Cronus' system: Against the gods

The oppressive aura in the room calmed down as Jefferson's mood returned to normal. His eyes looked hollow, as though he'd just faced his worst fear.

"I…" Jefferson began, but his voice faltered. His gaze flicked to Rex, lingering as if to say something more, but he stopped himself. He turned abruptly, his shoulders rigid, and started to walk away.

"Hold it, Jeff!" Hercules called out, stepping forward and placing a firm hand on his back. His usual commanding presence softened, his voice carrying a rare gentleness. "You don't have to let the past haunt you."

Jefferson froze, but he didn't look back. He stood motionless for a moment, his head slightly bowed. Then, with a deep breath, he straightened his posture, wiping at his eyes with a trembling hand before stepping forward again. A brilliant flash of purple Aether encased his body, and he lifted off the ground with effortless grace.

Rex's jaw dropped as he watched Jefferson ascend. "Wait, he can fly? Since when was that a thing?" he muttered, squinting at the dazzling energy trails Jefferson left behind as he disappeared into the sky.

Hercules sighed and turned back to Rex, the weight of something unsaid clear in his expression.

"So," Rex began, pointing a thumb at the now-empty space Jefferson had vacated, "you wanna explain what the hell that was all about? I've seen temper tantrums before, but that...." he gestured to the chaos in the room... "was a whole other level of bottled-up rage."

Hercules' face grew somber as he sat down on the nearest intact chair, his massive frame making it creak under his weight. "Jefferson wasn't always like this, you know. That anger you saw, it's not something he picked up overnight."

Rex crossed his arms. "Let me guess, Zeus? I dropped his name, and it was like throwing a grenade into a bonfire."

Hercules nodded. "Yeah, Zeus. Because Jefferson… Jefferson's his son."

Rex blinked, taken aback. "Wait. What? Like, actual son-son? As in, he's the offspring of the literal king of gods?"

"I thought as much harbinger! You guessed right the other time! He's another mistake of my son!" Cronus quipped

"Wow....so does that mean he's your grandson?!" Rex yelled excitedly in his thoughts

"Affirmative, harbinger!" Cronus replied

"Since I have your blood running through me Cronus, that means I'm indirectly his grandpa also right?!" Rex chuckled

"......" (A/N: This means, no reply! Poor lil Crony is frustrated)

"That's right," Hercules said, his voice heavy. "And that's just the start of it. Jefferson's story isn't one he shares easily, but you deserve to know why he lost control back there."

Leaning forward, Hercules rested his elbows on his knees, staring at the floor as he spoke. "When Jefferson was a boy, about twelve years old, his village worshiped Zeus. But their prayers, their offerings, it didn't matter. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire

Zeus didn't care about mortals, and he showed it in the worst way. Jefferson's mother was the village priestess, someone who believed in Zeus more than anyone else.

But one day, Zeus descended… not as a savior, but as a monster. For reasons no one could understand, he struck her down in front of Jefferson and everyone else."

Hercules' voice cracked slightly. "Jefferson couldn't handle it. Can you blame him? A twelve-year-old kid, watching the one person he loved most die at the hands of the god she worshiped? Something snapped in him that day.

His Aether awakened for the first time, raw and untrained. He rampaged through the entire village, destroying everything in sight, consumed by grief and rage. By the time he calmed down, there was nothing left."

Rex frowned, his arms loosening. "That's…"

"Devastating," Hercules finished. "It was by sheer chance that I found him. I was passing through another village when Jefferson came to me, still a wreck, but determined.

He said he wanted to become strong enough to never feel powerless again. He was the only one brave enough, or maybe desperate enough to approach me. So, I trained him. Took him under my wing. And in time, I came to see him as more than a student. I saw him as family."

Hercules looked at Rex, his expression firm. "But that kind of pain… it doesn't just disappear. Every time Zeus' name comes up, it brings it all back. The betrayal. The loss. That's why you saw him snap like that today."

Rex swallowed hard, glancing at the wreckage Jefferson left behind. "Damn. That's… heavy."

"It is," Hercules agreed. "Jefferson's strong, but he's still carrying that weight. And if he doesn't figure out how to let it go, one day it'll break him completely."

Rex nodded slowly, gears turning in his mind as Hercules' words lingered. "Well," he muttered, "now I get why he hates jokes about gods." He paused, rubbing the back of his neck, an awkward smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. "So, uh, any idea where he flew off to?"

Hercules sighed, his gaze drifting upward as if he could see Jefferson even through the ceiling. "He'll be at the highest point in the city," he said, his voice low but certain. "That's where he always goes when he feels down."

Rex blinked in confusion, then froze as realization dawned. His eyes widened. "Wait, hold on, by 'highest point,' you don't mean the God Tower, do you?"

