Chapter 3: Paparazzi

9 years later

Godfrey, now standing at 1.75 meters tall, is currently guarding against an onslaught from his father. His mother stands by the side and watches the spar with worry etched on her face.

The blows arrive endlessly and Godfrey struggles to catch his breath. He parries a blow to his ribs, diverts a kick to his knee, and dodges a vicious chop to the neck.

Godfrey takes a second to think and complain about his father.

'This old man is crazy, but my strength grows every second.'

Godfrey, clearly distracted by his thoughts, is unable to react to Ambrose's sudden increase in speed. He fakes a punch, that raises Godfrey's guard, and unleashes a brutal front kick that crushes Godfrey's ribs.

*CRACK*

He flies through the air and slams into the training room wall as he screams in pain.

"AHHHH"

Godfrey slumps to the ground in a heap and struggles to gather strength.

'It doesn't matter how experienced I am if he is simply faster and stronger. Damn it.'

Calanthe motions to help her son but is stopped by a sharp look from Ambrose. She reluctantly pulls back and observes once more.

Ambrose slowly walks towards his son's crumpled form and thinks to himself.

'I felt something. A dangerous power just beneath his skin. He is almost ready.'

Ambrose looks to his son and loudly shouts.

"Is this the extent of your oath? Is your willpower so weak, that you would stop at broken ribs? Get up boy!"

Ambrose's fingers twitch and he gets up as if he had no injuries. In fact, they've already healed in this short time.

Godfrey cracks his neck and glares at his father.

"That hurt."

Godfrey drops into a stance and charges at Ambrose. He smiles as he prepares himself.

'One final push. With all my speed!'

Godfrey executes a blindingly fast one two combo.

Alas, Ambrose simply disappears from his sight. Godfrey looks up and sees his father reach the ceiling as he propels himself off it. With fists outstretched, Ambrose breaks the sound barrier and leaves Godfrey with little time to think.

'This blow is too powerful and too fast to stop. What can I do? Am I going to lose again?'

A sonic boom rings out as Ambrose's fist is mere inches from Godfrey's face. His face turns into one of pure determination as he musters all of his will to call out an old friend.

Golden Lightning bursts from Godfrey's body and enhances his physical abilities. He sidesteps his father's punch and unleashes a brutal right hook.

Using his reawakened power, he unleashes devastating bolts of lightning into his father as his blow lands. He feels his father's rib crack at the impact.

"GAAAAAAK!"

Ambrose is flung out. He skips and rolls on the floor and slams into the wall. He slowly stands and looks down at his bruised side. His hands shake as Ambrose's lightning damages his internals.

"...ha...haha...HAHAHA MY SON IS MIGHTY!! LET US CONTINUE!"

Godfrey grins and lightning shrouds his entire form as he slowly amps up the voltage.

"COME ON THEN, OLD MAN!!"

Calanthe shoots a blast of energy that interrupts both combatants.

"That is quite enough! Both of you have had enough punishment. Clean yourselves up and let us head out for lunch."

Ambrose immediately loses his stance and Godfrey reigns in his lightning.

"Yes, dear."

"Very well, mother."

Satisfied, Calanthe walks out of the training room as there were no serious injuries.

Not quite done with his compliments, Ambrose slings a hand over Godfrey's shoulders and continues.

"There has never been a situation like this my boy. No one has ever awakened before puberty. You are the first case in history. Well done, you've gotten this far because of your own dedication."

The duo walk towards the shower room and there is a lull in the conversation.

Godfrey sees that his father almost looks worried. The silence becomes awkward and so he chooses to break it.

"Your mind is burdened with thought, Father. Care to share?"

Ambrose looks to his son and pats his shoulder.

"I knew you were a prodigy ever since you were a baby. I'm worried, my son. The world will know of your name. It is not a matter of if, but when."

He kneels down and is eye level with Godfrey.

"When the time comes, I know you will be great. The temptation of power, however, is a tricky thing. You must never think yourself above those you protect. Understand?"

Godfrey is shocked by those words as he thinks back to an interaction with gods in his previous life.

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FLASHBACK

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"Make way you fools!!"

A large group makes their way through a busy market. They shove and remove those who block the way of the GodKing Godfrey.

Godfrey looks on impassively as those beneath his station get trampled on.

A stone is flung and hits Godfrey on the head. He turns towards the perpetrator and sees a little boy god. He snarls towards Godfrey and curses his name.

"Damn you Godfrey! You protect those that flaunt their wealth and vilify those who have none."

He trips and falls, clearly weak from a beggar's life. The boy is gaunt with malnutrition yet he finds the strength to shout.

