Chapter 30: Master And Disciple
A crack appeared in the sky. The crack split apart and a ginormous entity enshrouded in darkness stepped through it.
The entity crushed Nelio with a single foot. It moved towards Noah. With each step, it grew smaller. A trail of devouring darkness was left behind the entity in its wake.
[ God of Death, Hades says he has come as per your request. ]
'I don't remember doing...'
Noah suddenly recalled his past self's words to Hades – If you have something to say, come say it to my face.
'...'
CLANNNGGGG!
Hades struck the heel of his scythe on the earth causing Noah's eardrums to burst. The jarring cacophony turned Noah deaf.
"Can you understand me now?" spoke Hades.
"...Yeah," Noah tried to heal himself but he couldn't activate any skill for some reason. He clenched his jaw while trying to stop the bleeding.
On Noah's side, Hepius watched silently and observed Hades. Noah also couldn't feel his connection with Saintess.
"Why are you here?" Noah asked.
"To collect what belongs to me and offer a contract."
The darkness covering Hades was hindering Noah's vision. Noah couldn't judge if he was lying or not.
If Hades could meet Noah anytime, why did he not do so earlier?
"I didn't think killing Cerberus could anger God of Death so much that he would come himself." Noah said while scanning his surroundings.
Noah couldn't activate skill and there wasn't anything he could use to escape. His senses which he had honed through thousands of battles were telling him — He could never win or escape Hades.
However, he wasn't giving up just yet.
"As much as that event was unpleasant, today I'm not here for it. I'm here to collect the departed soul who broke the Heavenly Laws by overstaying in the world of living, you."
Noah frowned. He was dead? What bullshit was Hades spouting?
Hades spoke, "Every departed soul must travel to the Underworld. However, you've returned to the world of living thousands of times without entering the Underworld even once."
"...I was resurrected by my ability."
Hades scoffed, "And? Pray tell me, did you think skills like Resurrection were omnipotent? A Tier 1 existence like yourself is allowed to be resurrected 1000 times only, whichever method used."
After 1,000 resurrections a soul would start experiencing Soul Erosion. Soul Erosion was the strongest soul poison which could erase the existence itself. The soul would then slowly erode and 'die' in Void before even reaching the Underworld.
However, be it luck or bad luck, Noah avoided Soul Erosion.
Noah was being revived almost instantly and never stayed inside Void for too long. This decreased the progression of Noah's Soul Erosion which only existed in Void.
In his 7777th revival, Noah evolved into a vampire after being bitten by Dracula – an entity infinitely closer to the ranks of 'Gods'. The evolution triggered by a high tier entity and his 'Poison Assimilation' which he gained from his class caused Noah to gain Soul Erosion resistance.
It was thanks to Soul Erosion resistance that Noah's soul wasn't erased by Soul Erosion.
Nevertheless, Noah broke the Heavenly Law…
{He is bullshitting. There is nothing called Heavenly Law or anything remotely similar. }
Hepius suddenly intervened.
{While it is true you are alive only because of Soul Erosion resistance, someone like this old bastard is too high in the hierarchy to handle this matter himself.}
'Many thanks for destroying the mysterious vibe. Or rather, why did your accent disappear again if this situation isn't serious?' Noah thought.
{Whatever the reason, the old man can kill you easily. Don't anger him.}
Noah nodded subtly.
If Hades' goal wasn't punishing Noah then that left only one thing.
"Before I'm punished, can I know the offer you are giving me?" Noah asked Hades.
"You aren't afraid of me? Should I say as expected from someone who's experienced thousands of deaths?" Hades chuckled.
Hades added, "I want you to clear all of the hidden objectives for every stage of this dungeon."
"I can do that. But I don't want to? After all, only a fool would waste time on an objective which might've already failed."
Hades laughed at Noah's unruly behavior. "You have the basics of negotiation down. Your master has taught you wonderfully. Why don't you also ask that ghost what would happen if you refuse?"
The darkness suddenly shook and seeped inside Noah. Noah's innards twisted and he started coughing blood.
"I'm disappointed in your choice, Hepius. Your disciple isn't even aware of his master's murderer." Hades shook his head slightly.
{…So you can see me, master.}
Hades had a solemn expression as he stared at Hades.
{Stop harming my disciple if you want to discuss anything. He hasn't done anything to you.}
The darkness enshrouding Hades dissipated revealing a man with a white mustache and monocle. His figure dressed in a black suit and sharp features were worlds apart from 'old'.
Hades shook his head. "Isn't being your disciple enough? You—"
"No" Noah interrupted Hades, speaking regardless of his dying breath.
"I didn't hear clearly. Can you repeat that?"
The aura covering Hades started to swell. He stared at Noah threateningly.
"Why should I repeat myself if your ears aren't working properly, old fart?" Noah spat. He coughed blood heavily while he forced himself to speak.
Hades stared at Noah, looking down on him.
"Are you that eager to enter the Underworld, brat?"
"If you are here to request something, then act like that."
Noah's body slowly stopped functioning but he didn't utter a cry even once. Hades sighed and retracted the darkness harming Noah.
"I guess stubborn fools would only raise stubborn fools." Hades spoke while staring at Hepius.
{You finally accepted yourself as a fool, old fart.}
Hades and Hepius' gazes clashed with neither backing down.
Noah dusted his clothes. He frowned, noticing the bloodstains, and spoke, "If your reunion has finished can we discuss the offer? Or does God Of Death have nothing to do these days?"
Hades fixed his monocle and tore his gaze from Hepius.
"Before we start, I should make two things clear. This place isn't a game like the immortal immigrants from your world think and if you die a few more times you'll never be able to revive again."
Noah's gaze turned sharp.
"That's something that every AI will say. How do I know that you aren't just High-Heaven Corp's dog, here to fool me into believing that?"
Hades nodded and swung his scythe at Noah's neck.
"Maybe I should start with giving you a proof."
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