Cronus' system: Against the gods

Chapter 100 How not to Take on a god

Rex clenched his fists, his mind racing. God's Eyes, a power he had barely begun to scratch the surface of. Until now, he'd only used it in the most straightforward way: analyzing humans, pinpointing weaknesses, and scanning stats. It was reactive, not proactive. This time, however, was different. This time, he'd push the boundaries of what God's Eyes could do.

For the first time, Rex focused the full scope of its power on his surroundings. His vision transformed into a vibrant web of interconnected threads. Each object, each particle of dust in the air, every shadow cast by the flickering battlefield light, glowed with faint auras of possibility. Data surged through his mind, so overwhelming that it almost brought him to his knees.

But Rex grinned. If he was going to take on a god, he'd do it with flair.

"You think a little boost in power is going to change your fate?" Lucius sneered from above, his voice dripping with disdain. The self-proclaimed god floated effortlessly, his shadowy aura flickering like a living flame around him. "No, all you've done is make yourself more entertaining."

Lucius' lips curled into a wicked smile as he licked them, his gaze burning with predatory delight. "You've given me more reason to really like you."

Rex blinked, his face blank for a moment. Then, with a dramatic sigh, he facepalmed. "Hate to burst your bubble, but, uh... I'm not gay."

Lucius froze mid-air, his smug expression morphing into a look of utter bewilderment. "What? No… That's not what I meant!" His voice cracked as he gestured wildly, shadows writhing with his agitation. "I—wait! Dammit, don't twist my words!"

Rex gave him a pitying glance, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah, we all know you didn't mean it." He waved Lucius off dismissively, turning his attention to Hercules, who was still writhing in pain.

The demigod's body convulsed uncontrollably, veins bulging beneath his skin as the parasitic shadows wreaked havoc within him. The sight was a gut punch to Rex. Hercules, the invincible champion, now reduced to this?

Condition: Paralyzed by parasitic shadow substance.

Cure: Aether can flush out the substance if infused directly into the bloodstream.

"Cool," Rex muttered, his awe slipping out in a whisper. He crouched beside Hercules, placing both hands firmly on the demigod's broad, trembling shoulders. "Okay, big guy, hold on. This might sting a bit."

Aether energy coursed from Rex's palms, glowing faintly as it seeped into Hercules' body. The light pulsed rhythmically, gradually pushing back against the invasive shadows.

Analysis: Recovery time – 1 minute.

"One minute, huh?" Rex straightened, a mischievous smirk creeping onto his face. "Plenty of time."

With a twist of his fingers, Rex summoned an Aether spear, the weapon materializing in a burst of shimmering light. Its tip burned with energy so intense that the air around it shimmered like a heatwave.

Condition: Standard Aether spear.

Properties: Aether energy (Five).

Attack power: Intermediate Tier-One.

"Intermediate Tier-One power, huh? Not bad." Rex twirled the spear experimentally, grinning as he imagined Seraphina's reaction. "I bet hers would make mine look like a toy, though."

Without another word, he hurled the spear at Lucius with a powerful flick of his wrist. The weapon tore through the air, a brilliant streak of light aimed directly at the shadow-wielder's head.

"Pathetic," Lucius snarled, extending a hand to catch the spear effortlessly. He smirked, holding it aloft like a trophy.

BOOM!

The spear exploded in a blinding flash, sending shockwaves rippling outward. Lucius stumbled mid-air, his smug grin wiped away as smoke and embers engulfed him.

"Argh!" he roared, the unexpected detonation throwing him off balance. His crimson eyes burned with fury as he scanned the battlefield, searching for Rex.

But Rex was already gone.

"I'm behind you!" Rex's voice rang out like a taunt from the heavens, his figure a blur as he dove toward Lucius, fist cocked back and blazing with Aether. The energy swirled around his knuckles, vibrant and crackling with raw power, amplifying his punch to the point it could pulverize a mountain.

Lucius turned his head, a condescending smirk curling his lips. "Predictable," he sneered, raising his arms to counter. But then....

Why isn't my body responding? Why am I moving so slowly?

A flicker of confusion crossed Lucius' face as his arms dragged upward like they were underwater, sluggish and unresponsive. Time seemed to rebel against him, each movement an agonizing struggle. Meanwhile, Rex moved with impossible fluidity, his fist streaking forward like a comet.

Movement speed of Lucius within Temporal Rift: 0.090 kilometers per hour.

