Cronus' system: Against the gods

"No word of the attack on the academy is to leave this room." A grizzled, long-bearded soldier, draped in the crisp insignia of a high-ranking officer, addressed the gathered troops with a voice like gravel over stone. His piercing gray eyes swept across the group as if daring anyone to defy him. "To the public, this area was attacked by a rogue beast, a large one, which the military defeated decisively. That is the story, and we will ensure it remains that way."

The soldiers exchanged tense glances before nodding in unison, their movements sharp and disciplined. They saluted crisply and marched off, their boots echoing against the cracked pavement, their backs straight with manufactured pride.

The high-ranking officer lingered, his gaze following them for a moment before he turned, his posture stiff yet deliberate, and headed toward Rex. The young man stood apart from the others, his arms crossed and a guarded expression on his face as he observed the aftermath—the self-repairing walls of Astral City whirring faintly as they pieced themselves back together like clockwork.

The officer approached, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his uniform. His heavy boots scuffed the ground with each step. A permanent scowl etched his features, and as he neared Rex, the lines around his eyes deepened.

"Kid!" the man barked, his tone sharp enough to cut glass. "Captain Jefferson claims you contributed greatly to taking down that beast, though, frankly, I highly doubt it."

Rex raised an eyebrow, his annoyance bubbling beneath the surface. "You highly doubt it?" he echoed, his tone laced with incredulity. "And where were you during the attack? For that matter, who even are you?"

The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he pulled a polished badge from his chest pocket and held it up with a flourish. The metal gleamed under the pale light, proudly displaying three bold stripes and a star perched at the top.

Rex's breath hitched. "A general?"

"That's right." The man straightened, his voice firm and unyielding. "As you've likely heard, General Silas is dead. I'm his replacement, the new General in charge."

Rex's jaw tensed, his mind racing. How fast does this military machine churn out leaders? he thought, glancing around. The city was practically stitching itself back together, pieces of its shattered infrastructure realigning with unnerving precision. Even the distant hum of drones sounded like a symphony of progress.

He let out a low whistle. "Looks like even the people here rebuild themselves as quickly as the city does," he muttered under his breath.

The General ignored the comment, though the twitch in his eyebrow suggested he'd heard it. "Per Captain Jefferson's orders," he continued, his tone dripping with reluctant authority, "you will receive your designated reward for assisting with the beast. A job well done, allegedly."

"Wait a second," Rex interrupted, his brow furrowing. "Jefferson's a Captain, and you're a General. Why are you taking orders from him?"

The vein on the General's forehead pulsed visibly, his patience wearing thin. He groaned, running a hand over his face. "Dammit, kid! Do you want your reward or not?"

"Yeah, yeah, of course I do," Rex shot back, shrugging.

"Good," the General grumbled. He straightened his uniform, regaining a sliver of composure. "We'll deposit the standard payment into your account. But there's more. A… special reward awaits you."

Rex's interest piqued. He tilted his head. "Special reward?"

The General nodded, though his expression suggested he was biting back another wave of irritation. "Yes, but you'll have to collect it in person at HQ tomorrow. Oh, and one more thing, don't bother showing up at the academy. It'll remain closed until next week."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Rex blinked. That was news to him, but he masked his surprise. "Yeah, I figured as much," he lied casually.

The General gave him one last scrutinizing look before turning on his heel, muttering something inaudible as he walked away. Rex stood there, his thoughts swirling.

Rex exhaled a long, weary sigh, the weight of the day's chaos pressing down on his shoulders. The city lights glimmered faintly in the distance, their mechanical precision at odds with the turmoil swirling in his mind. His voice was low, almost lost in the hum of the self-repairing streets. "For now... since Jefferson covered for me about Austine's death, all I have to do is lay low, right, Cronus?"

"Indeed, Harbinger," Cronus replied, his tone a mix of caution and urgency. "Especially now that Zeus is on the move. We know neither his plan nor the true extent of his ambitions."

Rex frowned, his mind flashing back to the chaos earlier. "He mentioned something about toying with powers beyond comprehension... and then struck Lucius down like he was nothing." His fists clenched at the memory. "If you ask me, it all ties back to that crystal."

