Extra's Death: I Am the Son of Hades novel Chapter 252

Ares couldn't refute, even though he knew Zeus' prejudice against Neo was solely due to the Hargraves family name.

"Why do you guys always call me after you've messed everything up?"

Zeus clicked his tongue in irritation.

"Fine. I will deal with Neo Hargraves and Jack Hanma."

"Thank you, and stay safe."

"I don't need well wishes to deal with two brats."

Zeus hung up the call.

The sound of the disconnect echoed in the tent.

Ares exhaled a long sigh and stared at the tent's ceiling.

Hanna, his secretary, could tell Ares was under immense mental pressure.

She watched as he clenched his jaw and his shoulders tensed under the weight of his responsibilities.

He was hiding his burdens.

He couldn't show his weakness in front of his subordinates, especially in hard times like now when they needed his support. He had to act as their pillar.

"It will be fine," Emma spoke up.

The sunlight entering through flapping tent casted shadows across her face, highlighting her furrowed brows.

"I hate to say it, but Neo has higher mastery in Darkness than me. He could overpower me because he was better than me in what I excelled at. He was my natural nemesis.

"But Zeus and Gaia are different. Zeus can use the Life element, and Gaia can use Light and Holy elements. They have high mastery, and—"

"They are perfect counters for Neo," Ares interrupted Emma and massaged his brows.

His exhaustion was evident as he slumped slightly in his chair.

"But they are too far from Neo's current location."

He stared at the device in his hand.

"No, don't do that," Emma said when she realized what Ares was thinking. Her tone grew sharper. "Don't tell Apollo to stop Neo. The strength Neo showed us isn't anything Apollo can handle."

"He can use Sunshine. It's the perfect counter for Neo Hargraves and Jack Hanma, and… it's not like we have another choice."

Ares didn't like putting Apollo against Neo, not when he knew Apollo idolized Neo, even if only a little.

He sighed again and dialed Apollo's number.

The air felt heavier with each passing second.

"It's Ares," he spoke in a somber tone.

"I see," Apollo answered.

The faint crackle of the line couldn't mask the seriousness in his voice.

Ares' tone and the timing of the call were enough to make Apollo understand the current situation.

"I expected this," Apollo said. "I'm already in Savage Expanse…"

"You can't win against Neo in your current situation."

"…Why are you saying this when you called me to stop Neo?"

Ares didn't answer immediately.

He stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, and sighed again.

"Use [Divine Transformation]. You will win with it"

"I haven't yet learned the Divine Transformation technique."

"Apollo, both of us know why you can't use it," Ares said. The guilt behind his eyes continued to pile up as he added, "You are afraid of using Divine Transformation, aren't you?"

Divine Transformation allowed the awakener to merge with their Spirits.

The technique was created by Gaia… for Apollo.

Apollo's Spirit was Sunshine.

Sunshine was among the strongest Spirits — it was probably the strongest Spirit — in the current era.

Spirits were born when an awakener used a portion of their soul to feed a Spirit Seed and help it bloom.

Thus, a Spirit belonged to the person who gave birth to it.

Apollo might've said Sunshine was contracted with the Association, but Sunshine belonged solely to him.

It was why he had been smug when he explained Sunshine's ability to Neo. Your next journey awaits at empire

"You gave birth to a Spirit that almost single-handedly stopped Niles Radcliff's invasion," Ares said. "You have limitless talent, Apollo. If you put your mind to it, you can learn the Divine Transformation technique easily."

"This isn't the same thing! Fighting Neo isn't—"

"If you lose, then Neo will reach Typhaon."

Ares' voice was solemn.

"You are our only hope, Apollo. I've asked Zeus and Gaia to stop Neo Hargraves too, but I doubt they can reach Savage Expanse on time."

Ares hung up.

The silence that followed was heavier than the conversation itself.

He sighed, the sound hollow and tired.

"Dammit."

He hated pushing Apollo into the corner like this, but there was truth to his words.