《Spider-man X.》


 Issue #1: X, The Stranded.

    ~Volume 1: The Spider~

    Issue #1: X, The Stranded.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    We live in a noisy world.

    And I hate it.

    Which is why I like the Silence. Silence is nice.

    ~

    The waves clashing on the beach were especially loud as I came to, sprawled out on the sand staring up at a quickly dimming sky.

    My teeth clattered uncontrollably in a dry and parched mouth, body shivering with the cold breeze that swept in from the ocean.

    Wait, ocean?

    I sniffed, the scent of saltwater hang heavy in the air.

    Where the heck am I?

    Licking my dry and cracked lips, I managed to get to my feet, a wave of dizziness suddenly hitting me.

    But even that couldn''t stop my gasp of surprise as I spun around, slowly taking in the foreign environment around me.

    I was on a beach.

    To my front was a body of water that stretched as far out as they eye could see.

    And behind me was a thick jungle.

    Okay. What the fuck.

    The last thing I remember was being in a plane on a flight headed from New York to Tokyo.

    Clearly, I didn''t make it there.

    Did the airplane crash? Why else would I wash up on a beach somewhere?

    And even if it had, I had no way of knowing. The sky was clear, devoid of clouds or smoke trails.

    And if that was the case, was I the only person to survive? At this point I might as well be. The beach was decidedly empty.

    That flight had been carrying over 200 people. And yet I was alone. That didn''t bode well for them or me.

    The chances of one person surviving when everyone else died was close to zero.

    Not to mention, I don''t remember any flight complications before waking up on the beach.

    A mystery. One that I had no way of currently solving. So I resolved to not think about it. I had more pressing issues.

    Okay. Let''s take stock.

    I patted myself down, inspecting my body for injuries and anything I might have had on my person.

    Other than some mild discomfort from the damp clothes clinging to me,(my white shirt was torn up and I was missing my belt) everything else appeared fine. No missing limbs or anything like that.

    My skin was slightly baked and red, but that was from sleeping on the beach for too long.

    I also had to remove my boots to clear out the water and sand in them, only to find a crab had holed up inside the left boot.

    "Go on, get outta here."

    I nudged the little guy with a finger, watching it skitter off while snapping it''s claws my way. How rude.

    With the inspection done, I turned up my findings and sighed.

    My wallet was missing, probably lost in the ocean, so was my Swiss Army knife and my noise dampening ear plugs. I felt the loss of the final items especially.

    Since I was little, I''ve always had very sensitive hearing. Which is why I hated noisy places and why the ear plugs were sometimes necessary.

    The only thing I had on me was my glasses which had somehow remained on my face for the unintended trip, although a part of the frame was slightly bent.

    I straightened them out, wiping away the sand and secured them back on my face.

    At that moment, my stomach begun to grumble.

    I hadn''t eaten anything in about 10 hours. Maybe longer as the sun was already dipping on the horizon, heralding the night.

    No food and no water but at least I can still see. Haha.

    Nothing really funny about my situation though. I could die here if I wasn''t careful.

    "I need a plan of action."

    I decided.

    The logical thing was to wait close to the beach in case help arrived. Maybe a ship or a plane passing by would rescue me.

    But I couldn''t count on that.

    "Who knows how long that will take."

    I muttered to myself.

    The chances of things lining up that perfectly were zero to none. It wasn''t realistic.

    The most urgent issues I needed to address was food and shelter.

    With the night setting in, staying out in the open was a bad idea. Getting sick was the last thing I wanted.

    Especially stranded in a foreign place.

    That brought my options down to one.

    I gazed at the dark jungle behind me. The trees swayed in the evening wind, casting long shadows under the setting sun.

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    The jungle seemed ominous. And it wasn''t even night yet.

    Oh well, the worst that could happen was dying.

    I would much rather bank on trying to survive this in every way I could, rather than wait for someone else to save me.

    Throwing one final look towards the all encompassing ocean, I turned around, cold boots on my feet and with little hesitation, I took a step towards the jungle steeling my heart for what was to come.

    ******

    I wish I still had my equipment, it would have made things much easier for me.

    However, my luggage must have sank to the bottom of the ocean along with the plane.

    I''d been walking for over 10 minutes.

    Weeds and vines from the jungle floor ensnared my feet, further impeding my already painfully sluggish progress.

    Getting through the thick foliage had proved annoying, only adding to my frustration at losing my gear.

    The irony wasn''t lost to me. Here I was, stranded and all I could think about was that.

    Then again, most of that stuff was expensive and high end. It would be difficult to replace.

    My clothes also bore the persistent presence of hooks from a plant resembling sticky willies.

    The leaves, adorned with clinging hooks, attached themselves to the fabric of my torn shirt, causing both discomfort and an irritating itch on my skin.

    I slapped my cheek, smashing another mosquito that tried to suck on my blood.

    That was the other thing about this place, the jungle was full of activity.

    It was unabashedly wild. Most of the vegetation and flora I saw here was alien to me.

    The Fauna was no less astounding.

    It was a jungle and although I did my best to stay quiet, my presence was noticed by the animals that made it their home.

    Critters like squirrels scurried away upon seeing me, birds chipped in the evening air and there was a weird species of Monkeys that swung above the trees, fleeing while making strange sounds the second they spotted me.

    That was fortunate. It meant salvaging for food wasn''t going to be as difficult as I thought.

    My only contention with the jungle was the bugs. Just like the vegetation and weird animals, the insects here were strange. Bigger and meaner.

    Mosquitoes the size of a finger nail buzzed around my body incessantly, trying to make me their next meal. Little shits.

    I kept on swatting them away but it was a tough fight. One in which, I had incurred losses.

    Overdramatization aside, I had a particularly large red bump on my wrist. It was a bite from a peculiar spider.

    Never had I seen a purple, red and blue dotted spider. It had also seemed to glow, something visually apparent in the waning light of dusk.

    Before I could bring my palm down on the little sucker, it had curled up and died right on my skin, fangs still sunk into my flesh.

    "How strange."

    I couldn''t help but state, tearing off a strip from my shirt that I used to wrap the peculiar spider in, before keeping it in my pocket.

    The reason was twofold: firstly, if the spider''s bite was venomous, having it with me would make treatment easier.

    Fortunately, the bite was yet to affect me, making me suspect that the venom wasn''t toxic to people. There were a few spiders like that.

    And secondly, I''d never seen this kind of species before so I was curious. What else was this place hiding?

    All that took a backseat to something more immediate. Surviving.

    And after walking for what felt like 10 more minutes, hope appeared in the form of the sound of rushing water.

    There had to be a river or a stream close by.

    Nice.

    I could set up camp near the river for the night, maybe try to catch a few fish for dinner.

    I reached into the pocket of my pants, grabbing and popping another wild grape in my mouth.

    I''d come across a few monkeys munching on them before they ran away.

    The taste was bitter sweet and served to leave my mouth even drier than before, but they had kept my hunger at bay.

    Besides, I could quench my thirst once I arrived at the river.

    Emboldened, I added more strength to my steps, careful to make as less noise as I could.

    Fortunately, I excelled at being silent and could move undetected if I wanted.

    That''s my talent, going unnoticed.

    The sound of the water increased and after what felt like a couple of minutes, the jungle opened up to a majestic waterfall.

    It was in a word, magnificent.

    Water cascaded from a lofty cliff, colliding into a wide pool below.

    The mist surrounding the waterfall created a beautiful rainbow when bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

    One more thing.

    I wasn''t alone anymore.

    In a scene that made me think I had actually died and gone to Paradise, beautiful naked women were swimming in the river under the waterfall.

    I blinked, lips slightly parted at the unexpected scene.

    There were about a dozen of them, mostly bathing in the pool while some frolicked around the banks of the river.

    To reiterate, all of them were unexpectedly otherworldly beautiful.

    Coming in with Long lustrous hair in all colors from blondes to redheads to blueheads.

    And bodies crafted with just the right amount of muscles and the softness of womanhood.

    It was a visual delight. Never before had I seen women as exotic. And trust me, my job takes me all over the world.

    Their voices must have been drowned out by the Waterfall, which is why I hadn''t heard them on my approach.

    Shit.

    If they caught me watching them...

    I stepped back, aiming for a silent retreat.

    Only to step on a stick and snap it.

    The sound was not that loud, yet every head snapped my way.

    An array of different emotions passed over their faces. First there was confusion, then came the shock and fear, finally culminating in hostility and vengeful glares.

    Before things escalated, I raised my hands in a placating gesture.

    "Would you believe me if I said I didn''t see anything?"

    I facepalmed. What an obvious lie.

    It took about a second for shit to hit the fan.

    "A man!"

    One of the women on the banks yelled out, reaching for her clothes.

    Instead, she grabbed a spear that was next to her and in the blink of an eye, I had a sharp weapon flying at me.

    Warning bells went off in my head.

    I scrambled backwards, ironically tripping on the same stick that had outed my presence.

    The spear whistled as it flew above me, the tip stabbing into a tree behind with a dull thunk!

    What the heck! That was fast!

    "Seize him!" came the cry from the approaching women, now charging toward me, unclothed yet wielding sharp weapons in their grasp.

    Some had bows and arrows that they were already notching, the tips aimed my way. Others had Battleaxes and swords while almost all wielded the same spear that had been flung at me.

    Fuck this, it doesn''t seem like they''ll listen to reason, one of them just tried to kill me!

    I jumped to my feet, heart thundering within my chest and promptly started running away.

    Adrenaline fueled my actions, sending a burst of unexpected energy through my body. I felt powerful despite my hungered state.

    Passing next to the tree with the spear that had been launched at me, I grabbed the shaft, wrenching the weapon out.

    I needed something to protect myself with and this was the only weapon available.

    That lady tried to kill me with the thing. It was only fitting I steal it. No guilt on my end.

    A snapping sound rang out as part of the tree the spear was stabbed into, shattered into a spray of wooden chips and bark.

    I kept going, glancing back in surprise as the tree trunk split in two, the top half clashing onto the ground, conveniently blocking the path for those chasing me.

    The environment blurred around me as I ran as fast as I could. There was no need for subtlety anymore.

    Creating distance between me and the furious women was good for my continued existence, so I ducked, weaved and jumped over fallen trees and thatchet, all the while my mind was occupied by the strange occurrences.

    I know my own strength...and I''m not that strong. No amount of training can make you that strong. Human biology had limits.

    so what the hell was that? How was I able to snap a tree in half by merely pulling the spear out?

    Suddenly, my mind buzzed with danger. And immediately, I ducked around another tree, this one with a trunk much wider than the one from before.

    Moments later, the air whistled with the passage of several arrows, narrowly missing my previous position.

    I had keen senses but that sensation warning me of danger was something else. It was an intuition that bordered on foresight. I had sensed the arrows before seeing them.

    I''m seeing a trend here.

    The tree I was hiding behind was compromised when another spear was thrown at it, hard enough that it pierced through the trunk.

    This time, the sensation that felt like a tingle at the back of my skull failed to activate and I felt the tip just barely graze the side of my ribs.

    Swallowing a groan, I rolled forward, hiding within a thick bush.

    Steps sounded out as my Pursuers passed by my position without stopping, intent on hunting me down.

    "Where did he go!?"

    I heard them discuss from a few feet away.

    I slunk away deeper into my hiding spot, doing my best to keep my breath calm and even, the shaft of the spear held tight in my grip.

    "He was right by the tree sisters. He couldn''t have gone far."

    "Fan out!"

    An authoritative voice commanded.

    "We cannot have a man running around in Themyscira. We also need to inform the Queen."

    Wait, did she say Themyscira?

 Issue #2: X, The Hunted.

    (General P.O.V)

    "This is a world of Myth and legend. Heroes and villains. Magic and science. Good and evil. Virtuous and immoral."

    "Nothing that exists beneath Heaven or above Hell is constrained to mere logic or sense. It is a world of destinies. Infinite and Grand."

    :- Unknown Scribe from the order of the Church of Blood.

    (General P.O.V)

    The Harvest Festival was only a few hours away.

    Popularly known as the Thesmophoria, it was set in autumn, a festival to honor the goddess Demeter, and her daughter Persephone for their patronage and blessings.

    All across Themiscyra, from the Royal Palace to Bana-Mighdall, the furthest end of the Island, a celebratory presence hung in the air.

    The festival took place on the beach, overlooking the ocean in front of the city.

    Colorful adornments were decorated along the main shore, garlands and colorful drapes of flowers leading from the heart of the city towards the beach.

    Warrior race they might have been, but the concept of beauty was not lost to the Amazons. One of their patrons was Aphrodite after all.

    Occasional ocean breezes gently sweeped through the island, causing the beachside firepits, prepared for the Star-dance, to crackle with heightened intensity.

    The Star-dance was a celebratory dance under the moonlit sky.

    One that served as a farewell to Persephone as she descended to the Underworld to be with the God of the underworld, Hades.

    It was in part a conclusion and the purpose of the Star-dance.

    Demeter''s mood would soon sour in the upcoming month; to ensure the prosperity of each year''s harvest, the Harvest Festival had never been skipped.

    It was integral to Themiscyra.

    ******

    From the balcony of the Royal Palace, the princess of this martriachal nation, sighed helplessly.

    A certain yearnness could be observed in her blue eyes, which were firmly locked onto the horizon.

    Her long black hair cascaded freely, forming gentle waves around her head.

    Adorned in a white chiton, a leather breastplate covered her torso, leaving her powerful arms bare.

    All in all, she looked the epitome of an Amazon. A perfect balance of deadliness and beauty.

    "What seems to trouble you, my daughter?"

    The queen, her mother asked, sliding up to Diana''s side and hugging her daughter with one arm.

    Diana turned to her mother with an eager smile, making her already beautiful features a sight to behold.

    "Mother, you''re finally done with the Senate meeting. I thought you''d stay there well into the night."

    The two embraced.

    "And miss the Star Dance? Not on your life."

    The Queen cheekily replied.

    "Not on anyone''s life. It''s your favorite time of the year."

    Diana replied with a knowing smile.

    "The goddess Demeter truly deserves our appreciation."

    Hippolyta said in quiet gratitude, staring up at the sky and the rising stars as the night set in.

    Far below,

    A procession of Amazons with lyres, flutes, drums and food supplies was making their way to the beach.

    Most of the city''s inhabitants, their fellow Amazons were already gathered on the beach, the preparations for the Festival in full swing.

    The Thesmophoria was at hand.

    A shadow crossed Hippolyta''s face as she gazed upon the stars.

    Memories passed through her mind, reminding her of Themiscyra''s awful past.

    "In the aftermath of Herakles'' rampage, when other gods turned away, it was Demeter and Aphrodite who stood by our side. In times of despair, her unwavering presence merits our reverence. Themiscyra owes its existence to her benevolent patronage."

    Diana stared at her mother with understanding.

    She...hadn''t been alive at that time, but every Amazon knew of the stain upon their legacy that could never be washed away.

    The pride they once had was cruelly torn away by Herakles, who was being manipulated by Ares at the time.

    Sent by the king of Mycenae for his ninth labor, Herakles was to conquer Amazonium and steal Queen Hippolyta''s Golden Girdle.

    Things went...horribly.

    "Diana."

    Her mother''s voice broke the youngest Amazon out of her heavy thoughts.

    The princess listened intently as Hippolyta spoke,

    "The stars float in the endless sky, Orion and Pleadies prominently shining down on us, yet despite the beauty of it, your gaze is firmly locked on the horizon not the sky."

    There was an unmistakable question in her statement.

    ''This is it.'' Diana thought. There was no better time to breach the subject than now, the night of the Harvest Festival.

    Blue eyes met even bluer ones.

    Diana faced her mother head on, shoulders straight and gaze locked onto her eyes.

    Side by side, the resemblance between the two was uncanny.

    Hippolyta possessed all the features her daughter had. The only difference was the mature air she carried about her.

    A proud gleam lit up in her eyes as she observed her daughter.

    "Mother, now that my training is complete, I wish to explore Man''s world."

    Then Diana made her request known, causing Hippolyta''s expression to darken.

    "Absolutely not."

    The queen firmly refused.

    Diana narrowed her eyes.

    "Why not?"

    "Because I forbid it."

    Hippolyta replied in a tone that brokered no argument.

    "Man''s world is filled with depravity and sin. A society we abandoned long ago. And not without just cause."

    Diana tightened her hands into fists.

    "Which is precisely why I need to go. Where else shall I gain experience as a warrior, mother?"

    Her tone took on a pleading note.

    "If you''re worried about my safety-"

    "That''s not it."

    Hippolyta interrupted, a frown falling upon her face.

    She lightly carressed Diana''s cheek.

    "Let this go Diana. You are the princess of Themiscyra. You have duties and responsibilities. I won''t have you running off into flights of fancy. It''s time to grow up."

    The entire hallway was silent upon the Queen''s statement.

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    Whispers from the Amazons passing by reached their ears.

    A single gaze from Philippus, the Queen''s consort and General of the Themiscyran army, positioned protectively behind the two royalties, prompted onlookers to hastily disperse.

    The general was dark skinned with long black hair. She shared the same beauty that all Amazons had, though her sharp nose and cool black eyes made her appear unwelcoming and stern.

    Mother and daughter found themselves holding a contest of wills.

    "You cannot keep me here mother."

    Diana told her.

    "I need your blessing not your permission."

    Hippolyta chuckled.

    "How bold you''ve grown, daughter. Do not forget, I am still your Queen and I STILL forbid it."

    With that said, the Queen turned around, regal cloak flapping behind her as she left, flanked on both sides with the Royal bodyguards.

    "I eagerly await to see you dance at the Festival, Diana."

    "Ugh, she never listens to me."

    The princess complained, punching a hole into the wall close to her. The entire building shuddered.

    Philippus briefly patted Diana on her shoulder.

    "I told you it wouldn''t go well, princess. Talk to her after the festival."

    The general smiled.

    "I shall have buttered her up for you."

    Diana sighed, watching Philippus walk away after her mother.

    Her eyes returned to the horizon, at the point the sky merged with the ocean.

    Oh how she longed to see what was on the other side of the veil.

    Boom!

    A massive crash sounded out from the direction of the forest.

    It was only through her Superhuman senses that she was able to pinpoint the location.

    On the West side of the island, right over the ridges around the city, smoke was rising.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    The leaves crumbled silently under my body as I crawled through the undergrowth, using the surprisingly sharp spear in my hand to cut my way out.

    Meanwhile, my mind was occupied by speculations. A healthy amount of disbelief and skeptism as well.

    She said Themiscyra.

    I hadn''t misheard her. Remember, I have very sharp hearing.

    She indeed referred to this place as Themiscyra, the island of the Amazons. It explained the women''s blatant hostility.

    And if it indeed was Themiscyra...

    Oh boy. That meant DC Comics.

    What...a sobering thought.

    Let''s pretend that the woman with shifting cords of muscles, a lot of battle experience in the way she moved, was not actually crazy and I had actually washed up on the shores of a fictional world.

    I can''t pick a fight with them.

    For starters, I was stranded on their home turf, lore suggests that one Amazon has strength equal to 10 men.

    And that''s without counting in Demi-gods like Diana, the LITERAL daughter of ZEUS.

    Anywhere else in DC was viable to appear at.

    Except Gotham. That place is fucked beyond what Batman can fix.

    Despite the presence of beautiful women in the island, their matriarchal system of rule did not look favorably upon men.

    Case in point, they were scouring the jungle, hunting me down.

    It doesn''t matter how, but I need to leave the Island.

    Maybe they have a ship docked on the beach? Not likely.

    The Amazons were isolationists, they had little interest to engage with the outside world.

    My body rolled on it''s own accord, escaping a sword thrust that dug into the dirt below me.

    I had the danger sense tingling at the back of my mind to thank for that.

    Damn, I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn''t feel one of them approach. Or maybe they were trained to be that sneaky.

    What mattered was my next course of action now that my hiding spot was discovered.

    "Found him!"

    The owner of the spear I had stolen, the blonde chic from before, called out to the others, glaring down at me.

    Her taut body was exposed before my eyes, skin glowing with a bit of perspiration.

    She was tall, in her twenties and naked as the day she was born.

    "Tch."

    Making a disgusting noise at my staring, she stabbed down at my form once more.

    The thrust missed me by inches, the blade getting tangled up in the brush.

    "You men are the...waaahhh!!!"

    A startled cry burst forth from her lips as I swiftly knocked her feet from under her, securing the spear shaft around her ankles and giving it a decisive pull.

    She fell, her head smacking onto a rotting log of wood that was on the ground before me.

    "Sister!"

    All too soon, my focus shifted to the rest of my would be killers, rushing towards our position from the jungle around us.

    "Get away from her!"

    A brunnette yelled, pulling on her bow.

    The rest of them followed her example.

    The hail of arrows that followed were not aimed for my body, instead they served to separate me from the blonde Amazon on the ground.

    I took note of that. They were more focused on saving an ally than killing me.

