Rise of the Eromancer

"This world… just repeats itself over and over again?"

Rhys, of course, thought it was incredibly ridiculous. To the point that he was starting to think that all of this might all be in his head, and that he might have actually died years ago when he and Lex fell down the building—or maybe even before that.

After all, that sort of Lowborn could actually take that kind of beating? Maybe Katarina and the others were just some sort of manifestation of his dreams that someone would actually love and care for him.

But then, of course, he remembers that it hasn't really been all good for him ever since he gained his abilities—the things that he had to do, he was sure weren't just part of some dream. This was real.

It was downright ridiculous, but it was actually happening, right here and now. But then again, maybe he should not be surprised—he had already met a literal god, after all.

"I can see how much that weighs down on you." Pythia's giggles completely took Rhys away from his stupor as he quickly focused his attention back on her. And like how she had been from the start, there was a sense of nonchalance in each of her movements as if she did not just reveal something incredibly ridiculous to him,

"But you do not have to worry, Rhys Wilder—I too, am experiencing some kind of shock. Or perhaps, it is better to say that I am experiencing some sort of, hm… conundrum—truthfully, I should get rid of you here and now. But of course, I can't do that since we will be exposed to the other gods—and so, I could only settle with our hero here to kill you."

Rhys turned to look at Achilles as soon as Pythia glanced at him, but Achilles just shrugged and did nothing at all.

"But that is nothing to happen, as it is not meant to happen," Pythia covered her mouth, sighing and giggling at the same time, "Do you know why it is not going to happen, Rhys Wilder?"

"Just tell me," Rhys pinched the bridge of his nose, "It feels like you want to tell me everything anyway."

"Because out of all the heroes Lord Hades has sent throughout the years—you are special, incredibly so," Pythia nodded to herself as she started walking around; circling Rhys like he was some sort of prey to consume. Her lips, even being brushed by her tongue, "I have never felt such satisfaction in placing my lips upon any mortal, half-mortal ever since Aphrodite—but of course, I know that you are not one of Aphrodite's and I surely know that you are not one of Lord Hades…

…And so there is really only one that stands out among the rest, and oh… he stands…

…Eros."

"Who… are you?" Rhys's eyes started to squint.

"It should already be obvious, Rhys Wilder," Pythia covered her mouth to giggle again; her hair that was now as bright as the sun almost blinding Rhys, "I have watched you ever since you left that boat—how could I not, when a demi-god I do not know of has suddenly entered my game?"

"You…" Rhys quickly turned to look up at the two suns above the sky, only to find that one was already missing.

"Yes."

"!!!" And as Rhys looked back at Pythia, he found her completely ablaze—her entire body a dancing flame that felt like it threatened to burn everything around her. He quickly took several steps back.

As for Achilles, he would probably also do the same as Rhys if he wasn't already kneeling on the ground.

"I am Apollo—I am sure you have heard of me," Pythia spoke—Rhys thought that her voice would change into something more powerful, but it did not at all, "And welcome to my world, Descendant of Eros."

"..." Rhys just stared at Pythia for a few seconds, staring into her eyes that looked like it would burn him if he even dared to take a step closer—but still, after a few seconds of the dancing flames reflecting in his eyes… Rhys just let out a small sigh,

"...Another god. Of course, I would encounter one of you so soon."

"That's not really the reaction I was expecting to see," Pythia once again giggled, "But then, I suppose for someone who had already met with Lord Hades, my existence would seem… feeble."

"Oh, no. Not at all," Rhys sighed while shaking his head, "It's because I honestly don't really know much about the gods—I spent most of my time in history class either being beaten or in the clinic."

"Ha…" Pythia smiled and covered her mouth again; the flames that were dancing around her, slowly withering away, "...You truly are an enigma to be solved, Rhys Wilder—the only question here now is what to do with you."

"...Just tell me where my father is and I will go," Rhys just once again sighed as he looked around the frozen horizon, "Whatever game it is you're playing here—I'm not really interested, nor do I want to be involved in it or disturb you… this isn't my world, and I am not interested in living in it."

"That's a shame," Pythia also let out a sigh of her own as she walked toward Clio, placing her fingers on her lips, "The Princess of Calydon has taken such a liking to you that it would almost be criminal to leave—or perhaps does the Descendant of Eros not care much about his lovers? Because the Eros I know, all of those who had captured his love and affection, he brings them wherever he is—and he loves all of them equally."

"...Hm," Rhys turned to look at the Hearts floating above Clio's head—1 of them still empty, "She's… not my woman."

"Oh, how cold…" Pythia gasped, "...After you have plucked her from her innocence?"

"It's not my decision whether they want to stay with me or not," Rhys shook his head, "I'm not… playing with anyone's heart."

"If you say so," Pythia once again sighed, "Poor Clio, though—but I suppose the two of you would still have much time to spend together."

"What…?" Rhys squinted his eyes, "I already told you that I will go—you will never have to see me again once you point me where I need to go."

"If I didn't already tell you…" Pythia shook her head, "...I don't know who your father is, Rhys Wilder."

"...What?" Rhys blinked, "But you just said earlier that you know where he is."

"Well, I lied," Pythia shrugged, "We tend to do that around here, Rhys Wilder—deception is the Olympians' best trait. It comes second nature to us—that, and being incredibly vague. I apologize, Rhys Wilder, but if you wanted answers…

…you should have stayed with Lord Hades—he is the most honest of us all."

"That's true," Achilles stood up from the ground, "I have experienced that many times myself."

"...Why are you not frozen like the others?" Rhys asked.

"Because unlike the rest of these people and this world, I do not reset," Achilles breathed out as he started stretching his neck, "I am the main character of this world, Rhys Wilder — they write stories about me, they sculpt statues of me—I am Apollo's champion. And come to think of it… Read new adventures at m_v-l'e-NovelBin.net

…she has promised me war."

"You had the chance to fight with a Hero that not even the mighty champion of my father has fought," Pythia gestured to Rhys, "I do believe that is worth more than a thousand wars that you know you would already win."

"...That's true," Achilles squinted his eyes as he looked at Rhys from head to toe, "But then again, that was not a battle using all of our strength—you are trying to find your father, correct?"

"...Yes," Rhys nodded.

"Then perhaps I could offer words," Achilles crossed his arms, "The Coliseum of Champions."

"Oho…?" Pythia seemed incredibly amused as she looked at Achilles.

"...And what's that?"

"It is a gathering of champions—hundreds and hundreds of us," Achilles closed his eyes, slightly stretching his arms to the side as he seemed to relish in the memory, "Every hundred years, champions are gathered in a single world, very much like this one—and we fight."

"...Another game?" Rhys sighed.

"The Game," Achilles, however, did not seem to mind Rhys's tone, "This land, it is merely a playground to train and harness my skills—The Coliseum of Champions is where the stakes are truly real. Join it, and let us face each other there with our full strength once and for all."

"Hmm, that's good and all," Pythia placed a finger on her chin as she tilted her head, "But in order for Rhys Wilder here to participate—you would need a god to sponsor you—Lord Hades can be considered to be your sponsor, but he is not here right now, no?"

"A sponsor…" Rhys squinted his eyes.

"There is also the issue of being unknown," Pythia hummed, "You…

…need to make yourself known first, Rhys Wilder