Chapter 11: Final Showdown
My breath quickened as the mountain in the distance grew closer and closer. This is it, I thought to myself, there was no turning back; even then I could make out the forms of hundreds of monsters surrounding the mountain. Dracnae, Lastrigonians, Hell hounds, Harpies, Telekhines, emposa, a couple drakons and some creatures I'd never even heard of, there were some creatures with a tiger body and an eagle for a head, there were giant panther cats with turtle shells, and a mammoth type thing with a python instead of a trunk. The monsters made a perimeter around the foot of the mountain. For the moment it was a good thing that they arranged like this. We could charge through the thin line and work our way up, but the monsters would then quickly regroup and attack us from behind. At the very top of the mountain, I saw him. Ouranous stood there in black battle armor. His arms were folded as if waiting patiently for us to make our appearance. I stopped walking just before the trees cleared into the valley. I signaled everyone to do the same.
"I need all the archers I have," I said quietly,
Without a word, half-bloods, Amazons, and Myrmidons came forward brandishing bows with full quivers, I had about fifty of them.
"Alright," I said once they had gathered around, "We have an advantage, and they do not know we are here just yet, we can easily take care of a handful of those monsters with a sneak attack."
"You want us to fire within the trees?" Jeff said smiling,
"Exactly," I said nodding, "We can do this guys, get in to position."
The archers did so, they scattered throughout the front of the woods, and I saw some of the ones closer to me pull back their bow, an arrow waiting to be fired.
"FIRE!" I bellowed, and the fifty archers simultaneously released their arrows, the attack was a success, in the distance, roars of monsters could be heard, and several could be seen exploding into dust. Ouranous's figure at the top of the mountain, unfolded his arms.
"Ah," he said, and I immediately wondered how he could channel his voice that far, " You have made your entrance, step forward Achilles Jackson so we can begin your destruction. "
I did not take a step, I was not about to give away our position with a foolish act. I signaled the archers to fire again. More monsters fell and exploded. I heard Ouranous sigh,
"If you do that again, I'll have to retaliate, that wood will burn to the ground, and your army will burn along with it, so if I were you, I would step out of there."
I had no choice, if I stayed in hiding we would lose before we even started. I stepped forward uncapping Riptide, everyone followed, I walked about one hundred yards out, and then stopped again.
"My, My," said Ouranous still standing at the top of the mountain, "What an army you have put together. It is truly a shame, that they will all die and Atlas too, what a surprise, you will suffer with them."
Atlas gulped,
"So Achilles Jackson, you've made it, and in just the nick of time. At noon today I will be fully restored and unstoppable, and this place will be crushed by the sky, prepare to die!"
As he said this, the monsters waiting at the foot of the mountain charged, our troops charged in response. It was probably the scariest moment in my life, charging toward the enemies. I've been to the movies, and I'd seen what happens to the people who are on the front lines. If they are not completely obliterated by the arrows, they are sure to be run through by spears, or just plain trampled to death. I let out a yell, and I began to fight. The collision fortunately did not result in my death, but the same cannot be said for some of the Myrmidons, who some of which were instantly smashed away by the Laistryigonians. In the heat of battle, I lost all line of thinking, I just reacted. I continued to run toward the mountain, slashing monsters that got in my way. Once, while I was running, a Hellhound pounced me, and was about to bite my head off when it exploded. Coops had had shot it with one of its arrows. "Get to the mountain, Go!" was all he said. The battle raged around me, I saw Zeke blasting his enemies with Lightning bolts, Angel commanding a bunch of undead warriors, and Eddie hitting his enemies with a mini hurricane generated from a nearby creek. The rest of them did what they could. I was now on the mountain, Atlas was at my side climbing with me. A dracnae tried to follow, but I was able to kick her off sending her plummeting to her death. Occasionally throughout the hike we were faced with a monster or too, but they were no match for Atlas who simply swatted them aside. It wasn't long before we were able to make it to the top. Ouranous was still standing there. I examined the area. We were on the highest peak of the mountain. Several lower peaks surrounded it. I had to remember to be careful where I walked so I wouldn't risk falling off. I then saw where the sky and earth were touching. It looked as if the sky funneled down and lay only in the spot where it was supposed to be held. Yet the diameter of the funnel was slowly growing. I guessed as soon as the sky grew to heavy and cracked the peak, the sky would completely land destroying us all. Ouranous began to clap.
