Cronus' system: Against the gods
Chapter 45 The god of Fear falls

It rained on the earth as two contestants locked their eyes on each other with deadly intent. They both had gloomy expressions on their faces. The first was clothed in an otherworldly armor made of gold. He held a long sharp sword in his hand ready to slash out at any moment.

On the other hand, was a man dressed in simple modern clothes and a red coach cap on his head. His hands were in his pocket as he spoke "So you're the one they sent now uh?" Jefferson asked, his tone cold and devoid of any emotions.

"Thou art known no fear, hence thou speakest to me in such manner! If thou hast known who I am, thou wouldst tremble before me!" The armored man spoke, his voice hoarse as that of someone who had spent his entire life on the battlefield.

Jefferson let out a dry chuckle "Phobos, god of fear, son of Ares and the slut Aphrodite, am I right or not?"

"H...how dost thou know me?" Phobos stuttered in shock. He hadn't introduced himself to this man and yet he just stated almost everything about him.

"My name is Jefferson Andrews or.... well.... I named myself Adams tho... you can call me any of that!" Jefferson chuckled as he spoke.

"You! I now seest why the gods have demanded for your head!" Phobos yelled, pointing his sword at Jefferson.

"Yeah? Just like when they sent another lesser god to battle me the other day uh? Honestly... I wonder how dumb you guys are!" Jefferson shook his head in disgust.

"What meanest thou?" Phobos asked.

Jefferson sighed and then said "It is clear that the gods have decided to include both the demi-gods and lesser gods in their game of amusement... First, it was Theseus, the son of Poseidon and Aethra, then it was your brother Deimos! And now you.... these gods have died before my hands!"

"D...Deimos?... " Phobos stuttered

"Yes... Deimos... He died by my hands...all of this because of the filthy game the gods are playing" Jefferson replied.

"You! You!! You killed Deimos?!!! Surely thou shalt die!!!"

Jefferson facepalmed "Of all the things I said... He only picked that? What a douchebag!"

Phobos wasted no time. With a battle-hardened roar, he surged forward, his sword blazing with divine power. The ground beneath him shattered as he charged, each step heavier than the last. He swung his sword with terrifying speed, aiming directly for Jefferson's head.

Jefferson ducked just in time, the sword slicing through the space where his neck had been only moments before. A gust of wind followed the blade, and Jefferson felt the sheer force of Phobos's power.

Phobos didn't let up. With a quick spin, he brought the sword down in a deadly arc, aiming for Jefferson's back. Jefferson sidestepped, his movements fluid, his eyes focused. Phobos was relentless, his strikes raining down like the storm above, each one faster and more powerful than the last.

The ground cracked beneath their feet as the two danced across the battlefield, the clang of metal against metal? echoing with each deflected strike. The two contestants moved at nigh light-speed

Despite his initial bravado, Jefferson was on the defensive. Phobos's skill with the sword was beyond mortal comprehension. His attacks were fast, precise, and brutal. Each swing carried with it the weight of a god's wrath, and Jefferson could feel his muscles straining as he parried and dodged, narrowly avoiding each death blow.

Phobos pressed the attack, his eyes glowing with murderous intent. "Thou art nothing before me! Feel the fear I bring, mortal!"

For the first few moments, it seemed like Phobos had the upper hand. His golden sword gleamed with divine energy, each strike sending sparks flying as Jefferson blocked with his forearm or dodged with precision. Phobos was fast, and his attacks were relentless, his blade a blur of gold and fury.

Jefferson's body moved on instinct, years of battle-hardened experience guiding him as he narrowly avoided being cut down.

But something began to shift.

At first, Phobos didn't notice it. But gradually, Jefferson's movements became more fluid, more calculated. He began to read Phobos's strikes, his eyes gleaming with understanding. Phobos swung his sword with all his might, but Jefferson sidestepped with ease, his body now perfectly synchronized with the god's movements.

Phobos growled in frustration. "How dost thou still stand?!"

Jefferson grinned, a dark, dangerous smile. "You're too predictable."

With a sudden burst of speed, Jefferson dashed forward, catching Phobos off guard. He closed the distance between them in an instant, his fist slamming into the god's armored chest with a force that sent shockwaves through the air. The impact echoed like a thunderclap, and Phobos was sent stumbling backward, his armor dented from the sheer power of the blow.

Phobos roared in fury, his eyes glowing with divine rage. "Thou dares?!"

He charged again, but this time Jefferson met him head-on, his fists moving like lightning. Phobos swung his sword down, but Jefferson caught the blade with his bare hand, the metal screeching as it halted against his grip. Blood trickled down Jefferson's palm, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he yanked the sword from Phobos's grasp and tossed it aside.

Phobos's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible…"

Jefferson didn't give him a chance to recover. He followed up with a brutal punch to the gut, his fist sinking deep into Phobos's armor. The force of the blow shattered the god's golden chest plate, and Phobos gasped as the wind was knocked out of him.

