"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Hylla cursed, growling, as Reyna paled but stood firm.
They were back in Las Vegas, in the Di Angelo Manor, regrouping to decide their next destination. Herophile and Albert were filling the Ramirez-Arellano sisters with what was going on, while Nico was using the floor world map and his compass to see where to go next. The girls did not like what they heard. At all. At least, they were no longer suspicious of Nico and were all in to take down the Triumvirate.
"Where to now?" Reyna asked.
"San Francisco," Nico answered, entering the room with the compass in his hand. "In there we will follow the compass, if the compass does not work or gets blocked for some reason, there's always a spell to guide us to the closest divine presence."
"Handy," Hylla commented with a smirk. "But by the look in your face, thing's won't be that easy."
"Since I discovered the truth of Triumvirate Holdings, I've been contacting the souls of their victims to gather intel about how they operate. Some of them were cursed not to be able to reveal anything in the Underworld, but the trick of that curse is that it only works in the Underworld. The moment I summoned them into the Manor, they were able to share their knowledge." Nico smirked slyly, before sighing. "Some stray souls just informed me that after rescuing Herophile, Commodus and Caligula combined efforts. They put their fasces under lock and protected by two great armies."
"Can't you get us in and out using your shadow travel?" Reyna asked, calculating their odds.
"I can and I will," Nico assured her, before frowning. "But what will we do with the army? We can't just leave them in San Francisco. It will be a bloodbath! Mortals are not prepared to face them."
"It's not like we can summon an army to fight for us..." Hylla commented drily with a raised eyebrow, before stopping and turning to Nico. "Unless..."
"Oh, no!" Nico shook his head. "I wish! But I have not reached that level yet. I can't summon an army of the dead... but there's the Ceremony to Call for Divine Help."
"That would be even more difficult than for you to summon an army!" Harry scoffed.
"What do they mean?" Reyna frowned. "Is it dangerous?"
"In order to perform the ceremony, one must take the dying breath of a God and go to a temple of shrine dedicated to the deity they wish to summon. When they release the dying breath and recite the enchantment, the deity will come. The prayer must be uttered through the rainbow or rather an Iris Message which calls upon Iris the Goddess of the rainbow to deliver it." Albert explained. "But where do we even get the dying breath of a God? Ans who would we summon? Not to mention, we cannot enter New Rome without alerting the Triumvirate."
"We could always shadow travel after dealing with the fasces," Hylla pointed out. "That will get the Triumvirate's attention and there won't be a way out of it. We kill the ex-emperors and go summon Lady Diana, she has her Hunt."
"Once more, where can would we even get a God's dying breath?!" Harry exclaimed, exasperated. "Listen to me! Being young is no excuse to do stupid plans or be reckless. Magic should be treated with respect and a healthy dose of fear. Otherwise, you'll end up dead like me." The room went silent at Harty's words.
"We will be careful, but what other option do we have but hope for a miracle?" Nico wondered out loud. "We know where the fasces are, two of them. We can't wait too long, or they'll move. They know someone is into them, we can't allow them to regroup or go back into the shadows. We won't be able to find them not when they were able to hide from Gods for millenniums." Nico turned to Harry with an expression of desperation and determination. "We have to do this s. Who else will?"
What could Harry say to that?
The group then moved to prepare themselves for their quest. Nico was nervous, not only was he finally heading to confront the Triumvirate, but he was also doing so beside two demigoddesses he knew nothing about. Could he trust them? If it came down to choosing, they would most likely choose each other. They were sisters for Gods sake!
Not that I would blame them, Nico sighed internally. If Bianca was around, I would choose her over myself. A deep sadness overwhelmed Nico at the reminder that his precious freatella was not with him. Bee, the moment I deal with the Triumvirate I'm coming to rescue you!
"Why so gloomy?" Hylla asked, as she and her sister joined Nico and Mrs. O'leary in the backyard. "Scared?"
"Just missing my sister," Nico replied, ignoring Hylla's mocking tone "She's still trapped in the Lotus Casino and Hotel. Once this is over, I am going back for her. But I am scared. What if the magic of is too much for me and I end up trapped again?"
"Then we are coming with you," Reyna informed him, not offered, or even suggested. She straight out informed him, she was quite demanding- both sisters were.
