Chapter 20: A Final Battle

The battle waged on. The gods and Titans struggled, and the others below were giving it all they had. Soon, Titans were being beaten down, but the gods had suffered injuries as well. When the Titans had been killed, Ares, Flamma and Argentum turned their attention to Caudus, Hades and Mars and began to fight them. Pandora was still fighting Articulos as well. The dragon stumbled back as Pandora gave him a particularly hard whack across his snout. He held his head and roared as Mars' influence started to crumble.

"Fight him Articulos!" Pandora yelled.

Articulos roared as he stumbled. Mars saw this and growled, then transferred himself into the dragon. Articulos' eyes snapped open, and he growled at the minotaur.

"Just when you think we get a break." muttered the minotaur, as the dragon launched himself at her again. He roared and breathed fire at Pandora, flapping his wings and rising into the air. Pandora blocked him with her axe, but couldn't move due to the large torrent of fire. "I need some help here!" She yelled at Argentum.

I'm a little busy at the moment, the Cerberus said; he was busy fighting Hades.

"I got you!" Ares yelled, jumping into the air. "You can't escape me!"

The wolf transformed midair into a giant eagle and flew at Articulos. The dragon roared, issuing the challenge. The eagle screeched back, and both of them collided in a flurry of scales, feathers, wings, and talons. Ares screeched, raking his talons against Articulos' snout. The dragon roared and tried to bite him. Ares swooped down to avoid his teeth, but Articulos managed to slam his in the chest with his tail. The eagle screeched in pain and glared at the dragon.

So you want to do this the hard way? he asked telepathically.

And what would that be? Sending me into Pandora's Box once again? You know I'll just break free, Mars shot back through Articulos.

Not if I send you to Tartarus, Ares replied, his body glowing.

Mars' eyes widened. To what?! You wouldn't!

I would.

The eagle screeched and was bathed in light that covered Mars, who began to roar in pain. Caudus and Hades both saw what was happening and jumped over to help, with Flamma and Argentum in hot pursuit.

Help me! Mars roared as he began to vanish. He's banishing me to Tartarus!

Hades body tackled Ares. The light disappeared, and Mars flew back from the eagle. The giant eagle screeched and scratched Hades in the eye. The Cerberus roared in pain and was tackled by Argentum. The god of war turned back to mars and glowed even brighter this time.

"You will fall!" he screeched, but this time he was blocked by Caudus.

No...you will, the hydra said, and attacked the eagle.

Ares quickly changed into a wolf again and exchanged claws with the hydra. He kept his spell on Mars, who was continuing to vanish. When he was almost gone, he looked at Ares. You may have banished me, but Hades and Caudus will continue to do their work!

With that, he was gone. Suddenly, a flash of light shone and Articulos was back. The Avatar looked around, confused. Where am I? Last thing I remember- the dragon said, but stopped when he saw the battle in front of him. He growled, and lunged at Caudus.

The hydra jumped away and flew into the air. Ares ran over to Zeus, who had just thrown one of titans to the ground. "Why hasn't the spell worn of Caudus? Mars was banished!"

"Mars isn't his Master," Zeus said. "Hades is."

Ares looked over at Hades, who was tussling with Argentum. "Then I'll take him down," he snarled.

The giant wolf lunged at Hades. Argentum looked at the wolf as he joined them.

Together? the Cerberus asked. The wolf smiled.

"You bet," Ares said.

The two looked at Hades, and attacked together. Flamma was flying up in the air to aid Articulos with Athena on her back. The griffin screeched and dove at the Cerberus, scratching him with her talons.

We've got him honey, go help Articulos with Caudus, Argentum said, pinning Hades down. The griffin smiled and flew towards Caudus. The guardian of the Underworld looked at Flamma as he flew. His heads snapped at the griffin, trying to catch her. Not this time my friend, she muttered, cuffing him with one of her wings.

The hydra roared and glared at her, then breathed fire from its nice heads. Flamma screeched and dodged, but then heard a roar as Articulous flew towards Caudus, letting out his own stream of flames. "I've come to my senses. Now it's time for you to as well" the dragon roared, slamming into the hydra and sending them both tumbling to the ground.

Caudus roared. Occidam te, draco! (I will kill you, dragon!) he said as he snapped at the Avatar.

Articulos put a foot down on five of Caudus' heads, while Flamma pinned the other four. Not likely, Articulos said back.

The hydra growled. It struggled to get up, but the dragon and griffin were keeping it in place. Me non potes. Domini inferi liberasti me, (You can't keep me down. Master Hades will free me,) it said.

Your 'master' is currently occupied, Flamma snapped, looking over to where Ares, Argentum and Hades were currently fighting.

Argentum growled, his three heads snapping at Hades. The evil Cerberus was currently at a disadvantage as the god and white Cerberus were wounding him.

"Give up! Let my friend go, unless you want to end up like Mars" Ares growled.

"Numquam. Caudi mihi pertinent. (Never. Caudus belongs to me,)" Hades roared.

"He belongs to no one!" Ares roared back, slashing Hades across the chest.

The Cerberus roared and glared at the god of war. "He is the Guardian of the Underworld. The hydra belongs with me!"

"And it should be his choice to fight, not forced upon him by someone. You may be his master, but a good master doesn't turn their slaves into monsters!" Ares said, before ripping out Hades' heart.

The Cerberus fell to the ground, dead.