Rise of the Eromancer

"I… need to make myself known?"

"Indeed."

Although Rhys was still extremely confused with what was happening right now, there was at least finally something he knew how to do—making himself known.

But still, it might be extremely difficult to do that in this world, since there were no such things as social media and cameras. He also can't use the fact that he's a so-called Lowborn because most of the people here do not really have any intricate hair colors compared to his world, where even the most normal of people would either have blue or green hair… very much like Pythia, whose golden hair almost reflected the sun.

Her hair was not glowing anymore, however, now that she wasn't revealing her godly aura. And… although Rhys may not know much about the history of the gods—he does know one thing.

Wasn't Apollo supposed to be a man? So… why exactly was she a woman right now?

"Ugh…" Rhys could not help but just pinch the bridge of his nose as all sorts of thoughts rushed through his mind. Maybe he should have really just stayed in his world—his arm was already healed right now anyway, maybe that black shadow that swallowed Dr. Dhani wouldn't show itself again?

And come to think of it—since that dark, tentacle shadow devoured Dr. Dhani, wouldn't that mean that he was… inside him right now? How did it even digest him? Or is it like Maria's shadow abilities where it completely transfers into some sort of void?

"You do not need to be at such a loss, my young friend."

And as Rhys once again found himself in his own world, overthinking, Achilles placed his hand on his shoulder, quickly pulling him out of his stupor.

"I believe it would be incredibly interesting to have you at the Coliseum of Champions," Achilles did not even seem to notice Rhys's brows furrowing as he looked at his hand, "So, you can have this run that the High Priestess has made for me."

"The high priestess…" Rhys turned his focus back to Pythia, "...I thought she was Apollo."

"I am both," Pythia covered her mouth and giggled, "When we transform into someone, Rhys Wilder, we transform fully and adapt our entire personality through and around it—for now, I am the High Priestess Pythia—Apollo is merely an afterthought, or the after. If you know what I mean."

"...Aren't you supposed to be a man?" Rhys could not help but ask.

"...Pft," Pythia, however, just once again covered her mouth—this time, however, it was not a soft giggle at all. She was genuinely trying her best not to burst out into a fit of laughter, "It would seem that no one has explained to you how gods are, Rhys Wilder—Lord Hades should have prepared you for what was to come. And also…"

Pythia then let out a long, humming sigh as she approached the frozen Clio, "…And he should have known that someone like you would not spend that much time living amongst the mortals. A demi-god, no matter what, will always find their way to greatness, or a great tragedy."

"The High Priestess speaks the truth," Achilles nodded, "No matter how much you try to hide who you are—what you are will always resurface."

"Since Achilles here has been kind enough to allow you to continue this run," Pythia then looked around the horizon, "Then it shall be given to you, Rhys Wilder—do not waste it, as this will be your only chance to catch the eye of a god. I would have truly loved to have sponsored you and made you one of my champions…

…but the warlord Achilles is expensive enough already."

"...I actually already have someone in mind," Rhys just casually said.

"Oh?" Pythia tilted her head to the side, "And who might that be? No, wait—do not tell me. I live for the suspense."

"...Right."

"But it doesn't matter, I suppose," Pythia looked at Clio again, "Even if you have thought of someone to sponsor you, you would still need to have achievements—in this case, since the war between Thebes and Calydon is already happening… then it would be a good place to—"

"A good place to—huh?"

"Oh…?"

And all of a sudden, Pythia slightly moved back in surprise as Clio suddenly spoke—it was unclear which of the two actually looked more confused. Pythia then once again turned to look at the surroundings, only to realize that everything else was still frozen.

"What…" Clio also quickly noticed this. After all, the silence she was hearing around her was unnatural—and for her, the change in Pythia, Rhys, and Achiless's position happened almost instantaneously—as if they teleported, "...What's happening!?"

"Oh my, oh my, my, my…" Pythia took a step back as she traced her finger on her lips, "...Now this is a very interesting development."

"H…Huh?" Clio could not help but blink a couple of times as she looked around; her eyes, landing on the only place she felt safe, "R… Rhys?"

And even though Clio was still slightly apprehensive after knowing that Rhys was from the Underworld, she still found herself being drawn to him; quickly moving toward him and once again wrapping her arm around his, "What's… happening?"

"Something very, very interesting, Your Highness," a wide, almost teasing smile crawled onto Pythia's face as she stared at Clio from head to toe—well, her eyes stopped between her thighs, "Is it because you have been inside her, Rhys Wilder?"

"W…what!?" Clio instinctively tightened her legs together as she saw Pythia staring.

"It would seem you are now able to move in the Frozen World even though you do not even have an ounce of a god in you…" Pythia's brows furrowed as she approached Clio, who just instinctively hid behind Rhys, "...Although, I guess you did have a demi-god in you, pft."

"What is she even saying…? And what is happening here… Rhys?" Clio, completely confused, could really only tighten her embrace on Rhys and look at him.

"She's Apollo," Rhys said without any hesitation.

"W… what!?" And almost immediately, Clio kneeled down; she was, however, still holding Rhys's hand, "F… Forgive me for all of my rudeness, Apollo! I dare not—"

"Pft…" Pythia just laughed at Clio's sudden change of attitude, "I am not Apollo, at least not in this form—and that was a risky move you did just there, Rhys Wilder—I told you that this world would reset if you told someone that is stuck in the Frozen World about something that they should not know."

"She doesn't seem stuck to me, Ma'am," Rhys sighed.

"...Ma'am?" Pythia smiled, "I have never been called that before—I like it. But still, that begs the question—how exactly was she able to break free from the Frozen World, hm? Did you do something, Rhys Wilder?"

"No…" Rhys shook his head, "I did no—"

And before Rhys could finish his words, his eyes suddenly landed on the Hearts floating above Clio's head—and now it was just one big empty Heart.

When… did he even conquer her? He clearly remembers it only being 5 small Hearts, with only 4 filled up—did it happen while she was frozen? How… was that even possible?

"Your eyes tell me that you are clearly also confused about all of this, Rhys Wilder," Pythia shook her head and sighed, "But I suppose it does not matter. Now then, since things are starting to get interesting on my side—I am in the mood to explain everything again to the princess. Come, Princess of Calydon, let us talk."

And as soon as Pythia reached out her hand to Clio, the world around them once again started to move. And this time, any apprehension Clio had with Pythia was completely gone—after all…

…all this time, the Oracle she had been dreaming about was actually Apollo.

It was an honor to even be breathing the same air.

And so, with that, Clio grabbed Pythia's hand and the two just disappeared into the still unfinished shrine.

"...I also want details about what Rhys Wilder did to you."

"Details…?"

"Yes, about…"

"W…what!? But… why!?"

And soon, the two's voices faded away into the shrine—leaving Achilles and Rhys all alone.

"So… the Underworld," Achilles was the first to break the silence, "I was told a thousand years ago that it had been sealed, and that no one could ever come in, and out of it—so, what exactly are you doing here right now? And from what I heard from Apollo, you are not the first to be sent here by… Lord Hades?"

"Hm," Rhys just shrugged, not really interested in hiding anything anymore since Apollo seemed to have realized everything just from a single… kiss. But after a few seconds, he realized something from Achilles's words, "Wait…

…did you just say a thousand years ago?"

"Yes."

"That means you have been alive for… more than a thousand years?" Rhys's eyes slightly widened as he finally looked at Achilles, truly looking at him.

"Yes…? What is so weird about—wait," Achilles blinked a couple of times, "I have been calling you a young warrior…

…but how old are you?"