    I jumped, marveling at the fact I cleared more than 30 meters of distance, a feat right above the world record.

    Landing in a crouched position, I bent my knees, unintentionally posing like a certain friendly neighborhood spider hero.

    It hadn''t escaped my mind that the abilities I was exhibiting, were highly similar to what Spider-man could do.

    I got to my feet, a curious glint in my eyes while looking down at my hands.

    It''s clear now. However unbelievable it would seem, the fact remained that this wasn''t a dream.

    I was somehow stranded in Themiscyra, an Island full of warrior women and I suspect I had...superpowers.

    Sounds like the synopsis of a wish fulfillment novel but trust me, I had pinched myself over 10 times already.

    This was happening. I was in a fight for my life and I had powers.

    I wonder...

    What can I really do? And the abilities like danger sense and increased strength, were they as Spider themed as I suspected or was something else at play?

    Now that I think about it, there was that purple, blue and red spider that bit me.

    But that was barely an hour ago, could the process to change my d.n.a and awaken Spider-Man''s powers be that fast?

    In the fleeting moment it took for me to ponder, I found myself encircled by unclothed women armed with razor-sharp weapons from every direction.

    I spun around slowly, making eye contact with each and every one of them.

    There were 16 in total.

    Eventually, my gaze landed on an Amazon who stood head and shoulders above the rest.

    She was completely bald, but that did little to diminish her beauty, only serving to make her more exotic.

    The ugly sneer she wore while hatefully glaring my way took that away. And all that was left was a psychotic looking bitch.

    In her hands, she held two huge axes, the edges glinting even in the low light.

    A burst of Killing Intent exploded out of her.

    "Had enough ogling? Do you also desire to hold us down, strip us of our dignity and ravage us?!"

    She asked, twirling the pair of weapons with ease and expertise while taking a menacing step forward.

    Regrettably, I tore my gaze away from her bountiful breasts, establishing contact with her vengeful eyes.

    "Appreciation doesn''t need to come from a place of lust, lady. In any case, you''re the ones walking around naked."

    I shot back.

    "All men are the same! Scum honorless trash that deserve culling."

    She answered, an evil glint in her eyes.

    "We should kill off your whole gender."

    Whoa. That''s a bit extreme. I''m getting major villain vibes from her.

    Shit. She''s really not planning on letting me live.

    "Can we talk this out?"

    I asked, still trying to resolve things peacefully.

    "Those things look sharp." I pointed out, referring to the weapons in their hands.

    My palm tightened around the shaft of my own stolen spear.

    "I wouldn''t want to be on the receiving end."

    Without saying a word, baldy lifted her axe up into the air. A gleefully bloodthirsty smirk lighting up her face.

    "Archers behind, everyone else, kill him."

    """Aahhhh"""

    And now I had 10 women trained for thousands of years coming for my head.

    This was obviously a less than ideal situation.

    No matter whether you''re a target or the executioner, drawn out fights are dumb.

    Guess it can''t be helped then. No point in hiding anymore. I''ll have to get serious.

    With a sigh, I took off my glasses, carefully folding them and placing them into my pocket.

    The Amazon''s loud battle cry irritated my ears.

    "I''m about to fuck you up.

    I exhaled, letting out the frustration building up within me��losing the Tokyo contract, a hefty 250 grand down the drain.

    And then there was the matter of my missing equipment: a meticulously assembled poison collection built over three years, my customized Remington M24 sniper rifle, and my precious Damascus Steel daggers.

    All valuable. All costly.

    It''s safe to say that someone attempting to end me was the final straw.

    I was done with this shit.

    (Alkyone''s P.O.V)

    "Are you unhurt, Izah?"

    I asked my sister.

    The pesky girl had the gall to pout.

    "Get up."

    I ordered in annoyance, and without question, she fell in line.

    Izah knew not to disappoint me, especially in front of an enemy, a man no less.

    Disappointing me would be followed by a brutal beating in the arena. It was ''sparring'' after all.

    Amazon law was strict. Especially in terms of settling a grudge. We had a thing for vengeance. And our fury knew no bounds.

    Izah was cowed. Gritting her teeth and glaring at the...disgusting creature that had washed up on our soils.

    A man.

    He was...pleasing to the eyes I suppose. A tough jaw that could take a punch, though he tried to hide behind those glass things on his eyes.

    And his body...slim but possessing a hidden strength. This was a man that knew how to move in a fight.

    Good. No one less than a warrior deserved dying by my axes.

    I was about to call him out on his deception of his true abilities when I saw his eyes.

    They roamed, devouring my sisters. Lavishing them to an inch of their lives.

    I remember a weight upon my body. Helpless to the sheer animalistic strength that bastard Herakles exhibited as he pushed me down.

    An image of Herakles superimposed itself on the intruder''s body. And I knew Fury!

    I raised my Axe.

    ""Archers behind, everyone else, kill him."

    My sisters moved to comply. Well oiled they were.

    Each making up for the defenciences of the other yet powerful on their own.

    The archers notched their arrows in readiness and the rest of my sisters and I moved forth, swords drawn ready to execute the blight upon our land.

    Only for me to come to a screeching halt.

    "Stop!"

    The words left my mouth before I could control myself.

    My sisters halted.

    "Captain. Is something the matter?"

    Arissa, my second in command asked.

    I was not known for my cowardice or hesitation in the battlefield.

    "Everyone, fall back."

    I gave another order.

    While confused, my sisters complied. They couldn''t feel it...

    The way the Intruder suddenly went from prey to predator. The second he removed those glass things, he changed.

    His entire presence and demeanor. It was like looking at two different people.

    "What''s your name?"

    I couldn''t help but ask, wanting to know who this man, giving off a more dangerous aura than Herakles himself, was.

    Cool black eyes blinked at me.

    "X."

    He replied in a lazy yet focused tone.

    "Now, can we get back to killing each other?"

    Then he moved.

    It was fast and unexpected. Within a few steps he would be upon me.

    "Archers! Fire!"

    At my command, a barrage of arrows flew out from behind me, each aimed at a vital spot on his body.

    He spun, twirling the spear around while holding it closer to the base. A massive pressure wave was released slapping all the arrows out of trajectory.

    The wind was strong enough to push me a step back.

    Our attack outdone by him merely striking the air. What a scary opponent.

    I shall have his head.

    "Sisters, Pegasi formation!"

    Another order given that was adhered to.

    I rushed forward, swinging out my axes towards his neck. There was a collision of metal against metal that made my hands tremble.

    The intruder held back my axe blades with the shaft of Izah''s spear. The stupid girl just had to lose it and give the enemy a weapon.

    X exerted a little strength and I was thrown back, flipping to bleed out my momemtum.

    But that was okay. I was the head of the Pegasi formation and over me, the wings flared.

    Arrisa and Lyra holding two lassos jumped in, tying them around the enemy''s limbs to restrain his movements.

    "Archers! Now!"

    Izah gave the command in my stead.

    Foolish girl must have wanted to settle the score with X.

    More arrows flew his way, this time unimpeded in their flight. I ran forward as well, ready to unleash the killing blow as this man was done for.

    No one had survived our Pegasi formation. It was designed to deal with those stronger than you.

    Then something happened that completely changed everything.

    X weaved through the projectiles, dodging each and every arrow with minimal ease.

    Evading them wasn''t the problem.

    From a long range and with hard practice, you could read the trajectory of an incoming arrow and react accordingly.

    The only person that could dodge so many of them from this close was the princess, and she was a different beast altogether.

    What I was seeing was nothing less impressive.

    My axes shook in my hand.

 Issue #3: X, The Fated.

    (General P.O.V)

    "Captain, now!"

    Lyra exclaimed, her voice under tension as she and Arissa struggled to restrain X.

    "Move for the kill!"

    Alkyone commanded the others, wasting no time herself. She charged in with a battle cry, axes swirling in a deadly dance.

    "For Themiscyra!"

    The bladed edge of her weapons blurred into a frenzy of lethal motion.

    X''s odds of escaping, physically bound by two formidable Amazons, were close to zero.

    Even if his skills allowed him to evade Alkyone''s charging assault, her sisters trailed close behind, poised to thrust their spears into the man without mercy.

    The very air crackled with the inevitability of the impending confrontation.

    In the face of all this, X remained silent, except for a subtle snort that slipped out.

    The two Amazons had a firm grip on each of his wrists, and he begrudgingly acknowledged their effective strategy.

    Had it been him prior to the spider bite, lacking his gear, he would unquestionably have faced certain death.

    But now...now he had something new to play with.

    Taking a powerful step forward, he spun, jerking both of his hands, thereby pulling on his restrainers.

    Surprised, Arissa let out a shout as X effortlessly lifted her into the air with sheer strength.

    How was this possible? How was a single man stronger than Lyra and her combined?! She was a millenia year old warrior.

    Her cry was echoed by Lyra who was similarly sent flying. The lasso she was holding onto snapped taut through the air with a resounding crack.

    Judging by Lyra''s trajectory, she was on a collision course with...

    "Captain! Watch-"

    Arissa''s warning was cut short as Lyra smacked into Alkyone, throwing the both of them away into the jungle, tumbling through the undergrowth in a mess of limbs.

    """ Captain! """

    "Alkyone!"

    Came the horrified cries from her sisters.

    Arissa slammed into a tree, the impact sending shockwaves through her.

    It wasnt the most powerful hit she''d ever taken, but it still left her gasping for air and disoriented as she slid down to the ground.

    Despite her blurry vision, Arissa kept a fixed gaze on their opponent. He didn''t spare her a glance, systematically taking down each of her attacking sisters with ease.

    "Curse you."

    Izah hatefully directed at the enemy.

    No. Stop... Arissa extended her hand, aware that Izah''s anger would cloud her judgment, leading her to charge in recklessly. They had to come up with a plan.

    Alkyone, who was easily the strongest fighter among them, had been taken out too quickly.

    Thus the chances of them beating X had fallen to an astronomical low, yet Izah was determined to make him pay.

    "Archers-"

    She signalled.

    Before she could finish the order, her own spear narrowly missed her, the blade stabbing into a boulder behind her and shattering it into smaller stones.

    Izah stumbled and fell, shocked at the close call that nearly cost her life.

    The other Amazons came to an abrupt halt.

    "Alright, that''s it," X warned, lowering his hand after tossing his only weapon at the Amazons.

    "Keep going, and I might have to get rough with you."

    Groaning, Arissa tried to get to her feet.

    They were Amazons, there was no way they were giving up.

    She unsheathed her sword.

    "The price for your transgressions, intruder, is death."

    Arissa, holding the weight of her position as second in command, delivered the verdict.

    Her grip tightened on the sword in one hand, the other instinctively cradling her cracked ribs from the recent clash.

    "Even if you kill us all,"

    She bit out, conviction apparent in her tone,

    "Our sisters will gladly take our place and avenge us!"

    X''s eyes found hers, and she could see the annoyance in his gaze.

    "Man, your society is unnecessarily hostile," he quipped, shaking his head.

    "Your thinking is just narrow and kinda dumb. You still need men around to keep things going. How do you even grow the population with just women? Living forever is cool, but you gotta bring in new minds and ideas, or you''re missing the whole point �C to keep things going."

    Arissa said nothing. Her spirit renained undaunted. After centuries of carrying a heavy grudge, it was going to take more than a few words to change her stance.

    X knew this. He could see the same spark of defiance in the rest of them.

    There was simply no avoiding it. ''They''re itching for a fight, so it''s time to dish it back.''

    "I''m starving and exhausted. Let''s wrap this up. All of you, bring it on."

    He declared.

    "Attack!!"

    Izah gave the order.

    And Arissa witnessed a scary scene.

    This time, the Man chose to attack with his bare fists.

    And the skill difference between wielding a spear and fighting barehanded was like night and day.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    He weaved through the onslaught of arrows by using the environment; hiding behind the trees, or positioning himself where the risk of friendly fire was heightened.

    When that failed, he merely used his hands to block or out right snatch the arrows off the air.

    One would think he might have escaped after thinning their numbers.

    However, X seemed determined to see the battle through.

    (X''s P.O.V)

    What a pain.

    I snatched another arrow from the air, flicking it back with precision.

    It collided with two more arrows trailing behind, altering the course of all three in a swift, calculated move.

    Please, this is child''s play. I literally learnt how to catch knives and arrows by the time I was 14.

    And with danger sense warning me, I might as well have done it blindfolded.

    The archer responsible took unsteady steps backwards, going for the sword on her hip, but she had gotten too close and was done for.

    My fist swung out, finding her cheek and smacking her to unconsciousness.

    The hail of arrows came to a halt. Given my proximity to one of their own, it was logical for them to exercise caution, avoiding potential friendly fire.

    Before her body hit the ground, I was whirling around with a kick, hooking my leg on the shaft of a spear aimed for my midsection.

    The Owner turned out to be the dark haired brunnete from earlier- one of the two that had tried to restrain me with lassos.

    She tensed her muscles, trying to wrench the weapon away.

    I effortlessly overwhelmed her, the power surging through my body pulling her closer, and with a swift strike, I drove the heel of my palm into her nose, delivering a decisive blow.

    She rocked back with a cry, blood spraying from her nostrils. My right hand whipped out, backhanding her.

    Thwack! The sound was especially loud and I think I might have dislocated her jaw with that move.

    Knees buckling, she crumbled to the ground before me. I grabbed her hair, wrenching her head back.

    Once again, the Amazons came to an abrupt stop.

    "Arissa!"

    A chorus of cries echoed out from them, full of concern for their sister.

    "I could end her."

    I declared, fingers rhythmically tapping the side of her neck, tracing the path of her carotid artery.

    "A precise strike right here, and she''s gone."

    They tensed.

    My foot slammed onto her back, driving her to her friends.

    Within minutes, the bustling group had dwindled down to a mere seven Amazons, their breaths heavy, eyes fixed on me with a heightened sense of caution.

    They stood protectively befire me and their injured sisters.

    "Curse you."

    The blonde I heard the others call her Izah, bit out.

    "You shall pay for this. I swear it."

    And still they refuse to listen. Maybe I went too easy on them. I held up my fists.

    "Make me."

    ******

    In less than a couple more minutes, I had every single Amazon groaning on the ground around me.

    The ones that were still conscious at least.

    I twirled another spear I had ''procured'' from them, snapping it in two and throwing the pieces away.

    It was done. The totally unnecessary battle was over.

    More than a few had dislocated bones. The worst of the injuries being a shattered knee and broken ribs.

    All this could have been avoided if I was careful about where I was going.

    Ultimately, the fault was theirs, but my actions were most definitely going to have consequences.

    I cut off the train of thought, that''s for future Kane to deal with.

    I stopped before Izah who was on the ground, crouching down to her level.

    Her hands were putting pressure on her bleeding thigh.

    She backed away in fear, the glint of defiance from before contaminated by terror. A little too late for that.

    "S-stay back."

    And now she was throwing sticks and dirt my way.

    "I know this is far from over."

    I started. Understanding that retribution was on it''s way.

    "It''s true I can''t kill my way out. So why don''t you help me out and save me the trouble of hurting your sisters?"

    Her face said it all. She would rather die than assist me.

    "How do I leave the Island?"

    Nonetheless I questioned. It wouldn''t hurt to try.

    Spit landed on my shoe.

    "Get fucked by an Empousa."

    Jesus. What a mouth.

    An Empousa was was a shape shifting monster in Greek mythology.

    It was usually female and had two strange legs, one of a donkey, the other made from brass.

    And she was telling me to get railed by the thing.

    "That''s really disappointing to hear."

    I shook my head, generally feeling let down.

    She would rather I kill my way out than help me escape without causing chaos?

    My hand swung out, and a chop landed on the back of her neck. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head as she immediately passed out.

    "Like I said, narrow minded."

    I tsked, rising to my feet.

    The strain of dealing with 16 armed and well-trained women was finally catching up to me. It had taken a slight toll, evident in my slightly elevated breathing.

    There was another reason I had finished the fight quickly, something was happening to my body.

    Perspiration coated my skin despite the cold air of the night.

    I was also hit with a sudden bout of dizziness, which caused me to lean on the side of a tree for support.

    I had a suspicion on what was happening.

    The Spider Bite''s effects were kicking in, a delayed reaction similar to what happened with Peter.

    Unlike him, though, my side effects surfaced a bit later, considering it had been nearly an hour since the encounter with the spider.

    Now, in the thick of things, the weight of the dead spider in my pocket felt particularly pronounced.

    Escaping was going to be an issue with the current state of my body.

    And my problems didn''t stop there, the sky was already dark by now, making the jungle doubly dangerous.

    It was a beautiful night however, a myriad of stars sprinkled across the heavens.

    Maybe it wouldnt be a bad end to an otherwise interesting life if I died on this island.

    I had managed to live to 25. That was longer than some people I grew up.

    I took an unstable step forward. What a joke. There was no way I was going to die here.

    I would survive no matter what was thrown my way. That was my new mission. Everything else was inconsequential.

    With the stars and a crescent moon lighting the treacherous jungle around me, I started the trek, body swaying but determined to not pass out close to my enemies.

    I pushed through the trees, instinctively following the sound of the river.

    The plan was to cross it, from there it would be easier to cover my tracks until I arrived somewhere safe.

    But damn, making it there was a challenge on its own. I had a running fever and shivers occasionally rocked my body.

    It had now been a few minutes and the sound of rushing water was not getting any closer.

    The darkness and unfamiliar terrain was too disorienting, causing me to walk in circles.

    I also sensed an eerie presence observing me��something Inhuman but not quite an animal.

    "At this pace, I''ll be a snack for whatever''s tailing me way before I hit the river..."

    I grumbled, the corners of my vision going dim.

    That''s when something heavy and loud landed behind me, causing a tremor and shaking the ground.

    Resting against a tree, I pivoted, summoning the last ounces of my energy to raise my hands in readiness for a fight.

    My breath left me as I gazed upon her. She was a wonder.

    The moonlight shining through the trees hit her body perfectly, highlighting all the best features you could expect from a woman.

    Saying she was beautiful wouldn''t cut it anymore. All these women were unbelievably gorgeous. But her beauty was on a class of its own.

    But perhaps what made her stand out was her presence. It was in a word, electrifying, instantly sending whatever had been watching me running for its life.

    With one glance, I could tell that she had everything on me.

    Skill, strength, speed, endurance...

    This could only be one individual��the woman who posed the greatest threat to me on this Island.

    Diana. The Wonder Woman. A demigod whose father was the king of Olympus, Zeus himself.

    I was meeting a Future Justice League member. One of the founders at that.

    She looked not exactly young but...untempered and inexperienced. This must be years before the DC timeline I was familiar with.

    Shit, does that mean the First World War is still going strong? Or was I even further back in time?

    Hard eyes cast my way, the princess of Themiscyra unsheathed her sword. The blade whistled, the sharp edge glinting in the moonlight.

    "A man."

    Diana muttered in a strange tone, one that lacked the hostility I was expecting.

    While her weapon was pointed my way, I could tell she had no true intent to harm me.

    "What is a man doing in Themiscyra?"

    A little relieved she wasn''t attacking first and asking questions later, I allowed myself to slide onto the ground, back leaning on the trunk of the tree.

    This was as far as I was going. My limbs were locking down. I needed to let my body adjust to the new changes.

    "Listen."

    I called out to Diana, whose wariness was replaced by interest as she came forward, stopping before me.

    The tip of her blade came to rest under my chin.

    "Talk, intruder. Who in Hades are you?"

    She demanded.

    "Watch your words. I witnessed what you did to my sisters, and my patience is wearing thin today."

    "How...scary," I chuckled, unable to take her forced hostility seriously.

    Her threat was adorable at best, ineffective at worst. I''d stared down scarier foes.

    "Tch."

    Gritting her teeth, the tip of her sword nicked my skin, drawing a little blood.

    "Do you even realize the danger you''re in? Men aren''t allowed on Themiscyra. Your presence risks angering the gods and jeopardizing the island''s immortal blessing."

    "Got it."

    And I genuinely did. Nevertheless, that didn''t justify the attempt on my life. Especially when I wasn''t to blame for washing up on their shores.

    The Spider bite was really kicking in. My chest felt all tight, making it a struggle to breathe, and my wrist itched like crazy from where the spider bit me.

    Well, there was only one option left now.

    I raised a hand.

    Diana simply looked on, curious to see what I was planning.

    "You''re different from the others."

    Time to butter up the princess in hopes of survival.

    "You don''t look ready to kill me because of my gender."

    I pushed the tip of the blade to the side, facing her gaze head on.

    "Help me live and I''ll owe you a favor."

    If I remember correctly, she should be curious about the outside world, or as they called it, Man''s world. I could use the promise of knowledge to survive this.

    At least until my body was back to its peak condition.

    Diana gazed down at me contemplatively, as if weighing her options. Before I could grasp her decision, my face collided with the ground, and unconsciousness swept over me.

 Issue #4: X, The Decision.

    (General P.O.V)

    The day after the Harvest Festival, the entire city was abuzz with juicy news.

