Here you go. The next chapter. I hope you enjoy it.
Issei sprinted to the palace from the bath, traveling the mile within a minute as he activated rapidly to achieve such speed. As he approached, he noticed what was happening. Devils, Fallen Angels and Magicians were assaulting the palace of the Gods! Stray Exorcists were there as well! Issei snarled. 'Khaos Brigade.'
Issei slammed his shoulder into the wall of devils in the way of the palace doors, before leaping over the front line of soldiers. They have the symbol of Ares, also known as the Spartan symbol which was just a red triangle like line. He entered the main hall of the palace and he could see the destruction. So many statues, works of art and other things were in ruin. Fire was everywhere and bodies littered. Soldiers of the Greek and the Khaos Brigade littered the ground. Apollo, Aesculapius and his daughter Aceso were in the main hall as well, tending to the wounded. They were closer to Zeus's throne room and chambers, but it was the most secure part of the palace. Multiple breaches in the walls were made which is why there were so many dead, but Ares had plugged them up with his men. Ares was situated in the hole closest to the wounded where he and four soldiers plugged the wall up in a defensive line with spears, shields, swords and magic.
There were three holes and then there was the main doors which were the largest of the breaches. This was where the main branch of the Khaos Brigade was focused. The Throne Room was directly across the large room from the doors. To the right before you enter the chambers was Ares and the healing station. The other two holes were located on the far left corner and then in the sealing. The sealing was being sealed shut with magic as Poseidon, Hermes, Nike, and Aphrodite sealed it up with combination magic. It wasn't going anywhere. Issei ran over towards Athena who had plugged up the largest hole to the left of the chambers, though she wasn't on the front lines. She was behind the group of Ares soldiers providing long range fire.
"Athena! Where is Artemis?!" Issei demanded.
"I don't know! I was given this position as soon as I got here. Check your chambers!" Athena said and Issei ran off down the hallway that was to the right of entering the big room from the doors. He ran down the long hallway and that is when he saw it. Artemis and a few huntresses were hold up near his chambers. The long hallway was littered with dead bodies of the Khaos Brigade but the more immediate bodies were the huntresses that was with her. She was losing her forces badly as a very powerful Fallen Angel had broken through. Issei ran right towards them when the Fallen Angel stabbed the Huntress to the left of Artemis. The Goddess was busy fighting off another breach of soldiers to her left and she screamed in fury.
"YOU WILL NOT TOUCH HER!" Issei roared as he leapt into the air slamming his boot down onto the Fallen Angel which actually sent the Fallen Angel forward, crushing his head beneath Issei's boot.
"About time you got here beast! WHERE WERE YOU?!"
"Now is not the time to point the blame!" Issei said, using Excalibur destruction and blessing. Blessing increased the power of destruction as destruction formed a very powerful shockwave which he sent down the long hallway with one swing and then sent the shockwave through the one breach in the walls. "Artemis! Use your magic and shield yourself and the rest of your hunters! Please!"
Artemis hesitated for a moment but seeing the injuries her companions have taken she complied, forming a dome barrier around her and the remaining two huntresses, sealing her off from the battle. Issei closed his eyes and roared in fury. It was now Issei made his stand to protect Artemis. He could see down the long hallway that Ares was moving down the hallway, ever so slowly to reach them in the chambers, but the Khaos Brigade had penetrated the hallways with one big hole and sent force after force. Issei opened his eyes and swung his gauntlet down, sending his 'claws' into the throat of the Exorcist that attempted to swing his light sword at Issei's neck, but it didn't work. Issei ripped out his throat and spartan kicked him back into two Fallen Angels, knocking them back but not over.
The Khaos Brigade began their assault full force, seeing that a big threat had appeared.
"Kill the Scorpion and get that little girl quickly! We can win this fight!" Exclaimed a Fallen Angel with four wings, who threw a spear at Issei. Issei used his gauntlet and grabbed onto the spear before chucking it back at him, killing the Fallen Angel with a spear through his chest. Issei growled and held his ground, using his gauntlet to redirect a sword of light into the exorcist next to him before impaling the man with his Gladius. Issei then felt a blow to his helmet, forcing him to sway. He was being overwhelmed quickly as the hole in the corner of the room was also being used as an entrance. Issei snarled and used his gauntlet to block the next blow while impaling towards the hallway, killing an exorcist through his mouth.
Artemis watched as Issei stood his ground, standing between the two hordes of terrorists and her barrier. She watched as he swatted away blows to her shield. Her eyes were wide and focused on him and the fight, staring in shock. The devil was risking his life for her and she knew instantly that he would lay down his life for her when he took a magic bolt into his shoulder, sending him staggering back a foot. She also saw the blood drip down onto the ground.
'Why… why go to these lengths?! Why would a beast do this?!' Artemis demanded of the universe.
As if Artemis was a nut job, a voice pipped up. 'Because he cares for you. It's like Athena said. He is a different breed of man.'
Artemis shook her head. 'No! There has to be another reason. He… he must be doing this in order to gain my favor to bed me!' Artemis said. The voice in her head didn't say a word as even Artemis didn't believe what she said.
