Rise of the Eromancer-Chapter 360: A Different Kind of Hunt

Rhys had possessed his powers for years now, and he instinctively knew how to use them—even the ones he gained from filling the Hearts of women. But what continued to puzzle him was the criteria for having Hearts floating above someone's head.

Esme, the top-ranked Explorer back on the Surface, didn't have Hearts above her. Hannah, one of Hades' daughters, didn't either—which was peculiar, considering Margryth's Hearts fluctuated. One moment they were there, and the next, they were gone.

Rhys had initially chalked it up to different preferences, perhaps not being attracted to the opposite sex. That theory held for a while… until Dominique entered the equation. Dominique, who was unabashedly drawn to women, had Hearts above her head.

So, was it random after all? Or was it tied to some abstract measure, like the purity of their nobility?

And then there was Arachnea. And now, the goddess standing in front of him.

Why does she have Hearts floating above her head?

"Hm…"

Rhys realized he had been staring for far too long when Artemis, the goddess in question, narrowed her eyes at him. Even after all these years, he still hadn't managed to shake his habit of overthinking.

He could probably salvage the situation in several ways—look away, apologize, maybe even bow. But why would he? This seemed like an opportunity. A chance to establish a connection, no matter how small.

So, instead of averting his gaze, he smiled.

Artemis's head tilted slightly, confusion flickering across her otherwise serene face. Mortals didn't stare at her like this—certainly not for this long. And they never dared to smile at her, especially when she was clearly signaling that they should lower their gaze.

She considered reprimanding him, maybe even punishing him publicly to remind everyone of her divine authority. But something held her back. Her instincts whispered a strange caution, warning her that if she acted rashly, she might set herself up for… something unexpected. Something she couldn't quite predict.

And so, rather than addressing the mortal who dared to meet her gaze with such audacity, she chose to ignore him entirely.

"Yes…" Artemis finally clasped her hands together and looked away, addressing the gathered champions instead. Her voice was calm, yet it resonated with undeniable authority. "Today, all of you will be transferred to a location where you will hunt a beast known as a Wild Giant Cerberus."

"A Cerberus?" Clio instinctively grabbed Rhys's wrist. Her fingers tightened for a moment, but after a few seconds, she released him and exhaled a short, deep breath as though bracing herself for what was to come.

She had strength now. She couldn't allow herself to cower at the first challenge presented to her here. Clio had trained hard, but that didn't mean she could afford to be overconfident. Her eyes flicked to Rhys, searching for reassurance, but he remained calm. Nodding to herself, Clio shifted her focus back to Artemis.

Read 𝓁at𝙚st chapters at ƒrēenovelkiss.com Only.

The murmurs around her suggested she wasn't alone in her initial shock. Some of the champions and heroes nearby exchanged uneasy glances, clearly grappling with the idea of hunting a Cerberus. Many of them had their own stories and legends, but for most, their feats stopped at defeating creatures like centaurs or the occasional minitaur—not even a fully grown minotaur, and certainly not the Minotaur, whose legend was claimed by the mighty Theseus.

"There is no need to be alarmed, champions." Artemis's voice cut through the murmurs like a sharp blade. She snapped her fingers, and a subtle ripple seemed to hum in the air, silencing the crowd. The collective unease quieted as the champions turned their attention back to the goddess.

"This will not be a solo hunt," Artemis continued, her calm but commanding voice resonating through the gathered champions. "You are all part of a group. That means as long as any of you manages to slay the Wild Cerberus, you will all receive a point."

She paused, letting her words sink in before continuing, "However, this hunt is also a race. You will be competing against champions from other areas. Even if you do not strike the killing blow, you will still be awarded points based on your contribution. I will personally be observing to ensure fairness." Artemis's eyes scanned the crowd, her gaze both serene and piercing. "Do any of you have questions?"

Rhys considered raising his hand, but before her gaze could land on him, Artemis turned her attention away, as though deliberately avoiding him.

"No questions? Very well." Artemis's tone shifted, her voice growing sharper as she straightened her posture. She raised her arm to the side, and a bow materialized out of thin air, gleaming like it had been forged from pure moonlight. "Let me remind you of one thing," she continued, her voice slicing through the air like an arrow, "The rules of this place still apply. That means even during the hunt, you are free to fight and kill each other as you wish."

A ripple of unease spread through the crowd. Artemis didn't miss it, her lips curving into a faint smile.

"But remember," she added, "if you die, you will be sent back here. And once you lose your chance to rejoin the hunt, that will be it."

She took a deep breath, then raised her bow. As she pulled the string, the very air around her seemed to bend and warp under the force of her strength. No arrow appeared on the string, but as she loosed it, a blinding beam of light erupted, consuming the entire area.

The light was overwhelming, its brightness erasing everything in sight. Clio instinctively raised her arm to shield her face, but the glow penetrated even through her closed eyes. It was as though the entire world had been swallowed by the radiance.

And then, just as quickly as it came, the light faded.

When it was gone, the champions found themselves standing in a completely different place.

"Rhys." Clio tugged urgently on his arm, her voice low but tense. She didn't need to explain why. Rhys hadn't even finished surveying the new surroundings when he realized what she had already noticed—they were surrounded.

No, not just surrounded. Everyone was surrounding everyone.

None of the champions seemed to care about the Cerberus they were supposed to hunt. Instead, their eyes darted around, sharp and calculating, each one sizing up the others like predators in a confined space. Bloodlust hung heavy in the air, thicker than any fog.

"What do you want to do, Clio?" Rhys asked casually, his gaze remaining fixed on her rather than the throng of would-be combatants.

"Why…" Clio gulped, glancing at the hostile faces and weapons surrounding them, "...are you asking me?"

"Do you want to hunt the Cerberus, or do you want to just kill everyone here?"

"I… would like to experience hunting the Cerberus."

"Okay, then." Rhys nodded as he cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders, "...Let me clear all of this for you."

"What do you—"

Before Clio could finish, the air trembled with a sudden boom, a sound sharp and startling enough to halt everyone in their tracks. Heads turned toward the source of the noise, their eyes narrowing at the sight of Rhys…

...who now stood holding two severed heads, one in each hand.

"Don't worry," Rhys said, glancing over his shoulder at Clio with a small, reassuring smile. "...They'll just spawn back."