Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
The Ever Twisting Wind: The Gaean War
Chapter Eight: The Battle of Lake Nemi
Beta:
After Andi and her allies dealt with the threat of Gaea recruiting more Eidolons to her cause, she found herself back in her palace, watching helplessly through Iris Messages as events unfolded. The chosen Seven demigods of the new Great Prophecy - Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Leo, Hazel, and Frank - had narrowly escaped New Rome after the Eidolon-induced attack that shattered the fragile peace between the Greek and Roman camps. The Twelfth Legion, enraged by the destruction and betrayal, pursued them relentlessly across America. Though the Seven were not at fault, their retreat from the Roman stronghold marked them as fugitives, forcing them to evade capture while staying focused on their larger mission.
Along the way, the Seven faced numerous challenges. They were forced to stop at Salt Lake, Utah, to repair damage inflicted on the Argo II by the Twelfth Legion during their flight from New Rome. There, they encountered Nemesis and the spirits Echo and Narcissus, who had returned from the Underworld and a mob of Nymphs obsessing over the latter. As they continued their journey, the group had more trouble with Eidolons, including a tense moment when two of the malevolent spirits possessed Percy and Jason, driving them to try and kill each other.
Their troubles didn't end there. In Atlanta, they had a run-in with the primordial sea gods Phorcys and Keto, who added yet another layer of danger to their journey. Later, in Charleston, the Seven desperately searched for a map that would lead them to the Athena Parthenos in Rome. This mission put them in the path of Octavian, the ambitious former Augur of the Twelfth Legion who, much to Andi's frustration, had taken advantage of the conflict between New Rome and the Greeks to regain influence within the Twelfth Legion, accompanied by a group of his goons.
Andi could only watch helplessly as the Seven faced these challenges one after another, bound by the Ancient Laws that prevented her from intervening directly. She lamented the limitations placed upon her, knowing that while some of the challenges the Seven faced were well within their abilities to handle, others teetered on the edge of disaster. But none of the situations had been dire enough to justify her stepping in, and when they were, other gods had already claimed their right to intervene first. It frustrated her to no end, knowing she had the power to assist, but being unable to act due to the restrictions of divine protocol. All she could do was place her faith in the Seven, hoping they would survive the relentless obstacles Gaea set in their path.
The goddess of the wind, breezes and Wizarding magic watched them cross the Atlantic aboard the Argo II, their destination set in the ancient lands of the Old World. The journey was fraught with danger, not only from the natural perils of the open ocean but also from the forces Gaea relentlessly sent their way. Thankfully, the Romans had ceased pursuing them once they reached the Atlantic, as they considered venturing into the Old World taboo. The Seven's goal in Europe was threefold: Annabeth was on a personal mission, assigned by her mother and kept hidden from the rest of the Seven save Percy, to follow the Mark of Athena and recover the lost statue of Athena Parthenos, a relic that could heal the rift between the Camps. Meanwhile, the others sought to stop the Gigantes from fully awakening their mother and unleashing chaos upon the world. Just as importantly, they planned a detour to Rome to rescue Nico, who had been captured and was being held by the twin Gigantes, Otis and Ephialtes.
At that moment, Andi watched in frustrated helplessness as the Argo II was attacked by a monstrous Skolopendra in the open ocean. The creature, two hundred feet long, was a horrifying cross between a giant shrimp and a centipede, coiling menacingly as it rose from the depths. Its segmented body was armored with jagged, chitinous plates, giving it a fearsome, insect-like appearance. Faint yellow cracks glowed along its exoskeleton, hinting at immense power or toxic energy surging beneath its shell. The creature's grotesque face resembled that of a deep-sea predator, with long, writhing tentacles sprouting from its head, glowing with the same eerie yellow light. These tentacles lashed out at the Argo II, threatening to tear the ship apart as the Seven scrambled to defend themselves. Its many legs, ending in sharp, claw-like appendages, grabbed at the ship, ready to drag it beneath the waves. Andi clenched her fists, aching to intervene, but bound by the laws, she could only hope they would fend off the creature on their own.
The scene shown by the Iris Message was a far cry from what Andi herself was currently enjoying. She sat comfortably in her favorite chair, enjoying the peaceful ambiance of the sunroom in the treehouse main building of her palace. Sunlight streamed through the canopy, casting warm dappled shadows on the floor. Beside her, Ida, her ever-loyal second-in-command and Oread, sipped tea with an air of calm authority. Wendy, Andi's partner and Aurae lieutenant, lounged in her chair with a breezy demeanor, while Kate, her Dryad lieutenant, cradled her Mimic familiar, in his usual shape of a flower pot holding her tree self, gently in her arms. Hunter, the golden Kyôn Khryseos, lay beside Andi's chair, his head resting lazily on his paws, golden fur gleaming in the sunlight. All while they watched Leo Valdez and the rest of the Seven battling the monstrous Skolopendra.
He's a scrappy one, that Leo. Hunter's voice echoed in Andi's mind, his telepathic tone casual despite the chaos unfolding on the rainbow image.
Just as Leo released a final burst of Greek Fire from the Argo II's weapons, incinerating the Skolopendra, the force of the explosion sent him, Hazel, and Frank flying from the Argo II. The trio hurtled through the air, plummeting towards the ocean below and Camp Fish-Blood, the underwater sanctuary for Mer-Heroes.
That's not good. Hunter observed, his tail giving a lazy thump.
Suddenly, Hedwig, Andi's Owl Dragon, swooped into the room and landed gracefully next to Hunter.
Message for you. From Ron and Hermione. Her voice echoed telepathically as she settled down beside the lounging Kyôn Khryseos.
Andi reached over and took the letter with a smile of thanks, turning her attention from the Iris Message as the group continued watching the aftermath of the battle. Unfolding the parchment, she began reading aloud.
Dear Andi,
I hope this letter finds you well! Ron and I have been thinking about you, and we wanted to reach out with something rather important. Though I wish it were under less cryptic circumstances. Ron, as you know, tries his best but can be about as subtle as a Blast-Ended Skrewt when it comes to prophecies, and well, he's received one that is a doozy but which we're both certain is meant for you.
Here's the prophecy:
At the holy wood, lakes of black will burn and seethe.
The Seven must be saved by the Lady of Breezes,
Lest the warship be lost to the night.
Only when the earth's womb is sealed,
Will Olympus' fate be revealed.
If you're scratching your head right now, don't worry - you're not alone! Ron and I have been poring over it, but we're still no closer to figuring out what it means. I mean, we know it's a call for action for you to save the Seven, but the rest has us completely stumped.
Hopefully, you'll have better luck making sense of this riddle. Whatever it means, we both have a strong feeling that it's urgent, so please don't wait too long to look into it. You always seem to have a knack for this sort of thing, after all.
Take care of yourself, and give our love to everyone. Let us know what you figure out.
Love,
Hermione and Ron
Andi frowned, puzzled by the cryptic message.
"What does that even mean?" She glanced around the sunroom at her gathered household.
No idea. Hunter immediately replied, stretching lazily. Prophecies are weird.
Same. Hedwig added, tilting her head as if in deep thought. Not my department.
