Gateway 2

Chapter 2

Consciousness came slowly to me.

I was lying down somewhere soft, a weirdly firm pillow beneath my head, and a hand caressing my head.

"Hmmm, cafuné." I mumble as I turn to snuggle deeper into it.

I hear a soft meep sound before a pinching pain in my ear brings me to full wakefulness.

"OOWW" I scream, rolling to the side to get some distance. "Why would you do that!?"

"Huh! You were being too comfortable!" The girl said imperiously.

She was a small thing, her head barely reached my shoulders and so thin a gust of wing could take her away, although the perfectly violet hair and emerald green eyes gave a sort of otherworldly feel to her.

"Me!? You're the one who put us in the position in the first place!" I said, trying to think on wh- "And who are you!? Where am I!? What is going on!?"

I finally remembered the Colosseum, the changes, fighting that thing. And now I'm here, in a decently sized living room with soft, lavender-colored walls, a table in the corner, some shelves with knick-knacks on the walls, and a very comfortable sofa with a plate hanging on the wall behind it.

"On to business then," She murmured a sigh before putting her hands on her hips and looking up at me. "I am Pandora! We are in my home in the Netherworld! And for killing Janus you are now my son!" She loudly proclaimed, a radiant smile on her face.

I stared at her, trying to parse through what she said.

'Pandora, like the Greek myth? Best guess, I don't know any others. Now Netherworld, maybe some kind of spiritual world? Nether could imply Hell, but looking around I don't think that's it, worst-case scenario it's an in-between place like purgatory. And WHAT? No, wait, calm down. If I'm not in the physical realm anymore then that means she means it spiritually, which is pretty good for me, I never knew of anyone else meeting their Patron Saint like this so I'm already ahead of most.'

Now I'm just wondering what kind of hardcore Patron she is if her basic requirement to choose you is killing something calling itself a god.

"Well then, I guess that's fine. Though I never heard of a Patron calling someone for a personal meet and greet." I said, casually.

"Well, I'm different from the others," She starts, crossing her arms and puffing her chest. "They can barely interact with the human world, just small nudges and minor favors, even for humans. While I, if the conditions are met, can not only directly meet my children, but also something much bigger." She finished with a smirk.

"And that is?" I ask, leaning forward. But I stumble as blackness starts to creep around my vision. "Wha-"

"Sush," Pandora said, my head back in her lap with her hand going through my hair. "You're going back to your body now, take care of yourself and try not to fight your siblings, Mama's orders!"

"Sure, Mom," I said, closing my eyes and enjoying the moment, it felt just like falling asleep.

___

Consciousness came slowly to me, having to battle the sheer sense of comfort permeating my entire being.

That is, until I was awake enough the see the Sun from behind my eyelids.

"Ugh" I said, sitting up before opening my eyes and looking around.

I was still in the arena, a few men in suits were milling around, with an older man standing a few feet from me, smiling.

"Well hello there young man, it seems you had a bit of an adventure today." He said, jovially.

"You could say that," I replied while standing up, "I'm Alexander Lupi" extending my hand to him.

"Paolo Blandelli" He said, shaking my hand.

 "What happened? I remember the fight until I got the key inside that thing's chest, then nothing."

"Oh, that's a grand story!" He replied, turning around while motioning me to follow him, "From what we were able to gather, the God Janus descended upon the mortal realm and, utilizing his Authorities, made it so every entryway, gateway, and doorway in the Colosseum led to a different time of the Roman Empire's existence, the only exception being the main entryway, which led to today."

I stop as I feel icy dread pool in my stomach, the only ones from the tour group I saw at the entrance were the girls and Antonella, I sharply look at him, ready to ask but he anticipates it.

"Apart from some injuries, they're fine." He starts before pausing, "Well, out of the ones that survived."

"Who-" I can barely get it out before he's already answering.

"Mark Brooks of the American group and Jonathan Taylor of the British, the first from a cut throat and the second from a heart attack.

 Anatolie Stoica, Pavel Toma, and Caius Stefan from Romania are reported to have disappeared mid-tour and still haven't been found."

"Damn, and the little girl?" I said, remembering not seeing her when I arrived at the arena.

"A little shaken, but unharmed" He replied, although I could see him fighting off a smirk.

"As for what happened next," He resumed walking, "Francesco told me what happened, both of you showed an inspiring amount of bravery and honor, so much so that he was invited to join our order, and you…"

He turned to me as we passed the exit, everyone who wasn't a suited man was gone, making the entire area almost deserted.

"We, the Order of Copper-Black Cross, are ready to swear loyalty to you as the Seventh Campione!" He loudly declared while he and everyone else got down to one knee and bowed.

"What?"

"You see my young man," Paolo started, getting up and approaching me once more, a huge smile on his face. "Your act of defiance against the divine, the killing of a Heretic God, is the utmost accomplishment a human can achieve, and it comes with a reward to match!"

