Chapter 21: Eyes That See All, Hands That Strike in Shadows

The morning winds carried the crisp bite of winter, but Leonidas sat still atop the highest rock ledge near the forest, his eyes closed in deep concentration.

Golden threads of magic stretched from him — Clairvoyance expanding across the world like roots of an ancient tree, spreading over rivers, mountains, and cities alike.

In the space of a breath, he saw Odin's ravens circling distant peaks, spying unseen on all corners of Midgard.

He felt Freya weaving her protective spells in the woods beyond, and the restless shifting of souls in Helheim's frozen depths.

His brow creased slightly. It was far more overwhelming than he had expected.

"Focus… You control the power. Not the other way around."

The strain of overseeing such vastness made a dull throb begin at the back of his head. Gritting his teeth, he drew the Clairvoyance inward, narrowing it down to specific threads — Odin's spies, and the paths they traveled.

"There... only what I need to see."

Just as he got the vision to stabilize, the voice of the system echoed within him, calm and sharp:

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

Template Integration Locked at 90%.

Condition to Unlock 100% Integration: Kill a God.

Final Trial Activated. Awaiting target.

Leonidas' eyes flickered open, glowing faintly gold before dimming.

"A god... so that's the price for the rest of Solomon's power."

He took a slow breath, letting the tension flow from his body.

"But I'm not ready to face a god yet... not until I know who watches me."

That night, in the forest clearing…

Leonidas drew a deep circle into the dirt, inscribing runes of summoning around it. His voice was calm but heavy with authority as he began to chant in the ancient tongue:

"Duke of Hell, hear me. By the contract bound in the name of Solomon, I summon thee—Berith."

The ground trembled, dark red fire flaring to life within the circle.

Slowly, a tall figure emerged — Berith, cloaked in black and crimson, his eyes burning with infernal light.

He bowed deeply. "King Solomon. Your will commands me."

Leonidas inclined his head slightly. "Berith, I have a mission for you. A quiet one. Odin's ravens — follow them, trace their path. I want to know where they report, what they see, and what Odin may know of us. But do not let them sense you. The Allfather's eyes must remain blind to me."

Berith's lips curled in a sharp grin. "Consider it done, my King. They shall never know I was there."

With a sweep of his cloak, Berith vanished into the night, leaving only scorched sigils behind.

Leonidas exhaled. "One more piece on the board. Now let's see what Odin knows."

The following day, behind the cabin...

Leonidas stood in the training yard, sword in hand, while Kratos watched him silently.

They faced each other, the quiet tension of warriors about to spar.

"Ready?" Kratos asked, his deep voice steady.

Leonidas nodded, smirking slightly. "Always."

Without warning, Kratos lunged, axe slicing through the air, and Leonidas met him head-on, sword clashing against the Leviathan Axe.

The sound of metal against metal rang out sharply.

They exchanged blows — Leonidas using precise strikes, mixing his improved swordsmanship with subtle but controlled magical reinforcement. His sword enhancements were already known to Kratos, so he no longer bothered to hide them.

But he was careful not to use any Solomon-specific magic — no demon summons, no seals, no illusions.

Kratos grunted as he brought his axe down in a heavy arc. "Your blade is sharp... sharper than before."

Leonidas blocked the strike, feet digging into the dirt. "I've been improving the runes. The balance is better too."

Kratos stepped back, eyeing him critically. "Still holding back."

Leonidas smirked. "So are you."

Kratos' eyes narrowed, but a faint smirk tugged at his lips — a rare expression from the God of War.

Without warning, Kratos lunged again, forcing Leonidas to push his movements further, testing the limits of his swordplay without crossing the line of exposing Solomon's true might.

A flurry of strikes.

Parries.

Dodges.

Every movement was sharp and fast — two warriors in a dance of skill and precision.

Finally, Kratos brought his axe to a halt. "Enough."

Leonidas sheathed his sword, breathing calmly. "Getting slow, Father?" he teased lightly.

Kratos grunted, though there was a flicker of amusement in his gaze. "You're not there yet... but you're close."

Leonidas smiled faintly but thought to himself: Closer than you think, Father.

Later, deep in the woods again…

Leonidas sat cross-legged on a stone, eyes closed as he tested the limits of Clairvoyance again, focusing now only on Odin's ravens and other threats.

"Berith is already watching... but I need to see for myself, too."

Through the threads of magic, he began tracing the movements of the ravens, seeing them fly through the lands, hovering near caves and camps.

"Odin's always watching..."

But as he reached deeper, focusing harder, a sudden pull yanked his mind's eye farther than he expected.

A glimpse of something he didn't expect to see — a hooded figure, watching the world from a high mountain, unseen by others. Odin himself.

Leonidas' eyes snapped open, a sharp exhale leaving his lips. "So you watch... but you don't know everything."

System Notice (End of Chapter Update):

Template Integration: 90% (Locked)

Active Abilities:

Clairvoyance (Controlled, covering specific targets — Odin's spies)

72 Demon Loyalty: Active (Berith on Covert Assignment)

New System Mission:

Kill a God to Unlock Full Solomon Template — Target: Pending.