Wendy and Kate leaned toward each other, whispering quietly in an attempt to decipher the riddle. After a few moments, they exchanged sheepish glances with Andi.
"We've got nothing." Wendy admitted with a small shrug.
Kate nodded. "It's a tough one."
Before Ida could respond, Alice, the Conscience of the Technodjinn and the liaison attached to her because of their alliance against Gaea, suddenly appeared, teleported into the sunroom. "Sorry for being away! Sibyl summoned me. She had a prophecy to deliver but insisted that I come in person before she revealed its contents. I think she was getting a bit lonely since I haven't been around for a while."
Andi raised an eyebrow. "I was wondering where you went."
Alice's gaze shifted to the letter in Andi's hand. "What's going on?"
Andi chuckled, holding up the parchment. "We just got a prophecy from Hermione and Ron. What a coincidence."
"Have you figured out what it means?" Alice asked, stepping closer to take a look.
Before Andi could respond, Ida cut in. "It's likely the same thing Sibyl wanted to tell you. There's no way it's a coincidence that we're getting two prophecies about the future at the same time."
Alice nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, that does make sense."
Andi looked at Ida expectantly. "So, what do you think?"
"Can I have the letter? I would like to read the prophecy again to be sure of my conclusions."
"Sure." Andi said as she handed over the letter.
Ida shifted in her chair, her sharp eyes scanning the parchment before she began her explanation.
"Alright, let's break it down." She said, leaning forward slightly. "First, 'At the holy wood, lakes of black will burn and seethe.' That's a clear reference to Lake Nemi. Its name derives from the Latin 'nemus', or 'holy wood'.The volcanic history of the region gives it that 'burn and seethe' quality. If the Gigantes are hiding something there, it could also explain why the waters might metaphorically 'burn.'"
Andi nodded slowly, following along. Ida's insight made sense so far.
"Next, 'The Seven must be saved by the Lady of Breezes.' That's pretty straightforward - that's you, Andi. You're being called to intervene and save them from some disaster, likely tied to the next part."
"'Lest the warship be lost to the night,'" Andi repeated. "The Argo II, right?"
"Exactly." Ida confirmed. "The warship here is definitely the Argo II. 'Lost to the night' could mean it'll be destroyed in an attack that happens under the cover of darkness or lost entirely in a metaphorical sense. Either way, the Argo II is in danger unless you act."
Wendy leaned forward. "And the last part?"
"'Only when the earth's womb is sealed, will Olympus' fate be revealed.'" Ida repeated. "That's a clear reference to Gaea. The 'earth's womb' symbolizes her power, and sealing it means stopping whatever the Gigantes have set up at Lake Nemi. If you don't intervene, Olympus' fate - and potentially the future of the gods - hangs in the balance. Considering the destruction of the Argo II would also mean the death of the Seven, who are the best hope for victory against Gaea according to the Great Prophecy, it's critical you act fast."
Andi exchanged glances with Alice and Wendy before turning back to Ida, impressed with her detailed breakdown. "So, the Gigantes have something hidden at Lake Nemi that could destroy the Argo II, and I'm supposed to stop it?"
Ida nodded. "Exactly. You need to neutralize the threat fast, or the ship - and Olympus - are at risk."
Alice sighed. "That's exactly what Sibyl told me. I guess it's time to head to Lake Nemi."
Andi sat back in her chair, processing the information. "Well, looks like we've got a mission."
Lake Nemi was a serene lake surrounded by lush green hills and dense vegetation. Its calm, clear blue waters reflected the sky above, while the landscape around it exuded a natural, tranquil beauty. The rolling hills in the background provided a picturesque backdrop, and the bright sunlight highlighted the untouched splendor of the area. However, this peace was disrupted by the presence of a tessarakonteres, a massive catamaran galley reminiscent of the one reportedly built in the Hellenistic period by Ptolemy IV Philopator of Egypt. The colossal ship measured 130 meters in length with a 17-meter beam for each of its catamaran hulls. Upon its expansive deck was a modern missile battery, outfitted with Greek Fire warheads and manned by Telekhines. A battery that Ron and Sibyl's futuresight had warned would annihilate the Argo II when it entered Rome's airspace tonight unless Andi and her team acted fast. Clad in Wendy's Storm Mail, Andi, alongside Alice and Janus, teleported onto the deck, determined to neutralize the threat before it was too late.
As soon as Andi, Alice, and Janus materialized onto the deck of the massive tessarakonteres, the Telekhine crew immediately drew their weapons, snarling viciously as they rushed forward. The canine sea-demons, their oily black fur glistening in the sunlight, bared their jagged teeth, their webbed feet slapping against the wooden deck as they prepared to defend the warship with feral determination.
Before the first of them could strike, Andi raised her hand, her voice booming with authority.
"Get out of the way!" She commanded, eyes blazing with divine fury. "We're sinking this ship. This doesn't have to be your fight!"
The Telekhines hesitated for a brief moment, glancing at one another, but their loyalty to the ship and Gaea held firm. Alice, stepping up beside Andi, and leveled her gun at them.
"You heard her. Move, or you go down with this warship." Alice snapped as she pulled the trigger and fired off a barrage of sickly neon green bolts that curved through the air to reduce dozens of the Telekhines to gold dust. Janus in turn opened up dozens of portals linked to a magma chamber of some volcano or other that spat out jets of lava. Andi, not willing to be left out, raised Skyline skyward and loosed dozens of wind arrows that arched back down into the monsters' ranks, further decimating their ranks.
Before the monsters could respond, a deep rumbling laugh echoed across the deck. From the shadows emerged Mimas, the Gigantes captain of the tessarakonteres. He towered over everyone, a fusion of ancient power and mechanical ingenuity that demanded attention. His Celestial Bronze armor, etched with intricate gear patterns, hissed steam from vents on his shoulders and back, as if trying too hard to emphasize his machine-like qualities. His fiery orange hair flared like a lion's mane, and his glowing eyes, burning with violent intent, felt more like a theatrical performance than a genuine threat. In one hand, he held an oversized war hammer covered in mystical runes, while jagged claws extended from his other gauntlet. His draconic legs, cracked and glowing with volcanic heat, seemed designed to amplify his fearsome appearance, though to Andi, it all felt like overcompensation. A tattered, smoke-filled cape billowed behind him, completing the exaggerated display.
Towering above them, the molten cracks along his skin pulsed and flickered as his massive war hammer rested on his shoulder, and his glowing eyes locked onto Andi with a wicked grin as he growled. "You'll have to get through me first. I am Mimas, the Bane of Hephaestus, and this is my ship. You'll find it much harder to destroy than you think."
"Yeah, we know who you are." Andi, unfazed, gave a nod to Alice and Janus, prompting them to finish mopping up the Telekhines, before she turned to return her focus to the towering Gigantes. "It doesn't change anything. You'll regret standing in our way."
You know... Wendy mused into Andi's mind as she lowered Skyline and lined up a shot at Mimas. For a bunch of giants bent on tearing down the world order and dethroning the gods of Olympus, they sure seem to have a taste for history. Wasn't Lake Nemi where Caligula had those luxury super ships of his?
