(Chapter 8: A Titanic Struggle)
It was a few days later before Derrick would soon arrive at Greece and honestly he was in anticipation of what was to come with him having to destroy Iapetus considering that he would be having a fight that would finally test his limitations to their edge. Because the thought of fighting a Titan something that the Greek Gods had to fight against was something that made his blood run with excitement at that prospect as finally something that would cease the boredom of low level opponents he's fought against for so long.
Not to mention he would be going towards his father's homeland where he and all those from his father's side descended from going back to the golden age of the Greeks and right up to the Trojan War of all things. As who knows maybe he'd find something of his heritage in one of his ancestral homes that belonged to his ancestor on his father's side that along with the fact that he'd be fighting against a Titan made this mission to Greece all the more important and worthwhile in his opinion.
(December 6th 2015, Athens, Greece, 9:45 Am)
It was a quarter till 10 in the morning as Derrick was walking through the streets of Athens to see if there was any place to get some good breakfast at since his stomach demanded it.
"Alright it's time for me to get something to eat since I'm starving." Derrick spoke since his stomach was growling
"And jackpot." Derrick thought as he saw a nearby diner and walked towards it
He soon got himself a booth with a window view of the cloudy December day as he looked up from his menu he received and saw someone in front of him who looked at him with equal surprise.
"Elyas what in the hell are you doing here in Athens?" Derrick asked seeing the host of an evil god in front of him
"I should be asking you the same thing since I'm here just vacationing and seeing the sights." Elyas responded looking at the Boosted Gear wielder in front of him
"Simple really I got called to come here for a job I'm working on besides it's my ancestral home after all at least on my father's side after all." Derrick informed him about his reasons for being here
"Huh and who's your possible a dozen or a hundred times great grandfather or mother?" Elyas asked as the waitress took the orders with Derrick waiting until she went elsewhere to tell him
"You ever heard about the legend of Achilles?" Derrick asked as Elyas nodded as who hadn't considering he was one of the greatest Greek mythical heroes
"Well that guy is my ancestral grandfather on my dad's side of the family." Derrick informed him as he looked shocked
"How the hell do you even know this?" Elyas questioned shock etched into his features
"Simple because every monster I've fought that's been around these parts or that's tried to eat me has said you've got the stench of Achilles and Norse in you as, when you've got stuff like that in your system it's bound to make you a monster magnet." Derrick responded considering that many a monster he's thought that was in this area constantly said that he had that stench and smell of him
"Huh well you're the descendant of a legend at least you learn something new everyday and besides your mission what other reason are you here for anyways?" Elyas asked as Derrick smirked
"Well since my mission is gonna require me to kill off a Titan I figured I need some extra protection therefore I've been looking for his shield as word on the block says that it gave him some high end protection things especially in the magical department. And while I'm a juggernaut I'll be having to go up against a titan that's threatening the order of things it's nice to have a little protection." Derrick explained in his reasons for finding his ancestor's lost shield
"Huh well then I'll be happy to help you get the damn thing if you need any help with it." Elyas told him happy to help his friend out
"Thanks I appreciate it and if you don't mind my asking what're you doing in Greece besides vacationing?" Derrick asked the evil god host
"Nothing much besides that just doing some sight seeing and getting souvenirs from wherever I go nothing much really." Elyas answered seeing as that's all he's really done however, Derrick wasn't convinced
"Sure you have and I look like Ryan Reynolds so cut the crap man as I know you've been doing sacrifices again." Derrick spoke as Elyas didn't even try to refute that he'd been doing so
"Hey so what since it helps fuel the power that my God gives me so big deal besides it's not like I'm hurting anyone since it's not really a crime if they can't find a body." Elyas answered with a semi malevolent grin on his face that made Derrick pinch the bridge of his nose
"I swear you and Scott are gonna give me more gray hairs then I can count by the time I'm 40." Derrick sighed as while the two were good friends they sometimes drove him up the walls
But out of the two Elyas was more tolerable than Scott because at least Elyas had some sense of order about him whereas Scott being the hyperactive pyro that he was had no concept of restraint and was practically pure chaos.
"Hey be glad it's me and not the trigger happy pyro you're here with as knowing him he'd probably try and torch a whole block by now." Elyas responded as Derrick chuckled knowing it was all to true
"Oddly enough you're not wrong about it as he's nothing but, pure destruction waiting to be released." Derrick spoke pretty much summarizing all of what the powerful fire wielder was in a nutshell
"Besides all that noise it at least helps to know I've got my favorite psychopath to help me kill a Titan." Derrick spoke as Elyas grinned in response
"Well what can I say the moment you have me join you that I'm gonna be doing a lot of killing and when that happens then buisness for me is good." Elyas said with a grin considering that when murder was assured then that meant so many sacrifices to make to his God
"And my sacrificing a Titan with your help to him is gonna be something great I'll tell you that much." Elyas spoke as sacrificing something as powerful as a Titan would be something most worth sacrificing to his God
"Yeah I remember when after we killed off Grendel's mother what one of your sacrifices looked like something I'd see when I eat mushrooms when I'm watching a Tool video." Derrick told him finding the whole experience to be trippy in a nutshell
"Fair enough point on that as blame my God for all of that since I don't control what it looks like when they get sacrificed but, hey as long as it gives me more power and access to my Gods' powers then I don't really care." Elyas replied as long as the sacrifices did what he wanted then he was just fine
"Can't complain with that logic." Derrick spoke finding nothing to refute with Elyas's logic
"Do you at least know where your ancestor's shield is?" Elyas brought up wondering if Derrick had a fixed location on where it was
"It's on the southernmost part of Athens where you'd be able to get to Sparta the fastest and last I checked it was guarded by a cyclops." Derrick informed him as the thing was more than likely a tough bastard considering that he's been guarding the thing for decades
"Well then if it's just a mere cyclops then it shouldn't be a problem for the two of us to handle then as right after we slaughter that maggot of a cyclops then we get to kill and then have me sacrifice a titan. As all I can say is that this is gonna be good for week for me since I haven't had a chance to make any sacrifices and here I get to make some damned good ones." Elyas spoke with a bloodthirsty and almost manic grin on his face
"I swear Elyas that you're gonna be the death of me one of these days." Derrick told him as their plates for their breakfast arrived
"I know but, until then let's live it up like the candle is burning at both ends." Elyas replied with grin still on his face
(The next day, December 7th 2015, Southern Athens, 6:30 Pm)
It was half past 6 in the evening as Derrick and Elyas were traveling to the most southern part of Athens where the shield of Achilles was being guarded as they traveled with Derrick doing so via jumping around like he was the Incredible Hulk and Elyas flying with almost ethereal looking dragon wings with scales of indigo and navy but with blackish grey outline to it that made it seem otherworldly.
