“Shit.”

  Gabriel leapt back instinctively, as his primal instinct warned him of immediate, heart-stopping danger. Just as both his feet left the ground, Gabriel witnessed a horrifying sight, that felt as if it was happening in slow motion. Hades, casually, reached his open hand forwards as if he was grabbing at the air in front of the backwards moving Gabriel, and before the stunned eyes of the trio, the wrinkly old hand morphed into a gigantic black scaled claw, ending in razorsharp points. With the ease of someone just picking up a tissue off the ground, the enormous claw encompassed Gabriel’s entire body and brought him back the short distance he had managed to make. In a mere blink, Gabriel found himself ten feet off the ground and in front of nothing short of a massive, terrifying armored demon. Hades' grandfatherly look had now completely disappeared and what Gabriel now beheld was a twelve feet high God of incredible might, who looked to be getting angrier by the second. As the very gravity seemed to intensify around the party, making the slack-jawed Grace and Maximinus slam into the floor. Their bodies being pressed down by some invisible force.

  Gabriel with his arms stuck to his sides and only able to move his head, was currently sweating a river. Not just because of the impending, painful doom he could see was coming, but because the entire cavern’s cool, damp temperature was rising swiftly. The armored Demon before him, with curved, grey horns at least two feet in length, was currently releasing an incredible amount of steam from its body. It was like a machine that was overheated, as the steam leaked from the gaps in between the obsidian-colored armor. Hades, brought Gabriel’s pale face right up to his. His dark red eyes boring into the young man, as his now fanged mouth opened and a guttural voice roared out, sweeping Gabriel’s loose hair back in the process, “Why do you have my precious lock tied in your hair!? As if it’s just some ordinary ornament!?”

  ‘Well, I guess my perk [Smooth Talker] didn’t kick in’, Gabriel thought grimly to himself, as his mind froze momentarily at the sheer power of the enraged God who now held his life in his literal hands. After what felt like a life time of staring into those wildfire-colored eyes, Gabriel’s brain finally kicked into gear, he swam through a myriad of different excuses and explanations but they all sounded lame and pathetic even to himself. As he was furiously thinking of how to answer to Hades, he let out a painful groan, gritting his teeth hard, as the black scaled hand holding him began to tighten. A quick check of his already feeble health points showed that he was down to 30 and it was dropping by one for every second.

  Feeling as if he was now a bag of jelly, slowly being squished. His frantic mind finally tuned in on a rumor he had heard about Hades in his future sight. Without the time or mental capacity to think about it, with what felt like the last of his strength, Gabriel spat out, “I can get you a Giant’s heart.”

  Almost instantly the pressure surrounding him vanished and the clawed hand smishing him into paste opened abruptly. Allowing his mangled, bruised body a moment to breathe, which was quickly knocked out of him. As in his limp and tired state, he slammed heavily into the solid black marble floor once released. The little air he managed to gather, leaving his lungs, accompanied by a cry of pain. With an what felt like herculean effort, Gabriel rolled over onto his back, now facing up at the Demon/God before him. A quick check of his health saw that it was at 18 and thankfully for him, it had also stopped ticking down. A series of notifications he had been putting off, gave him a tickle as a reminder when he briefly checked his status, but he still mentally declined to open them, as he knew this was not the time or place for that.

  Right before Gabriel’s eyes, the twelve-foot-high God before him vanished in a puff of ash-colored smoke, which, for a moment, even seemed to contain a series of wailing, ghostly faces before swiftly disappearing. Revealing the now, normal-sized Hades, back in his grandfatherly appearance, with his gnarled wooden walking staff in hand, he was outfitted in nothing but a full-body black robe. With a wave of his, normal looking ash colored hand, Gabriel felt his battered body once again lifting off the ground. This time, however, he wasn’t encompassed in a nightmare that induced gigantic claws, but he was held aloft by invincible force. It brought him back to his feet and standing once again between his two-party members. Who were also rising cautiously to their feet with muffled groans.