    It was a beautiful morning, the sun''s glow cast a carpet of light that blanketed the entire Island.

    Within the city confines itself, surrounded by smaller buildings in the military sector, was a large structure built of hardened rock that was adjacent to the public baths.

    It was tall just as it was wide at the bottom.

    This was the colliseum, otherwise known as the Arena of Themiscyra. The purpose for it was self explanatory.

    It was the stage upon which the Amazons honed their skills, and showed them off to the spectators watching from the stands.

    While each and every woman in Themiscyra was a warrior who knew how to fight, a few took it to the extreme. Worshipping violence and the clash of blade against blade.

    These warriors faced a series of challenges, including mounted competitions highlighting their equestrian prowess(horse riding),and combat scenarios featuring individual duels and team skirmishes.

    Demonstrating martial skills, strategic thinking, and teamwork, the games celebrated strength, unity, and sisterhood among the formidable Amazons.

    Right at the entrance to the Arena, was a statue of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and battle.

    A symbol of strength.

    Within the arena itself, the clash of Amazonian blades echoed through the air as skilled warriors participated in spirited sparring.

    Amid the rhythmic dance of combat, whispers spread like wildfire among the warriors.

    "Have you heard the news, Dela?"

    One Amazonian asked between swift strikes with her blade, her brows glowing with slight perspiration.

    "What news could be worthy of interrupting our training Serin?" replied the aforementioned Dela, parrying Serin''s sword attacks with a hint of forcefulness.

    She came here to fight, not listen to gossip.

    Serin received Dela''s blade with her shield, sweeping away the slash. Sparks were produced from the collision.

    Creating distance by jumping backwards, Serin chuckled,

    "My my, what has you so hostile in the morning?"

    "Spill it now, and let me finish what I started �C kicking your sorry ass,"

    Dela declared, blade pointed menacingly at the opposing Gladiator.

    "That''s why you don''t have a lot of fans dear sister. You''re too anti-social."

    Serin pointed out.

    "But to answer you, A man was discovered on the outskirts of Themiscyra yesterday!"

    She went on to reply with a sudden burst of excitement.

    "He was captured and is being held in the dungeons."

    The revelation hung in the air, momentarily freezing the intensity of the sparring, as everyone within earshot heard her.

    Gasps and murmurs swept through the arena.

    Most exchanged confused glances, a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

    "A man in our sacred realm?" questioned a seasoned warrior who had been practicing with her lance on the side.

    She momentarily lowered it, her expression a blend of surprise and suspicion.

    "Yes, and the Queen is gathering members of the council to decide on the course of action. I heard he washed ashore last night."

    explained Serin.

    "Your squad had watch duty during the festival. That''s likely why the news didn''t reach you," she continued to disclose.

    "I heard rumors about it after the Harvest Festival, but I didn''t think any of them were true."

    Another Gladiator added.

    "It doesn''t stop there."

    Serin added, basking in the spotlight from her sisters'' attention.

    "Apparently, he fought Captain Alkyone and her squad...and defeated them all!"

    "What?!"

    "Impossible!"

    "Seriously, Serin, you''re not messing with us, right?" Another Gladiator asked, sounding a bit skeptical.

    "And Captain Alkyone losing? Come on, she''s one of the toughest warriors on the island."

    Dela''s blade halted in the air after she swung it out.

    ''Alkyone and the others lost?''

    "Believe me, why would I make this up?"

    Serin defended herself in a whiny tone.

    "If it weren''t for Princess Diana, who knows what that sneaky man would''ve done to our sisters... probably something naughty."

    A light flush appeared on her cheeks. It was clear she was thinking something perverse.

    "Rise above the murk, sister, and let your thoughts soar with the eagles."

    Dela slapped the back of Serin''s head, touting an unusual saying.

    "Ow. What was that for?"

    The other girl looked affronted.

    "She basically told you to get your mind out of the gutter," another comrade chimed in with a light-hearted chuckle.

    Lost in thought, Dela couldn''t help but muse, ''A man in Themiscyra...''

    A snort, tinged with both uncertainty and humor, escaped her as she tightened her grip around the weapon''s handle.

    ''I wonder, Alkyone. Will this push you? Is this the sign you''ve been waiting for?''

    She levelled an intense gaze at the Senate building in the distance, wondering what the verdict would be.

    Somehow, the peace of the Island unknowingly hinged on the decision the Senate would arrive on.

    ******

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Said Senate building was constructed closer to the Royal Palace and served as the convening point for council members.

    This was a group of individuals charged with positions of power.

    They oversaw different aspects of Themiscyra''s government while also acting as an advisory committee to the Queen.

    Within the grand hall of the Senate, Princess Diana commanded the attention of a circular assembly.

    The assembly comprised 10 council members, each occupying a ministerial seat.

    For instance, the minister of agriculture held a pivotal role in food production, wielding authority second only to the Queen in that area.

    The minister of the Navy, on the other hand, bore the responsibility of safeguarding the seas surrounding Themiscyra and addressing any potential threats to the island.

    Alkyone had previously occupied this position, but was later ousted from the Council due to her violent tendencies, which posed a significant risk to the island.

    Instead of just defending Themiscyra, she had actively targeted any vessel crewed by men that came near the island.

    "Of all people to stumble upon a man, it had to be her,"

    Pillyphus muttered beside the Queen, eyes narrowed at Alkyone standing on the left platform beneath the council.

    The Queen who sat on a throne, elevated above everyone except one, said nothing. Her eyes firmly focused on her daughter.

    "I''m more concerned about Diana than our volatile sister,"

    Hippolyta responded with a touch of worry.

    Her face maintained a passive expression, yet her eyes betrayed the storm of emotions within.

    "You''re thinking she might use this mess as an excuse to leave the island." Pillyphus remarked in a more casual tone.

    "Maybe it wouldn''t be the worst idea."

    "That will never happen, Pillyphus. So don''t joke about it."

    The Queen replied harshly.

    "Members of the Senate,"

    Diana called out, drawing all attention to herself.

    "We aren''t mindless killers. I know many of you may lean toward advocating for pur guest''s death, but I urge you to hear me out."

    It was telling of her social standing that the room remained quiet, despite the sensitive topic at hand.

    "We can''t resort to violence without understanding why he''s here, especially during the Harvest Festival," she emphasized.

    Around the marble table, the council exchanged wary glances, their collective uncertainty palpable.

    Murmurs rose up, some in support of Diana''s view while most remained adamant, choosing to uphold the law.

    Alkyone hid a smile as she left her stand, stepping forward before halting next to Diana.

    They locked eyes, Alkyone sporting a confident smile while Diana''s expression remained inscrutable.

    "You''re too young to understand what it is you speak of."

    Alkyone muttered under her breath, loud enough for only Diana to hear.

    Without waiting to see her reaction, Alkyone turned to the council members.

    "Members of the council, your majesty."

    She bowed her head.

    "Impertinent it might be but I would like to question the princess."

    "Alkyone..."

    Pillyphus stepped forward menacingly.

    There was the correct decorum to follow, and the former council woman was speaking out of turn.

    "No."

    The Queen raised a hand.

    "Let her speak."

    Diana narrowed her eyes at her mother.

    Alkyone didn''t bother hiding the smirk of victory. She didn''t know why the Queen was helping her but she didn''t care. It had worked out in her favor.

    All she wanted was to exact revenge on that arrogant man. She wanted to see him beneath her boots, quaking in fear and begging for Mercy.

    The chances of that happening were slim to none. Her hatred for Kane did not blind her to reality. He was strong. Stronger than her.

    And as a testament to that strength, she had bandages around her torso from Lyra''s body colliding onto her. Breathing carried with it a sharp pain that was going to take some time to heal.

    The impact had been powerful enough to instantly take her out of the fight, coming to only after Diana had arrived.

    But the fire she had seen in his eyes...remained in her memories. That wasn''t a man who would kneel to just anyone.

    That left a second option.

    Convincing the Council to execute him.

    And if she could humble the princess in the process as well, then she would count it as a win. The best part? The law was on her side.

    "Thank you, your majesty."

    Alkyone said, her tone not sounding the least bit genuine.

    Then she turned her focus to Diana.

    "Princess, centuries of peace rest on one golden rule �C no man on Themiscyra,"

    Alkyone declared, everyone in the chamber gripped by her words.

    "It''s a decree from the Gods themselves. Are you proposing we discard the law that has safeguarded our way of life for millennia?"

    "Of course n..."

    Diana tried to refute only to be interrupted.

    "Then it''s decided!"

    Alkyone clapped her hands.

    "We must eradicate this threat before we incur the wrath of the Gods."

    She finished with fervor.

    Normally Alkyone''s appeal would not have fallen on deaf ears, but her reputation was not the best.

    Her views had occasionally had her butt heads with the council before.

    Whatever she said would be taken with a pinch of salt.

    The council while open to her words, seemed almost antagonistic to her. Unwilling to swallow their pride.

    And Alkyone knew this.

    She grit her teeth, deciding to shift her approach. If they wouldn''t listen to reason, then maybe fear would work.

    "He single-handedly took down 16 of our sisters when we attempted to bring him in,"

    Alkyone revealed.

    "He''s dangerously powerful. What if this attack was just the beginning of something more? Something like war from Man''s World."

    Her words injected a sense of urgency into the discourse. And now rampant discussions were breaking out among the Council.

    "She could be right." Said one Council member.

    "The law is clear on the matter. Although Alkyone is the one to hold us accountable. That fact grates me."

    Another chimed in.

    "16 of our sisters, especially from her squad is nothing to scoff at. We should eliminate him immediate."

    The general consensus seemed to be leaning towards the outcome Diana wanted to avoid.

    "Please."

    Diana spoke.

    "Let us not be hasty. I agree with our sister in that he''s strong. But she''s wrong about everything else."

    Alkyone clenched her jaw but wisely chose not to interupt.

    "Alkyone, spill the truth. Encountering a lost soul, your initial reaction was senseless violence, wasn''t it?" Diana challenged, undeterred.

    "Senseless violence?"

    Alkyone repeated with a derisive snort.

    "What is senseless about defending my home?"

    "I saw the battlefield."

    Diana countered, stepping forward.

    "The numerous arrows shot towards a single position suggest they were trying to kill him, not the other way around."

    The looks Alkyone was getting changed. Now they seemed tinged with suspicion.

    "In other words, what Alkyone was doing was not defending our home."

    Diana asserted.

    "Our dear sister was setting a bad precedent for who we are. Warriors, not cruel uncivilized beasts."

    The Minister of Agriculture, sensing the division in the room, sighed.

    "If he did indeed harm our people and is as dangerous as you say, then no amount of discussion will change the result."

    "I agree."

    The current minister of Justice pitched in.

    "In light of this information, that is the only option left. Death by execution."

    A few more council members supported the sentiment.

    ''Your move, princess.''

    Alkyone thought with a malicious grin.

    "Execution without a fair trial?"

    Diana asked in disbelief.

    "That is completely unethical! Mother please!"

    Amid the mounting discord, Queen Hippolyta, the silent observer, maintained her regal composure. The Senate, now visibly divided, awaited the queen''s wisdom.

    Seizing the moment, Diana presented an alternative perspective, urging the assembly to view the situation through a different lens.

    "Yes, the man is dangerous, a seasoned warrior,"

    Diana acknowledged.

    "Yet, he had the opportunity to kill our sisters but instead tried to escape. That''s how I caught him. Trying to flee for his life."

    She implored the Senate.

    "Perhaps it is time Themiscyra opened its borders for relations with the outside world,"

    Diana proposed, sparking even more pandemonium in the Council room.

    Voices clashed in a cacophony of disagreement, the fervor escalating.

    "Preposterous!"

    "Even for the Princess that is too immature!"

    "Open our kingdom to the filth of man-kind?"

    "Silence," Queen Hippolyta''s authoritative command cut through the tumult, restoring order.

    The queen turned her head left, to the only other seat, level with her own.

    The one occupied by the High Priestess, the Queen''s religious and magical advisor.

    She served as a spiritual guide, conducted sacred ceremonies, interpreted prophecies for divine guidance, preserved sacred knowledge, mediated disputes with wisdom, and acted as a conduit between the Amazonians and the gods.

    She was Queen Hippolyta''s messenger with the Gods. And her counsel was never taken lightly.

    "What does the Oracle make of all this?"

    Queen Hippolyta inquired, her eyes reflecting the weight of the decisions that lay ahead.

    The High Priestess wore ethereal blue robes with golden sacred symbols on intricate Amazonian fabric.

    The attire served to reflect her spiritual role.

    She was adorned with ceremonial jewelry and a black headdress, with a veil that covered her face.

    Only a pair of glowing green eyes could be seen pulsing through the veil.

    She looked more gypsy than a warrior.

    And even the air around her felt charged with a certain godly aura. To complete her look was a large Staff held in her right hand.

    The staff lightly glowed within the chamber.

    The entire Senate went silent, awaiting the High Priestess'' words.

    The Oracle''s wisdom would illuminate the path forward for Themiscyra.

    And with a voice as light as a feather yet broader than the ocean, she spoke.

    "Killing of any kind is forbidden during the week following the Themosphoria."

    She paused before continuing.

    "The man who has touched our shores stands apart from Herakles and his horde. He belongs to a new era, outside the bounds of our age-old immortal grudge."

    "And yet," Her tone changed, growing heavier.

    "The law must be observed. I believe this gives him equal right to life and death. With the choice...resting on the Council''s shoulders and you my Queen."

    The earlier arguments were now quelled as attention went back to the Queen.

    ''What will you decide mother...'' Diana thought in worry.

    "I see."

    Queen Hippolyta mused, nodding her head at the high priestess.

    "Once more I appreciate your counsel dear sister."

    "I merely perform my duties, your Majesty."

    The High Priestess bowed.

    Pillyphus raised her eyebrows at the resolute look that fell upon the Queen.

    ''I guess she has arrived at a decision.'' The General of the army thought.

    Queen Hippolyta rose gracefully, her majestic presence eclipsing that of the High Priestess.

    "I have reached a decision."

 Issue #5: X, The Incarcerated.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    It was cold where I woke up. The slow drip of water falling in drops above my head echoed out.

    I sniffed instinctively.

    Mmh. It was also moldy and dark. But my eyes were somehow quickly adjusting to the darkness.

    "Huh. Thought I''d be dead."

    A whisper escaped my lips.

    I blinked, finally able to gaze around clearly.

    For starters it was damp. The aforementioned mold covered the edges of a cell with a layer of green.

    The cell was built upon by stacking boulders on top of each other.

    From close by, the roar of an underground river made the boulders tremble and hum.

    I see, that was where the water drops were coming from.

    That was only half of the cell''s design.

    Iron bars, rusted with age Obstructed my front, leaving me confined in a dark, wet cell with chains attached to my wrists.

    Not the best of circumstances.

    Though I wonder, why let me live? The only reason I could think of, was that my gamble had paid of. I had preyed on Diana''s need and succeeded.

    "Thank you."

    My voice resonated across the cell.

    A moment passed. My chains clanged as I sat up straighter, facing Her.

    Her scent was just too noticeable now. Besides my eyes could trace the curve of her chin.

    "You said I was different."

    Diana replied coolly.

    "What made you think so?"

    I narrowed my eyes. She was different somehow.

    Colder perhaps. Though that doesn''t mean much when I''ve only talked to her once.

    "The fact that I''m alive says it all."

    I responded, earning a single blink from her.

    "It was but a mistake."

    She unsheathed her sword.

    "One that I can rectify immediately."

    My chains rattled.

    "Why are you really here, Princess? You seem to have questions."

    I told her bluntly.

    "Ask whatever you want."

    Bam.

    Diana grabbed the bars of the cell, causing the sound to echo out loudly.

    I winced in pain as my sensitive hearing having been enhanced by the Spider bite, made the experience painful.

    "Who. Are. You?!"

    She demanded.

    "I need to know who it is I defend. You promise me the outside world and the allure got the better of me, I admit. But I need more than that. Who are you really?"

    She was...heated.

    But then again, I cannot fault her. She has likely defied her people''s rules and gone against the masses to keep me alive.

    It makes sense she would look for a reason to make it all worth it.

    I sighed, snapping off the chains holding my wrists by pulling on them lightly.

    The chain links fell to the ground, ringing as the metal struck stone.

    Diana watched it all without a word. She had seen my strength first hand. This wasn''t surprising to her.

    I casually delved into my trouser pocket, sighing when I failed to find my packet of cigarettes. I never lit one, only placing the cig on my lips without igniting it.

    I ran my hand through my head.

    "My name is Kane. Code name, X. I''m a harboiled Contract Killer who got stranded on your Island by mistake. I think our craft clashed at sea and I was the only survivor."

    That was the most about me I''d ever told anyone. Surprisingly enough all of it was true.

    The bars in Diana''s grip twisted as she slowly exerted force.

    "A hardboiled contract killer?"

    She questioned, studying my face for deception.

    "Hey, it pays the bills."

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    I shrugged before falling silent, matching her gaze with a bored look.

    "Okay, I believe you."

    She said, letting go of the bars and stepping back.

    My brows rose up. That was fast.

    "Now, let''s discuss your situation."

    Her demeanor changed.

    "A man in Themiscyra warrants immediate execution. But luckily, killing is explicitly forbidden following the week after The Thesmophoria. Which means you have about 7 days until the council decides on your execution."

    Execution? That''s not very nice.

    "Can''t you guys let me go? We can even make a deal. I can kill someone for you and we can sweep all this under the rag."

    I offered.

    Diana shook her head.

    "No. The Law is universal. The only way out of this is through the Council''s vote and my mother''s decision. I''ll use this week to plead your case."

    She smiled.

    "Fear not Kane of man''s world. We Amazonians are proud and valiant. But also merciful and kind."

    An image of a raving bald Amazon came to mind. Yeah...nah.

    I held up my hands.

    "I can break out of here at any time. You saw what I did to the chains. What makes you think I''ll sit around and wait to die?"

    She wasn''t making sense.

    Unexpectedly, a grin spread across Diana''s face.

    "Remember what you said when I spared your life? ''Help me live, and I''ll owe you a favor.'' A peculiar way to phrase it, but I assume that was a promise?"

    I tilted ny head, staring at her with mockery.

    "I kill for money. That essentially makes me a deplorable human being. What makes you think I''ll honor something as cheap as a promise?"

    Diana''s grin widened even further.

    "That''s precisely it. I''d wager on the Styx that your word holds weight. Since you owe me, I propose you stay here for the next seven days until I can clean up this mess."

    Strangely enough, my initial thought wasn''t to refuse.

    Seven days would give me enough prep time to plan out my escape. Diana had merely extended my death. That I was sure of.

    I was willing to bet on the Styx that I didn''t possess Steve Trevor''s plot armor.

    So trusting on things working out or Diana simply handling it was not going to cut it.

    ''Six days to get better at handling whatever new abilities I had. Then on the last day...I''m bursting out regardless of what the verdict turns out to be.''

    "I will need food. And water. Lots of both. If I''m going to die, at least I''ll go out fully fed."

    I made a stipulation, one that had her blinking strangely.

    "Of course. I shall organize it. Some of my sisters agree with me."

    Diana informed me with a nod.

    The food was actually for nutrition during my week long stay. I planned on using that time well.

    "Oh and one more thing...can you transfer me to a bigger cell?"

    I needed something spacious for training.

    Diana stared at me sternly.

    "I trust you will keep your word, And not hurt any of my sisters? "

    "Yes."

    I responded after a short pause. As long as they didn''t try to kill me first.

    She sighed in relief.

    "Then I''ll shall handle everything you need."

    Her steps faded away as she left, leaving me alone to ruminate on my thoughts.

    I stared down at my fists. The muscles were jutting with veins. And my fingers...they felt strong enough to rip apart steel.

    I jabbed them onto the floor, easily boring five perfect holes onto the stone ground.

    My entire body sang with power. If the dregs of energy I was feeling before were like a car battery, I was now connected to the fucking power grid.

    Strength pulsed within every inch of my skin.

    Like an electric charge, crackling up my spine, feeding into my musculature.

    Diana knew I hadn''t lied when I said I could break out if I wanted. Fortunately for her, I wouldn''t go back on my word.

    In addition, another problem had to be handled first. I needed to secure a way out of the Island.

    Without the means to high tail it, even if I left the Cell, I would still be stuck on the Island.

    Mmmh. Maybe I could swim back to civilization? But could I handle the sea at its worst and survive?

    Themiscyra was hidden in the Bermuda Triangle and the weather patterns here were crazy.

    Let''s put that plan under last resort.

    In the meantime, the objective hadn''t changed. It was all about survival.

    Diana had informed me on the Senate meeting, and how I had six days until they made a verdict.

    The seventh would technically be the day of my execution. Her promise only held until just before that.

    7 days to my death.

    6 days to my escape.

    I like those odds. Beats running around a strange island with women chasing after you...actually, that doesn''t sound so bad.

    Focus.

