[3rd Person's Pov]
Surprisingly, Atlas wasn't furious; buried under the pile of rubble.
The fact that a mortal, a broken mortal, no doubt, had just thrown him across the arena was such a bizarre situation, that he couldn't just wrap his head around it.
Not even the First Generation of the Titans could put him to the ground like this. Not even Kronos, who was supposedly the best out of the original 12 children of Uranus.
There was only one being who could was...
"Oof!" Atlas grunted as his face was driven into the mat. The grunt became a strained growl as a pair of hands clutched his arm into submission.
Spectating Titans cheered as Atlas struggled to slip out, but the grip only tightened further like a snake.
Atlas snarled from the pain, but he still managed a smile as he looked up at his opponent.
"Sharp as always, father." He said.
Iapetus grunted. He didn't return the grin—only fastening his clasp even more. However, Atlas laughed through the pain and forcefully thrust the Titan away with only his arm strength.
Iapetus stumbled backward. Atlas got up, flexing his clutched arm to show off its intact.
Before Iapetus could regain his footing, Atlas charged forward with a gallant yell and slammed his arm into his chest, flinging his father into the air and out of the ring.
Atlas raised his arms in victory. The crowd cheered, albeit slightly half-heartedly, as the result was more foreseeable than the setting Sun.
Still, Atlas was pleased by the applause. He went over the side of the ring and helped his father up, who still had the same stoic expression.
"Don't be so blue, father." Atlas slammed his palm into his shoulder in a playful manner. "You almost had me this time."
However, Iapetus shook his head. The Titan of the West turned to face his son. Atlas flinched confronting the deep sliver eyes of his.
"Atlas, you are strong." He said. Atlas huffed and flex his arms, but Iapetus wasn't merely praising him. "But your reliance on strength will someday bring your downfall. You need to improve your skills."
"Nonsense! This is because of the...what's the name? Hogeus?"
"Humans." Iapetus corrected him. "They are advancing at an immense pace. They aren't mere animals or monsters."
Atlas snorted in exasperation. "Father, you're letting that shmuck Prometheus get into your head.
We're Titans.
We don't need to be better, we are already at our highest point, the peak, the pinnacle of being! There is no need for any improvements."
Iapetus was silent for a long time. He always liked to think deeply before saying, which sometimes bugged Atlas.
Finally, he opened his mouth.
"That's depressing," Iapetus said in a gloomy voice.
Atlas blinked.
"What?" He asked back, but Iapetus lumbered away without an extra word.
Atlas stared at the back of his father, baffled at his words when he heard three pairs of footsteps approach him.
He knew who those belonged to before he turned around; his three beloved wives, and her oldest daughter as well.
"Congratulations on your 100-ish time winning, who would've seen that coming, I have no idea," Pleione said snarkily.
Aethra sighed. "Nobody is buying your sarcasm anymore, Pleione. We all know you—"
"Shut up!" Pleione snarled in a rather high-pitched tone and a blush. She tried to kick at Aethra's shin, but the latter avoided it with ease.
Calypso sighed and tried to pull her mother from punting Aethra's legs. Still, she managed to send her father a thumbs-up with a smile.
It was hardly news that those two were bickering with each other. So instead, Atlas turned to his first wife—Hesperis.
"What was the father-in-law talking about?" She asked, starting at the West.
Atlas waved his hand with a grin. "Not to worry. He just gets philosophical sometimes." He lowered his gaze to the baby in her arms. She looked up with coffee-brown eyes, cooing incoherent sounds.
Hesperis hoisted the baby up, making her giggle and clap. "I still haven't thought of a name. I was actually going to ask Iapetus to help us in that regard."
Atlas grunted, weighing the option of searching for his father after that strange note. Then, an idea came to his mind.
"You know, Krios told me about a new name he thought of from a system of stars."
Hesperis raised her eyebrow, "And?"
"And, I think we can name her after it. I believe he called it the Zodiac signs..."
"Hmm." Hesperis looked down at the baby, now waving her arms as if trying to catch an imaginary fly.
"I guess, then her name would be Zoë."
The baby giggled.
"Zoë," Atlas repeated.
Atlas thrust his arms. The rubbles flew away in various directions, smashing into walls and floors, and pillars of the room.
He wiped off the blood trickling down from his forehead. His vision was yet hazy from...he couldn't tell what.
Atlas wiped his eyes behind one of his arms and blinked furiously. The boy was running in the same spot where he launched him across the arena.