Come to think of it, yeah. Andi agreed as she loosed a powerfully compacted horizontal whirlwind at Mimas, aiming to send the Gigantes flying off the ship and hopefully out of the fight. If they didn't want to give a nod to Caligula's ships, they could've set up at Lake Albano instead. It's closer to the center of Rome. Heck! With the range of these missiles- Missiles that, from what Andi could see, looked remarkably modern, almost like they were pulled straight from the arsenal of any mundane military. -they could've anchored their ship out at sea and still done what it was intended for.
Sadly, Andi's plan to swiftly take Mimas out of the fight fell apart almost immediately, something she had half-expected. Things were never that easy, were they? Her attempt was thwarted by a trio of magical beams - one white and two blueish-white - that shot into the space in front of the Gigantes. Recognizing the combination through her domain as the goddess of Wizarding magic, she quickly identified them as the Protego Maxima, Fianto Duri, and Repello Inimicum spells. Spells that worked together to form an impenetrable magical barrier. The whirlwind slammed into it, dispersing harmlessly. Andi gritted her teeth in frustration. Of course, Mimas wouldn't go down without summoning some otherworldly defense.
"Did you think it would be so easy, Andromeda Potter?" A raspy voice echoed from behind the spectral barrier. A tall, humanoid specter materialized, draped in flowing, elegant black robes that pooled around its feet. Its waxy, pale skin had a subtle, reptilian texture, adding to its eerie, otherworldly presence. The creature's face was skeletal, with snake-like slits for nostrils and hollow eyes that radiated an ominous darkness. Its elongated, bony arms ended in clawed hands, each finger resembling a sharpened skeletal talon, perfect for tearing or grasping. Though the robe was simple, its dark, smooth fabric stood stark against the creature's ghostly complexion, making its presence all the more unsettling.
"Voldemort." Andi hissed angrily as her divine omniscience informed her of just who had stepped in to get in her way. "Didn't think a nobody like you would exploit the captured Doors of Death to escape the Underworld."
"A nobody?" Voldemort hissed, his voice dripping with venom as he twirled his wand between his fingers. The wand itself was an unsettling focus, seemingly crafted from bone. Its handle was jagged and asymmetrical, curving slightly like a natural skeletal form. The shaft tapered smoothly from the bone handle, long and slender, with a rough, polished texture. Dark speckles adorned the base, adding to its aged and ominous aesthetic, while its pale, ivory-white hue gave it a macabre air. With a flick, he aimed the wand sharply at Andi. "Let me show you who's a nobody!"
"Well, considering your mutual history, I will leave her to you, spirit." Mimas said as he stalked off, presumably to deal with Alice and Janus, even as a red beam flew from Voldemort's wand at a stack of crates between where he and Andi stood that sent them flying towards her.
Fighting you, the goddess of Wizarding magic, with said Wizarding magic? Is he stupid!? Wendy told Andi with a mental snort.
Not as much as he seems. Andi told her partner as she shot a brace of arrows with Skyline that intercepted and shattered the incoming crates. He used the Banishing Charm to toss those crates at me. That spell launches things but otherwise doesn't impose any magic on its targets. That means I can't do anything-
Couldn't you, I dunno, cut off his magic before or as he casts his spells? Wendy cut in as Andi shot another brace of wind arrows at Voldemort.
You make that sound so easy. Andi sent back as her attack at Voldemort hit the still standing magical barrier- Damn! I forgot to use my authority to dismiss it. - that the dead Wizard had conjured earlier and dissipated harmlessly. Getting that kind of timing right is insanely hard. I could seal away his magic but that's not exactly something I can just do. It'll make a precedent that would inevitably get me into serious trouble with the other gods of magic. There's an informal agreement among us not to do that.
Even against someone who is using it to kill you? Wendy asked disbelievingly as Voldemort used the Banishing Charm to send the shrapnel created by the destruction of the crates earlier flying at them at high speed.
Especially if they are. Andi confirmed as she flared her power and conjured a wall of white flame in front of her using a powered up Fire-Making Spell to protect her by incinerating the incoming wooden debris that Voldemort hurled at her.
"So you're working for Gaea now, Voldemort?" Andi asked as she fired off a spell arrow imbued with a Finite Incantatem at Voldemort's barrier. With her authority and power as goddess of Wizarding magic, the protective barrier popped out of existence the moment her spell arrow touched it.
"Yes, all to get my revenge against you, Potter!" The rogue spirit of the dead rasped as he pointed his wand at another large stack of crates and sent them hurtling at Andi.
"Conceited, much?" Bianca's voice echoed from the shadows as the crates shot into the air, only to be impaled and torn apart by those very shadows as they shifted into a portal. Stepping out with a smirk, the daughter of Hades fixed her gaze on the specter. "You're just a spirit of the dead, and you think you can take on a goddess? Are you an idiot?"
"Bianca-"
"We can talk later, Lady Andi." Bianca said as she transformed her Stygian Iron lance from its disguise as an inconspicuous silver bracelet and moved it into a ready position, prepared to fight Voldemort. "I'll deal with this guy. You go help Lord Janus and Lady Alice."
Andi glanced over at her fellow gods and saw they were struggling against Mimas. Alice was already down, and Janus was barely keeping up with the Bane of Hephaestus despite his best efforts.
"Got it! Take him down, Bianca!" Andi called out, her attention divided.
"Count on it, Lady Andi," Bianca replied with a nod.
But Andi barely registered the response. In a flash, she transformed into a gust of wind, shooting to Alice's side, her worries for her best friend's well-being consuming all her focus.
"Time to send you back to the Underworld, spirit!" Bianca cursed, swinging her lance with precision. Shadows twisted at her command, forming into a massive Shadow Travel portal. From the swirling darkness, tons of sand poured onto the tessarakonteres' deck, the gritty material spreading like a wave. Sand that she could wield with her geokinesis, ready to turn it into her weapon.
"I would like to see you try, Half-Blood." The spirit rasped defiantly as ghostly bits of itself shot out from under the hem of his robe, causing it to billow up slightly.
Bianca whipped her lance through the air like a conductor's baton, directing walls of sand to intercept the fragments of the spirit. The sand formed into a shield at her command, but the ghostly bits passed through it effortlessly, as though it wasn't even there. Had they been aimed at her, she would have been utterly defenseless. But they weren't. Instead, the fragments slammed into about a dozen of the remaining Telekhines, some of the few survivors of the gods' massacre. The seal-like sea demons, struck by the ghostly pieces, immediately abandoned their attempts to flee by diving overboard. Instead, they turned toward Bianca, drawing their weapons with dark intent in their eyes.
"You possessed them?" Bianca asked, blinking in surprise. According to the legends about Andi, within which this particular guy played a surprisingly big role, he could possess others but not on this scale. It seemed that he'd gotten an upgrade to this particular ability of his since his death.
One of the dog-like creatures let out a cackling bark. "Yes! While these lowly beasts are good at meager forging, their minds are all too easy to bend with my superior might!"
"Superior?" Bianca felt some incredulity escape from her voice. "Listen, I get that you're new to this monster thing, but… you are kind of low tier."
One thing that she learned from Camp? A flustered enemy was a dumb enemy.
