Cronus' system: Against the gods

Chapter 131 A Date and an Ambush

under the dimly lit ambiance of the restaurant, brenda and magnus sat across from each other, the clinking of silverware and murmurs of other diners forming a soft backdrop. brenda's lips curved into a mysterious smile as she watched magnus gulp down his glass of wine, his nervous energy practically radiating off him.

her emerald eyes, filled with an unplaceable emotion, longing, perhaps?—lingered on him. despite having known him for only a week, it felt inexplicably like years. "why does it feel like we've shared so much more?" she wondered, the thought swirling in her mind.

magnus, noticing her far-off gaze, waved a hand in front of her face. "earth to brenda? you okay?"

she snapped out of her thoughts, quickly masking her momentary vulnerability with a smirk. "yeah, i'm fine. nothing to worry about."

"you sure?"

leaning forward, she propped her chin on her palm, her fiery red hair spilling over her shoulder like a cascade. "positive. don't go overthinking, magnus. it's not good for your... pretty little head."

magnus raised a brow, his lips twitching in amusement. "pretty little head? that's... new."

"oh, you're full of surprises," brenda teased, her voice like silk. "you know, for someone who acts so ordinary, you're anything but."

magnus frowned. "what's that supposed to mean?"

brenda leaned closer, her tone dropping conspiratorially. "do you really think i wouldn't find out about your... ventures? your ideas?"

magnus froze, his fork hovering mid-air. "what—what are you talking about?"

her smirk deepened, her eyes practically sparkling with mischief. "relax, magnus. i mean your failed business schemes. honestly, some of them were so ambitious, i'm surprised they didn't work."

magnus' face flushed red, and he cursed under his breath. only one person knew about those—rex. that blabbermouth! he was definitely going to get an earful later.

"rex told you, didn't he?" he muttered, his jaw tightening.

brenda laughed, a melodic sound that seemed to light up the room. "don't be mad at rex. he just made you more interesting." reaching into her bag, she pulled out a sleek chip, tapped a button on its surface, and slid it across the table. "here. a little something to cheer you up."

magnus blinked at the glowing device, confused, until his own tablet chimed softly. he picked it up, and his heart nearly stopped as he read the notification:

alert: money has been deposited into your account!

account holder: magnus

origin: stellar city

age: 16

occupation: orphaned student

amount available: $7,000,000

a waiter, standing awkwardly nearby with a tray of desserts, cleared his throat. "uh, excuse me, sir, ma'am... would you, um, like your dessert now, or should i come back after... whatever that was?"

magnus pulled back, his face now a deep crimson, while brenda merely smirked, unfazed. she turned her attention to the waiter, her lips still curled into that signature teasing grin. "i'll take a slice of chocolate decadence. he can have whatever helps him recover from shock."

the waiter blinked, trying and failing to suppress a grin. "right... one chocolate decadence, and for the gentleman, water, perhaps?"

magnus groaned, burying his face in his hands. "i'll just have the same, thanks," he mumbled, avoiding eye contact with everyone in the vicinity.

night 8pm

"okay....great! now i'm out of cookies again! i surely need to go refill!" rex closed the fridge. his last outing had cost him about $1,500 and now he was left with $400,000. "at this rate, i'll be down to zero within some months.....i need to get a job fast!"

rex then walked out of the house, heading towards the supermarket. he could still clearly remember shop-keeper jace and the memory of how the man froze a robber was still evident in his mind, always reminding him that no matter how frail one was, they could still be deadly.

as he walked, he suddenly noticed...the streets seemed unusually quiet. the usual bustle of astral city's evening crowd had diminished to an eerie stillness. the only sounds were the faint hum of streetlights and the soft scuff of rex's boots against the pavement. his instincts prickled with unease, but he dismissed it.

"probably just my imagination," he muttered, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he strode forward.

then he felt it, a sharp, almost electric shift in the air. a subtle but undeniable pressure pressed against his chest, growing heavier with each step. he stopped, glancing around, and that's when he saw them.

hooded figures emerged from the shadows, their suits immaculate but sinister in the dim light. their faces were obscured beneath sleek, reflective masks, and their movements were unnaturally synchronized, like predators closing in on prey. there were six of them, each exuding a menacing aura that seemed to ripple with unspoken violence.

rex tilted his head, raising an eyebrow. "huh. you guys gonna sell me insurance or something? 'cause i'm good."

no response. the figures tightened their circle, their silent presence radiating cold intent.

"he is the guilty one! capture him"

rex's grin widened, the flickering streetlight catching the edge of his smirk. "guilty? for what? stealing the last pack of cookies at the supermarket? if so, you've got the wrong guy. that was yesterday"

the figure didn't flinch. instead, a low hum filled the air as the others raised their hands, energy crackling around them. it wasn't just any energy, rex could feel the sharp resonance of crystals powering their abilities.

each figure seemed to radiate a different type of power: flames danced around one, frost condensed around another, while the rest shimmered with kinetic force, shadows, and something unsettlingly electric.

"okay, no one's laughing. tough crowd," rex muttered, rolling his neck.

the leader's voice was cold and mechanical, amplified by his mask. "you're coming with us—quietly, or in pieces."

rex exhaled, shaking his head as he flexed his fingers. a faint glow sparked around his knuckles, aether flaring like a wildfire ready to ignite.

your next read is at empire

"pieces, huh?" his smirk widened, shadows dancing in his eyes. "guess i better give you a head start."

the air grew heavy as the streetlights flickered ominously. rex's fists crackled with energy, and for a heartbeat, silence reigned. then he surged forward, fists ablaze.