His gaze moved up. His daughters—the traitors were helping the mortals go up the stadium, where they would be relatively safer.
He hated them. He always has.
...Or did he?
"I'll never let my daughters join this war, Atlas!"
The Titan roared, silencing the inner voice.
"Die, you miserable piece of scum!"
David tensed as Atlas charged. Right before the gigantic figure crashed into him, he rolled back and slipped through the wide gap between his legs.
He tried to grab one of the ankles and drag Atlas to the ground, but Atlas forcefully kicked the hand away.
He tried to smash the demigod into a pulp, but David easily weaved out of the way.
"I am a Titan!" He shouted at the top of his voice; so loudly that his low voice broke.
"I'm aware," David replied coldly, narrowly evading the repeated pummelings from the giant hands.
Even though his body was broken, David couldn't feel any pain from it. In fact, his body seemed to be working better than ever—something that logically didn't make sense at all, but David didn't have any complaints.
He can do it.
He can beat the Titan General.
He knew it. He could feel it in his bones.
It also helped that Atlas's maneuvers suddenly became sloppy. For whatever reason, the Titan lost his sharpness in combat skills.
David ducked under the flailing punch and stepped into close range. He could see all the openings the Titan provided, and he aimed for one of the critical points.
With a short, concentrated yell, he plunged his fist into the pit of the Titan's stomach.
Atlas's eyes bulged in their sockets as an intensive punch sank deeply into his abdomen, knocking the wind out of him.
David stepped back with a grin. The last time he aimed for a counterattack, his knee was the one that broke. This time was different.
Again, he couldn't tell why it was different. Maybe it was the air, which seemed to heal and boost his body . Maybe because it was his right arm. Or maybe the energy surged through his veins, thumping from not the sigil, but his own heart.
Whatever it was, he thoroughly enjoyed the sight of Atlas staggering backward while clutching his stomach.
His bloodshot eyes glared at David. "You, you...!"
With a strained yell, Atlas launched himself at the mortal. David once again rolled back right before the Titan could crush him, and kicked his chin up in a somersault kick in return.
Atlas flung across the arena and crashed into the floor, golden blood gushing from his mouth and nostril.
"Yeah! Go get'em!" Lipara shouted in delight and shook her fist in the air, only to wince right after from the sheering pain around her waist.
Erytheia pulled her younger sister down. "You're far from healed, young lady, stay put," She said in a stern voice, then turned to the rest of the patients: Thalia, Reyna, and Zoë.
"And that goes to the rest of you as well, understand?"
However, none of the three heroines acknowledged her words. They were too busy watching the fight ensue with contrasting emotions.
Reyna watched in awe as David faced Atlas's fury like a skilled bullfighter. Atlas smashed and stomped around, often bellowing in rage, but his target was always a hair out of reach.
But as much as 'Reyna' was amazed and captivated, the 'Praetor of New Rome' couldn't help but be wary.
There was another camp somewhere. The camp of the Greeks. And if history was anything to go by, she had to be aware of a possible upcoming war.
'I'll have to ask Lupa about this.' The Praetor made a mental note and resumed watching the fight.
Atlas stomped the ground. With a burst of energy, a huge chunk of earth flew up, sending David into the air.
The Titan swung his fist to the flying boulder, but David slipped out of the way just in time and latched on to the outstretched arm.
With a courageous yell, he twisted the arm with all his might and dragged the Titan General to the ground.
Meanwhile, Thalia was enraged.
Her teeth ground with each other. Her fingers were clenched tightly around the edge of the stadium. Sparks of electricity emitted from her skin.
"What," She turned to Zoë, who quickly turned to face her. "is going on?"
The huntress raised her eyebrow, puzzled at Thalia's frustration. "Are you complaining David is saving all of our lives?"
Thalia grunted. "I'm asking how on Zeus's butthair is he standing up to Atlas when a week ago he had to struggle against a Manticore!"
"The Manticore you also struggled with, I recall?"
"I could've taken him alone if I wanted to!" Thalia boomed so loudly that it made some Hesperdies jump in their spots.
Zoë, on the other hand, only snorted.
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?" She said sarcastically.
"What's that supposed to mean!?" Thalia snapped back.
Zoë didn't answer, but Thalia already knew what she meant—deep down. Because nobody on earth knew about her mother, she made sure of that. And besides, nobody ever bothered to remember her more than "Daughter of Zeus".
