Chapter 10 - Dedicated Son

Adam Victory awoke slowly.

His eyes opened amidst a dense, gray fog, as if he were rising from a deep nightmare.

He was lying down again, but not on the cold ground or a battlefield. This time, he lay on something soft, a comforting sensation that contrasted with the pain he felt.

The feeling of being in Pandora's lap wasn't new, but this time, there was something different, an added weight, a kind of ache that lingered in his eyes, intensifying the exhaustion he already felt in his body. He lifted his head slowly, his vision still blurry, and found the Goddess looking at him with an affectionate smile, her vibrant blue eyes observing him with maternal care, almost as if it were the most natural thing in the world to have him there.

"My goodness, you're truly insatiable, seeking your mother's reward so quickly. It hasn't even been a few hours and you're back already!" A sweet, cheerful voice echoed around Adam, who was still dizzy and dazed, but felt a strange tranquility upon hearing it.

Pandora was there, her presence enveloping and warm. Her blue eyes were fixed on Adam, watching him with maternal affection. She caressed him gently as he recovered from the excruciating pain he had felt in his body.

Adam tried to sit up, but felt weak. The weight of the battle, coupled with the pain still throbbing in his eyes, made any movement agonizing.

"I hope you don't mind," Adam spoke calmly, trying to hide his discomfort. But his voice betrayed the effort; there was a deep, almost unbearable pain in his eyes. He had never felt anything like it before—a consequence of using Balor's Authority, perhaps.

Pandora, seeing his expression, let out a soft laugh. "It's no problem! It's a joy for a mother to see such an obedient child!" She exclaimed cheerfully, but then her eyes narrowed as she observed him more closely. "You used Balor's Eyes, didn't you? That was the first time you used them; they altered the structure of your eyes... Your eye color has changed... Now it's a vibrant blue. I liked the previous color better, but that doesn't matter, does it?"

Adam felt slightly uncomfortable being observed in this way, but didn't dare look away.

"Generally, a Campione usurps only one Authority after killing a God. I've seen other children of mine usurp two or three Authorities, but it all depends on the child's compatibility with the God, and of course, the God's own desire." Pandora continued in a casual tone, as if speaking about something trivial, while gently running her hand through his hair.

She turned her face to him, her eyes shining with a deep understanding of what had happened to Adam. "You obtained two from Balor due to your compatibility, and one from Baldur for the same reason. But, in Lugh's case... well, you were an exception. You obtained five complete Authorities. That's rare, Adam. Extremely rare."

Adam remembered what Pandora had said. Lugh, the Sun God, had granted him more than any other; indeed, the authorities he received from the myths of their associations together gave him a huge advantage in this world.

Pandora sighed, and a soft smile appeared on her face. "The compatibility between you and Lugh is... extraordinary. Extremely high. And besides that, your body and soul are stronger than any other son or daughter of mine in history. That's what allowed you to usurp five divine powers."

She leaned a little closer to Adam, her lips forming a loving smile, but at the same time something more mysterious, something he couldn't quite read. "I wanted to talk more with my little Adam, but... our time this time is short."

Pandora leaned down further, coming close to his face.

Adam had no time to react as she approached without warning, her lips touching his.

It was a gesture that seemed so natural, as if initiating something deeper, more significant. Something beyond Adam's comprehension.

The [Usurpation Ritual] was beginning again.

...

..

.

Adam awoke slowly, his vibrant blue eyes opening with difficulty, as if the weight of the world were still upon them. He felt residual pain, but it was different this time. There was a lightness, a feeling that the physical wounds were no longer so intense. It was night, and the darkness of the destroyed forest around him seemed to have settled since he had passed out, creating a somber contrast between the violence of what had happened and the serenity of the night.

The ground beneath him was cold and damp, the earth scarred by the battles he had fought. Trees were fallen, broken into pieces that seemed like remnants of a cataclysm.

The air was thick, charged with residual energy. Even in the emptiness of the battlefield, the silence was broken only by the distant sound of the wind, stirring the broken branches.

Adam stood up with minimal effort, feeling his muscles, still slightly tense, adapting to the new sensation. The first thing he noticed was the lightness in his body. He didn't feel weak or exhausted. Quite the contrary. He felt more... complete. Something had changed within him, and the power he had absorbed was manifesting concretely. He felt as if the nature of Iddun and Perun now flowed through his being.

He had received two authorities from Perun and one from Iddun—as he was in a condition where he needed it, he was eager to use the authority of the Goddess of Youth.

The authority he received from Iddun was the [Apples of Immortality].