That is a daughter of Bellona to you, Nico thought in amusement. "Why?" He asked out loud, confused.
"Because you gave us a purpose," Hylla answered, expression softening. "We've been wandering lost without a purpose, until you came around and straightened us up. We are daughters of Bellona, our place is at the front lines."
"There's nothing straight about me," Nico muttered, making the girls chuckle.
"Anyway, we are grateful to you," Reyna continued with a smile on her face. "We also understand the bond of siblings," she smiled towards her sister. "Now, we better get going, the faster we finish, the faster you can be reunited with your sister."
"Where ere are your ghostly guardians," Hylla inquired, realizing they were absent. Which was rare, as they could always be found near Nico.
"The prophecy said nothing about them, and we better not tempt things. Especially, not when the odds are stacked against us," Nico answered with a frown. "Also, we do not know what kind of magic they have under their sleeves. They already cheated death, they could be able to manipulate it and turn them against us."
"That would be nasty," Reyna shuddered.
"It would be, which is why we already said goodbye. They are staying behind with Herophile," Nico informed them, climbing on Mrs. O'leary. "Come on, we better get going."
Once Reyna and Hylla climbed on, they shadow traveled to San Francisco. Reyna and Hylla emerged from the shadows in San Francisco, only to be met with a disconcerting sight—streets teeming with monsters, their numbers hidden by the deceptive mist that cloaked their presence. The air hung heavy with trepidation as the sisters took in the ominous scene before them.
Nico, shuddering at the potential chaos these creatures could unleash upon unsuspecting mortals, felt the weight of the situation settle on his shoulders. The compass in Nico's hands quivered, its indications urging them forward through narrow alleyways and dimly lit corners. Trepidation lingered in the air, a palpable tension that accompanied every calculated move. Staying close to the shadows, Reyna and Hylla moved with cautious steps. The cloaking spell enveloped them, rendering them invisible to the monstrous entities that prowled the streets.
Every breath held a whisper of anxiety, and the sisters, following the guidance of the compass, moved with the utmost care to avoid attracting the attention of the lurking monsters. In the shadows, they advanced with a mixture of fear and determination, their senses heightened, and their movements synchronized to the beat of their cautious hearts. The cloaking spell provided a shield, but the uncertainty of how long it would stay up kept them vigilant.
Once they made it to the Bay Area, they were met with a massive transmission antenna in the, the Sutro Tower. However, what caught the eyes of the three demigods was not the massive tower, but the large conspiracy of giant ravens flying around. And of course, the entrance to the tower was locked by Imperial Gold Chains.
Nico growled in frustration when he noticed the engravements on the door. "It's spelled so no one can enter without going through this door. You need to have the key or break the chains."
"Now that's a flock," Hylla whistle, with a morbid sense of admiration.
"Stop it sister," Reyna sighed. "I'll use the blessing of Bellona on you, you take care of the chains, and Nico will hide us from the monsters."
As Hylla painstakingly hacked through the chains, even with the Blessing of Bellona enhancing her efforts, the limitations of Nico's cloaking spell became evident. The rhythmic clinks of her weapon echoed in the air, a stark contrast to the urgency of the situation.
In the midst of the chain-cutting endeavor, chaos erupted as Mrs. O'Leary and Nico himself were forced to confront a menacing conspiracy of giant ravens soaring through the skies. The air crackled with tension as the winged adversaries descended, their dark forms blotting out the sky.
The battle unfolded with a flurry of feathers and ferocity. Mrs. O'Leary lunged and snapped, her gargantuan form a formidable force against the onslaught of the ravens. Each clash of fang and beak echoed through the air, a cacophony of primal warfare. Nico, wielding his sword with skill honed through countless battles, moved with a fluidity that defied the chaos around him. Shadows danced at his command, intertwining with the ravens' menacing forms. His every strike was a calculated dance, a blend of shadow manipulation and swordplay aimed at dismantling the aerial threat.
The ravens, with their razor-sharp beaks and talons, proved to be formidable adversaries. Feathers spiraled in the air as the hellhound and the demigod worked in tandem, their movements synchronized in a desperate bid to repel the aerial assault.
Hylla, having successfully freed the door that was bound by the chains, called for her team to move. They made it inside and slammed the door shut behind them. The three panting, bruised, and bleeding demigods flinched as the ravens continued to slam against the closed door.