The only ones who didn't were Annabeth...and well, Luke. At least that was what she thought until today.
She couldn't believe that Luke just...just leave as soon as his plan failed. After all of that talk, after everything, they went through...
The clenched fingers around the edge slackened. The tensed shoulders sagged down.
"...I should've joined your stupid hunt," Thalia muttered, blinking faster than usual.
Zoë sighed. Her eyes moved over to the Sky, with the goddess still struggling beneath it.
"Yes, well, I don't recommend it now."
Thalia looked up with a frown, but Zoë didn't elaborate further. The daughter of Zeus turned back to the fight.
'A hero is a man who never gives up!'
A hero.
She never wanted to be a hero.
And she gave up so much in her life, and for what? A peaceful life? A happy family? Those were far beyond her reach.
'Maybe that's the difference...' Thalia thought as David leaped over the thundering Titan.
Zoë chewed nervously on the edge of her lips as the fight ensued.
She was trying her best to look calm for the sake of the rest, but her heart rate was going faster than her usual fast heartbeat.
Two goals needed to be achieved in this battle. Defeat Atlas, and free Artemis.
The ideal situation would be catching two birds with one stone, by sending Atlas under the Sky and freeing Artemis. However, that plan had already been busted.
Now, the two goals became separate. All she could do was hope, hope that David could defeat Atlas. Freeing Artemis can come after the commotion is settled.
Hope. On a man.
Zoë snorted to herself. The concept of trusting men had been of the utmost idiocy for her for 2000 years. And only after a week—2 weeks at most, that had changed completely.
In those two weeks, she had seen the side of, not just men, but also monsters that she would've never seen. Not as a hunter.
Some were mindless and ruthless, yes.
Mother...
But some had a family.
I will no longer be humiliated by the gods or any of their offspring!
Some were forced into becoming one.
I will be the strongest monster of all!
Some had pride in being a monster, as odd as it sounded.
And some...some even had the same grace even after their corruption.
Before she left the desert, the Calydonian Boar had spoken through her mind. Zoë was surprised that she could talk at all—let alone telepathically.
I was created to destroy. She had said. Represent the rage of your goddess, huntress. Yet how ironic it is, for a man to spare my life.
"How ironic indeed..." The lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis muttered.
David had Atlas's right arm in a clutch.
"Just a few more degrees..." David growled through clenched teeth, yanking on the thick muscular arm. "...and your arm is snapping off!"
Atlas clenched his jaw. "Impudent..."
His arm buffed up even more. The Titan General slowly rose to his feet with David clinging to his right arm, still trying his hardest to break it.
"Puny mortal," Atlas raised his right arm high. "Witness the true power of a Titan!"
He brought it down on the ground, smashing the ground. The crater sank deeply into the ground, sending pebbles of rocks flying as if they burst out from a grenade.
Atlas looked up. David was leaping in midair. He had jumped off at the last second, and as the Titan tried to smack him out of the air, he swung his leg down on the helm of Atlas's head.
David flipped back before Atlas could snatch his leg. He let out a long breath—only then realizing that he had been holding them.
Atlas shook his head, trying to get rid of the shock reverberating in his skull. His perception was all wrong. Several David's all rushed forward at once.
As they did, to his horror, he could see everyone behind the pesky mortal. Hesperis, his daughters, everyone.
"Betrayals!" He bellowed in fury.
"Atlas, that's enough," Hesperis said.
Atlas's fist smashed the illusion of her wife.
David ignored the shaking ground and tackled straight into the Titan's stomach. With a snarl, the General staggered backward.
He followed up with a spinning kick to his neck with the sole of his foot. With another strained yell, the Titan swiped his hand through blind air.
"What's going on? Atlas seems...off." Reyna pointed out with a frown.
"You're saying it like that's a bad thing." Thalia pointed out, though she was also wondering about the sudden lack of skill portrayed by the Titan General.
That made her fume once more; if he was like that when she(and the others) fought him, she'd have won.
On the other hand, the Hesperides all shared a wary glance. Lipara was the only one who had been cheering, and even she became quiet after reading the mood.
"What's wrong?" The youngest Hesperides asked her sisters. "David is winning, isn't he?"
"He is," Asterope admitted. Her deep blue eyes reflected Atlas swinging blindly in mid-air. "But as that girl said, something is wrong with Atlas."
Lipara tilted her head, still confused.
"And that's a problem because...?"
Erytheia grunted. "Lipara, how can you be the one that's missing what's happening? You're the one charged to guide lost nature spirits to their life force!"