Hercules' silence was all the confirmation Rex needed.

"The God Tower?! Are you kidding me?" Rex's voice rose an octave, his words spilling out in a rush. "You mean the God Tower, the 3,000-foot-high symbol of Alioth's military strength? The one that houses some of the strongest ability users in the entire country?" His voice cracked with disbelief. "That God Tower?!"

Hercules chuckled, though the sound was tinged with resignation. "The very same."

Rex's mind reeled. He had seen the tower in pictures, its imposing black facade rising like an obsidian blade against the sky, shimmering faintly with energy fields meant to protect it from even the strongest attacks.

It was more than a landmark; it was a symbol of the nation's unyielding strength. Rumors swirled about the elite warriors stationed there, including a legendary grandmaster-level ability user who was said to guard its highest floors.

And now, that sacred place, an untouchable fortress of power was apparently Jefferson's go-to spot for brooding.

Rex shook his head, his lips curling into an incredulous smirk. "You've gotta be kidding me. Of all places, that's where he goes when he's depressed? What, the local park wasn't dramatic enough?"

Hercules shrugged, though a flicker of amusement crossed his face. "Jefferson's never been one for half-measures. If he's going to wallow, he's going to do it with style."

Rex exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, fine. How do I get there? I need to talk to him."

Hercules raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that, kid? He's not exactly in a chatty mood right now."

"Yeah, well, when's the best time to tell someone something they might not want to hear?" Rex said, clenching his fists as a determined gleam lit up his eyes.

"Answer: when they're already feeling like crap. That way, if it makes them angrier, they can just blame Zeus. And if it makes them feel better—" Rex shrugged, a crooked grin spreading across his face. "Well, then I'm the hero of the day, aren't I?"

Hercules laughed, a deep, hearty sound that broke through the somber atmosphere. "You're a bold one, I'll give you that. Alright, I'll help you get there. But don't say I didn't warn you."

"Go there with this little trinket," Hercules said, tossing a teleportation crystal toward Rex with casual precision. His expression carried a mix of confidence and cluelessness as he added, "I'm pretty sure you know how to use it, 'cause I have no idea. Just… don't break anything important."

Rex caught the crystal with ease, turning it over in his hand. The faint blue glow pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat, as if it was alive. He raised an eyebrow at Hercules. "You're giving me this and you don't even know how it works?"

Hercules shrugged, grinning. "That's what you young'uns are good at, right? Figuring out shiny toys. Just don't blow yourself up, yeah?"

Rex rolled his eyes but couldn't help the grin tugging at his lips. "Right. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Herc." He held the crystal firmly and tapped its surface with his thumb. A soft hum resonated as it scanned him, its light brightening with approval. Without hesitation, Rex crushed the crystal in his palm.

A burst of luminous energy enveloped him, a sensation like being wrapped in liquid lightning. His body felt weightless, and for a split second, the world blurred into streaks of color and motion before solidifying again.

When the light faded, Rex found himself standing on the rooftop of the God Tower.

The rooftop stretched wide, its smooth black surface glinting faintly under the glow of the sun. Gusts of wind howled around him, carrying with them the faint hum of energy fields surrounding the tower.

The view was breathtaking, offering an unobstructed panorama of Astral City—a glittering sea of lights and life sprawled below, while stars scattered like diamonds across the night sky above.

But Rex barely noticed any of it.

Jefferson stood near the edge of the rooftop, his back to Rex. His broad shoulders were hunched, his usual imposing presence weighed down by something invisible but heavy. The faint shimmer of Aether energy flickered around him like an aura, crackling occasionally like a storm barely held in check.

Rex hesitated, suddenly unsure of what to say. The sight of Jefferson like this, so vulnerable, so… human was jarring.

"You're braver than I gave you credit for, kid," Jefferson said without turning around, his voice low and rough. "Most people wouldn't dare come up here without an invitation."

Rex swallowed, forcing himself to take a step forward. "Well, good thing I'm not most people, huh?" His attempt at levity fell flat in the oppressive atmosphere. He sighed, shifting uncomfortably. "I figured you might need someone to talk to. Or at least someone to yell at who isn't a god."

Jefferson laughed humorlessly, though it was barely audible over the wind. "You think I'm in the mood for a heart-to-heart?" He finally turned his head slightly, just enough for Rex to glimpse his face. His eyes were red-rimmed but steely, his jaw clenched as if holding back a flood of emotions.

"Honestly? I have no idea what mood you're in," Rex admitted, his voice softer now. "But I do know that whatever it is!" Rex pat his chest proudly "I, your indirect grandpa can fix it!"

"Oh shit!" Cronus facepalmed