"So then how much longer until we reach the damn thing?" Elyas asked since they've been traveling for over two hours
"Actually we're just about two minutes if you see that giant outline over there." Derrick responded pointing towards the giant silhouette in the semi ruined outskirts
"Well nevermind then." Elyas spoke as they headed towards the location
"Alright now all that needs to be done is for us to land and follow my lead." Derrick told him as they soon landed
Once they did with Derrick making a sizable crater as Elyas landed swiftly with his wings soon dissipating into a blackish grey fog as they saw what they were against to get Derrick's ancestral shield.
That being a cyclops standing at a 3 stories tall having skin the color of rusted bronze with him being bald and had a large and bloodshot emerald colored eye that looked weary from decades of protecting the object with his body littered with scars evident by some chunks of his missing flesh forever encapsulated into his form. As he wore Spartan style Greek armor on his arms and legs and a dented bronze chestguard on his torso stained with blood with his right hand holding a javelin and his right a shield that looked to be dulled from age and underuse
"Well here goes nothing." Derrick spoke walking up to the cyclops
"I got your back. Elyas spoke ready for anything that would be thrown at them
"Who are the two of you and what are you here for?" The cyclops questioned his bloodshot eye staring them down
"I'm a descendant of Achilles and you have my birthright." Derrick told him
"I can tell as you smell like a descendant of him as finally someone of his bloodline has come to claim it as, I honestly thought it was extinct when the Roman empire fell but, obviously it seems as though at least enough had survived." The cyclops spoke thankful that someone of the nigh invincible warriors' bloodline had lived on
"If you don't mind me asking this why exactly are you guarding this shield?" Elyas asked wanting to know why a cyclops was guarding a powerful weapon such as this
"Simple I was tasked by the last descendant of Achilles before he passed away to guard this with his life before Rome's fall stating that he didn't want his ancestor's greatest defensive tool to be used as a weapon of mass destruction for foolish tyrants. Therefore he sought me out and made a pact with me that until someone of his bloodline could find me and that I deemed worthy to use once again and as it turns out that you're just the person I've deemed worthy, for I've heard of all your exploits and can safely say that you're worth it giving it too." The cyclops told him
With that in mind he unstrapped the shield from his arm and threw it into the air with it shrinking down from the size of a small car to that of a standard shield that Derrick soon caught like a frisbee and proceeded to strap onto his left arm.
"Well this is also new." Derrick stated as the shield began to transform and reshape itself
It turned from a worn down shield to that of Greek shield the size of a truck tire that was of shining golden bronze with it their being a deep crimson omega symbol on the front of it yet what separated it from being that of a standard Greek shield was that of the following. It obviously looked more dense looking to be so dense that if a person who didn't have a standard Rook's strength were to wield it there arms would be ripped of from the sheer weight it also had on every 3 inches of the outer portion of the shield it had a 2 inch long serration making the outer edges of the shield look like a saw blade.
"Achilles when making the shield did have so that when those of his bloodline would fit their fighting style and it seems that you favor something very heavy handed." The cyclops explained as Derrick looked over his new shield
"Well congratulations on your new shield man." Elyas congratulated Derrick who grinned over having having his ancestral shield
"Thanks there is one thing that I have to ask you?…." Derrick asked the cyclops but realized he never asked it's name
"My name is Arcanius and what is it that you want to ask me exactly?" The now named Arcanius questioned the descendant of Achilles
"It's simple really, as what are you going to do now that you have nothing to guard no longer?" Derrick asked bringing up a good question
"That question is easy I shall now pass on for I'm old and I mean very old as I've seen the rise and fall of empires and nations and my remaining brethren having died from either war or old age, for I've only lived this long due to my having to guard that shield but that is no longer the case." Arcanius told them having lived for so long that he actually grew tired of it as he longed to go into the afterlife
"That's understandable as I can assume that immortality isn't all that's cracked up to be as what's the point of living if there isn't any end to look forwards to." Elyas brought up considering that life that went on and on eventually lost it's meaning after a certain point
"It seems your young friend understands and now that my mission has been completed I shall be going now so fare thee well and good luck on whatever trials you may face." Arcanius spoke as he dispersed himself as he began to fade away into golden dust that faded off into the wind
"So then Derrick now that we've got your shield what do we do now?" Elyas asked as Derrick smirked as he had one final addition go onto the shield
"Simple we wait for Iapetus to show and then soon enough we kill ourselves a titan." Derrick spoke as a emerald colored dragon face like that of Ddraig's formed over the crimson omega that the right and left parts formed makeshift wings
(3 days later, December 10th 2015, 12:00 Noon, The Acropolis)
It was noon as Derrick and Elyas waited for the Titan to appear with the Youkai Faction having cast a barrier that went throughout the Acropolis and stopped at a half mile away from Athens.