"I hate men eating birds!" Nico declared vehemently.
"Don't we all," Reyna agreed gasping for air.
"Good start!" Hylla huffed sarcastically. "But as my favorite philosopher says, it is not how you start a day but how you finish it."
"Mrs. O'leary go, stay in the shadows, and patrol the surroundings of the tower, warn us if something approaches," Nico commanded to his hellhound, who barked and disappeared into the shadows.
The trio paused to tend to their wounds, the dim glow of ambrosia casting a faint light on their faces. The tower's interior, now partially illuminated, revealed the weariness etched into their expressions. Yet, it wasn't just physical fatigue that burdened them; it was the insidious weight of the tower's ambiance.
As they ventured into the tower, the air became thick with an oppressive ambience that seemed to intensify with each step towards the summit. The darkness, which didn't faze Nico, took on an almost tangible weight, wrapping around them like an unseen shroud. The ambient stillness heightened the eerie atmosphere, the silence a stark contrast to the chaos they had just faced.
Nico, accustomed to the shadows, navigated the darkened tower with a stoic determination. However, the darkness seemed to have a different effect on Reyna and Hylla. The obscurity unsettled them, and as the surroundings grew darker, an unease crept into the air. As they ascended, the darkness seemed to deepen, the air growing more laden with an unspoken tension. Nico, in his unwavering determination, pressed on, oblivious to the growing unease of his companions. Reyna and Hylla, discomfort etched on their faces, exchanged a glance, stepping back almost imperceptibly as if retreating from the oppressive shadows.
Nico, sensing their silent retreat, continued his ascent, the darkness obediently parting for him. The oppressive silence, a that played tricks on their senses, each footfall echoing louder than it should in the hushed stillness. For Reyna and Hylla, the absence of sound seemed to amplify the encroaching shadows. Even for Nico, the eeriness became too much. The darkness he was used to, but the silence. That was too much for the young demigod.
As the trio reached the summit of the tower, a shipping container stood ominously, emitting an unexpected fragrance of roses that seemed incongruent with the dark ambiance that surrounded them. Hylla, drawn by the scent, approached the container, her movements deliberate yet strangely disjointed. Nico and Reyna, standing a few paces back, could only catch snippets of Hylla's speech- every other word echoed in the stillness.
Nico, intrigued and cautious, approached the container after Hylla. As he neared, an inexplicable silence descended upon him—no sound, no words. It was as if the air itself had hushed in reverence or fear. The container, marked with the name "Alexandria, Egypt" in Arabic script, unfolded a revelation. In that moment, Nico's mind connected the dots. His lessons with Albert echoed in his memory, revealing the identity of the god they faced. Harpocrates, the Ptolemaic God of Silence. The peculiar circumstances, the scent of roses, and the stifling silence were all hallmarks of the god's presence.
Nico, now realizing the gravity of the situation, stood in silent contemplation. He then turned to Hylla and grabbed her hand before dragging her back to Reyna, who still standing beside the door. "We are facing the Harpocrates, the Ptolemaic God of Silence." Close to the door, they could hear each other but what normally would be a level volume, was no more than a whisper in the presence of Harpocrates.
"So, this is what the prophecy meant," Reyna murmured, though Nico did not know if she meant to murmur, or if it was Harpocrates' powers in action.
Harpocrates, the god of silence, materialized before them, his confusion evident in the depths of his eyes. Nico took the lead, he tried to speak, even if only in whispers, but he realized that it was impossible to speak in the presence of the God. So, he tried to send the God his speech mentally, hoping that the God could read his mind. He explained that they were on a quest to dismantle the Triumvirate, the malevolent force that had ensnared the God in a shipping container. Intrigued, Nico inquired about Harpocrates' capture, prompting the god to share his painful telepathic images.
In the recesses of their minds, the trio received glimpses of Apollo's cruel bullying when Harpocrates had no choice but become part of the Greek Pantheon. Commodus and Caligula, embodiments of tyranny, reveled in the god's humiliation, their laughter ringing after they had captured the God, weakened by being forgotten and not receiving prayers for so long.
The telepathic communication continued, revealing the heart-wrenching moment when a Eurynomos, under Tarquin's control, presented Harpocrates with a jar containing the Sibyl of Cumae—a cruel jest orchestrated by the Triumvirate. Through this shared mental exchange, an unexpected connection unfolded. Harpocrates and the Eurynomos found themselves bound by the circumstances, forging a wistful relationship born of shared adversity.
