Hitman With A Badass System

Chapter 1286  Ultimate Betrayal

Zorian leveled a scrutinizing gaze at Andohr, the weight of centuries contained in his voice. "Now that you've secured your freedom, what are your intentions, Andohr? What do you plan to do with it?"

"I intend to reform this stale pantheon. It's about time we stopped pissing about and made some actual changes around here." Andohr leaned back in his throne, a sly smile playing on his lips. "And what of Dagon? The war with him has cost us much. Do you plan to continue this futile conflict?" Zorian inquired, his brow furrowed with concern.

"No, Zorian. I plan to put an end to that shitshow. Continuing this war with Dagon is just bleeding us dry, achieving fuck all," Andohr declared, his disdain for the ongoing conflict evident. It was true that Andorh was first sent to deal with the fallen god and the ruler of the hell, Dagon but after spending five thousand years in his castle caged, Andohr got a new perspective that the war against Dagon was a waste of time. As far as Dagon was concerned, building the power of the pantheon and striking Dagon when they were at their strongest was the better plan than sending troops and gods after Dagon to fight his hell-spawn army in the realm in between. "Dagon remains a significant threat, Andohr. His actions have destabilized not just realms but the very fabric of order we strive to uphold." Zorian shook his head, the lines on his face deepening.

"Bollocks to that!" Andohr snapped, slamming his hand against the arm of his throne. "While you've all been jerking off over Dagon, the real threat has been building right under our noses. The God of Darkness is a ticking time bomb. We need to focus on finding a way to permanently stop him before he fucks us all."

The gods in the hall listened to him in silence, and each had his own thoughts on Andohr's words. Finally, it was Valorius who broke the silence.

"You just activated that time bomb by making him kill his own brother, almost killing him, and taking his mother hostage, Andohr. You waged a war with his previous incarnation, and when he reset the mortal universe, you could have started afresh. You might have even allied with his current self, yet you chose to cling to old vengeance. Now, you ask the pantheon to align with your course." Valorius interjected with a calm tone.

Andohr's response was instant as he slammed his fist onto his throne. "There is no 'almost' killing him. Do you think I would have let him live if I knew how to kill him? The last time I checked, we don't know how to kill a god, only he does, thanks to the incompetence of this pantheon that didn't stop him from obtaining the grimoire." His voice grew harsher, a growl rumbling from deep within as he continued. "Even if I throw him into Oblivion, that son of a bitch will find a way out. There's something off about him, some strange power within him. So his mother is the shield for all of us," Andohr said before pausing for a moment so his words could sink into their heads. He needed them to think about it before he could drop another bomb upon them.

"I propose striking a deal with Death's siblings and Xyloth, who possesses the Grimoire of the Gods. It's said to contain knowledge on how to kill gods," Andohr, with a flick of disdain in his tone, shocked the assembly with his audacious plan.

"Are you out of your fucking mind, Andohr? That knowledge could doom us all! The ways to kill a god must remain secret. Even if we don't know it, it's better that way. Imagine what gods like Agra would do with such power. It's not just power, it's an invitation to chaos!" Zorian, visibly taken aback, rose from his throne, his voice thundering through the hall.

"He's right. It's a Pandora's box that, once opened, could disrupt the very balance of power among us. Gods are inherently greedy; such knowledge would lead to endless strife." Valorius nodded in agreement, his stern features set in deep concern.

"While you sit here, fretting about possibilities, the God of Darkness is already a step ahead. He's been using the book to hunt and kill gods he deems enemies. Do you think he'd hesitate to use it against any of us if we stand in his way?" Andohr sneered, giving no damn about their concern.

"He doesn't have the book, Andohr. Rin got the book from him." Seraphine, the Goddess of Information, interjected.

"Do you really think someone as cunning as the God of Darkness wouldn't have made a copy? He's always several steps ahead, preparing for every contingency. We need that knowledge to protect ourselves and to put an end to his reign of terror finally." Andohr waved off her concern.

After a long silence, the tension in the hall palpably thick, Seraphine finally spoke, aligning with Andohr's perspective but with a note of caution. "Andohr might be a ruthless bastard, but he's not wrong about the threat of the God of Darkness. We need to address it. However, I also believe we should halt our conflicts with Dagon and find a way to break the barrier between us and the mortal realm. This isolation isn't serving us well anymore."

