Fragment still unsheathed, Jonas charged Abaddon. Abaddon blocked his sword using his jagged, black blade. Jonas pulled back and swung excessively, swiftly, and quickly. Abaddon matched each strike with seemingly effortless blocks. He kicked Jonas backward. The pain lobbed into Jonas’s chest as he struggled to stand.
“You’re probably wondering why I’m back, so soon, so unexpectedly, so easily,” Abaddon said. Jonas looked at him, frustrated, nervous. He couldn’t help but notice that compared to himself, Abaddon broke not even the slightest sweat. “Did I not say I kept you alive as a warning?”
“Do you not have better things to do other than toy with some random human?” Jonas said as he stood tall.
Abaddon shook his head. “You’re not just some random human. You’re the pest, the worm, the ant who can somehow wield the Holy Sword, kill Sabers, Aaron among them, and survive in a realm of titans. You’re beginning to make yourself a known threat, not just to me but to anyone.”
Jonas laughed. “Are you saying everyone is starting to fear me? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Fear you?” Abaddon shook his head. “Don’t get egotistic. Learn your place. Learn that I am the true fear.”
Jonas took a fighting stance. “Abaddon, I know you’re one scary son of a bitch. It comes as no surprise for a human to fear death, the Grim Reaper.”
“Yet you stand here to fight. Quite noble, I must say. Still, you don’t get it.”
Abaddon lurched at Jonas so fast, Jonas barely had time to block. Jonas continued to block his relentless strikes until he found what he believed to be an opening. He unleashed a bolt of lightning center mass. Abaddon didn’t flinch. “Pathetic.” He kicked Jonas to the ground.
Just then, another bolt of lightning hit Abaddon in the same spot. Jonas glanced around, confused until he saw Thor walking toward them. Jonas quickly stood and back away from Abaddon.
“Are you sure this is an engagement in which you wish to interfere?” Abaddon said to Thor.
“If you know who I am, Abaddon, then leave,” Thor said. “What happened in your past is not my business.”
“Are you really threatening me?” Abaddon said. He shook his head. “Breaking my spell went straight to that head of yours.”
Thor pointed at Abaddon. “I can say the same for you who broke the White Witch’s seal.” Several lightning bolts raced from his hand toward Abaddon. Abaddon deflected them all with a single finger, then turned to Jonas.
“Let’s test this.”
Before Jonas could move, Abaddon was right in front of him. He shoved his hand through Jonas’s chest. Jonas expected pain, blood, death. But Abaddon’s hand passed right through him like a spirit. “It’s still not back yet. Consider yourself lucky.” Abaddon vanished without a trace, leaving Jonas and Thor with riddles of confusion. Thor looked at Jonas.
“What did you do to invite his attack?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” Jonas replied.
Chapter 47
“He said he’d always find me and will always kill me,” Jonas explained to the class. “I thought he’d send his Sabers or the girl that was with him. I’d—”
“Never expected him to handle his own biddings, eh,” Bacchus finished. “You know if he really wanted you dead right away, he would’ve killed you. Do you have any idea of his plans?”
“No, I don’t,” Jonas replied.
“This attack must remain a secret while I give my report to the king,” Larius said. “The fact that he attacked, and no one heard or saw that meant that the entire palace was under his spell without knowing.”
Thor stood. “Abaddon’s powers are supposed to be sealed, right? What’s going on?”
“Team meeting dismissed,” Larius said. “And please try not to pry. We need not anyone else getting involved with Abaddon.”
During lunch, Jonas sat with Bacchus, Venus, and Thor. Athena spotted them, joining them seconds later.
“I’ve heard about what happened,” she said. “I’m urging my father to take action as quickly as possible.” Jonas silently swore that she briefly glared at Venus before turning back to them.
“Bacchus, can you simply make him go mad with your power?” Venus suggested.
“Sounds like an idea,” Jonas said, pushing aside his half-eaten turkey leg. He didn’t feel too hungry. He just wanted to sleep and forget this. Forget that the Grim Reaper wanted his life. Forget that the Grim Reaper wanted to go further, to pluck him from the land of the dead and toss him into oblivion.
