The Nameless Heir
Chapter 76: New King and Queen of the Underworld

Chapter 76: New King and Queen of the Underworld

He lifted his hand, slow and steady, making sure Pride didn’t crush them, his gaze locking onto the student who had their blade plunged into him, cold and heavy, like a god about to pass judgment.

"You think it’s smart to bare your fangs at a god?"

He paused, his voice quiet—low enough to make the air feel heavy.

"Especially when that god decides where you’ll end up after death."

His gaze darkened, glowing with quiet contempt.

"Now back off, you weakling."

The students staggered back but didn’t retreat. Instead, they surrounded him, weapons raised.

Damon and the other holy knights stepped in, trying to calm things down. No one listened. Caius and Liz moved to intervene, but they were shoved aside like they weren’t even there.

"Fine." He smiled, wide and slow.

Their shadows slithered toward Kael like pets returning to their master.

The moment they touched his, everything stopped. The students froze, trapped, unable to move.

"Tell me... how should I kill you all for defying a god?"

The Helm of Darkness formed around him, shadows crawling up his body like armor taking shape.

His blade rose from the shadow. The hilt slid into his hand, like it knew what its master wanted. He swung the sword—at that moment, an invisible pressure covered the entire courtyard. It was thick, crushing.

He took a single step forward, and the ground cracked underneath him, like it couldn’t handle his weight.

One by one, they fell to their knees, like the strength had been torn straight from their bones. Their breathing turned uneven, shallow, broken.

A few still tried to raise their weapons, hands trembling with the instinct to fight... but the moment they faced him, their grip faltered. There was nothing left to hold onto.

After all, they had witnessed what he had done to Hermes.

He raised his blade over the boy’s head—brought his down fast.

The student flinched, breath catching, eyes shut tight like it would stop what was coming.

But nothing came.

For a moment, there was nothing but silence.

Then Kael laughed.

The sound was too loud, too sudden. The students didn’t move. Their fear didn’t fade—it warped into something stranger. Unease. Doubt. Like they weren’t sure whether to run or laugh.

He opened his eyes, breath caught halfway. Kael stood over him but had no sword in hand.

"I’m just messing with you all," Kael said, a half-smile curling at his lips.

He leaned in and flicked the boy on the forehead.

Then he laughed—louder, looser. The sound rolled through the courtyard like it didn’t belong there.

A few students joined in, nervously. Their laughs shook, thin and unsure, like they weren’t sure if they were allowed to stop being afraid yet.

Their laughter didn’t last. Their laughter wavered, scattered into quiet.

Some glanced around, unsure if they should keep going.

Kael didn’t say a word. He just stood there, staring.

One by one, their laughs died. Until nothing was left.

The laughter stopped all at once.

Kael’s expression shifted. His smile vanished, replaced by something colder—flat and merciless. His voice came quiet and slow.

"But try something like that again... and I’ll feed your remains to Cerberus."

Silence followed.

Thick. Heavy.

None of the students moved. None of them breathed. They weren’t sure if he was joking anymore. They weren’t sure if he ever had been.

He turned to Liz, standing at the side with the Chiron, Goddess Nyx, and the holy knights.

Kael offered his hand to her.

"Let’s go, Sunshine," he said, quiet this time.

As the Helm of Darkness dissolved into the air, Kael stood still.

His shoulders eased. His eyes found hers again, softer now—like the storm had passed, even if just for a moment.

He smiled. Almost like his old self.

Liz didn’t say a word. She just smiled, like something heavy finally lifted off her chest.

She stepped toward him, the joy on her face quiet but visible.

Her eyes dropped to his hand for a moment. Something about him felt different—darker maybe, heavier.

She didn’t wait. She stepped forward and slid her fingers through his, like something they’d done thousands of times.

To her, he hadn’t changed. She looked at him and saw the same guy who she knew for ages, the same guy who annoyed her, then held her just to calm her down.

In the end, he did keep his word. He came back to her. Alive.

The sun burned hotter above them, almost like it was angry.

The shadows curled around their legs, lifting them off the ground.

Kael looked at her. Their eyes met, and for a second, his smile returned—tired, but real.

Like he wanted her to believe it was all over. Even if it wasn’t. Like he didn’t declare war against the gods.

"Well, Sunshine... looks like Apollo’s pissed."

Liz let out a short laugh as she leaned in and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Around them, the shadows rose higher, curling up their legs and shoulders.

The students didn’t follow. They just stood there watching them quietly, not sure what to do.

He turned to Chiron and Nyx.

"I’m sorry for causing this much trouble for you both. And... thank you. For everything you’ve done for me."

His gaze shifted to Nyx.

"Thank you, Goddess Nyx, for looking after me. I can never repay that debt."

The shadows began to rise, slowly wrapping around him.

He turned to the holy knights.

"And you... you were my first family. My brothers. My sisters. My family."

His voice caught mid-sentence. He blinked, surprised by the something flowing down his cheek. He hadn’t even noticed the tear until it hit his arm.

"No matter what I do," he murmured, voice uneven, "I’ll never be able to pay back what you all gave me."

He paused.

"That’s why I’ll bring both Orion and Selene back."

He turned toward the students, a slow smile. It was cold, heavy, and full of promise.

"I’ll see you all in hell."

The shadows consumed him and Liz, pulling them both into the ground—gone before Damon or the others could even speak.

"Wait, Kael—what were we supposed to do?"

Damon stood there, hand still half-raised.

He never finished his sentence.

The courtyard fell silent.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

The shadows were gone.

And so was Kael.

Back in the Underworld.

Waiting for them was his mother.

She stood in front of the palace doors, like she had been waiting... like she knew he was coming.

Her eyes met his. Calm. Unreadable.

Kael didn’t speak.

He took Liz’s hand and stepped forward, his grip firm—quiet, but certain. Shadows dragged behind them, stretching across the stone as the palace loomed in silence ahead.

The undead lined the path in still rows. One by one, they dropped to their knees—silent, motionless—their heads bowing as Kael passed, like they could feel something return.

Cerberus howled in the distance. The sound rolled across the Underworld like a warning, deep enough to shake the ground beneath their feet.

It didn’t call them—it warned everyone else.

The king had returned.

Liz looked confused. Liz didn’t fully understand what was happening. The air felt heavier down here, thicker somehow.

She held Kael’s hand tighter, the way someone holds a railing in a storm.

Her eyes flicked around the Underworld—dead faces, dark stone, a distant howl.

It was too much. She’d never seen anything like it.

"Hello, Mother. I’m back," Kael said, glancing around the kingdom. "But don’t you think this is a bit much? I think this will give Liz nightmares."

She punched him in the arm with a pout, and his mom just laughed.

She hugged him first, then turned to Liz, pulled her close, and pinched her cheek with a grin, finally being able to meet her.

"You really are adorable," she said with a grin that only got wider.

As they stepped through the doors, her voice turned softer, amused, teasing.

"This is nothing. I was planning something more extravagant, but Cyrus said it might be too much," she muttered.