Free Web NovelChapter 192: _The Pantheon
As Ambrose went through his most chaotic levelling up process yet, somewhere beneath the Appalachian mountains—the most important gathering in the world was going into full swing.
The room was large with a few crystal chandeliers dotting the ceilings. A soothing music from the eighties echoed through the walls of the dimly lit hallways.
At the center of the room was a round table. And sitting around it were five people whose mere combined presence would make any lower rank suffocate if they were there.
The Pantheon.
Amongst these people was the shapeshifting ’woman’ from Las Vegas. Currently in their brown haired male form. They appeared bored, resting a palm beneath their jaw.
"So everyone else got the signal?" They lifted their right arm, flaunting the sigil glowing faintly on their skin. "Well? Where’s the danger? I got interrupted in the middle of something important before coming here."
Someone else—a gorgeous woman with dark skin like polished mahogany—scoffed. "Something ’important’, Loki? You?"
Her thick west African accent somehow made the disdain in her voice sharper.
Loki gave her a lazy glance. "Still as uptight as ever, Yemoja. How’s that little village in Nigeria these days?"
They both appeared to be seconds away from seizing each other by the throat. Fortunately, the ’leader’ of the Pantheon cut in before things could escalate.
"Come on, you guys." Apollo, an impossibly handsome man with shoulder length golden blonde hair, tilted his head. "We didn’t get the signal for an argument."
Another man with short black hair and almond shaped eyes, stretched his arms lazily behind his head. "Then what did we get it for? My body’s been itching for a worthy battle—S-Rank dungeons don’t even keep me on my toes anymore."
"Look past your thirst for battle for a second, Wukong." Apollo grabbed a remote, turning on the television across the room. "This one is unlike anything we’ve ever faced together."
The television tuned into a news channel. There was a live broadcast from the office of the United States Hunters Federation’s President.
Without hearing anything else, the grim lines creasing his face alone was enough to let all of them know this was something serious.
"Good afternoon, everyone." The man cleared his throat once the camera panned to his face. "After running a deeper analysis based on recent events—our Federation has new information on the Void Entity."
"The entity isn’t Cataclysm Level like we originally evaluated. Its actual classification is Extinction Level... proof that our country’s Federation can no longer handle this threat alone."
"As I speak we’ve alerted every Hunter Federation in the world as well as the general International Hunters Council body. While we continue to advise citizens to remain calm, there..."
Apollo lowered the volume, swinging his head back to the group. "And there you have it." He muttered, his gaze sweeping past each of their faces. "An Extinction Level beast. Casually roaming America like it’s out for a stroll."
Yemoja’s fingers tightened on the table. "And these people still haven’t found a way to restrain it? Or at least track down its exact location for us?"
"Last I heard," Loki straightened, "they had it cornered just last night. But after that mass slaughter of S-Ranks they lost it again."
"Oh, they can track it alright." A new voice finally joined the conversation for the first time.
Everyone’s gaze shifted to the last member of the Pantheon.
Unlike the others, she hadn’t spoken since arriving.
A woman draped in silver and turquoise fabrics lounged quietly beside the table, her long dark braids spilling down her shoulder. Symbols glowed faintly across the brown skin of her arms like living tattoos.
The air around her shimmered unnaturally—as though reality itself bent carefully around her existence.
"Kali." Apollo acknowledged softly. "You’ve been quiet."
The woman’s violet eyes remained fixed on the television screen. "Because unlike all of you... I’ve seen it."
That got everyone’s attention instantly.
Even Wukong straightened from his lazy posture. "Wait, hold on." He frowned. "You’ve actually encountered this thing before?"
"Not directly." Kali corrected calmly. "But I observed it through projection after the incident in Shawnee National Forest."
Loki’s playful smile faded little by little. "And?"
A beat of silence passed.
Then, "It isn’t behaving like a beast."
The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately.
Apollo’s fingers paused against the table while Yemoja’s expression hardened further.
Kali continued. "It doesn’t simply destroy cities. It chooses targets with purpose. It retreats when cornered. Adapts during battle. Evolves after every major confrontation."
Wukong scoffed lightly. "Lots of dungeon creatures evolve."
"Yes," Kali tilted her head toward him. "But none should be capable of understanding fear."
The room fell silent again.
"That thing..." Kali’s voice lowered carefully. "It’s avoiding the Pantheon."
Loki blinked once. "Well that’s either flattering or deeply concerning."
"Concerning." Apollo answered immediately. His golden eyes narrowed. "Because if it’s intelligent enough to avoid direct confrontation with us... then it’s already capable of calculating outcomes."
"And if it’s calculating outcomes," Yemoja muttered darkly, "then it’s planning something."
The soft eighties music echoing through the hall suddenly felt eerie instead of calming.
Wukong clicked his tongue. "Okay. So what now? We wait around until it deletes another city?"
"No." Apollo finally moved away from the television. "We split up."
That made Loki groan dramatically. "Ugh. Here comes the boring strategy speech."
Apollo ignored them effortlessly. "Wukong and Yemoja—you’ll head toward the last recorded location of the Entity. Search separately. If either of you encounter it directly, do not engage alone."
Wukong grinned. "Now where’s the fun in that?"
"You nearly died during the Emergence because of that mindset." Kali reminded him flatly.
"Allegedly."
Yemoja rolled her eyes so hard it nearly became a spiritual exercise.
"Kali," Apollo continued, "I need your projections focused on tracking movement patterns. If this thing truly operates intelligently then there has to be a reason behind its appearances."
Kali nodded once. "Understood."
"And me?" Loki perked up immediately. "Please tell me my assignment involves manipulation, chaos or morally questionable activities."
Apollo stared at them for a long second.
Then sighed.
"You’re going to Aurelia."
Loki blinked. "... Excuse me?"
Apollo crossed his arms. "The S-Rank Rift which recycled itself into the Echo Rift appeared there. And according to Federation reports, several unusual variables are currently centered around that city."
At that, Kali slowly lifted her gaze from the television.
"Variables?" Yemoja echoed.
Apollo’s fingers tapped once against the table. "A Guide surviving situations he shouldn’t. Multiple SS-Ranks gravitating around this said Guide." His expression darkened slightly. "And now... strange aether fluctuations appearing throughout Aurelia these past few days."
Loki’s grin slowly returned. "Oh?"
Apollo locked eyes with them directly. "Find out if those incidents are connected before the Void Entity does."
Silence swallowed the room whole once more.
Because every single member of the Pantheon understood one terrifying thing at the same moment.
If an Extinction Level creature was moving with intelligence... Then it wasn’t wandering at all.
There was a chance it was searching for something.