    In relation to my stronger body and the abilities I had,

    A weird blue box had appeared a few seconds after I had woken up in the cell.

    Throughout my talk with Diana, the blue panel had remained, relegated to the corners of my vision. It felt easily accessible. Connected to my intent.

    I could chose to ignore it. Which is what I had been doing during my conversation with Diana.

    But now. Now it was time to figure out what it was.

    My new immediate goal was to new goal was to grow self sufficient enough that I could take out Diana.

    She was my new peak.

    I flexed my hand, feeling the sensation of strength in that single limb.

    With this new power...escaping wouldn''t be a problem.

    I bet with careful planning, I could even take her on. She wasn''t the Wonder Woman of the future yet but of everyone, Diana posed the most threat to me.

    I raised a finger and pulled on the strange interface.

    The blue panel unfolded into a row of structured texts and symbols, a caricature of my own body displayed before me.

    My entire musculature seemed to have increased in proportionate size by about 20%.

    My initial uninspiring 6''0 was now 6''2. Now that I mention it, my clothes felt tighter and constricting on the shoulders.

    An effect of the Spider bite?

    Luckily I had answers before me,

    X~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X

    Spider-Man X.

    MILES MORALES STRAIN: 100% d.n.a INTERGRATION.

    Abilities unlocked:

    Super strength.

    Spider sense.

    Web-creation.

    Wall-crawling.

    Enhanced Healing.

    Enhanced Senses.

    Enhanced Stamina.

    Enhanced Durability.

    Enhanced Flexibility.

    Bio-Energy Manipulation.

    X~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X

    That''s kind of bare... Miles had even crazier abilities like Venom Blast, which let him produce a burst of electric charged energy to blast away enemies.

    Or camouflage, where he could erase his presence from view by altering the pigmentation of his skin and patterns of his costume, effectively blending into his environment.

    So why didn''t I have access to those abilities?

    Wait. That last entry on the panel. Bio-Energy manipulation.

    Could it be that those abilities were linked with bio-energy somehow?

    If that was the case, then I was glad. It meant, I wouldn''t be confined to taking Miles'' path alone.

    Right off the bat, I was loving this power.

    HOWEVER. I resolved myself to only touch upon it after I had mastered Spider-Man''s other abilities.

    Which meant, wall crawling (luckily I had experience with this), managing my strength, finetuning Spider Sense, (how the hell will I train this) and lastly web-creation.

    The last had a lot of potential to be utilized. I was missing my efficient rifle, so maybe this could serve as a replacement until I got an actual replacement.

    So this was real. The dead spider still in my pocket had really given me abilities.

    Now that I wasn''t concerned with my immediate death and could think on my situation, I found myself...excited.

    Excited for what this world could offer me. A chance to achieve a long forgotten dream.

    I cut off that train of thought. My first objective was leaving Themiscyra.

    With the first step towards that goal, being training and getting a handle on these abilities.

    Without a moment''s hesitation, I dropped to the floor and seamlessly began a set of push-ups.

    I had superpowers now. But control of my body had been thrown out.

    I needed to adjust to my increased physical parameters. My profession demanded a delicate touch.

    In comparison, right now I was like a toddler with the strength of a Gorilla. Uncoordinated and explosive.

    Not a good combination.

    In 6 days. I was going to escape. I had to be in full control of my new powers before then.

    Only three days into my imprisonment, the Island found itself abuzz with more big news.

    It begun with the presence of another man on the Island. A man by the name of Steve Trevor.

 Issue #6: X, Realigned.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    I didn''t immediately delve into training.

    Despite the implied simplicity of the whole affair, one needed to not only prepare the body but the mind.

    Awakening new and powerful abilities was all well and good, but without the correct mindset, synergizing them with the rest of my skillset would be an issue.

    Which is why, I started off the training montage with meditation. Or rather tried...

    "Wake up prisoner! It''s Chow-time."

    The bars of my cell cried out with a metallic clang just as I closed my eyes.

    The loud noise disrupted my concentration, prompting an annoyed sigh as I opened them.

    ''Who''s the brat with short blue hair, glaring at me and holding a tray?''

    Said blue-haired girl, aside from being short, was also young��certainly younger than Diana. She appeared to be no older than 18.

    She was standing on the other side of my cell, dressed in the only non-combat clothes I had seen so far on an Amazon; a simple white Chiton.

    Her brows were scrunched up, cheeks puffed out as her glare was dialled up to 11. Why was she so mad?

    I called her a brat out loud, didn''t I? Oh well.

    "You''re too noisy. Leave."

    I dismissed, ignoring her while trying to regain the lost focus.

    Meditation needed concentration. And noise was a chief distraction. Too much static and it wouldn''t activate.

    Forcing it would only result in getting bored or falling asleep.

    I winced as something metallic was slid inside the cell, right under the bars. The noise made me grit my teeth in irritation.

    She was still here.

    Why?

    I opened my eyes a second time, meeting her gaze head on.

    She kept shooting me this intense look for a while�� props for the effort.

    But, after a 20-second stare-down, she caved and looked away, giving a little petulant snort.

    "Be thankful the Princess decided to spare your worthless life."

    She remarked in a scathing tone.

    Oh. So that''s why she was being annoying.

    I narrowed my gaze at her, making my irritation clear.

    Her body went ramrod stiff and she gulped. Without another word, she turned around and walked away hurriedly.

    Peace at last.

    Now, where was I?

    Meditation had a...ah...

    The scent of meat reached my nostrils, and I breathed in deeply, savoring it.

    My stomach loudly growled, making it''s eagerness known.

    Unintentionally, my eyes fell on the tray the girl had brought for me.

    It held a chunk of meat, a piece of bread and a goblet filled to the brim with wine- beckoning me.

    Food. Not exactly first class but the meat would be good for the body, and the bread would give me a burst of energy needed to truly push myself.

    I had been running low on energy since being stranded on the Island.

    And while I could push myself and meditate without eating, there was simply no reason to.

    Meditation thrived in the stability of the mind after all.

    I pulled the tray my way and took a sip of the wine, sloshing it around my mouth, checking for poison.

    Diana might have fought to keep me alive, but that sentiment was not shared among her people. It was evident in their blatant hostility.

    It seemed probable that someone might attempt to poison my drink. Why wait for 7 days when eliminating a target could be as simple as lacing their food with poison?

    I swallowed the mouthful of wine.

    Yup it was poisoned alright.

    I grabbed the bread and took a large hungry bite, sighing in content as I swallowed.

    Hunger was one of the few things I despised. It made you weak. The minute I get some semblance of true power, I was doing away with these types of weaknesses.

    The poison was in the bread too. Less than in the wine, yet lethal enough to kill. Luckily the meat remained unspoiled.

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Aconite also known as Wolfsbane has a bitter taste that would have given away the ruse on the first bite. With the wine, they tried to cover up the taste with sweetness.

    Knowing all this, it would seem counter productive that I would still devour the poison. The reason for that was simple.

    Since birth, my metabolism was trained to adapt to various poisons.

    Aconite was one of them.

    I cleared out the tray pretty quickly, my hunger demanded no less.

    The metal used in making the tray did grab my attention briefly. It was incredibly dense and made a dull thunk when struck.

    It resembled the metal used in crafting their lances. I thought that was exclusive to weapons.

    I guess not. Still...

    "How are they able to refine Osmium into a workable ore?"

    I wondered out loud, turning the tray over; It was inscribed with weird art and symbols on the edges and bottom.

    Osmium stood out as the most resilient naturally occurring metal.

    If Themiscyra could refine and utilize it to make not only weapons but something as mundane as a tray, then the Island of Women might have something valuable for me.

    Perhaps being stranded here wasn''t as much of a disadvantage as I had initially believed. How enlightening.

    Back to meditation,

    It had a variety of uses, most of which I was trained in.

    For instance, self-Hypnosis.

    With limited time to naturally adapt to the more esoteric aspects of my newfound power, my only recourse was to hypnotize that control into myself.

    When I was 12, I was injected with a drug that robbed all my senses. From sight, taste, sensation, smell to something as innocuous as balance.

    It was a component of my graduation, you see. The aim was to produce a proficient Operative, capable of accomplishing any assigned mission in any environment or condition.

    And what better way to train such an Assassin but by robbing them of all their natural advantages, giving them a single blunt knife and throwing them in a pit to survive against other Assassins in training?

    For 2 weeks, I was forced to learn how to listen without listening, see without seeing, rely on the environment and most of all, sense killing intent.

    Within a fortnite, we were pushed to the brink of true despair.

    I killed and was almost killed in return. My comrades turned into enemies.

    I learned the unadulterated meaning of fear...but most importantly, robbed of all my senses, I became aware of my own body.

    An ability that I honed and trained over the course of a decade, pushing it to the peak until it metamorphosized into something close to superhuman.

    It evolved into Proprioception.

    Put simply, Proprioception is the ability to sense your body''s position, movement, and orientation without relying on visual cues, providing an internal map for spatial awareness.

    The ability I was trying to employ was an advanced application of both Self Hypnosis and Proprioception.

    The purpose being to realign my mind with my body, taking the first step to full control of my new abilities.

    My heart thrummed low within my chest, sending echoes of palpitations and power throughout my entire body.

    The hands laid limblessly on my knees, back straight and eyes closed as I ignored the outside world, focusing only on my breath.

    The external mattered less than what was happening internally.

    Years of training finally paid of.

    I found myself in a familiar darkness.

    The veil that acts as the bridge between the conscious and sub-conscious.

    A darkness that is the denial of sensation, the denial of blood rushing through the veins. Of my lungs inflation upon each inhale and the subsequent exhale.

    Eventually, everything faded away until the darkness was what remained.

    Within it, a light bloomed from afar.

    A single string that connected my mental self with my physical one.

    Oddly enough, the strand resembled a spider''s silk filament, stretching from one end of the darkness to the other.

    I reached out with a tendril of will, touching upon the filament. Immediately the whole thing started thrumming.

    No, that is inaccurate. It didn''t start. It had always been thrumming with vibrations since the spider''s bite. An indication of the unstable nature of these powers.

    I dove deeper into understanding the string and felt myself fall into the ebb and flow of sourceless thoughts, insticts and primal urges.

    Some of which were mine...others a bleeding effect from...somewhere.

    The string was connecting not only my mind and body but something else. Something massive and beyond comprehension.

    Something I resolved to investigate in the future, when I didn''t have the threat of execution hanging over my head.

    That said, I had achieved the first step to Realigning my mind with my body: touching upon the link between the two.

    Now for the next step, Self-Hypnosis.

    {What am I? What are these abilities? And how should I use them?}

    I projected the words through the darkness, plaintive, soft and most of all questioning.

    It wasn''t long before I got a response.

    {You are a Spider-Man. You shall change the world. To Punish, to create, to destroy, to avenge and most importantly, to Save}

    My sub-conscious echoed back at me from the darkness, giving an answer to all my queries.

    Save? Create? I mean I understand Punish, avenge and destroy but the other two were a different story.

    ''I guess I''ll have to learn...how to save. And create. Hard to when all my life I''ve only been destroying...''

    And yet, a smile worked it''s way onto my face. Those words came from my Sub-conscious. It was what I truly wanted. My true unfiltered purpose and desire.

    "I see now."

    I muttered in understanding and acceptance, opening my eyes after what felt like a long time.

    It was no longer morning. The light filtering through the bars of my cell from above the staircase was feeble and dim.

    The tray was also missing, the guards must have taken it away during my Meditation.

    Speaking of which, I looked down at my body, seeking out changes.

    The first thing I noticed was that my clothes clung to my skin like they were glued on.

    Not only that but I couldn''t get up. My butt seemed to have been fused onto the rough ground.

    "I know what this is," I exclaimed, pushing my glasses up.

    It was how Spider-Man crawled on walls.

    By using Microscopic hairs on his skin, to create an electromagnetic field that enabled him to stick to any surface by interacting with the molecules.

    The same thing was happening here, I was sub-consciously using Wall sticking, and by merely willing it, could activate or deactivate it.

    I was free to move my butt again. Yay.

    I raised my palm to my eyes, attempting to identify the fine hairs.

    They were small enough that even with my enhanced sight, simply seeing them was difficult.

    And yet, I could perceive a certain charge across my entire body. It warped and wobbled above my skin. An attraction...and something more.

    I pressed the palm onto the ground, willing for it to be stuck.

    Unsurprisingly, I couldn''t pull it away. But I knew that already, now I wanted to see how strong the adhesive force was.

    With a bit of force, I pulled my hand up, tearing away a sizable chunk of the floor around my palm. It clung stubbornly, refusing to fall despite gravity.

    In conclusion, pretty strong.

    The chunk made a dull sound impacting the floor as I stopped sticking it onto me.

    I watched how the field around me acted in relation to that chunk of the floor and filed it away for latter.

    Seems like the Self-Hypnotism worked.

    That was one power down.

    I wouldn''t have to worry about loss of control anymore.

    My only gripe was the confined space of my cell. If not for that, I would have given wall crawling a shot.

    Although the food arrived, the move to a larger cell, providing more workspace, hadn''t happened. And I was yet to hear feedback from Diana.

    Politics most likely.

    I jumped to my feet. Okay, the only thing I could do was work with what I had.

    I looked around the cell, studying it''s structure. As stated before, the cell was constructed through stacking multiple boulders together.

    At least that was the case for the back portion of the wall.

    I rapped my knuckles across one such boulder. The sound reverberated through the entire cell.

    A grin worked its way onto my face. Maybe I didn''t need a bigger space to train in.

    Maybe all I had to do was get creative.

    *******

    Comment whether you''d like even more in depth analysis with his powers.

 Issue #7: X, The Men.

    (General P.O.V)

    A few miles away from Themiscyra, the German fighter plane, a Fokker V.4, struggled against the relentless Atlantic winds, trailing smoke in its wake.

    Within the cockpit, the propeller''s hum competed with urgent beeps and alarms, creating a chaotic symphony amid the already perilous situation.

    "Command, this is Zipper! Do you read?!"

    The pilot of the Aircraft, one Steve Trevor, frantically called out.

    Static answered him from the other side, mocking his attempts at communication.

    He was far off grid and the region he was flying through was known for its volatile weather conditions. Not that Steve was aware of that.

    He hadn''t had time to plot a proper course while escaping from, and later defeating two enemy fighter planes in hot pursuit.

    But, he hadn''t made it out unscathed.

    "I''m experiencing catastrophic engine failure, and the fuselage is taking a beating!"

    Steve''s shout echoed through the radio, desperation evident in his futile control checks.

    The harsh truth sank in �C he was trapped in an aircraft, suspended above an infinite stretch of blue. The ocean extended endlessly, with no solid ground in sight.

    Even a seasoned pilot like Steve Trevor found little recourse to salvage the dire situation.

    He was in a word, fucked.

    The plane''s whine intensified, foretelling an inevitable plunge into the ocean.

    Then it dipped nose first out of the air, falling towards the water.

    He was out of time.

    500 meters...

    Steve, resigned, leaned back, hands still gripping the control stick. Albeit weakly.

    He removed his oxygen mask, revealing a handsome face with light stubble and blue eyes- reflecting frustration.

    "I guess this is it."

    300 meters...

    As impending doom loomed, Steve''s hope lessened and his worry deepened.

    His life mattered little, but the vital war-ending information he carried would be lost in the Atlantic with him.

    That was his only regret.

    200 meters...

    150 meters...

    Barely 100 meters above the ocean, an ember of hope flickered with the emergence of an island on the horizon.

    Initially, he considered it a mirage. Yet, the level of detail ruled out any illusion. This was his lifeline. His salvation.

    "Yes. Yes! Thank God!"

    The renewed hope powered his actions as he pulled on the Control stick with a powerful jerk.

    "Come on baby...come on..."

    He pleaded, gradually levelling the Fokker V.4 before steering towards the newfound sanctuary, an Island he would find out was entirely populated by women.

    (The Coliseum)

    (A few minutes prior)

    "Alkyone! Face Me!"

    Diana valiantly marched through the entrance to the arena, hair tied up in a warrior''s knot, spear in hand and a shield on the other.

    To top it off, she wore a bronze chest plate, shin guards and a sword that was strapped to her hips.

    "I declare right of combat!"

    Diana announced, surprising the Amazons in the training sector of the Arena.

    "The princess looks mad."

    One of them commented, stopping the spar with her opponent.

    "She''s making a beeline for the Captain. Heard they had a spat at the Senate meeting," her sparring partner informed.

    "About what?"

    Another Amazon jumped in with a question that had her sisters looking at her strangely.

    "Have you been living under a rock?"

    The first Amazon asked.

    "It''s obvious if you think about it. Alkyone has a deep hatred for all things- Man. Meanwhile, the Princess is the closest thing this Island will get to a Saint. Both personalities are bound to clash."

    A brief silence settled as they watched Diana ultimately arrive before an amused Alkyone, surrounded by her squad.

    Arissa and Lyra stepped forward to block the Princess''s way.

    "Princess, is there something we can do for you?" Lyra inquired with a hint of hostility.

    "Move it."

    Diana shoved her out of the way, only for Lyra to come back with a right hook.

    Diana swiftly extended her hand, employing the shield on her left to deflect the punch, and the spear in her right to snag Lyra''s leg, bringing her down to the ground.

    Arissa found the tip of Diana''s spear pointed her way before she couldn''t intervene. It was a warning.

    Despite that, Diana''s eyes were locked on Alkyone.

    "Fight me, you coward. Or is poison the only way you know to handle your problems?"

    Diana goaded.

    Whispers and murmurs rose up from the gathering crowd.

    The bald Amazon narrowed her eyes, the whistle of a blade leaving its sheath heralding her response,

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    "I do not appreciate the accusation Princess. Do you have proof for your slander?"

    Diana stopped aiming the spear at Arissa, switching the target to Alkyone.

    "I do not."

    Diana replied coolly.

    "But everyone on the Island is trained to recognize Wolfsbane by smell alone. Your attempts to poison Kane when the Senate decided to spare..."

    "Spare him?"

    Alkyone interrupted, pointing her own sword at Diana.

    "Don''t make me laugh. The only reason he''s still alive is because of a technicality."

    "So you admit it then?"

    Diana shot back, the two of them circling each other.

    Alkyone didn''t immediately answer. Instead she reached out a hand towards Arissa, who strapped a shield on her Captain''s left arm.

    "I admit to nothing."

    Alkyone eventually responded.

    "Anyone in the Island could have done it. Besides it sounds to me as if the poison failed, so what are you trying to accomplish by antagonizing me?"

    Diana clenched her jaw.

    "For you to answer for your crime. The Senate explicitly forbade any deaths in the week after the Harvest Festival. You broke that rule."

    "A stupid rule! You''re the only one on this entire Island who empathizes with that animal!"

    Alkyone bit out heatedly.

    "On top of that, your baseless accusations are a crime on their own."

    "Not everyone shares your ideals, Alkyone," Diana retorted sharply.

    "And my accusations are not baseless. Only the Captains and above have sufficient access to the Palace kitchen. Among them, you stand out with the biggest motive. I know it was you. You know it was you. So who are you trying to fool, sister?"

    "Tch. That blue haired brat must have talked."

    Lyra said from Arissa''s side, rubbing her rump.

    "I''m going to kill her."

    Naturally, Arissa knew who her friend was talking about. Bulma. A girl that had been rescued from a slave ship passing too close to Themiscyra.

    That was a few decades ago. The magic of the Island took effect, turning Bulma immortal as well, ensuring that her aging process was slowed down.

    Despite that, Arissa kept quiet, eyes fixed on the tense stand off between two great Amazon warriors.

    "Ha."

    Alkyone scoffed, a mocking smirk on her face. The ruse was up, but she wasn''t going to confess. She would rather die.

    "Then prove yourself right through your weapon, dear Sister."

    "Gladly."

    A humorless grin stretched out across Diana''s face.

    "Should we stop them?"

    Izah asked with concern.

    "Too late."

    Arissa spoke up.

    "Besides...this was always bound to happen sooner or later."

    She added cryptically.

    "I shall teach you manners in place of your mother, Princess."

    Alkyone promised nastily.

    "This is an arena, a battlefield. Royalty holds no ground. I won''t go easy on you."

    Diana twirled her spear. Unlike her opponent, she had little to say,

    "And I shall beat you to an inch of your life."

    The princess resolved.

    They locked eyes, and in perfect sync, lunged toward each other without a word.

    Only to come to a grounding halt as something tore through the skies of Themiscrya, droning and trailing dark smoke behind it''s yellow airframe.

    SCRREEEEEEEE!!!

    "What in Hades was that?"

    Lyra voiced the question on everyone''s mind.

    "Its his doing! That disgusting man has become our Doom! He called the God''s wrath down us!"

    Izah shouted in trepidation.

    The warriors freaked out. The God''s wrath was akin to nature''s fury; Zeus was basically a thunderstorm in human form.

    The sputtering object passed above Athena''s statue, over the palace, on its way to the jungle behind Themiscrya.

