[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-extra-s-death-i-am-the-son-of-hades":3,"chapter-extra-s-death-i-am-the-son-of-hades-extra-s-death-i-am-the-son-of-hades-chapter-96":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Extra's Death: I Am the Son of Hades",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},418236,682,"Chapter 96: Subtle Manipulation","extra-s-death-i-am-the-son-of-hades-chapter-96",96,"\u003Cp>\"I want to know about emotions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm a Darkness user.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone I know told me I can maintain my sanity if I can understand emotions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after he spoke did he realize his words brought the mood down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a Darkness user, Neo was bound lose himself to the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tomorrow…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not know when it would happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not a question of 'if', but of 'when'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sounds like a plan,\" Jack grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke to clear the heavy mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the dinner, they returned to the Seraphim Hall and split up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The briefing for the S-rank mission is day after tomorrow. Make sure to be on time,\" Neo reminded them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neo was about to return to his room when he saw Mars sneaking out of the dorm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where is he going late at night? It's almost the next day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He followed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars stopped at the end of a small cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood against the railings and stared at the cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can come out now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know you are there, Neo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…When did you know I was following you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since the beginning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars' answer made Neo smile bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neo stood next to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both of them stared at the moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would soon disappear behind the horizon and the sun would rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why did you leave silently like that? You could've told us. Christian and Jack would've liked this place too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wanted to be alone. But—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A certain someone doesn't understand the logic of privacy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold air brushed past against Neo's skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exhaled and rubbed his palms to keep them warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Mars opened his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You have the bloodline of Hades. Does it mean you can see more than others?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Like what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Approaching Death. Can you see that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"….\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neo's silence answered more than it should have.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh, you must've seen mine too. I guess it was never a secret from you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't have much time left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My heart is beating on borrowed time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neo tightened his grip around the railing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew it since long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars smiled when he noticed Neo's expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There is no need to look like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've come to terms with my death. My only goal is to surpass Supreme before I die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh, this heavy atmosphere really isn't my type.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want to train and forget about everything. Though I guess I need to ask that before we return.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars shook his head with a smile when he saw Neo's confused expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I made sure you saw me when I sneaked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't tell me you thought you saw me by chance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So even you can make an expression like that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you want to ask?\" Neo asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to change the topic before Mars pointed out more of his faults.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How long do I have left to live?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neo pursed his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How long?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mastery of Death was not enough to answer that question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he knew the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see….\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mars, I think you should—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I should ask Sphinx how to lengthen my life instead of how to surpass the Supreme?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neo closed his mouth when Mars said what he was about to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can do that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But what's the point of living like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've searched through the libraries and legacies of my family as well as my clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There was no solution to save my life or to surpass Supreme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sphinx might have answer to both.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I can choose only one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached out to the rising sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I would burn brightly like a great fire before I die rather than spending my life as a dimly lit candle flame.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neo could not tell Mars to choose the other option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he was doing the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Darkness would devour him soon, and he was still going to use it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't tell others about it. You are the only one who knows this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neo nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned around and stared at the forest behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Neo turned around, Jack flinched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Does he know I'm here?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No, that can't be possible.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mars had no way to sense him when he was hiding in the shadow space, and Neo was too weak to be able to find him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jack followed them when he saw Neo tailing Mars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was out of pure curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never thought he would chance upon such a huge secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Mars is going to die…?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jack was too stunned to think of anything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the short amount of time he spent with Mars and others, he became a friend of theirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I don't want to see that.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear Mars would choose his strength over his life when he met Sphinx.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Should I use my answer for him?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jack bit his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was carrying too many responsibilities to throw them away for a friend he knew for less than a week.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could not put Mars above his own needs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But….\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Dammit.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jack wished he wouldn't have followed Mars and Neo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neo returned with Mars to the Seraphim Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Sorry, Jack. But this was the only way.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I can't let Mars die and I can't give up my own chance.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neo always knew Mars was baiting him when he sneaked out of Seraphim Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he could guess the reason, he made sure to have Jack follow them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not hard to achieve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the results were in his favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I'll solve your problems, Jack. So please help Mars this time.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neo disliked manipulating his friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I don't want to do this again if possible.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, he knew better than to pin his hopes on the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning to his room, Neo looked at the rising sun through the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can't go meet with Leonora this early in the morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Should I take a short nap to pass time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was tired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was best to rest and return to his peak condition since the S-rank mission would start the day after tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"S-rank mission… I should try to recruit Morrigan again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The group's combat strength will fall by half without her. It's too dangerous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Leonora would be with them, she was too lazy to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just when he was about to sleep, he felt a presence swelling inside his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Obitus!?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neo sat up with a snap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grabbed his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faint red arcs slithered around the sheathe and tiny condensed flames burned brightly on its edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Obitus…? Are you awake?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neo grabbed the hilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least that was what he felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's try it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried to pull the blade out from the scabbard.....\u003C\u002Fp>",1139,"2026-05-30T08:00:57.451Z","2026-06-01T04:30:42.299Z",1,"novelbin.me","4f9537196ca0ec519ab01a3041d8db98cddcc5760593f6614e755f4e96cc1b70","extra-s-death-i-am-the-son-of-hades-chapter-97","extra-s-death-i-am-the-son-of-hades-chapter-95",839,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fextra-s-death-i-am-the-son-of-hades-cover.jpg"]