Alexander:
This had been one of the longest fights I'd ever participated in.
My blade deflected a stab and used my momentum to shoulder-check the Titan. Despite his larger stature at a towering 8 feet, my speed and strength were still enough to push him back. But not before his knee had come up to hit my ribs.
I felt some of them crack from the force and pain flare, but it wasn't enough to stop me from cranking up the lightning flowing through my body. With another burst of speed, I rushed towards the Titan, Tsurugi scored a glancing blow that tore through what remained of one of his shoulder pauldrons and my leg came up for a kick.
Koios blocked with one of his arms and I felt the muscles in my legs groan in protest. Divine flesh sure was made out of some tough shit.
Ducking under a retaliatory swing of his own, I aimed my free hand at the Titan's outstretched hand and unleashed a lightning bolt. The sounds of Koios roaring in pain as my lightning bolt blasted his sword off into the distance brought a smile to my face.
Which I immediately paid for.
His other hand punched my chest and shattered ribs that had just healed. Despite the blood that spewed out from my mouth as the bones pierced my lungs, I retaliated with a headbutt that broke the Titan's nose for the 3rd time today.
A blast of air sent from a flick of my wrist had the both of us sliding back from each other, carving trails through the ground where our feet had been planted.
I coughed up more blood as my lungs pushed the bones out and remolded them to the rest of my ribcage. The crimson liquid joined all the other places my blood had splattered across what had once been a courtyard. It was intermingled with golden ichor that was equally spewed about from Koios. Save for our blood, only rubble and bodies of any of the Titan's reinforcements that had come and tried to interrupt our fight existed in this place now.
Shaping the lighting in the storm that raged above, I prepared myself for another round of fighting.
"C'mon you bastard." I roared out, my freshly healed lungs crying out in protest at the action and the smoke that was inhaled during it, "Don't tell me you down and out yet. We're just getting started."
The Titan of the North glared at me and climbed back onto his feet. With a huff of anger, he ripped his shredded pauldron off of his right shoulder, "I can see why Kronos warned me about you boy. You're one of the more powerful Demigods I've ever encountered. Which means it is all the more important that I end you here and now."
"Hate to break it to you, but you'll have to try a little harder than you've been to do that." I taunted.
Koios frowned, "Tartarus has stripped me of much of my power. Be lucky you are not facing me at my prime, boy, I'd have turned you to ash with a wink of my eye."
"I'm sure." I snorted, "But hey, thanks for the idea."
The Titan titled his head in confusion, "What?"
"Kirin."
My mighty lightning dragon soared down from the sky with the same ferocity of the storm it was born from and crashed into the Titan with a mighty clap of thunder. I found myself summoning a shield of light to protect myself as the shockwave and lightning rolled over the area.
I needed to start putting some distance between myself and targets when I was launching Kirin's.
With a gust of wind, I cleared the debris-filled air and found Koios still standing, albeit barely. If the charred skin and now destroyed armor were anything to go by, I'd say Kirin did quite a bit of damage.
"W-what i-in the name of mother was that!?" The Titan huffed out between bouts of labored breathing groans of pain, "Did you just throw a dragon made of lightning at me? Since when can mortals do that?"
I shrugged, "I'm special like that. Though if you're that interested in it, I can show you again."
"Wait n-"
"Kirin."
Another clap of lightning went off and my second azure dragon slammed into the already damaged Titan.
This time Koios wasn't left standing. The ground beneath him shattered and melted from the force of the lightning and despite his attempt to block it, the Titan was brought down and buried inside a newly formed crater.
Heh, this was fun.
Walking up to the lip of the crater I caught a whiff of burning flesh and looked downwards. You know divine or not, I don't think it was particularly healthy for parts of his skin to be bubbling like that.
"So… are we done here yet?" I asked, "Or do we need a third example."
Through one of his eyes that wasn't melted shut I saw sheer rage directed at me, "I'm going to kill you boy and it's going to be slow and painful."
"So we do need a third example?"
"RAAGGHH!"
!
Warning! Divine Form (Weakened) detected.
Oh shit. I forgot they could do that.
A bright blue light nearly blinded me before an equally bright ethereal fist caught my face in a punch and nearly tore my jaw off. Another punch caught my sternum, then another folded me over, and the next one made my vision go white as it crashed into my temple…
I think you could see where this was going.
Dozens of punches hit me in the span of mere seconds as I felt myself get quite literally pounded into the ground. It was to the point that I didn't know what hurt worse, all the hits I was taking or the fact my back was being used to punch through dirt and stone with every hit.
