Cronus' system: Against the gods
Chapter 44 Charon the Ferryman

+ 15 Strength

He needed to get stronger so he applied more points to his strength stat but then

+ 10 Agility

He told everyone in class that his ability was super speed so he had to ensure that his speed kept on topping all of his stats.

+ 15 Endurance

"Well... I don't really have any need for the intelligence stat cos I think I'm smarter. All I need to worry about now is standing up after getting hit.

His new stats were now:

Name: Rex Xander

Level: 18

XP to next level: 0/100,000

Race: Human

Class: Cerberus Slayer (Effect: gains 2x more Xps from killing wolf-like creatures)

Strength: 71

Agility: 76

Endurance: 56

Intelligence: 47

Active Skills

Temporal rift (Level 1) XP to next level: 0/100

Time rewind(Level 2) XP to next level: 0/100

Passive Skills

Fate's eyes (Cannot be used now)

Titan's will: Cooldown time left(48 hours)

Right now, he was stronger than an average Intermediate-ability user

"Thou payest no heed to thy intelligence?" Cronus asked

Rex humphed "Well..... Don't you think I'm smart enough?" Rex asked in reply.

"Thou fool! Don't get too proud! Thou still hast not used Aether the way thou ought to and thy intelligence matters in that aspect!" Cronus explained

"Well..... whatever" Rex replied and then fiddled with the key in his hand "So... now... let's go explore beyond the gates"

"Harbinger! I can sense the regret you're trying so much to hide! Is that why you are so determined to grow stronger now

"Yes, I can't afford to watch someone die before my eyes again" Rex clenched his fists as he spoke. Although he was able to save Seraphina after she died by rewinding time, he couldn't bear the thought of ever putting a friend in a near-death experience. And with that, Rex walked towards the gates.

Rex stood before the gate, his hand gripping the key tightly. He couldn't help but grin as he felt the surge of power coursing through him from his stat boosts. With the key glowing faintly, he slid it into the lock and gave it a twist. The gate rumbled open, revealing a massive cave that lay ahead, far beyond anything he had expected.

A large river encircled the cave, shimmering with an eerie glow, almost like an island floating in the depths of an underworld. On the far side of the river stood another cave, but this one seemed hellish, dark flames flickering around its entrance.

"Whoa," Rex muttered, eyes wide as he took in the sight. "This place is creepy as hell. Is that… lava?"

"Not lava, Harbinger," Cronus's voice boomed in Rex's mind, his tone steeped in ancient authority. "What thou seeth is the River Styx."

Name: River Styx

Role: Oath binding river of the gods

The river where Achilles was bathed

Rex blinked, activating his God's Eyes. Information flooded his vision, confirming Cronus's words. The River Styx, a place of passage for souls, an oath-bound river that could even bind the gods themselves.

"Okay, cool, so… what's the deal with it?" Rex asked, rubbing his chin as he peered closer.

"Styx is the boundary between the living and the dead. None may cross without permission," Cronus explained, his voice deep with gravity. "And there is one who guards this passage."

As if on cue, a figure materialized before Rex, emerging from the shadows at the edge of the river. A skeletal, robed figure stood there, its hollow eyes gleaming from beneath a hood, clutching a long staff with an unsettling aura.

"Charon," Cronus whispered.

"Obol Coin," Charon rasped, his voice like the wind blowing through a graveyard. He extended his hand toward Rex, expectant.

Rex blinked in confusion, glancing at the ghostly figure and back to Cronus. "Uh… What did he just say? Obelisk? Is he asking for some ancient pyramid?"

Cronus sighed, his tone drenched in exasperation. "He seeks payment, Harbinger. The Obol Coin is the currency that grants passage over the River Styx."

"Ah," Rex nodded, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, about that… I don't have a coin."

Charon's hollow eyes glowed brighter for a moment before he let out an irritated growl, turning away as if to leave. "No coin, no crossing."

Rex scratched his head, panic rising. "Wait, wait! Is there a discount? I mean, I'm kind of new here… Can I pay later?"

Charon ignored him, already floating back to the shadows.

"Okay, rude," Rex huffed, crossing his arms. "What's his problem? Dude didn't even try to haggle."

