Chapter 364: You only have one chance

Words : 1832 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

The twelve hours that passed felt like an eternity. Time flowed as if in slow motion, dragging tortuously, each second stretching out as if the universe itself were holding its breath. Nothing else mattered. Everything that came and went was irrelevant. Strax remained motionless, sitting in his armchair, his eyes fixed on the system's interface. Every hour that passed, he watched the emptiness, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts as he waited for the countdown to run out. From 12 hours... to 10 hours... to 4 hours... And then it appeared in front of him. Those simple words carried an immeasurable weight. What could that be? What did it mean? What would change? What would come next? While he waited, Strax thought. He thought deeply. Every detail of that message echoed in his mind, repeating itself like a riddle to be solved. [Message from "H": Welcome back. If you've received this message, it means you've finally understood what really matters. From this moment on, the final version I've created will help you avoid the end of the world. See you soon. Strax] Strax let out a dry, humorless laugh as he leaned his head back against the armchair. "Welcome back"... What a joke. His eyes were lost in the ceiling of the room, empty, while the words recorded on the system kept hammering away in his mind. "Prevent the end of the world." He had heard many prophecies, witnessed cataclysmic events, faced forces beyond human comprehension... But this time, something seemed different. There was a weight to those words. A weight he couldn't ignore. Strax sighed, closing his eyes briefly before opening them again, his expression filled with a seriousness he rarely showed. "Hades..." he murmured, his voice echoing in the empty room. "Tell me what you want." It was obvious. Who, in all of Greek mythology, would have the power and influence to interfere with his existence? The most logical answer was Hades. The lord of the underworld, master of lost souls, the most enigmatic of the Olympian gods. But at the same time, another possibility crossed his mind. "It could be Hephaestus..." he muttered to himself, leaning forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands intertwined. Hephaestus, the blacksmith god, the divine architect, the one who forged weapons and artifacts of unimaginable power... Yet everything seemed to revolve around a single figure. Persephone. Every moment he had with that woman seemed surrounded by mystery. She appeared when he needed her most, intervened in his crisis and then disappeared completely, as if she had never existed. She never came to him again. Not even after the contract. It was as if everything had been meticulously planned, as if her appearance had occurred at exactly the right moment... and her absence afterwards was just as purposeful. Strax narrowed his eyes, his sharp mind working at full throttle. He didn't like being manipulated. But if that was what was happening, he needed to understand the purpose behind it all. With a deep sigh, he closed his eyes, concentrating on the feeling of the bond created by the contract with Persephone. "Come on, come out." Strax demanded, his voice echoing in the silent room. Nothing happened. Time passed in an uncomfortable silence, the only response being the subtle rustling of the curtains in the night breeze. Persephone didn't appear to him. Strax frowned, his fingers clenching slightly into fists. He felt the connection of the contract pulsing somewhere inside him, but for some reason she refused to respond. A heavy sigh escaped his lips. "Tch..." He leaned back in the armchair, massaging his temples. "You look tired." The soft, familiar voice came from the doorway. Strax looked up and saw Scarlet standing there, her crimson eyes analyzing him intently. She was barefoot, wearing only a scarlet silk robe that slid over her curves like a second skin. Her long red hair was loose, cascading over her shoulders, and her gaze reflected something between concern and curiosity. Strax remained silent for a moment, just watching her. Scarlet took a few steps forward, crossing her arms under her chest. "You haven't been very sociable for the last twelve hours." He looked away briefly, letting out a sigh. "I've had... a lot on my mind." Scarlet arched an eyebrow, walking over to him with the predatory grace she always had. "Is that news?" She teased, leaning against the back of the armchair. "You always have something to think about." Strax let out a small smile, but didn't reply. Scarlet slid her fingers down his arm, her cool touch contrasting with the warmth of Strax's skin. "So, do you want to tell me what's going on?" He was silent for a few seconds before finally answering: "Something big is about to happen." Scarlet narrowed her eyes. "'How big'?" Strax shifted his gaze to the window, watching the darkness outside. "Big enough to change everything." "I see... should I prepare for a real war?" Scarlet's eyes shone brightly, reflecting the soft lights in the room. Her red hair seemed to have a glow of its own, as if responding to the tension in the air. "If I were you, I'd start preparing them all right away." Strax replied firmly, his expression grim. "I can no longer act alone and carry all of you." Scarlet remained silent for a moment, analyzing him with that sharp gaze she always carried. Then, slowly, a smile appeared on her lips. "I see... so