The god's silent struggle resonated with the trials the trio had faced. Driven by empathy, the three demigods reciprocated by sending Harpocrates vivid images of their own struggles. Nico shared the haunting memory of losing his mother, the anguish of leaving his sister behind, and the weight of loneliness that haunted him. Hylla contributed the painful recollections of the abuse she endured under her father's tyranny, while Reyna conveyed the conflicting emotions, she experienced upon finally liberating herself by ending her father's life.
As the telepathic exchange unfolded, Harpocrates empathized with their burdens, recognizing the strength forged through adversity. With a sense of acceptance, Harpocrates nodded in understanding, acknowledging the demigods as allies in his silent struggle. The trio, now united with Harpocrates in their shared struggle against the Triumvirate, stood before the shipping container that had held the god of silence captive.
Empowered by Reyna's Blessing of Bellona, both Hylla and Nico felt a surge of divine strength coursing through their veins. With focused determination, they directed their newfound power at the two fasces looming above the container. The Blessing of Bellona, channeled through their weapons, struck with unparalleled force. The fasces, symbols of the Triumvirate's oppression, shattered easily under the divine onslaught. As the pieces fell, the container's oppressive hold over Harpocrates lifted, and the god of silence stood liberated, weak but resolute.
Reading their minds and understanding the dire plans they had laid planned, but long gave up on, Harpocrates, weakened by captivity and the passage of time, offered telepathically himself for a sacrifice to initiate the Ceremony to Call for Divine Help. He wished for the downfall of the Triumvirate, and if his sacrifice could aid in that endeavor, he was willing to endure it. Horrified by the gravity of the choice before them, Nico, Reyna, and Hylla exchanged uneasy glances. Yet, they knew that desperate times called for drastic measures. The God of Silence, his essence dimmed by captivity and neglect, embodied a willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good.
Amidst the somber atmosphere, Nico's sharp eyes caught sight of a jar nestled in Harpocrates' lap. It was the remains of the Oracle of Cumae, as if responding to their unspoken questions, the disembodied oracle spoke. "Do not worry about us, young heroes. Our time has long since come, we are grateful that our last moments were spent with each other in freedom."
Understanding the significance of the moment, Nico, Reyna, and Hylla steeled themselves for what they were about to do. The Oracle of Cumae and Harpocrates released their essences, and in a quiet, solemn exchange, the God of Silence filled the jar with his final breath. Harpocrates whispered to them, instructing them to release the jar at a shrine or temple to invoke the divine help they sought. With heavy hearts, they sealed the jar. The heroes, burdened by the weight of their choices, were about to leave the tower, when the doors were slammed opened behind them.
"Not so fast," two men crashed into the room, sealing the door close behind them.
How did they even get passed Mrs. O'leary? Nico thought startled. Right, Harpocrates is the God of Silence, we could have not heard Mrs. O'leary's warning. Nico frowned when he realized that he could not summon his hellhound. He then noticed the mark recently placed on the door. Another anti-teleportation mark. Perfect!
The first, the one that caught Nico's eye immediately, exuded an almost unreal level of attractiveness. With curly brown hair, a well-groomed beard, perfect teeth, and brilliant blue eyes, he appeared like the embodiment of a hero. His muscular physique, complete with a six-pack of golden abs, earned him the moniker "New Hercules."
Nico couldn't help but frown as he recognized the telltale signs of Commodus, the infamous figure they had heard about in connection with the Triumvirate. The man's appearance, while physically impressive, was overshadowed by the crazed look in his eyes. Despite the superficial charm, Nico knew better than to be deceived by such an airbrushed and overly muscular facade. If not for the madness gleaming in Commodus' eyes, Nico might have found the man attractive.
The second intruder, Caligula, presented a stark contrast. Young, slender, and lithe, Caligula possessed a thin, angular handsomeness. However, there was an unsettling quality to his appearance. His ears stuck out a bit too much, and his smile, twisted and thin, held an eerie quality. The placid brown eyes, set too far apart, lacked the warmth one would expect, leaving an impression akin to the cold, predatory gaze of a barracuda.
