Artemis wasn't one to often feel confusion.
Her thoughts were still circling those old memories of children she may have condemned, or ignored throughout the millennia (a path her mind rarely if ever took), when suddenly the cause of this self-inflicted guilt came, and crashed her train of thought nonchalantly.
Odder still, she couldn't feel the same level of animosity from Asterios as she felt before. She could still feel dislike, but the hatred that pulse from him before, just... ceased.
"An hour ago you have been crying your wrath and disgust for me, and how you just come to chat and plan for battling a titan like nothing happened?" Artemis just bluntly stated, completely incredulous.
"One, that was an hour ago. I got over it." Asterios bluntly said back.
"What—?"
"Two, it's called compartmentalization. I recalled there is way more important at stake, so after fighting the killing the Kampe—which was very unsatisfying, it went down too easy—I snapped myself out of it." He shook his head.
"Wait, wait, you did what—?"
"Honestly when I awoke in this form, all my feelings toward you were just dislike and annoyance, on account of being a goddess yet operating on the principle of 'girls rule, boys drool', which just seem very childish for an ancient being." He said casually, and somehow the subtle playful tone almost seem to ease the gnaw in her chest.
"I will kill you with my bare hands. That is not what my Hunters stand for, and I will not accept that insulting oversimplification." Artemis said, yet... didn't feel that she put much of her past heat into those words.
Asterios seemed to sense this, as he had a slight smile on his face.
"...I'm gonna be the bigger person and not ask which type of 'bear' you meant?" He said trying to hold back a chuckle.
Percy and Thalia didn't hold back a snort, but Artemis ignored them, and let them be.
Oh I am not dealing with this Apollo pun humor bullshit. Artemis held back a groan.
"You mentioning it makes you the lesser person." She deadpanned back.
"Well, I'm still taller so I'm the bigger person."
Okay, now he's just being childish.
"I'm a goddess and I can look however I want." Artemis said with self-assured victory.
"And you currently look smaller than me, thus I'm the bigger person." Asterios said with that small smile, that's on the verge of smugness but not pushing into it.
"..." Artemis's narrowed her eyes.
"..." Asterios raised an eyebrow, as if to convey "what now?".
As everyone was present again, Zoë Nightshade, Annabeth, Thalia, Bianca, Percy and Pasiphaë, along with Grover and the Ophiotaurus in the background, seeing Artemis and Asterios confront each other again, had them all hold their breath in anxiety.
Silver light burst from Artemis making the group shout in surprise (sans Pasiphaë, Artemis noted), and the goddess took the form an Amazonian warrior, two heads taller than Asterios, and filled with nearly as many muscles.
Her form was covered in more animal skin than she'd normally appear in, and dirtied bandages covering her privates, arms and legs, under the animal skin.
"M-My lady, that form...!" Zoë gawked.
Grover bleat and quickly covered his mouth.
"Is that frickin Red Sonja?" Percy called out.
"No, Red Sonja wears metal." Thalia pointed out.
"What's 'Red Sonja'?" Bianca asked.
"Something kids our age shouldn't be reading!" Annabeth scolded.
"Isn't the fact that you know its something we shouldn't have read, means you read it, Annie?" Thalia asked slyly.
"What do you mean 'kids shouldn't read it'? It's just girls Conan fighting monsters and mages?" Percy said in confusion.
Annabeth frowned and held back a growl.
Back with the monster and goddess, Artemis crossed her arms under her prodigious chest, and looks down at Asterios with a raised eyebrow.
He gave her a deadpan look, and shook his head and looked away, letting it go.
Artemis smirked in victory, and took her more child-like form.
"So Lunar powers, can you do it?" Asterios asked in a hasty tone of someone wanting to quickly leave.
To Artemis is sounded like male being a sore-loser... but it also sounded like Asterios giving her this "win" as a way to mend fences. Which was a bit childish but... appreciated.
"It's better to ask Dionysus for this boon." Artemis finally said.
Artemis didn't understand how the son of Mi—of Pasiphaë can be so civil with her.
She doesn't know how he can just... forgive.
It's better to ask Dionysus. His boon would be more accurate.
Yes. Dionysus would be alerted of what's happening and notify Olympus. Yes, that's why its better to ask Dionysus.
Artemis doesn't think she should be trusted by Asterios. She doesn't think she should be trusted to bless the demigods, not... not after everything that just happened. It would be better for team cohesion.
