Rise of the Eromancer

"I have been calling you a young warrior…

…but how old are you?"

Rhys did not really answer yet as he was suddenly lost in thought. He had met his fair share of people who have lived very long lives—Talia, for one. Dr. Dhani was also way beyond what he looked like. And aside from the supernatural beings in his life like the Arachnea and, quite possibly Margryth, this was perhaps the first time he was actually seeing an actual human, well—demi-god, who has lived for a thousand years.

"How old are you?" Achilles repeated his question, looking Rhys in the eyes as he seemed incredibly curious now.

"I'm… 20," Rhys finally snapped out of his stupor as he answered Achilles.

"20!?" Achilles could not help but take a step back as soon as he heard that; his voice, almost traveling across the entire site and catching the attention of everyone there, "You are barely even a babe! But… I suppose I was 11 years old during my first war."

"...You were in a war at 11?"

"Yes," Achilles closed his eyes while waving his hand, "I will never forget the first taste of blood as I stabbed my enemy between his neck and shoulders—I had to leap high since I was smaller than most. Such a good memory."

"...Right," Rhys nodded.

"What about you—what do you remember about your first kill?" Achilles opened his eyes as he looked at Rhys; his eyes once again filled with curiosity.

"I… don't even remember," Rhys was being honest—he truly doesn't remember anymore, "But I wasn't in a war like you, that's for sure—I was just… in a fight for survival in a world that has tried to bring me down again and again."

"Huh, sounds cool," Achilles just shrugged at Rhys's words, "I was shot in my ankle and died when I was 25 years old and then resurrected to fight in a world that loops over and over again—warriors like us, I believe we are never meant to live a normal life."

"But do you wish it?" Rhys asked—for some reason, he was slightly getting comfortable with talking to Achilles ever since he realized he was over a thousand years old, "A normal life, Sir?"

"A normal life doesn't suit me," Achilles quickly answered, "I was meant for blood and iron. And you…

…there will also come a time when you will realize that."

"Hm…"

"So…" Achilles's voice turned quiet, "...Tell me more about the Underworld—Apollo said it was a place much advanced than this."

"It is," Rhys nodded—he doesn't really have to hide anything, the gods know the truth, "And everyone is a demi-god."

"What!?" Achilles's eyes widened in shock, "Everyone is as strong as you!?"

"...No," Rhys shook his head, "There are… probably 10 people there stronger than me, perhaps more."

"Interesting," Achilles placed his hand on his chin, "It would seem the gods are hiding out on us—I would like to visit the Underworld. Approach me when you are going to return to your home, Rhys of Wilder."

"Okay, Sir," Rhys nodded.

"Ugh," Achilles then just suddenly groaned in frustration, "I truly want to fight you with your full strength, young warrior. And I am sure the others would lose their minds if they find out that you are not even a speck of our age—I have no doubt that you will make yourself known, but you need to make yourself known fast, brother…

…the war between Thebes and Calydon, win it as fast as possible, and as domineering as possible that your name will flow through the annals of history. And then defeat a monster—that should be enough to put you in the Coliseum of Champions."

"Okay, Sir."

"And your father…"

"Hm?" Rhys's ears perked up.

"If you are trying to find your father—and if he is anywhere as strong as you…" Achilles squinted his eyes, "...Then there is a chance that he might truly be in the Coliseum. If Lord Hades had brought you here to find him, then that must mean he is truly here somewhere—but instead of visiting the other chess boards, it would be better to go to the Coliseum instead, so…

…do your best, Rhys of Wilder."

"My father, huh…" Rhys breathed out.

"Rhys!" And finally, almost as if in cue to their ending conversation, Clio finally returned with Pythia.

"What… are you wearing?"

Wearing chest armor and a helmet that covered most of his head—she was also wearing armored spartan sandals, and a skirt that barely covered her thighs… she also had a sword and a shield, completely ready for battle.

"I will be joining the fight!" Clio could barely even lift the shield as she approached Rhys, "I will not stand on the sidelines while my people die! I have already committed a grave sin by running away—I will fight with my life on the line!"

"...You'll die," Rhys blinked a couple of times as he looked around, only to see Achilles slightly amused and Pythia giggling.

"No!" Clio shook her head, "Pythia has told me that since I can move through the… Frozen World, that means that I have the power of a demi-god!"

"No…" Rhys could really only pinch the bridge of his nose, "...You are—"

And before Rhys could say what he wanted, he suddenly remembered one of the abilities he had—something he had never really used before since no one really needed it yet amongst the people he loved.

—He could share and grant abilities to the members of his… harem.

"Oh…?" Pythia quickly noticed the sudden change of expression on Rhys's face, "It would seem you have thought of something, Rhys Wilder?"

"No…" Rhys whispered out, "...You said the war is happening now?"

"Most likely, yes," Pythia nodded.

"Then we should go, Clio," Rhys reached out his hand to Clio.

"Y… Yes!" Clio's expression brightened as she approached Rhys, "But… we should have another horse, it would be faster if—Eep!?"

"No," Rhys shook his head as he suddenly carried Clio in her arms, "Hold on to your weapon tight, Your Highness."

"What—what are you doing!?"

"Sir Achilles, High Priestess," Rhys then nodded to both as the muscles on his legs started to tense up, "You are the only one watching me through the sun, right?"

"That's not even a sun…" Pythia giggled, "...But yes, only me—only your feats of battle will be shown to the public. How you did them, well, I am happy to say that it will only be me who will see it."

"Hm…" Rhys nodded as he looked back at Achilles, "...Let me give you an advantage in our future fight, Sir Achilles."

"Hm…?" Achilles squinted.

"This is one of the things I can do."

"What are you—"

"Eek!?"

And before Achilles could finish his words, a loud thunder erupted in the air as Rhys just suddenly ran away—Clio's screams, just quickly faded into the horizon.

"Huh… quite cheeky, that one," Achilles smirked as he crossed his arms.

"Do you think you have a chance to win against him in the tournament?" Pythia brushed her finger on her lips, "I believe he is quite strong, that one."

"Well…" Achilles turned around, "...I have some few tricks up my sleeves too. Send me to the Coliseum, High Priestess—I need to train."

"Hm…" Pythia grinned before snapping her fingers. And as she did so, Achilles was suddenly and instantly swallowed by a raging fire—but it did not last long, however, as it also just suddenly disappeared as soon as it appeared,

"...Well then, this should be interesting."

***

"I… I can't move my legs again."

Rhys and Clio were now in a clearing, with Clio barely even able to stand up as her body was still shivering from what it had experienced just moments ago—she was extremely scared at first due to the sudden movement, but it became tolerable—and even beautiful when she started seeing everything just flow past her.

But still, her body was still in complete shock—she was sweating to the point that she had to remove her helmet.

"But, why… why did we stop?" Clio then looked toward the horizon where Calydon should be, "I'm… alright, you do not need to stop for me. We can go—"

"No," Rhys shook his head as he started looking at Clio from head to toe. And as soon as Clio saw that, she quickly covered her legs.

"We… we have no time for that, Rhys!" Clio said as her face quickly turned red, "If… if we win the war, then we can… we can do it as much as we want—but we would have to be wed! I do not want to be known as a loose woman!"

"...It's not that," Rhys sighed as he approached Clio, "I am… trying to figure out how to share some of my abilities with you—to at least keep you from dying."

"Share… your abilities?" Clio blinked a couple of times, "You mean… I could be as strong as you!?"

"I don't know yet…" Rhys shook his head,

"...But we need to figure this out since I know you wouldn't just sit still—I can't have you dying on me now that you are one of my own."