"So then Derrick you ready for this?" Elyas asked Derrick who had his shield at the ready
"Ready as I'll ever be as to be honest pretty nervous but at the same time excited." Derrick admitted in response as he had all this nervous energy inside himself
"I'm excited as well as finally is the time where I'll have a worthy enough sacrifice." Elyas spoke bloodlust although restrained was heavily noticed in his voice
"Couldn't agree with you more on that subject, as finally a good fight because I can't tell you how long it's been since I've had one." Derrick responded as his blood was pumping slowly but surely in excitement
"So then do you know when our special guest is gonna arrive?" Elyas wondered as to where the titan was
"Well I wouldn't hold my breath because I see him right now." Derrick told him as he saw the titan approaching
Iapetus was a 13 foot tall man that fit the stereotypical look of an ancient Greek with heavily tanned skin and a lean yet very muscular build with rippling muscles that made him look like some Adonis as he had flowing bright silver hair that went to his elbows as well as a matching beard going down to his collarbone. With him having bright platinum eyes that had nothing but an unstoppable will and malicious intent within those orbs as well as him having a rigid jaw line and a face that seems to haven't seen the light of day in centuries by the haggard look upon him.
As he wore a stylized version of Greek battle armor clad head to toe in bright sable silver with him wielding a spear the size of a flagpole with it's blade shining malevolently in the light of the winter sun as he stormed throughout the the once great citadel of the Greeks
"So then Elyas you hit him high and I hit low sound like a plan?" Derrick asked the evil god holder
"You got it let's do this." Elyas spoke as he summoned his spectral wings to take flight
Derrick soon followed suit charging in as fast as he could with his shield in front of him like a battering ram while Elyas was soaring overhead and closing in quickly on Iapetus who was still unaware of the two that were coming to ambush him. It wasn't until he heard footsteps that he looked down and saw someone coming after him before leaping into the air and smashing into his right knee denting the armor plating and sending him staggering backwards and then he soon found a thin crescent shaped line appearing on his cheek that bled slowly.
"Who in the name of Tartarus dares to strike out against me?!" Iapetus roared wondering who struck out against him
"Who else do you think you overgrown tin can." Elyas spoke as he had two main changes about him
One being that he now had what was in his hand a combination of machete and rapier with the blade having a rapier's length and the broadness of a machete and being a silvery black in coloration with a jagged spiral shaped guard and a short handle allowing for rapid fire slashes and thrusts. The other was that he'd gone through some minor physical alterations since he was tapping into his God's power that being the front portion of his mohawk lengthening and thickening into what looked like backwards curving horns and the marking that were on his right hand had soon extended up to the entirety of his arm and shoulder blade as well as creeping up his neck.
"Why are the two of you in my way, as unless it's to pay tribute to me then get out of my way." Iapetus spoke as unless they were going to pay homage to him then they'd better move out of his way
"The only type of tribute we'll be paying you is with your demise." Derrick spoke with certainty albeit subtly tinged with nervousness and excitement
"You defeat me? As if a half breed and a container of some paltry god and defeat me a titan as I may have been weakened from millennia of being locked away but, I'm positive that two peons like yourselves can't beat me." Iapetus spoke in a tone bridging on overconfidence with his inadvertent taunt towards Elyas's god
"Oh he shouldn't have done that." Derrick thought as he saw the ominous power of Elyas's god force itself more through his body has more of his hair lengthened and thickened into what looked like horns as well as those marking spreading further across his body
"You want to call my god meager well then why don't I show you just how paltry he really is." Elyas nearly snarled as the power surrounded him as he was accessing nearly half of his God's availible power
"If I were you I'd regret pissing off his god." Derrick told the titan before Elyas raised his sword
With that he slashed upwards as a jagged almost black hole shaped attack indigo with black and grey swirling inside came raging towards the titan who put his spear lazily in front of him thinking he'd be able to easily swat it aside. However, he was shocked when he was pushed back several feet from the initial brunt of the attack and was continued to do show until he slashed horizontally dispersing it as the ground around him cracked greatly as the area around him distorted greatly.
"So then you still think my god's' power is still paltry or do you need to be shown further example?" Elyas questioned sarcastically as he was readying to go ahead for another attack
"Your power is nothing compared to me as you may have a God within you to give you power but, I am a Titan and I will not be denied what I came here to do." Iapetus declared before he was soon sucker punched in the side of the head giving his helmet a decent sized dent as his head rung
"Enough chit chat it's time we fought." Derrick spoke as he was now using 3 quarters of his full strength and threw his shield like a boomerang at the stunned titan's helmet with it striking the area where he punched it causing a noticeable gash through it
"For once you mortals are talking sense as it's time that I show you as the first of many of why I was to be feared as Iapetus the Piercer when you mortals knew what respect was." Iapetus boasted as he brought his spear in front of him with a murderous shine in his eyes
"Bring it on." Derrick spoke in response as Iapetus soon brought his shield down upon Derrick
With him having to bring his shield in front of himself to block the massive spear which slammed upon him like a freight train as he found himself being pushed onto the ground as he found himself struggling to push himself off against the titan who tried to pierce his sword through the shields defence as he struggled to get back up again. However, Elyas soon blindsided him with another black hole like attack that sent him tumbling to the ground allowing Derrick from his indented position on the ground from nearly having been impaled before he soon leapt up into the air.