"Okay." Asterios nodded and turned to the demigods. "Which one of you does Dionysus hates the least?"
"Percy." Thalia said with a nod. "No, wait you said 'least'."
"Yeah, I was like 'what the heck are you on about, Sparky?'" Percy said. "Right so it would be..."
After a moment of silence, Bianca found every camper and former camper pointing at her.
"Wait, what?" Bianca blinked in surprise.
"Yeah, he's never mean to you." Percy pointed out.
"That's because I don't bother him, while making sure to be respectful. And if he's not being helpful I ignore him." Bianca said back, confused.
"Yeah, somehow not letting him get on your nerves makes him like you for some reason." Annabeth said.
"Although, you probably shouldn't ignore him." Grover said warily.
"He doesn't seem to care if I take his silence as him not wanting to answer, so I just move on. He seems okay with it." Bianca shrugged.
"Well, you guys figure it out among yourselves. I'll go soften up Atlas while you prepare." Asterios said as he turned to walk away. He paused and waved a hand, and a path opened up from the lake, the Ophiotaurus was in, to an exit. "Grover, take Bessie and go back up to camp. You shouldn't stay here any longer with how dangerous it will be."
"Oh! Oh right good idea!" Grover said excitedly.
Pasiphaë went to the Ophiotaurus' side to pet its head.
"I'll miss you, you sweet child."
"Moooo!" [Awww, I'll miss you too, magic mommy lady!]
Artemis ignored that, as the group went to say their good byes to Grover and the Ophiotaurus. She went to the side of her oldest Hunter.
"My lady," Zoë nodded at her.
"Zoë," Artemis said back. "Are you sure about joining us in this fight? Despite everything, this is your father we intent to slay. And given the prophecy and everything, maybe it would be best if you retreat from this quest early?" She suggested.
Zoë smiled and shook her head.
"I'll stick by you and my comrades to the last, Lady Artemis." Zoë said, before a more somber look came to her face. "Although... after this quest is complete. There is something I wish to speak with you about." Zoë said.
Artemis' eyes widened momentarily. A wistful smile came to her face. She had heard that tone many times before. She supposed this was a long time coming, given how much Zoë was trying to look for a successor.
"Very well," Artemis nodded. "We shall discuss things once this quest is fully over."
"Thank you, my lady." Zoë smiled and nodded back.
"Just wait until we come with you." Bianca's shout caught their attention. She was speaking with Asterios who was giving her a gently smile.
"Beyond the literal goddess, I'm basically the most durable one here." He said gently, and it... really seemed like he wasn't acting. That this really was what he was like with the daughter of Hades. "Atlas is restricted by the golden chains only physically. He had access to his full Titan might, as if in Divine Form. I need to know what fighting that is like and relay it to you guy before you arrive. Mother will do so for me."
Bianca frowned then sighed.
"Just... take care okay." Bianca said then looked Asterios straight in his eyes, and spoke with utmost seriousness. "If you die I'm going to go on a Roaring Rampage of Revenge that will shake this entire tower."
"If I die, I'll come back." He replied in a dry tone.
Bianca chuckled then hugged him. An action that surprised Asterios at how sudden it was, before he sighed and rubbed her back. Artemis noticed something pass from Bianca's shadow to Asterios'.
"Well," Asterios said after they separated and he moved a bit away. "Bianca you have the Golden Apple to negotiate. Don't let the wine guy milk you for them." Bianca snorted, and Artemis felt her lips twitch. "See you all later."
A hole opened up behind Asterios and he jumped in it. It closed up behind him.
"Will the least hated camper, please come on up!" Percy called out.
Bianca huffed and rolled her eyes, as she went to the group to make the Iris call.
I said that I'd just test Atlas to prepare the group for the fight. Truthfully though, I kinda hope I'd take him out before they arrive.
This fight... I had a feeling it would be different than when I fought him at the top of Mount Tamalpais. Back then I was nerf'd by the sky.
Here, he was buffed by using his Divine Form, even if he can't physically transform, he has accept to his full might.
But then again so do I.
I landed with a crash, feet first, crouched to bleed momentum. Standing up, the "bottom floor" of the Tower, looked like a massive cavern with a colossally tall ceiling. The whole place seemed lit up by a light without a source...
And the ground was littered with swords.
"So one of you worthless specks finally deems to entertain me." The Titan was in the middle of the floor with a large great sword slung on his shoulder.
