Chapter 51: Spiralis Achieved
"Let's see you try to dodge this!" Gelato shouted at Casco as the Homunculus of himself started to gather nature energy (chakra) into his free hand.
As Megara watched behind him, the nature energy gathered into a spherical shape but instead of breaking away like before it stuck together.
Once the energy had formed a nice concentrated sphere, Gelato cried, "Spiralis (Rasengan)!"
Using his free hand, Gelato rammed the Spiralis into Casco's chest which sent him flying backwards into another sand-dune. But instead of falling into it, Casco went right through and emerged on the other side leaving a gaping hole before the sand on top fell. For several seconds, Gelato stood panting then he coughed up blood and fainted. Surprised, Megara got up and listened to his heart.
His heart's failing! Megara realized. I have to do something, or this kid will die!
Quickly, she removed his hoodie and T-shirt and placed her hands over Gelato's bare chest.
Casco must've struck Gelato's heart right before he went flying, Megara figured and concentrated as a green glow encapsulated her hands.
"Don't even bother," Casco said, stumbling from behind the collapsed sand-dune and falling onto the ground. "Apart from tearing the nature energy connections to his heart, I've also severed his connection to the Nine-Headed Hydra. So he's finished!"
"No!" Megara objected. "I will save him, and then kill you!"
Ignoring Casco, Megara continued to concentrate on healing Gelato. But as time wore on, and Gelato's breathing stopped, she began to lose hope. Yet despite this, she felt something tug on her necklace and looked down.
"Told you I'd do it," Gelato murmured, gripping Megara's necklace with one hand. "So you'd better…acknowledge me…as…"
"Godfather," Megara finished, and removed her necklace.
She then placed it around Gelato's neck and laid him back down. As she did this, Typhonragazzo flew toward her with a snake sticking out of his mouth that had a sword emerging from it. Seeing him, Megara leaned forward to protect Gelato and got impaled by the sword instead. Surprised, Typhonragazzo backed away and swallowed the snake with the sword.
"Megara," Typhonragazzo stated. "If this boy isn't killed right now, he could be too dangerous for either one of us to handle. Not even Hercules himself would stand a chance."
Quickly, Megara looked behind Typhonragazzo and saw Hercules lying a groaning heap.
"Not a chance," Megara responded as she clenched her fist. "I'll protect the kid no matter what happens to me!"
"Why?" Typhonragazzo asked. "He's just a Soldier (minor member of a Mafia), a mere pawn that Mobsters have sacrificed countless times!"
"Yes, but he has…a much greater destiny in store," Megara said, despite coughing up blood. "He's not going to stay a Soldier forever, or die as one. Someday, he'll rise up in the ranks and become the next Godfather!"
"Such foolish words," Typhonragazzo muttered and summoned the sword again.
This time, he slashed Megara's shoulder. Then when he tried to go after Gelato, Megara used her back to shield him from Typhonragazzo's blade.
"You'll kill yourself at this rate," Typhonragazzo observed after swallowing the blade a second time. "And I assume your fear of blood is still affecting you, given that you're trembling right now."
Indeed, Megara's body trembled. But to Typhonragazzo's surprise, she stood up and kicked him away. On her forehead appeared black markings while the blue diamond mark that used to be there vanished. Meanwhile, Adessoè had recovered and gasped in horror.
"Miss Megara, don't!" Adessoè said. "Your lifespan will shorten if you use that spell (Jutsu)!"
"I appreciate your concern, Adessoè," Megara responded. "But the Fifth Godfather…is not backing down from this fight. Tityus* Regeneration (Creation Rebirth)!"
As the marks disappeared, her injuries quickly healed themselves.
"Impressive," Typhonragazzo admired. "What sort of spell (Jutsu) is this?"
"Over the years, I've been storing a lot of nature energy (chakra) at the back of my forehead," Megara explained. "Once activated, this reserve of energy allows me to create new cells in place of my old ones thus healing me from any injury imaginable."