As Elyas was engaging Iapetus in a high speed sword fight with him going into flurry of rapid fire slashes as he was countering the spear thrusts and jabs as flashes of black and indigo clashed against bright silver as the two fought out against one another.
"For someone using the power of an inferior god you've done well to try and stand against me." Iapetus spoke as the two continued to clash against one another
"And the same could be said against a relic of a much needed to be forgotten past." Elyas countered as the two were now engaged in a bladelock
"Well then my forgotten past will soon be your future because when I win the age of the Titans shall reign once more." Iapetus spoke pressing his spear against Elyas
"Until then you'll be stuck dealing with the two of us." Elyas spoke as Derrick's descending form crashed into Iapetus's helmed head pounding on it like a pair of bongo drums
"Did you really think I was gonna let you take all the credit for killing a goddamn titan?" Derrick questioned as he continued to pound on his helmet denting it continuously while Iapetus tried to grab him
"Maybe just a little bit." Elyas admitted as if Derrick wasn't gonna do it then he would
"Well fuck you too." Derrick spoke as he had to try and alternate between dodging Iapetus's hand trying to grab him and his putting further dents in his helm
Once Derrick was done as Iapetus was furiously staggering about to his head pounding like 4 ton sledgehammers were being bashed across his skull Derrick jumped off before dragging his shield down Iapetus's dented helmet with the serrated edges cutting cleanly through due to his having been able to dent it. However, as he was dropping down from his place on high Iapetus quickly turned around and with the shaft of his spear with what felt like being hit by a semi truck as he was sent crashing into the ground knocking down three marble pillars in his wake.
"That fucking hurt like hell." Derrick thought as his shoulder had been roughly dislocated from its socket as well as a gash going all the way across his forehead and a cracked sternum
"What did you expect when you were going up against a titan." Ddraig told him as Derrick climbed out of the rubble
"I know however, this becoming the best fun I've had in months!." Derrick shouted as he felt his blood pump with adrenaline as his eyes flashed emerald
"Hmph. Never thought I'd see you this excited over facing something that could kill you then again you're unlike many of my hosts and do remind me of a certain one that was very much like you before he died." Ddraig told him as a broad grin stretched across his face
"Well Ddraig you still haven't seen all of what I can do besides I still haven't used my full strength yet." Derrick told Ddraig before he leapt off to assist Elyas who was fighting an helmetless Iapetus
"I swear for a pest with a weak god you're proving annoying to kill." Iapetus spoke with mounting frustration with multiple slashes and stabs made in his armor some ranging from superficial to ones that made noticeable tears throughout it
"Well if a so called pest and his good friend and put you a supposedly mighty titan although somewhat weakened I do have to say what does that say about you in particular, as maybe you're not as powerful as you think." Elyas responded as he continued to parry Iapetus's heavy handed spear thrusts that pushed him back each time
"Don't presume to much boy as once I free the rest of my brethren then nothing will stop us from ruling this world." Iapetus spoke having revealed his plans
"So that's what all of this is about getting the band back together as I've got to say that I'm not impressed considering that it'll fail either way because if we somehow can't stop you then you can be rest assured that the other pantheons will." Elyas swore in a semi mocking manner as he was on actual good terms with some of the other pantheons such as the Norse and Egyptian pantheons
"HAH! Like those fools and pretenders could stand against us the true and rightful rulers of this world they will all be destroyed or serve the titans like they should've been hadn't it been for my upstarts up nephews and nieces." Iapetus said knowing that all who weren't of the Greek pantheon or titans for that matter were beneath him
"Wow you so deserve what's coming to you right about now." Elyas spoke with a grin as he continued to parry the titan's heavy handed attempts to impale him on his spear
"What would have you say that you pest?" Iapetus questioned before finding something crash into his knee-guard and into his kneecap
"Because remember me." Derrick spoke as he punched Iapetus hard in the kneecap making him kneel in pain before Derrick uppercutted him sending him tumbling backwards
"Well Elyas looks like we're both looking worse for wear at the moment." Derrick commented noticing the large gash across Elyas's chest that continued to bleed as well as four small but deep stab wounds from Iapetus's spear that weren't impeding him due to his God's power as well as numerous other cuts
"Agreed on that front as I swear that he's one tough bastard that much I will say about him." Derrick commented before seeing the Titan get right back up
"Well Elyas this is just like Grendel's mother all over again ain't it?" Derrick asked as the titan glared at them heavily with fury
"Not necessarily unlike him she wasn't trying to start armageddon." Elyas replied snarkily readying his sword
"Well I've got an idea but, we're gonna need to get rid of the armor on his chest, stomach and one of his legs to do it." Derrick told him as what he had planned was a bit of a longshot but it was well worth the risk
"What did you have in mind?" Elyas asked as he saw Iapetus heft his spear before Derrick whispered in his his ear what his plan entailed
"Once you have it all set in place then I can do it but, we'll have to make sure he's not gonna be able to move because I can only hold it for a minute and a half after that I'm practically useless." Elyas told him as this plan was going to require timing and precision to where not one thing could go wrong
"I guess this also means that I get to go at a 100 percent as I haven't had to do this in a long time I'll tell you that much Elyas." Derrick spoke as once he let go of the mental barriers he's put in place to restrain his strength the physical differences were the veins all across his body were much more prominent as they pushed up against his skin and his musculature becoming much more defined
"Are you pests ready to die for your insolence?" Iapetus spoke annoyance and frustration evident in his voice as his eyes glowed silver with rage