"You were just a jumped up regular human that was too scared to die! It's a little sad!" Bianca said with a laugh as swinging her lance, she sent the sand she'd summoned surging towards the Telekhines like a tidal wave. The monsters, their self preservation subverted by the spirit possessing them, charged mindlessly towards her regardless, all the while swinging the forging hammers, swords, and tridents they used as weapons in her direction.
"I am not a muggle! I am he who has conquered death! I am immortal!" The spirit roared, its voice echoed by the group of monsters he'd possessed as one. But even as they proclaimed their defiance, Bianca's sand surged forward like a tidal wave, washing over the Telekhines and burying them beneath the heavy, shifting grains. Their snarls and roars were quickly muffled as they were swallowed by the sand, leaving only silence in their wake.
Bianca let an indulgent smile cross her face as with a gesture of her lance, she had the sand crush them to death. "Sure, buddy."
"You dare look down on Lord Voldemort!? Feel my wrath and learn your place!" The spirit roared self-importantly. "Confringo!"
"Do you always yap at people in a fight? I guess that big ego comes with a lot of insecurities. No wonder a baby killed you the first time around." Bianca said with a roll of her eyes as she casually used her xyston to deflect the fiery orange beam that the spirit shot at her from his wand.
"I did not lose to a child!" The spirit whined as a possessed Telekine, it seemed the spirit had taken control of more of them while Bianca was dealing with the first batch of them, stumbled over the loose mounds of sand as it charged at her sword in hand.
"Your obsession says otherwise." She begged to differ as she sidestepped and stabbed the monster in the skull, sucking away its essence and making the spirit howl in agony.
What was that? Bianca thought before her eyes widened.
He had split himself, his soul into all the monsters he possessed.
She just took away a piece of him.
With a mad grin stretched wide, Bianca leapt into the fray looking to take more down in a similar manner.
"What have you done?" The spirit spat angrily as he slashed his wand through the air in her direction, conjuring a brace of a dozen different spells that shot towards Bianca.
"Why should I tell you? Aren't you supposed to be smart or something?" She said as gesturing with her lance, she used her geokinesis to have the sand shoot up and block the incoming spell barrage. "After all, what kind of idiot explained how they were hurting their opponent?"
"You will die, child! I will make your suffering that of legends! Cru-"
Bianca recognised the spell. The torture spell was quite infamous after all. Furthermore, unlike most Wizarding spells, it didn't shoot out a beam. The only way to defend against it was to prevent it from hitting its target.
"Blah blah blah! Man, no wonder Andi upgraded to gods and such to fight if all she had was dealing with you." Bianca taunted as she created a wall of sand in between her and the spirit, breaking the line of sight that the spell required.
"Damn you! Bombarda Maxima!" The spirit cast, causing an explosion that dispersed Bianca's sand barrier and clearing the line of sight needed for the torture spell.
Not that Bianca was where he was looking at by that time. Using Shadow Travel, she teleported behind one of the spirit's possessed monsters from where with a thrust of her hand she had the sand at her command turn hard and shape into a single grasping hand to restrain the Telekhine so she could easily run it through with her lance. Her blow earned her another bellow of pain from the spirit. He even bent over in agony.
Time to finish this. Bianca decided, her eyes narrowing in determination. With a flick of her wrist, the sand transformed into sharp pikes that shot upward, impaling the remaining possessed thralls with deadly precision. At the same time, she Shadow Traveled behind the spirit, her xyston ready, and with a swift, decisive movement, she drove the lance towards its spectral form.
"Did you think it would be that easy, mortal?" The ghost laughed as he dispersed his essence, causing Bianca's weapon to pierce nothing but empty air as the ghostly essence swirled around it and shot into the daughter of Hades.
The spirit's cold, malevolent presence seeped into Bianca's mind, tendrils of dark energy curling through her consciousness as it attempted to take hold. She felt the sharp sting of its intrusion, its voice whispering insidiously in her ear.
Submit. You cannot resist me. I will control you.
Bianca froze for a moment, her body stiffening as the spirit tried to assert dominance. But then, a cold smile spread across her lips.
"You think you can control me?" She scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "I'm the daughter of Hades."
A wave of power surged from deep within her, the authority of the Underworld coursing through her veins. She raised her hand, and with a mere thought, the shadows around her thickened and swirled.
"I command you to leave!" Bianca declared, her voice echoing with the weight of her birthright.
The spirit shrieked in defiance, but it was no match for her will. The dark energy that had invaded her mind was forcefully expelled, ripped from her body as Bianca exerted her authority. It twisted in the air, trying to resist her command, but with a final surge of power, she banished it, sending the spirit hurtling out of her body.
Panting slightly from the effort, Bianca straightened, her eyes cold and determined.
"Nice try." She muttered, brushing off the attempt like it was nothing with a flip of her hair. "I am a daughter of Hades. The lord of the dead. Did you think I would let myself be possessed by a spirit of all things?"
The spirit sputtered, its form flickering in confusion, as if its mind had, as her more tech-savvy friends would say, blue screened. Bianca smirked at its helplessness. Oh well.
"It's time to end this." She informed the idiotic wraith and moved her hand up the shaft of her lance and stabbed the soul.
"No! I won't die!" The specter howled in desperation as it tried to split itself up in a frantic bid to escape. It mostly failed. The pull of Bianca's Stygian Iron lance was too strong, drawing in the majority of the spirit's mass.
However, much to Bianca's embarrassment, she'd forgotten about the dispersed fragments of its soul still detached from the main body. Those fragments, currently possessing a few Telekhines, promptly abandoned their hosts the moment the main mass was lost and fled.
"Tch, damnable coward." Bianca thought with a snort as she watched the scattered fragments of Voldemort's spirit flee in every direction.
He really lived up to his nom de guerre, she mused. Flight of death, indeed.
Though considering the sheer power that Andi was gathering over in her fight, Bianca wouldn't want to hang around if she was in the spirit's shoes either.
I wonder where she got it all from. Bianca thought as she saw the churning storm her divine friend was conjuring. I don't think I've ever seen her use so much power before.
Whether Andi got a new power up or if it was even new and not just a case of her pulling out the stops, Bianca still had one last thing to do before she could join the other battle and, if she remembered to ask, try to figure it out. To that end, she turned her attention to the tessarakonteres' missile battery. It stood menacingly on the deck, a hulking structure of dark iron and bronze. The battery's base was wide, reinforced with layers of thick metal plating, while its missile tubes were angled upward, each containing sleek, deadly warheads tipped with Greek Fire. The missiles themselves gleamed a sickly green, their sharp, pointed tips promising devastation. Intricate runes were etched along the length of the tubes, humming faintly with the power that fueled the weapon.
Bianca's eyes narrowed as she raised her lance. Time to end this.
With a commanding sweep of her weapon, the sand she'd transported earlier surged into the air, swirling ominously above the battery. The remaining Telekhines guarding it barely had time to react before Bianca unleashed her geokinesis. The sand coalesced into massive, crushing fists that slammed into the missile battery with a force that would have shook a lesser ship. Not the massive tessarakonteres though. It might be sturdy enough to withstand her blows but the missile battery it had been built to house was not and the metal the weapon emplacement was constructed out of groaned and twisted under the pressure.