Nico observed the duo with a mixture of wariness and hatred, fully aware of the danger they posed as members of the Triumvirate. As the room crackled with tension, he prepared himself for the impending confrontation with these malevolent figures.
"You little boy have already given us enough of trouble," Caligula growled.
"Where's the Herophile?" Commodus commanded with all the haughtiness of an ex-emperor.
"You are..." Nico's face twisted into a disgusted grimace. Their auras were horrible, unnatural, they should not exist.
"Reyna! Bless us again and protect the jar!" Hylla commanded, taking out her sword. "Nico and I will deal with them!"
The room erupted into a chaotic dance of steel and shadows as Caligula, armed with a menacing spear, squared off against Nico and his Stygian Iron sword. Across the room, Commodus clashed swords with Hylla, each clash sending sparks flying as their weapons, forged from Imperial Gold, met in a clash of divine might.
Caligula lunged forward with deceptive speed, aiming his spear at Nico's midsection. Nico, however, was no stranger to combat. With a swift sidestep and a fluid twist of his wrist, he parried the attack, the Stygian Iron sword meeting the celestial gleam of Caligula's spear. The clash echoed in the room, each struck a testament to the demigods' prowess.
On the other side of the room, Hylla engaged Commodus in a fierce sword duel. Commodus, with his Herculean strength, aimed powerful strikes at Hylla, who met each blow with a calculated mix of agility and skill. The Imperial Gold clashed with a metallic resonance, the clash of their weapons resounding through the room.
Nico, seizing an opportunity, launched a counterattack against Caligula. The Stygian Iron blade sliced through the air, aiming for vulnerable spots in Caligula's defenses. Caligula, however, proved to be a formidable adversary, skillfully parrying Nico's strikes with his spear. The room became a battlefield of shadows and divine weaponry, the combatants locked in a deadly dance.
Hylla, recognizing the need for coordination, seamlessly switched her focus between Commodus and Caligula. With a calculated maneuver, she feigned an opening for Commodus, drawing his attention, only to expertly evade his strike and launch a counterattack. Simultaneously, Nico utilized his shadow manipulation, creating illusions and distractions to disorient Caligula.
The dance of combat continued, each clash a symphony of skill and strategy. Hylla and Nico, in a synchronized display of teamwork, exploited the weaknesses of their adversaries. Hylla's swordplay proved agile and precise, while Nico's mastery of shadows added an unpredictable element to the battle.
As the fight reached its climax, Nico and Hylla found a moment of opportunity. With a coordinated assault, they overwhelmed their opponents. Nico's shadowy illusions confused Caligula, leaving him momentarily vulnerable. Seizing the chance, Hylla delivered a precise strike, her Imperial Gold blade finding its mark. Caligula staggered, and in a swift motion, Nico plunged his Stygian Iron sword through the distracted adversary.
Across the room, Hylla returned to her dance with Commodus. Commodus did not seem to mind the fall of his compatriot, which only made Hylla angrier. They were truly monsters. With a skillful feint, she disarmed him and left him exposed. Nico, having dispatched Caligula, rushed to assist Hylla. Together, they executed a final, synchronized assault. Hylla's sword met Commodus's defenses, while Nico, with the deadly precision of a shadow, struck the final blow.
The room fell silent as Commodus and Caligula crumpled to the floor, defeated. Nico and Hylla, they were breathing heavily and bloodied, but they were standing victorious. The first thing Nico did was to rip the anti-teleportation off the door and welcome the worried Mrs. O'leary with pats and kisses. She was such a good girl!
"We did it!" Hylla roared in victory, as Nico smiled in relief and exuberance.
Reyna frowned, hugging the jar with the dying breath of Harpocrates. "Not without some losses."
"Not to mention, Commodus and Caligula had the last laugh," Hilla commented too calmly for what she was seeing through the window. "All the monsters that we saw roaming the streets are now surrounding the tower." Hylla sighed "Great!"
"At least the mortals won't get caught in the crossfire," Nico tried to find the positive side, earning himself with twin glares from the sisters. "Reyna take Mrs. O'leary and do the ritual. There should be a Dianas temple in New Rome."
"Shouldn't you be the one to do it!" Reyna exclaimed surprised, as Mrs. O'leary threw her on her back, following her owner's command.
