Second Strike

Chapter 4: Hefesto

Cloke took four days off school because his parents didn't think he was mentally okay to attend, but he managed to convince them. 

The bell rings, and Cloke is talking with Ricardo as they walk outside of a classroom. 

Ricardo apologizes, saying, "Dude, sorry for what happened to you last night at that party... I knew you were up to something." 

Cloke responds, "It's okay, bad decisions were made..." 

Ricardo chuckles and playfully hits Cloke on the arm, causing him to grimace in pain. 

"Next time, invite me, okay?" says Ricardo, to which Cloke nods.

As Cloke sits down in Dr. Gregory's class, he gazes out the window at The Unity building. 

Thoughts swirl in his mind as he thinks, "It was a big mistake messing with them... but no more... Zeus is dead." 

He takes out his notebook, preparing to focus on having a normal life as a senior.

Meanwhile, something significant is about to occur at The Unity headquarters. Hefesto has called for a meeting, demanding the presence of all the members of the Pantheon. 

The skyscraper is surrounded by a hexagonal wall, housing multiple bases for military power. Essentially, it is a military base within the city, enjoying unlimited government funding. A helicopter arrives and lands on a helipad near the top of the skyscraper. 

Six figures emerge from the helicopter—Hephas, Dolos, Kronos, Ares, Gaia, and Nyx. Unity guards open the door, allowing them entry into Hefesto's office.

The office is adorned with a giant window overlooking the city, a black desk, a large red circular rug on a polished wooden floor, and various artifacts. The atmosphere is cold and melancholic, with the walls seemingly hiding painful secrets. 

Hefesto, wearing an all-red business outfit and black gloves, stands near the window, his entire head concealed by his mask.

The members of the Pantheon stand in a line, and Kronos addresses Hefesto, saying, "We have arrived, Master."

Hefesto turns around, walking towards his chair, his mask with chains visible to the members. He opens a notebook, picks up a pen, and begins speaking.

 "I was right, the kid thinks he is a hero," Hefesto states, his words met with silence. 

He takes notes as he continues, "Kronos and Dolos informed me that this kid can use inner and outer spark." 

The room remains hushed as he makes his observations, "After all these years, a new Master Spark has been born," Hefesto notes.

He looks at the members and declares, "One is all they need to counterattack...". 

Suddenly, chains made of orange energy emerge from the floor, ensnaring all of the members, causing Hephas to express fear, and Ares reassures her, saying, "Do not fear, Hephas... we are going to be upgraded." 

Hefesto walks around his desk toward the members. 

With a snap of his fingers, chains enter their backs, causing blood to fall to the floor. The members fall unconscious.

Classical music fills the office as Hefesto takes out his phone and reads a message that says, "We know who the officer is.

"He replies, "Leave the message," before putting his phone away. 

He soliloquizes to himself, "You promised him the normal life you couldn't have. Don't give up until it's done."

With determination, Hefesto approaches Dolos and impels him with his hand, and orange energy sparks crackle around him. The Pantheon is about to become stronger, and the hunt for the Master Spark has begun again after four decades of being extinct.