But she wasn't done.
Her lance moved again, and the sand shifted into long, spear-like tendrils. They shot forward, piercing through the thick plating at the base of the battery, the jagged spears tearing through the intricate runes and snapping the support beams. The structure began to collapse, unable to withstand the relentless assault.
With one final thrust, Bianca commanded the sand to drive deeper, crumpling the tubes and shattering the warheads. The Greek Fire warheads fizzled and sparked beneath the weight of the sand, their deadly power neutralized as the battery was reduced to a pile of twisted metal.
"That should do it." Bianca muttered, satisfied as the once-imposing weapon was buried under her command. She turned back to rejoin the others, ready for the next battle.
"I am Mimas, the Bane of Hephaestus, and this is my ship." The Gigantes who seemed to be in charge of the tessarakonteres pompously introduced himself. "You'll find it much harder to destroy than you think."
"Yeah, we know who you are." Andi, unfazed, gave a nod to Alice and Janus. "It doesn't change anything. You'll regret standing in our way."
Taking the gesture as the signal it was, Alice joined Janus, the Roman god of choices, doorways, beginnings, and endings, in leaving Mimas to Andi while they focused on the still numerous Telekhines. Amping up her Lightning Field, she unleashed crackling, incandescent emerald bolts that arced from her body, disintegrating any monster near her as she blitzed through their ranks. With the Chronometron built into her eyes, Alice pushed herself slightly outside the natural flow of the space-time continuum, allowing her to advance normally while her opponents moved in apparent slow motion while, from their perspective, she was a literal blur of lightning. Not to be outdone, Janus swung his staff, opening various portals that connected to exotic locales: volcanic magma chambers, the surface of the sun, and the crushing depths of gas giants. Jets of lava, plasma, and highly pressurized gas shot through the portals, obliterating the sea demons. Within moments, what had been a mob of hundreds was reduced to a few dozen, who fled in terror.
"Impressive." Mimas said with a clap as he observed Alice and Janus' handiwork. "I had not expected such skill from a minor god and such a young goddess."
Glancing at where Andi had supposedly been dealing with Mimas, she saw that it seemed that some spirit of the dead had shown up and was keeping her busy. That being what had allowed the Bane of Hephaestus to come confront them now.
"Then you have underestimated us." Alice retorted as she leveled her pistol at the Gigantes and fired a single, concentrated beam of destructive sickly, neon green energy at her opponent. An attack that was complemented by flares of solar plasma that Janus sent shooting at Mimas using his portals.
"Have I now?" The Gigantes said arrogantly, slamming his warhammer down onto the deck of the tessarakonteres. A wave of fiery energy erupted from the point of impact, surging outward. As it collided with Alice and Janus' attacks, the energy canceled them out in a violent explosion, the force rippling through the air with a deafening detonation.
"Alice, be careful." "Mimas' power is not to be underes-" Janus shouted in warning, but before he could finish, the Gigantes vanished in a fiery explosion. In an instant, Mimas reappeared beside her in another burst of flames, his sudden teleport catching them off guard.
Instinctively, Alice reacted to the threat by activating both the Chronometron built into her eyes and the Dimensional Destabilisation Matrix built into her body. Both should've shifted her out of phase with the normal space-time continuum, the former granting her what amounted to super speed and the latter to allow incoming attacks to pass harmlessly through her body. Should was the operative word. The moment she activated her wargear, Mimas smirked and flexed his power. In response, both devices failed spectacularly, overloading as the energy powering them surged through her body, ripping a scream from her lips.
"Arrrrggghhhhh~!" She screamed as her own power was turned against her and sent pain shooting through her body. Sadly, that was not the end of her misery. As she was already overwhelmed by agony, Mimas swung his massive warhammer at her and without the effect of her Dimensional Destabilisation Matrix, she was hit with the full force of the strike.
""Aaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhh!"
The strength of the blow would've flattened most beings. A Human, even all but the most durable Half-Bloods, would've been reduced to a bloody smear. Alice however was no Human. She never was. She was a goddess and had been born as one. A goddess whose body was a hyper advanced android. Thus, despite crashing forcefully into the tessarakonteres' deck, creating a crater so deep it seemed a minor miracle she hadn't broken through to the lower levels, she survived. However, the damage she sustained was immense and saw all her limbs reduced to twisted, broken wrecks with her neck in particular snapped and twisted in an unnatural way that would've left most beings dead. Worse! Her self-repair systems weren't working and reported nothing but an endless series of glitches as she tried to activate them, likely thanks to whatever power Mimas was using.
"I think the one who was being underestimated here is me." Mimas said gloatingly, smirking as he surveyed the damage he had inflicted on her.
"D-Damn... you!" Alice cursed through gritted teeth, her voice crackling and distorted as her vocal systems malfunctioned. "Try... cutting out... that M-Malfunctioning Induction of yours... and let's... s-see who's... underestimating who!"
"Shutting down my primary ability? Ha! Do you take me for a fool?" Mimas said with a booming laugh as he casually swung his warhammer to the side to send a wave of the fiery energy he wielded at the bolts of lightning shot at him from the portals that Janus conjured, negating them.
"Yes, she is a fool." "A young fool." Janus agreed with the giant as he fell down from a portal he'd opened above Mimas with his sword raised in an overhead strike poised to stab him. A move that Mimas countered by him deflecting the strike with his clawed gauntlet, backhanding the god in the process though Janus recovered easily from the blow by conjuring a portal directly in his flight path that deposited him from an exit portal a safe distance away from the the giant. "But she is my ally." "And I will not allow you to harm her."
"You think you can stop me, little god?" Mimas scoffed as he swung his warhammer at Janus, only for the latter to step out of the path of the strike by slipping through a portal. "Ha! You think your portals give you an advantage? Let me disabuse you of the notion!"
His fiery hair flared, and steam poured off his body as he flexed his power. In response, a ragged portal - unlike the precise circles of Janus' usual portals - tore open, and the god stumbled ungainly through it.
""You and your damned Malfunctioning Induction!"" Janus cursed, though he caught himself mid-fall and landed in a flawless three-point stance. ""But don't think that will be enough to defeat us easily.""
"Yet, I've defeated one of you already." Mimas said with an arrogant laugh. Alice wanted to say that was untrue but… She couldn't. She had been defeated by him already.
"D-Damn it!" She hissed as she helplessly watched Janus charge toward Mimas. He looked downright heroic, a man-sized warrior facing a towering giant, like a figure straight out of an epic painting, fearlessly sprinting toward the monstrous Gigantes.
"But you won't defeat me as well." "Nor will you kill either of us!" Janus snapped back defiantly as he gracefully evaded Mimas' attempt to smash him by swinging his warhammer heavily down at him.
In fact, he leapt onto the shaft of Mimas' warhammer and ran up its length, using this route to close the distance. As he neared the Gigantes, Janus deftly slashed across Mimas' face, while deflecting the giant's attempted swipe at him with his gauntlet using his staff. The sharp sound of metal-on-metal rang out as Janus parried the claws.
