"Today marks the beginning of a new awakening. Decades ago, our world experienced its first summoning; those within the age gap found themselves involuntarily asleep."
Mr. White stared at the article. He sighed.
Although he felt disturbed by what had happened earlier, especially handing over the map to Neo just like that.
However, he was confident that Neo would never find it. After all, not only had he tried for decades, others had tried and failed; hence, he gave up.
What could Neo possibly do differently? He wasn't even an awakened, and the map couldn't be taken along with him to the origin.
But he still felt worried.
"Sadly, only a few woke up, and that was the world's first mass death. This otherworld was called the primordial origin; it tests humans' mental and physical abilities.
Those who fail the test are turned into mindless monsters. These people must not be allowed to pass through the primordial gate, else our world would be in danger..."
Neo and the others watched the presentation live inside the limo.
A sleek flat-screen was embedded in the partition, quietly playing as the limousine glided through the city.
"Which is why I founded the Nether Academy, to teach young awakeners how to pass the trials effectively and secure the safety of our world. After passing the first trial,
you will awaken a summoning space, and a god shall bond with you. But remember, when you die there, you die for good. The summoning will begin exactly at 8 PM. Be prepared. Good luck."
Esme, who hadn't said a word, felt herself drawn to the map in Neo's hand.
She felt the need to know what the boy had been looking at, even as the driver announced their arrival at the Hera Mansion.
Still, Neo sat inside the car, observing the map carefully.
Esme, on the other hand, didn't leave either. She steadied herself and peeped at a few locations on the map.
Unlike Neo, she was already an awakened, and her memory was extremely vast.
'This is really hard to memorize,' Neo sighed.
Soon after, he stepped outside, and Esme followed by his side.
Neo slid the map into his pocket, knowing he was about to meet trouble, his two elder stepbrothers.
From the window, one with red hair just like Hera peeped at Neo as he walked in.
"Tsk." He clenched his fist. "That cockroach, he can't possibly be killed." He was Loki, the second son of the villainess.
"Relax, Loki. He isn't in good shape. With that beating he got from Thanos, he'll probably die in the primordial," said the eldest, leaning opposite Loki.
Even though Neo was hurt, only his palm was bandaged. Loki wasn't certain that would be enough to kill him.
"I just want to strangle him right there," he said.
"Careful. I heard his bodyguard, Esme, is among the top awakeners who haven't entered the origin. Even disregarding her, Mom would kill you where you stand," the eldest reminded him.
"Mom isn't going to be in the origin to.."
"Loki," the eldest cut him off mid-sentence, earning a dangerous glare from his younger brother.
"What?" Loki retorted. He clearly hated Neo. Seeing Neo alive made veins bulge in his head and neck.
If Neo wasn't in his life, the world would revolve around him, but no. "That boy picked from the trash is always ruining my life. I hate him," Loki said plainly. "I should be Mom's favorite, not.."
Before he could finish, the door opened unannounced, and Neo stood quietly right in front of it.
The eldest straightened up.
At first, silence swept through the room for nearly a minute.
Loki glanced at his elder brother, wondering if Neo had overheard them.
Neo's gaze moved lazily between them before settling on Loki.
When Neo finally spoke, Loki's heart throbbed.
"I heard everything," he said calmly. "All that anger, and still useless." Neo sighed. "I honestly know how you feel."
Neo stepped forward, calm and unbothered, a faint frown on his face.
"The feeling of hating someone you want to kill so badly, yet being so useless that you can't do anything." He placed a hand on Loki's shoulder. "I really wanted to fight Thanos back, but Mom has already taken care of it for me."
A faint smile tugged at his lips. "After all, I'm her favorite son." As he looked at Loki, he could tell those words had struck a nerve.
"Just tell me, brother, who it is you hate so much. I'll tell Mom to take care of that person for you."
Having heard enough of Neo's taunting, the eldest stepped in and separated them. "Don't fret. I'm sure Loki can handle it himself."
Neo smiled. Then his eyes dimmed slightly as he turned to the eldest.
"What about you?" he asked.
Thor said nothing. Unlike Loki, he had never been Hera's favorite, so he didn't particularly care what happened to Neo.
He was only trying to stop Loki from doing something reckless.
"Look at the time, little brother. The summoning will begin soon," Thor said.
Neo stood still, staring at Loki. In that moment, an idea flashed through his mind.
He didn't dwell on it for long. Thor was right, and he still needed to memorize the map.
Without another word, he turned and walked out. When Loki tried to lunge at him from behind, he suddenly saw Esme walk past him.
In that instant, his heart froze. 'Where did she come from?'
As Neo walked toward his room, memorizing the map, the idea resurfaced.
Something about Hera's favorite.
If Hera destroying the Nether Academy was a fixed timeline that couldn't be changed, then Neo had just found a second alternative.
The main reason Hera did that was because her son was killed, and the Nether Academy was responsible.
In other words, "Loki will die in my place," Neo muttered.
But first, he had more pressing matters to deal with, especially surviving the primordial origin with no physical or awakened ability whatsoever.