Adam closed his eyes and concentrated. He knew that the first step to using this Authority was to cultivate the apple of immortality within himself. He began to focus his energy, the concentration of Iddun's power flowing into his body. The sensation was gentle, as if he were planting something inside himself. His life energy began to pulsate, like roots spreading through his essence, until a feeling of coolness washed over him. He was cultivating the apple, and the time it took to grow would depend on what he intended to achieve with it.

Minutes passed. Adam could feel the apple emerging within him, a small point of vibrant energy, a seed of vitality that began to bloom inside him. It was a unique sensation, as if something pure and profound were being born within him. He could feel the roots of nature extending, as if the world itself were responding to his command. The apple grew, full of energy, until he felt it was ready. He knew he had already cultivated the amount of vitality necessary to restore his life force and heal any wound.

With an almost ritualistic movement, Adam extended his hands to the earth before him. He invoked the magic words that evoked the power of Iddun's apples: "Maiden who dwells within the orchard, deceived and stolen, transformed and returned. The blessing that even the Gods crave is mine to have, mine to grant, mine to use," and energy began to radiate from him, as if the power of the forest itself extended to all around him. The apple of immortality materialized, now in his hands, golden and shining, exuding a soft light that illuminated the darkness of the night.

According to legends, Iddun cared for and harvested the golden apples that granted eternal youth to the Aesir and also renewed their strength through them.

The authority he usurped from Iddun, the [Apples of Immortality], grants him the ability to revitalize the life force of others, allowing him to heal wounds, dispel certain curses, and exhaustion.

However, to use this Authority, he must first 'cultivate' the apple he wishes to use within himself. One of the most interesting aspects of this power is that it can be used to revitalize the exhausted authorities of others.

Each apple doesn't need to be used on a single target; they can be focused if he so chooses, but otherwise, they will simply radiate their energy in all directions so that everyone present is affected by them.

The amount of time it takes to "grow" the apple is proportional to the level of vitality he wishes to restore. For example, if he simply wishes to banish tiredness, then he needs almost no time at all, just a few seconds are enough; if he wants to restore an exhausted Authority, it requires several hours of preparation.

Once an apple is used, it withers, and he will need to 'cultivate' a new one within himself, being limited to only one at a time.

This Authority can also be used to control the flora around him to a certain extent, allowing him to manipulate tree roots for various feats, such as restraining his enemies or for attacking. The roots are capable of absorbing the magical energy of those who come into contact with them, thus being able to produce the Apple of Immortality without him having to cultivate it.

The most incredible thing about this authority is that if someone dies on solid, fertile ground, this Authority is capable of bringing them back to life and healing all wounds.

Although he could just focus the power of the [Apples of Immortality] on himself, and it would radiate energy to heal him, Adam chose to eat it, taking small bites until he ate the whole thing. It was an apple after all, it could be eaten, though the taste was somewhat unexpected... It tasted very juicy and sweet, something he had never eaten before.

A wave of gentle warmth enveloped his body, washing over him with a feeling of rejuvenation. The remaining wounds on his skin began to close, and the muscle pain was replaced by a lightness he hadn't felt in days.

Each breath he took was filled with renewed strength, and he could feel his body getting stronger with each passing moment. The magic of Iddun's apple not only healed his physical wounds, but also replenished his life energy, dissipating any trace of tiredness or exhaustion.

Adam stood up slowly, testing his movements. There was no more pain, no stiffness.

He was fully restored.

Well, he took a deep breath and channeled the incantation of another of his authorities: "O golden sun, O running hooves, O chariot, the traces of the path of the heavens. Come to me for battle and victory, come to me so that all may fall before the brilliant glory of the sun."

Adam raised his hand, calling upon the Authority granted by Lugh. A golden glow began to form in the air before him, intensifying until the [Shining Chariot of the Sun] appeared in all its glory. The chariot, resplendent with its own light, was a masterpiece of golden splendor, pulled by its two majestic stallions with silver manes and hooves, which shimmered under the moonlight.

He approached the chariot, the stallions neighing softly, as if recognizing their master. Adam climbed in with agility, feeling the golden wood of the chariot beneath his feet, firm and secure. With a gentle touch on the reins, the stallions rose in a graceful leap, and the chariot ascended into the heavens, illuminating the darkness around it with a celestial glow.

As the Shining Chariot of the Sun sliced through the night sky, Adam felt the wind caressing his face, each breath of air charged with a feeling of freedom. He could fly using his [Primordial Light] authority, but it wasn't as fast as the chariot, nor as incredible.

The land below him seemed small, the destroyed fields distant.

Flying in the chariot was more than a means of transportation; it was a declaration of power and dominion over the sky. The light emanating from the chariot bathed the world below in a golden aura, reflecting the strength and glory of the Campione who drove it. Adam looked at the horizon, his bright blue eyes fixed on the future.