Cronus' system: Against the gods
Chapter 54 Moment of Truth

Rex was startled, the shock bound his legs to the ground. He couldn't even move. First, he was just a mysterious coach, and now..."Could this be just a coincidence?... Maybe he wasn't even referring to god's eyes"

"I highly doubt that!" Cronus remarked.

"Then what do you think? Should I follow him?...maybe he just thinks I'm late for dodgeball or something!" Rex said, unsure of what to do next. He was gonna place his bet on Jefferson not knowing anything about his eyes.

"Follow him! Hear what he has to say...perhaps it was just a misunderstanding"

Rex reluctantly started walking, keeping a safe distance behind Jefferson. His steps were slow and cautious like he was tiptoeing into a minefield. "Now my life is really turning into a mess! First, a silent killer, then three leaders plotting to have me eliminated, and now... a coach... What's next?

Is Magnus gonna turn out to be an ancient god that wants me dead?... Just what did I do?"

They kept on walking, and none of them uttered a word to each other. They passed through the dodgeball stadium and approached a room just behind it. Rex couldn't help but activate his god's eyes again.

Name: Coach Jefferson

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Coach Jefferson turned around on cue, his cold gaze landed on Rex "I told you didn't I? Your god's eyes won't work on me" He said and then pushed the door of the room open.

"Shit! He even mentioned the name! Rex cursed internally. Now it was clear that the Coach was no ordinary person. Or could it be his ability? If it was, then just how many people had an ability similar to his?

That means his secret identity wasn't even safe

Coach Jefferson walked into the room and gestured towards Rex "Come in if you want to know more about everything!"

Rex gulped down, his heart beating rapidly. He didn't even know how to react anymore. He couldn't even bear the gaze of Jefferson's soul-piercing eyes lest enter the room. What if this was a trap by the higher-ups

"Come in, Rex!" A gentle feminine voice called out from the room.

Rex's heart skipped a beat. He recognized the voice of course. "S...Sera? Wh..what the hell is going on?" He stuttered, clenching his fists. Just what was going on? First, it was Jefferson, and now Seraphina? Just how many complicated people had he gotten into his life?

Who else was out there, aware of his identity?

Seraphina then appeared, standing beside Jefferson, a smile on her face "I'm so glad you're safe... but I'm afraid we aren't still out of trouble yet... There's still a lot going on that I never even knew about until now.

Rex was startled. It couldn't be worse, could it? The higher-ups want me dead because of a stupid law and now...there was another threat? Or was it just the same thing?

"Harbinger! Heed her call!! I think I know what is at hand!" Cronus snapped Rex out of his dazzled state, causing him to flinch before regaining his composure.

Jefferson snorted "Are you just gonna keep standing outside like a moron or you're gonna walk in!"

Rex then decided to walk in, taking slow steps. He was still bewildered by what was happening but it didn't feel like they were bad guys. Besides, Seraphina was with him and he knew to an extent that she wouldn't be the type to pull some nasty tricks or... could she? Rex halted in his tracks and then looked at Seraphina with a cold gaze

Name: Seraphina Valenbrook

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"What's up with the two of them..." Rex gritted his teeth. However, he didn't want to confirm her stats. What he wanted to know was why she was here "Why are you here, Seraphina, You aren't supposed to be here!" He stated. his eyes gazing at her suspiciously. Magnus had told him that Seraphina was under close watch by some hefty guards so it just didn't make sense that she was here.

Seraphina then put her hand on her head and brought out a small, round device from her long, silver hair. Rex instantly recognized the device. It was a clone device, not just any clone device but the highest grade. That device could replicate a person's appearance, memories, behavior, ability, and speech pattern making it impossible to know the difference.

The cost however should be about twelve figures! "Damn.... she's a noble after all"

"The me under surveillance is a clone... I knew my father would do something like this, that's why I had it" Seraphina said, and then continued, her eyes filled with concern "He's also after you, Rex, that's why I want Coach Jefferson to protect you."

"Shit! Now the Valenbrooks are after me! What sort of damn fate is this? Are those sisters of fate so evil to do this to him!" Rex groaned inwardly.

"The sisters of fate have nothing to do with this!" Cronus remarked

"Rex.... you're just like me..." Seraphina said and then continued "Coach Jefferson would teach us how to harness and wield our powers effectively"

"This is becoming something else!" Cronus remarked

"What do you mean we're the same?" Rex asked

"Harbinger! It seems the time I told you of...has come sooner than I expected... These two already know your identity" Cronus sighed.

"Besides that, Why are you doing this?" Rex asked, his voice laced with suspicion. "And why are you involving me?"

Seraphina took a step forward, her expression growing more serious. "Because my father is after you, Rex. He thinks you're working for the Voss family, he sees you as a spy, a threat to our house."

Rex froze, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "What? A spy for the Voss family? I don't even know them!"

"That's the problem," Seraphina replied, her tone soft but urgent. "He doesn't care. My father's obsessed with protecting our family's power. He sees enemies everywhere, and right now, you're in his crosshairs. If he believes for one second that you're a threat to his plans, he won't hesitate to eliminate you."

