Tony's vision cleared. They were standing in a large industrial space. Concrete floors, exposed metal beams, harsh fluorescent lighting overhead. The walls were lined with equipment—computers, surveillance monitors, weapons mounted on racks. Maps covered one wall, marked with symbols and locations Tony didn't recognize.
Other people were present, working at stations, maintaining equipment. They glanced up as the group materialized, acknowledged Marcus with nods, returned to their tasks. Professional. Not surprised by dimensional teleportation.
"Where are we?" Tony asked. "What is this?"
Marcus released his grip on Tony's shoulder. The five team members who'd come with him fanned out, watchful but not threatening. Kaito, who'd teleported them, looked exhausted.
"Welcome to Nexus Protocol," Marcus said. "We hunt rogue divine entities. Demigods, demons, gods who break the rules."
Yuki stared around, oxygen mask dangling from her hand. "Gods? This is insane. Tony, what—"
"Divine politics spilling into the mortal world," Marcus interrupted. "That's what we handle."
The woman with glowing tattoos released Grimmey. He stumbled forward but didn't attack. They were surrounded.
Marcus gestured toward the back. "Not here. What I need to tell you requires privacy." He looked at his team. "Kaito, rest. Reina, same. The rest of you, monitor hunter movements. Alert me if anything crosses into Japanese airspace."
They dispersed. Marcus led Tony, Grimmey, and Yuki through the facility. Past workstations showing thermal signatures, divine essence readings. Past weapons racks with artifacts humming with power.
He stopped at a heavy door. Palm scanner. Multiple locks. "In."
Small room. Table. Four chairs. Reinforced walls. No windows.
They entered. Door closed. More locks engaged.
"Sit."
They sat. Tony and Grimmey on one side. Yuki beside them, trembling. Marcus stood at the table's head.
His eyes lingered on Yuki. Recognition flickered. He shook his head. "Later."
"Later what?" Yuki asked.
"First, you need context." Marcus looked at each of them. "The demigod who attacked you today reported to Zeus. King of the Greek pantheon. In seventy-two hours, maybe less, every hunter loyal to him will converge on Tokyo."
"Why?" Tony asked.
"Because they're looking for someone," Marcus said. "Someone specific. Someone Zeus has been hunting for eighteen years."
He looked directly at Tony. "You."
Tony processed this. "Why would a Greek god hunt me?"
"Because of what you are. Who created you." Marcus's expression was unreadable. "Your mother."
"My mother is a nurse in Ìlú Ìmọ̀," Tony said.
"Your human mother, yes. But that's not the whole story." Marcus crossed his arms. "You're different, Tony. You know that. You've always known. The abilities. The way technology responds to you. The way you process information faster than anyone should."
Tony said nothing. It was true.
"Those abilities aren't human," Marcus continued. "They're divine. Inherited from your real mother. The goddess of Knowledge."
Grimmey tensed. "How do you know about the goddess of Knowledge?"
Marcus's attention shifted. "Because I was there when the war started. When Zeus declared her an enemy. When everything fell apart." He studied Grimmey. "And I know what you are too. Physion, god of Physics. One of her children."
The room went silent.
"How long have you known?" Grimmey asked quietly.
"About you? Two years. Since you enrolled at Tokyo University." Marcus tilted his head. "You didn't know about Tony before you found him, did you?"
"No. I felt something. Divine essence. Traced it here. Realized what he was."
"Your mother was smart. Kept him secret from all her children. That way Zeus couldn't extract the information if he caught one of you." Marcus looked back at Tony. "You're the eighteenth child. The last one. The most important."
Tony calculated. "You said seventeen earlier when we first arrived. Now eighteen. You're implying Grimmey and I are related."
"You're brothers," Marcus confirmed. "Not by blood. By essence. Children of the same goddess, created from her power."
Grimmey stared at Tony. "I... suspected. But I wasn't sure."
"Now you are." Marcus turned to Yuki. "And you. You're not divine. Not yet. But you have potential. Something dormant that could awaken."
"I don't want any of this," Yuki said.
"Doesn't matter. You're connected to Tony now. Zeus's hunters will target you to get to him." Marcus's tone was firm but not unkind. "Your only chance is staying here. Under our protection."
"You're Marcus Kane," Tony said. "But you said 'I was there when the war started.' You're older than you look. You're not human either."
"No, I'm not." Marcus's expression hardened. "I was someone else eighteen years ago. Someone loyal to Zeus. Someone who made a mistake that cost everything."
"Who were you?" Grimmey asked.
Marcus was quiet for a moment. Then, "Hermes. Messenger of Zeus. His son."
The air in the room shifted.
"You're Hermes?" Grimmey's voice carried an edge. "You served Zeus. You were part of—"
"Part of the assembly, yes. Part of the war that started, yes. I reported the goddess of Knowledge's actions to Zeus. I delivered the news that made him declare war." Marcus's jaw clenched. "And I've been trying to make up for that mistake ever since."
"By watching me?" Tony asked.
"By keeping a promise." Marcus's voice softened. "Your sister, Meltiy, goddess of Language. She was the daughter of the goddess of Knowledge. She died during the fighting that day. In my arms." He met Tony's eyes. "Her last words were a request. She asked me to find you. Protect you. Make sure Zeus never got his hands on you. I loved her. And I failed to save her. But I won't fail you."
Silence stretched.
"You need to understand what happened," Marcus said finally. "Why Zeus wants you dead. What your mother sacrificed. Why this war has been raging for eighteen years in dimensions most mortals can't see." He looked at each of them. "You need to hear the whole story. From the beginning."
"Then tell us," Tony said.
Marcus nodded. "Alright. But understand—what I'm about to tell you is the truth as I lived it. My perspective. My guilt. My mistakes."
He raised his hand, and golden light flickered at his fingertips. "It started eighteen years ago. In the Hall of Gods. When I walked in carrying news that would doom the woman I loved."
The light grew brighter, waiting.
"Sit back," Marcus said. "This is going to take a while."