Duration: 5 seconds.

Rex's eyes blazed with a fierce light, a grin breaking across his face as his fist connected with Lucius' jaw. The impact was seismic, a deafening crack echoing across the battlefield as Lucius was sent spiraling through the air like a broken marionette.

As the Temporal Rift dissolved, Lucius slammed into the ground, carving a jagged trench in the earth. Rex landed lightly, skidding back toward Hercules with a cocky smirk, already planning his next move.

Aether remaining: 65.

Hercules' recovery time: 50 seconds.

"Plenty of time," Rex muttered, Aether flaring around him in a dazzling display of power.

Lucius staggered to his feet, his face twisted in fury. His jaw clenched, shadows coiling around him like a living storm. "You... YOU!" he bellowed, his voice cracking under the weight of his rage. The shadows condensed at his fingertips, forming a pulsating orb of raw energy.

"Over and over, you mortals defy me! You're arrogant, weak insects, incapable of understanding what it means to ascend. Mortals exist to serve gods, to bow before us!" The shadow orb expanded, its darkness swallowing the light around it as Lucius' voice climbed to a roar.

Rex chuckled, his stance relaxed despite the growing menace. "If humans are so weak, why don't you prove it by defeating me right here and now? I'll even kowtow to you a thousand—no, ten thousand times."

Cronus' voice whispered in Rex's ear, dry with sarcasm. "A thousand wasn't enough?"

Lucius snapped. "Enough of your insolence!" The shadow blast roared forward, an unstoppable force of destruction aimed directly at Rex. But just as the attack surged, the world around Lucius twisted unnaturally.

Time crawled like a snail, the shadow blast creeping forward inch by agonizing inch. Lucius' hands remained suspended mid-attack, his expression frozen in a mask of rage and frustration.

Meanwhile, Rex moved freely, watching as the Temporal Rift locked Lucius in a prison of slowed time.

Temporal Rift Overcharge activated. Duration: 65 seconds.

"Sixty-five seconds of peace and quiet," Rex murmured, wiping sweat from his brow. The effort had drained all his remaining Aether, but the payoff was worth it. Lucius, the self-proclaimed god, was at his mercy.

Inside the stasis, Lucius raged, shadows seeping from his body in a slow but relentless tide. The pressure built around him as he struggled against the constraints of the Temporal Rift.

Analysis: 10 seconds remaining.

Cracks spiderwebbed through the stasis field, the air around Lucius distorting violently.

CRACK… CRACK… BOOM!

With a deafening roar, the Temporal Rift shattered, space itself seeming to scream as Lucius broke free. His body surged with shadow energy, his eyes burning with unholy light.

Rex's stomach dropped. "Dammit," he hissed, stumbling back. His Aether reserves were empty, and Lucius wasn't wasting a second.

Lucius appeared in front of him in a blur, one hand clamping around Rex's throat. He lifted him effortlessly, his grip tightening like an iron vise.

"Now," Lucius growled, his voice a low snarl. "Can you still boast about defeating me?"

Rex wheezed, his vision swimming as he gasped for air. Yet even in the face of death, a cocky smirk tugged at his lips. "Who... said... anything... about... me defeating you?"

Lucius' eyes narrowed in confusion. Then his instincts screamed.

"Dammit!" Lucius roared, flinging Rex away as a massive boulder hurtled toward him. He dodged, the rock smashing into the ground where he had just been standing.

"Young warrior!" Hercules' booming voice echoed across the battlefield. He strode forward, his body radiating newfound vigor. "Thou hast proven thyself worthy to learn the art of war from me!"

Rex coughed, rubbing his neck as he grinned up at the towering demigod. "Glad you're back, big guy."

Hercules sent a thumbs up at Rex, his teeth sparkled white. Meanwhile, Rex now sure he was secured quickly entered a meditative state, trying to gather Aether energy to pull off his final move. One that was really essential. This time, he was surely going to pull it off and no one's gonna interrupt me. No, not even the gods themselves. They won't dare!

Lucius' teeth ground together, his rage palpable. "That brat!" he hissed. "He slowed time to test my reactions within his rift, then extended it just to stall for time uh! He was waiting for this moron to recover! I've been outsmarted but it'll all be for naught you monkeys!!

Hercules hefted his massive club, his grin broad and wild. "Come, shadow boy! Let me teach thee the true meaning of godhood!"