Reborn With the Infinite Gods System

Chapter 34: 34: Stake Some Goods (Part 1) More trouble arises

Even after waiting a few moments, the intruder stood motionless, seemingly unbothered by the tense atmosphere. She stood still, as though daring Axel to attack her, like a statue baiting its predator. Her presence reeked of a trap, but Axel had to assess it carefully.

Axel planted his first foot forward, steady and poised to catapult himself into action. His instincts screamed danger, but something about her unnerving stillness made him hesitate.

"It's okay big bro," Annie's soft voice cut through the tension. "She's from the Hunter's Association. They sent her to keep an eye on you. Now that you've explained everything, it makes sense," she said, her tone much calmer than Axel expected.

The explanation eased Axel just a little, but not entirely. Sure, she wasn't some random threat, but she was still an intruder. Worse, she had overheard everything—including the lie Axel had spun about the Hunter's Association testing him.

'Shit,' Axel cursed inwardly. 'I'm not out of the woods yet. If this woman rats me out for lying... Annie will know I've been faking, and the association will investigate me. If they find out about the system or my second awakening, I'll be in deep trouble. This is bad...

real bad... I can't see much of a way out of this too.'

His thoughts spiraled as his instincts flared up, urging him to eliminate the threat before she could do any damage. But he couldn't—not in front of Annie. He felt trapped, cornered between two impossible choices. Attack her and risk becoming a monster in his sister's eyes, or leave her alone and risk everything unraveling.

'Maybe she'll keep quiet,' he thought, grasping for hope. 'What are the odds, though? She's probably an enemy... If it comes to it, I'll have no choice but to...'

"How did the test go, Teras?" The dwarf spoke suddenly, his tone flat and indifferent, yet carrying a subtle menace. "Hope the Association's long needles hurt like hell?"

Axel blinked, momentarily thrown off. The dwarf's empty tone gnawed at his nerves, but he quickly masked his unease and forced a smile. "Yeah, the Association was nice enough to give me such short notice on my new bodyguards," he replied, running his hand through his hair casually, trying to sell the lie.

'Why the hell is this woman helping me?' he thought, eyeing the intruder suspiciously. 'What's her angle?'

The woman's expression remained unreadable. "Your apartment," she said abruptly, breaking the silence. "The Association left a package for you there."

Axel tensed. 'A package? What kind of rotten lie is that?' he wondered, narrowing his eyes. 'She's trying to get rid of me, make me leave her alone with Annie. Damn it, she's playing me like a puppet, but what choice do I have?'

Reluctantly, Axel nodded and turned to Annie. "I'll be back, sis. I need to check my apartment—haven't been there in a while."

Annie seemed unfazed, even excited by the prospect of him returning later. She beamed, rushing toward the kitchen. "Make sure to come home tonight! I'll make your favorite meal," she called out, pulling Noel along to help with preparations.

Noel's eyes met Axel's briefly as she followed Annie, her gaze sharp and calculating. There was something in that look—something that made Axel's chest tighten.

'She knows something... What is she planning?' Axel thought, clenching his fists. 'From the look of things, she won't report me yet. But I'll have to get rid of her soon, before she changes her mind.'

***

Axel walked through the crowded streets, the weight of his thoughts heavy on his shoulders. People brushed past him, unaware of the storm brewing inside him.

'For now, I need to focus on other things besides that spy,' he thought, summoning the notifications with a flick of his wrist.

[**Blade of the Jaw**]

*The sword that belonged to Metal Jaw. Increases all stats by 10%.*

[**Rune of Protection**]

*Grants temporary armor, shielding you from light magical and physical attacks.*

He studied the notifications briefly before dismissing them, his mind already racing with plans.

"So, what are you planning, Master Axel?" Velerium's voice echoed beside him as he materialized out of the shadows, his skeletal form brimming with curiosity.

Axel smiled, a sharp edge to his grin. "You're simple, Velerium. I'm going out to make connections. As a hunter, I need to grow stronger while keeping my abilities hidden from the world."

"I see," Velerium mused, his voice gravelly. "But the abilities of a god should not be hidden for long."

"That's the problem," Axel sighed, his gaze darkening. "I need to nurture these powers until they're god-like. Once I reach that level, I can reveal myself and be tested. Until then, I need to build a foundation—a guild of trusted associates—so I can grow in the shadows."

The thought of building his own guild stirred something in Axel. When he had been a weak hunter, it was nothing more than a fantasy. But now... now it was within his reach.

"So, who's your target, Master?" Velerium asked, his hollow eyes gleaming with intrigue.

"You'll see soon enough," Axel said cryptically, his voice dropping as a shadow crossed his face. After a moment of silence, he added, "Velerium, why can't I tell my sister about the system or what happened in that place?"

Velerium let out a low, hollow gurgle, the sound unsettling in the quiet air. "The closer they are to the truth, the more danger they face," he explained. "I know how much you care for your sister, but revealing the system's secrets has consequences—both for you and for them. There are things even the system keeps dormant. And we don't want to wake the worst of them."

"The worst ones?" Axel echoed, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"

Velerium remained silent for a moment, as though weighing his words carefully. "The system you possess is powerful, but it's connected to forces beyond your understanding. Forces that sleep, waiting for someone foolish enough to disturb them. The more you reveal, the closer you come to awakening them."

Axel's heart raced as Velerium's words sank in. 'Awakening them?' His thoughts churned with unease. 'What kind of monsters are sleeping beneath the surface of this power?'

Before Axel could probe further, a sudden chill ran down his spine. His instincts flared up, warning him of an unseen presence watching him.

Axel stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. The street was bustling with people, but something was off. He could feel it—someone or something was keeping tabs on him.

"Looks like we're being followed," Axel muttered, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword.

Velerium chuckled darkly. "Seems like you have some unwanted attention. Shall we... deal with them?"

Axel's grip tightened on his weapon as he assessed his options. 'If they're from the Association, I can't take them out without raising suspicions. But if they're something else...'

He smirked, his blood thrumming with anticipation. "Let them come."

With that, Axel pressed forward, his steps deliberate and measured, ready to face whatever lurked in the shadows.

It's an author's note you don not have to read... It's just reflecting on our journey so far up to this moment...

***Author's Note:**

Hey everyone! I wanted to take a moment to reflect on Axel's journey so far and give you a little insight into where things are headed. From the beginning, Axel has been thrown into a whirlwind of challenges—first discovering his powers, then navigating the deadly world of hunters and the ominous systems that control it.

He's not just a young man trying to survive in a chaotic world; he's growing into a force of his own, but at a steep cost. Every step he takes is laced with lies and danger—whether it's keeping secrets from his sister Annie or trying to manipulate the hunters' association.

What's really been fun to explore is Axel's constant battle between trust and deception. He's not just fighting physical enemies; he's fighting against the shadows within himself. The introduction of Velerium, his mysterious and cryptic companion, has added another layer to the story.

Velerium isn't just a guide—he's a reminder of the darker, more ominous forces that Axel still doesn't fully understand. Every conversation between them peels back another layer of the secrets surrounding Axel's second awakening and the system itself.

What I love most about Axel's story so far is how it's a mix of tension, strategy, and the ever-present threat of betrayal. No one in Axel's world can be fully trusted, and as his powers grow, so do the risks. We've only scratched the surface of what Axel is capable of, and with each chapter, he's diving deeper into a world that may just consume him.

I'm excited for what's to come and can't wait to hear your thoughts on Axel's development so far! Stay tuned—it only gets crazier from here!

Also I'm still waiting on that magic castle...