“Not a chance,” Bacchus said. He took a few bites of his turkey, gulped his water, and sighed before he continued. “My power takes a little time to activate. It wouldn’t work anyway, and even if it did, Abaddon mad with power means death for everyone, everything. I’m not too keen on gambling my life against the lord of death.”
“Do you have any bright ideas, Thor?” Venus asked.
“I would if Abaddon didn’t repel my magic, reflecting it as if it were my mirror.”
The room unexpectedly flicked into darkness. A soft humming sound echoed throughout the room. The scenery outside flashed white, as if lightning repeatedly struck by the palace windows. The temperature of the dining hall shifted from slightly warm to very cold. The candidates could see the steam of their breaths wisp into air.
“What’s going on?” someone snarled. Whispers and talking flooded the room, then silence as the light returned seconds later. Abaddon stood in the center of the room, looking right at Jonas.
Chapter 48
Nearly all competitors rushed out of the dining hall in a panic.
“Human—Jonas, run! If you die, then all of your gained worth will be for not,” Thor bellowed.
Abaddon sighed. “You and I are bounded. I will always find you and always kill you. Do you not get it? You only have one path, and that is to die.”
Jonas sprinted out into the hall, barely able to catch his breath. Black roses spawned like parasites from the walls, floors, ceiling, paintings, and windows. Candles began to lose their light. Suddenly, someone pulled him into a room and closed the door. He nearly panicked until he noticed Medusa. She had a finger over her lips, signaling for Jonas to not make a fuss. She shoved a book into his arms.
“I’ve found this in Euryale’s old library. It’s a book about the three artifacts of God.”
“We really don’t have time for this,” Jonas said, staring nervously at the door. The lighting in the room briefly flickered.
“Worry not, as I cursed the door,” Medusa said. “It should buy us a little time. Unless you think you’re able to escape Abaddon with some brilliant plan of yours.”
Defeated, Jonas said, “Fine.”
Medusa opened the book. “The three artifacts are the Prodigy Tree, the Book of Eternity, and of course the Holy Sword. I read through some of it. It’s a sword that creates miracles using its holder’s strength and power. Abaddon’s power greatly outclasses yours, so you can’t use it to beat him, not as you are. Let’s not forget that he’s the former lord of death, so you can’t easily kill him. And if he fully revives his power, he will be impossible to kill. Reapers aren’t normally evil, but I can’t imagine living in a realm where one exists.”
“Okay, besides kicking me while I’m down, what do we do? I’ve known about Fragment’s limitations for some time now.”
Medusa flipped through more pages of the book. “Can I assume you asked the sword for power and it gave you enough to make you shine like a morning star?”
“Oddly specific,” Jonas said, “but, yes, though it’s a bit—”
“Trigger that power now,” Medusa interrupted. “According to this page”—she pointed at page fifty— “with the Holy Sword, you can drive away all depths of evil. Maybe you can drive Abaddon away at least long enough for King Zeus to reinforce his wards.”
“I’m not sure if that will work,” Jonas said.
Medusa placed her hand on his shoulder. “You’ve got little choice. Try it or die trying.”
>
Jonas closed his eyes. Fragment, please lend me your power.
The door burst open with a force that shook the entire palace. The icy air signaled his arrival.
Chapter 49
Filled with Fragment’s overwhelming energy, Jonas took a fighting stance as Abaddon walked into the room. The black roses covered all surfaces as Abaddon stopped just a few feet from Jonas. Small fireballs leapt from rose to rose, humming lowly, glistening as bright as gold, carefree. The room’s temperature continued to drop, its cold complimenting the chills that shimmied through Jonas’s spine. This was it. Drive him away or die. No turning back.
“You’ve finally dropped enough cowardliness to challenge me again.” Abaddon turned his gaze to Medusa. The stare seemed to pierce her hardened yet delicate soul. “For your sake, you’d better not interfere.”
“I’m not afraid of you, Abaddon,” Medusa said. Abaddon laughed.
“I like that.”
Fragment, I ask you to build enough light to drive away Abaddon. Please drive away his evil!
