It was a short silence before Elise laughed a bit weirdly, the sound brittle and forced in the heavy air. "Ha...Ha... don't joke like that love." She said as she lightly jabbed his shoulder before standing up, her legs unsteady beneath her. "Come on, Dustin is waiting for us." She was about to walk away until Set grabbed her again, his grip gentle yet unyielding around her wrist.
"I am serious Elise. The things that happened in Aphrodite's Domain.... after doing some research and hard thinking of that situation. I found out she blessed the birth of our child."
Those words were like a trigger of their time spent in Aphrodite's Domain, the memories crashing over her like a tidal wave. Visions flooded Elise's mind as she remembered the foggy parts she never could—Set's hands on her hips, pounding her from the back relentlessly while hearing Aphrodite moan in the background, her sultry voice urging him to cum inside.... to birth a child.
"I-I'm pregnant?" She asked in shock, her voice a fragile whisper. She then looked up to Set whose eyes never left her for a second, golden infinity swirling with quiet certainty.
"Yes, according to my calculations, in 2 years our child will be here." Set said as he brought her into a hug, his arms enveloping her like a shield against the world. Right now, he was happy about the aspect of being a father, but to be truthful he was more determined than anything.
'After I deal with the Sunbelt situation and the Association.... I will leave Earth to become stronger...' He thought as he already had a plan he would follow, etched in his mind like unbreakable steel.
"Is this what you want?" Elise asked finally, her hands resting on his chest.
"Well, it's not like I don't want it. We will have our child together Elise.... we will become strong enough so that no person in the entire universe will be able to harm him or her." He said tightening his grip, resolve burning in his voice.
She smiled hearing this and nodded, warmth blooming in her chest. "Fine... I won't mention this to my parents yet though."
"Don't worry.... let's go now."
After that they left heading for the Sunbelt residence. Set had already taken care of Kaiya who was resting in one of the rooms upstairs, her breathing steady under silk sheets. She would be healed up by tomorrow.
-----
CRASH!
Tristan reappeared in the office of his father as he crashed down, the impact splintering the polished floor beneath him. From his fight with Kaiya, he was already cut up and in rough shape, but Set only made him look 10x worse—his face completely disfigured, swollen and bruised beyond recognition, and his arm was spewing blood... well where his arm used to be. He clutched his wound with a pale face and spoke once before collapsing, voice a ragged gasp.
"Fath... that guy is a monst---"
Jake's eyes were already focused on his son the moment he appeared, alarm flashing across his stern features. He hurriedly appeared by his side and called for healers, his voice booming through the tower.
"I NEED HEALERS IMMEDIATELY!" He bellowed as alarms began sounding off in the next moment, red lights pulsing like a heartbeat.
The door to his office opened and three healers stormed in. Two males and a woman arrived and Jake moved backwards, giving them space. They formed a triangle around Tristan and placed their palms together before using a skill.
|Light Field|
In the next moment a transparent dome of light connected between the three covered Tristan, golden rays weaving through his wounds like threads of salvation. Once this happened he immediately began to heal. As he did though the three healers were paling, sweat beading on their brows. After about an hour Tristan was as healed as he would get and the healers were looking deathly, exhaustion etched in their faces. Seeing him better they left after speaking to Jake.
Tristan woke up from a daze and his eyes immediately shifted to his arm which was now only a stub, the skin sealed but forever marked. Although he was healed there was yet anyone powerful enough to heal missing limbs, he was now in perfect condition aside from his arm. He looked at Jake and spoke, rage boiling over.
"FATHER! YOU, DIDN'T MENTION THAT SET PERSON IS A FUCKING MONSTER!" He was completely livid, fists clenched until knuckles whitened. How can someone be sent on a mission without all the information?
Him not knowing about Set nearly cost him his life if not for his life-saving artifact. Jake sighed and returned to his seat while speaking, composure masking his inner turmoil. "That Set person is the cause of this?"
'How could anyone put him in such a condition?' Jake thought.
Tristan walked over and sat down before speaking, pain lacing every word. "Father, I showed up to capture that woman as planned but the Sunbelt heirs were there as well. They too wanted her, but I was the one who fought with her. After a tough battle I won and had her in my grasp, that's until that bastard showed up.
We only had one clash before he forced me to use my secret artifact..." He said.
Jake studied his son for a moment, before speaking. "Alright, a bounty will be placed onto this Set.... Since he won't comply then he will have to go! Meet with Else and Elk, you three will go and finish him."
Hearing the mention of those two people Tristan's face formed a smile and how could it not? They were his Aunt and Uncle, but they were..... well monsters. Both of them were apart of the first Generation of awakeners, and currently sat at the Epic Rank. Neither of the two wanted anything to do with the Association and rather to fight.