Vaguely I could make out Koios ethereal blue divine form. On one hand, the fact that I could even see this form and wasn't instantaneously incinerated by it was good news. On the other hand, the sheer power he was putting off was very concerning.
The punches lessened and I found myself being flung upwards, back through all the Earth I had just been beaten through. I barely registered breaking the surface and hitting the ground before he was on me again.
I lashed out with a kick and caught him in the chest. While he wasn't even flesh and blood anymore, I still felt something give and he was pushed back.
Good, that meant I could still damage him
Charging up a Chidori, I ignored the pain in basically every part of my body and surged forward. I had hoped to catch him off guard and I thought I had. Instead even as my strike impacted and made him grunt in pain, a hand tightened around my throat.
The bastard had baited me.
"You know kid, I normally don't enjoy death and suffering like my brothers." He growled out as his grip tightened and he lifted me, "But for you, I think I'll make an exception."
I tried to break the grip, but his clasp around my throat was iron tight.
Fuck. Am I going to waste my hard-earned stat points to deal with this asshole? I'd been saving them for the eventuality that I run into a primordial or higher-end god-like my gramps one day. Not some low-level clown Titan.
'Fuck Divine forms. I know it's rich coming from me, but this was some damn bullshit.'
Only my decision to dump my stat points and truly go toe to toe with the Titan was interrupted.
!
Allow mental communication? [Yes/No]
The fuck? Who was trying to talk to me in the middle of a death battle with a Titan?
Yes?
"You have fought well my boy, but now the tide has turned against you. You will not be able to defeat a divine form on your own currently. For your bravery and selflessness in defense of this holy monastery, I offer you aid. All I ask for in return is to rout this evil from our land and protect the innocent they have endangered."
!
Accept the stranger's deal? [Yes/No]
My vision started to blur as my lungs used up the last of their oxygen. To the point where everything was beginning to become hazy.
Ah fuck it why not? If someone was offering a blessing that might save me from wasting my stat points, then who was I to stop them? Especially if the deal was just to kick the ass of someone I was already fighting.
Yes.
!
Contract has been formed!
You have become a Champion!
Champion of Michael: The righteous energy of the Archangel Michael now burns within you. Your soul now has a natural affinity for Fire and Holy Energy. You may now access Pyrokinesis and Holy Imbuement. Costs of Photokinesis have been halved. Flame resistance gained.
Title earned!
Sword of Michael: You are Michael's chosen Sword. Enforcer of his authority and vessel for all that he represents. You now have immunity to Holy Energy, increased mana gain from all INT points, and a permanent increase to all physical stats.
Well… would you look at that.
System apply skill book.
Skill book has been applied!
Skill has been learned!
I stopped trying to pry off the hand that was wrapped around my neck and instead put my palm into the Titan's face.
A ball of raging orange flames immediately formed around my hand. A burning sensation filled me as I activated the Pyrokinesis. The power seemed to tug on my whole body, insistent that I unleash it.
Then I imbued it with Holy Energy.
The orange flame turned to a golden white and I saw Koios' eyes widen.
"Fireball." I choked out.
If it wasn't me who launched it, I would have thought a miniature sun had formed and then subsequently exploded. Even then it sure felt like it had.
The explosion launched us away from each other and air-filled my oxygen-starved lungs. Hitting the ground I rolled to a sloppy stop and wasted no time reaching into my inventory and grabbing a piece of ambrosia.
Popping it into my mouth I almost melted in sheer relief as all the pain in my body receded.
!
New skill unlocked: Pyrokinesis
Pyrokinesis, Lvl (1): An ability that allows you to manipulate fire.
- 60 MP per minute
– "One of the five major elements which make up this world, the spark that ignited genesis, the light which nurtures life."
Sub element unlocked: Holy Fire
Holy Fire, Lvl (1): A flame that burns away even the darkest of shadows and blazes with the ferocity of the sun.
– 2500 MP per minute
– X3.5 Damage to beings of darkness / X2 Damage compared to normal flame.
– Cannot be extinguished by normal methods. Beings must have significant divine power to do so.
– "Burn the heretic and suffer not the devil."
Christmas came early.
Pushing myself up I eyed my opponent from where he had landed. Koios was on a knee struggling for breath, completely knocked out of his divine form. Whatever healing his divine power had accomplished to get him back into fighting condition from my Kirin's had been completely undone. Most of his body was now covered in horrific burns that looked like they went into the muscle.
Being slightly downwind of him I could smell the burning that still came from bits of his flesh that were still bubbling.
Koios, Lvl 305 (Weakened)
Title: Titan of the North
[HP] - 3000/200,000
[MP] - 10985/300,000
Seems using that divine form took most of the fight out of him.