Jonas lurched at Abaddon, both of their swords colliding hard enough to create large, supernatural sparks. The light that outlined Jonas wrapped around Abaddon’s black blade.
“I won’t let you take over my life,” Jonas snarled. “I will not let you kill me. You and I may be bound. You won’t be able to hide from me. And whenever you do find me, I will always send you to hell!”
“Let’s see you live and die by those words,” Abaddon said as he pulled his sword away from the light. He swung, connecting with some of Jonas’s cheek. Blood spilled from the wound. Jonas returned the favor, his sword connecting with Abaddon’s cheek. Miasma oozed from his cut. The gas oozed like snakes, evaporating midair. It was darker than midnight, deeper than the darkest of voids. Jonas felt that this bleed revealed the structure of Abaddon’s heart, if something resided within it at all.
“Surprising,” Abaddon said as he touched his wound, unflinching. “Still, if that’s the best you can do . . .” Abaddon vanished, reappearing a second later right in front of Jonas. Jonas gasped, unable to react as Abaddon punched hard enough to ricochet him to the floor. Jonas held tightly to Fragment as he fell back first, pain following. “Let’s test the Death Touch again.” He slowly walked over to Jonas, each step clanging against the floor like the tick of a clock. This moment felt like now or never. Jonas couldn’t let Abaddon kill him this easily. He’d never surrender Fragment. He’d not let himself die like this even if fate stacked odds against him.
“Fragment!” Jonas yelled, “Release your holy power now!”
Chapter 50
Intense light covered the entire room, perhaps the palace, lasting for seconds. When it cleared, Jonas noticed that Abaddon still stood, fading, his translucent gaze not breaking eye contact. Abaddon walked toward him, dropping his sword, fading more rapidly. Jonas felt like he was no longer a threat at Zeus’s palace. For now.
“Your protection will not last long,” Abaddon said as he stopped in front of Jonas. “When we meet again, I’ll slice your throat with my Death Touch.” He placed a finger on Fragment’s handle. A mist raced from his fingertip and covered it. “Consider that curse my departing gift. It seems no matter what I do, I somehow don’t kill you. Maybe there’s more to you than what meets the eye.” Like dust blowing in a dry breeze, Abaddon faded. Jonas sighed in relief, happy that he actually drove away Abaddon.
Medusa rushed toward him, embracing Jonas. “You’ve done it! Magnificent! You should have more than enough time to dig into Fragment’s secrets and—”
“There’s one problem,” Jonas interrupted, realizing something grave. Horror covered his thoughts. He realized what Abaddon had done. He lifted Fragment. “I don’t feel anything.”
Medusa took the sword from him, examining it. “This . . . is impossible. Somehow, he sealed the power of the Holy Sword. How in blazes hell did he pull something like this off?”
Jonas snorted, enraged, frustrated. Without Fragment’s power, he’d greatly struggle in the competition, he’d be helpless against Abaddon’s servants. He’d have no offense or defense against the supernatural of this realm. He was only human, feeling naked without Fragment, no knowledge of sorcery. He’d really die.
“What . . . will I do?” Jonas asked Medusa, nervous, sweat drizzling from his face. He fought to prevent himself from collapsing of exhaustion. He’d have to find a way to undo what Abaddon had done to Fragment, and fast.
Medusa shook her head. “Breaking Abaddon’s seal is going to be like an attempt to extinguish the sun.”
Chapter 51
Riley and the elites bowed as Abaddon entered the fortress. The smirk on Abaddon’s face surprised Riley. Did emotion really return to his great master?
“Welcome back, Most Great Abaddon,” Riley said. Abaddon nodded, stopping in the center of the room, glancing at them. “My lord, I believe it is only natural that we replace the open spots among the elites. Those that will reinforce your great army.”
Abaddon nodded again. “Give me your recommendations, my Arc.”
“Pandora, my lieutenant, has proven herself worthy in battle, slaying Ares’s men, obtaining not a single scratch. And she’s good in bed.”
Riley smirked when Abaddon actually laughed.
“Who is your other chosen?” Abaddon said seconds later.
