Hitman With A Badass System

Chapter 1369  Back in the Realm of Gods

Michael knew the bow must be powerful. It had been wielded by the Goddess of Hunt, after all, a being whose strength and skill were legendary. He couldn't help but wonder what made it so special. Did it shoot flaming arrows? Control the beasts of the forest? Grant the user superhuman accuracy?

Whatever it was, he knew Nithroel wouldn't ask for his help unless it was important. She was a proud woman, a warrior who'd carved her own path through the world, and she didn't like to owe anyone anything. So this request… this was a big deal.

He considered it for a moment, weighing the risks, the potential complications. Then, he nodded.

"Alright, Nithroel. I'll find your bow."

"Thank you," she said, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes.

"Where is it?" Michael asked. "And… is there anything I should know? Any… special instructions?"

Nithroel took a deep breath, her gaze turning distant. "It's in… my temple. In Larnia. My… former domain."

Michael frowned. Larnia? He'd never heard of it. But he had to admit, hiding a powerful artifact in your own damn temple… it wasn't exactly the most creative hiding place. If he were trying to stash something valuable, he'd pick a random cave in a nameless forest, or bury it in the middle of a goddamn desert.

But he knew Nithroel. She was a cunning strategist, a warrior who'd spent centuries outsmarting her enemies. If she'd hidden the Agni-King in her temple, there had to be a reason. There had to be… safeguards.

As if reading his thoughts, Nithroel continued.

"It's been… a long time. Thousands of years since I've set foot in Larnia. Things might have changed. But… my temple should still be standing. It was… built to last."

She flicked her wrist, and a small, golden arrowhead, its surface etched with intricate runes, materialized in her hand. She held it out to Michael.

"This will… open the way. To the chamber where the Agni-King is kept." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Michael took the arrowhead, examining it with a curious frown.

"And this will… disable the security measures? The traps? The… whatever else you've got guarding that bow?"

Nithroel chuckled, a low, throaty sound.

"You're the God of Darkness," she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Where's the fun in… making it easy for you? Think of it as… a test. A challenge. Worthy of a God."

"And I thought you said you weren't here to add to my lady problems," Michael sighed, shaking his head with a wry smile.

Nithroel laughed again, a genuine, unguarded sound that was rare for her. She realized, with a sudden clarity, that she felt… comfortable around Michael. At ease. It was a strange sensation, one she hadn't experienced in… well, perhaps ever. Maybe it was because he was a fellow God, someone who understood the weight of power, the burden of responsibility. Or maybe… maybe it was just… him.

She was starting to understand why his people were so fiercely loyal to him. Why Eve had spoken of him with such… admiration.

Nithroel had often found herself rolling her eyes at Eve's endless tales of her friendship with the Dark Lord. They'd only met a couple of years ago, and hadn't spent that much time together, and yet… Eve had practically worshipped the ground he walked on.

But now… now she understood. There was something about Michael… the way he carried himself, the easy confidence, the subtle charisma, the way he commanded a room without even trying… It made you feel… safe. Protected.

And that smile… that charming, slightly crooked smile… it could disarm even the most hardened warrior.

"It seems… you and the ladies have a rather complicated relationship," Nithroel remarked, a teasing lilt in her voice.

She rose gracefully from the sofa, smoothing down her silken robe but before she could leave, she had one last thing to say.

"I'll… need your help, Michael," Nithroel said, her gaze turning serious once more. "This… eternal darkness… it's changing things. The people are… restless. Fearful. And there are whispers… rumors of unrest, of rebellion."

"I'm planning to… unify the mortal realm," she continued. "Bring all the continents under my rule. It's the only way to… maintain order. To protect the people from themselves."

Michael wasn't surprised. This was… their agreement, after all. He helped her become the ruler of the mortal realm, and in return, she'd helped him dismantle Skyhall. And now that Skyhall was gone, it was only fair that he upheld his end of the bargain.

Besides, ruling the entire mortal realm? That wasn't exactly Michael's style. He was more of a… delegate-and-chill kind of god.

"You have my full support, Nithroel. Anything you need… armies, resources, information… just ask Azazel. He'll make sure you get it."