"Reward?" I numbly ask, still trying to process the fact that I actually killed a God.

"Oh yes! Your entire existence is elevated to a godly level! Strength, speed, stamina, magical capacity! All of these are just some of the most basic attributes a Campione obtains upon their ascension! And of course, you also receive an Authority, the rulership over one of the divine domains of the God you killed." He finished grandly.

I thought I was numb and confused before, but now? Now I'm just flabbergasted.

"I got superpowers? Like that Hero in the US?" I managed to get out, because yes, there was a superhero in America, not that well known outside of it and most people think it's either a long-running prank or propaganda, but he's there.

"Ah yes, John Pluto Smith, he is one of your fellow Campione." He said, nodding. "And that reminds me, with the title of Campione also comes the rights and responsibilities of such power, such as kingship of wherever you reside and the duty to protect humanity against the divine."

"Kingship? Does that mean I'm now king of Brazil? And that I have to fight other Gods?" I say as I feel adrenaline rush through me. This is beyond my wildest dreams. I went back into the Colosseum hoping for a hint of magic, something I thought I'd have to fight for years to actually reach any decent capacity, and I skipped straight into becoming the pinnacle. Hell. Yes!

"Yes, although it is our hope that you would be amenable to moving here to become the King of Italy. We actually already have a Campione of our own but," He stopped, looking dejected, "His prowess in battle is only equal to his prowess as an idiot."

"Sorry to hear it, and I do like Italy a lot," I start, and I feel horrible from the obvious hope on his face, "But it's not home." His shoulders drop.

"But hey! I still have family who live here and my parents might decide to move depending on how things go when I get back, so don't lose hope!" I finish with a smile.

"Thank you, my Lord." He says with a small smile before pulling himself together. "Now, what will you do?"

"I think I better cut my vacation short and go back home," I replied "It's time for me to go back to Brazil."

___

Getting everything together to return home was pretty fast, all things considered.

All I did was say the word and less than 10 minutes later I was already in the back of my uncle's bike going back to Livorno to get my things, with a complimentary escort to speed things up.

Uncle Jean-Claude was worried, a little put out, and very confused. It's not every day that your nephew gets caught in a "terrorist attack" and comes out of it with a bunch of men who look like they belong in the mafia following his orders, much less when they tell him that they are already getting a private jet ready to get said nephew home as fast as possible. At least seeing the jet calmed him down some.

The jet was pretty comfortable, unfortunately, the Copper-Black Cross sent one of their knights to go further in-depth over everything I need to know about my new position.

Things like the rights to the American Continent were up in the air until I reached an agreement with Pluto, the various Orders and Associations of South America, with at least 5 being Brazilian, the ridiculous amount of power I now have, and much, much more.

It was a long 11 hours.

___

Leaving the plane at the Congonhas airport a dozen people were waiting for me.

A tall, tanned man with brown hair, a bushy mustache, and a perfectly fitted suit for his strong build at the head of the group bowed low before introducing himself.

"Welcome, Lord Alexander Lupi, I am Carlos de Souza, leader of the Order of the Golden Star."

"Hi," I said, giving him a small wave, "How have you been?"

"Most excellent my Lord!" He exclaimed while getting up, "We never dared to hope we'd have a Brazilian Campione, much less one living in our region! Ever since the Copper-Black Cross sent news of your rebirth and subsequent return home, we've been preparing for your arrival." He said while leading me to a limo, his men left behind to deal with the baggage.

"Oh? What do you have for me?" I said, my curiosity definitely piqued by his exuberance.

"A home better fit for a king for once, in a better region." He starts, looking seriously at me. "Also the best healthcare for your father, a lottery win for your mother, and tutors so you'll have the best education possible."

"Well, damn. You work fast. Thanks." I nodded to him.

"It is my duty, my Lord." He responded while giving me a genial smile.

"Now, the knight on the plane told me to wait until we arrived to ask this." I said, leaning forward, "How do I find and use my Authority?"

"Ah, very smart of him to wait," He said, nodding sagely. "You must look inside yourself and the rest, from what I hear, will come to you naturally."

I nod before leaning back and closing my eyes, turning my sight inward.

Almost instantly, I am assaulted by what feels like an all-encompassing feeling of potential, in its center stands a Door, and every time I look at it, the Door changes. Color, material, style, type, and even size, all details about it ever-changing, except the fact that it's a Door.

As I reached for the Door, I felt it, its very concept is inundated with chaos, so if I don't have a destination in mind I'd go somewhere random.

It also has a cooldown to use it again depending on distance, although with less than a fraction of a second cooldown to go to Italy and back it doesn't make a lot of sense, especially when I can use physical doors to lessen the cooldown even more.

I push it to the back of my mind as I open my eyes, I can play with it later, now, it's time to come home.