The Road to Power

(Samuel's POV)

The banquet was over.

The past was buried.

And now?

It was time to move forward.

Henry and I walked out of the Grand Royale Hotel, ignoring the fading murmurs of the guests still lingering behind.

The black Mustang, sleek and powerful, sat waiting for us.

Without a word, we got in—I in the passenger seat, Henry behind the wheel.

The roar of the engine filled the quiet London night as we sped off, the city lights flashing past us.

Then—

[SYSTEM ALERT: COMBINED QUEST UNLOCKED]

A glowing holographic screen materialized before us, stretching across the dashboard.

We both glanced at it, scanning the details.

---

[COMBINED QUEST: WAR OF ASCENSION]

Objective: Eliminate the Supreme Executioners of Project Hades & Exterminate the Demonic Generals from the Hidden Order.

Rewards:

+10 Levels Each (Samuel & Henry)

New Hidden Abilities Unlocked

Entry to the Final Stage of This World

---

Henry let out a low whistle. "Well, looks like we got our fast-track to Level 105."

I smirked, cracking my knuckles. "Good. I was getting tired of waiting."

Henry shifted gears, pushing the Mustang faster down the empty highway.

"Then let's not waste time."

I nodded, my emerald green eyes glowing slightly in the dim light.

Because now—

Now it was time to end everything.

The black Mustang cut through the empty streets, the roar of the engine filling the silence.

Henry had one hand on the wheel, the other tapping lazily against the gear shift. His golden eyes reflected the dim glow of the dashboard.

I leaned back in my seat, smirking as I swirled a cigarette between my fingers.

"You know," I exhaled slowly, "for two men who spend most of their time destroying things, we dance surprisingly well."

Henry chuckled, keeping his eyes on the road. "Not surprising at all. We've fought gods, demons, and armies. You think some ballroom footwork was going to be difficult?"

I laughed. "Fair point."

I glanced out the window, watching the city lights blur past.

"Still, the looks on their faces… that was priceless."

Henry smirked. "Especially Bardot and Maa."

"They thought they had us figured out," I said, my tone amused. "But the moment they saw us move, saw how much we've changed… you could feel the ground beneath them crack."

Henry nodded, his smirk growing. "Dancing with their worst nightmares—Windy and Belle. That was the real show."

I flicked my cigarette out the window, stretching my arms. "I doubt they'll ever forget it."

He chuckled, shifting gears as the Mustang sped toward our next destination.

"Neither will we."

The city lights flickered as the Mustang tore through the streets, the roar of the engine and the quiet hum of the night filling the space between us.

Henry's fingers gripped the wheel tightly, but his golden eyes flickered toward me as he took in my question.

I leaned back in my seat, watching the buildings pass by, but my mind was elsewhere.

"Third life," I began, my voice low. "Do you ever think about it? Do you believe we're more than 700 years old if we count?"

Henry let out a small, almost thoughtful laugh. "I'm still getting used to the idea that we're even alive after all this time."

He took a deep breath, his grip on the steering wheel tightening just slightly as if he were trying to steer the thoughts away from the past.

"700 years…" he muttered. "Seems like a lifetime. But when I look at you, I don't see someone who's been through that many years."

I chuckled darkly, looking out the window at the city passing us by. "That's because we've changed. We're not the same men we were in our first life. Hell, we're not even the same men we were in our second."

I could feel the weight of the years, the memories, the battles, the pain, and yet—

I didn't feel old.

I didn't feel anything but power.

Henry's voice broke through my thoughts, almost curious.

"So, what do you think we are now?"

I met his gaze, my emerald eyes meeting his golden ones in the rearview mirror.

"We're beyond time. Beyond death." I said it simply, but the weight of it felt true. "We were born to fight, born to break the cycle."

Henry's lips curled into a grin. "Well, whatever we are now, we're damn good at it."

I laughed, a genuine, knowing sound. "That's the understatement of the year."

But in that moment, I couldn't help but wonder—

If we've lived so long, what does it mean to truly live?

And what was left to do once everything was already ours?