Disclaimer: I do not own any of the wonderful InuYasha characters created by Rumiko Takahashi, nor do I own any of the Greek gods listed within this story.
Challenge
When Tenshi returned from her visit with the oracle, she decided to seek out Athena to enlist her aid in translating the tome from Greek to Japanese. She headed to the room where she had her lessons with Athena the previous day. "Goddess of knowledge, I request your assistance" Tenshi called out as she entered the room. Within a few minutes, Athena appeared with a flash of golden light. Back from your visit with the oracle, I see." Athena smiled brightly as she approached Tenshi. "Hai. The oracle gave me a tome to assist in the quest. It is in Greek. I need your help translating it so I can read it." Tenshi handed the small, leather bound volume to the goddess. "You do not need me to translate this, Tenshi" she returned the tome to the puzzled warrior. "I will grant you the ability to read any language instead." Athena made to place her hands on Tenshi's forehead, but the warrior swiftly moved away warily. "Gomen, Tenshi. I forgot you do not allow anyone to touch you without permission." Athena bowed. "Will you allow me to touch your forehead to grant you this power?" she asked. "Hai, goddess." Tenshi stepped forward. Though she did not like to be touched, she knew the goddess meant well and the ability to read any language would be beneficial in the future. Athena placed two fingers on each side of Tenshi's temple. A soft golden light flowed from her fingertips into Tenshi's head in a matter of seconds. "There! You can now read the tome as easily as you can read Japanese." Athena stepped back from the warrior. "Arigato, goddess." Tenshi respectfully tilted her head to the goddess. "I will need your assistance again goddess." Tenshi briefly relayed all that had transpired at the oracle's temple, omitting only the parts about Ares' betrayal. "I see." Athena mused for a couple of moments before continuing. "I will meet with some of the other gods and will have a solution to connect you with the Caretaker in the morning." She smiled warmly at Tenshi, who bowed slightly in return. "Now I believe Ares is ready with your next 'training' session, so you best head over lest he become suspicious." Athena said before departing in a flash of light. "This session better be challenging or the god of war may find himself on the wrong side of my temper" Tenshi thought as she headed to the training arena.
When Tenshi entered the training room, her senses were immediately assaulted by the stench of graveyard soil and bones. She narrowed her eyes imperceptibly as she watched Areas from across the room. "He has been to see the dead priestess. This does not bode well for the Caretaker." She thought before Ares strutted over. "Tenshi, my warrior! Boy have I missed you!" Ares went to hug her only to find himself flat on his back and Tenshi standing on his chest with a razor sharp katana blade at his throat. "No one touches me without permission, War God. One would think you would have learned this by now. Or do you enjoy the pain so much you ignore my rule?" she quirked an eyebrow at him before executing a perfect back flip and landing a few feet away, katana ready in her hand. Ares flipped himself him onto his feet and rubbed his hands together in excitement. "Damnation, woman! You are one badass bitch!" He grabbed a goblet of wine and downed it in one gulp. "I have a special training session planned for you, warrior." He moved closer. "Ready or not, here we go!" he grabbed her wrist before she could react and they were gone in a blaze of blue lightning.
Tenshi pulled away from Ares as soon as they materialized and immediately fell into a battle stance. "Explain" she ground out between clenched teeth. Ares swept his arm out before him. "You wanted a challenge, here it is." Before them was a battleground strewn with dead and dying bodies. The clash of metal could be heard in the distance. Ares handed her two Sais and a rusty, dull katana. "Here are your weapons." Tenshi took the weapons from him and slid the katana to one side under her obi. She looked at him with a cold, calculating glare, waiting for him to continue. "Over the rise you will find a small group of Athena's warriors in battle with the local warlord's army. The army outnumbers the warriors five to one. You are now one of Athena's warriors and you must help the surviving men beat the warlord's army." Tenshi arched an eyebrow, waiting for the catch. "What?" he rolled his eyes at her scowl. "If I tell you more, it'll ruin the surprise." he smirked. "You will not interfere, war god or Olympus will be short a member before dawn." she promised. "You can't kill a god, Tenshi." He replied with a chuckle. "Who said anything about killing you?" she asked before launching herself towards the battle. Ares audibly gulped and unconsciously moved to protect the threatened body part. "Not only is she one hell of a warrior, she's also a scary bitch." He thought as he teleported to the battlefield to watch the ensuing carnage.
Tenshi crouched low at the top of the rise to survey the scene before her. She could see ten of Athena's warriors fighting before her. There were twice as many of the warlord's troops attacking them. As she watched, several of the enemy corpses struggled to their feet and jerkily entered the fray. "They are enchanted. That is what the war god was hiding." Tenshi focused on the fiercest Athenian warrior. He was a short, muscular man in brown leather and metal chest armor. His long black hair was in a loose ponytail and whipped around him as he fought the enemy. Tenshi worked her way over to him. "Warrior." she caught his attention and blocked his swing with her Sais. He was surprised she blocked his attack and shocked to see a mere woman before him. Tenshi pushed him back and swiftly dispatched the ghoul that was about to behead the man. "I was sent by the gods to assist you. I am tenshibo-ntamenihou. How do we defeat this army?" she continued to fight off the enemy as she waited for his answer. "I am Orthos. The warlord has a sorcerer who brings the dead back to life. Kill him and the army will fall." He glanced over his shoulder at her as he continued to fight his opponents. "Where is this sorcerer?" she asked as she sliced down two more enemy soldiers. "There is a barrier around the stand of trees on the other end of the battlefield. The sorcerer is inside." He looked at her again. "How will you, a mere woman, accomplish that which my army was not able to do?" She glared at him "Do not be deceived by this 'mere woman', warrior. I will take care of the sorcerer. Be prepared to finish off the remaining living soldiers once I do." Tenshi ordered as she took off towards the other side of the battlefield, leaving the befuddled warrior behind.