Rex cursed under his breath, pacing the small room as he processed her words. "So that's why I've been getting these weird stares and feeling like I'm constantly being watched." He clenched his fists tighter. "He thinks I'm part of some stupid game between your family and the Vosses. But why me? Why is everything always after me?"

Jefferson, who had remained silent, finally spoke up, his voice as cold and measured as ever. "It's not just Lord Valenbrook who's after you. There are others, Rex, people far more powerful and dangerous. You've been targeted, but no one really knows why."

Rex shot a look at Jefferson, trying to understand his words. "What do you mean? Who else wants me dead?"

Jefferson sighed and crossed his arms. "The higher-ups at the Academy. They're pulling strings, too. They sent Ralph Zipper to kill you, and they're watching you closely. But the reason? Even I don't know that yet."

Rex's mind raced. The higher-ups, people like Chairman Voss, Director Simmons, and Lieutenant Graves, they were all involved in this. But what did they know? Why was he such a threat? Was it his power? His connection to Cronus?

Or something else entirely?

"So, let me get this straight," Rex began, his voice dripping with frustration. "Lord Valenbrook thinks I'm a spy, and the higher-ups at the Academy want me dead for reasons we don't know. Fantastic."

Seraphina nodded grimly. "That's why we need to be careful, Rex. My father is powerful, and he has resources at his disposal. He's not going to stop until he believes the threat is neutralized."

"Well, I'm not exactly going to sit around and let him hunt me down," Rex replied, his voice laced with defiance. "But what about you, Seraphina? Why are you helping me? Your father could come after you if he replaces out."

Seraphina's eyes softened. "Because... I owe you, Rex. You saved me, and I can't let my father destroy you over some paranoid delusion."

Rex nodded, appreciating her loyalty, though the weight of the situation still pressed heavily on him. He turned toward Jefferson, his mind racing with questions. "And you? Why are you here? What's your connection to all of this?"

Jefferson's cold gaze met Rex's, his expression unreadable. "I've been protecting Seraphina for a long time. Her father doesn't know about the power she holds. But more importantly, I know you're not just an ordinary student, Rex. You and Seraphina share something that few people in this world understand."

Rex's pulse quickened. "You mean Aether, don't you?"

Jefferson nodded. "Yes. Both you and Seraphina have the ability to wield Aether, something only the gods should possess. It's a dangerous power, and if anyone replaces out what you're truly capable of, the consequences will be severe."

Rex felt his blood run cold. He had suspected something was different about Jefferson, but to have it confirmed... it was unsettling. "So you've known about this all along?" he asked, his voice tight.

"It seems he doesn't know about me nor your status as the harbinger of time!"

"Yes, he doesn't!" Rex replied in his thoughts and then continued "I intend to keep it that way!"

"I've known about you for a while," Jefferson admitted. "But Aether is a force that most people can't even comprehend, let alone control. Seraphina has been training for years, but even she's only scratched the surface of what it can do."

Rex swallowed hard, the weight of Jefferson's words settling in. "So what now? I'm being hunted, I've got this Aether power I don't fully understand, and the gods themselves are probably watching me. What's the plan?"

"We train," Jefferson replied simply. "You have potential, Rex, but potential isn't enough. If you want to survive, if you want to protect yourself from people like Lord Valenbrook, you need to master your abilities. And I can help with that."

Rex hesitated, the enormity of it all crashing down on him. "Train? Like, now?"

"Yes," Jefferson said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You don't have time to waste. Every day you grow stronger, your enemies get more desperate. If we're going to win this, you need to be ready."

Rex took a deep breath, nodding as the reality of his situation became clearer. He was in a fight for his life, and the only way out was forward.

Seraphina stepped forward, her voice filled with quiet resolve. "We'll face this together, Rex. You're not alone in this."

Rex looked at her, grateful but still wary. "Thanks. But something tells me this is just the beginning."

Jefferson's cold gaze met his, and for the first time, Rex saw a flicker of something, perhaps respect, or maybe recognition of the storm ahead.

"What about god's eyes? How do you know about it and just what is your ability?" Rex asked...

Jefferson sighed, "It's a gift that comes naturally to all god-level beings, and sometimes, demigods. Mine is called Omnipotence... how you possess it is what I can't understand... and as for my ability, you'd be too shocked if you knew what it is! Not even Seraphina knows"

"Wait...what?! god level beings? Does that mean you...you..." Rex stuttered

"Yes! I'm a demi-god... "

Rex's eyes widened in shock.

"That human! A demigod? Impossible!" Cronus screamed out in Rex's head causing a slight headache.

"Shit! Keep it down Cronus! It's no news that your son Zeus has a harem right? So maybe he's one of the products of it!"

"Now walk in and let us begin the training!" Jefferson said...

"dodgeball! What about dodgeball?..." Rex stuttered

Jefferson raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Dodgeball? Really? You're about to train with a demigod and that's your concern?" He crossed his arms, a cold smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Oh, sure, Rex. Let's forget about the whole 'being hunted by gods and powerful people' thing.

We can totally go back to the dodgeball game. Priorities, right?"

Rex blinked, realizing how ridiculous it sounded. "I mean... I was just...."

"Yeah, you were just worried about being late for dodgeball," Jefferson cut in. "Because, you know, missing that is way worse than being vaporized by some god's wrath."

Rex sighed. "Okay, point taken..."