"Ritual or not, if a man does it, Lady Diana will have my head! She hates men and not even my sexuality would matter." Nico shouted as the tower shook under the violent attacks of the monsters. "Go!"
Nico sighed in relief as Reyna and Mrs. O'leary shadow traveled away. Nico and Hylla then exchanged grim looks. They knew that their odds were off by… a million! But they did not need to win. All they had to do was win as much time as possible for Reyna and the Hunt to come back.
The battlefield surrounding the tower was a chaotic maelstrom of violence and shadow. Hylla and Nico fought valiantly, striving to hold back the relentless onslaught of monsters pouring forth from the Greek-Romanic Pantheon. The air crackled with malevolent energy as all manner of creatures—Blemmyae, Cynocephali, Fire-Breathing Horses, Tauri Sylvestres, Pandai, and more—swarmed from every direction.
Despite the Blessing of Bellona enhancing Hylla's combat prowess and Nico's mastery over spells and shadows, the odds were overwhelmingly against them. The monsters attacked with ferocity and coordination, exploiting every vulnerability in their defenses. With grim determination, Hylla and Nico fought side by side, their weapons slashing through the air as they desperately tried to stem the tide. The tower's structure groaned under the strain of the relentless assault. Spells cast by Nico intertwined with the clash of swords, creating pockets of shadowy resistance against the encroaching horde.
The disadvantages painfully apparent as the monsters closed in, forcing Hylla and Nico to make a difficult decision. They reluctantly abandoned the tower, retreating from the collapsing structure. Outside, they found themselves surrounded by an array of mythical horrors. The Blemmyae, with their headless bodies, closed in alongside the Cynocephali, monstrous dog-headed creatures. Fire-Breathing Horses galloped with fiery breath, while Tauri Sylvestres and Pandai lurked in the shadows.
Amidst the chaotic battlefield, Hylla and Nico executed a series of strategic maneuvers, combining their unique abilities in a desperate attempt to fend off the relentless onslaught of mythic adversaries. Hylla, empowered by the Blessing of Bellona, showcased her formidable swordplay skills. With swift and precise movements, she engaged the Fire-Breathing Horses, deflecting their fiery breath with her Imperial Gold blade. Her combat style was a dance of calculated strikes and strategic parries, creating a protective barrier around her and Nico.
Nico, on the other hand, unleashed a flurry of shadowy spells. He conjured illusions to confuse the Cynocephali, making them attack phantom images instead of the duo. The shadows, manipulated by his Necromancy powers, intertwined with Hylla's sword strikes, creating an intricate dance of darkness and steel. As the Tauri Sylvestres lunged forward, Nico cast shadows around their hooves, slowing their advance and disrupting their coordinated attacks.
The Pandai, lurking in the shadows, proved elusive adversaries. Nico, using his shadow manipulation, cast illusions to draw them out, while Hylla, with a well-timed strike, dispatched the creatures as they revealed themselves. The Blemmyae, headless and relentless, charged forward, and Hylla skillfully exploited their lack of vision, striking at vulnerable points with deadly precision.
As the battlefield shifted and evolved, Hylla and Nico adjusted their tactics on the fly. Hylla, aware of her physical strength, took on the larger adversaries like the Tauri Sylvestres, using her sword to deflect their powerful blows. Meanwhile, Nico focused on the more elusive and magical creatures, utilizing his shadow manipulation to disrupt their attacks.
The collapsing tower added an additional layer of complexity to their maneuvers. Debris fell around them, and Nico used his shadows to shield them from falling structures while Hylla forged a path through the chaos. In moments of respite, Nico deployed healing spells to mend their wounds, allowing them to endure the relentless assault.
The battlefield became a whirlwind of chaos and desperation, shadows flickering in the tumult. Hylla's Blessing of Bellona clashed with the monstrous onslaught, and Nico's shadows danced with spells to create fleeting sanctuaries. The monsters, relentless in their assault, pressed harder, sensing the duo's vulnerability.
In the face of overwhelming odds, Hylla and Nico stood undeterred. Battered and bleeding, their resolve remained unbroken. They fought not for victory but for the precious moments that could tip the scales in their favor. Each strike, each spell, was a calculated effort to gain precious moments, to withstand the onslaught until the crucial moment when they could make their escape or turn the tide in their favor. Monster after monster fell before their blades, each life extinguished marking a small victory in their race against time.