Lipara shrank under the scolding of her oldest sister, but she pouted her lower lip. "What does nature spirit have to do with anything here?"
"Just look closely," Hygeia advised, resting a hand on Erytheia to calm her down. "You have the same Titan blood flowing through your veins."
Again, Lipara had no idea what her sister was talking about. But when she turned to the fight once more, she could see things hovering around David.
She focused a bit more, and the figures revealed themselves. Lipara gasped. Her sisters, the Hesperides, were there, with a woman she didn't recognize, and yet they felt so familiar.
"What...who...?"
"Our mother," Asterope answered in a blue voice.
"How is he doing that? Is he doing that?"
"No idea," Erytheia said, "It's a necromantic branch of sorcery, I guess? It's more in line for a child of Ares, but still...Zoë, do you have any explanations?"
Everyone's gaze turned to the Huntress.
Zoë was silent for a long time.
"David is one of the most...pure men I've ever met. So when you meet him or face him, you get to reflect on yourself."
"But how is he doing magic is my point," Erytheia asked. To that, Zoë couldn't do anything else but shrug.
Thalia cleared their throat.
"Excuse me, but she and I don't have a single clue about what you're all talking about." She pointed at herself and Reyna, both of them hopelessly lost in the conversations between the Hesperides.
With a short incantation from Erytheia, they too could see the spirits tormenting Atlas.
"Is the kid doing that?" Thalia asked in astonishment. "I thought he was a son of Ares. Aren't they supposed to be blood-thirsty idiots?"
"What kind of estimation is that?" Reyna grumbled.
In Roman folklore, Bellona was close to Mars, often being depicted as husband and wife. Not to mention they shared the same jurisdiction over warfare.
Zoë also scowled at Thalia's words, though for a different reason. "David is different." She retorted, which made Thalia scowl as well.
"You're quite benevolent to him." She pointed out.
Zoë didn't bother answering. The huntress focused on David pushing back hard on Atlas.
Thalia bit her lower lip as one by one, the other's attention moved over to the fight. She didn't like how Zoë was looking at David.
It reminded her of how she used to look at Luke. How she has been looking at him, until now.
She didn't like it one bit.
Nor did she like the kid, for that matter.
[Line Break]
[David's Pov]
Call me crazy, but I'm frustrated that Atlas was definitely off his game.
I couldn't figure out why as well, which was doubly confusing.
If it was just because he was angry, I'd be fine. Mostly. Because I did taunt him a lot. If he tripped over that, that's his B.
But as I kept fighting, I couldn't help but notice that Atlas wasn't just blindly thrashing around. His fists were deliberately aiming around me, instead of where I was.
Some of you might ask: "But David, you're winning nonetheless!"
To those who are wondering, would you say you won a Rock-Paper-Scissors against someone who has their hands tied?
The answer is no.
And neither am I winning now.
I batted the side of Atlas's face with my knee. The Titan stumbled backward and went down to one knee, as I stepped back.
Atlas wiped the trickle of blood from his lips. The pair of silver-grey eyes still darted around instead of focusing on one point.
"Hey!" I called. Atlas snapped his eyes in my direction. "Your opponent is here." I pointed myself with a thumb, and Atlas's snarl grew.
"You are doing this," He said, standing up with a fresh gusto of rage. "You're witchcraft won't put me down!"
"Witchcraft?" I asked.
With a yell of uttermost anger, Atlas thrust his palm out. I braced for the impact, but the sumo slap exerted a blast of Titanic energy like a soundwave.
It sent me flying back across the entire arena and slam into one of the pillars. Firecrackers of pain exploded in my body as I slid down the fancy decorations.
It depicted three women singing by an apple tree.
One of the women looked vaguely familiar.
"...Zoë?" I muttered.
The pain was subsiding quickly, but my body was yet to recover from the shock.
From the corner of my eyes, I could see Atlas getting ready to charge at me with a shoulder tackle in full force. Several voices were yelling at me, presumably to get up and move, but my limbs just didn't move.
The pillar of the three women seemed to hum. My right arm shuddered slightly. Without any logical thinking, I touched the root of the apple tree.
To my surprise, my hand sank straight into the pillar as if it were made of clay. Before I could retrieve it, the bright light from the pillar overwhelmed me.
When I opened my eyes again, the Three women from the pillar were standing in front of me.