Mimas hissed in pain, his glowing eyes narrowing as he clutched his wounded face.
"You dare wound me, god of choices?" He snarled, his voice dripping with venom.
Janus smirked, weaving between the furious swings of Mimas' warhammer with surprising agility.
"This is only the beginning." He taunted, spinning around the giant's swift attacks with ease. But eventually, the speed of Mimas' strikes forced Janus to parry one of the hammer blows directly with his staff. The clash of power sent shockwaves across the deck, and Mimas' eyes widened in shock that Janus, a mere minor god that was tiny compared to his towering height, could actually manage to block such a blow. In that moment of surprise, Janus charged forward, vaulting off his staff, and delivered another slash across Mimas' cheek.
Mimas growled, swiping at Janus with his clawed gauntlet, but missed yet again.
"Even if you defeat me," the Gigantes sneered, his voice filled with twisted confidence, "you can't kill me! You need a demigod for that! Something you do not have!"
Alice, her vocal systems still malfunctioning, let out a broken chuckle. It seemed their opponent had failed to notice their newly arrived ally, now engaged in Andi's battle against the spirit of the dead, the very one Mimas had swapped out with to fight her and Janus instead. That oversight was about to cost him dearly.
"N-Not… true!" She rasped.
A gust of wind swept across the deck, and Andi materialized beside Alice, her presence calm but deadly.
"That's right!" Andi said, her voice sharp. "We have a daughter of Hades with us!"
Alice chuckled again, this time mentally adding. Now it's time to pay Mimas back for all the hardships he's caused us.
Lady Alice, pardon me for saying this but you look terrible. Wendy said before Andi could stop her.
As rude as she was, Wendy is right. You alright, Alice? Andi asked her friend, whose body looked badly damaged.
No. Alice admitted. But I'm still alive and so long as we defeat Mimas and his Malfunctioning Induction is shut down, I'll be fine.
Even as they talked telepathically, Andi continued to address Mimas. "And once she's done with Voldemort, she'll join us here and help us kill you."
As if to prove this point, Andi raised Skyline and loosed a barrage at Mimas to support Janus, who was holding his own but was clearly on the defensive against the Gigantes. While Janus managed to land blows, they were little more than light scratches, barely fazing the Bane of Hephaestus. In contrast, even the slightest blow from the giant could spell disaster for him, such was the gap in their strength. Andi's barrage of attacks was thus more than welcome, providing much-needed relief for her ally.
However, her barrage was intercepted midair by another set of arrows. Turning to their source, Andi cursed under her breath, and Alice did the same. Just as Bianca had shown up to reinforce them, raising the question of how the daughter of Hades even knew to be here, Mimas had received his own reinforcement. His support came in the form of his brother, Orion, the Bane of Apollo and Artemis.
Orion was a towering giant with golden skin that gleamed like polished metal, muscles sculpted to perfection by the forces of nature. His long, untamed silver hair framed a chiseled jawline and a face so undeniably handsome that even Andi, despite her unwavering resolve, couldn't help but acknowledge his beauty. His glowing red eyes held a dangerous allure, so potent that she understood how it had nearly tempted her half-sister Artemis to break her vow of eternal maidenhood. Yet, for all his looks, Orion was still a monster, a son of Gaea, determined to destroy Olympus and plunge the world into chaos. Andi, with equal determination, was ready to send him back to Tartarus where he belonged.
Draped over his broad shoulders was the pelt of a lion, its snarling head resting against his chest, while ornate armor protected his legs and forearms. A simple loincloth, secured by a large belt with a circular, gem-like blue centerpiece, added to the balance of form and function. The outfit was a testament to both masterful craftsmanship and practicality. In his left hand, he carried a massive, intricately-carved bow, with a quiver of arrows slung across his back, while his right hand gripped a club large enough to crush a demigod with a single blow.
"Shit! Janus, you think you can keep Mimas busy for a little while longer?" Andi shouted at her ally and shifting targets, shot a brace of whirlwinds she compacted into arrows at Orion.
"I have little choice." Janus shouted back as much to Andi's consternation, Orion expertly parried her arrows with his own bow, matching and overpowering her shots with superior speed and strength. "Go deal with Orion!"
"The Roman underestimates me if he thinks you'd be able to manage that, Andromeda Aurae." Orion said with a shake of his head as he leveled his bow at Andi. "Let me show you a dose of true archery."
Andi, Lady Alice-
I know, Wendy! Andi shot back through their mental link, desperation tinging her thoughts as she flew away from her injured friend at top speed. She was gambling that Orion, the Bane of Apollo and Artemis, would track her instead of the wounded Technodjinn. He was a hunter by nature, after all, and what hunter worth his name would go after a defenseless target when a still-active threat remained on the field?
The good thing is that Orion did indeed track his bow after Andi. The bad thing was that this meant that she was forced to dodge and weave in a desperate attempt to evade the barrage of arrows that the Gigantes shot her. Despite her agility-
Andi! We can't keep this up! Wendy warned desperately.
I know. Andi shot back as she continued to pull out every desperate aerial maneuver she could think of to evade the relentless barrage of arrows that Orion shot her way. We have to switch tactics.
Switch tactics? Wha- Wendy began even as Andi demonstrated what she meant as she switched the direction of her evasions and turned towards Orion. The sudden change allowed a few of the Gigantes hunter's arrows to graze her but they deflected off her Storm Mail and didn't so much as scratch her. We're going into close quarters!?
Yes. Andi confirmed as she transformed Skyline into its xiphos mode. We can't beat Orion at range, we've got to try it at close quarters.
Andi! This is insane! Wendy cried out in alarm as Orion, seemingly amused by Andi's change in tactics, decided to let her close the distance and allow her to attack him with Skyline.
I'm going to make him regret that decision. Andi thought as she sheathed her blade in spiraling, cutting winds, a shimmering extension of her power as she unleashed a flurry of swift, fluid strikes. Her movements were precise, each strike carefully targeting the vulnerable points in his armor, the narrow gaps between the ornate plates and the exposed flesh beneath the lion's pelt draped over his broad shoulders. Every blow was calculated, aiming to exploit even the smallest weakness in his formidable defenses.
"You honestly think you can defeat me by switching to close quarters?" Orion asked with a laugh as he parried her blows with calculated ease, his massive club swinging in brutal arcs, countering her finesse with raw, overwhelming power.
Andi narrowly dodged one swing after another, the sheer force of each near-miss causing gusts of wind that rustled her hair. Her sword repeatedly met his club with deafening clangs, but each impact sent vibrations up her arms, making her feel the vast difference in their strength. Still, she pressed on, aiming for his neck, his torso - anything to land a decisive blow. But no matter how fast or precise her strikes, Orion matched her at every turn, blocking or deflecting her attacks with almost mocking ease.
Andi-
I know! Andi shouted mentally back to her partner as she fruitlessly continued to exchange blows with Orion. We had to try!
I know, but- Wendy began only to once again be cut off by Orion sidestepping one of Andi's thrusts and swinging his club into her open guard. A blow that was so strong that sent her flying and sent a surge of agony surging through her veins as the kinetic force behind it shook her very bones.
