The King’s Wrath

I'd been in a lot of bad situations before.

But this?

This was a disaster.

One second, the battlefield was just the usual chaos—explosions, screaming, people trying to kill me.

The next?

The ground split open.

A massive crack ran through the earth, black fire searing the air, and then—

A deafening roar.

It wasn't just any roar. It was the kind of sound that sent pure instinctual terror crawling up your spine, the kind that made your soul want to run.

I turned just in time to see it rise from the pit.

A Chimera.

I froze.

The massive lion's head snarled, flames licking from its mouth. The serpent tail hissed, venom dripping from its fangs. Its goat head, perched between its shoulders, let out a twisted, unnatural shriek that made my ears ring.

But that wasn't the worst part.

The worst part?

This was a creature of the Underworld.

And I didn't summon it.

Which meant—

Someone else did.

My stomach twisted. That should be impossible. No creature from the Underworld could just appear here unless I allowed it. My magic should've prevented that.

Before I could even process that thought, a figure stepped out from the shadows.

A masked man. Cloaked, hooded, and reeking of dark magic.

The Chimera wasn't attacking him.

It was waiting.

Like it had been called.

The man raised a hand and let out a quiet, reverent sigh.

"Lord Kronos, you honor us. To send such a beast for assistance—truly, the stars align."

I stared. "Who the hell are you?"

The masked figure tilted his head, voice calm. Too calm. "Just a disciple of the old ways."

Something about the way he said that sent a sharp pulse of unease through me.

"How did you summon this thing?" I demanded.

The man chuckled. "Oh, child of Hades… the old gods are stirring. You will see soon enough."

Before I could process that—

The Chimera lunged.

I barely dodged in time.

Its claws slammed into the ground, tearing through stone like paper. A shockwave of force rippled out, sending Felix, Damien, and Lyra stumbling back.

"Get back!" I shouted. "We need more time!"

I clenched my fists and reached into the depths of the Underworld.

The dead answered.

This time, I didn't summon just a handful of warriors.

This time, I called forth sixty.

Sixty undead soldiers erupted from the shadows, armor glinting, swords drawn, their eyes burning with spectral fire.

The masked man tilted his head. "Ah. You wield your father's gift well."

I ignored him.

"Felix, Damien,lucas —find someone who can shut this thing down!" I shouted.

Damien and Lucas took off immediately.

Felix?

Felix stayed.

Because of course he did.

His Zeus-born ego wouldn't let him run from the chance to slay a legendary monster.

I groaned internally. "Felix, seriously—"

"This is a fight worthy of a champion," Felix said, electricity crackling at his fingertips. "I'm not leaving."

I sighed. "Fine. Just don't die."

He smirked. "I don't plan to."

The Chimera's three heads turned toward me.

Something in my blood flared to life.

I stepped forward, letting my voice drop into something ancient.

"I am the son of Hades."

The Chimera snarled.

I glared at it.

"You only listen to me. How dare you make a mess in my domain?"

For a split second—just a second—the Chimera froze.

It recognized me.

But then—

It snapped out of it.

The serpent tail lashed toward me.

I dodged. Barely.

The lion's head swiped its massive claws, tearing through my armor like it was cloth.

Pain exploded in my ribs.

I staggered back, biting back a yell.

Above, Lyra loosed an arrow.

It hit.

And did nothing.

Her expression twisted in frustration.

Felix took his chance.

He surged forward, electricity sparking down his blade, and slashed at the Chimera's flank.

It blocked with its goat head.

The attack did nothing.

Felix's face twisted in shock.

Then—

The Chimera's lion head let out a roar.

The shockwave was like getting punched by thunder.

The air shattered.

I hit the ground hard. My ears rang. My vision blurred.

Even Lyra and Felix collapsed from the sheer force of it.

The Chimera lunged.

I saw it coming.

But I was too slow.

"CYRUS!"

My shadow cat leaped forward.

Midair, his form shifted, growing huge, becoming a massive black beast as he slammed into the Chimera, shielding Lyra.

She gasped, stumbling back.

Before I could do anything—

Pain exploded through my body.

The Chimera's claws speared into my chest, its teeth sinking into my shoulder.

I barely had time to scream before its jaws clamped down harder.

Everything turned red.

Lyra's horrified scream barely registered.

Felix's enraged lightning barely processed.

The only thing I focused on?

The Chimera's eyes.

It looked shocked.

Like it wasn't supposed to bite me.

Like it had just realized who I was.

A mistake.

I grinned through the pain.

"You dare bite your king?"

The Chimera flinched.

Too late.

I screamed.

A wave of pure Underworld wrath exploded outward.

The Chimera's body froze.

Lyra's eyes widened.

Felix stared in shock.

A king's wrath is absolute.

I grabbed the Chimera's throat, my blood boiling with divine fury.

"Kneel."

The Chimera collapsed.

Felix didn't hesitate.

Lightning exploded from his blade.

With a single thunderous strike—

He sliced the Chimera's head clean off.

Silence.

Then—

The entire colosseum erupted.

Lyra stared at me, still catching her breath. "You… you killed a Chimera."

Felix exhaled, flicking blood from his blade. "Not bad."

I grinned, blood dripping from my lips.

"I am your problem now." I muttered as I pass out.