As Hylla and Nico battled against the endless horde of monsters, a sudden shift in the shadows signaled the arrival of reinforcements. Reyna materialized beside them, her figure emerging from the darkness with Mrs. O'leary, the massive hellhound, at her side. The trio faced the ongoing onslaught with a mix of desperation and determination. The absence of the Goddess Diana and her huntresses cast a shadow of despair over their situation. The once-hoped-for aid was nowhere in sight, leaving the trio to face the relentless monsters with their limited resources. The desperation intensified as the monsters continued to pour in, seemingly without end.
Despite the setback, there was a collective decision among Hylla, Nico, and Reyna—they would not go down without a fight. Their plan might have faltered, but they resolved to give their all in the face of adversity. Reyna's determined gaze and Mrs. O'leary's intimidating presence added a renewed sense of strength to their beleaguered defense. With Mrs. O'leary's strong shadow-traveling abilities, they strategically moved around the battlefield, targeting clusters of monsters with precise strikes. Mrs. O'leary, a massive and formidable force, unleashed her hellhound fury upon the encroaching creatures. The pace of their attacks quickened, the coordination between demigod and hellhound proving to be a formidable combination against the unrelenting horde.
Despite their increased efficiency, the monsters remained seemingly endless. Every defeated foe was swiftly replaced by another, as if emerging from the very shadows themselves. The trio fought with tenacity, each strike a testament to their determination to hold their ground against overwhelming odds. In the midst of the chaos, Reyna's strategic mind came into play. She directed Mrs. O'leary to target the more formidable adversaries, allowing the hellhound to dispatch them with her immense strength. Hylla and Nico, wielding their weapons with precision, moved in tandem with the hellhound, creating a whirlwind of destruction within the monster ranks.
As the battle wore on, a mixture of exhaustion and frustration settled in. The trio knew that, despite their valiant efforts, they were reaching the limits of what they could endure. The monsters, fueled by the relentless tide of reinforcements, pressed harder, testing the resilience of the demigods and their hellish companion. Even in the face of apparent failure, Hylla, Nico, and Reyna refused to surrender. The battlefield echoed with the clash of weapons, roars of hellhound fury, and the desperate cries of demigods fighting against an unyielding onslaught. They fought on, slaying monsters with every ounce of strength they could muster, hoping against hope for a reprieve or a miracle that might turn the tide in their favor.
"Get on Mrs. O'leary and leave!" Nico shouted, trying to make her voice heard above the clatter of the battlefield. "Shadow travel back to the manor, I'll buy you time!"
Hylla grunted, as she copped off the head of a Yale, before turning to him and glaring with a fury that would have made Tartarus quake. "Don't you fucking dare make a sacrificial play!"
"Hylla is right!" Reyna shouted, from where she was clashing swords with a Eurynomos. "We are all together on this! We all survive, or we all die!"
Nico could not turn to them, not when Khromandae was running towards him. So, he simply raised his sword and got ready to receive it with a war cry. A war cry that his shield sisters echoed. They will all survive, or they will all die!
Just as despair threatened to overwhelm them, a sudden change in the atmosphere signaled a shift in the battle. The air seemed to ripple with a different energy, and the relentless tide of monsters momentarily paused. A sense of relief washed over Hylla, Nico, and Reyna as they exchanged glances, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten. From a silver flash of light emerged a commanding figure, surrounded by an ethereal aura that radiated power and authority. Diana, the Goddess of the Hunt, had finally arrived on the battlefield. Behind her, a formidable force of Huntresses followed, their bows at the ready and determination in their eyes.
The demigods, along with Mrs. O'leary, greeted the goddess's arrival with a mixture of relief and gratitude. Diana's presence shifted the dynamics of the battle, instilling hope and quelling the relentless assault of monsters. The goddess's divine power resonated through the air, and her Huntresses seamlessly joined the fray, their arrows finding their marks with deadly accuracy.
The monsters, sensing the arrival of a deity and her formidable followers, recoiled. The relentless onslaught began to falter as the goddess and her Huntresses unleashed their divine might upon the creatures of the Greek-Romanic Pantheon. Diana, with her unparalleled skill and grace, moved through the battlefield like a force of nature, her arrows piercing through the hearts of monstrous adversaries. Mrs. O'leary, sensing the change in the tides, renewed her onslaught with renewed vigor, guided by the presence of a goddess on the battlefield. Hylla, Nico, and Reyna, bolstered by the reinforcements, fought alongside the Huntresses, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten in the face of divine intervention.