"Are you not our GodKing? Why then are we made to suffer under your rule? Why was my elderly mother beaten for selling bread near your palace?!?!"

The guards pick the poor boy up and drag him to the side where they rain blows upon his emaciated form. Yet he still screams out.

"Please GodKing. I beg not for me but for my mother. Have mercy on us lower people. PLEASE!!"

Godfrey merely stares impassively, and walks away as the boy is brutalised.

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END FLASHBACK

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"...that poor boy..."

Ambrose perks up and looks to his son.

"What was that my boy?"

Godfrey looks at his hands, and for an instant they look to be stained with blood. An epiphany strikes and he understands his purpose.

He faces his father with a promise in his eyes and clenches his fist.

"The people are why I fight. I'll always remember. I have power, and so I have a responsibility to use them wisely."

'HYPOCRITE. WHAT OF THE BEGGAR BOY? WHAT OF THE COUNTLESS INNOCENT NO DOUBT DEAD BY YOUR HAND.'

Ambrose smiles and continues walking.

"Good answer. Time will tell if your words hold weight, but a good answer nonetheless."

The father and son clean themselves and get ready to head out, but are interrupted by the doorbell ringing.

*DING-DONG*

Calanthe shouts from the bedroom.

"Ambrose, be a dear and open the door!"

The man in question easily replies.

"Sure thing honey!"

Ambrose opens the door and his long time friend, Dave the reporter, stands there with an annoyed expression.

"Dave!! How are you my friend? What a surprise!"

Dave laughs at Ambrose's energy and loses the frown on his face.

"Ambrose, you certainly know how to make someone laugh hahaha. However, I come bearing some annoying news."

Ambrose's eyebrow raises and his curiousity is peeked.

"What news do you bring? Surely other heroes do not need us to fight every monster there is? Come in, come in!"

Dave hurriedly waves the comment off as he steps into the large home.

"No, no, no. It's the media. They somehow got wind of the fact that your family is having an outing. You've kept Godfrey homeschooled but that is a temporary measure."

Dave massages his head and breathes out.

"Those vultures want to be the ones to have the first scoop on the mysterious Gallahad child. Leeches, every last one of them."

Dave looks around and sees Godfrey walking down the stairs. He goes to the boy with a pep in his step as he greets him.

"Godfrey! My god, look at you boy! You're almost as tall as me!! Are you sure you're only 10 years old?"

Godfrey chuckles and answers Dave's joking question.

"Haha, I'm quite certain David."

Dave is irked and jokingly raps his knuckles on Godfrey's head.

"You brat, I told you it's only Dave not David. Also has no one ever told you that you speak like an old man?"

Godfrey looks scandalised and puts a hand to his chest.

"This is the first I am hearing of it! I think I simply speak with a certain level of class. Unlike a ruffian I know."

Dave takes the words in stride.

"Haha, alright I lose."

Calanthe walks down to the front door and sees that all three "boys" are laughing and joking.

"Let's head out boys"

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1 hour later

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"All I'm saying is that someone needs to handle the PR side of things in your independent hero duo. I'm offering myself."

Dave says as he converses with Ambrose in a hovercar.

"I told you Dave, I can't do that to you. You are a world class reporter with multiple Pulitzers. You'd earn far less with us."

Dave massages his forehead and grabs Ambrose's shoulder.

"Old friend, you know the money isn't a factor. How do you think I gained those Pulitzers? I gained them pursuing truth and justice. The very things you both stand for. Give it a thought eh?"

Ambrose sighs and smiles.

"Alright Dave, I'll think about it."

The hovercar stops and all four occupants exit, only to find a veritable sea of people swarming them.

"Oh my god, it's the destructive duo!! They're here!!"

"They're both so perfect!"

"Ambrose is so dreamy~"

"Careful now, Calanthe might just blow you up."

The family spend minutes pushing through the crowd, with Dave having been lost a while ago due to the amount of people.

"Is that their son?"

"I thought he was 10? He's huge!"

"Woah, his eyes are glowing!"

"I wonder if they can be used as a flashlight?"

The crowd shows no sign of easing up so Ambrose prepares to use a fraction of his strength.

*BANG* BANG*

His senses focus and he sees two bullets flying towards him and his wife. Ambrose isn't worried for himself, but Calanthe does not have the same durability.

In an instant, he deflects one bullet downwards. One of them, however, suddenly curves and explodes on Godfrey's chest.

Calanthe watches in horror as Godfrey is sent hurtling into a building, with blood splattering outwards from his body.

"NOOOOOO"

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END