"That…"

Charlotte, who was fully on guard against Artemis, how had her hands completely down. The story she just heard from Angela seemed like it came from legends, and perhaps it could be considered as such.

​​

Even Angela's own life story of how she and her sibling were conjoined was already almost a story from a book. To think there was something to top that in just an hour.

Van… is the child of gods from different universes? But how could that be when--

"But wasn't Evans born from Evangeline and his father?" Charlotte was the first one to open her mouth after Angela's short but heavy story, "How were the gods involved in that?"

"Gods of different universes can not procreate," Angela shook her head, "I no longer know the full story, but it had something to do with Master Evangeline being an extension of Goddess Azrael. She carried Goddess Azrael's Egg which contained both the Goddess and Hermes's essence until master found a suitable mate to create… Mr. Evans with."

"That's… ridiculous," Charlotte could not help but comment. She could destroy mountains with just a single punch, but this kind of story truly was, as she says, ridiculous.

"If your story is correct and without lies, then that would mean that my side really did start all of this," Artemis could not help but look around her. She had been in this Fractured world for more than a thousand years, slumbering until the day that something changes. But to think that her universe is dying and there was no way to save them is… truly regretful.

"Doesn't that make Evans someone who was born from peace?" Artemis continued as she slightly leaned closer to Van, "A child born from the gods of two different universes, what is that if not a sign of peace?"

Although Artemis was already almost touching his leg, Van still had no reaction to anything as he was still trying to wrap his head around the story he heard. Ever since he met his mother again, the people have been telling him that he was destined for something bigger than himself, that his decisions will decide the fate of the world.

But to think it was this literal. What was he supposed to do with this information anyway?

"Is… your story true, Ms. Angela?" Van asked.

"Hm. There is no point in hiding it any longer. Your life is more important than the secret. Besides, the muscle demon might be right, maybe master Evangeline had foreseen this happening and that is why she asked me to go with you two in the first place. She doesn't make any mistakes."

Van and Charlotte were still busy trying to decide whether or not they would really believe Angela's story. No matter how much they try to think about it, if it was anybody else telling that story, they would have already left it midway.

Surprisingly, the only one that seemed to fully believe Angela's story was Artemis. Although, she was the one who needed to believe it in the first place, as they were currently indirectly being held here by her. But now, it would seem that her guard was completely gone. They could probably run and Artemis wouldn't follow them.

The only problem they have right now was Van, who was in a complete stupor. However, Artemis's next words fully woke Van up.

"Kill me, then."

"...What?"

The leaves and branches that Artemis used as clothing slowly withered as she stood in front of Van. Her skin, which was almost as smooth as porcelain, now fully exposed itself to him. Although her figure wasn't as voluptuous and curvaceous as Latanya, it held a certain allure that Van could not avert his eyes aware from it.

"...Why?" Van asked.

"Because that is your destiny. I know now what your role is," Artemis calmly said as she slightly stepped back, "You are not the Messenger of the Gods, you are not the Goddess of Death, you are not the Psychopomp. None of those expound what you truly are. Evans, you are...

...the Devourer of Gods."

"The Devourer… of gods?" Van looked at Artemis before placing his attention towards Angela, who was just looking at him with a sort of concerned expression, "But my System is--"

"Whatever this System that you are talking about is, it is a lie," Artemis did not let Van finish, "I have heard enough. You mentioned before that you sent Hercules to the Afterlife, what was his reaction when you did so?"

"He…" Van let out a deep breath as he recalled Hercules's last words. He clearly remembers it, after all, the distress in Hercules's voice was hard to dismiss, "...he asked me where I sent him."

"And what happened after that?"

"I… received a Skill."

"An ability. From Hercules himself, I presume," Artemis shook her head, "That just further proves my claim. The plan that Hermes and Athena planned about sending us to the Afterlife… Hermes had a different plan in mind. He betrayed us."

"..." None of the three interrupted Artemis.

"But knowing what he knew and knows, it is understandable. I would have probably done the same if I were in his position. He planned his child to absorb the power of other gods in order to make him grow in power in a very short amount of time. And that child is you, Evans."

"You… believe the story?"

"What is there not to believe in? I can detect the blood of an Olympian inside of you, it is faint as it has not yet awoken," Artemis continued to talk as she opened up her arms, completely showing her invulnerability, "Kill me. Kill me so that your universe may have the chance to fight for peace. Grow strong to the point that none can contest you in the multitudes of universes. Grow strong so that your universe will not end up like mine."

"I… I can't," Van stood up as he looked the naked Artemis straight in the eyes, "Now that I know I am not sending you home… I can't just kill you."

"Evans, perhaps do as the god says," Charlotte said as she crossed her arms, "If the story is true, she is going to die anyway."

"Your withering companion is right, Evans. Even without the cherub's story, I know that there is no way for me to leave this place. I am forever stuck here until this Fractured world disappears, taking me along with it. Our only chance was the lie that Hermes had told us, but that too is gone now. Even if all of us do manage to retreat back to the Afterlife, it would take an eon for us to recover. By then, the humans of the Seraph's universe would have surely found their way towards us…

...Everything is as it should be. The Fates have already ordained my destiny, and it has yours. Fulfill mine so that you may continue yours…

...Absorb me."

"But… you are family," Van said as he once again slightly backed away, "I… can't." He then looked at his hands, which were trembling from the thought of having killed Hercules. He really thought that he sent him home. He thought that Hercules was leisurely spending his time right now, waiting for the other Olympians to so that they could finally reunite after a thousand years.

He had a certain connection towards the Olympians that he just couldn't explain. Even now, his heart races as he looks at the naked Artemis.

"We will live on, Evans," Artemis said as she slowly kneeled to the ground, "We will live on inside of you."

"But--"

"!!!"

Before Van could finish his words, countless roots suddenly emerged from the ground. Both Angela and Charlotte instantly rushed in front of Van, only to find that they weren't the target of the roots, but Artemis herself.

"N… no."

Van could not help but stutter as he watched as the roots slowly opened up Artemis's chest. He wanted to stop her, but Charlotte's grip was not allowing him to. He could only watch as a bright golden light emerged from Artemis's wound, and slowly, it faded.

"Do it, Evans."

Artemis then looked Van straight in the eyes as her beating heart exposed itself to him.

"I just hope that however you use your power, it would lead to peace," Artemis then closed her eyes, fully offering up her heart towards Van. Maybe in a different time or a different setting, Artemis's heart would have beat in a different way for Van-- but this was not their story.

Van's stuttered breaths rhythmically drummed along with the beating of Artemis's heart, both were loud enough to drown any other noise in the Portal. It was as if the two made an orchestra of their own-- an orchestra filled with regret.

But soon, even the orchestra died down as Van closed his eyes as well. His breath, slowly stabilizing to the tune of his destiny.

Charlotte and Angela, seeing that Van had started to calm down, carefully relaxed their grips as they made way for Van.

"I'm sorry you have to go through this, kid," Charlotte whispered, "But this is just one death of many."

"No," Van opened his eyes as soon as he heard Charlotte's words, "This is a death that matters."

"..."

Van then focused his eyes back on Artemis, who was still calmly waiting for him to end her life.

"I promise you, Artemis," Van then lifted up his hand before it soon started to blur and release a humming sound, "I will do everything I can to provide the peace you seek…

...no matter what I have to do."

"I thank you, Evans, son of Hermes and Azrael."

And slowly, Van gently stretched his trembling hand through Artemis's heart.

[New Passive Skill Gained: Gift of Artemis]