To them... the world was way too soft. This is why Jake liked being around them so much, he felt they resonated well. He smiled and nodded. "Right, I will go now."
He said before leaving.
----
"We are here." Dustin said as the group landed in front of the mansion, the grand estate looming like a fortress under the twilight sky. He eyed Set for a moment before walking into the doors, his strides clipped. "We will meet mother and father immediately. There's no sense in prolonging this situation." He said.
Elise frowned at the way he was acting but didn't speak as her and Set followed behind him. Set didn't care one bit about how this guy was feeling or what his problem was. He was here to handle a few things. Honestly, he had wanted to come here for some Elite skills but he didn't need them anymore. Now, he would just go with the flow.
There was no need for his relationship with Elise to be mentioned today, he would allow Elise to handle her own family matters. He would only ensure she was strong enough to stand alone. As they entered into the mansion they passed by many maids and other workers, their uniforms crisp and movements graceful.
'Hmm, I definitely should get me some maids...' Set thought as he nearly caught a nosebleed seeing the sexy maid uniforms—short skirts swaying, lace accents teasing.
Elise elbowed him in the arm seeing his eyes on the maids. '...Stop it!' She spoke in a low whisper that caused him to chuckle.
'Haha, alright madam.' He said before they entered into the throne-like room. Sitting on the thrones were Felix and Helene Sunbelt, the patriarch and matriarch of the Sunbelt Family, their presence commanding the vast chamber. As the trio entered the room their eyes immediately shifted to Set. Seeing him Felix's face formed a smile. "Even better, well done you two." He said to his children.
Dustin nodded his head, but Elise only rolled her eyes. "We didn't even do anything, Tristan showed up as well. He fought not us." She mentioned.
Felix didn't respond to her, his eyes shifted to Set and then he began speaking. "Set, no last name, no family, no friends.... you awakened this week and are already one of the top ranked hunters on all of Earth." He spoke the notable things he could find about Set before continuing.
"That's quite interesting, isn't it?" As he said this he sipped out of a chalice, the liquid glinting ruby in the light.
The entire time Set entered the room he had been watching and analyzing everything. His golden infinity eyes, the only thing visible due to his mask, moved from Felix to Helene. In his vision their information was visible.
[Felix Sunbelt]
Age - 48 Years Old
Race - Human (Bloodline of Wolf God, Fenrir)
Rank - Epic Rank
Affinity - Lightning
Innate Ability - Strength (This ability allows the user to fight one rank higher.)
Mana Cap - 40,000
[Helene Sunbelt]
Age - 42 Years Old
Race - Human (Bloodline of Wolf God, Fenrir)
Rank - Epic Rank
Affinity - Lightning, Darkness
Mana Cap - 38,000
-----
He spoke while looking. "Seems like someone has been stalking me?" He said in a tone that didn't show any fear. He then looked into Felix's eyes and continued. "By the way, I don't appreciate you going to attack those around me. If it weren't for certain circumstances I would raze this entire estate to the ground."
The moment those last words sounded the temperature in the room dropped, frost creeping along the edges of the thrones. The ice affinity of Set stirred and not just him.
CRACKLE!
Lightning went off all around the room, arcs dancing like serpents—Felix, Dustin, and Helene all released their lightning affinities. The words of Set were like blasphemy, saying you would raze their establishment down? He had to be looking for nothing more than a fight.
"STOP!" Elise bellowed as attention shifted to her, her voice cutting through the storm.
"Elise! What are you doing?!" Helene exclaimed before her expression shortly warped into a frown. 'Why is she standing in front of him like a damn shield?' She thought.
'What the hell am I doing!' Elise thought while she stood in front of Set. She didn't know when she moved—one moment she was watching all of this take place with some worry and then in the next moment she was protecting him.... Well, trying to protect him.
"Tsk, stop with all the flashy nonsense. You're not scaring me, if you want to talk then talk if not I will be leaving. I have much more important things to be doing." Set said nonchalantly behind Elise, he then took a sidestep and walked a bit in front of her and Dustin.
Hearing those words the lightning in the room slowly went away, fading like dying embers. Felix's eyes stayed on Set for a moment. 'He's truly unbothered?' He thought before speaking again.
"Before we have a conversation, wouldn't it be common courtesy to take off the mask?" He asked to which Elise almost spoke out again, but she held back truly hoping Set wouldn't take it off.
"Yes, take off the mask or you will be seen as nothing more than an enemy." Helene added with a smile, sweet yet venomous.
'Oh no mother!' Elise thought and as if on cue.
"Oh? Well, if you insist." Set said with a shrug as his hand went for his mask and taking it off, the motion slow and deliberate.