Yet despite his lethal injuries and damage, I watched as the bastard forced himself to rise to his feet.
"I-I am not done yet boy." He rasped out as I saw his power begin to rise, "I will not return defeated by a mere child."
With a snort I built lightning within my hand and shaped it into one of my favorite attacks. Then I applied my new trick to it and watched my blue lightning turn a blinding white.
Sub element unlocked: Holy Lightning
– "For when you just wanna make sure a demon stays extra dead."
I streaked forward with my Holy Chidori faster than Koios could keep up with in his injured state. Allowing my hand to carve through the flesh and muscle that protected his heart with ease.
A choked cry of pain rang out as I felt whatever energy he had left leave his body. With a heave, I ripped my hand from his chest and pushed him back down to his knees.
Koios spat up more Ichor as his body trembled with pain and stared at me with disbelieving eyes. He couldn't comprehend that a mortal, one that would barely be considered an adult in most cultures, had defeated him. Heh, he would have had a full-blown meltdown had he faced Issei instead. Imagine being a proud and powerful divine being, and getting absolutely destroyed by a perverted teenager and a dragon with depression issues.
"It took nearly all of my divine power to extinguish that fire. I know not how you can use flame of such power, nor your ability to move through dimensions. But next time I will be prepared." The Titan rasped, "You have won for now Arc, but I will have my vengeance."
Gripping the heavenly blade in my hand I brought it up above the Titan's head, "You say that like I'm going to just let you leave. That's not happening. What is going to happen is that I'm sending you back to the pit, and you're going to stay there for a good long while."
I had considered putting him down permanently with a Colt bullet, but he wasn't worth my very limited supply of 2.
"Yes I suppose I will, but my brothers will not be so easy. They have been out and in the mortal world much longer than. Their powers closer to their prime than mine." He chuckled, "Prepare yourself boy, this war has only just begun."
I gave a silent glare and with a heave brought Tsurugi down. Golden ichor sprayed as the Titan's head separated from the rest of his body.
Thunder cracked in the sky above me and I felt a sense of approval come with it. Seems Zeus was pleased with my victory.
I ignored the notifications that told me I was currently gaining levels and bent down to pick up the head. Looking at the now lifeless head of the Titan, an idea came to me. One that was inspired by a certain green-eyed friend of mine.
Khaos Brigade and Kronos together huh?
Sometimes the randomizer option truly puzzled me. I mean sure, I got the "random" part would alter some things and even apparently mash aspects of other universes all into one. As evidenced by some of the Supernatural elements like The Colt existing or that the Biblical pantheon was almost identical to the Three Factions from DXD.
All made sort of sense in a way that made my head hurt. Yet so far all the characters taken from said series had been pretty true to their canon selves. The only difference was that Zeus seemed a bit more mature and had new characters shaking things up.
But some of those new characters didn't quite fit.
Like that one chick who knew the old Alex in the underworld. Her name was Greta if I remember right. She wasn't just some side character who could be excused as never being shown, like how Gwen or some of the Demigods I met could have. Greta was a Lucifuge and Cadius had her older sister Daphne in his peerage.
I'm pretty sure Sirzechs (who by the way was technically my cousin-in-law through Jezabell's mother I think) was supposed to have the only female Lucifuge in existence in his peerage in canon.
Another puzzling headache was that Lucifer and Satan were two separate beings and still alive. With the former being my grandmother. Even now knowing their history after reading up on them at the library in the underworld, I just knew that particular situation was going to be a headache eventually.
Call me a prophet, but I'm already betting that this Khaos Brigade is going to bust Satan out of his imprisonment. A powerful and important figure that could cause a civil war at minimum in a powerful faction?
You'd be an idiot to not at least try.
It was all just one big headache.
And now I'm looking at another one.
"You know you have the same ticks as your grandmother? From the cracking knuckles to the rhythm of your foot tapping. It's uncanny considering you don't look much like her." The Archangel sitting in front of me offered with an easy smile.
I could see why my grandmother and her twin avoided this dude after he tanned their asses black and blue. He was easy-going and seemingly laid back, but my mage sight and senses let me know unfathomable power laid beneath his skin.
"You also fight like her, brutal and fast. Luci never was one to waste her time with creatures she considered below her." He chuckled.
"That's because of my mother. She taught me not to play with my prey." I shrugged.
"Hmm fair enough."
The Angel across from me had a blonde high fade that along with his sunglasses would have marked him as any soldier in a modern military. The white t-shirt, old leather jacket, and jeans detracted from that slightly. Instead, it made him seem like a young man fresh back from the front circa the 1950s. A stark difference from Uriel's spook suits and Gabriel's modest robes.
