"Ok then. So what do you have to do to break your oaths? Do I have to do anything?" I inquired, but Rhapso shook her head.

"No, once again, I am probably one of the only Nymphs that can do this, bar the two I can’t break, without dying. Because I don’t know who my founder is, I never took a very specific oath which requires the permission of any other founder to break. Though... Nevermind that for now. All you have to do is stand there and watch as I prove myself to you."

Rhapso then took a few breaths before letting out a nervous chuckle. "I’ve never been one for pain, this is going to really suck, and not in a fun way. Here we go..."

"Wait, pain?" I began to ask for a follow up but before I could I suddenly heard.

*SNAP*

"AAAGgHHHH!"

The sounds of bones being snapped followed by Rhapso’s cry of anguish brought me to goosebumps instantly, the moment she finished screaming a pool of golden blood was spat out of her mouth onto the ground below.

The Nymph began to violently shake while holding herself for a moment and I instantly attempted to dash forward, but she screamed.

"No! Don’t interrupt Apollo! Please! I have four more to break and Aaahh~ It hurts... I can’t have outside interference.

If that wasn’t bad enough, I suddenly heard inside my Mindspace. ’Apollo, that was... I’ve never seen Psionics move like that before. Apart from your decay, I don’t think I have ever seen that much pain inflicted on a thing before. It wasn’t just her body that was attacked, her very existence was punished by a greater force than I can understand.’

’It’s the universe itself’ Sol then interjected. ’These Nymphs, as this Galaxy calls them, are unique beings. The oaths they make, they aren’t just words like a non Psionic being would say. Their vows have tangible consequences for breaking them. Apollo, the fact she is doing this for you should tell you everything about the truth of her words earlier. I recommend taking them to heart, my Kindled. Your actions as a leader have consequences. This is one. So watch as this Nymph shows her devotion to you. A devotion you deserve, even if you doubt yourself at this moment.’

I frowned hearing Sol’s words about devotion, I really didn’t feel I deserved... This. But the action of Rhapso made one think clearly. She was serious. And that washed away all the doubt I had before.

No one would do this to themselves in order to trick someone else. It wasn’t worth it. She was so weak and helpless at this moment.

I gulped back my empathy as I watched her straighten her back out and looked me straight in the eyes. She smiled at me, her white glowing eyes held a tender affection for a brief moment before they suddenly began leaking gold liquid.

*BOOM!*

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

All of a sudden, the ground beneath Rhapso caved in followed by another shriek of pure despair from Rhapso’s lips. This time I felt my own heart attempt to lurch from my body. Rhapso was bleeding from every orifice, but now her eyes were still locked onto me.

I saw her determination. The look in her eyes was screaming at me. ’See! See my devotion!’

And I could. And I would.

Rhapso lying there in a pool of her own Ichor was my doing. By my lies. Because I said I was something I was not...

*Thud thud*

I suddenly felt a thrum from my Origin and knew what it was instantly. It made sense...

It made a lot of sense actually.

I already knew that I was going to become powerful with time.

My Origin made Jewel wet before she was even capable after all upon finding out what it was.

However, I only had the motivation of being able to mate with Jewel on my card until now. A goal I wanted to achieve, sure, but I had all the time in the universe for that.

But now. I had another goal. Looking down at Rhapso as another crash and scream overwhelmed her body.

’She thinks I am a Reincarnation of one of the old Spartari gods? Then why don’t I actually become one? Fuck it. I will figure out what this ’spark’ is. I will ascend. I will create a domain. I will become a god... Because I already have a follower and it would be shitty of me not to reward her faith and devotion...

...

Onyx listened to Apollo’s thoughts and despite being extremely turned on by his desire to become strong, she also became instantly confused by a word she did not know the meaning of.

Using Apollo’s Memories, she delved into them a little bit and found a discussion he and Nerissa had a while ago.

Her mind became shocked by what she was hearing. ’Life before this one? Is that possible?’

The concept was alien to her. To die and then be reborn as yourself later... Though she supposed in a way, she could also do that? Under the right circumstances, if she was devoured fast enough for her memories to stay intact...

Onyx then glanced at the golden section of Apollo’s Mindspace. The place is indestructible, unreachable by even Jewel herself. ’Is that the secret he cannot speak to us? He isn’t some subspecies of human? He was just in another body at one point?’

It also made sense why the Praetorians thought Apollo to be a god, she was confused by that conclusion, but she wasn’t going to say anything because of the future... Which was hastily becoming blurry!

’Uh OH!’

...

A storm suddenly began to form overhead. But it was no ordinary storm.

My eyes went wide. It was like nature itself was royally pissed off as clouds gathered, as the winds began to defy nature and became fast enough to cut bare skin with ease. Evident by the growing gashes upon Rhapso’s body.

Pinkish red Lighting also began to crash in the sky as the dark clouds gathered.

Such a large geological event would be unmistakably spottable from space without question.

The Psionics in the area began to get so dense, that it began to make me feel like I was back around Jewel, only it was somehow even thicker. The air I was inhaling was almost like drinking Psionics.

Rhapso then began to twitch, slowly positioning herself on her back. I couldn’t fathom how she was still alive. Her will power was humbling. Her chest heaved up and down, her body slick with Ichor. I could hear her wheezing, struggling for every breath.

However, I could also hear her next words, words I expected to hear with sadness, perhaps shed a tear, or a stream, but no she looked up. With a resolve that made my heart stop for a moment as I heard her whisper.

"I renounce the empire of the Gods and my Order."

*Z-Zzap BOOOOOOOM!*

A pillar of the pink-red lighting cascaded down from the atmosphere in a literal beam for over a dozen seconds. I could smell the burning flesh long before the smiting stopped and when it finally did...

Rain.

All the Psionics suddenly dispersed and the Sky began to weep.

I could still feel the raw power of the attack just now... ’I would be dead if I took that head on.’ There was no doubt in my mind.

Rushing over to the crater the impact had left behind, my heart lurched once more. Still and unmoving was Rhapso, her Ichor evaporated and her green skin burnt to a crisp.

Without hesitation I entered the crater and made my way to her side. Upon getting closer to her and still seeing no movement I dropped to my knees.

"Fuck..."

"FUCK!"

*Bang!*

I slammed my first into the ground in rage, causing the earth to beat like a drum.

I then closed my eyes and pinched my Glabella tight and just sat there in silence for a long moment.

No thoughts came to me. No more emotions spiked. I just knelt there. Still.

"You know, I have been wanting to meet you for quite some time. I mean, a human not of our ilk? It’s fascinating. And yet you know so much about us. I am very curious about that old universe of yours." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Snapping my eyes open I looked around shocked. The colour had faded from the surroundings, though not? Things had taken a greyish tone, everything had seemingly hundreds of silhouettes dancing around them.

All except one thing. A man... No, a skeleton? But again not really as it had what looked like blackened flesh, only it looked a part of the skeleton itself? It also had two horns and a circlet seemingly embedded in its flesh/skull.

It was unmoving, kneeling on the opposite side of Rhapso’s body. Just staring down at her.

Looking at it in shock. It then raised its skeletal hand, seemingly understanding my thoughts. "Worry not, this place is far beyond your Mindspace, only that ’Sol’ can get here, if she finds it. But you are safe. Though I am curious. Do I exist in that little lexicon of information of yours? Think. Dead guy, Skeleton... You have even been on a ship with my name before. Ring any bells?"

I frowned for just a moment before my eyes went wide, realizing just who was knelt before me.

"Thanatos?"