"My answer to that is I watch the blood spill out of your body before I sacrifice you to my god." Elyas spoke with a menacing edge to his voice
"Out of the two of you, you'll be the first to die." Iapetus swore with malevolent intent palpable as he had his spear aimed at Elyas
"But I think it's only fair that to die it's ladies first." Elyas taunted before slashing out at the air and making jagged rift like his black hole attacks only smaller and less unstable that sucked Derrick through
This was before Elyas fired multiple yet smaller black hole shaped attacks at Iapetus who with minor difficulty with his spear however, Elyas smirked as the titan falling for his diversion as he slashed at the air once more as Derrick rocketed down from the sky and before anything could be done Iapetus screamed in pain. As in a spray of blood and gore and blood that rained down upon the grounds of the Acropolis, Iapetus was now missing his right eye that was now just a caved in and bleeding hole in his face as he soon slapped away Derrick into the ground hard enough to scrape up his face as his head was now ringing
"Well at least that's step one complete." Derrick thought as he had to soon roll out of the way of Iapetus trying to stab him to death with his spear
"JUST YOU WAIT TILL I GET MY HANDS ON YOU THEN YOU'LL WISH YOU'D DIED SOONER!" Iapetus howled out in insidious mix of fury and agonizing pain as his vision was halved as Derrick brought his shield up as the pointed end of Iapetus's spear struck it causing a shockwave to erupt
"How about not besides you still have my friend to worry about." Derrick spoke as a black hole shaped attack slammed into his chestplate violently distorting it and tearing it
Iapetus countered by thrusting the spear at next one that was about to be fired catching Elyas in-between the ribs causing blood to burst forth as he bled down his shirt as Iapetus smirked at having seemingly fatally wounded him. Only for him to narrow his eyes in shock as the blood gained a black hue as Elyas had a wide grin as his blood began to thicken and conglomerate to form a magical circle of sinister arcane power
"Did you really think I wouldn't come here prepared especially when if you even did wound me like this that I wouldn't have blood magic as insurance?" Elyas asked before the magic circle became a mix of blood red, gray and pitch black
The result was a powerful burst of concussive force exploded between the two repelling them both away from each other in a explosion of blood magic as Elyas managed to stop himself flying through the air like a ragdoll, by activating his spectral wings to stop himself as well as him concentrating the power of his God to staunch the wound to have it not be debilitating in a fight. While Iapetus was sent stumbling backwards and nearly falling flat on his ass however, he was soon tackled by a charging Derrick into one of the nearby ancient buildings of the Acropolis the result being that the place collapsed on top of them.
This didn't deter Derrick from taking this chance to tear away at the armor on Iapetus's torso ripping off chunks at a time as pieces of it flew off into the distance yet Iapetus wouldn't let him continue, as he soon stood up and grabbed Derrick before throwing him into the air and striking him in the face as he was sent spiraling away. Blood coming out of his mouth and dislocated jaw that felt muscle tear even if it was slightly with an audible pop with blood vessels in his eye having burst from the blow, yet this didn't deter him from from using one of the marble pillars as a support being launching himself at the titan.
"You looked like you could use a boost." Elyas spoke before spinning Derrick around like a top and sending him flying even faster
As Derrick soon crashed into his left knee with such force that a crack was heard as he crashed into his knee-cap nearly bringing the titan to his knees as he soon began punching at said kneecap repeatedly each bringing forth a loud crack as soon it was shattered like glass. Iapetus cried out in pain at his shattered knee-cap however, Derrick ran up across Iapetus's body and jumped across and onto his armored back and drove his shield down it splitting it down the middle.
This left him wide open to one of Nero's black hole attacks the size of a small house that struck him promptly in the back and taking advantage of the weakened structural integrity of the back side of his chestplate and soon grinded and distorted it until there was nothing as the soft muscle on his back had been grinded leaving his back bloodied and him in pain.
"Now's your chance Derrick get him now while I get ready." Elyas instructed as he clapped his hands together like he was praying as a ominous and sinister energy began to surround him
"Already on it." Derrick spoke as he ran towards the downed titan as the energie surrounding Elyas soon formed a shell around him
"Alright it's now or never." Elyas spoke as soon he was enveloped in a shell of pitch black, silver, and indigo energy the size of a minivan
"Damn it how is it possible that these two pests are pushing me back?" Iapetus asked himself as to how he'd been pushed back thus far
"This is it." Derrick spoke as his fist was aimed at Iapetus's chest
"I REFUSE TO BE DESTROYED BY SOME MORTAL BASTARD!" Iapetus roared as he threw his spear at Derrick
"Like I'm dying to goddamn spear." Derrick thought as his fist met the spear tip and collided in a shockwave
The tension was heavy as Derrick's fist collided with the spear tip the size of a grown man as shockwaves of ruby and silver formed seeing as how the Boosted Gear formed over his hand to protect him from the razor sharp tip as he continued to push against it as cracks began forming in the spearhead before it soon shattered. But not before one of the shards sliced through one of his thighs as he split the weapon in twain with sheer strength as he continued towards the shocked titan who stood there in shock and seething rage that his weapon at been shattered
"Well here goes nothing." Derrick thought as he descended further as he
"Atlas Gatling!" Derrick exclaimed as the first of many punches descended on Iapetus's torso
With that Derrick unleashed a furious combination of punches and haymakers on Iapetus's chest with his full might the result being that powerful tremors shook the Acropolis causing the ground to crack apart greatly and buildings to crumble and some to even collapse in on themselves. As this assault continued until the ground around them soon collapsed from the tremors and into a massive pit a quarter mile wide and a half mile deep as the Acropolis itself the once famed citadel of the Greeks looked like a military air strike went off.