    Crushing through trees and vegetation, a path of destruction was left in its wake.

    The sound was loud enough to reach the Arena, prompting a wave of urgency.

    Diana and Alkyone stepped back from each other.

    "This is not over."

    The Princess informed the Captain, turning to walk away.

    "Poison his food again and you won''t have to deal with me, you''ll deal with him."

    It was telling of the impact Kane had left on Alkyone, as the Captain''s face paled considerably.

    Diana crouched, before pushing herself off the ground in a mighty leap that cracked the Arena floor.

    Her figure sailed through the air, clearing the walls of the city completely.

    "Get me a horse."

    Alkyone ordered, staring off into the general direction the Princess had taken.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    "1201...1202...1203...1204..."

    I counted out, barely straining despite the huge boulder on my back, stuck there through adhesive force.

    3 days had passed.

    3 very productive days.

    "...1205...1206..1207..."

    For starters, you might be wondering where the boulder came from.

    The sunlight streaming in from a sizable hole at the back of the cell solved that mystery.

    The fact that the boulder was roughly the same shape and size as the hole was NOT a coincidence.

    The next thing I focused on after Wall crawling, (I need an appropriate name for this skill, wall crawling was a woefully inadequate description) was Strength training.

    Or rather Strength testing, as it wasn''t a question of how much I could lift, push or pull.

    That had to be in the range of a tonne and above.

    The boulder on my back was probably half that and yet, I barely felt it''s weight.

    "...1210...1213..."

    Initially, I had started off slow. Squats, finger pushups, one handed push ups, lunges and a few more basic exercises.

    In just 10 minutes, I figured out these bodyweight exercises were basically useless. No matter how much effort I put in, there was zero burn.

    My body was limber, powerful and flexible. Add a ''too'' prefix before each of those words.

    Issues with my control were more evident when I tried to perform a burpee, only to end up with the top of my head spearing into the ceiling.

    Of course that''s when the blue haired shorty decided to bring me lunch.

    The only thing that saved me from being seen in such an embarrassing state were my enhanced senses.

    Even with my head stuck in layers of stone, (the cell was built underground along a cliff, with the back facing the wild jungle behind Themiscrya) I was surprised at just how acute my hearing was.

    I picked up on her footsteps and heartrate when she was 500 meters away, prompting me to dislodge myself and plug the very sizable hole in my cell.

    Thus, I avoided shame upon my cool name. And suspicion as well. Them finding out I could destroy my cell anytime I wanted could impact my escape plans.

    After our first interaction, the blue haired girl change her attitude toward me.

    While she seemed cold and distant, there was a bit of fear mixed in whenever we interacted now.

    Like usual, she slid the tray of food under the bars of the cell before silently turning to leave.

    This time, I had other plans.

    "Wait."

    My voice made her halt, shoulders tensing.

    "What is your name?"

    She sighed in relief, before turning to face me with all the petulance of a teenager.

    "Bulma. Not that I''ll let a filthy man adress me that way. It''s Guard to you, prisoner! Hmmph!"

    Then she stalked away. Hurriedly.

    I snorted.

    Bulma huh? She couldn''t be an Amazon. I was yet to see any other Amazons with blue hair.

    Besides that, I found the similarity between her and another fictional character to be almost uncanny.

    Bulma.

    She could be useful for my escape if I cultivated her into an asset. The only constraint was time. There were only a few days left until the verdict was passed.

    I needed to have a way out of Themiscyra secured before then.

    Jumping to my feet from my meditative position, I walked towards the back wall, grabbing a portion of it(the boulder) through the finger grooves I had bored into its corners.

    I always made sure to reseal the hole before anyone could see it.

    The massive rock groaned as I pulled it off the wall. It was wider than my torso and made a dull sound when placed on the floor of the cell.

    Now then, time to get back to the...

    I stiffened as my ears managed to grab a new sound. One that sounded especially familiar.

    The source of the sound seemed to be...outside...

    Through the hole on my cell, I saw a burning object descend from the skies, wrecking the treeline before it dug a groove through the jungle, stopping a few hundred feet away from the River.

    Flocks of birds escaped the area and through my enhanced sight, I was able to catch a glimpse of what the object was.

    A plane.

    This came with a lot of possibilities.

    And complicated things as well. The only thing I knew for certain, was that it was an opportunity.

    "Well, well."

    I muttered, moving closer to the hole.

    "Things just got interesting."

    The distance from my cell to the crash sight was far, but closer to me than the city''s garrison.

    The only ones who could get there faster than I could would be the Island patrols or Diana if she decided to get serious.

    Flight didn''t appear to be among her powers (given the noisy landing when we first met), but her Demigod lineage likely granted her the ability to leap considerable distances..

    That said...I had an ace up my sleeve.

    The one thing staple to all Spiders.

    Throwing one final look at my cell, I turned around, taking a running stance.

    In a smooth dash that transitioned into a dive through the hole, I was plunging through the air, wind ruffling my bare torso and my cell behind me.

    This was it.

    A surge of excitement ran through me as I curled two of my middle fingers into my palm, forming an iconic gesture with my hand.

    Barely an instant later, a long and thick strand of webbing shot out of my wrist in a fast motion, disaappearing into the jungle.

    A smile worked its way onto my face. I could do it as well. I could create webs.

    A joyous howl threatened to escape me as I did more of that, shooting out another web and attaching it to one to the branches of a tall tree.

    My body was jerked through the air, swinging through the jungle, with the initial free fall adding to the velocity and speed.

    The ground and trees passed by me in a blur.

    Then at the apex of the swing I let go, relishing in the brief instant of freedom, where I was suspended in the nothingness, only to flip and come hurtling down even faster.

    Another web and I was be saved from the fall, my muscles strong and flexible enough that the border line contortionist motions felt natural.

    I was making good time at the pace I was going, ensuring I would reach the crash sight well before anyone else.

 Issue #8: Encountered.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Webswinging is criminally underrated.

    I know I know.

    There is little [T]ruth to that statement but I just couldn''t help it.

    I know Parkour. Had learned and trained under the very best free movement masters the organization could afford.

    But this...this was something else. Different and exhilarating.

    Like the rush you get when riding a roller coaster for the first time.

    You had to experience it yourself to understand the feeling.

    The bio-cable (web), I was swinging on, grew taut as it was stretched to the limit of if it''s elasticity.

    I let go, flipping my form before extending my right hand out.

    There was a slight pressure on my wrists, and then a white shadow, barely visible from a far, shot out of my spinneret.

    The result being a bio-cable that attached to another tree, shortening the distance between me and the crash site.

    For a moment, I felt the Eyes return. The same ones I had sub-consciously sensed on the first day in the Island.

    And this time I felt them clearly. The owner behind the gaze felt amused. Then just as quickly as I sensed [Them], they disappeared.

    Lightning crackled above me. I waved to the sky before diving down.

    The wind rushed past me, buffeting my form, sweeping through my short hair and brushing against the bare skin of my chest.

    I let go of the biocable (web), landing on a branch with nary a sound.

    I stepped off it, employing a range of free motion by bouncing off other branches, all the while trying to incorporate my Parkour skills into my swinging for faster movement.

    And also because web swinging was not completely viable within the dense jungle.

    I was having fun, I admit. It was also a chance to train. To find out the limitations and potential of each new power in my repertoire.

    And web creation was by far my favorite ability.

    It made me wonder what else I could do with it.

    The webs I spinned could not be easily cut or broken.

    Surely there were other applications for something so handy besides swinging and creating nets to catch bad guys.

    I halted in my swinging as my ears picked up a strange sound. A cacophony of hoots, chatter, grunts and screeches in the jungle before me.

    Something was headed my way from the front.

    I stood to my full height on the branch, hand going for my hip only to remember I had no weapon or any of my equipment.

    I didn''t bother to hide my sigh of disappointment.

    That said, I brought my hands up in preparation. I hated getting scrappy, getting scrappy meant getting closer to your target.

    An assassin''s job was to kill as quietly and efficiently as possible. That said, I was no less deadly unarmed, as I was when armed.

    Suddenly, I was silenced as a frenzied stampede of monkeys, birds, wild bucks, boars, foxes, and a myriad of creatures surged forth, fleeing from something.

    None of them paid me any mind, ignoring me and continuing on in the mad escape.

    The strangest thing was yet to happen however.

    Above me, a few shadows passed by. Looking up, I was met with the scene of gray colored monsters with large bat wings, scaly hands and legs flying from the direction I was headed to.

    They were too big to be birds.

    Then behind the rush of creatures, a huge beast of a snake, with green scales slithered through the undergrowth, felling trees and crushing anything on its own path to escape.

    Everything seemed to be running the opposite direction of where I was going. All except for me.

    Safe in the trees,

    I watched and heard the ruckus the snake made on its departure, noticing its sharp yellow eyes and the twin horns on its head.

    Good, although I would have preferred to test myself against such a creature, it was neither the time nor the place.

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "What could they be running from?"

    Curious, I turned my focus to the front.

    Above the tree line, dark smoke rose up from a position several hundred meters further in. East of the ranges surrounding Themiscyra.

    The branch I was standing on bent as I jumped off it, the force shooting me above the trees.

    It was high enough that the entire jungle was spread out before me like a canvas. Across the river that went on to feed into the Ocean, was the origin point of the smoke.

    There.

    Half a mile away.

    At the apex of my jump, I came hurtling down. My right hand stretched, the wrist pointed at a tall tree.

    There was a small sound produced as a bio-cable launched out and attached to the branches. A distinctive "Thwip!"

    What was the theme song again?

    Oh yeah.

    "Spiderman spiderman does whatever a spider can..."

    I sang, swinging away.

    ~ ~ ~ ~

    Within a minute, I was, overlooking the crash site.

    The tree leaves and branches kept my form concealed enough that no one could spot me without actively searching.

    A good thing too, as the scene below me was about to be crawling with angry women holding spears and swords.

    Speaking of the scene, an area of 50 meters around the bank of the river was burning. The yellow fire crackled as it devoured vegetation, having spread enough that the woods some distance from the river were also in flames.

    There was a trench on the ground that led into the water as well.

    And on the river''s surface, the tail end of an old model aircraft was the only thing visible sinking into the water.

    But not with its Pilot.

    Oh no. The guy, a blonde and wearing an -airman''s- jacket was hightailing it away from the scene, limping rather quickly.

    He must have known such a crash would draw attention. Attention that he would not need as a World War 1 soldier in foreign ground.

    He could be behind enemy lines for all he knew.

    Smart.

    You might be wondering on the guesses and conjectures I made.

    Easy, wonder Woman lore was coming back to me. About the only thing I enjoyed away from my ''hardboiled'' professional life, was more of it in colorful pages, pixelated screens and the odd manga or two. Meaning fiction.

    And I swear by all the Isekai nerds out there, begging to be hit by truck-kun, I shall exploit this information to achieve my dream dear brothers.

    To become the greatest Assassin ever!

    I could even do it like Shadow, the Protagonist from an anime called Eminence in Shadow.

    He had a nice philosophy, save beautiful girls and get their eternal servitude.

    I highly doubt the same rules apply here though. This wasn''t anime, it was real life.

    But...the idea wasn''t bad. And besides, this hits close to home.

    I have decided!

    Not only will I be the Greatest And Strongest Assasin in the World, I shall also build the strongest Assasin group in the entire fucking world.

    Nein, the whole Galaxy! At least that''s how far I''ll get before I chalk off the position of High Imperial Warlord Master Assassin! To my first born.

    That''s so far away in the future though...

    But I can do it. I can clean my hands, even if I fear the gunk is stuck too deep.

    I had taken the first step...to redeeming myself.

    The Organization died by my hands. Because it was flawed. Too corrupt to bring good to the world.

    But here...this was a start for me. I''ll make Spider-Man''s powers my own. I''ll escape this Island and I''ll take...the second step.

    ~ ~ ~ ~

    Oh shit, during my ruminations, Steve had managed to create enough distance between us, that he left my earing range.

    A more immediate problem presented itself with the burning woods around us. And the fire was still spreading, slowly but steadily.

    Left unattended to, the whole jungle would be at risk of burning down, thus making my own escape even harder.

    I like controlled chaos, this would just create more trouble for me.

    "Fuck this."

    I jumped down, passing through the smoke into a fiery blackened ground. The fire licked my body intensely, heat blasting my half naked form.

    It was akin to being cooked in an oven. How do you handle an inferno like this? The river close by gave me an idea.

    I hadn''t used my webbing for anything else besides weaving durable bio-cables to swing on. But I knew there was more to the skill.

    Having identified the hotspots from an aerial survey, I begun the monumental task of putting out the forest fire.

    This was the first time I really pushed one of my skills to it''s full potential.

    I was releasing webs over the flames, creating a large web blanket that blocked oxygen, an essential element for fire.

    The webs that came out of my spinneret needed to be thicker and more fluid like. Heavier too.

    Strung together in the shape of a wide white sheet, they smothered the flames.

    I also set up a huge barrier of tightly woven biocable net, blocking the flames from spreading out.

    The final part was to douse my webs with water and then spray it out on those stubborn pockets of fires that refused to go out.

    I eventually succedded, and all the fires were put out.

    Without a moment''s hesitation, I was back, moving through the treeline, following after him.

    Fortunately, his mad dash made it easy to follow the obvious trail of disturbed ground he left behind, even from the trees above.

    It was a tad surprising how much ground he covered in just a few minutes. And to think he was limping.

    Thankfully, it didn''t take long to catch up.

    A substantial distance away from the crash site, near a part of the Jungle with sparse vegetation, the only other man on the Island was leaning on a boulder.

    Curses that would have had anyone blushing in second hand embarrassment left his lips, as he gripped his bleeding thigh.

    I was willing to bet that was the reason for the limp.

    He used a knife to tear a part of his trousers. And then wrapped the wound with the cloth, fastening it tightly and professionally.

    It would at least hold until proper medical treatment.

    I made no noise as I curiously studied him, careful to keep myself concealed.

    I couldn''t let him spot me. Not at the risk of jeopardizing my plans. But, he could prove useful.

    He was tall. About my height, 6''2. Desirable features as well. I confirmed the term ''Comic book pretty'' was apt. It was like everyone I had met thus far had filters in place.

    Things stayed like that for several seconds as Steve rested.

    Eventually, he realized he had to move and got to his feet, now with a walking stick on his right hand and a Luger Pistol on the left.

    The weapon told me what time I was in. The 1910''s.

    The Luger was used in World War 1. By the time World War 2 rolled around, better alternatives like the Colt M 1191 and the Walther P-38 were in use.

    Steve cast a gaze around the jungle before choosing one direction and walking it.

    Coincidentally, he was headed deeper into the jungle, on the opposite direction of Themiscyra.

    Naturally, I was right behind him, keeping my distance while moving stealthily.

    The terrain got rougher and the jungle thicker, the deeper in he walked.

    Despite it being the afternoon, with the sun prominent in the sky, very little rays managed to seep through the canopy of trees.

    Even then, Steve was always careful to keep the river close by, the sound of rushing water was audible from some distance away.

    "I see."

    I murmured, suspended from a lofty tree branch.

    "He''s heading for elevated terrain, probably aiming for a full view of the entire island."

    With that limp however...making it to the top of the mountain was going to be a challenge and half.

    Suddenly, a screech from above sounded out.

    I looked to the sky, spotting three of those strange flying creatures diving down towards Steve.

    Closer to the ground, I was able to study their features better.

    Harpies.

 Issue #9: The Savior.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Harpies.

    They had body of a vulture and the face of a woman. Complete with patchy wings that I noticed were more feathery than leatherly.

    They were the sole exception to ''comic book pretty.''

    These things were ugly. And the noise they made grated my ears.

    Steve noticed the death from above and stopped in a place, a gobsmacked expression on his face.

    I decided not to intervene, wanting to see how he was going to handle this.

    With quick thinking, he was already crouched, pistol aimed at the lead harpy.

    A few feet from its sharp claws tearing his face into strips of flesh, he pulled the trigger.

    The shot rang out loud, making me slightly wince. There was a reason I preferred my guns with silencers.

    The noise was definitely going to draw the Amazons this way.

    On the bright side, the Harpy squawked as the bullet found the center of its forehead.

    It''s body fell to the ground, the neck snapping audibly. The other two Harpies pulled up into the sky with terrified screeches.

    Steve stayed vigilant, watching the sky for movement. But those things were intelligent enough to know when they were beat. That or cowardly enough to escape when things got too much.

    With a heavy sigh, Steve sat on a fallen log, holding his head between his hands as he inspected the dead Harpy in front of him.

    He reached into his inner pocket and removed a small canteen, prompty chugging the contents without a care in the world.

    He grimaced as the alcohol hit his palate (the aroma too conspicuous), then stowed the canteen back into his inner pocket.

    So far, I had only been watching him.

    But see, Steve had fucked up. Due to his shock at seeing a half vulture half woman creature, he let his guard down.

    The bark of the tree I was on, shattered into wood chips as I jumped, sailing through the air on a path to intercept the enemy.

    The Green Serpent hissed, it''s eyes cruelly narrowed Steve''s way. It must have doubled back and managed to track down Steve.

    And before the pilot could react, the open jaws of the Serpent, topped with long and sharp fangs, were inches away from swallowing him whole.

    Right after the serpent snapped his body in two.

    Not if I could help it. I swung my hand back, tightening my fingers into the shape of a fist.

    Just as Steve was noticing the shadow above him, I was there, a punch slamming right onto the Serpent''s forehead.

    There was a pressure blast from the contact of my fist and it''s head.

    The snake''s forehead was hard and covered with durable scales and normally such an attack would have had no effect.

    Normally.

    I was no longer normal though.

    Entirely without my control, golden streaks of energy, like electricity surged down my fist, carrying with it a torrent of power.

    The Serpent stood no chance and was flung away, crashing through the trees in the forest from the devastating blow.

    The ground shook from its fall.

    I landed behind Steve.

    My hand slightly stung from that hit.

    The energy within me, the charged golden lightning jumping from one corner of my body to another...that was Venom Blast. Or rather the first instant of Bio-energy manipulation.

    It was...much more powerful and erratic that I was expecting.

    My fist was even slightly smoking. I would need to train and get a better handle of this. More power was good but only if I learned to control it.

    But at least it got the job done. The Serpent''s corpse had it''s skull caved in with a clear indentation of my fist.

    I quickly walked back towards Steve, who was staring between me and the serpent in abject shock.

    It was almost too perfect. Not exaggerated. Meant to come off as substantially surprised.

    But he wasn''t fooling me.

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    He lowered the empty gun. Good instincts though, his other hand had been going for a knife strapped on his hip.

    "I-I A giant- snake! just tried to swallow me."

    He stuttered in a shaky voice.

    "What is up with place!?"

    I tapped him as I walked by,

    "Let''s go."

    And continued on without looking back to see if he was following.

    "Hey-hey Wait."

    I heard him call out, rushing towards me.

    Even his movements were too practiced. This man was dangerous. But I could kill him.

    "Excuse me! Hey!?"

    I closed off my other senses, trying to use Spider sense to try and feel his next move.

    Spidey lore commonly says it can only sense danger coming to him. This is in line with what happened the first day I washed up on the Island.

    Back then, I had detected arrows aimed at me, yet a stray wooden chip from an arrow brushing against a tree caught me off guard.

    Was Spider Sense activation limited to deliberate attacks, or could it extend to unconsciously sensing anything and everything?

    Dammit. Still too new to this. But at least it showed promise.

    I held in a sigh as my hair follicles shivered, alerting me of Steve''s hand about to land on my shoulder.

    I turned around, almost smacking into him.

    He staggered backwards, falling to the ground, his body tensing up in readiness.

    I crouched down, establishing eye contact.

    "Who are you?"

    I asked.

    He relaxed. Marginally.

    Clearing his throat, he found his voice and replied,

    "Steve Trevor, soldier, United States Air Force. My craft crash landed here."

    He narrowed his eyes.

    "I wasn''t expecting to encounter a....a massive snake or...you, for that matter. Who are you?"

    I shook my head.

    "Answer me first. Who are you? Really?"

    "What do you mean?"

    He asked, slowly started getting up while watching me vigilantly.

    I mirrored him.

    "I just told you my name. Steve Trevor. United States Air Force!"

    He replied with a little more heat.

    Still unnatural, it was too practiced. A mask.

    "But that''s not all is it?"

    I raised my eyebrows at him.

    "Mr. Spy."

    Immediately his posture slackened. His hair grew a bit shadier, and I was looking at a seasoned veteran, not a stranded Pilot with no idea where he was.

    He stood, slightly favoring his right side. Good to know.

    "What gave it away."

    He asked, deadly serious.

    Dangerous. And logical too. Mmmh. With some more training...

    "You did. Just now."

    I answered plainly.

    He stared at me impassively.

    "And also because you''re too on the scene. You appear too natural. Good for blending in with the common folk, but against competition, against true pros, you''re still green. Too green."

    I blinked and he instantly adjusted everything.

