Chapter 10: Prove Your Worth, Fraud

"LOKI!" 

Herris blurted out, his voice echoing in the silence. The figure with green eyes flicked a glance at him before returning his gaze to the heavens, declaring,

"Father, this mortal is now aware of our existence. It's time we unveil our true identities."

Before the unseen voice could retort, the figure with green eyes began its transformation. The fog that shrouded it started to dissipate from its feet upwards, hinting at a dramatic unveiling.

As the fog lifted to his neck, Herris could see the figure was a man, his physique now visible. He was dressed in a green mage robe adorned with red and gold trimmings, and a long black cloak decorated with glowing green symbols, adding an air of mystique.

When the fog cleared from his neck, a snake made of green mist coiled around it, radiating a foreboding green aura.

Finally, the grand reveal came to light: a humanoid figure emerged, with long, fiery red hair and a menacing grin that highlighted his sharp nose. Most notably, two large, curved horns protruded from his head, enhancing his fearsome and sinister appearance. He looked far more menacing than divine, casting an imposing presence as he stood before them.

While Loki underwent his transformation, the other two figures remained silent, their flickering eyes suggesting they had no intention of revealing themselves.

"LOKI!" 

The unseen voice thundered in fury, causing the heavens and land to tremble. Suddenly, a bolt of white lightning began to form in the sky, aimed at the three figures. The bolt stretched from the sky to an unknown destination, crackling with raw energy as it prepared to strike.

The lightning roared and readied itself to strike, its target being the three figures with Herris caught in the middle. The air buzzed with electricity, and the ground quaked as the bolt descended with terrifying speed and power.

Despite the chaos, Herris watched as if he were a spectator at a movie, only missing a comfy seat and a bucket of popcorn. He was confident that no matter what happened, he would be safe this time, and any suffering could be dealt with tomorrow.

"Let him hear what he has to say," 

Another voice, this one female and melancholic, intervened. 

Instantly, the lightning vanished, white clouds began to gather, and moonlight started to fall as the sun rose, casting a golden glow across the sky.

Herris was left in awe of this divine spectacle, rendered speechless by its majesty.

The feminine voice spoke again as golden sunlight streamed through, enveloping them with white clouds that resembled floating snow. 

"You three have committed treason by directly interfering with the mortal world. Justify your actions, or both you and this mortal will face death."

"You bastards!" 

Herris roared, the horrifying realization dawning on him that they intended to let him perish in flames.

As Herris assessed the three figures and tried to question their intentions, only to find his voice had been stolen away.

Having been through this before, Herris swiftly fell silent, comprehending that any attempt to speak was futile.

Once Herris had stilled, Loki reached out his hand, a wide grin splitting his face as he venomously spat out each word.

"Father and Athena... No, all the gods observing this. I wish to disregard Rome and his puny revenge."

"Since Hercules, we haven't encountered a mortal who could amuse us. Why?"

A chilling silence descended upon the area as Loki continued his poisonous monologue.

"The reason is, we denied them even a moment of joy. We were engrossed in our own gratification. We overlooked the grand scheme of things."

Loki paused, and one of the other two figures, with eyes glowing red, interjected in an unfamiliar, seductive tone, 

"Monotony! We were bored. We ended those mortals swiftly because nothing amused us anymore. But…"

Abruptly, the three figures shifted their gaze to Herris. He gulped nervously, realizing they were plotting a fate more terrible than anyone had ever endured.

Loki offered a faint smile at Herris's thought and turned his gaze back to the sky, declaring, 

"We three suggest that this man be allowed to continue his destiny without any of us interfering henceforth."

"Loki! Elucidate," 

The invisible voice, now softened with patience, demanded as the clouds parted and the sun sank below the horizon, allowing the moonlight to resurface.

"Fellow gods, I believe this mortal will provide us with enough amusement to keep him for another 30 years before he succumbs to the Demon Lord. We three wish to witness his struggle increasingly until the bitter end. If you gods deem we three have committed any transgression, penalize us."

Loki and the two figures bowed before the sky as Herris slowly started to comprehend the magnitude of his destiny.

The sky remained quiet for a few moments before the unseen voice responded in an authoritative tone, 

"The gods will no longer meddle in this mortal's destiny. We also desire to make this charade intriguing. We demand you three to risk your lives on this."

The three figures replied without hesitation, still bowing. 

"We will willingly risk our lives on this."

Loki straightened up and requested, 

"Gods, may we each bestow this mortal with a gift to make it more captivating?"

"Proceed, but if this mortal disappoints, you three will perish," The unseen voice commanded as it gradually faded into nothingness.

After the voices disappeared, the three figures turned to face Herris directly and approached him. The figure with red eyes stood before Herris.

The figure extended its hands, cloaked in fog, towards Herris. As the fog slowly dispersed, it revealed a woman's hand with fair skin and long, black-painted nails. Black fluid dripped from her fingertips onto the ground, forming a dark pool that began to seep into the ground, creating a hole where the fluid settled.

Suddenly, two apples materialized in her hands. One was a rotten apple, and the other was a fresh red apple.

The figure with red eyes extended her hands and instructed him, 

"One of these apples will bring great fortune to your fate, while the other will lead to your downfall. Choose wisely."

"Sorry, I don't need to eat something to change my fate. I will create a new path for myself, The Greek Goddess of Discord and Strife, Eris," 

Herris retorted, recognizing the figure.

The figure's red eyes blazed fiercely as the two apples she held vanished from her grasp upon hearing Herris's words.

Herris instantly deduced that the two figures must share the same nature as a god of trickery who seeks to sow chaos.

Herris considered various gods and goddesses with similar personalities, and one of them on his list was Eris, the Greek Goddess of Discord and Strife, who had instigated the battle among the goddesses and was the catalyst for the Trojan War. The moment he saw the apple, he confirmed that she was the one.

Herris rejected the apples, aware from all the mythology he had studied that Eris always had hidden agendas beyond merely causing trouble and entertaining the gods.

However, Herris's plans were disrupted when a golden apple appeared above her hands. Eris did not give him a choice but rather issued a command. 

"Herris, if you wish to slay Rome, accept this Apple of Despair."

Herris's mouth involuntarily opened wide, his body reacting without his conscious consent.

"Mmmmm…" Herris struggled to close his mouth again. The apple entered his mouth and was stored inside his body. The golden light illuminated and spread around him like a toxic mist.

Herris didn't feel anything strange. He didn't even taste the apple or feel it go down his throat. It felt like breathing air.

After Herris consumed the apple, Eris, now in fog form, slowly faded away, merging into nothingness.

Then, another figure with golden eyes stepped forward and stood before Herris. Herris looked up and greeted the figure with a beam, exclaiming,

"I knew you would be here, Monkey King."

[End of Chapter]