I narrowed my eyes at that, wondering why this place was filled with swords? Was everything lost or without a place in the Labyrinth, while it was organizing, dumped here?
I got a feeling of sheepishness from the Labyrinth. A sense of it telling me, that everyone need a "fair" chance at surviving.
"Fair" being being a variable case by case thing. For Atlas with everything going against him, being given a steady sword was the least he could get.
I stomped the ground once, and all other swords and weapons were eaten by the ground, to be distributed elsewhere in the Labyrinth. Now it was a empty stony field for us to fight in.
"You know," Atlas said casually after looking around to find the floor barren. "I'm glad it is you that arrived first, bull. I have a score to settle with you." He pointed his blade at me. "You will learn what happens to those that dare betray Kronos' rule."
I didn't bother replying back.
I've never been in a fight, so I don't know how to banter. Not really.
Asterios wasn't one to banter either. Not really one to chat to those he's fighting.
The Minotaur of course never talked to begin with. Most of him. Very few could, and even fewer bothered.
Unless they were the mage illusionist Minotaur. Those were rare.
Regardless, I just walked with a determined stride towards the Titan.
Atlas smirked and waited for me.
Something was off. He seemed far too confident. Far too, well, not "relaxed" but at ease, while being battle ready.
He was still suffering from the Weight of the Sky, but something about his movement and words sent the hair at the back of my neck standing.
I hurried in my steps.
No reaction. Just giant sword pulled back to rest on his shoulder.
I started jogging.
Still no reaction.
Oh gods, please don't let it be what I think it is. I do not need that type of bullshit.
He slowly blinked. With the next step I dashed forward, a boom shouting in my wake.
Faster than Atlas could blink. Left axe raised, eye lids still closed. I swung my left axe.
Atlas moved. Stepped aside to the right. My axe slammed into the ground. Looking at him, Atlas was smirking, looking right at me. His giant sword already mid-swing coming down on me.
I was already jumped to my left, already anticipating something and planned to act beforehand.
CRASH!
His sword smashed into the earth, shaking the ground a little.
"Hahahahahahhaa!" Atlas dashed forward, each step an echoing boom from him and the weight upon him. His giant blade swinging, coming down faster than I thought it would.
CLANK!
I blocked with both axes up.
"My uncle is Kronos! The Titan of Time and you thought controlling time against me would work!" He laughed and tried to push down on me. If in his normal form I was a bit stronger, then he overpowered me with his Titan Form strength.
So I started overlaying minotaurs.
I immediately went for five hundred.
I wasn't pushed back as much.
One thousand.
I slowed his advance down to a crawl.
I jumped to two thousand.
We were equal.
"I had spared with Kronos many times. He's play with time around me. No, compared to him, yours aren't even worth mentioning." He kept gloating. "His power over time was more potent. This trick of speeding up my metabolism and nerve signals is more than enough!"
Wow. Why don't you tell me your entire plan, hopes and dreams while you're at it?
Actually, no. I should be grateful. These "brag about everything" villains are great to have.
"Doesn't. That. Get. Straining?" I gritted out every word to make it look like I was struggling.
To be honest, 2000 overlayed "nameless" minotaurs and pushing against Atlas and his giant sword that's using the Weight of the Sky to his advantage, felt a bit tough, like I was heating up. In that "starting to feel the burn of working out" kinda heat.
"Titan. Of. Endurance. I was withstand any strain. Ha! Styx, you think the weight of the sky you're putting on me, is bothering me?" He laughed out loud. "Well, yeah it is, but this isn't the full curse. No, no, no! I know the real thing, bull! This? This weight I move. This weight I can fight with!" He shouted, drawing on his titanic strength push the blade down further on me.
Right. Enough playing around.
Time to make to overwhelm this bitch again.
4000 "nameless" minotaur overlay.
CLANK!
I pushed up then slammed his blade away.
"Wha—" Atlas cried out, wide-eyed.
I mule kicked him in the chest.
BOOM!
He was launched back, skipping on the ground once from the force, but Atlas quickly righted himself to get back on his feet.
I was right in this face, axe drawn back for the swing.
His eyes widened and raised his blade to block.
BANG!
It sounded like lightning struck from the weight of my blow. Then another by my other axe. Followed by another and another.
Atlas was on the defensive. He blocked or parried every strike. I'll give him that, he was an excellent swordsman, but I was a walking death machine. I only needed one strike to take him out.