  Hades spared no mind for the other two and stared hard at Gabriel. His now softer but still deep and powerful voice rang out after a few seconds of the stare down. “Well, you have my attention boy. Speak of how you could get me a Giant's heart.” Before Gabriel could answer though, he stopped himself as Hades put up a hand to forestall him. “I do not wish for this conversation to contain anyone else.” Hades looked at Grace and then Maximinus, who both were now shaking in their literal boots. Gabriel feared the still simmering God would kill his party members, as he knew a lot of the gods in Valhalla were capricious, especially the ones who dealt in the afterlife directly. They were always odd ducks. Luckily for all three, their fears weren’t realised, as with a much friendlier tone than he was using on Gabriel. Hades said, “Congratulations to the two of you for defeating this dungeon, my adorable troublemaker of a pup had invertedly created. Now as for your rewards.” Hades, appeared to be looking in the air and mumbling to himself, as if he too was reading a status screen.

  “Ah, Interesting. I can see this is the first time this dungeon has been completed, so in Gaia’s infinite wisdom you will be receiving an upgrade on your rewards, also because of my own small fault in my negligent training of that little bugger, I will also add a little something to the reward.” Hades explained. With a flick of his wrist, a small cloud of smoldering ash appeared in his open palm. All three of the trio were suddenly emended with a feeling of incredible want and need for whatever the God now beheld. They couldn’t take their eyes off the ash cloud as it hovered over his hand. Little bursts of flames could be seen poking out every now and then, as if the cloud was containing a brilliant fire within. Just as Gabriel’s thoughts, were growing wild in the need to obtain whatever the item was, Hades tossed the ash-colored cloud into the air.

  With an intake of air from the three, and a mutual feeling of lost, they watched the cloud shoot up to the partial glowing ceiling before it disappeared into the hard rock. Hades seemed to know what had suddenly overtaken them and why but with only a small knowing smirk, he didn’t elaborate. And with the previous small showing of power, the trio collectively decided against pestering the God for answers.

  “Now. If you two proceed further into the hallowed halls behind me and go left at the depiction of my beautiful wife Persephone, you will see a purple-colored ring hanging in the air. That is the return portal. It will first take you to the reward/treasure room and then out of the dungeon.” Hades explained with a friendly smile, as he pointed a thumb behind his back to indicate where the two were to go.

  Both of them hesitated for a moment, looking to the bruised and scuffed Gabriel. Maximinus even looked like he was going to refuse. Gabriel quickly had to snip that in the bud as he knew it would lead to nothing good, “Go ahead, guys. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me, I got this.” A dismissive snort from Hades at Gabriel's confident words made Maximinus pause slightly again, before he eventually wilted as Gabriel gave a weak but somehow also strong smile. Just as the two were beginning to walk past Hades, after giving the older-looking God their heartfelt thanks with even a graceful half curtsy from Grace. The same lady spoke up suddenly that made both younger men’s hearts catch in fear, as she faced the God with newfound confidence and seemingly a small amount of nonchalance.

  “Ah! Sorry Elder but I also need to finish my own personal quest before leaving the dungeon. I need to bring back a trophy of my successful hunt of that Giant Kobold over there.” Grace replied simply, as she pointed down the stairs to the still leaking Boss Kobolds hairy corpse.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  “Oh, very well then. Let me handle that little task for you, don’t want such a lovely lady such as yourself to dirty their hands on such a meager chore.” Hades replied with a small chuckle and a somewhat creepy wink, at least it appeared creepy to Gabriel and Maximinus.

  With a click of his aged fingers, Hades said, “All done. You will find your trophy in your reward chest. And their remaining survivors, my silly dog who didn’t eat, will also be there. I will say however, he has quite the appetite so don’t expect many.” Hades directed the last few sentences at Maximinus, who at the mention of quests from Grace made him think about Gabriel’s and his own about the missing town’s people, he had just begun to open his mouth the ask the God. But as if reading the young man’s mind. Hades responded already. Not having anything more to say or do. Both looked back at Gabriel. Grace didn’t say much, only sending him a friend request.

  [Grace – Beast Tamer – LVL 11 – Has sent you a friend request. Do you accept?]