"Well, well, well, we have finally made it, the battle that will determine who the world rightfully belongs to, me or to my pathetic grandchildren, who are unable to even help their champions in their darkest hour. I must say I am not surprised that you have made it this far, I made the trip relatively easy. Why else do you think your journey has been practically clear of obstacles and monsters? Because, I wanted you to make it to this mountain, I wanted to see your face when you lose just like your father lost, only this time I won't spare any lives, it's high time that I set an example, and it's YOU ACHILLES JACKSON that I want to be made the example. I want you to die in front of everyone so that the world may know that I demand complete obedience!"
I capped Riptide and put it away,
"I hope you don't plan on surrender, because I will show you know mercy."
"I'm not surrendering," I said drawing Backbiter,
"Ah, I nearly forgot about that sword, Even with that blade you can't beat me." He said raising his right arm,
"We'll see," I said,
a giant blue beam of light shot from Ouranous' right hand, and the beam soared toward me. Atlas dove in the way, blasting him instead of me. This was my chance, as Atlas fell to the ground, I leaped over his body and attacked, Ouraonous had drew his own sword so fast I didn't see him do it. His sword met mine and sparks flew. Ouranous began his attack, It took every maneuver I knew to stay alive. I was dodging and blocking, Ouranous easily had the upper hand, and he began to drive me back to the cliffs. I would have much preferred to fight with Riptide, I was so much more used to its weight, and if I kept fighting the way I was, Ouranous would knock me off the edge. I had to do something unexpected and fast. Without thinking I let go of Backbiter with one hand and got Riptide out, careful not to stop blocking Ouranous' oncoming attacks. I managed to uncap riptide, and I continued to fight. Now with two swords at my disposal, I felt I now had the advantage. I swiped with Riptide, and Ouranous blocked, and with Ouranous concentrating on Riptide, I swung Backbiter at Ouranous' leg. Ouranous let out a yelp of pain, but he did not falter. I continued to fight, letting each swing flow into the next one. Despite being a Super Titan, or whatever you call him, Ouranous was only one person, he couldn't defend against two swords at once; however, he was actually pretty good, I had to work hard for each small cut I was able to inflict on Ouranous, sweat began to pour down my face, I slashed at his arm with Riptide, it bounced harmlessly off his skin. Riptide was useless after all, I was beginning to doubt the truth in Backbiter being the only sword able to hurt him, but it was then revealed to me how true Chiron's words were. I slashed again, only with Backbiter this time, making a very deep cut on Ouranous's arm. Moments later there were shouts of joy from below. Apparently, we had defeated the last of the monsters down there. Ouranous stepped back,
"I had just about enough of you, and your resistance, it is time to end this." He looked up at the sky and began to laugh, "Achilles Jackson, prepare yourself, you are about to see my most powerful ability," He stretched both arms toward the sky, " Beings of the night!' He said, "You have found refuge in my domain, you were sent there as memories, but you will now come as you once were, Come oh beings of the night sky and join this battle, Fight!"
The earth began to rumble, and it seemed as if the night was getting darker. I looked up at the sky, and several stars were moving, they were all channeling toward the funnel of sky touching the ground. After several moments the funnel was shining very brightly, filled with light. Then a figure stepped out onto the cliffs, It was a giant golden bear.
"Achilles Jackson, say hello to the great bear, better known as Ursa Major!"