Atlas wasn't used to someone just straight up overpowering him, but quickly adjusted, yet seemed to grow angry that he was forced to be on the defensive due to strength difference.
Again and again we clashed, his skill was surprisingly rising higher and higher, as if polishing off the rust form years of disuse. Was he a better swordsman than spearman?
After a lulling his out exchange of steel, he lunged using an overhead strike again to use the Sky Weight in his favor. Seriously he has to realize that's getting predictable.
This time, I overlayed Blitzer Minotaur and rushed around to get behind him.
His back was completely exposed. First blood and kill strike for me.
With all arm muscles tensed, I saw Atlas pivot, and turn the forward motion into a spin. He made the overhead strike, turn into a side slash mid-swing.
I saw the smirk on his face, as he was turning around. He planned this?
Yeah, no, fuck that. You don't get to be lucky or clever, asshole.
I grabbed Fighter Minotaur and overlayed him. Then I called back to that feeling when I created the Archetype, when I drew the various parts of the Minotaur to me.
I focused on the Fighter Minotaur as the anchor point. And like a magnet slowly, then very quickly pulled every minotaur with weapon and close combat experience to myself.
Overlay them rapidly.
Another thousand. Two thousand. Three thousand. Four thousand.
My body was noticeably heating up. My head was assaulted by a headache as I integrated all those different experiences and skills near instantly.
I probably wouldn't have faced this much self-inflicted pain if I did this slowly, but oh well.
No time to learn like in the middle of the life and death battle with a titan.
Swoosh!
"HAH!?" Atlas bellowed out in confusion.
I had jumped. Completely unexpected from his point of view as his slash should have been too fast for me to react.
Yet I jumped, spinning with the direction of his swing, and counter-slashing with my own weapon.
Atlas screamed as I drew first blood. A giant gash on his torso, as he fell back a few steps.
I landed and pushed the advantage, another axe swing to the titan's neck.
Atlas quickly adjusted and met my first strike, parrying it. The second one he also blocked, moving his blade from one strike to the next with refined grace.
Right. Titan of Endurance. One hit isn't gonna throw him off. Also I could see my hit, well, not healing but it stopped bleeding already.
I danced around him for a bit, with all the extra knowledge on how to fight in my brain, I knew how to best distribute my weight in my legs, in my arms for my strikes. Rather than go full forced with every swing, how to best strike to be ready to pull back, or dodge.
Heck, some times I would outright jump over his swings, or over Atlas.
A lot of the Fighter Minotaurs were pretty agile and acrobatic. The Assassin Minotaurs in the mix being a potent example of being so.
Slowly, bit by bit, the titan accumulated injuries. Blood now added to his outfit and looks.
He literally has the Weight of the Sky on him. He's still on the slowed down time, and being physically overwhelmed, yet he keeps on fighting.
And he's collecting up wounds. Wounds that were quickly not bleeding and some even starting to scar over.
And all of this while also having golden chains wrapping him up, to hold back his full Titan Divine Form.
Titans are fucking bullshit, man.
"This is impossible!" He shouted as we clashed once more. "I am a titan! A divine being meant to rule this world, and you're just some monster, from a whore who laid with an animal." Atlas gritted his teeth in frustration.
Oh he just fucking did not.
"Oh what? Did I touch a nerve there, bull? Is dear mommy not a bull fucker? Maybe you hate that you are too human now for her to take you to her bed—
BOOM!
Atlas blocked the hit. Yet his body was launched from the full force. From his wide pained eyes, drifted to his right arm, that was swollen and shaking. Bones broke within it.
I overlayed Helios Legacy Minotaur and Son of Poseidon Minotaur.
Then I pulled at ever mage minotaur I had.
My body was burning. It looked orange from being heated up from within. My horns shined with fire.
I dashed forward. Every step breaking sound as I moved.
I kneed Atlas in the guts before he could adjust. He was launched back once more.
This floor was too empty. I wanted to smash this asshole's face in something.
I summoned pillars as part of the landscape.
CRASH!
He broke through one.
My axes glowed with heat and magical energy. The labrys vibrating with quaking energy, from my Poseidon blood, ready to be unleashed.
I lunged, as was above Atlas mid flight.
He looked at me panicked.
I swung my vibrating blazing axe.
BOOM!
Atlas blocked and still slammed into the ground, causing an explosion, shaking the floor, make cracks and fissures along the ground.
