Luck.
Something Ray had always cursed in his past life as never ever had luck been on his side.
It was his rotten luck that he was enrolled by the organization. It was his rotten luck that he had such a talent in assassination and extortion. It was his rotten luck that made him the best assassin in the whole world. It was his rotten luck that the same achievement became the cause of his downfall.
But deep inside, Ray always knew that luck wasn't as people interpreted it. It was 50% circumstances and 50% your own will and take to what life presented before you.
Ray could have rebelled against the organization, tried to escape for it, taken precautions when he retired. And it was not that these thoughts never crossed his mind, they did and not one but multiple times. But Ray blindly trusted the organization; its one and only savior, its hope and light. And when he was shot down in his own house, he cursed his luck again as an excuse.
Now as he lay gently in his cradle, reincarnated into a baby and Hades told Ray his future and fate, Ray couldn't help but feel like cursing his luck again but stopped before his tongue moved.
He knew it would just be an excuse to hide from his future again and he was not going to do it this time. But before that he was going to ask some questions from Hades, he didn't trust the guy still, he had learned the hard way to not trust anyone.
'How will the gods know I'm in this body? and there's hardly a chance of us winning if you are correct about them being 12 and us being only 1?' Ray asked further questions to understand his situation better.
Hades answered each of his questions patiently,
[For your first question, that is something I cannot answer even if I want to, all I can say is that it will all be revealed in due time. As for your second question, there are two reasons we don't have to worry much, first is that you have a 12 years gain on them which you can benefit from under my guidance and the second is that the gods will not personally descend on Earth, more accurately they can't as the Earth would be vaporized in an instant if even one of the gods were to descend on the Earth so rather, they would also descend in the bodies of mortals choosing them as incarnations.]
Ray understood his answer to his second question but he didn't know why he was not answering the first question, this only grew his distrust more so he asked the reason of him not answering his question,
'Why can't you answer my first question, is there a plausible reason to that, if so then what is it?'
Hades understood Ray's suspicion to his first answer and he was prepared to answer him so he didn't waste any moment and answered his question,
[Its because of Laws of Destiny Restraint which do not permit me tell you about things that affect your future, fate, or destiny in a major way. If you do not believe me then I will answer you first question to prove it, the reason gods will know is because $% 8&^ @!$%#^#^ (* $$^ @*%#^*@*.]
It was just like Hades said, at the beginning his was reaching perfectly to Ray's head but as soon as he reached to the answer his voice came out in screeching and distorted sounds which made Ray's head ache.
Ray started believing Hades to an extent after he faced his truth but there was still a final question plaguing his mind, a question that would decide what he would do from here with Hades, after all no matter what Ray chose to do Hades couldn't force him to do anything, at least this was what Ray had suspected after conversing with him for a little bit. So Ray asked his final question, which composed of only 4 words,
'What if I refuse?'
As the question left his thoughts, for a minute silence reigned in the room before Hades's voice came in his head, deep and rational.
[You are clever, mortal. You do not let emotions or threats cloud your judgement. I like you. As to the answer to your question, I can only give a shrug to that. There's no doubt right now that I can't do anything to you not until you activate a certain something and that also upon your own will. It is your own choice and I have no say in that and I have already chosen you so there's nothing that can be done. The gods will descend and what you do with them depends entirely on your own choice. I want you to help me and believe it or not, you need my help more than mine right now for reason that have to be untold. The rest is up to you.]
After hearing his words, Ray fell into a state of deep contemplation as he pondered over his choices in this situation. There was no doubt that whether he helped Ray or not, the gods will descend and target him and in that case getting his help was the proper course of action. After that Ray analyzed more of his circumstances till he finally decided to face him,
'I will help you on two conditions. One, if by chance we do defeat and kill the other gods, none, not you nor your allies will target my allies, friends or family and exact vengeance if something unfortunate happens. The second is that if I decide to help you and we defeat the other gods, and though I don't know what will happen after that due to Laws of Destiny Restraint but if by chance you regain your godhood or powers, you will become my life long ally and partner. Also that everything you have said is true. I want your word on River Styx for these two conditions.'
For some seconds, silence again came over the atmosphere, but then Hades voice cut through it in a resolute tone,
[I, Hades, God of Death and Underworld, swear on River Styx that everything I have stated thus far is true and if by chance we do defeat and kill the other gods, none, not myself nor my allies will target your allies, friends or family and exact vengeance if something unfortunate happens. I also swear on River Styx for the second condition upon which If I regain my godhood or powers I will become your lifelong ally and partner.]
As he swore on the River Styx, a small smile blossomed on Ray's face. A smile that bloomed on the fact that he had achieved the purpose he wanted. In any case, He was not going to let some gods ruin his second chance at life, not when he had choices to live freely this time.
'Very well, you have my personal friendship now. One day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do me a service in return of my friendship and in return I will treat you as one of my blood and help you for my life will not be a stepping stone this time.'
That was the day when a blood brother bond was formed for the first time between a god and a mortal, between Hades and Ray Vixen.
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