Issei hissed at the blow to his shoulder but he didn't let that stop him. These bastards all were going after him and Artemis. Issei made a promise to Zeus to protect her and he keeps his promises. He had no other reason to even stay here and help the Olympians other than his promise. This is what made him a better man than most men. Issei brought his blade in a sweeping arm, decapitating three devils and an exorcist with one swing before a sword pieced his armor on his thigh, getting an inch deep wound. Issei swung his gauntlet and completely destroyed the brain of the exorcist which splattered all over the nice stone floor of the room.
"You fucking bastards think you can touch her?! Not while I still draw a breath will I allow you to lay a hand on her!" Issei said, using destruction to send a wave of power down the hallway before he was stabbed in the gut an inch. Issei snarled and shoved his fingers into the eyes of the devil, sending the devil into a screaming fit as he clawed at his own eyes. Issei turned only to find a sword almost striking his face so Issei ended up bending backwards to dodge. Issei kicked the Fallen Angel backwards before he ended up getting tripped from the side by a devil. Once tripped, Issei was stabbed in the shoulder once more by the devil, letting Issei roar in pain. "Fuck you!" Issei hissed, grabbing the devil by the testicles before squeezing, popping the devil's junk who was sent into a fit even worse than the one who lost his eyes. Issei leapt to his feet only to get another penetration into his chest, barely missing his heart but his lung was penetrated. His armor was falling apart from the constant blows as the single breastplate was cracking under the pressure of the attacks.
Issei coughed up blood from the blow but didn't falter, pulling the devil that stabbed him close to him and stabbing him in the gut before pushing him hard into the next group who fell over like pins. Issei swung his gauntlet and destroyed the group that fell, completely obliterating them. Issei was stabbed in the side of his gut, which completely destroyed his chest armor, which left the pauldrons, his arm armor and the belt armor and below. He was defenseless in his chest. Issei spat blood at the exorcist and grabbed onto his throat, squeezing and penetrating the spinal cord with the claws of Excalibur before using him to block a magical shot, which incinerated the body. Issei ducked under an ax of a Fallen Angel before uppercutting the female, which decapitated her with one blow before falling to the floor to avoid a long sword of another Fallen Angel. Issei shoved his sword into the gut of the Fallen Angel before tossing him across the room into the hole, knocking down several terrorists.
Artemis had tears in her eyes as she attempted to remove the barrier, only for her companions to hold her back, forcing her to keep it up as Issei was attacked again, and again. Unrelenting hordes fell upon him, doing major damage to Issei. His left lung was punctured and there was a lot of internal bleeding as well as blood entering his airways, in which he had to vomit up blood constantly. Issei was dying. 'He… he really is going to lay his life down for me… and I… I was horrible to him.' Artemis thought, watching as Issei was slashed across his back, barely missing his spinal cord. 'I'm so sorry Issei.' She cried to herself.
Issei swung his Gladius and took the head off the exorcist that had struck his back. Issei vomited up a large amount of blood and he looked up from the ground as he did so. He saw something. It was Ares! He was forcing his way to Issei and Artemis. Issei smiled at this but his thoughts were immediately removed from that as a large spear found it's way into Issei's stomach and out his back, once again missing his spinal cord. Issei vomited up a massive amount of blood before he was stabbed in the chest in the left lung and slashed on his right, which shaved off a lot of his flesh and muscle on his chest. Issei vomited up even more blood and his vision grew very blurry. He almost passed out but thinking about Artemis behind him sent a surge of adrenaline into his system. Issei pulled threw and pulled the spear through his body, bringing the Fallen Angel closer before swinging his Gladius to his left and then his right, removing the throats of the two Devils who had damaged him with their swords. He then stabbed downwards into the chest of the Fallen Angel before letting the spear go through him all the way. Issei staggered on his feet as blood poured out of his wound as well as out of his mouth. His chest was covered in the blood of himself and his enemies. The ground below him was just a pool at this point. He stared at the ground as his vision blurred and he puked up more blood. It was then a pair of footsteps stood before him but no blade came. Issei looked up into the eyes of a Fallen Angel with six wings. He was alone and the men coming through the hole in the wall ran to reinforce the hallway to stop Ares.
"You fought well boy but you are just one against many. I am not so cruel… your name shall be remembered for all time… but you cannot get in our way anymore… good bye, Issei Hyoudou." The Fallen Angel said, grabbing Issei by his neck before sticking his blade into Issei's chest, penetrating his right lung. The Fallen Angel hugged Issei to him to make sure Issei didn't get away as he felt Issei slump forward into the blade of the Fallen Angel. He then let Issei fall to the ground as the Fallen Angel approached Artemis and raised his spear to start his attack on the barrier. "Good bye Artemis. You Coward." The Angel said, sending his spear down only for him to stop. The Fallen looked down and noticed a Gladius was sent through his back and out his heart. He could actually see his heart on the sword like a shish kebob. The Angel looked behind him into the lifeless eyes of Issei Hyoudou who fell backwards, pulling the Gladius out of the Fallen Angel. Issei fell against the wall, slumped against it as he drew a final ragged breath.
Ares charged into the room covered in blood, immediately looking at Artemis. He didn't even get a word out when he saw where she was looking. The God of War turned and saw Issei's sword fall out of his hands. Issei was dead.
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