"That oughta leave him damaged enough for Elyas's to do the rest." Derrick thought having given all he could to damage as he jumped out of the pit in exhaustion from wailing on the prone titan
"Did you really think that would kill me?!" Iapetus questioned furiously as his bare chest was a discolored bright red and purple with a majority of his ribs cracked and mostly broken along with his sternum along with some slipped vertebrae and a partially cracked collarbone and a dislocated shoulder
"No as it wasn't meant to kill you at all in the first place as it was only meant to stall you." Derrick said with a weary smirk as he felt the pulses of sinister and misanthropic power
"What do you mean stall me as just what were you and that pest planning?" Iapetus spoke as they felt another pulse of that same power as the sky turned a grayish black and the colors around them dulled several shades
"Simple because remember when you called my friends god nothing but a paltry and inferior one well I think it's time you met him and just so you know he won't be to happy since he loathes being disrespected." Derrick told Iapetus as he gestured to what was above them
The creature was a 30 story giant of a creature that radiated an aura of bottomless malevolence and misanthropy almost as though you were staring into abysmal void of space itself where there was without definite end.
As the creature's bottom half was that of a constantly pulsating swirling cloud of void like darkness with bursts of silver and navy swarming within as though you were looking into a bottomless pit from which once you fall you'd never escape. It's face was that of an obsidian skull with occasional flashes of silver and indigo going throughout the sockets in it's face as it's body was the same obsidian black but with deep blood red archaic symbols tattooed across it's body like a brand as it's build was thin and gaunt like a spectre yet no less terrifying. It's thin arms were a much paler black that ended in thin almost skeletal like fingers with long nails that looked like that of a vulture's as on its back were 3 pairs of the same spectral wings Elyas used but obviously much larger and oddly enough draconic looking in resemblance although with a tattered look to it.
It wore a deep indigo leather cuirass that looked made of deadened flesh as jet black ribbons surrounded it's chest and shoulders like chains while a dark gold skull ring was upon both its fingers as it stared down at the titan with a maw of endless pitch while where it's heart would be was a constantly swirling black hole.
"Iapetus I'd like for you too meet the supposedly paltry and inferior god my friend here houses within himself his name is Sithis not only a blood God but one of the void and misanthropy and he is very angry with you." Derrick spoke gesturing towards Sithis's skull for a face
"Yes as while I'm not often summoned into the mortal realm this is a special occasion considering that a worthless peon like you thinks of me as inferior to yourself, as I was around before you were even conceived into creation. For I am the nothingness that all things shall go when they reach complete oblivion as all shall in due time be swallowed by the void in silent misery where nothingness will be your only comfort." Sithis spoke his voice a baritone in pitch but also carried a hopeless and pessimistic tone that was added onto by the small tinges of anger
"I care not that you're some measly god, as I'm one of the titans that ruled this world for millennia and I will not be looked down upon by some pathetic worm of a god." Iapetus spoke as despite his injuries refused to submit to the extremely powerful being in front of him
"I may have been stuck within my vessel but, I've still have heard of your disrespect and I find your lack of it disturbing and allow me to correct that by sending you into the dead silence of the void." Sithis spoke his skeletal face boring down as his entire being radiated pure despair and atrophic hopelessness
"Like you could kill me your power can't hope to compare to mine." Iapetus boasted before he felt a powerful force grip his battered body in place
"You're in need of demonstration it seems, so do not worry your demise shall prove to be such a thing as you fade into the quiet nothingness for your insolence towards me." Sithis spoke as he waved his claw-like and skeletal hand
Soon Iapetus felt small chunks of his flesh being torn asunder from his body as he soon looked up and saw above him a swirling void of pitch black with flashes of silver and navy as stray debris was sucked up into it as even Derrick had to hold onto one of the chains around Sithis himself in order to avoid being sucked up. Iapetus tried to fight the pull but it was all in vain as at what seemed like a methodical pace was him slowly being dragged into the depths of the void as his being began to unravel like strings fraying apart a tapestry before causing something once majestic to unravel into an unrecognizable mass.
As Derrick could only watch in horror as nerves, bone and flesh was unraveled and sucked into the void above as his screams echoed like a wailing banshee before he was soon sucked into the void as the it closed before forming a more intricate version of the magical circle Elyas had used prior.