On the left, the woman had striking blue eyes with sleek black hair. Her eyes twinkled like a set of constellations in the night sky. She looked up and down at my posture with a small scowl.
On the right, the woman had piercing black eyes with brown skin. Her stoic face and well-built body made me think of a tank. She stared into my chest as if she could read my mind through the flesh and bones.
And in the middle stood a woman with an astonishing resemblance to Zoë—and the Hesperdies as a whole. Her braided hair over one side of her shoulder with her copper-toned skin.
"Who are you people?" I asked.
Out of the three, only one lady answered.
"I am Hesperis." The woman in the middle glanced at her two companions, who shook their heads. Neither of them said a single word.
"...please, excuse them. They aren't very fond of you at the moment." Hesperia said.
"Why?"
Judging from the cold expressions of the two, "not very fond" seemed to be a very refined choice of words.
Hesperis glanced at the ring over her shoulder.
"Because...we're his wives. Atlas's wives."
"He was married?!"
The other two scowled in unison. Even Hesperis wrinkled her nose at my exclamation, offended.
"Sorry, It's just, nevermind."
As odd as the concept was, even a world-class jerk like machete was married. I guess they saw something in Atlas...whatever it may be.
Hesperis cleared her throat, then slipped her hands around my right hand and clasped it firmly.
"I am talking to you through the trust my daughters have given you.
So I implore to you, young demigod. Atlas needs to be put under the Sky again."
It took a few seconds to swallow her words.
"I'm sorry?"
I looked up at Hesperis with a frown, only to see her eyes riddled with pain. Her hands around mine squeezed a little tighter.
"He has changed too much at the prospect of the war. That affected most of those around him as well..."
She nudged her head over her shoulders to the two women.
"I cannot bare to witness him like this...He has to be stopped, or—"
"—he'll kill your daughters."
Hesperis closed her eyes. A single drop of tears trickled down her cheeks.
"Please." She whispered. She wobbled on her feet, almost kneeling in front of me. She was that desperate.
Before she did, I helped her stand up straight and grinned.
"Don't worry, I'll find a way. I promise." I said.
Slowly, Hesperis returned the smile, although very watery, and she let my hand go. A similar light enveloped my sight once more.
I was back in the disrupted arena. Atlas was half a length of an arm away, which gave me a second or two to prepare.
In that nickel of seconds, I stood up and raised my right arm. It may be just my thoughts, but the tree branch seemed to be pulsing with energy—no, enthusiasm.
With a yell, I met Atlas's charge. His right shoulder was a hair away from my chest when my right arm slammed into his.
The hefty weight meant next to nothing. With a heave, I swung my arm like a bat and sent the Titan General flying back the way he came.
A loud thud echoed throughout the room when he landed on the floor. The Titan wasn't getting up, but I knew he was far from done.
"Atlas," I called. "until now, I was fighting only to defeat you. But it's different now.
I am fighting you for the sake of those crying out for one. Why are you fighting?"
The Titan stirred.
"Never!" Hesperis screeched. "I will never let my daughters step foot in this war!"
Atlas clenched his fists under the table. "They are one of the best sorceresses we have. We have no choice."
Hesperis let out a hysterical laugh. "Is that what they are to you!? A bunch of magicians?!"
Atlas scowled loudly. "They'll be safe with me!"
"In a battlefield where mountains are flying through the air?! As if!"
Finally, Atlas's patients snapped. His fist slammed on the desk, and it combusted into pieces of woodchips while cracking the floor it supported.
The Titan General seethed through his teeth and glared at his wife, who had backed away a step with fear on her face.
He let out a deep breath and brushed the woodchips off his fingers.
"...The Hesperdies will be attending me in the war. It's a great honor to be part of this battle."
"Atlas..."
"Get out, before I make you."
Hesperis stumbled backward, barely containing a sob then she ran out of the room.
After the door slammed behind her, Atlas slumped onto the chair. It groaned under his weight, but that sound was nothing compared to the deep sigh from the Titan.
Then, a black mist appeared up in the air. A looming figure was present in the mist.
"Your wife is pulling you back, Atlas." The figure said.
"...She is still a family, is she not?" Atlas asked back.
"Family?" The figure chuckled as if Atlas said a good joke.
"You are the Titan of Strength and Endurance.
When the war is over, and I rule supreme over the gods, you'll be the one proclaimed as the One Titan that led the Titans to victory.
Dear Atlas, what kind of family does pull you back from achieving the honor and praise you deserve? How dare they question your strength?"