  With a mental confirmation, Gabriel also nodded in Grace’s direction, who gave him a soft smile in response, before turning back around and sauntered between the fire wreathed obsidian pillars, deeper into the temple. Maximinus patted Gabriel on the shoulder and said, “I’ll wait for you back in town at the Inn.”

  “Cheers dude. Just wait for a couple of hours though. Don’t hang around too much on my account, can’t have you waiting there too long, you might start looking like an abandoned lover. Who knows what Red will think of us then. Ha.” Gabriel replied, as he gave a fist bump to Maximinus who just snorted with a smile in response before he too headed into the tunnel.

  After a solid, very unsettling minute for Gabriel, Hades spoke once again. The kindly old man in the park, tone and vibe he used on the other two, had disappeared. Now replaced with an imperious and overbearing manner, it felt to Gabriel that he was now in the presence of a true ruler over the fiery depths of the underworld. The strong presence and dignified bearing were somewhat ruined by the way Hades started his first sentence since the two were alone.

  “Now, you little bastard. You better not be lying to me, or I’ll roast you over a spit, slice off bits of you slowly and feed you to Ceb! That will surely break that breathing habit you're so fond of. Now speak, shithead!” Hades yelled as bits of spit splattered Gabriel in his slightly shocked face.

  Knowing anymore time he wasted not answering the enraged God, was adding to the more than likely advent of him literally being hog tied over a fire. He couldn’t help but mentally say to himself, ‘Break that breathing habit. That’s a great one. I’ll use that one in the future.’ He then quickly uttered out, “I’ll tell you, oh mighty lord of the dead.”

  “Don’t blow smoke up my ass dim wit and get on with the Giant’s heart. I can hear Ceb’s three tummies rumbling from here.” Hades replied with a sneer.

  “Sorry. Well... I suppose... technically, I mean it's not exactly a “Giant’s” heart per se.” Gabriel mumbled awkwardly.

  “What!!??” Hades roared, almost sending Gabriel on his ass, as he stumbled backwards from the force propelled at him. A wall of dark flames that reached to the ceiling sprang up behind the once again steaming Hades, who had now raised both his hands in the air and was about to send forth a tidal wave of hurt upon Gabriel.

  Throwing his hands up unconsciously to guard his face, Gabriel cried out in a rush, “Wait!! For the love of all the chocolate in the world, please wait. I can explain! I swear to Gaia that I know how to get a heart that is just like a Giant’s heart!” A notification sprang up in Gabriel’s view that blocked almost all of his vision after his last sentence left his mouth.

  [WARNING! Gaia has heard your vow and accepted it. The consequences of breaking a vow to the Mother of All, will be harsh beyond measure]

  Gabriel swallowed slightly as he read the message, but it didn’t rattle him as much as he had expected. Looking back to Hades, who appeared quite shocked for a moment before his face returned to neutral as he lowered his raised hands slowly. The wall of flames following his hand movements, as it decreased in height before touching the floor and snuffing itself out. This time, Hades didn’t berate him and in a more calm and inquisitive tone he asked, “To swear upon the Supreme herself is a heavy thing to do. I will keep my outburst reigned in and listen to your full explanation. For now, at least.”

  “Okay. So, what I am saying is.” Gabriel started before taking a large breath to gather his thoughts and launching into a full explanation of his quickly thought up plan. Granted he was also working out the details in his own mind as fast as he could, as the excuse of the Giant's Heart was a spur of the moment thing. It was originally based off something he heard about Hades’s tastes for exotic and extinct creatures in his future sight. Now, it was obviously confirmed going by the sheer naked desire Gabriel could see in the older man’s black eyes, every time he said “Giant’s heart”.

  Gabriel began to lay out what he knew and was offering after one more second of the speedy thinking. “Basically, what I am offering to procure for you is a Cyclops's Heart. The Giant’s cousin. As you know, in your ever so great wisdom, that the true Giants have been extinct for thousands of years. However, I have heard from a few very good sources that Cyclops’s hearts taste almost exactly the same. They, being rare and almost extinct creatures themselves, mean it's hard for someone as busy as you to find and then issue out to one of your devotees to get it for you.” Hades was listening attentively and a small smile began to tug at his lips, turning his perpetual frown, ever since the two were alone, upside down. Gabriel continued after he saw Hades' still greedy eyes, now that the God knew it was a Cyclops and not a Giant he was offering, “I am a hundred per cent sure I know of where a current Cyclops is and am very confident in my ability to slay it for you.”