"The sacrifice has been made and a worthy although annoying one it was worth me coming out and with all that has been needed to be done I shall return to my slumber until I'm needed for a worthy sacrifice once more." Sithis spoke as he soon was turned in a massive swirling black hole like abyss that swirled like a hurricane before imploding in on himself to reveal a pale and heavily sweating Elyas
"You alright Elyas, you aren't looking so hot?" Derrick asked as he caught Elyas who nearly collapsed from the immense amount of exhaustion that seemed to permeate every nerve ending
"I'll be fine just dead tired from having to summon Sithis like that, as I forgot what that does to me." Elyas spoke as Derrick carried the exhausted young man over his shoulder as the scenery brightened back to it's original coloring
"So then how are we gonna explain the Acropolis being destroyed?" Derrick asked as he walked and saw how it all looked like a complete warzone
"Simple in any case just say Poseidon did it considering it would make sense, as he's not only the god of earthquakes but the fact that he and Athena really don't like each other also helps." Elyas told him as the two walked away from the scene
However, unknown to them two figures were floating overheard both wore what looked like a combination of military and Japanese school uniforms however, one wore glasses and and had black hair and wore mage style robes over his while his counterpart's was more closer to ancient Chinese in design with a golden spear slung over his back
"Well Cao Cao it seems as though he had more potential in him than realized." The glasses wearing young man spoke towards the spear wielding man beside him
"Agreed Georg as not only is he a descendant like us but, a wielder of the Boosted Gear this makes him a great future asset to our cause." Cao Cao said as he and Georg witnessed to entire affair and knew that his potential would be well needed with them
"So you do plan to recruit him to the Hero Faction?" Georg questioned wondering of what Cao Cao's intention's worth
"Correct you are as I'll reveal more later on but, for now we must make haste as I'd rather not have to deal with these meddlesome Greeks." Cao Cao spoke before a emerald and silver portal appeared before them as they soon vanished
(4 days later, December 14th 2015,Hero Faction Base, 2:46 Pm)
It was 46 after 2 as Cao Cao and Georg had decided to meet up at the Hero Faction base by themselves to discuss one thing in particular that pertaining to that of the current Red Dragon Emperor who over his years of being a monster hunter/fighter as well as his short time as the wielder of the Boosted Gear has proven to have caught the notice of the Hero Factions' most premiere members.
"So tell me Cao Cao why are you so interested in recruiting him to our side anyways?" Georg asked the leader of said faction of intentions
"Isn't it clear with what we'd witnessed back in Greece that his strength was more than worth our notice and not once did he even use his Sacred Gear something of which speaks to high volume of his strength when he and his friend took out Iapetus." Cao Cao responded impressed that even with assistance Iapetus was defeated even if it was in a semi weakened state
"Why you thought it was wise to have those magicians set him free is beyond me especially when you knew how much of a flight risk doing so would be." Georg stated not seeing why the Longinus wielder would do something so seemingly reckless
"It's because I knew without a doubt that he would succeed against him even if he was alone as to be respected by the Youkai Faction leader and having slayed and survived against many of these monsters that not even Hercules, for all his strength has fought without using his Balance Breaker says much about him over the dragon emperor." Cao Cao spoke as over the two Greek descendants the Red Dragon Emperor showed more promise than what Hercules has and will
"Besides in all of the times I've done something of this caliber have I ever been known to do things like this without considering about contingencies in the event that they lost, as the moment that happened I would've had that impotent titan sent to the dimensional gap because no one will stand in the way of my goals. Cao Cao countered as he never did anything without planning for a contingency as he planned for nearly everything in order for his plans to be a success
" Fair enough as hear I thought you'd lost your edge but, once again you show that you're still the leader of our faction." Georg replied as he knew that nothing save for beings like the top 10 strongest in existence and the Heavenly Dragons and those with powerful artefacts and Sacred Gears could survive
"Yet this does still beg one question that comes to mind." Georg stated as the True Longinus wielder quirked a brow
"What would that be exactly?" Cao Cao asked wondering what the question entailed
"Do you plan on replacing Hercules with the Dragon Emperor?" Georg asked wanting to know if the Boosted Gear wielder would be Hercules replacement
"Yes I do as to be honest Hercules is becoming more and more of a liability to have the more he stays on our faction to where replacing him is something much needed." Cao Cao spoke as keeping the descendant of Heracles around was becoming much more of a hassle than what was affordable
As from becoming more of a loose cannon to disobeying orders that caused much unneeded chaos and property damage in the process and causing unneeded casualties in terms of civilians and possible recruits for the cause. Not to mention his pride and arrogance as well as his rushing in so recklessly into things because he was his namesake's descendant made him near impossible to work with making any team assignments a hassle to complete due to him thinking he could take on everything like his ancestor however, his strength was barely half of what his ancestor's was.