    Dangerous. Logical and talented.

    If this was Steve Trevor, I wonder just what kind of monster Slade Wilson was. Or even Batman.

    Especially Batman.

    But I''ll have to wait for...

    "What''s the year?"

    I asked the now curious but wary Steve.

    "You didn''t..."

    He sighed in frustration, no doubt intending to ask more questions. Fortunately, his patience won out.

    "It''s 1918. World War 1 is still on full swing- the brits are on the fritz, Austria-Hungary is Fucked. And the Germans are seeking help from the Ottoman Empire. I don''t know how long we can keep this going."

    He stared at me strangely,

    "How do you not know this? As a matter of fact, who are you? I need to know the name of the man who saved me."

    I stared at him blankly, adjusting the glasses on my face. I was going to need a new background here.

    "Call me Kane. I''m a freelance Mercenary, working for interested but otherwise unembroiled parties. The ship I was on was wrecked during a particularly bad storm. I washed up on shore a few days ago."

    He narrowed his eyes.

    "Then why ask what year it is?"

    He caught that. Good ear. He could almost make a good Assassin. Also just like I suspected, I was in the late 1910''s.

    I wonder if I can stop it. The ongoing first world war. Or even the second one. I would just need to eliminate Hitler and it''s done.

    No. That would be messing with the timeline. But...wasn''t this a second chance? I swore on the burning ashes of my home that I wouldn''t give up my desire for true peace.

    A nonsensical dream. Sure.

    I also swore I would only kill if it benefitted mine or the world. I would take out the trash. Was it cliche? I guess to some.

    But I was dead serious. And I''d been making good headway too. That job in Tokyo was especially nasty. The target was a grade A scumbag. For them, I didn''t mind getting gory.

    "Can you blame me? this island...there''s something strange about it. Unnatural even. I was just eliminating all possibilities."

    I shrugged, the action offsetting his suspicions.

    Thankfully, that satisfied him. But not for too long.

    "Oh I guess you''re right. And a snake did almost eat me."

    His gaze sharpened.

    "But I don''t believe your made up story. You''re a spy too, aren''t you?"

    Bah, he can be led to a lie too easily. He''s too green. Still too green.

    "A merc is the perfect identity for a spy. You can freely use your extra skills without risking your true cover."

    Steve added, unaware that his speculations had lead him further from the truth.

    But that was good for me. A Spy pretending to be a mercenary was better than an Assassin.

    I opened my mouth to respond before stopping. My earing had a clear full range of 500 meters. And it had picked up on something.

    I turned to Steve.

    "Listen to me carefully, Steve Trevor."

    He stiffened at the serious tone in my voice.

    "In a few seconds, a group of women with sharp spears, possibly bows and arrows will surround you."

    A myriad of expressions crossed his face. From perking up at hearing the word women, to concern at the words sharp weapons.

    I stepped closer, this time injecting a dangerous tone into my voice.

    "Do not mention me at all. No matter what. I was never here and you didn''t see me. You killed that Serpent with your strange Man''s World weapons. Which is what they will call your gun. Got that?"

    He nodded but added a stipulation.

    "But I need to know why."

    I stared at him. He held my gaze firmly.

    The warriors were closer, the sounds of their galloping horses and barking hounds tracking Steve''s footprints.

    "Because I''m their prisoner. And I can''t let them know I''ve escaped my cell. Not yet."

    I decided to tell him the truth. Or part of it at least.

    "Will they attack me?"

    He questioned.

    "More than likely. But if you surrender, they will take you to their Queen. Lucky for you, death is outlawed for the time being."

    I told him.

    He nodded after a brief consideration, turning his attention to the warriors about to break through the tree line.

    I took that chance to jump away, quietly landing on a branch, before dashing off in speeds that would have had monkeys screeching in awe.

    Gotta get back to the cell. The day after tomorrow I was going to come out again and check for boats or something else to take me off the Island.

    Why a day later you ask?

    Because...I anticipated that tomorrow was going to be a busy day. A very busy day indeed.

    (General P.O.V)

    "Hey what..."

    Steve turned around to ask one final question, only to find Kane missing.

    And a second later, Diana landed right behind him, causing the ground to tremble and crack.

    Steve found her sword aimed at his neck.

    "Well, hello there angel."

    He greeted, his gaze entranced by her beauty. He never thought that when Kane said women, he meant literal angels.

    Diana however, narrowed her eyes at him after sweeping the scene with a look.

    "You were not alone. I heard you talking to someone. Where is your friend?"

 Issue #10: X, Resented.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    X~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X

    Spider-Man X.

    MILES MORALES STRAIN: 100% d.n.a INTERGRATION.

    Abilities unlocked:

    Super strength.

    Spider sense.

    Web-creation.

    Wall-crawling.

    Enhanced Healing.

    Enhanced Senses.

    Enhanced Stamina.

    Enhanced Durability.

    Enhanced Flexibility.

    Bio-Energy Manipulation.

    X~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X

    The sun''s rays speared through the bars of the cell, hitting my face and filling me with energy.

    I breathed in...noticing for the umpteenth time, just how fresh the air on this Island was.

    There was almost something nutritious about it.

    I released a breath, clearing my mind of any distractions. Achieving a meditative state demanded a serene and composed mindset. Through training, I had honed my ability to concentrate solely on a single task and systematically unravel it.

    It was necessary for not only replaying memories but also as a way to strategize. To pick tiny details from seemingly innocuous or useless information and find a use for them.

    Yesterday, someone tried to follow me after my encounter with Steve.

    Judging by the fact they almost managed to catch up while I was moving at relatively high speeds...then it could be only one person.

    Diana.

    I easily gave her the slip of course.

    No one would know I had met up with Steve. Even if he himself were to spill the beans, I made sure to leave no footprints or tracks where I passed through.

    ''Sorry Diana. I promised you I would behave. I couldn''t let anyone see me, including you.''

    This is why I don''t like owing favors.

    My chest inflated with another breath.

    Another noticeable element was the presence of Harpies, along with a colossal Green Serpent that came perilously close to consuming my newly acquired asset.

    Foolish of me to think Paradise Island couldn''t get any weirder. Yesterday sure proved me wrong.

    There exists a widely recognized concept known as Island Theory, which posits that the biological complexity of an island increases proportionally with its distance from the mainland.

    This theory attributes this phenomenon to factors such as restricted gene flow and specific environmental conditions, resulting in the development of unique species or adaptations.

    In simpler terms- The variety of life was because isolated groups on islands evolve differently than those on the mainland.

    It wasn''t a stretch to call Themiscyra Isolated. It had been a matriarchal society since before the time of Christ.

    On top of that, it was magical or rather...mystical.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    The presence of magic was a notion I never thought to consider before...but now after everything I''d seen- creatures from the myths and impossible wild life- I couldn''t discount it any more.

    The island was surrounded by a dome enchanted to ensure the women here remained Immortal.

    What was more magical than that?

    Still, tomorrow I was going to tour around the Island to try and secure a way off it.

    Failing that, I was at least going to take a dip in the river and wash up.

    I was pushing three days without bathing after all. Four if you count today. My body stank and I hated the murk of dried sweat and dust layering my skin.

    Barely a week gone by and I was home sick, missing my shower.

    ******

    My ears twitched as they picked up on a sound from afar.

    3 sets of footsteps heading up the hill towards my cell.

    I furrowed my brow in concentration, keenly tuning my ears even further, managing to capture the sound their leather soles made on the cobbled stairway leading to the entrance of my cell.

    I could also tell from their uneven weight distribution on every step they took, that they were carrying weapons.

    In addition, there was a set of chains that clinked, strapped to the hip of the leading warrior.

    Lastly, all three of them were engaged in an heated argument. And I easily recognized their voices.

    It''s hard to forget the Amazons that attacked me on day one. The question now was what they wanted with me.

    One of them spoke in a tone full of anxiety and dismay,

    "I can''t believe the Queen let that man live! Burning a piece of the island and killing one of Medusa''s pets? This is inviting trouble!"

    She must have been talking about Steve. Good. He''s alive.

    A different voice with a softer timber, scoffed at her companion''s concerns.

    "Oh, please, Izah. You''re just a coward. Medusa won''t do anything. She''s living up in the mountains because the Queen allowed it. She won''t dare attack us."

    Medusa? Could they be talking about ''that'' Medusa? The woman cursed with snakes for hair and a gaze that instantly turns anyone into stone? And she''s supposedly on the Island?

    And that beastly green serpent was her pet? A pet?! Of all things...

    My Lamentations were interrupted by the ongoing conversation.

    The first voice, Izah, undeterred retorted,

    "It''s not about daring! It''s about respect for Themiscyra! For our home. We can''t just let outsiders destroy and kill without consequences. Especially of they''re Men!"

    Good to see the hatred for all things man was still going strong.

    Their heated exchange drew the attention of another voice, the third Amazon, who had been silent till now.

    "Enough, both of you! Bickering won''t change the Queen''s decision."

    It was clear from her steady and commanding tone that she was a seasoned warrior.

    I recognized her from her voice almost immediately. The image of a blonde haired beauty with short hair appearing in my mind.

    Arissa. Her, I remembered her name.

    Her voice cut through the tension like a hot knife to butter.

    "We have a task to complete, Let''s focus on that."

    By now they were close enough that I could make out their breathing with my earing alone.

    Izah, still apprehensive, persisted, "But what if Medusa really retaliates? She could turn us all to stone for her Pet''s death!"

    There was the sound of a slap hitting the back of someone''s head.

    "Ow! Lyra what was that for?!"

    Izah protested.

    Lyra, with an impatient sigh, responded,

    "Your worrying is making me worry too, you idiot. Cut it out with the Medusa bullshit! She won''t lay a finger on the city."

    A brief silence fell among the three, then Lyra continued.

    "I''m more concerned about what the Queen is thinking. Calling for another Senate hearing and allowing Men to attend? Its insane. We shouldn''t be breaking The Island''s law so brazenly. It''s not right."

    One of the trio came to a stop.

    "Ah, Arissa, is everything-"

    Izah begun, only to be cut off by the former.

    "Listen you two. It''s not a secret our Captain has been less than pleased with the current Monarchy."

    The other two breathed in harshly.

    Oh, now that''s interesting. I perked up, eagerly waiting what would be said next.

    "Had the poisoning worked, Alkyone would have found a way to bring to question some of the Queen''s unpopular decisions. No death occurs the week after the Themosphoria. Kan- The Man''s death, could have been taken as a sign of the gods displeasure."

    I narrowed my eyes. That was true. In a society such as this, isolated for thousands of those years and ruled by an Immortal queen, there were bound to be those withering with discontent.

    Parties looking for change. A rebellion.

    Thankfully I didn''t have to wait for long until Arissa continued.

    "And that would have created a crack in the armor that is Queen Hippolyta''s regime. Alkyone, Our Captain, our..."

    She hesitated, a strange note in her voice.

    "...sister would seize that moment and provide evidence pointing towards the one responsible for the poisoning..."

    "Oh. You mean Bulma?..."

    Lyra pitched in.

    "Yes. And as she''s part of the Island, the Queen would be forced to order her execution. Remember, the laws are universal, for daring to break the no kill rule during such a week, only death would be her fate."

    How devious. The rest didn''t have to be said.

    After already favoring Diana by letting me live, I doubt the Senate would let the Queen simply extend the same leniency to Bulma.

    The Amazon''s took their laws pretty seriously. So the Queen would have been forced into a tough situation.

    Which is when Alkyone would make her move. What move that would have been, we would never know. Because I had survived the poisoning.

    But if I had to guess, it would have been something like trading my life for the girl.

    Instead of her getting executed, I would be a worthy replacement to appease the gods.

    Or maybe Alkyone would have used that chink in the armor to lobby for promotion.

    I heard the rest call her Captain and the first time I laid my eyes on her...I knew she was ambitious.

    Her goons...or is it goonetes?confirmed that for me.

    I knew people like her. People who wouldn''t hesitate to scheme, manipulate and use everything in their disposal to progress their agenda.

    I was the same after all.

    Which was why she was dangerous.

    Not like Steve. But dangerous nonetheless.

    Maybe I should take her out? No one would even suspect it was me. I heard the perfect alibi even.

    Today.

    I''ll only give it until today to decide what to do.

    "Which is why we cannot botch this. Remember, he survived poisoning. He''s tough and very strong but he doesnt know the Island like we do. Follow the plan and we can deal with him."

    Arissa told the other two with a note of finality.

    A few minutes later, I opened my eyes as the three Amazons appeared before my cell.

    "You have been summoned to the Royal palace."

    Arissa went straight to the point.

    "Get up and wear this."

    A silver chain with two manacles were thrown inside the cell.

    Just like I foretold, today was going to be an interesting day.

    X~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~X

    A shorter and boring chapter but the crazy stuff is about to begin.

 Issue #11: X, The Unexpected.

    (General P.O.V)

    The three Amazonian warriors flanked Kane as they proceeded down the hill.

    His hands were held before him, the wrists restrained, encircled by manacles attached to the silver chain they had brought with them.

    No one spoke. Though the glares Kane was receiving from Lyra and Izah was very indicative of their standing with him.

    Normally, he wouldn''t have bothered to break the silence. But Kane knew an opportunity when he saw one. This was a chance to gain information.

    He had to be sneaky about it. He doubted the three Man-haters would willingly offer anything valuable up.

    He wouldn''t have been surprised if their blatant animosity against him, was why THEY in particular were sent to pick him.

    As a matter of fact,

    "You''d expect they would have sent someone else to fetch me, given our history."

    Out of nowhere, Kane chimed, casting a furtive glance at the two women trailing behind him.

    "I mean, you ladies seem 2 seconds away from plunging your spears through me."

    "Keep talking and maybe they will."

    Arissa who was ahead on their front, replied curtly.

    Kane merely chuckled at that, not saying anything for the reminder of the walk.

    At the foot of the hill, four horses were waiting for them, the reins tied around the trunk of a tree.

    The steads barely reacted upon their arrival, continuing to graze on the patches of grass stubbornly growing on the rocky and infertile area.

    Past the horses, and the ground ended in a sheer drop.

    Kane stepped closer to the edge of the cliff, knocking a peeble loose from it''s perch.

    It noisily bounced on the rocky outcrops below them.

    He cast his gaze out across the whole of Paradise Island.

    Surrounded by a beach on one side and tall ranges on the opposite end, the grand and beautiful city of Themiscyra was breathtaking.

    The architecture of the buildings was as he had expected. Ancient Greek inspired with a few highlights.

    Them being,

    The Royal palace, Senate Hall and the Coliseum where he could even hear a ruckus of activity as the Amazons trained and sparred.

    Despite Themiscyra''s larger than life impression, it was small, no bigger than an average town.

    Well contained too, with the layout constructed in a way that emphasized strong defensive capabilities. The fortified wall around the city would be a nightmare for any invading force.

    That is, if they even made it a mile of the city, with the guards on watch duty at various towers along the perimeter of the wall.

    Using his eye sight, which was strong enough to spot a mole on the cheek of an Amazon walking down a crowded market street in the city, Kane managed to get a basic analysis on the enemy''s stronghold.

    Strong as the defense was, it was super easy, barely an inconvenience, to pick out the city''s blind spots and other places of interests.

    His eyes especially lingered on the exits, the garisson and the beach. Though there was nothing of what he was expecting with the latter.

    There were no docks, harbors or ships visible in his radar to get off the Island.

    No viable means of escape.

    He was about to discount that plan to steal a boat, when he spotted something from the corner of his vision.

    All was not lost it seems.

    Docked on a waterfront in the banks of the river going through the city, were several unnmanned Triremes, a type of galley. Boats used by ancient Greeks for warfare, trade and transportation.

    Galleys were tricky because they needed many people to row due to their dual use of oars and sails.

    And even counting Steve, in the case Kane decided to escape with him, that would only make two. Far from enough man a ship of that size.

    Kane narrowed his eyes in thought.

    ''No way about it.''

    He swallowed a sigh.

    ''I''ll figure something out Tomorrow when I check it out.''

    He had business with the river anyway. After his swim, he could just practice his powers while stealthily sneaking into the inner-city docks.

    "...you hear me prisoner?!"

    Izah prodded Kane''s back with her spear.

    He''d been ignoring her incessant nagging, but this time he reacted when he felt the sharp point poke into his ribs.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    The stony and unimpressed look he threw her way, made Izah take a few nervous steps back, a white knuckled grip on her lance.

    Thwack!

    Lyra slapped the back of Izah''s head.

    Turning her aggrieved brown eyes to face the former, Izah was interrupted just as her lips parted.

    "Stupid girl, don''t antagonize someone who can break you in two. Get on your horse, we don''t have time to waste."

    Arissa admonished from the back of her own stead, a massive black stallion that she led to and eventually stopped before Kane.

    The two of them stared at each other for a full 10 seconds.

    "You''re not going to cause us any trouble, are you?"

    Arissa asked with an upturn of a single brow.

    Kane blinked, before shrugging helplessly, the action causing the chains to jingle with a metallic clang.

    "Not much I can do like this. These chains..."

    "Were created by Haephestus himself. They''re special, able to suppress anyone to a fraction of their full power.

    The Amazon disclosed.

    What she did not say, was that for him, that meant he was barely on Izah''s level with the silver chains on.

    And while that did not seem all that impressive, All Amazons were warriors forged in battle, making them formidable enough to face 5 strong men head on.

    Kane raised his hands up curiously.

    ''Osmium'' He speculated, noticing the chains relatively heavy weight.

    Being the metal used in making most of the weapons on the Island and the bars on his cell, Kane could easily tell it apart.

    Osmium was suppossed to be dull in color though.

    And these cuffs seemed to have more than just the resilience of Osmium.

    He could feel a strange pull the chains. A draining effect. Something was actively sapping away at his new strength.

    They also glowed subtly. A silver light visible under the sun. The chain links and manacles drenched in a type of supernormal energy designed to add a suppressing effect to the wearer.

    In this case, him. He was weaker.

    Not any different than back when he arrived on the Island.

    And from the active draining effect, he would keep getting weaker and weaker. What a terrifying object.

    He wondered what kind of Smith could forge such a tool.

    "All this, just to keep me from running?"

    He prodded.

    "Something like that."

    Izah snorted from atop her own horse, a gleeful look on her face.

    "Would you believe I was the one who came up with the idea?"

    She gloated sadistically.

    "Weak as you are...it wouldn''t take the three of us, let alone an entire Squaldron to finish you. I, alone am sufficient."

    No one else would have spotted Lyra and Arissa''s slight stiffening of the shoulders.

    Unfortunately for them, Kane did.

    On top of that, he was also adept enough to hear the slight increase of their heart rates.

    Strange. Very strange indeed.

    "Well?"

    He asked, ignoring Izah, (she looked half mad with rage) and speaking to the other two.

    "Don''t I get a horse?"

    "Lyra?"

    Arissa called out, slight relief evident in her tone. The presence of which did nothing to abate Kane''s growing suspicions.

    The second in command narrowed her eyes at their naive, careless, loud mouthed and ditzy sister. That was close.

    They were going to have words later about discretion.

    "Here."

    Lyra approached Kane and handed him the reigns to the last horse.

    "You ride on your own. Try to run and I''m emptying my entire Quiver onto your back. We''ll call it pay back for the cheap shot three days ago."

    With that she turned around and walked back to her own, mounting it.

    Kane''s eyes trailed up the reigns of his stead, a brown and powerfully built Mare.

    He glanced at the other horses, noticing they were all stallions.

    More power games. Or maybe he was simply reading too much into it.

    He rubbed the mare''s neck, staring at her gentle eyes.

    "Take care of me, okay girl?"

    She neighed, shaking her head in a gesture he took as a welcome to ride on her back. He grabbed the saddle and easily hoisted himself up.

    "Let''s move."

    Arissa gave the order and they were off.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    The journey to the city was eye opening for sure. A look into the architecture of the thousands of years old society.

    The dungeon, if we could even call it that, was built along the cliff flanking the city at the back. On the other side of the cliff was the jungle.

    The path down to the city was laid out with limestone, winding in a spiralling pattern that led to one of the back exits.

    Gradually, a few hundred meters from the city wall, the rough landscape changed to farms and long stretches of fields which grew a variety of food.

    There were Amazons tending to these farms, most of whom stopped to stare as we passed.

    The looks I was getting from Lyra and Izah seemed to be the common theme.

    It was not an overstatement to call me resented.

    By now, I was already used to it and had accepted I was never going to have fans among them.

    Eventually the farming fields ended with a neat row of corn, right at the exit into the outskirts, where we had come from.

    A huge gate stood imperiously before our procession, manned by two intimidating guards.

    "Halt."

    One of them, a bodacious Amazon ordered, walking towards us with a stink eye directed my way.

    "Where are you coming from and where do you think you''re going?"

    The question was directed at Arissa but the guard''s eyes were on me.

    This was one of those times I was tempted to say something but chose to stay silent instead.

