An Understated Dominance (Dustin Rhys)

After stalling as long as she could, Grace finally stepped out of the ancient temple with a handwritten book after being urged by Hera.

“You two are so impatient,” she said. “This isn’t the kind of technique you can just scribble down off the top of your head. What if I got something wrong?”

As soon as she stepped out, she wasted no time shifting the blame.

“You’re always so quick with the excuses. Who knows what you’re really doing inside?” Hera scowled.

“I had to recall everything, write it down, and make sure there were no mistakes. You think that’s easy? Can’t you at least try to cut me some slack?” Grace frowned slightly.

“Enough talk. Hand over the technique now,” Zeus snapped impatiently.

“The technique’s right here. See for yourselves.”

Without saying much, Grace tossed the book into the air.

Zeus and Hera locked eyes for a split second before both lunging toward the book with lightning-fast reflexes. Both of them were fully developed ultimate grandmasters, just one step away from breaking through to the next level.

A technique like that-one that could push them past that final barrier-was invaluable to them. If it came down to it, either of them might turn on the other in a heartbeat.

“Hera! How dare you snatch it from me?” Zeus barked.

Hera scoffed. “After everything I’ve done, you think I’m just going to hand it over?”

The two clashed in midair, their figures flashing back and forth in a blur. However, neither dared to go all out. After all, one wrong move and they might destroy the book they both wanted.

book at the same

go, Hera. Don’t make me do something

royal gods,

flinch. “You let go first. You think I’m going to do

royal gods, they each had their own agenda. If that book really held the key to breaking through their limits, it

on it would be able to break through to the next level.

patience. Don’t force me to turn on you,” Zeus

want. You think

free hand, and hundreds of black ice spears materialized behind her, like a swarm of wasps ready

they’d start fighting soon, so they’d be too

yet. “Seeing that Hera was ready to go all in, Zeus quickly stopped her. “We don’t even know if this book is real. Starting a fight over it now would be reckless, wouldn’t

been so focused on getting her hands on the breakthrough technique that

sliver of doubt began to creep in. She

can understand or grasp depends entirely on

me,” Hera replied with a

shortchanged. Whoever broke through first would depend purely on talent

of three, we’ll land slowly

“Deal.”

“Three… two… one.”

agreement, Zeus and Hera landed at the same time, neither playing any tricks. They sat

appeared as they read. What Grace had written was complex

single word they didn’t recognize. But when those words were strung together, the meaning

own, yet the sentences didn’t add up. Still, neither of them