Before Phobos could react, Jefferson grabbed him by the neck and slammed him into the ground with bone-crushing force. The earth beneath them cracked and shattered from the impact, and Phobos let out a pained grunt as he struggled to break free from Jefferson's grip.

"You're strong," Jefferson said, his voice low and dangerous, "but brute strength isn't everything."

"Sayest thou who relies on thy brute strength" Phobos remarked

Phobos let out a primal scream of rage, his eyes glowing with a dark, fearsome energy. The ground around them began to tremble as Phobos called upon his divine power. A dark mist swirled around the battlefield, and suddenly Jefferson felt a cold chill crawl down his spine.

Phobos's voice became a low, guttural growl. "I am the god of fear! I will show thee what it means to tremble!"

The mist thickened, and Jefferson could feel an overwhelming sense of dread creeping into his mind. Visions of death, pain, and despair flashed before his eyes. His hands trembled slightly, his heart pounding in his chest.

But then Jefferson laughed.

It was a deep, mocking laugh that cut through the mist like a blade. He looked Phobos dead in the eyes, his smile widening. "Fear? You think you can scare me?"

With a sudden burst of power, Jefferson broke free from the mist's grip, his mind clear and sharp. He grabbed Phobos by the throat once more, lifting the god into the air. Phobos struggled, his eyes wide with shock.

"No... mortal... should be able to resist my fear!" Phobos gasped, his voice strained.

Jefferson's grip tightened, his eyes burning with determination. "I'm not just any mortal."

With one final, devastating punch, Jefferson drove his fist into Phobos's chest, shattering what remained of his armor and sending the god flying across the battlefield. Phobos crashed into the ground, blood trickling from his mouth as he lay in a heap of broken armor and shattered pride.

Jefferson stood over him, his breath steady, his muscles taut. "Tell your gods to stop sending their dogs after me," he said, his voice cold and final. "Next time, I won't be so kind."

Phobos gasped for breath, his body broken and his divine energy drained. He could only stare up at Jefferson, his mind reeling with disbelief. This mortal… had bested him.

With a final groan of pain, Phobos closed his eyes, slipping into unconsciousness.

The rain continued to pour, washing away the blood and debris from the battlefield. Jefferson stood tall, his hands sliding back into his pockets as he turned away from the fallen god. He glanced up at the sky, where the storm clouds rumbled ominously overhead.

"Another one bites the dust," he muttered to himself, walking away from the scene. "I wonder who's next."

IN THE HEAVENS

Zeus's hands clenched into fists as he struggled to maintain his composure. The looming threat of Jefferson Andrews, no, his own secret son was too great to dismiss. His eyes flickered with a storm's intensity as Hera's footsteps echoed through the chamber.

"Another of your bastards," Hera said, her voice cold and dismissive as she descended the staircase. Her words struck with venom, sending a ripple of tension through the room.

Zeus swallowed hard but maintained his composure. He couldn't let his brothers see the truth that lay beneath Hera's insult. "He is not my son," Zeus growled, but the tremor in his voice betrayed him. "This man is no ordinary mortal. His strength is beyond anything I've witnessed."

Hades, always the sharp-eyed observer, tilted his head in suspicion. "What are you hiding, brother? There's something more to this than just another rebellious demigod."

Zeus cast a glance toward Hera, his brow furrowed. She knew. The secret he had worked so hard to keep buried for years was now at risk of being exposed. And if it was, the balance of power would crumble. Hera merely smirked, knowing she held leverage over the king of gods.

Hades pressed further. "He killed Deimos, and now Phobos is in danger. This mortal is a menace."

Poseidon, stepped forward, his trident sparking with energy. "We need to act. This isn't a matter of pride, Zeus. Jefferson needs to be eliminated before he brings war to our doorstep. We cannot let the Olympian bloodline be tarnished by such a man."

Zeus felt trapped, his mind racing as he weighed the consequences. Could he truly strike down his own son? A being forged with power that rivaled even the gods themselves? But Hera's gaze bore into him, reminding him that his options were limited.

"And what of the Hydra?" Poseidon asked, breaking the tense silence.

Zeus exhaled sharply. "It's almost ready. By dawn, it will rise, imbued with my lightning. It will be more than a match for Jefferson. Even he can't face a creature of that magnitude."

Poseidon nodded, satisfied with the plan, but Hades remained unconvinced. "And if the Hydra fails?"

Zeus hesitated, but Hera interrupted, her voice full of icy certainty. "It won't. Jefferson may have strength, but the gods will not fall to a demigod bastard, no matter how powerful he becomes."

The Olympian gods exchanged glances. Though united in their decision, a subtle current of doubt lingered. If the Hydra failed, they would have no choice but to confront Jefferson themselves, something none of them were eager to do.

As they stood together, the storm outside the palace raged, a mirror of the chaos within the gods' realm. And at its center was Jefferson, Zeus's son, the demigod who defied them all.