Adventures of John: Gods of War
Chapter 3: Broken Arrangement
Author's Note: I finished this chapter last night, but one of my sisters found out the computer's master password and messed with stuff, so my mother took away the internet, and I couldn't upload the chapter until I went somewhere with Wi-Fi.
The next day didn't go exactly as I planned. My parents decided that we needed to go on a family hike. So instead of being somewhere I could meditate at twelve o'clock, I was climbing up a mountain with a massive pack on my back. The hike lasted until five in the afternoon. When I finally arrived home, I went down into my room and began meditating.
. . . . .
"Sorry I'm late," I told them as I appeared in the middle of what appeared to be a vast arena. "Family matters. Couldn't be helped."
"You broke the terms of the agreement!" Ares exclaimed, brandishing a massive black axe. "You have voided the agreement, and now your life is forfeit!"
"Calm down there, Admiral Anger," I told him. "I'm late. Big whoop. Let's just get this duel over with."
"I don't think you understand," he chuckled. "You broke the agreement. Now your life belongs to us." He leaped towards me, battleaxe in one hand and greatsword in the other. I dodged his attack, only to find Thor bearing down on me, Mjolnir in hand. I dodged again to find Sekhmet's claws come within inches of my face. With a flick of my wrist I sent Sekhmet to the ground, screaming as the wounds I gave her previously reopened and blazed with light. Thor and Ares continued to attack, with all of my abilities were barely able to keep the two of them from slaughtering me.
I dodged a bolt of lightning from Thor's spinning hammer, turning to Ares. "So what does your other half think of all this?" I asked him conversationally as I parried a strike from his massive axe.
"What?" he asked, my tone shocking him enough to make him pause just long enough for me to deflect one of Thor's lightning bolts.
"Your Roman half," I replied. "I doubt that Mars is okay with all of this. He represents all that is Roman, and I can't think of a single civilization that loved Order more than Rome. Mars must be doing everything he can to break out."
Are's face shifted for a moment, becoming clean shaven and hawk-nosed for less than a second, a laurel wreath on his brow. He shook his head and he was once again a black-haired madman. "I have the Roman under control," he spat. "And you are going to die!"
"Are you sure?" I asked, getting out of the way of a lightning bolt, making it strike Ares in the chest. "Come on Mars. There are three gods aligned with Chaos still standing and only one opposing them. Get out of that prison your ugly half put you in and even the odds a bit. Rome needs its commander."
Sekhmet roared and leaped towards us, her injuries still blazing. Before she could strike me, a hand grabbed her and slammed her to the ground. Where the black-armored Ares had been now stood a man in a dazzling white toga, gladius in hand. "You are not aligned with Order," he stated, "but you are not aligned with Chaos either. We are not allies, Adventurer, but today we fight together." Mars tossed Sekhmet to the side and came after her, his gladius slashing down.
"It looks like you're all alone," I told Thor, spinning my fiery blade around, the flames dancing across my golden armor. "Now we see which of us is truly the better warrior."
"Indeed," he replied, swinging his hammer. "This time there is nowhere for you to run." He blasted me with lightning, which I caught on my blade and sent back at him, leaping into the air and slicing downwards. He caught my blade on Mjolnir and threw me to the side, slamming his hammer down with his mystical strength. I put my hands out and he went flying across the arena.
I stood up and dusted myself off, chuckling to myself. "I developed that technique after fighting Superman," I told him, "who is way stronger than you by the way. If that had been his strike I was deflecting, he would have been tossed back several miles." He jumped at me again and I laughed, each time he struck sending the kinetic energy of his attack right back at him. "You Asgardians really aren't that smart, are you?" I laughed. "Then again, you guys are too old to know just how much science can help when using magic."
He attacked again, only to find himself on his back. I placed my foot on his chest and shoved him down as he attempted to rise. "Of all the beings to claim godhood, you Asgardians always made the least sense," I informed him. "You people only stay young because you constantly eat those stupid golden apples of yours, and killing you…" I chuckled, raising my blade. "Well, killing you is just too easy."
I felt a chill grim my soul and I looked to my left to see the Morrigan standing confidently, a dark smile on her face. As a goddess of violent death, the Morrigan possesses an ability similar to that possessed by the Norse Valkyries, in that she can mark a warrior in a battle for death. Marked for death. I felt the chill throughout my being as I sensed the mark descend upon me. Then every nerve in my body screamed in pain as lightning coursed through me and I fell to the ground. As I lay there everything began to go dark.