"But that's a constellation! That can't be real!" I said,
"Oh, but it is, and look here comes more,"
As he said this, a giant lion came out onto the cliffs, as well as a hydra, a squid, a crab, and a dragon all golden like the bear.
"This ought to even the odds a little," Said Ouranous, "You see, I have summoned the constellations to battle, as you know the night sky was filled with terrible monsters of the past, now I am going to use them against you. Go my creatures! Destroy their army! Except you Ursa, I want you to take care of our friend here,"
This was bad, no doubt our numbers were greatly dwindling thanks to the army of monsters, but now there were giant monsters, they had to defend against, and they would no doubt be destroyed. Atlas still lay there unconscious, I was going to have no help with this one. Ursa roared loudly and charged. I slashed but Backbiter merely bounced off its shining body, How was I supposed to fight the stars? I had remembered what Gaea had told me, "Remember the stars," she said, but how were they supposed to help? Right now the stars were trying to kill me. I started to think, there were other constellations too, Ouranous said he summoned them all, The bear pounced on me. I was unable to move.
"You forgot something Ouranous," I said trying to ignore Ursa's teeth shining in my face, "Monsters weren't the only constellations up there, there were good guys too!" Just as I said this the bear collapsed on me, apparently dead,
"No!" Ouranous shouted,
I pushed the bear off me and saw that the bear was shot with golden arrows, I looked over at its attacker, and a golden girl stood there, she looked about thirteen years old, and dressed like one of the Hunters of Artemis, I had no clue as to who this might be, She was not a constellation I was familiar with. Behind her stood a golden man with lion skin armor, I recognized him as Heracles, I recognized also, Castor and Pollux (Gemini), Perseus, and a golden Pegasus. They didn't say a word, but they ran down the side of the mountain to join the battle.
"I didn't count on that backfiring," Ouranous said, "but no matter I can finish you myself!"
"Think again father!" said a booming voice from behind Ouranous, It was Atlas, he was awake, and he was slowly lifting the sky funnel up.
"Get away from there!" Ouranous shouted, and charged toward him,
I managed to cut across his path. "You're not going anywhere." I said leveling Backbiter,
Ouranous swiped with his sword, I blocked with surprising ease, Ouranous was getting weaker. I began a flurry of strikes driving him across the top of the mountain.I was going to win! I disarmed Ouranous with a sword maneuver my dad taught me when I was really young, and knocked him down to his knees, I held Backbiter to his throat,
"You have lost!" I said venomously, I raised my sword to finish him, but then I felt a very sharp agonizing pain in my right foot, I screamed in pain and crumbled to the ground. I looked and saw that an arrow had been shot into my heel. I looked to see where it came from and, I saw Echidna vanish in another cloud of green smoke from one of the smaller peaks below. Ouranous got to his feet and grabbed me by the throat, he raised me up in the air and began to laugh, "No, You have lost." He said, he began to squeeze, I was getting desperate for air, and on top of that, the pain in my heel was excruciating. There was a war cry from behind me and a giant war hammer smashed against Ouranous' skull, Ouranous dropped me out of shock,
"Eat that, ya large sack of turd!" shouted Hector,
Ouranous turned toward him, and picked up his sword. Hector's hammer was broken from the blow, which left Hector defenceless, Ouranous laughed as he impaled Hector with his sword and kicked him off the mountaintop.
"No!" I yelled, and I managed to get back on my feet. Caught off guard by my quick recovery, Ouranous stood there stunned, and with lightning speed, I plunged Backbiter through Ouranous' armor and into his chest, Ouranous let out a great shout and fell to the ground, he tried to get up, but he could not, and after one final effort to get back on his feet he collapsed and lay there driving the sword further into his chest and completely impale him. As Atlas managed to lift the entire load back onto his shoulders, Ouranous began to fade, with the satisfaction of defeating Ouranous, I realized the growing pain in my heel, and how exhausted I felt. I felt my legs give way and I collapsed on the ground and passed out.