  Hades finally interjected after Gabriel’s short spiel, “I highly doubt a piss ant, weak little shite such as yourself can singlehandedly defeat a Cyclops. They are fair beyond you right now. And like Hell am I going to wait around for years, while you gallivant around the world with my precious lock in your hair trying to level up so you can defeat the Cyclops without any punishment from me. I have a reputation to uphold you know.”

  “I promise it won’t take me years. Just give me three months. I’ll even make another Vow to Gaia if you can’t trust me.” Gabriel pleaded.

  Hades went silent as he contemplated Gabriel’s words. He began to scrutinize Gabriel thoroughly. Even going so far as to walk slow circles around the young man. Who had now begun to squirm uncomfortably under the Elderly God’s heavy gaze, feeling as if he was being stripped bare and found wanting by the powerful being before him. Hades returned to his original spot and after another couple of tension building seconds, he spoke, “I’ll give you two months and not a moment more.”

  Letting out a stifled breath, Gabriel didn’t even know he was holding, the tightness that had built-up in his shoulder blades also loosened. ‘Two months. I can work with that. I really don’t need that much preparation for the actual Cyclops as, if all goes according to plan, that will be the easiest part. The major pain will be fighting my way through those ugly things to get to the beast.’ Gabriel thought, as his mind began to spin with plans and methods to raise his chances of completing this task, he was interrupted from his musings though by Hades.

  “Considering I still believe you will turn into nothing more than meat paste once you come face to foot with a Cyclops. I will be adding an additional caveat. In your almost guaranteed death, once revived, you will return here to this temple and tell me the location of the Cyclops. I will let one of my more reliable devotees handle it. You will also return here, if by some ungodly miracle you survive, and actually retrieve the heart. Understood?” Hades declared with a major hint of finality.

  “Agreed.” Gabriel simply replied.

  The familiar chime sound of a quest notification going off in his head, told Gabriel that he just received a quest. Before he had a chance to open it and read the details, Hades abruptly said, “Also, I will be taking that lock back. You don’t deserve it. Not yet at least.” With a grabbing motion, the black lock of hair, tied in Gabriel’s braid, was painfully pulled out, along with some of his own.

  “Owww. Shitting hell.” Gabriel cursed, as he tenderly rubbed at the side of his scalp, where a bit of his skin was also ripped out by the smugly smiling God.

  Not wanting to spend another minute, with the temperamental God, who clearly had it out for poor old Gabriel. He said, “Well. If that is all. I better get a move on. If I have any chance of getting it done in the next two months, I can’t be wasting anymore time.” Even though it was said, so he could get away from Hades as quickly as he could, he wasn’t lying either. However, two months seem like a long time to complete one slay and fetch quest. There was a lot to actually prepare. Plus, he had also promised to go on a hunting trip with Sam over the weekend and learn some real-world hunting skills. If they were gone for three days IRL (In real life), it would mean six days had passed in Deliverance Online. So, two months can go by in a flash.

  “Very well then. Follow your other two companion's directions, and you will also reach the rewards room. I have already, so benevolently of me, put the loot from the Dungeon Boss in the reward room, so you don’t have to climb the stairs to loot the corpse. Also take this key. It will allow access to this specific dungeon, instead of the normal Kobold Mine it will revert to once you leave.” Hades explained, as he pulled a white key, that looked like it was made of bone and even had a skull engraved on it, out of his sleeve before handing it to Gabriel.

  “Now scurry off already. You're annoying me.” Hades declared and with a simple flick of his hand, as if shooing away a bug, Gabriel took the hint and walked towards the inner area of the tunnel. ‘Thank the holy ghost that’s over. I can already hear the bubbles of a long, relaxing bubble bath calling my name.’ Gabriel thought to himself, as a tired smile sprang up on his dirty, bloody, ash-covered face.