Nithroel nodded, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow. "Conquering the continents… that will be easy. But ruling the people… especially now, with the darkness twisting their hearts… that's a different challenge altogether."

"You'll figure it out," Michael said, returning her earlier words with a knowing smile. "Think of it as… a test. A challenge. Worthy of a God."

Nithroel's lips twitched in amusement. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Maybe a little," he admitted.

"Until next time, Michael," she said, with a final nod. Her elven guards moved to flank her, their expressions stoic, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords. Then, with a wave of her hand, the space around them shimmered, distorted, and she was gone, teleported back to Awor continent.

After Nithroel's departure, Maxine approached Michael with a respectful gaze and curiosity.

"My lord?" she asked, her voice low. "What are your orders?"

Michael stretched, his joints popping and cracking after days of inactivity. He'd destroyed Skyhall, amassed a fortune in badass points and gold coins, dealt with… the ladies… it was time to move on to the next stage of his plan.

It was time to go back to the realm of the Gods. And time to take down Rin. Permanently.

He cracked his neck, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.

"Maxine," he said, his voice taking on a commanding edge, "prepare the portal. To the realm of the Gods."

Maxine blinked, surprised. "Now, my lord? So soon?"

"Nithroel and the others can handle things here. But Gaya… she's alone up there. Surrounded by enemies. It's time I… rejoined her. And stopped playing around,"

Still lost in his world of runes and diagrams, Eidyr was no help with the portal. So Michael, accompanied by Maxine, headed towards the portal room himself. The portal room was still the vast, circular chamber, its walls lined with glowing runes that hummed as the giant portal gate, crafted from obsidian and etched with runes, stood at the center of the room. The runes, once a brilliant, almost blinding white, were now a dim, flickering amber, a subtle but constant reminder of Noah's death.

Without a word, Michael approached the control console, a complex array of levers, dials, and glowing runes. He didn't wait for a grand send-off, didn't summon his other subordinates for a dramatic farewell. He had places to be. People to… deal with. He pressed a series of runes, their surfaces cold beneath his fingertips, and pulled a lever, its gears grinding with a sound that echoed through the hall.

The runes on the portal frame began to hum, their glow intensifying. Standing beside him, Maxine felt the air thicken, the space around them distorting. A faint tug, a pull towards the center of the room, made her brace herself against the console. A swirling vortex of colors and energy began to form within the portal gate, growing larger, and more intense, with each passing second. Michael, without turning, glanced at Maxine over his shoulder. "I'll be back soon," he said calmly. And then, without another word, without a backward glance, he stepped into the vortex, his form disappearing into the swirling chaos, leaving Maxine alone in the portal room.

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After what felt like an eternity of swirling colors and disorienting spatial shifts, Michael was spat out of the vortex. He landed on his feet, staggering slightly as he regained his balance.

He recognized the place instantly.

Goldspire.

The sprawling, opulent city, the jewel of Seshat's domain, stretched out before him. He could see the elegant, towering buildings in the distance, their golden roofs shimmering under the light of the two moons that hung in the sky. The high, ornate walls that encircled the city, crafted from a pale, almost translucent stone, gleamed with a faint, inner light. And just outside the city gates, a massive statue of Seshat herself, her arms outstretched in a gesture of welcome… or perhaps warning, dominated the landscape.

"Clever girl," Michael chuckled, shaking his head. "Couldn't even let me arrive at my own goddamn safe house, could you?"

He knew, without a doubt, that Seshat had manipulated the portal, ensured that he arrived here, in her domain, rather than at his own discreet hideout. But before he could even take a step towards the city, towards Gaya and Phoenix, a familiar vibration buzzed in his ear.

Click.

Pink's voice, calm, professional, but with a hint of… relief? … echoed through the earpiece she'd given him what felt like a lifetime ago.

"Ghost? Is that you? Are you back?"

Michael grinned, a predatory gleam in his eyes.

"Yes, Pink, I'm back," he said, his voice a low, dangerous purr. "And this time… we're going hunting. A high-value target. A real… special occasion."