"..."
The figure continued in Atlas's silence. "Your other wives don't have problems with this war, do they? I have several positive reports about Calypso."
Atlas nodded without saying anything.
"I am tired, Lord Kronos. Forgive me."
"Then rest, my best General. I'll await you with your daughters tomorrow."
The black mist dissipated into nothingness. Areas rested back on the chair.
He knew that Hesperis would try to escape with her daughters tonight. Most likely to join the side of the gods.
He cannot let that happen. He didn't trust the gods one bit, they'll either just lock them up or force them out to battle on their field.
And if that's the case, the best fate they'll face after the inevitable loss of gods will be a quick death.
No, he will not have it.
The Titans were the best race of all.
And he was one of the best of them.
Hesperis was mistaken.
He was the one who knew what was best for them.
He'll have to stop her. And whatever happens in the process...he'll have to swallow that pill.
[3rd Person's Pov]
Atlas lay on the ground. How many times was he forced to the ground by this runt? And he even has the gall to try to talk to him.
Why are you fighting?
The boy had asked.
Atlas grunted.
He always fought for a reason, one reason alone.
For the Titans. For them, us, him to grasp the honor they rightfully deserve.
Anyone who got in the way was either an enemy or a traitor. Whether family or friends, they all needed to be punished.
That's depressing. Iapetus's words rang inside his head.
He recalled his father in the war, they mocked his sobriquet "The Piercer" because his weapon was cleaner than the rest of them.
He recalled how he was pondering about his two traitor sons, Prometheus and Epimetheus, about why they have joined the gods.
Atlas couldn't understand, nor did he bother to.
Why are you fighting?
Why am I fighting?
Atlas slowly rose from the ground.
He looked around. The training arena of the Titans was in ruins. The ring he had fonds for smashed to bits.
There were no other Titans except for him. His daughters were standing against him. The boy, broken, was yet standing straighter than he was.
He could still see Hesperis around the runt, instead of him.
Everything he did, every choice he made, led him to...this.
For the first time in literal eons, Atlas's spirit hesitated.
Why was he fighting?
Was it worth it?
Was...any of this, worth it?
Then, another voice rang inside his mind.
"Atlas..." The voice rasped. "My best General...we're a step away from our first victory. Do not doubt yourself, crush whoever dares to doubt you.
You are the greatest Titan!"
Atlas blinked. He violently shook his head.
His wife was gone.
"...yes..." Atlas muttered. A slow grin spread across his face. A grin, much colder and ruthless than ever before.
"You ask why I fight, mortal!?" Atlas boomed. His voice was so loud that even the spectators all the way up at the stadium winced.
The Titan General Atlas raised his arm high with triumph.
"I fight for the glory of Titans! The best race of all! And you!"
He pointed at David. David raised his arm in a guard.
Atlas's grin widened more chaotically.
"You'll die by my hands."
With a tremendous roar, Atlas leaped into the air. His hands, clasped together into a large fist, slammed into David with the full force he could muster.
The impact was incomparable to any other strike he had made today. The entire arena caved in under the impact.
Chunks of rocks ripped themselves out of the ground and went flying. Atlas, in midst of the dust cloud, smiled. For sure that mortal was finally smashed into a pulp.
Everyone else, even Artemis watched with bated breath.
"...David..." Zoë muttered, her hands clasped together into a silent prayer.
But instead of praying to any gods or goddesses, she came to know over the years, she prayed on his promise.
"Be careful."
"I will. I promise."
The dust cleared.
Atlas was no longer smiling.
His double-handed fist was blocked by a single arm. A single, right arm.
David spat out a mouthful of blood. His body was busted beyond belief. For all intents and purposes, his arm was no shield.
But, yet, at the same time, his will enabled him to stand. To stand, and fight.
"...How." Atlas snarled.
"As I've said," David said with a bloody grin. He clasped his hands together into the same double fist. "I don't give up."
He swung his arm and batted Atlas's chin.
Hey, I'm late again! Who could've ever seen that coming?
Truthfully, it was time for my finals for the last two weeks, so I didn't have time or energy to spend on writing except for small bits.
I also scrapped 2000 words worth of alternate scenes, which was painful to do.
It's also 4:44 am here right now as I'm writing this outro, so I'll save the rest of my excuses.
I hope you had a great time reading, and I'll see you all in the next chapter. Which is most likely to come sooner than later, as I'm on winter break now!
Ta Ta~
