"So you want me to keep the boy's anti-divinity identity under wraps, knowing full well that I am the son of the most infamous deity-slayer hunter."
Hercules could not help but frown at Wodin's request. Zeus was a man who loved to hunt down and kill deity slayers as it was beneficial for a deity to refine anti divinity from its source.
Humans could eat meat, so long as it was processed in some way, the same could be said to deities. They each had their own way of refining the life essence of a deity Slayer and absorbing it.
Zeus was infamous for his laziness and hatred of deity slayers. For him the best way to cultivate was to absorb the essence of one. While one small deity slayer was not valuable, it was a different story if it was one with potential. Thus Hercules could not help but frown at Wodin's proposal.
Wodin had asked Hercules to hide Will's identity and help the boy develop from behind the scenes. In return, once Will grew, he would give both Hercules and Narcissus some of Will's anti divinity essence.
"Well your father isn't really someone I fear. In fact I'm sure right now he is probably thinking of new ways to sexually assault someone."
Hercules was not used to seeing such an outspoken and confident Wodin. Before he knew who Wodin was the latter had been more of an introvert and had a certain modicum of respect. But now he was no longer Wodin, an advisor of Olympus. He was now Odin, King of the Aesir and Ruler of the nine realms.
Narcissus who had been unusually focused and quiet asked, "Won't that harm the boy? From what I can tell he already lost a bit of lifespan. If he does mature to a point that his essence can benefit us, wouldn't giving us some be detrimental to him?"
Hercules was also curious about this as well and nodded to show that he was also wondering the same.
Odysseus had long been briefed about the entire situation but wisely chose to stay quiet. He had the lowest status here and was committing a gamble. They were all avatars and did not truly represent their True Bodies, but certain deities did not mix well. Zeus despised the Norse. Odin and Thor most of all. He had placed a strict law banning the Norse from any version of Olympus.
Normally these sorts of grudges are only temporary but the law was still in effect. If any avatar of Zeus caught wind of this betrayal, knowing that involved a deity-slayer, the consequences would be unpleasant.
"The boy would jump at the opportunity to do something like that." said Odin with a calm smile on his face.
"How can you be so sure?" asked the cynical Hercules.
Wodin smiled and waved a hand. A screen appeared which showed the events in Will's waiting room.
"Watch the show and see what I mean. We just got to the good part."
Hercules was curious about what was about to happen and focused on the screen while Narcissus raised a brow.
'How many of this geezer's avatars are running around?'
It was at this moment that Will's body groggily got off the bed and walked up to the All Father.
"All Father, let's make a deal."
The trio witnessed Wodin smile like a hunter eyeing unsuspecting prey. They could not help but feel chills at what was happening.
"Amusing. I'm all ears boy."
...
"You should have mastered life-essence refinement right?"
Will's statement gave Adelda a feeling of unease. She could not help but enter the conversation in a panic.
"All Father, with all due respect, he is a mortal, he doesn't know-"
Odin raised a single finger to silence Adelda while his attention was on Will. He didn't need to speak, and he had more than enough authority to silence her with a simple gesture.
Adelda wanted to speak but she did not have the courage to defy an order from Odin. Especially when it was sanctioned by Modus. Adelda wasn't even sure who was worse between the duo.
'These two will kill the boy before he does anything.'
Will took a deep breath before he spoke his mind, "I need you to refine part of my physical essence into a pill. Then engrave a tripartite rune matrix on the pills so I can harmonize them with my vessels."
"Haha I knew you were an ambitious one!" Wodin laughed merrily at Will's proposition while Adelda frowned. She found what she had heard hard to believe.
The consequences of what Will wanted to do weren't something a mortal was capable of bearing.
'He is biting off more than he can chew.' Adelda shook her head. Will already had a short life as a mortal. That life had become even shorter. Albeit not by much. This was acceptable. But what he was asking Odin to do would not rectify the situation but on the contrary reduce his life span even further.
Adelda was disappointed and stepped back. Her gaze became cold as she stared daggers at Will. The latter knew that what he was asking for was tantamount to suicide under normal circumstances. But he felt as if he had no choice. Will had his back against the wall, with no good outcome visible. Hence left with no choice but to gamble, he decided to go all in.
"Then answer me. I have two questions. Even if I agree to do this, and I am not saying I do agree because just performing the essence extraction will cause great damage to your vitality. But on the off chance that I do agree, do you even have the capability to absorb the tripartite enhancement you are asking for?"
Odin's first question was reasonable, but everyone in the room knew the answer.
Wodin did not even wait for Will to answer and continued on, "Secondly, what do I have to gain?"
Odin knew the answer already, just like the first question, he just wanted Will to say the reply out loud. But the answer to the second question was the real threat as it was actually the answer to this question that caused Adelda to become angry.
'A deity of his stature forcing a mere mortal to offer up his essence like this. Odin is as bad as the rumors say he is. And it seems Lord Modus approves.'
Adelda had once been used as a tool for others to further their own purposes. It was the pursuit of controlling her own destiny that landed her under Modus' care. To her Modus was a lesser evil than her own family. She would much rather have him give her away to a mortal than experience what her family wanted.
'But what Odin wants Will to do, is even worse than what was expected of me.'
Adelda wasn't kind, but she had grown attached to the mortal boy who had resulted in her being promoted and becoming important to Modus. Will was like an emotional and physical investment. On her part. Now that investment was at risk. She was not just angry at Will for being reckless, but angry at herself for being powerless.