Cronus's voice carried a rare unease. "You may be right, Harbinger. That crystal… it has been troubling me as well."

High in the Heavens

A jagged bolt of lightning tore through the air, illuminating the grand halls of Olympus with a dazzling, ethereal glow. The palace shimmered with golden radiance, its marble pillars and intricate carvings exuding divine power. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed as Zeus entered, his presence announced by the sharp crackle of electricity in the air.

The king of the gods stood tall, his robes swirling with the residual energy of his descent from Earth. His chiseled face was a mask of thunderous disdain, his eyes bloodshot, a storm barely contained behind their piercing blue hue. Before him, seated on an ornate throne of gold, was Hera, her regal aura crackling with barely concealed fury. To her left stood Poseidon, silent and stoic as the sea he commanded, while Hades approached from the shadows, his dark robes billowing like smoke.

"So," Hades began, his voice as cold as the underworld he ruled, "you've dealt with the traitor. But tell me, brother, did you retrieve the crystal?"

Zeus's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. With a sharp huff, he fixed Hades with a glare so intense it seemed to freeze the very air. "Brother," Zeus growled, his voice thunderous and seething, "the next time you think it wise to involve a mortal in our affairs, think again. Their greed consumes them! Their lust for power is insatiable."

Hera's sardonic laughter echoed through the chamber. "Oh, how rich!" she said, her voice dripping with venom. "Much like your insatiable lust for women, isn't it, husband?"

Zeus ignored her, his face a mask of cold indifference. But Hera wasn't finished. Rising from her throne, her golden gown rippling like liquid sunlight, she advanced. "You had your chance," she spat, her voice rising, "to rid us of at least one of your bastards, Jefferson or Hercules! Yet you chose to let them live. Why?"

Zeus turned to her, his gaze colder than the summit of Olympus. "It's none of your business, Hera," he snapped, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

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"None of my business?" she repeated, her voice shaking with barely restrained fury. "You speak of betrayal, Zeus, yet you have betrayed me more times than I can count!"

Zeus's hands clenched into fists, sparks of lightning dancing along his knuckles. "Do not question my decisions, Hera," he thundered, his voice reverberating through the halls. "I act in the interest of Olympus, not your petty vendettas!"

"Petty?" Hera's laughter rang out, sharp and bitter. "Do not lecture me on petty grievances, husband. Every decision you make weakens us! You play with mortals as if they are your toys, and now one of them dares to defy the gods themselves!"

Poseidon shifted uncomfortably, his trident tapping against the marble floor. "Enough, both of you," he interjected, his deep voice steady like the tide. "This bickering serves no purpose. The mortal threat grows while we waste time squabbling."

Hera shot him a withering glare. "Stay out of this, Poseidon. You wouldn't understand the insult of being undermined by the one who claims to rule over all."

Zeus stepped forward, his towering form casting a shadow over her. "Careful, Hera," he warned, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. "You forget your place."

Hera's power flared in response, a golden aura surrounding her as the air thickened with tension. "No, Zeus," she countered, her voice a defiant roar. "It is you who forgets that I am not some mortal to be cowed by your temper! You have made a mockery of our rule, consorting with mortals and gods alike, leaving chaos in your wake.

With that, Zeus turned around, ignoring her rants. He could care less about what she thought.

Poseidon remained silent, but Hades persisted, stepping closer. "And the crystal?" he asked again, his tone more measured, though his eyes gleamed with curiosity.

Without a word, Zeus reached into his robes and withdrew a pulsating gem, the leviathan-ranked crystal. Zeus held it aloft, his grip firm as if containing its raw might required all his strength. "This," he declared, his voice a low rumble, "is not a power meant for mortals."

Hades chuckled, his dark eyes alight with satisfaction. "Of course, brother. Of course." His grin was sharp, almost predatory. "Though I admit, I never expected that mortal Lucius to betray us. To refuse to uphold his end of the bargain, how amusing."

Zeus's gaze darkened further, his hand tightening around the crystal. "Mortals are predictable in their flaws," he said, his voice quieter now, yet no less dangerous. "But even a fool's ambition can ripple far beyond its worth. This crystal is ours now and its secrets will remain so."