As the battle unfolded, the monsters, now facing the combined might of demigods and goddess, began to retreat. Diana's Huntresses pursued the fleeing creatures, ensuring that the threat was decisively quelled. The battlefield, once shrouded in chaos and despair, transformed into a scene of victory as the demigods and the Hunt celebrated their hard-won triumph.
The battlefield was strewn with fallen monsters, the remnants of a relentless onslaught that had tested the mettle of demigods and goddess alike. The air was thick with the scent of battle, a mixture of metallic blood, smoldering debris, and the lingering essence of divine power. Hylla, Nico, and Reyna stood amidst the carnage, their appearances transformed into those of warriors reminiscent of the ancient Greek era. Their armor, battered and scorched, spoke of the fierce combat they had endured. Bloodstains adorned their weapons, a testament to the lives they had taken to protect the mortal world from the encroaching monsters.
The trio had then collapsed on the back of Mrs. O'leary, totally exhausted, panting, and bleeding. Reyna had a broken arm, Hylla took a dagger to the leg, and Nico was still trying to get the shadows to retreat from his body. He had used too much of his shadow ability and he had almost been claimed by the Shadow Realm. He will need to take a break from it, once their quest is over. As the trio tried to recover, drinking water, eating Kit-Kats, and taking ambrosia, they did not notice the huntresses approaching. Until Mrs. O'leary, was growling at the eternal maidens. That snapped them back into attention.
Diana, the Goddess of the Hunt, stood regally amidst the aftermath. Despite her youthful appearance as a beautiful adolescent girl with long auburn hair tied back in a ponytail and silvery yellow eyes, there was an otherworldly and cold beauty about her. The silver camouflage clothing she wore seemed to accentuate her ethereal presence rather than conceal it. Her demeanor was as majestic as the moon itself, casting an aura of authority and power that sent shivers down Nico's back.
Diana's cold calculative look on Nico made the boy quite nervous. He knew the stories about males, meeting the hunt, so he will forever defend his reaction as the correct one, no matter how much Hylla and Reyna tease him about it in the future.
"I'm gay!" He blurted, receiving many raised eyebrows and startled looks.
"Where did our calm and collected leader go to?" Hylla mocked, as Reyna snorted in amusement.
"Well, I just thought that some clarification about my sexuality might save me from becoming a jackalope and being hunted down," Nico pointed out, looking quite adorable as a blush covered his cheeks. "And let me just add that I am a big fan!" Nico continued babbling, much to the amusement of the Hunt. "Being able to tell a whole society, a whole gender, to fuck off, forgive my language, brilliant! I wish I had a role model like that that growing up. Because let me tell you being gay in the 30's, Mussolini Italy era, was not easy."
Many of the eternal maidens winced at that, they recalled the 30's, they were not easy. Many others looked at Nico with new eyes, something akin to understanding. Whatever it was, Nico clearly won some brownie points with the huntresses.
"Knowing that my huntresses, whole be hounded down and flirted with does make you more… agreeable than others of your gender." Diana agreed much to the relief of Nico and the shock of her huntresses. "I also do not want to get on your father's bas side, not when you are also favored by my half-sister and stepmother." Diana muttered under her breath with no small amount of disbelief.
"Your actions against the Triumvirate are quite commendable… though it has attracted the attention of many. My father and idiotic twin being some of them. Nero being the other." Diana's expression turned dark, making the trio shiver under the intensity. "With two of their fasces and ex-roman emperors down, their power got transferred to the remaining ones.
"So, is he three times stronger than Commodus and Caligula?" Reyna asked, exhausted just by imagining it. "Perfect!
"I'm afraid so," Diana allowed the interruption, just because it was a maiden. "And he will be waiting, he will be ready. There will be no surprise attack against him."
"Let them try," Hylla proclaimed, sounding more ready than she should be with a stab wound.
"She's right," Nico smiled, he did not need the Blessing of Bellona, just his girls by his side. As they say, blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. "We've faced this odds, whatever Nero has for us, we will be ready for it!"