"Thou truly hast no tact," Cronus replied dryly, his voice heavy with ancient wisdom and disappointment. "Without the coin, thou cannot pass. Charon is bound by his duty."

Rex squinted at the receding figure, his mind already working on a plan. "So, what if I just… y'know, cross without permission? How strong could this guy really be? He looks like he's skipped leg day for centuries."

"Fool," Cronus said in exasperation. "Underestimate not those of this realm. Charon's abilities lie in the soul. His strength, though modest, comes from an entirely different plane."

Rex smirked, his usual bravado bubbling up. "Modest? Oh, come on, I've fought bigger guys with more muscles than this bone. Let's see what the ol' ferryman's packing."

He activated God's Eyes, focusing on Charon as he drifted away, and a list of stats popped up in front of him:

Name: Charon, Ferryman of the Underworld

Role: Crosses souls across the river Styx to the underworld

Attitude: Grumpy

Strength: 80

Agility: 75

Endurance: 60

Intelligence: 10

Abilities: Soul magic

Rex stared at the stats, blinking a few times. "Wait… that's it? Intelligence: 10? This guy's practically a walking bag of bones with a bad mood. Soul magic or not, I can probably take him."

Cronus groaned. "Harbinger, thou art courting disaster. Soul magic is no laughing matter."

Rex shrugged. "Yeah, but Intelligence: 10, Cronus! That's like, two IQ points above a potato. I'm pretty sure I can outsmart a guy like this who's just like... Idk... full of....

Cronus's sigh echoed in Rex's mind, interrupting him. "Thy arrogance will be thy downfall."

Rex clenched his fists, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Only one way to replace out!"

"Come on, Cronus, I need to get stronger and that means fighting, right?" Rex clenched his fists, his energy rising. "Time to see what this guy's made of."

Without another word, Rex dashed forward, closing the distance between him and Charon. His speed was blinding, but the ferryman barely turned his head, unimpressed by the sudden burst of movement.

Rex swung with a fist infused with Aether, aiming right at Charon's chest. But before he could land the blow, Charon's staff swung down with terrifying precision, meeting Rex's strike with a bone-cracking thud.

Rex's eyes widened as the impact sent him flying back, crashing against the ground with a groan. "Okay… that hurt more than expected…"

Charon floated toward him, his skeletal hand raised. A dark, soul-chilling mist began to coil around Rex's body, binding him in place. His limbs grew heavy as the icy tendrils of Charon's power invaded his body, threatening to crush his very spirit.

"Thou art reckless," Cronus's voice echoed disapprovingly. "Charon is no mere foe to trifle with. His power draws from the essence of death itself."

Rex struggled to break free, sweat dripping down his brow. "Thanks for the tip, Cronus! I could've used it, like, five seconds ago!"

Charon loomed over him, ready to finish the fight. With a quick chant in an ancient tongue, Charon unleashed a wave of soul force, ghastly and ethereal, like the howling cry of the dead, slamming into Rex like a tidal wave. Rex gasped as his vision blurred, his energy drained in an instant.

"Argh! Not cool!" Rex muttered, his body crumpling under the pressure of the attack. He tried to summon his Aether, but it fizzled out, overpowered by Charon's relentless soul-based powers.

Before Rex could attempt to recover, Charon raised his staff, and with one final motion, he sent Rex sprawling into unconsciousness. The last thing Rex saw was the ferryman silently returning to his post, his bony hand still outstretched for the coin Rex didn't have.

Darkness swallowed him.

When Rex came to, he found himself sprawled at the edge of the river, his body aching and his pride more bruised than ever. He groaned, slowly pushing himself up as Cronus's voice hummed in his head.

"Thou fool," Cronus chided. "Perhaps now thou will heed my warnings. Power must be tempered with wisdom."

Rex wiped the dirt off his face, groaning in frustration. "Yeah, yeah. Maybe next time, warn me before I get smacked down."

Despite the pain, Rex couldn't help but grin. Even though Charon had wiped the floor with him, it had been a wake-up call. He was still far from the strength he needed, but at least now he knew what he was up against. It was time to get serious.

"Looks like I need to hit the gym… a soul gym," Rex muttered with a wince.

A/N: The fight's going premium so... go premium too wink "Y'know what I mean... And btw, Rex ain't leaving till he's....... Damn! Me and spoilers!!!!