you haven't noticed yet." Strax frowned, but before he could ask what she meant, Scarlet moved gracefully and sat on his lap, crossing her arms around his neck. Their closeness brought with it a sweet scent, unmistakable and seductive. "Understand what?" he asked, his eyes fixed on hers. Scarlet leaned in a little closer, her lips almost touching his as she whispered: "They all reached the King Stage last night." Strax felt a slight shiver run down his spine. He blinked, taking in the words. Scarlet smiled more openly, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction at his reaction. "You kept trying to solve everything on your own, you kept abandoning them and moving on, and you kept trying to be the strongest without thinking about them," she said as if criticizing him. "You-" Strax tried to speak, but Scarlet placed a delicate finger over his lips, silencing him with an amused look. "You solved all the problems by yourself, ignoring all of us." Her voice was soft, but carried a sharp tone of reproach. "And in doing so, you ended up giving them the perfect fuel to burn their souls at full throttle while they farmed." Strax frowned, absorbing her words. "Currently... if you keep this up, it's quite likely that Samira will be able to defeat you." Scarlet smiled, tilting her head slightly to the side. "She held her own in the last fight. If she'd fought seriously, maybe things would have ended very differently." Strax narrowed his eyes, but Scarlet continued before he could reply. "Cristine has awakened something that resembles Elizabeth's power. She can now merge with shadows, moving through them as if they were an extension of her own body." The dragon remained silent, taking in the information. He knew that Cristine had always had a special talent, but this power was something completely new. "And it doesn't stop there." Scarlet smiled, appreciating the surprise in his eyes. "My three daughters have always been strong, but now... they've finally understood what really matters. They've channeled that understanding into cultivation and have become even more powerful." Strax took a deep breath. He sensed that Scarlet still had more to say. "Monica and her daughter, Beatrice... have awakened electrical powers." Her smile widened, a glint of pride dancing in her eyes. "Now, they can both manipulate lightning with ease. More than that, they can become lightning itself. They're probably faster than all the others put together." Strax couldn't hide his surprise this time. He knew they were all incredibly talented, but he hadn't expected them to have evolved so much in such a short space of time. Scarlet slid her fingers down his chest, her red eyes shining with a mixture of affection and amusement. "You didn't realize why you always carry the weight of everything alone, Strax. But now... you don't have to anymore." She leaned in a little closer, her lips brushing lightly against his. "You've always protected them, you've always been the strength of those four. Now it's time to make it clear that we're yours too." Scarlet whispered, her flaming eyes reflecting the intensity of the moment. Before Strax could reply, a sudden interference flashed through his mind like a blade cutting through the void. [Dragon God Supreme System Restarting...] His body went rigid, a shiver running down his spine as the reality around him seemed to tremble. [Trying to connect with...] Time slowed down. Strax felt something stirring inside him, an ancient, latent power, something beyond his current comprehension. [Success!] A wave of warmth ran through his chest, as if a primordial force was awakening inside him. [Activating Supreme Capacities...] His heart beat harder. He could feel his energy being reorganized, his very being shaping itself into something new. [Success!] An absolute silence filled his mind. And then- [Unfortunately, the previous Save was corrupted. Creating new user...] Strax's eyes lit up. Something was different. Something was changing beyond his control. [The name 'Strax Vorah' cannot be used.] A knot formed in his stomach. His own name... refused? [Switching to 'Strax Antares'...] The revelation hit him like thunder. A forced change. A new beginning, thrust upon him without warning. [Skills being adjusted...] The weight of the transformation pressed down on his chest. He felt his strength being reorganized, his essence taking on a new form. [New categories of powers were created.] [New abilities were adjusted.] The flow of energy within him expanded, evolving beyond what he had ever experienced before. [A new 'Shop' tab has been added.] An unprecedented function, a promise of something beyond his immediate understanding. [New 'Harem' tab added.] He narrowed his eyes. Did the system recognize his connections? How would this affect his path going forward? [New Skills Unlocked:] - Dragon's Breath - Dragon Cultivation - Dragon Transformation - Dragon blast - Dragon Claw - Dragon Eyes - Divine Body of the Emperor of Hell - Extended Thinking Speed - Positive Energy Manipulation - Negative Energy Manipulation - Infernal Soul - Black Heart - Chaos Energy - Imperial Warrant - Lightning Manipulation - Blood Manipulation - Light Manipulation - Nature Manipulation - Water Manipulation - Ice Manipulation - Fire Manipulation [Message received from "H": We'll never meet, after all... I'm giving you my all. You only have one chance, don't waste it].

Chapter 364: You only have one chance

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