The Earth After Rebirth

"Master?"

"Yes, Hubris."

"I've been thinking. You helped me and my kingdom before..."

"So?"

"So, it will only be right that I help yours in return. I don't mean just me, but every warrior I have at my disposal."

"You really don't have to..."

"I know but I want to. After you vanished from Abaddon, I spent decades trying to bring peace amongst the three kingdoms there and I accomplished that, they all answer to me now, each of these squads could have a beast or two accompanying them, isn't that advantageous?"

Kiro was completely lost for words, he smiled and nodded. Saving him back then, he couldn't have imagined he would grow up to be such a force to be reckoned with. Now he was offering them much needed help.

He wouldn't lie to himself, he'd thought about asking him this before but didn't want to seem like he was manipulating the King of now the three underworld kingdoms into doing his bidding. Kiro knew that whatever he asked Hubris would agree to it.

"Okay, yes, that is a brilliant idea Hubris. Thank you."

They were done splitting up people into squads so their conversation was taking place far and in a private place. That's why Hubris confident walking up to his master and offered his muzzle to be petted.

"Thank you very much my mount, let's try to win this with minimal fatalities." He commented scratching him softly, even as a king, he'd missed being treated like this.

They stayed like that for a little while, waiting for the teams to settle in their respective barracks and maybe start training before making this announcement.

"Moments of peace like this, they'll soon vanish huh. Well, let's get going and come back already, I'm sure your people will need time to prepare too."

Hiro looked at him funny, "I thought you were done skipping into other worlds?"

"Huh? I mean, imagine an army of hellhounds, vampires, werewolves, kobolds and many more. Just imagine the numbers they'll add to ours, isn't that good?"

Hiro shook his head, "I don't need convincing. Just don't stay long, we don't know when the rift will let in the harbingers."

Kiro smiled uncomfortably, while he understood Hiro's side, they couldn't just get to Abaddon and demand everyone to follow Hubris. Even though he was the king, he still needed to work with his people, he didn't want to end up like his uncle.

They expected to at least have a meeting upon arriving there but with how hopeful Hiro looked they couldn't very well tell him the truth. They just smiled and nodded, the only thing they could have done in that situation anyway.

Without another moment's hesitation, Kiro started changing the frequency in the air, he'd already been into the underworld so it was fairly easy to find their frequency. Touching Hubris to the side, they both started vibrating until their bodies couldn't be seen by the naked eye before they knew it they had landed right into the backyard court Kiro and Hubris had last sparred in.

Kiro could barely recognise the place it had changed dramatically, but for the better. The air around it was much more peaceful than last time. And he'd forgotten just how thick Kaos was down here as compared to up there in Asgard.

"I wonder how Kronos got ahold of the Kaos energy?" He absentmindedly asked as the energy gave him a warm chaotic embrace.

Stay connected with empire

"You know this energy is godly right? That's why most of the beings have difficulties controlling it. But in any case, he reached out before I came to Asgard again and asked to form a link from here to there."

Seeking Kiro's expression Hubris quickly explained, "I had no idea he was going to do this honestly."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Belial came rushing in having heard the commotion and sensed that it was his King and his King's master, when he got close enough he bowed to both of them but to his King mostly.

"Welcome back your highness, I wasn't expecting you to come back so soon."

Kiro noticed that Belial had gotten bigger than the last time he had seen him. Not just bigger but also stronger, now he wondered just what they went through from the moment he disappeared.

"Am I the only one standing here?" Hubris asked a little bit furious that he was ignoring his master.

"Your highness?"

"That's quite alright Hubris, I don't care for these formal greetings, we should get to the point."

Hubris gave Belial a look that he was sure he'd get punished later on for his blunder. But he was just doing what he thought was right, greeting his king first, anything else would have followed if Hubris didn't speak up first.

"Right, call an urgent meeting with the leaders of each of the races. They should be here within two hours, we don't have time." Belial didn't ask anything he immediately dashed out of the door to do what was asked of him.

"The last time I was here, time moved differently. Do we really need to hurry?" He was confused with all the urgency.

"Since the Underworld was connected with Asgard, time stopped flowing differently. So we don't have that luxury anymore but while we wait, I have something to show you." The excitement in his eyes couldn't be hidden.

Kiro was sceptical but he followed. The King's castle was more lively than he remembered, with hounds going from left to right to finish jobs that needed doing.

'I'm so proud of him.' His face was stoic as he said but feelings that leaked through their connection couldn't be hidden, making Hubris brimmed with joy.

They stood in front of a large door which opened all on its own upon scanning Hubris, they hadn't even entered the room when they heard shouting.

"Dad!" a pup no older than when Kiro met Hubris jumped up into the air, attempting to land on his back but he was far too tall forcing Hubris to catch him in the air.

More of the pups came running to their father. Kiro counted about ten, it was insane to even consider Hubris was now a father.