-Amos Kane-

I was ultimately surprised that I formed a shield as quickly as she attacked. "I'll hold her off," I started as I took in Carter will pull through despite Gaia's try. "Stand by Alyssa no matter what, she brings Geb with her," I continued and faced Sadie. "And Sadie, only use it if everything else seems dire, understand?" I firmly instructed, hoping that if she had to resort to such measures that she will pull through as well.

"What are you talking about?" She snapped as the Eighteenth Nome decided to take on my shield with multiple fireballs and small bolts of lightning.

Oh, this will be nothing like the Jacobi fight, Set confirmed what I already knew, but you know what you have to do first.

I smiled towards her as I suddenly recalled that fight, Sadie's reply to my concern. "A word, dear niece," I replied, which her eyes suddenly lit up in realization. "Now go, do what you've always done."

"I'll aid you-" Walt started.

"No, all of you go," I ordered as I strengthened my shield.

You have to say it Amos, or else you're on your own, Set reminded.

"And uh," I hesitated, wanting to personally strangle the God that decided to still hold such a grudge. "Disco is better than Jazz."

Ah yes, that's much better, Set approved immediately, I could feel his added power pulsing through me within seconds as an award.

"What does music genres have to do with this?" Percy demanded.

Absolutely nothing, I snarled at Set, who only chuckled in reply.

Sadie, Carter, and Walt exchanged looks before nodding and heading towards Mount Olympus, keeping together with Alyssa in the middle as I had instructed. Pleased by their cooperation, which is rare may I add, I turned towards the Eighteenth Nome as I observed what spell would be the best to start off with. Set had already gone a step forward and covered his avatar over me, another added shield which I could probably loosen my shield and depend on Set from here, but the risk is high enough having the God of Chaos backing me up.

"So you want to play with fire and lightning?" His voice boomed through the avatar. "And yet you know that is all Chaos magic, no matter how minor it is."

Vika grinned now as she paused her attacks, letting her Nome continue. "You can't even fight by yourself! You still rely on someone else, Kane," she laughed at the thought.

"What do you expect when the Chief Lector faces a Nome alone?" Our voices mixed, which made a weird low yet jazzy tone as the unified voice we share. "Surrender now, or face Set's restricted wrath," we warned.

"Restricted?" Vika grinned wildly, "You cannot control Set, Amos."

Hu, where did we hear that before? I reminded Set quickly, who growled in response.

"No one controls me!" Set roared. "Not even when I'm confounded to fighting in my host's body rather than my own form!"

To keep our union, I didn't argue against him. Honestly, it requires all of my focus to keep him concealed while he fights everyone, a weird but very effective battle strategy. I slipped into the position of restricting his movement when needed as he waved my shield away, staff ready as his avatar grinned.

In reply to the entertained grin Set bared at them, the Eighteenth Nome stopped; Vika took a step forward now. "I don't need a Nome to fight you, Amos," she started harshly. "I will fight you alone, even with Set on your side."

I couldn't help but smirk myself. "At least Vlad was smart not to cross Set, but now you look personally for death," The mixed voice continued.

Her eyes narrowed, "You're reputation is made up of fear thanks to Set. In all reality, you are as strong as an eight-year-old, Ignorant American."

"Eight-year-old!" Set snarled. "I've banished Apophis by myself long before your great-great-grandfather knew how to draw hieroglyphs!"

Set, she's just riling you up, I informed quickly. Don't get too winded up.

"I know what's she's doing, you don't have to tell me, Amos. I can get as pissed off as I want."

To prove his point, he slammed the staff to the ground, forming a deep crevice between Vika and her Nome, making certain that they can't interfere. Vika grinned to hearing Set's part of our argument. "Yeah Amos, Set's his own guy. You can't control him, he controls you," she encouraged.

Oh, Set decided to conceal the rest of it between us. I see what you mean.

Wow, and you couldn't just read my thoughts to know that instead? I snarled in reply.

Well, I get distracted if you haven't noticed, Set defended. And it's a Menshikov, we should kill her before her plans fall through. As if to add to his point, Vika summoned a shabti to launch at us, which Set grasped it by the throat and dissolved it into sand.

No, Set, I snarled. I've explained this a thousand times already, we don't kill simply because of their family's reputation.

Vika smirked, taking in that we weren't exactly focused on her, "Still arguing, are we?"

"No, just deciding on how to go about killing you, Lady Menshikov," Set replied in a rare sincere tone. "Maybe we should let you decide. Do you prefer fire or lightning? Or maybe quicksand? Or an overly vicious tornado to rip your skin off-"

"Set!" I snarled.

Vika gave us an intrigued look now. She opened her mouth to reply when an earthquake erupted from under our feet. In the confusion, I slammed my staff to force Egyptian magic into the ground in hopes to stop it from turning into mud under our feet. "Clever," her voice spoke from around us, Vika and her Nome standing ready for a fight with the voice rather than me.

"Who is it?" One Russian male voice demanded.

"Gaia of Greece," I replied hotly. "Vika, do you happen to know anything other than assassinating magicians?" I asked quickly.

She snarled towards my words. "It's not a dis; I want to know what you're capable of as a magician," I snapped. "Might prove to be a matter of life and death on our part."

"Nothing God-like if that's what you're asking," Vika's eyes narrowed.

"Shu!" A familiar boy's voice announced as he jumped across the cavern Set had made seconds ago.

"Leonid?" I finally recalled, and then put in that he probably used the path of Shu to even get over the crevice.

"What?" Vika glared at him, but he didn't let it get to him as he grinned towards me before a quick bow.

"I won't fail again," he managed to speak in English.

I placed my right hand on his left shoulder, earning a surprised look from the boy as I gave him a reassuring smile, "You never have."

Vika's eyes darted towards me now as Leonid straightened. "You have been following the Path of Shu?" She demanded.

Leonid hesitated to nod towards her, expecting punishment from his Nome's leader. I instinctively kept my hand on him, warning towards Menshikov that she took in with narrow eyes. "Gaia wants us to fight, Menshikov," I informed. "It doesn't matter if it's against the demigods or amongst ourselves. Any fight might release Apophis again."

Leonid and several other Russians shivered to the name of the serpent I mistakenly let out. "For the time being, you should pledge your allegiance behind our Pharaoh until this situation clears out."

Vika growled to my very words, "What do you suggest then, Chief Lector Kane? I highly doubt we will get past the ground we stand on currently."

"Perhaps not," I admitted dryly as I took in that the ground ten feet away from us looks quite gooey. "Except Leonid might be able to fly everyone who can't travel through the air towards Alyssa."

"Alyssa?" Vika judged.

"Yes, she's following the Path of Geb," I informed quickly. "Where she walks, Geb follows. In other words, it's best to stay near her for sturdy ground."

Vika's hands loosened their death grip on her staff. "Alright, but only for the House of Life, not you, Kane," she snarled in disgust towards my name.

"Gah, you never let me have a decent fight!" Set complained before loosening the avatar.

I nodded towards Leonid now. "I'll lead the way," I announced before transforming into the horrid fruit bat.