I controlled gravity to propel me down far faster then terminal velocity.
Atlas barely jumped out of the hole. His fucking constitution was too tough—No. It's his trait as the Titan of Endurance that's allowing him to keep fighting, no matter how much I smack him around.
Let's see the limit, shall we?
I boomed in movement toward him, every hit launching him away, even while he blocked. More and more of his bones cracked with every exchange. No matter the cries and groans he wanted to hide, the pain was all too evident on him.
Again and again I attacked and he could only block, only defend.
I was getting tired of that damn sword, stopping him from cutting up this annoying asshole to pieces, who had overstayed his welcome in the land of the living.
I draw on the minotaur variants.
This time without restrain or caveat.
I felt a strain in myself, as a painful burning erupted through me.
But that's fine.
I didn't care.
10,000 Minotaurs total.
20,000 Minotaurs total.
30,000 Minotaurs total.
CRASH!
The next hit shattered Atlas' blade, send visible cracks through his arms, and a giant gash through his body.
Not dead yet? Fine.
Next one will do him in.
I overlayed the whole of the Archetype Minotaur.
All 53,000 Minotaurs.
The Archetype roared with me in elation, rage and... pain.
...Pain?
I crashed into the ground, rather than land from my last dash.
What?
I was on my knees, coughing blood.
My body had cracks in it, with sunlight, with energy leaking out, wanting to burst and explode out.
...Shit. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I thought my power was like a nuclear reactor I was pulling energy from as needed.
Oh no, I was wrong. I was so fucking wrong.
I was linked to the equivalent of the Sun's fucking core.
And now all that energy was overwhelming the chassis that is my body. I had to pull it back. Remove the minotaurs from me one by one and quickly. I couldn't just pull the Archtype whole away. My instincts were telling me that would just rupture me whole, and I didn't listen to them before.
So I'll do it right this time.
"Hehehe, looks like all that power is too much for you, bull." Atlas had pulled himself from his hole. "That is what happens with the unworthy sheep dare take more than they deserve."
He was covered in blood from all his wounds, bones sticking out from his chest and limbs. Yet his savage grin never left him, as he began to healed faster before my eyes.
Fuck me, this better not be some adaption bullshit, or is this a "nanomachines, son"? Fuck!
No, no, I have to focus and untangle the minotaur variants from me.
The light from the cracks in my body began to recede.
Come on, come on!
A boot slammed me in the face as I was lifted from the force and launched away.
It took all my focus and concentration, to keep my being whole and unexploded.
"Hahahaha! So that one didn't do you in." Atlas said from where I had been kneeling before, and started his march toward me again. "But It think one more hit will make you blow."
50,000 Minotaurs.
Atlas stepped closers.
48,000 Minotaurs.
Fuck, why is this so much slower than adding them?
45,000 Minotaurs.
Come on! Come on, almost to the point of moving without issue agai—
BAM!
Another kick. To my side this time.
I tried to move with the momentum, but didn't get away, only flopped on the ground.
Fuck!
Atlas laughed in glee and victory once more. His voice was grating.
I felt the energy bubble up, and with all my will and knowledge from the mage minotaurs I contained it. I have to untangle more Minotaurs and quickly, but I don't think I have the time.
"This Labyrinth is connected to you, right?" Atlas said as he stood over me. "Should you go, so would it, right? And then? Why the Sky would have no one to hold it, right?"
He raised his leg, his boot above my face.
41,000 Minotaurs.
...Shit.
Fuck it, I'll swing with everything I have and hope for the best then. I put all my focus in my arm. Curled my fingers into a fist.
Heat, light and vibrations blazing in me.
Atlas leg came down—
Two things happen.
A giant hellhound lunged from my shadow, grabbing me by my fluffy hair and dragging me away from Atlas' foot.
The second?
A bolt of lightning slammed into Atlas blowing him away from me.
He was launched far away, slamming into the ground a few times before coming to a stop.
"WHO DARES!" He shouted.
And up above us, I saw a demigod flying with electricity dancing around her.
"WOOHOOO! HAHAHAHAHA!"
Thalia laughed throwing her head back, sounding like a maniac from how she stretched her arms out, as if embracing the world.
"OOOOOH! I'MMA ABOUT TO MAKE A NAME FOR MYSELF HERE!"
Clouds covered the cavern ceiling and lightning descended like rain.
AN: So yeah, I can see why people can fall into hubris.