Made sense I suppose. He was the patron saint of soldiers and war.
Michael, Lvl?
Title: The Commander
Ah yes, I was back to not being able to see levels. Joy.
"So any reason in particular, you wanted to meet me in person? Usually, when Uriel wants to talk to me he just drops a note somewhere in front of me. Plus you talked to me in my head earlier." I pointed out.
"Very true." Michael nodded, "But I like to think I'm a bit more personable than my brother and your mental shields are quite strong. Uriel was right when he told me it was like trying to pierce the mind of our father. In other words, simply impossible without permission. Which is why I sought to talk to you face to face."
We were currently sitting in the tallest spire in Heaven. Yeah, that's right. I said Heaven itself. Now, as a Greek Demigod who was mixed with some Devil and Human inside of my DNA I was pretty sure, there had to be some rules about my entry being barred unless I was dead. Rules which I'm pretty sure old Saint Peter was about to yell at me about until Michael himself popped down to the front gate to pick me up.
I'd never seen someone shut up so fast in my life.
"You're almost impossibly strong mental defenses aside. I shall get right to the point and say I wish to begin training you in the arts of martial weapons and the Holy Fire ability I granted you." He said bluntly.
By Chaos… today was just full of surprises.
"Really? You'd waste your time doing that?" I asked skeptically.
That was like Zeus saying that he would train me personally. What could Michael possibly get out of this?
Michael smiled, "It would not be a waste of my time at all. You are an incredibly powerful mortal. With the attack of Kronos's forces and what Uriel's sources say are the Khaos Brigade, Heaven has just gone from a neutral 3rd party to actively needing to side with the Greeks and Odin's Norse. Training you up will help immensely with the war effort."
I raised an eyebrow, "And?"
"And it is now my responsibility." He chuckled, "As both my champion and my great-nephew, you now represent me when dealing with all of the supernatural. Which is why I cannot stand by while your swordsmanship is in need of vast improvement. The only reason you have been beating others with your blade is because you have been so much stronger and faster than them. Should you ever actually cross blades with a physical equal, and you one day will, they will most likely best you."
I can't say I was too surprised. I had only ever learned the basics of swinging and parrying with my sword. Percy always did kick my ass when it came to dueling when training.
"And you'll train me to be better?" I asked.
"Why of course." Michael nodded, "My signature weapons are the sword and spear. So much so that you can find most of the paintings done of me by mortals to include the two weapons. I cannot have my champion "sucking" as the kids say these days."
"Oh, wel-"
"And if my little sister ends up having an aneurysm because you're my champion and have been trained by me… well that's just an added bonus."
I gave him a deadpan stare, "Really? I mean completely understandable, but that's still petty."
"Did I mention I'll also be teaching you how to summon and manifest my avatar construct?"
I almost choked on my spit through sheer shock, "Holy shit I can access a Susanoo through you?!"
I had completely forgotten being the champion of a divine being could do that. That's how the Egyptians here did it. I think Carter Kane could form an avatar as Horus's Champion if I remembered right.
"What does the Shinto God of Storms have to do with this?"
"And that's how I got blessed by an Archangel." I finished.
Here I was sitting in my cabin trying to relax after 3 days of Michael beating proper footwork and stances into me. Yet I was met by a visitor that was aiming a look at me that practically screamed they were less than impressed with my explanation.
"How is it that whenever you disappear you always end up doing something incredibly dangerous and somehow end up getting a power boost out of it?" Annebeth huffed with her hands planted on her hips.
I had just helped save the Vatican, defeated a Titan (a weakened one albeit), and ensured that The Angels would now be in the Greek/Norse Alliance. So why did it feel like I was the one in trouble?
"Because I'm lucky?" I offered.
"One day that luck will run out for you." Annabeth scoffed, "But that just means I'll have to be there to save your sorry butt."
I gave her an exaggerated eye roll, "Oh, and what makes you think I'll bring you along for the ride next time?"
Annebeth smirked as she grabbed my keys off my nightstand and threw them to me.
Looking down at the keys to my Impala I went to ask where she thought we were going, only my question died in my throat as I received a peck on my cheek.
"Because next time is right now. Congratulations superboy, you're taking me to this nice Italian restaurant on central avenue for our first date." The blonde informed me with a wink.
Now that made my mind freeze.
"Wait a second, you're asking me for a date?" I questioned.
"No, I'm telling you that you're taking me on a date. I know how one track your mind is Alex. If I wait on you to ask me yourself we'll be well into our twenties. Now c'mon!"
You know she was right. I hadn't planned on dating anyone until both the Titan and then the Giants were dealt with for good.
But then again, who was I to say no to a cute blonde?