Volume 9 Chapter 552 - Athena and Nyx
Once they all sat down, Kisuke started, "Let's not beat around the bush since it'll just lengthen your stay here, which I assume isn't something your companion wants."
Athena looked towards Nyx who was still looking down, avoiding eye contact with Kisuke, and nodded, "There are two main points I wanted to discuss. The first point is your assistance in exchange for information."
Kisuke didn't react in any particular way but asked, "And the second one?"
Athena looked straight into his eyes and answered, "A potential cooperation between us."
"Understood," Kisuke then closed his eyes for a moment to think about her words. A minute later, he looked at Athena and replied, "Very well. What would you like my assistance with? And what information could I get in exchange?"
Athena sighed in relief. As they were previously enemies, she didn't know if Kisuke would even listen to her proposal, "Hades's poison… I assume you already knew about it since you already ran into him."
Kisuke furrowed his brows, "What about it?"
"Removal of such poison in exchange for the information we have," replied Athena.
"You? Or is it someone else? Maybe both?" a string of questions came from Kisuke.
"For now, just two individuals. Me and my father," answered Athena.
'For now, huh? Looks like that's where the second point comes in…' While thinking that, Kisuke continued, "Your father. Correct me if I'm wrong, but is it Zeus?"
"Correct. I want you to remove the poison within me and my father, Zeus. Once you've done so on me, I'll impart you the information we promised."
"Just you, huh… I see that your father's safety is still connected to the second point. Makes me even more motivated to back out from this."
Athena gritted her teeth but she couldn't deny Kisuke's words, "Please at least listen to what happened. After you've decided to cure the poison within me, I'll tell you why Hades and his accomplice targetted you in the first place. I do hope that you'd want to know the motive behind their actions and why they targeted you specifically."
Kisuke became silent for a moment before sighing, "Please go on."
However, before Athena continued, she looked in Serafall's direction. She directly ignored the little girl's existence beside her. Not that she didn't want to acknowledge her, but she didn't want to think about her and since the little girl was staying quiet, Athena wouldn't shake the hornet's nest.
"I trust her, so it's fine," added Kisuke.
Athena nodded at him and told him the current state of Olympus.
More than a month ago, Apollo suddenly threatened Zeus to surrender his position to him. Of course, Zeus didn't agree and intended to punish him for this. However, Apollo suddenly displayed his trump card and instantly killed several minor Gods through some unknown means.
He then revealed later that he already implanted poison into everyone who was not his accomplice, a poison that could easily kill even a powerful God if properly applied. Since Apollo didn't reveal anyone who assisted him in his endeavor to implant poison into every potential enemy, it means that they don't know who has it or not.
However, he did name three people who are poisoned. Zeus himself, his daughter, and his wife, Hera. At that time, Athena was still recovering from the injuries she incurred fighting Kisuke. Due to Athena not saying anything due to the 'agreement' she had with Kisuke, Zeus mistook it as Athena discovering something regarding Apollo and him silencing her through his poison.
As he didn't want to endanger his beloved daughter and wife, Zeus agreed to Apollo's demands and imprisoned him somewhere in Olympus. As an explanation, Apollo told everyone that he was in bad health due to his age and several Gods with medical knowledge agreed with him. Because of that, everyone has no choice but to believe him.
It was also around this time that the rumor regarding the 'poison' spread to everyone, but since no one knew who had been poisoned, no one could make their move to verify this in fear of death.
At this point, it wasn't a secret that Apollo was the one pulling the strings from behind after he told everyone sometime later that no one is allowed to talk about the 'poison' to outsiders or it'll automatically activate. In addition to that, Apollo added a restriction that no one is allowed to leave Olympus without permission or the same thing will happen.
Of course, it was not like no one stood up against him as some Gods tried to save Zeus from his captivation. However, the 'poison' isn't just some rumor that Apollo created to threaten everyone, but a real threat to a Gods' life. In hindsight, those Gods became his guinea pig to confirm his claims.
As of now, the whole Olympus is under Apollo's control along with his unknown accomplices.
"So that's the reason why Olympus has such a weird atmosphere recently." Serafall muttered.
"And? How were you able to escape? You did say that there's a restriction on everyone's movements." asked Kisuke.
"First, please allow me to talk about it," Athena suddenly requested.
While Serafall and Nyx were making confused expressions, Kisuke's eyes slightly widened in realization, 'I see… So that's how it is.' Nodding at her, Kisuke agreed to her request, "You may."
Athena sighed in relief and continued, "The poison you gave me with Ophis' power, the first shackle that was placed on me was able to keep Hades' poison from activating."
Hearing this, Nyx reacted, "W-what? The poison that he gave you? Shackle?"
Athena nodded, "Indeed. The reason I got injured is not that it was part of Apollo's plan, but because I went against Kisuke Urahara and lost. In exchange for him not taking my life, he made me eat the poison that was made from Ophis' power. This poison, although much simpler than Hades' poison, is similar to it as it also targets the Divine Core and Soul directly and I had no way of removing it. But as long as I don't disclose anything that happened between us to anyone, it won't do anything to me."
All this time, Nyx didn't have any idea why Athena intended to ask for Kisuke's help and she only came with her because she didn't have much of a choice to begin with.
Serafall, on the other hand, looked at Kisuke and said, "I don't know if you're kind or ruthless."
"I'm definitely the latter if need be," replied Kisuke, "Though because of that, she got lucky."
Serafall tilted her head in confusion, "Lucky?"
Athena, on one hand, smiled and nodded, "You're correct. Thanks to this poison, the poison that was planted in me without my notice was kept at bay."
"Since I knew that the situation was already hopeless unless something was done, I took a gamble and trusted Ophis' snake which is around my Divine Core. Thankfully, I'm lucky enough to win that gamble."
"The moment I stepped out of Olympus, I immediately felt two forces collide in the vicinity of my Divine Core, and a short while later, it disappeared. However, even after that, I can still feel the poison that Kisuke gave me. So I figured that each of them just backed off."
"So you want me to remove the poison that you don't know when it will be activated…" muttered Kisuke.
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Editors:
28th00: I was right, Phis-chama is so scary you gotta pretend she doesn't exist. Apollo is being used as a front by Hades, I assume? I don't know what's going on, but I do know the poison vs poison thing. Funny enough, a filler arc in Bleach used this concept with Soifon's poison overwriting the other poison, so she just stabbed herself since hers was an instant kill, no debilitating symptoms or effects, just gotta stab the same spot twice for it to activate.
Staz Irvine
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