"Agreed as he's become much more of a nuisance than an asset, so the need for you cut the cord with him is very much understandable as it's bad enough that his foolish pride cost us the Annihilation Maker." Georg spoke furious that in a bout of rage that Hercules thinking that he was superior to the previous wielder killed him off to prove he was better than a boy with a Longinus
"Exactly as his over inflated sense of self has not only cost us greatly in our efforts but also lost us an important tool therefore a much needed replacement in the wielder of the Boosted Gear is needed." Cao Cao spoke as the only reason why he was still needed is because he served as muscle and more for intimidation
"As I refuse to let are efforts for a better world be ruined because someone has a pride and attitude problem therefore Hercules soon enough will be gotten rid of and we shall have a new member to continue our goals and something that will be a much suited replacement for both that peon and Leonardo." Cao Cao spoke passionately with an almost maniacal grin on his face
"So then what's the plan to help get him to our side until we have him replace him because from what we've heard he is nothing if not stubborn and his willpower being to where not even for all your talent in being a master orator you'll be able to sway him to our side." Georg spoke before a smirk came across Cao Cao's face
"Simple I have something that can perhaps persuade him to join are side." Cao Cao spoke as Georg didn't know what he was going on about
"Would you care to elaborate on this because I don't see where you're going with this?" Georg asked as his smirk only widened
"Simple really I can help him gain justice on one of the two people who killed off his mother and took away his sister and as it just so happens this particular person belongs to the fallen angels and is a known renegade among them." Cao Cao spoke as Georg knew who he was talking about and saw that this for what he was about to endeavor was a longshot by even what he's done
"Are you sure it's wise to try and go up against him as not to doubt your strength or anything of that nature but, you do realize that he was not only part of the Grigori's Cadre but formerly in charge of their military therefore if you are dead set on doing this then I suggest you use caution." Georg told the True Longinus wielder
As while out of all of them Cao Cao wasn't only the strongest due to him being a wielder of the strongest Longinus class sacred gear but, not to mention his almost unparalleled combative skills being known as one of the best fighters the Khaos Brigade had to offer. Therefore if Cao Cao's gamble failed in helping the Boosted Gear wielder avenge what had transpired to him then one of the Khaos Brigade's most powerful members would be forever lost to them as well as that of the True Longinus and leader to the Hero Faction.
"I know and don't worry as I shall do so greatly because I do realize the risks that come with it however, I have complete confidence that this will all work out smoothly and go according to plan as one way or another our goals shall be accomplished." Cao Cao declared with resolution in his voice that he would achieve this
"Well then seeing as how you're so dead set on doing this I will commend you for trying to do this and wish you the best of luck." Georg said knowing that Cao Cao had his work cut out for him
"Thank you as soon enough our faction shall have one of its greatest assets as after all long live the Hero Faction." Cao Cao spoke as Georg nodded
"Well goodbye as I have to go and help Walburga manage some problems she's been having with keeping the magicians in line." Georg spoke as the two began to depart from one another
"I hope you take care of it swiftly as there is still work need to be done therefore I also wish you luck in that regard as I would help you in that endeavor but, my talents in magic are nothing that could help you out whatsoever." Cao Cao told the skilled magician and Longinus user as he had no talent for magic at all therefore decided to develop his combat skills instead however, one thing was on his mind as he parted ways
"Soon enough you will join us Red Dragon Emperor as you will either help us save the world from the fiends that plague it or you with die by the spear of the True Longinus." Cao Cao thought as either the Red Dragon Emperor would either join their side as the heroes of this world or die by his hand
Now then with the threat of Iapetus subdued thanks to the efforts of Derrick and Elyas defeating him and saving Greece from becoming once again ruled by the Titans however, we soon find Derrick being wanted as a recruit for the Hero Faction the question is will he join their side. Well you'll have to continue reading more of Just a strong son of a bitch
Well that ends this chapter as man have a lot of things been revealed and shown off in this chapter that I'm excited to get more into later on but, let's get onto it shall we.
First up we've got Derrick not only meeting up with Elyas to help him defeat the Titan Iapetus as I both wanted to show more of how their dynamic would be together since he will be playing more of a prominent role later on. This also shows a reason for his incredible strength and durability basically with him being a descendant of two heroes one of which I've revealed as Achilles and the other that will be revealed later on since I wanted their to be a plausible reason behind his strength.
Next we've got him and Elyas going to get the shield of Achilles and while there could've been a massive fight to where he could have fought the thing guarding it I found it better if he had it passed onto him by something that has waited for someone of Achilles's bloodline to take back the shield. As I found the guardian of it having waited for a descendant to take the shield after having to guard it with it's life for hundreds of years before passing on knowing that the shield would be used by a descendant of his master who he knew would be a great hero and protector.
As for the fight with Iapetus vs Derrick and Elyas I hope that I did it all to your liking considering that I wanted to show off some of what Elyas could do as well as show the full power of what Derrick could do in a fight evident by how he pummeled Iapetus. Not to mention I wanted to show how Derrick even at full strength wasn't enough to take on a albeit weakened Iapetus because if it hadn't been for him distracting him long enough for Elyas to summon Sithis (cookie to the person who can tell where Sithis is from) then Derrick would've died or better yet be further crippled this time much more severely.
Lastly we've got Georg and Cao Cao wanting Derrick as a recruit for the Hero Faction as I want them to have much more weight and impact than what they did in this story considering that with someone such as Derrick who not only has the Boosted Gear and wields incredible strength is someone to be desired greatly. Making him be somebody to be registered greatly on their radar which is why Cao Cao is going to try and get him to join their side and doing so in not only gradually getting him to see his side of things but also to help him avenge the death of his mother at the hands of one of the two people we now know is connected to it.
With all that being said please favorite, follow, review and share this story as much as possible as thank you guys for all the reviews and support given as I never thought the story would gain such a positive reception and continues to make me write out more chapters for you guys. On a side note however, please remember to vote on the poll I have on my page as so far it's 7 to 4 with how things are going so keep voting as it's anything can happen with which story will be made.
All that being said I'll be seeing you guys later as next chapter is a minor timeskip towards the familiar episode as well as a little something that's going on with Asia so stay tuned for all of this as this Pravus666 signing off till next time
Part 1 Theme Song: Obey the Beard by Psychostick
Random End Song: Sparta by Sabaton