    Something that made the tense atmosphere even more awkward.

    "I asked you a question...Dog."

    The guard insulted, stepping close enough that I couldn''t ignore the scar running from her forehead, through her eye down to her chin.

    I settled for a cool gaze, meeting her stare head on. Cheap insults aside, she was at least cautious enough that her hand was on the pommel of her sheathed sword.

    "Enough."

    Arissa cut in.

    "His presence is required at the Palace. Let us through, or you will have to answer to Captain Alkyone."

    Alkyone seemed to hold a certain reputation as the guard''s eyes widened in fear. She hastily turned to her companion and gave a signal.

    The other guard wisely decided not to push the issue.

    She pulled on a lever beside her. And with a groan of metal, the barred gate rose up, opening the way for us.

    From the outer section of the wall, the palace was a few miles away. The massive building prominently jutting above most other structures, including a statue of Athena.

    To get there, we had to pass through the market, following the cobblestone and gravel layered road.

    I threw a look behind me, meeting the eyes of the guard.

    ''I''ll remember you.''

    (Bulma'' s P.O.V)

    Huh?

    The cell...is empty?

    Oh no...

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    "... You were just too unlucky to be born a man. Just like back then, we...were unlucky to be women."

    Arissa finished, drawing her blade.

    I looked around.

    Well, this. I did not expect. They let me see Themiscyra in it''s entirety on purpose.

    A short con I never saw coming.

    "Your city..."

    I begun, rubbing Sadie''s (yes, I named the horse) soft coat to calm her down.

    Then again, I couldn''t blame her for being nervous with all the sharp pointy weapons and their wielders eager to use them, surrounding us.

    "...It''s designed with war in mind. Backpasses, secret exists, looping pathways, interconnected alleys and unexpected dead ends. Buildings constructed in a way to deceive spies. Constructed in a way that only people who have been living here for thousands of years would understand and be able to navigate."

    I said as the realization sank in, culminating in a shake of my head at my blunder.

    It all lined up. The chains designed to suppress me to a fraction of my power...

    Izah''s slip up...

    They purposefully lied. Led me here. To an ambush.

    We had not arrived at the Palace.

    Or even the Senate hall. Somehow, despite being on the look out for it. I had wanted to see those marble pillars up close.

    Damn.

    "Okay."

    I met her eyes. Arissa''s eyes.

    "Clearly, I underestimated you."

    I held up my hands, showing the restrains off to the hundreds of women surrounding me on the sands of the Coliseum. A place for battle that stank of sweat and blood.

    "Now then."

    My danger sense started tingling.

    "I don''t suppose you will let me out of these chains?"

 Issue #12: The Expected.

    (General P.O.V)

    ~A few hours ago~

    A hooded figure made their way through the secret network of tunnels built across the entire city.

    These tunnels crisscrossed each other to form an interconnected channel of hidden paths, only accessible to the Amazons.

    That said, this particular channel was known to a select few on Themisycra.

    And that was due to where it led.

    Feet pattered on water as the air around the shrouded figure became colder, the walls wet and moldier.

    Then before long, a certain green light peeked out from a short distance to their front.

    The figure''s pace hastened. And after a few more dozen steps, they appeared in a wide chamber built beneath the Royal Palace.

    The chamber was bathed in a sickly green light. The source of it being the pool of glowing liquid at it''s center.

    Past the pool was a stairway that led up to a raised platform with three stone seats.

    Constructed with a spiralling symbol as the backrests, the seats were more like thrones with cracks running along them.

    Vines creeped through the ground and up the walls of the chamber, giving the impression that this place had long been abandoned.

    The figure stopped in place before the stairway, bending a knee in subservience and reverence to the central throne.

    Or rather, the black haired woman dressed in a long flowing green gown, seated on it.

    "Why have you come? Were my instructions not clear?"

    Circe asked in a low tone, playing with a ball of green flames dancing around her palm.

    Her green eyes glowed with the light from the fire. Compounded with her high cheek bones and smokey voice, she held a devastating beauty, extreme enough that kingdoms would go to war over.

    A bonafide enchantress.

    The figure below her, shivered with fear and trepidation. They knew the price of offending their master, the Sorceress of Aiaia. They had to be careful with what they said.

    "Forgive my unexpected intrusion-"

    The shrouded figure begun.

    Only for Circe to cut her off with a snort.

    "Oh please, get on with it. Your meaningless groveling is annoying."

    "R-right."

    The figure sank even lower, clearing their throat before continuing in a steadier tone.

    "Another man has stepped foot on Themiscyra. The...queen insists on letting him live."

    The figure''s tone was icy.

    "Then Hippolyta is still wise."

    Circe asserted, closing her palm and snuffing out the flames.

    "Blatantly ignoring the Gods even if deserving, pisses them off like some pissy spoiled brats. And that invites their judgement and punishment."

    Thunder echoed from far away.

    Circe raised a middle finger to the sky.

    "But mistress! She''s not fit to rule!"

    The shrouded figure protested.

    "Hippolyta is stuck in the old ways. And after all these years, change is needed. No, warranted! Wanted! There is an entire generation of Amazons willing to follow-"

    "You just want the throne. Admit it."

    Circe interjected with a knowing look.

    "I-I..."

    The figure stiffened.

    A trace of mockery appeared in Circe''s eyes.

    "Your scheming led you to me. Someone who hates Hippolyta more than you even. A bitter enemy to your people. Someone who has killed large scores your sisters and sacrificed their souls for unholy powers. Yet, because of your resentment, you detest her, envy her, want what''s hers. And you would throw away your right to vengeance and pride to feed that ambition."

    With every single word that left her mouth, the figure quivered as the words rang with undeniable truth.

    Circe leaned forward.

    "This is not about change. Or enforcing Themisycra''s laws. You don''t give a shit about that. Admit it. You want to be the Queen, don''t you, Alkyone?"

    Silence reigned between the two, before Circe broke it with amused laughter.

    "To be clear with you, I care not for politicking. Neither do I yearn for the throne."

    She scoffed disdainfully, leaning back on the throne.

    "I find it easier to destroy than to govern. As long as you make the world bleed and Hippolyta suffer...then you have my power, young one."

    The figure raised her head, reaching for her hood and tugging it off.

    "Thank you, Mistress."

    Alkyone responded softly, her usual arrogance replaced by piety.

    Circe waved her off, a contemplative look in her eyes.

    Two men in the island on the same week. Then there was Zeus'' brat whose threat level kept increasing each day, as she awakened more and more of her divine heritage.

    Perhaps, it was time. Preparations were complete after all. All they would need to do is move up the schedule from the day of the verdict to...

    Mmmmh...how about, tomorrow?

    ******"

    (Tomorrow)

    (Now)

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    You want to know what I hate more than head on fights? Getting surrounded.

    That...was less than ideal. As was this situation.

    Assassins work from the shadows. As it was, I was shaming my profession by not only getting tricked but also putting myself in this situation.

    Yes. I blame me.

    Even if it was unintentional on my part. I was still responsible for getting out of it.

    "So what now? A fight to the death with you ladies?"

    I enquired from my audience, the hundred strong women whose eyes watched me like a hawk and stalked my every move like a prey. How cute.

    "Didn''t last time teach you anything?"

    Unfortunately...I was ignored.

    "Sisters. Hear me."

    Arissa confidently led her horse forward, making sure attention was on her before turning my way, and gesturing.

    "I present to you...the stain upon our home. And you know what we do with stains."

    """ Scrub them off!"""

    Came the unified response.

    That had to be rehearsed.

    The mood in the Coliseum shifted. If before there was an air of danger present, now the atmosphere was charged with hostile intent.

    "12th Falcon formation."

    Arissa announced.

    "Wing side, bring him to his knees!"

    She gave the order, a strange look of anticipation forming on her features.

    "Ma''am!"

    Around us, four warriors intoned, speeding out of the crowd, each swinging a rope with a hook attached at the end. Their target...me.

    My danger sense did not activate, so I knew the attacks held no killing intent.

    But Assumptions kill. I''ve already established that. It would suck if I didn''t learn my own lesson.

    From now on I was going to retaliate. Give just as much as I took.

    ''Sorry Diana, your plan would have surely given me enough time for my preparations to leave. It would have guaranteed a few days of peace at the very least. It would have guaranteed safety for all. But my hand are quite literally tied.''

    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    Diana''s strategy had hinged upon me not causing trouble. At least until the verdict was passed.

    Unfortunately that plan had gone down the toilet bowl when her sisters decided to ambush me.

    Four shadows passed over head, the ropes in their hands winding around my body, meant to wrap around my limbs.

    I stepped back, evading the encampment. Yet, they adjusted, landing on opposites sides and running around me, all the while twining the ropes together into a tangled messy dance meant to lasso me in.

    I was already in the air however, knees tucked on my chest as I leapt over the targeted zone and the hooked ropes that missed target.

    Snap!

    A whip like sound originated from my rope wielding adversaries, the hook of one rope winding through the air and clashing onto the chains on my wrists with an audible clang.

    Despite being weakened, I still retained a measure of flexibility. Just enough that I could use the impact to throw myself back, reorient my body and safely land, bleeding the rest of the momentum off by rolling on the sand.

    "Lyra, give the signal."

    Unbothered by the failure of her sisters to entrap me, I heard Arissa give a follow up order.

    "Finally."

    The other Amazon said excitedly.

    There was a small pause, then the blaring sound of a horn echoed out across the arena.

    A signal? A signal for what?

    I slowly rose to my feet, listening and watching out for what was coming.

    This time, Danger Sense did activate.

    And the ringing in my head was the loudest it had ever been, sending a surge of urgency through my entire body.

    The air whistled as several projectiles cut a path towards me from the sky.

    No, not the sky. Pinpointing the direction the danger was coming from, turned out to be easy, but did nothing to help my reality.

    Mounted Crossbows on top of the Coliseum walls.

    Each manned by a squad of Amazons. Each shooting out ballista bolts in a barrage with my body as target practice.

    The sky above me became populated by long ass and hefty arrows.

    I wisely elected to dodge, tilting my head to the side and allowing a bolt to pass harmlessly close to my head.

    The ballistic bolt''s shaft vibrated upon impacting the ground, tearing into the sands behind me with a loud thunk!

    The next few seconds was a combination of a game of tag and dancing. Confined to a few short feet around me.

    Danger Sense shone through. The MVP of this particular debacle. One that forced me to react first and think later, otherwise one wrong move and I would have a hole through me. Or several.

    I weaved and ducked through every attack, employing my assassin skills to the highest level of mastery I had achieved, just to whether the storm.

    But sooner or later, it was apparent I would get tagged if something didn''t change.

    My only avenue of escape was to break their line of sight, or increase the risk of friendly fire.

    That plan failed. Trying to move closer to the edge of the Coliseum proved ineffectual. The Amazons on Crossbow duty were seriously good.

    Just enough that they blocked my charge.

    What that left me with was to keep on dodging, relying on Danger Sense.

    And it was working. Kinda.

    I made no noise as a trail of fire lanced through the side of my chest, luckily only leaving a thin slash. I''d been a bit too slow to move at that time and it almost cost me.

    The ground around my position became peppered with metal projectiles as I was boxed in from all sides, reducing my avenues of escape and the area I could use to evade the onslaught.

    And as the good commander she was turning out to be, Arissa capitalized.

    "Now!"

    Her order came in a little too late for me to stop what was about to happen.

    I felt a tug from below. One glance and I knew I''d Fucked up. Again.

    Sigh.

    Unexpectedly, my feet and shins were entangled in a mess of ropes. The same ropes that were held by the four Amazons I''d lost sight of briefly.

    Ropes that grew tight as they pulled on them, bringing my knees to the ground, firmly holding me in place.

    The onslaught of ballistic bolts ceased with the sound of the horn in Lyra''s hand.

    I see, they used the ballistic bolts as a distraction from the real plan.

    Which was simply to restrain and immobilize me even more.

    Something that made me suspect they knew I possessed an ability to know when and where an attack was coming from.

    A smart conclusion for them; would be to test how effective the ability was, by layering multiple attacks together.

    Just like they did.

    They highlighted a major weakness of Danger Sense.

    The ''blinkers-on'' effect. Basically, whenever Danger Sense activated, my entire body and mind worked in synch to plot an attack''s path and then dodge it.

    Unfortunately that elevated state of focus left me blind and open to other moves, causing the risk of falling into another trap high.

    It was a weakness that I needed to immediately get rid off.

    Arissa held up a hand and the falling projectiles stopped.

    She snorted with amusement at the sour expression I wore.

    "Did you think we wouldn''t learn anything from our last battle?"

    She asked me.

    No actually. I didn''t. That was a mistake.

    The Amazons were actually living up to their name. This was the second time I''d been tricked.

    Then again, the wealth of experience gained from living thousands of years had to be a lot.

    Enough that they could adapt to a shifting battlefield and powerful enemies.

    "I commend you guys. You got better. It still doesn''t change the fact, I have to be in chains for you to have a chance."

    I taunted the blonde warrior. Just because their breadth of experience closed the gap between us didn''t mean I was out for the count.

    Not as long as I had my Trump card.

    Arissa merely smirked. A small contented smile that spoke of glee on her usually flaccid face

    "Oh, You''re not fighting us."

    Wut?

    She jumped off her horse, slapping it''s back as it was led away by a different Amazon.

    I narrowed my eyes at her as she stopped a few feet away.

    They had me on the ropes. Literally and figuratively. What more was left other than delivering the killing blow and finishing me off? Not that I''m complaining.

    "Explain."

    I growled.

    "Gladly."

    Arissa spun around, gesturing out with her unsheathed sword.

    "Look around. These hallowed sands have seen bloody battle after bloody battle, unlikely victories and unexpected losses. It might not be the most important place...but it is certainly the most sacred on the Island."

    She paused slightly, completing her turn around and pointing the tip of her sword at my neck.

    "A fitting last end, wouldn''t you say?"

    "Not really."

    I shook my head, briefly pausing to throw a glance around.

    "I have better ways to die than on a backwater Island in the middle of nowhere."

    Arissa chuckled as outcry from the crowd arose.

    Demands of,

    """Kill him!"""

    """What a cunt. """

    How the fuck was I the Cunt in this situation?

    To statements like,

    """Despicable! I say we feed him to the sharks!"""

    "Enough!"

    Demonstrating her authority, she silenced the Mob with a single shout.

    Shaking her head,

    The perpetual dry stare I was used to from her, reappeared on her face.

    "While I absolutely despise the thing between your legs, I can appreciate that you''re strong. Very strong. Unfortunately, killing you ourselves is out of the question. Death is prohibited in the week after the Themosphoria but if I could..."

    The tip of her sword sank into my flesh, drawing blood. I made no reaction even as she twisted it, causing waves of pain to run through me.

    Her smiled turned as cold as ice.

    "So rejoice, Kane. For this is truly an honor. You die a respectable death."

    "Honor?"

    I scoffed, staring at her with an expression that said she was full of shit.

    "What''s honorable about this?"

    I grabbed the sword with my bare hand, forcibly removing it from my shoulder, overwhelming her strength despite being weakened.

    A trace of surprise appeared in her eyes as blood ran down the bladed edge from my bleeding palm.

    "Unlock these chains first and then you can throw that word around."

    The crowd became eerily silent.

    But not for long as murmurs rose out of the Amazons.

    "Sisters!"

    Arissa proclaimed loudly in a grandstanding manner.

    "How many of you want me to comply with his...request? How many want me to unlock the chains? Show of hands."

    Not one hand was raised. The Amazons actually booed.

    "And how many of you want his head on a pike for breaking our sacred laws and stepping foot on our home, dirtying it with his self serving beastly innate nature?"

    She roared out and the their response was insane.

    I wouldn''t be surprised if my ears were bleeding from the cheers and calls for slaughter that escaped them. It truly was a mob mentality.

    Arissa''s gloating eyes fell upon me with a look that said, ''your move.''

    "I see."

    I groused, the worked up crowd quieting down, although they still simmered with hostile intent. WHEN I leave this place, ain''t no way I''m coming back.

    "This was never going to be a fair fight...It''s an execution."

    I sighed out.

    "Now you understand."

    The Amazon clapped her hands, satisfied.

    "We make the rules. We decide if you live or die. Not you."

    "How cruel."

    I drolled.

    She sheathed her sword in a smooth motion.

    "Make peace with your gods if you have any. For ours will refuse you entry into the Elysium Fields. Only the underworld awaits you."

    Judging by the finality on her tone, things were about to get heated. The time for talk was seemingly over.

    But I needed more information.

    "Wait."

    I stopped her before things could proceed the only way I knew they would.

    "One last thing."

    Arissa blinked.

    "Go on. I''ll humor you."

    I gestured around with my chin.

    "I''m guessing from this perfect ambush you set up, that your captain is in on it too. But are the Princess or the Queen aware of what''s happening?"

    As expected my words had a certain effect.

    Some of the warriors looked...uncomfortable.

    Arissa''s lips thinned.

    "By the time, they find out, you''ll be long dead."

    She then turned to face a certain direction behind her.

    "Open the gates!"

    Her voice carried through the coliseum, being met with another wave of cheers.

    "Enjoy the last few seconds of your life."

    The Amazon bit out scathingly, haunted eyes staring at my own.

    "For everything I had to suffer through when Herakles, that...sick bastard invaded the Island, this shall be my vengeance. Your death shall shall be the penance Man''s world pays."

    She seemed to deflate.

    "And maybe finally, we can put this grudge behind us..."

    With that, she walked away.

    "I have nothing to do with your revenge!"

    Only for me to call out to her, frustration leaking into my voice.

    "Innocent I''m not but you''re merely shifting the blame of what happened onto me because I''m a man. Your ire is with the ones that forced themselves on you, not me. Stop this before it''s too late."

    She stopped.

    By the tightening of her fist, I guessed she knew I was talking about more than my coming execution.

    It was clear something was up. The Queen and Diana were nowhere to be seen despite what was happening, I was yet to see Steve and it was becoming obvious that I was just a piece in a much larger board.

    Arissa then kept on walking.

    Immediately, a gong sounded out across the whole arena.

    Following the gong, a series of drums begun to play, maintaining a doom and gloom pace of beats that dramatized the atmosphere.

    I tugged on the chains once more. They didn''t budge. Even using my webs was out of the question as that was a move I wanted to keep secret.

    The added effect of the manacles wrapping around my wrists only served to make that particular ability unviable.

    The ropes on my feet were not normal either. They seemed to tighten with every struggle I made to untangle myself.

    On top of glowing in a silverly light, the same one pulsing off the chains.

    Another big problem was the mounted crossbows set up on specific points of the Coliseum.

    Judging by the slanted angle they fell on me before without sacrificing markmanship or power, the shooters had a wide view of the entire Arena.

    Multiple layers of traps. And I fell for each one of them.

    But this was good. This could serve as some good training too.

    If I was smart about it, I could even hold out until Diana arrives. IF she arrived.

    Failure to that, I would dislocate my thumbs, slip out of the cuffs and fight my way out, taking as many of them down with me as I could.

    The worrying thing however, was the fact they weren''t outright bullrushing and attacking me.

    In fact, they did the opposite, following Arissa''s move.

    They started backing away from me, hands on their weapons and eyes still trained on my form.

    A loose circle was maintained around me, giving the impression I was some sort of sacrificial offering.

    Sighing, I reached for my eyes and removed my glasses, placing them on the side pocket of my pants.

    While the white shirt I''d worn before was nothing but rags left behind in my cell, the pants were fortunately still intact.

    The beats of the drums grew in a crescendo, intensifying.

    Then without a warning, they abruptly stopped. And I found myself alone on the sands of the arena, all the Amazons having vacated to the edges of the Coliseum.

    A second later I knew why.

    The layout of the Coliseum featured grand columns supporting towering stands, with four cascading staircases leading to the highest seats.

    At the very center of the arena, its heart, an ancient and massive obstacle course was constructed.

    The obstacles were visibly designed for superhuman prowess. Meant to challenge the agility and strength of the participants.

    I should know. Obstacle racing was an effective form of balance, speed and coordination training. Although no obstacle racing I''d been on or seen was this...grand and imposing.

    And the last feature of the Coliseum were three large gates. The one behind me served as an entrance into the Arena.

    The one directly opposite it, on the far edge of the Coliseum served as the exit.

    Finally, the last gate was off to the side, on my direct right, meant for a different purpose.

    One that I learned very soon after.

    The bars groaned as they were pulled on by large chains attached to pulleys, raising the gate and opening the way fkr whatever lay beyond.

    Burning blue eyes appeared from the shadows and the darkness, staring at me with animalistic intent.

    The crowd''s cheers and chants were still going strong...only to fall silent upon a deep growl coming from the gate.

    A growl that shook the air, making it tremble with power.

    I won''t lie. I tugged on my restraints a little bit more at that.

    Heavy stomps that made the arena quake sounded out.

    I don''t know what I was expecting but...the creature that appeared through the gate was equal parts menacing as it was impressive.