Despite that pain, Andi recovered quickly and steadied her flight so that instead of crashing into the ground, she instead skidded to a stop. Not that doing so helped her much. Pressing the advantage the connected blow gave him, Orion followed after her and was already looming over her with his club raised to bash her once again as soon as she came to a stop.
Responding desperately, Andi slashed at Orion with Skyline. However, her strike did little more than leave superficial wounds on the Gigantes that he simply ignored as he brought his club down on her hard. Wendy was on the ball just like Andi expected her to be though as even as she swung her blade in her failed desperate counterattack, the Aura threw them out of the way of the club's downswing. However, despite this effort successfully throwing them a good distance from the club's impact zone, the shockwave still caught her and she was once again thrown through the air.
This time, she didn't get a chance to land. Orion didn't let her. Instead, he followed after her as she flew through the air. He closed with her time and time again, swinging his club and hitting her each time. Each blow sent surges of agony through Wendy and Andi, yet somehow, despite the immense pain that consumed her, the Aura still kept up the transformation into her Storm Mail maintaining Andi's armor protection. It was only after what felt like a hundred blows that Orion relented and finally let Andi fall to the deck of the tessarakonteres in an agonized heap.
"Do you understand the difference in our strength now, little goddess?" Orion asked smugly as he stood over her triumphantly.
"I-I h-haven't l-lost... y-yet." Andi, very battered and worse for wear, spat as she began tapping into one last power available to her. A power she had been trying to avoid using but desperate time calls for desperate measures. "I invoke thee, the Blessing of Ouranos!"
At her invocation, a crown of swirling winds in the ever-shifting colors of the sky appeared over Andi's head, and the energy granted to her by the Protogenos of the Sky surged through her. It even healed all the injuries she had sustained fighting Orion so far. That was impressive enough, but the reaction from her opponents to the Sky Father's blessing took the cake.
Orion's eyes widened in pure terror as he stepped back, his golden skin paling. "N-No... It can't be! Not him! Anyone but him!"
His voice trembled as he stared at the crown above Andi, the embodiment of Ouranos' power. His once confident stance faltered, the bow in his hand lowering slightly as he struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the power now surging through his opponent.
Mimas, who had been locked in a heated, one-sided duel with Janus, suddenly froze in place, his fiery arrogance extinguished in an instant. "H-How did you... call upon him?"
His voice cracked as fear overtook him, his fiery hair dimming and steam escaping erratically from his armor. His eyes were wide with panic, and in that moment of weakness, Janus saw his opening. With one swift motion, Janus disarmed the Bane of Hephaestus of his mighty warhammer. The weapon clattered to the deck with a resounding crash, but Mimas was too distracted by his terror to even react.
"We were promised... he wouldn't interfere!" Mimas stammered, too overwhelmed by the fear of Ouranos' power to acknowledge that he was now unarmed, utterly focused on the terror invoked by the Sky Father's blessing.
The two Gigantes, so confident moments before, were now frozen in fear, their towering forms trembling at the mere idea of facing the might of the Protogenos of the Sky. They could not even bring themselves to say his name, as if doing so would make his power all the more real and inescapable.
"Wh-Why!? Wh-Why... are y-you... w-working with h-him!?" Mimas stammered, disbelief and fear thick in his voice. Every inch of his towering form trembled at the thought of Andi wielding the power of Ouranos.
Andi stood firm, the crown of swirling winds above her head glowing brighter with the power of the Sky Father.
"I'll work with anyone who helps me protect Olympus, my family, and my friends," she declared, her voice steady. Her gaze was sharp, unwavering as she lifted her hands, summoning the powers that the Blessing of Ouranos had granted her. Her expanded and enhanced Atmokinesis swirled the winds around her into a violent vortex, crackling with energy as she commanded the sky. Bolts of lightning sparked within the storm, and shadows from the heavens themselves gathered, swirling darkly as she invoked Caelum-Umbrakinesis. It was a terrifying display, even for gods, as the energy built up to a devastating crescendo. A sight that had Orion and Mimas' eyes widening in pure terror.
"N-No! Not that! She's going to-" Orion began to say, but his voice cut off in panic as Andi unleashed her attack. The combined forces of wind, lightning, and shadow surged toward the two Gigantes, threatening to disintegrate them.
They responded by frantically throwing up their defenses in a desperate attempt to survive the onslaught. Mimas bent down, slamming his massive hands into the deck of the tessarakonteres. The wooden surface beneath him splintered and cracked as fiery energy surged out of his body, spreading outwards in a dome of blazing heat. The dome flickered and flared with the intensity of volcanic fire, casting a hellish glow across the ship as it expanded to shield Mimas from Andi's devastating attack. The crackling energy of the dome met Andi's storm head-on, the sheer heat causing the air to shimmer and distort as the winds roared against the fiery barrier.
Orion, in contrast, took a different approach. Grabbing hold of his lion pelt, he yanked it off his shoulders with a swift motion. The pelt, once decorative, suddenly came alive with ancient magic, expanding rapidly to envelop the giant in a protective cocoon of tough, impenetrable hide. The lion's head, which had previously rested menacingly against his chest, shifted to cover Orion's face, leaving only his glowing red eyes visible through the thick, enchanted fur. The cocoon absorbed the brunt of Andi's attack, the winds buffeting it like a mighty gale, but the lion's hide held firm, resisting the lightning and shadows that attempted to break through.
Both Gigantes strained under the pressure of the attack, their defenses barely holding. Mimas' fiery dome crackled and hissed as it absorbed the energy, and Orion's cocoon, though strong, buckled slightly under the weight of the forces slamming into it. When the storm finally subsided, the Gigantes were left panting, their defenses scorched but still intact. A state of affairs that had Andi's brow furrowing with concern as she saw that neither of her foes had fallen.
If even that wasn't enough... Can I really drive them off? She thought, uncertainty gnawing at her. Before she could figure out what to do next, an option previously unavailable to her suddenly presented itself.
Said option was the unexpected arrival of the Charities, bursting onto the battlefield in a cascade of shimmering light. Their entrance illuminated the scene with a radiant, calming glow, casting a gentle brightness over the chaos. As the dazzling light flickered, three goddesses emerged, each exuding grace, beauty, and charm, yet distinctly unique in their aura and presence.
Antheia, the goddess of blossoms, led the trio. Her long, vibrant green hair flowed down her shoulders, blending seamlessly with the delicate crown of leaves and flowers adorning her head. Her eyes, a soft golden-green, sparkled with life and warmth, giving her a nurturing, almost motherly presence. Antheia's gown was crafted entirely from fresh, vibrant green leaves that shimmered as if alive, moving gently with every step she took. Her skin had a soft glow, reminiscent of the morning dew on petals, and her whole appearance radiated the abundant beauty and vitality of nature in full bloom.
Next to her stood Pannychis, the goddess of night-long festivities and celebration. Her long, dark hair cascaded in gentle waves down her back, adorned with a crown of white flowers and lush green foliage. Her dark eyes glittered with the joy and magic of an endless celebration, twinkling like stars in the night sky. Her gown, shimmering green like the fabric of the heavens, was covered with constellations that seemed to twinkle as she moved. It flowed freely, evoking the endless festivities she embodied. Her mischievous grin suggested that, despite the seriousness of the situation, she arrived at just the right moment to add a touch of levity and excitement.