Riley nodded. “The other is a deeply evil, fallen hero, hidden son of Zeus. His name is Tantalus. I chose him because of what I saw deep within that will make a confrontation with Zeus hilarious.”
“Why?” Abaddon said. “Do you not see worthiness in senior men of my army? Why this newcomer?”
“Great Abaddon, Tantalus is going to be my key to drawing out an opening from Zeus. Then I will take Zeus’s head and present it to you on a golden platter.”
“What makes you believe that?”
“Tantalus was an amazing fellow that got a kick out of feeding things to his guests, if you know what I mean. Hilarious. Somehow, he got Zeus and other Olympians to attend what appeared to be a harmless dinner. But what he did prior was kill his own son, chop him up, and make him an appetizing roast for his otherworldly guests. It was a nice attempt, I must say, and worthy of the greatest laughing privileges in existence, but sadly, Zeus saw right through it. Well, there was one who accidentally ate some of the boy’s shoulder: Demeter.” Riley laughed. “Thunderbolt Face didn’t find the prank as funny as I did. Thus he sent Tantalus to the underworld to starve for eternity.” Riley nodded as if he was understanding someone’s problem.
“What does that sob story have to do with anything? Besides your sick enjoyment.”
“Well, Most Great Abaddon, my entertainment is only partially the reason why. I told Tantalus that his son was brought to life. Let him gleam in happy emotion for a bit, then tore it right to pieces when I told him the rest of the story. You know that Zeus, out of still-existing anger at Tantalus, threw the innocent boy off a mountain.” Riley laughed. “True colors of the king of the skies, right? Tantalus made a deal with me, so I pulled him out of that nasty pool of poisonous water and piss, restored him to the clean human he once was, and unlocked some devastatingly dormant power. He’s more than happy to be a decoy meant to draw out Zeus and that old hatred, if it meant watching the old thunderbolt die.”
Abaddon sighed. “Since you are my Arc, do whatever you must. I’ll leave killing Zeus in your hands, even if it is in a manner that I believe you have in mind. No matter how much dignity it robs from him.”
Riley grinned. “You have no idea, Most Great Abaddon. I will do whatever it takes to ascend you to your place as ruler over all things.”
Abaddon walked off toward the room exit, leaving behind his last words. “Keep up the good work.”
Riley glanced at the others, a smirk on his face, excited, barely containing his eagerness. “Prudus, what’s your input?”
Prudus shook his head. “Arc, I don’t know what to say.
How . . . when did you do
so much research?”
Riley chuckled. “There’s not need to know about such little details. I have my ways, my connections, my abilities.”
“But why that ex-hero?”
“Entertainment, of course,” Riley replied. “His appearance will stir Zeus into a frenzy, and while that is happening, I’ll use the chaos as an opportunity to end him.”
“But why not just confront him yourself?” Prudus asked.
“Prudus, Prudus, Prudus, even I have limits,” Riley said. “Yes, I ousted the self-proclaimed god of war. That doesn’t mean I’m dumb enough to challenge Zeus on my own. Even if I could crush him, that would be boring.”
“Can you kill Zeus?”
“Well, not to brag, but there’s an aging curse on him, done by yours truly.” Riley clapped. “Even so, confronting him with Pila around isn’t exactly a smart thing to do. He’d incinerate me.”
“And so, you’re going to send Tantalus to his death?” Flow said as she stepped forward. “What will that accomplish, besides wasting our time? Even Lord Abaddon isn’t fond of meaningless death. He didn’t force any of his men to participate in the decoy mission for the sword. And he made damn sure to retrieve it so that those who died did not die in vain. So, what do you have to match that?”
“If Tantalus follows through with my plan and uses the power I bestowed upon him, everything will flow smoothly,” Riley said. “That aging curse is just the beginning. It’s unbreakable. Even the Holy Sword can’t break it, and Zeus knows it.”
“Then why not cast it on every titan—”
“Flow, if such a powerful curse could be conveniently cast, wouldn’t I have done it by now? Especially since I’d get a good laugh. But no, it’s a onetime use. If the king of the skies dies, imagine how much chaos Olympus would fall into. I’d be witness to the greatest possible entertainment one could ever get. Free.”
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