The left and right heads flicked their ears but didn't look away from the shimmering air.

"This place may house a bothersome entity, but don't forget we have the blood of the Monarch. Any Death, whether Chaos-born or drawn from some twisted source, barely works on us."

The words weren't a boast. They were a statement of fact.

Cereberus didn't respond for a moment.

The heads looked at each other, then back at Barbatos. Slowly, the growling quieted.

Then, like someone had flipped a switch, Cereberus broke into a joyful trot.

All three heads barked once and ran straight to Zagreus.

Their massive paws thudded against the ground, tails wagging like windmills. The middle head leapt up, licking his face, while the other two nuzzled his arms and chest.

For the first time in a while, Zagreus smiled.

He scratched under the beast's chins, each one in turn.

"I am happy to see you too."

While all of that played out, Barbatos's attention was somewhere else.

His head turned slightly, not toward the prince, nor the others gathered around.

His gaze was fixed farther back, on a lone figure standing beside an enormous anvil.

Flames hissed low beneath it. They were blue-white and smokeless.

And standing at its center, completely absorbed in his work, was a man wielding hammers larger than himself.

The two hammers floated midair, held by telekinesis.