Lastly, there was Eucleia, the daughter of Hephaestus and the goddess of good repute and glory. Her auburn hair gleamed with a bronze-like shine, framing her face in soft waves, while a delicate, ornate circlet rested upon her forehead. Her eyes were sharp yet kind, reflecting her noble purpose and deep connection to her father, Hephaestus. Eucleia wore an elegant white gown with intricate silver embroidery along its edges, symbolizing the divine craftsmanship passed down from her father. A silver belt cinched her waist, enhancing her regal appearance. Unlike the warm glow of her sisters, Eucleia's aura carried a sense of determination and purpose, as though her presence signaled that victory was near. Her sharp gaze bore into Mimas, whose fear was evident - seeing the daughter of Hephaestus so close to the battlefield, ready to take him down.
The shimmering light that surrounded them lingered like a protective barrier, casting a warm, radiant glow over the battlefield. Antheia and Pannychis exchanged loving glances with Andi, the affection they felt for her clear in their expressions.
"Why are you here?" Andi asked in surprise, her eyes darting to the sudden reinforcements.
Antheia stepped forward, her golden eyes soft and kind as they met Andi's.
"We're here for you, Andi. With Lord Zeus succumbing to the madness caused by the Greek-Roman war, his edict is in default." Antheia explained calmly, her voice as gentle as the breeze through a field of flowers. "We're here to help our daughters' father."
"Exactly. We're here to help our baby daddy." Pannychis gave a playful yet determined smile, her eyes glinting with excitement. "Pikra and Xený would be furious with us if we didn't."
Orion cursed under his breath, his glowing eyes narrowing.
"Retreat!" He barked, turning to Mimas.
Mimas groaned, reluctance clear in his face. "But we-"
"Stay here if you want, Mimas!" Orion snapped, gesturing toward the now-ruined missile battery, its wreckage smoking in the aftermath of Bianca's battle with Voldemort. "It's pointless now. And if you stay, you'll be killed."
He gestured toward Bianca, who had just finished dispatching Voldemort and was now striding toward them with deadly intent. Her eyes locked on the Gigantes, poised to deliver the final blow needed to truly defeat a giant, ready to strike the moment an opportunity presented itself.
Mimas hesitated for a moment longer, then let out a disappointed growl. "Fine!"
He shot a glare at Andi before retreating with Orion into the shadows, fleeing before they could be dealt a deathblow.
Watching the Gigantes' tessarakonteres sink into the depths of Lake Nemi thanks to their handiwork, Bianca felt a momentary surge of relief. Turning to her friend-turned-goddess, she bowed her head slightly. "Lady Andi? Esteemed gods? If you'd be willing to help me rescue my brother from the other Gigantes who have taken over the Coliseum, I would be most grateful."
She wasn't shy in asking for aid. Two giants was too much of a challenge for her to take on alone, even with her newly honed combat prowess. The twin Banes of Dionysus were notorious, and no matter how far she had come, divine assistance would make all the difference. Every little edge counted.
"Oh?" "How bold to ask!" Lord Janus' two faces chimed in first. "Desperate to save him?" "His fate calls for no godly aid-"
"Hey, hey, hey. No spoilers," Lady Andi quickly interrupted, shaking her head warningly at the Roman god. Turning to Bianca, she added. "All we can say is that he will be saved. Soon."
Bianca tried to mask it, but the frown crept across her face nonetheless. The uncertainty about Nico's fate gnawed at her.
It was then that Lady Alice, her injuries finally mended now that Mimas' Malfunction Induction no longer interfered with her self-repair systems, smoothly cut in. "Don't worry, you'll definitely be rewarded for your help today. Don't think we're not grateful for everything you've done, Bianca di Angelo."
As Alice approached, she handed Bianca a small vial of neon blue liquid that shimmered like quicksilver.
"Lady Alice? What is this?" Bianca asked cautiously, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Alice smiled warmly. "It's a special Technodjinn healing draught. It will heal the weakness your brother has suffered from his imprisonment. Consider it your reward for today."
"Oh, nice one, Alice!" Andi chimed in, clearly approving of the gesture as she threw a cheerful grin toward the machine goddess.
Despite the reassurances, Bianca's frown remained. She knew she couldn't argue with gods, but she had hoped for more direct help. Still, if they believed this was needed for Nico's recovery, how could she refuse? Even with Andi's new status as a goddess, their friendship had always been one of trust. If Andi vouched for it, she had to believe in it. Right?
Wendy, having transformed back into her human form after the fighting had ended, leaned over with a gentle smile. "You know Andi wouldn't let anything bad happen to Nico. She cares about him too. Trust in that."
Bianca nodded slowly, the tension easing just a bit.
It was then that Antheia, Pannychis, and Eucleia finally spoke up, their shimmering forms still glowing faintly with their divine power. Unlike the other gods, they didn't seem to know how to turn their auras off. Or maybe they just didn't bother. Antheia's soft, gentle voice broke through the air first. "We're sorry, Bianca, but we cannot interfere with the threads of fate beyond this."
Pannychis added with her usual mischievous grin. "But hey, that doesn't mean we're not rooting for you!"
Eucleia, her voice steady and strong, finished. "And when the time comes, your actions will be remembered in glory."
Bianca felt a mixture of gratitude and frustration. She wanted to ask more, but it seemed the gods had other plans.
"We've dallied enough!" "Such a short stay!" Janus exclaimed, glancing at the other goddesses. "Those Seven will be here soon." "A shame we can't greet them."
"Yes, Janus, I know but we don't want to throw the Fates' tapestry into disarray," Lady Andi sighed, a touch of melancholy in her voice as she gazed off into the distance.
She turned back to Bianca, a sad smile on her face. "I'm sorry, Bianca."
Ignoring the deepening frown on Bianca's face, Andi teleported away in a swirl of leaves, the faint scent of nature lingering in the air. Wendy followed closely, dispersing into a gust of wind. Alice vanished next, teleporting away in a burst of green binary code, while Janus stepped through a conjured portal. Antheia, Pannychis, and Eucleia each gave Bianca a final, encouraging glance before they too disappeared in bursts of shimmering light.
And so, Bianca was left alone, with only her thoughts and growing worry for her brother's fate.
Done and done! Thanks to Nameless as always!
Ah, now that was a fun chapter! I have to say, the irony of Andi and Orion having a showdown was priceless. The Wild versus the Hunter? Who knows what might happen in the future with that one, hm~? Also, Bianca facing down Voldemort and kind of showing him why in the end, he was a low tier threat whose only trait is squirming away like a worm when it shows he really had no edge in that fight. I mean, if it was a D lister? He could probably win, but against someone like Bainca? Fodder!
Nameless: So we went with OG appearances for Mimas and Orion. We decided to go with some cool art for them that we found online for their appearances rather than how they looked in canon. Considering mythical beings in the Riordanverse change their appearances all the time, it is plausible. Hope you guys don't mind.
I think the pics were great! Loved Orion's semi-Hercules look.
You know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!