"While I understand the urgency, it's better to leave the mortal realm alone. Our interference has already caused enough turmoil." Seshat countered softly. "She's right. The mortal realm should govern itself. We've seen time and again that our interventions don't always lead to harmony. Besides, meddling further could expose us to greater risks." Zorian nodded in agreement with Seshat, his deep voice resonating through the hall.

"Damn it, Zorian, you're missing the fucking point! It's not about meddling—it's about survival! If we don't act, the God of Darkness will wipe us out one by one. You think he's going to stop with just his brother? Hell no. We're all on his list." Andohr, frustrated, snapped back.

"Whose fault is it that the God of Darkness is hell-bent on killing gods? It's because of you! Like Valorian said, we could have had a fresh start. Now, thanks to your vengeance, the mortal realm is shrouded in darkness, and he'll never trust the pantheon. If he wasn't already planning on killing gods, he certainly will now." Zorian, his voice laden with frustration and anger, growled at Andohr,

"If you've fucking forgotten, he killed Rainar and Marli way before I made his life miserable. He's a killer, and I'm the only one standing between him and your lives." Andohr rolled his eyes and snapped back.

"Aligning with Xyloth, Fourcrus, and Morbus will not yield what you desire, Andohr. They have their own agendas, and if you help them decode the grimoire, only chaos will follow." Seshat calmly interjected.

But Seraphine, Seshat's sister, who often clashed with her over her cryptic nature, snapped back after hearing Seshat's calm response.

 "You're not one to talk, sister. If you could have stopped your angel from writing the grimoire and putting those cryptic messages about how to kill each god, we wouldn't be in this mess. Xyloth wouldn't have that book right now. It's because of you and your cryptic actions that led Xyloth to get that book. It's better we ally ourselves with Xyloth and those murderous siblings of death, and use them before they decode that damn book and take us out."

Rudra, the God of War, watched the unfolding scene with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. As the embodiment of war, he could sense the essence of war emanating from each god, except from Seshat, who maintained her aura of serene calmness. Rudra knew this argument could potentially split the pantheon apart, sparking a civil war. In such war, he would thrive and use this opportunity to ascend to a higher level of godhood. Hence, he remained silent, letting the tensions play out without his interference.

Meanwhile, in the midst of the heated exchange, Seshat spoke up, her voice was as calm as ever. "The grimoire, like any tool, depends on the hands that wield it," she began, choosing her words carefully. "In the hands of a healer, a scalpel saves lives, in the hands of a murderer, it takes them. It is not the book itself we should fear, but the intentions of those who seek to use it."

As the heated debate peaked, Andohr stood, his presence dominating the room. "It's time you all make a fucking decision. Stand with me, or hide behind Zorian's skirts," Andohr declared, his voice booming through the hall.

"I stand with Andohr. The challenges we face require us to rethink old alliances and forge new ones, even if it means making uncomfortable choices," Seraphine assessed the volatile situation and chose her side.

Observing the unfolding drama with a mix of curiosity and strategic detachment, Rudra and Sesh chose to remain neutral.

"This ends now! I call for Andohr's arrest for his crimes against the pantheon and the realms!" Zorian called for order in a commanding tone.

 As Valorius moved to apprehend him and when it seemed like a fierce battle would ensue between Valorius and Andohr, the hall was suddenly shaken by a powerful, ominous energy. A portal ripped open, and through it, the colossal body of Vedora, driven by dark forces, lunged at the pantheon gods.

"Did you really think I came unprepared?" he revealed his hand with a sly grin as he summoned Vedora's reanimated body through a massive portal, its presence sending shockwaves through the hall. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Zorian staggered back in shock, the color draining from his face as he sensed the ominous auras seeping through the portal. "You... you made a deal with Morbus, Xyloth, and Fourcrux?!"

Andohr's laughter filled the hall, a sound of triumph and malice mixed into one. "Indeed, I did. While you were busy playing guardians, I was making alliances that actually matter. The game has changed, Zorian. It's time you realized that."