Then using the blood that was still on her chest wound, Megara prepared to use the Summoning Spell (Summoning Jutsu) while Hercules did as well forcing Typhonragazzo to leap back toward Casco and pick him up.
"Come on, Casco, do it now!" Typhonragazzo ordered.
"Yes, Typhonragazzo," Casco replied and used his blood to place it on Typhonragazzo's arm with the intricate pattern on it.
The three then simultaneously placed their hands on the ground and said, "I summon thee!"
Three large clouds of smoke burst forth, which briefly obscured the sun, and when it cleared three giant beasts stood. One was Aquila-Jovis (Gamabunta), the golden eagle, another resembled a peacock with long turquoise feathers and the third was a crimson serpent with wings and taloned feet.
"Well, if it isn't my old friends Argus** (Katsuyu) and Ladon*** (Manda)," Aquila-Jovis remarked. "I'm assuming this is not a reunion, Hercules."
"No, it isn't," Hercules clarified. "We're here to put an end to Typhonragazzo once and for all!"
"What is the meaning of this?" The serpent asked Typhonragazzo. "You know I don't like being summoned, Typhonragazzo."
"It'll be worth your time, Ladon," Casco said nervously. "We promise."
"Fine, then bring me some sacrificial maidens once we're done here," Ladon grumbled.
"Take the boy to Adessoè, Argus, and make it quick," Megara commanded.
"Right away," the peacock replied, and detached the feather Gelato was resting on causing it to drift down toward Adessoè.
The three beasts then regarded one another before Argus fanned his feathers outward causing several literal eyes to open up.
"Trying to hypnotize me with your Thousand Eyes, eh?" Ladon sneered. "That old trick won't work on me!"
Ladon then leaped into the air using the wings to glide before pouncing on Argus who shrieked. But before the serpent could sink its teeth into the peacock's neck, Aquila-Jovis swooped in and snatched Ladon away. While the golden eagle soared out to sea, Megara leaped off of Argus as he ruffled its feathers causing the wounds to disappear instantly.
"Nice work," Megara said to Argus as she leapt back on.
"Thank you," Argus replied.
Several miles from the beach, Ladon bit Aquila-Jovis in the feet causing him to let go. Ladon used his wings to levitate himself so that he was now level with Aquila-Jovis.
"Let me borrow one of your Bolts, Aquila-Jovis," Hercules said. "I've got an idea."
"Very well," Aquila-Jovis nodded and clenched its talon causing electrical sparks to erupt as a lightning bolt appeared.
"Salamander**** Cast: Eagle Lightning Flame Strike (Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet)!" Hercules cried before breathing fire from his mouth onto the lightning bolt.
Then Aquila-Jovis thrusted the fiery lightning bolt down causing electrical flames to encapsulate Ladon from below while Aquila-Jovis soared higher. When they heard Ladon's serpentine hisses cry out in pain, Hercules told Aquila-Jovis to soar back down.
"He must've perished by the looks of it," Aquila-Jovis remarked looking at the husk of Ladon's form drifting on the open water.
"No, it's his skin," Hercules realized. "Which means—
From the clouds emerged the real Ladon, who wrapped himself around Aquila-Jovis and prepared to bite his neck when the lightning bolt from earlier suddenly penetrated Ladon's mouth. The one holding it was none other than Megara who then proceeded to attack Typhonragazzo directly, kicking and punching him as hard as she could.
"Go to Hell, and stay there!" Megara screamed, knocking Typhonragazzo off the serpent's back and into the ocean below.
End of Chapter 51
*Tityus was a giant who attempted to rape Leto, Apollo and Artemis' mother, so he was punished by being sent to Tartarus (the Greek equivalent to Hell) and had vultures feed on his liver which constantly grew back much like Prometheus
**Argus was a monster with a thousand eyes that was killed by Hermes, and then they were placed on the peacock's feathers giving them their eye-like appearance
***Ladon was a serpent that guarded a tree with golden apples and was slain by Hercules
****Salamander is another elemental spirit apart from Sylph and Gnome