Theme: Crisis in another realmThe six pillars of the underworld appeared in front of Rey Reed Smith again, a dirty smile plastered on their faces, and they looked eager to begin another round of torture on Rey.Weakly, he raised his gaze to meet them, and he could feel his brain starting to imagine how excruciating the next round of pain would be. He didn't need to peer into their thoughts before he knew they had a lot of things under their sleeves that they would be unfolding soon.Rey looked deep down for his power, for the strength of his hellhound, for the divine power that was granted to him by Lord Rey, but he was empty. He's as weak as an ordinary human. He's useless. He couldn't feel his beast power, nor the one that belongs to Lord Rey.Eventually, Rey started blaming himself. He had been so eager to save Arianna that he ignored Lord Rey's warning against the barrier. Only if he had to step back and find another way to break the barrier. He regrets acting in haste. Perhaps,

Drax scanned as men stood on sentry at the wall of Tartarus, guiding it and trying to stop him from penetrating. At least, that's what they thought they were doing. Those that eluded earlier had given them warning about the incoming intruders, and they took formation instantly. From Drax's philosophy, he knew this wasn't a formation that was formed in a rush; they were prepared already.When he saw them increasing in number, he started questioning why he had to let the three men survive to give a report. Well, the answer is that he wanted to make a graduate entrance, but he wasn't expecting this. Nevertheless, he didn't doubt his skills. In fact, he couldn't wait to shed their blood if they failed to acknowledge him and made an example of them.He led the way, Kusandra, and Garry by his right, while Chiron walked to his left. "Is this how it always goes?" He asked, and they knew he was referring to Chiron."It began after the last war," He said. "But they will bow at your feet, and th

Rey Reed Smith died again and again—at least of illusion and imagination. Even though he can't be killed again, the pain of getting struck, hit, and wounded is real. There's no possibility of him doing this, but the pain is unbearable, excruciating, and unexplainable.The illusion warrior struck again for the tenth time with more speed, strength, and agility. The attack was so blurry that Rey barely evaded it. The warrior raised his blade high above his head and swung it at Rey's head. Instead of meeting the blade midway, he bent low, the force of it whistling past his head. The latter brought his blade back as easily as wielding a chopping knife, swirling it as it came for Rey's neck. He rolled out of the way.The illusion leaped after him, aiming to thrust into his chest. Rey used his blade to parry the attack sideways, followed by a kick at the illusion's chest. The latter easily blocked his kick and swapped Rey's last feet away from the earth. With a loud thud, he collided with th

Rey Reed Smith trained until he wasn't sure if he could proceed or take any more death from his enemies. The blood lord is now training him with blades, sticks, fire bows, and throwing off different short and light metals.He occasionally ran, jumped when necessary, hid when needed, and killed from the shadows if required. During all the time of his training, his mind lay on the circle of trees and the sword that lay at their heart. He couldn't forget it—not so fast. It belongs to him, and he will make sure to get it back. He will never accept defeat from a mirror image. Something that doesn't even exist-not entirely real.Rey could still feel the pain of his wounds. Even though the blood lord had dressed the thorn scratches and the deeper puncture with herbs to aid the healing, which also suppressed the pain a little, he could still feel the pain with every step it took.Rey knew that the blood lord had the power to take away his pain. It's something he can do with a flip of his hand

Theme; crisis in another realmThe rest of the team, including Drax, fidgeted as Rey stood proudly in front of the advancing men, staring at them as if they were worth nothing. He looks confident, which is unusual. He wasn't panicking, nor was he attempting to attack. That leaves them in a mystery of, "What's he planning?"They tried to make themselves into a thing of immovable rock, still as tall as the wall of Tartarus nearby. It didn't work for them, though. They had been waiting for too long, and the armies never stopped advancing either."One hundred and fifty-one thousand," Rey kept counting. He wasn't sacred, crouched, and stiffening like the rest of the team. But instead, he stands comfortable as if waiting for his bride."It seems like you don't look bothered despite the armies," came Argus' voice. He stood about thirty feet away from Rey, watching his next move and anticipating his action. "You remind me of someone, though.""Of a scary dog named Ezra," Rey answered, still n