    A giant midnight black Wolf, burning entirely with blue flames.

    A Hellhound.

    These man hating bitches wanted to feed me to a fucking Hellhound.

 Issue #13: X, The Revelations.

    (General P.O.V)

    "Caw!"

    A crow perched on Athena''s statue was minding it''s business when a fast moving object passed right next to it, scaring the poor bird into panicked flight.

    "C-Caaw! Caw-caw!"

    Said object turned out to be a princess in rush.

    Diana''s feet landed on a spire, leaving a few cracks behind, while nimbly springing off the tower on her way towards the Palace.

    Something was wrong. She had just come from exploring the scene of the crash left behind by Steve Trevor''s air carriage (Man''s inventions seemed no less wondrous and strange as the God''s magical automatons).

    Deciding to pass through Kane''s cell to retrieve him for the dreadful Senate meeting ahead, she was thoroughly surprised to only find Bulma.

    Bulma had come to deliver the prisoner''s breakfast when she found him missing.

    And sure enough, Kane''s cell lay empty, the bars unbroken and unbent. The doors opened by a key. A key that only a few people should have.

    The young girl was someone who Diana trusted unequivocally. She wouldn''t lie to her for no reason.

    Which meant, someone else was behind this.

    The whole Island knew not to defy a ruling passed by the council with the mandate of the Queen.

    It would take someone really really interested in Kane- most likely with hostile intent due to the prejudice that Amazons had of men- to so blatantly disregard the law.

    And if they were interested in Kane, then they would be interested in Steve as well.

    Great Hera, this whole affair was turning out to be more of a curse than the blessing she thought it was.

    Rather than offering Themiscyra an opportunity to reconnect with the outside world, it revealed the underlying issues plaguing their ostensibly tranquil island.

    The festering wounds under it''s skin.

    The discontent, the whispers only spoken about in the bathing pools and the Coliseum...all of it had reached a boiling point and the lid had tipped over.

    It was no secret most of the older generation who had been alive during Hercules'' rampage, wanted to wage war across Man''s world.

    They had felt denied their due vengeance for too long.

    The presence of two men on the island was like pouring blood on shark infested waters.

    Those veteran warriors would be out to hunt. Out for vindication. No matter the shame and taint brought about by the unjust vengeance.

    A sentiment that was proven true when Diana arrived at the Palace Infirmary, where Steve had spent the night, recovering from injuries sustained during the crash.

    Or so he said. Truth was, Diana knew Alkyone and her squad had roughed him up. It was something the princess was meaning to bring into light during the Senate meeting.

    "What do you mean he''s gone?"

    Diana growled out, towering over the shorter and older woman manning the entrance to the infirmary.

    The guard raised her hands.

    "J-just that princess. C-Captain Alkyone sent in a squad with a writ and the Queen''s crest. They took him to the throne room under her Majesty''s orders."

    "Alkyone again."

    Diana grit her teeth before her expression changed into a perturbed one.

    "Wait, my Mother''s crest? Why would they have that? It''s the highest symbol of authority in Themiscyra. No different from the throne or the crown."

    Those weren''t things to be casually handed out. Especially to the likes of Alkyone.

    Something was very very wrong...

    Before the guard could so much as respond, she found herself thrown back by a loud impact.

    Coughing due to the dust produced, all the guard could do was look at the hole left on the ceiling, where the Princess had blasted through with no warning.

    "What is going on...?"

    The clueless guard muttered to herself.

    (Elsewhere)

    Diana burst through the floor of the throne room, marble drebis flying away in a shower around her.

    In one second, her sword was drawn out and ready to cleave anyone who would stand in her way.

    One glance into the room and her concern morphed into anger.

    The queen''s hair was in disarray, her robes disheveled in a form unfit of a monarch. Her hands and feet were strapped in silver chains and the robes she wore tattered in places.

    Added with the obvious signs of battle in the chamber...it didn''t take a genius to know what had occured.

    A coup.

    And the one responsible...

    "Youuu."

    Diana ground out, taking slow steps forward.

    "Princess, how nice of you to finally join us."

    Alkyone, standing at the foot throne, greeted with a mocking grin.

    "Ahn-unh-aah princess. Stay where you are or I slit your dear mother''s throat."

    She threatened, one hand wrenching back Queen Hippolyta''s hair.

    "Diana."

    Her mother''s powerful voice stopped Diana on her tracks, the haze of her fury clearing away with Hippolyta''s next words.

    "Leave Now! It''s you she wants. You''re not safe here."

    Diana blinked, looking around the throne room packed with more than just Alkyone and Hippolyta.

    "Sisters..."

    The Princess started, her voice shaky, just like the hand wielding her weapon.

    "Why?"

    She ground out in confused anger, hard eyes sweeping across every face present. Friends she had fought and trained with, mentors she had learned under...family she had shared laughter and tears with.

    "Why are you all doing this? Is Alkyone forcing you?!"

    None of them met her eyes, and those who did looked away in shame. And yet...no one stepped up to support her.

    "Hahaha, forced them? As if."

    A new voice reached Diana''s ears.

    Following the source, her eyes were pulled to the woman whose feet were slung over Queen Hippolyta''s Throne, looking right at home.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    "Took you long enough to notice me."

    Circe said, picking a grape from the platter being offered to her by an attendant.

    "Who are you? And what are you doing on my mother''s Throne?"

    Diana demanded, grip tightening on her sword.

    "Circe."

    The woman offered up easily.

    "And you call this a throne? I''ve seen better. Sat on better."

    Diana instantly saw red.

    Bam!

    Her sword, once on her right hand, dug itself onto the ceiling, the handle shaking from the impact.

    She''d thrown it at Circe''s head, only for the witch to casually flick a hand out and using telekinesis, send it flying up to the sky.

    "Ha! There''s Hippolyta''s spirit!"

    Circe clapped, jumping to her feet with a flourish of her emerald gown.

    "I can tell our fight will be legendary, Diana was it?"

    Power seemed to emanate out of her, filling the throne room with a heavy pressure. One that Diana had never felt before. Not even from Kane.

    "Just to give you a taste of what you''re dealing with..."

    Circe said, pushing her hands out.

    Diana could do nothing as an invisible force slammed into her, throwing her smashing through the doors of the Throne room and onto the hallway outside.

    "Hey, wait for me!"

    Circe cackled madly, her flowing green dress extending into a similar colored magic carpet that carried her out after Diana.

    "You''re gonna be fun to play with, Daughter of Zeus!"

    "Diana!!"

    Hippolyta yelled for her daughter, trying to get up, only for Alkyone to kick the inside of her knee, sending her to the ground once more.

    "You''re not going anywhere ''Your former highness.''"

    Alkyone said with a huff.

    "Today you and your legacy die and Themiscyra will be better off for it."

    Queen Hippolyta stared up at her with sneer.

    "And who shall rule it? You?"

    Alkyone''s smile turned vicious as she leaned in closer.

    "I would die first than let someone else sit on that throne. It''s. Mine."

    Hippolyta shook her head, the last of her hope dying. The sister she had known once was well and truly gone.

    In her place was an inferior copy. An irredeemable woman whose ambition and narrow mindset, would be her undoing. And Hippolyta had no qualms in telling her the same.

    "Then your fate is sealed, Alkyone. Circe is a monster. And a petty one at that. That bitch will destroy the Island long before your arse warms the cushion."

    Thawck!

    Alkyone backhanded the Queen, causing a universal breath intake from everyone in the throne room.

    "That''s for talking back to your new Queen."

    The bald headed Amazon sneered down.

    "You want to see Diana that bad? I shall indulge you as your monarch. There."

    She forcefully grabbed Hippolyta''s chin, wrenching her face to the direction she was pointing at: The Coliseum standing in the distance.

    "On the sands of the Arena, as the two of you fight for your lives. What better way to mark the beginning of my reign?"

    "What is the meaning of this madness Alkyone?! Release the Queen at once!"

    A stern faced woman, the chair of the Senate demanded, walking in through the doorless entrance of the throne room.

    She stood at the head of the Island''s top officials, guarded by a dozen armed guards.

    Different from the standard armor like attire the warriors in the chamber wore, the council members were garbed in formal dressing, indicative of their status.

    Alkyone, back turned to them, broke her stare off with Hippolyta, straightening to her full height.

    "Ah council members, how corteous of you to join us."

    She addressed them, her tone dripping with naked arrogance.

    Next, she spun around, hands stretched out.

    "I was wondering when you would get off your pampered arses and realize...a new day is upon us."

    Shaking with barely restrained fury, the head of the Senate begun to reply.

    "Do you have any idea-"

    "Yes. Indeed I do."

    Alkyone interjected, eyes not on the Council Woman but behind her.

    "Dela, what are you waiting for? Relieve them of their weapons. And if anyone tries to stop you...give them the Pillyphus treatment."

    She ordered.

    That''s when the Senate noticed the Queen''s Royal guard, lying on the floor to the side, hand pressed on her bleeding belly.

    No one knew whether she was alive or dead.

    "Great Zeus! Pillyphus what-"

    The minister of the Policing Force, a friend of the Captain of the Guard tried to approach her friend.

    Only for the sharp end of a blade to prick her neck.

    "You heard the queen."

    The Amazon behind her, Dela said coolly.

    A series of sounds rang out as weapons were unsheathed, prompting the Senate to look behind them and find themselves held hostage by their own guards.

    "What do you want Alkyone?!"

    One of the council women demanded.

    "How long have you been planning this?!"

    "Long enough to know that I can''t extend the same offer to you 12, as I do the rest of our sisters."

    The self proclaimed queen responded.

    She stepped forward, righteous indignation pouring off her.

    "You call it loyalty. I call it stubbornness. The fact is, you lack the vision. The vision needed to see through a new Themiscyra. One that answers to me."

    "You mean Circe. And only if she leaves the Island standing once she''s through with you."

    The Queen mocked.

    "Circe?!"

    The name caused a commotion among the new arrivals.

    "You''re a fool Alkyone."

    The Head of the Council shook her head.

    "Trusting that Witch..."

    She trailed off.

    "There''s a reason she was banished. Circe''s goal has only ever been destruction and pain. You have no idea who you''re-"

    "Dela?"

    Alkyone called out coldly.

    "Oof."

    The Head of the Council coughed out in pain, the breath in her lungs expelled by a punch to the solar plexus.

    "Good."

    Alkyone nodded, satisfied.

    "As I was saying before being brutally interrupted. A Themiscyra unbeholden to meaningless tradition and practices. One without weakness. One unbeholden to anyone."

    "You mean the Gods."

    The Queen cut in.

    This time, despite being interrupted, Alkyone smiled.

    "Exactly. To Hades with those pompous arseholes."

    The entire throne room went silent.

    "You''re mad Alkyone. Mad."

    Hippolyta bit out in a hard tone.

    "Disparaging the gods is a crime with severe repercussions. And not just for you."

    "Yeah? So what?"

    Alkyone sneered.

    "What will you do about it? Even they can''t do anything to me. I''m the Queen of Themiscyra, commanding a force in the tens of thousands. They want a fight? I say...let them come."

    *****

    Diana grunted, pain blooming on her ribs as she shattered one of the fountains with her body.

    She got to her feet, unsteady and dizzy, only to drop to one knee, having never been hit that hard before.

    The second time was enough to send her punching through the walls of the palace, finding herself in free fall before carving a groove through her favorite place, the Palace Gardens, set on the eastern section of the compound.

    "Never been hit as hard, have you little Godling?"

    Her adversary echoed a similar sentiment, gently floating to the ground with an amused smile on her face.

    Diana shook her head, punching the ground with an angry growl and bursting a small hole around her fist.

    "You''ll Pay for that. I love this garden."

    "Oh will I? I love that expression on your face. You''re defiant, unbroken. Let''s change that."

    Circe begun, starting to move her hands in the motions of a spell.

    "Arrggg!!"

    Diana roared, the ground under her feet erupting into dust and soil.

    She dashed forward, fist lashing out. Witches and magicians were weak in close quarters. She just had to stop her from finishing the spell and-

    Breath left her body as another platform of air impacted against her chest, slamming into her with the force of an explosion.

    The Amazon princess was ready this time, tensing her muscles and grounding herself, to the result of simply sliding backwards instead of being sent flying away.

    The environment behind her was not so lucky however. Flower petals swirled around them, trees were uprooted and the whole area looked similar to a scene left behind by the passing of a category 5 cyclone.

    Diana rolled her shoulders, having felt the attack but still remained standing.

    "Your tricks won''t work again, Witch."

    Circe blinked in surprise.

    Then slowly the smile that had been present on her face turned feral.

    She slapped her hand over her eyes, laughter escaping her.

    "I knew it. You really are his daughter..."

    The hand fell, and Diana was treated to emerald eyes that glowed with power and a hunger for more.

    "Well then, you just became very useful to me, Princess."

    Diana narrowed her eyes. She bent down, grabbed a chunk of the fallen Fountain and raised it''s half ton weight above her.

    Then she threw the whole thing at Circe.

    The Witch watched in interest as the projectile flew her way. She raised a dainty palm sparking with electric energy and fired off an erratic bolt of lightning at the chunk of stone.

    The chunk exploded into pebbles and dust, obscuring the area.

    "Oh, so that''s the strategy."

    Circe muttered to herself, losing sight of Diana in the garden.

    "Using the dust to hide your position. Clever."

    And sure enough, the Amazon princess appeared behind Circe, her long legs winding into a spinning kick with the strength to shatter stones.

    Circe smiled. Unseen by Diana her eyes glowed green, indicating the activation of a spell.

    The earth under them rose up in a mould that blocked Circe from Diana''s attack, only for the Witch to realize she had underestimated the Demi-god as the kick managed to burst apart the defensive spell.

    Circe''s eyes went wide as she begun to turn around, only to meet Diana''s fist mere millimeters away from connecting with her cheek.

    Whoosh!

    A concrete pressure wave followed behind Diana''s fist, missing Circe as the Witch smartly popped away from scene.

    Only for her to appear right behind Diana, hand placed on the small of the latter''s back.

    ''I can''t move. Why can''t I move?''

    Thought Diana, frozen in place by an invisible force.

    "Did you think that would work?"

    Circe snorted.

    "Your mother stole 3000 years from me. Sealed away in the ruins below the Island. Do you think I didn''t prepare for my revenge? That I stayed silent all that time? That I wouldn''t grow my skills? Train my magic to the point I could cast any spell instantly? Did you take me for your run of the mill Magician? If so..."

    ZzzZzttttt!!

    "Aaarghhhgg!!!!"

    Diana screamed in agony as arcs of emerald lightning invaded her body, seizing up her limbs and burning her flesh.

    ZzzZzttttt!!

    "You made a very big mistake by underestimating me."

    More lightning surged down her hand and into Diana, who screamed herself raw, eyes bloodshot with pain.

    "I''ll make you burn."

    Circe said, sending another jolt into Diana.

    ZzzZzttttt!

    "I''ll make your mother watch as I strip your flesh from your bones."

    ZzzzZZttt!

    "Ill make you bleed, Daughter of Hippolyta..."

    ZzzZztt!

    "...but not here."

    The witch of Aiaia shook her head, the emerald lightning striking Diana dead on, eliciting more howls of pain from her.

    Slowly the charge lessened until, Diana''s body hit the ground.

    "Not just anywhere will do however. Only the Sands of Themiscyra deserve to taste the blood of Zeus'' welp."

    Circe said.

    Despite the pain Diana was in, she followed Circe''s gaze, to stare at the Coliseum a distance away.

    "It should be time too. How convenient, I thought Alkyone would fail me, but she and Serena have proven to be quite the help."

    "Serena?"

    Diana panted.

    "W- What does the High Priestess have to do with this?"

    She hissed through bloody teeth.

    The most malicious smile so far, stenciled itself onto Circe''s face.

    "The word that comes to mind is...everything."

 Issue #14: X, The Hound.

    (General P.O.V)

    (Elsewhere)

    Steve was in pain.

    A lot.

    And he was cold too.

    Both added and then compounded into an unholy combo that made the Spy wish he was back in boot camp.

    At least there, the threat to his life was minimal even though the torture of training was more trauma inducing.

    Plus, on the bright side his current tormenters were good looking.

    "Move."

    One of them shoved him forward roughly and Steve had to bite back a snide remark as they made their way through the tunnel.

    One lesson he''d quickly learned was that the Amazons did not appreciate humor. Especially coming from a man.

    "So...where are we going? I doubt this is the way to the Palace."

    He took a chance as they ducked through another intersection, the walls around covered by cobwebs and skittering insects.

    "Shut him up."

    The High Priestess ordered from ahead the group.

    The two Amazons behind Steve wasted no time, one of them ramming the pommel of their lance onto his Kidney.

    Steve went down on a knee, gasping from the pain. They might not look it, but these Women were stupidly strong. He''d learned that the hard way.

    Damn that guy for not warning him.

    "Okay okay, got it."

    He waved them off.

    "Less talking, more walking."

    From then on, he gave them little trouble. His mind was understandably pre-occupied with how he to get out of this mess.

    He couldn''t rely on that...strange man. Kane, he''d called himself, to save him. Neither could he trust on the angel who he found out was called Diana to bail him out.

    He was alone.

    A few minutes later, the sounds of cheering grew audible from their front. The tunnel they were on had changed from a dusty path, into a bricklayered ramp that went up and up-

    "Is that...light?"

    Steve enquired, risking another blow.

    Neither of his escort said a thing in response.

    Finally, the tunnel emptied out into a chamber of sorts, one with a brown ceiling painted with a mural depicting fantastical battles and phenomenal scenes.

    Steve turned around, awed by the visual spectacle that any historian or archaeologist would kill to study.

    "Whoa."

    The veteran fighter pilot muttered.

    "This is..."

    "The beginning. Unfortunately, you won''t be around to see it."

    The High Priestess coldly informed him.

    "Wha..."

    Steve sensed the attack coming but decided not to react. As a result, his knee was kicked in and shoulders held in a vice grip by the two warriors behind him.

    "You''re probably wondering what is going on."

    The High Priestess walked closer to him.

    "This chamber is constructed right under the Coliseum. As a matter of fact, it has been here even longer."

    True enough. The walls were archaic, filled with cracks and moldy sections.

    "What does this have to do with you?"

    The High Priestess asked, spotting his confusion.

    "To answer that, I''ll let you in on a little secret."

    She bent down, close to his face.

    "Do you know why you survived?"

    Then she whispered something to him.

    Steve raised his eyebrows in confused understanding. That''s...not where he thought she would go.

    Shaking his head, Steve took the bait.

    "Why? Why did I survive?"

    The High Priestess reached for her hood...and removed it, revealing a beautiful face set with silver eyes.

    "I revealed the Island to you. I let you find Themiscyra."

    The two warriors behind Steve stiffened in shock. As if this piece of news was new to them too.

    "Ah, Your divineness? what do you-"

    One of them begun, only for Steve, to plunge his elbow onto her belly. And as she gasped, releasing him while curling in pain, the other Amazon tried to bring her lance down on Steve-

    "Bastard!"

    -Only for her to fall like a puppet whose strings were cut, owing to the neck chop delivered by the High Priestess.

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    "Well that''s that, I didn''t think you''d trust me..."

    The High Priestess sighed in relief, turning around only to feel the tip of a spear on her neck.

    "Explain. Everything. Now."

    Steve growled.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    The Coliseum was a haven of chaos.

    And not just because of the cheers and roars of approval coming from the Amazons on the edge of the Arena.

    The stands seemed to be steadily filling up with more and more Amazons. All hungry for a spectacle.

    It seems that the drums were meant for more than just signalling the start of the battle; also serving as a summon of sorts.

    That was at least my conjecture. And as it was apparent my life was at risk, that was as far as I allowed that train of thought to go.

    Why?

    Because I had a more urgent matter to attend to.

    Like the lumbering mass of superheated flesh prowling towards me.

    The Hellhound was unlike anything I''d ever laid my eyes on.

    Even from this distance, I could tell from its shifting muscles and burning coat, that this was an enemy stronger than the Serpent Steve and I had encountered in the forest.

    And the thing was staring at me with a ferocious look on its burning blue eyes.

    It only took a second to regard me and then disregard me as nothing but prey.

    Then it really moved.

    And the whole Arena started shaking with each of its steps.

    The temperature of the air around me heated up, and the cheers from the spectators increased tenfold. I looked down at my position.

    I reiterate, this situation is not ideal. Not ideal at all.

    Both hands in glowing silver chains, my body restrained by long shafts of metal that had formed a cage around me...and the physical aspect of my new powers...suppressed.

    Welp, I''m dead.

    I turned to the front, fearlessly grinning up at the beast rightfully from Fantasy about to make chow meat of me.

    The distance had shrunk so quickly that I was treated to the image of long sharp teeth preparing to clamp down on my position, ballistic bolts, sand, Kane and all.

    Only for the Hellhound to step on the breaks and stop a very short distance away from me, its entire body shaking like a leaf in a hurricane.

    (General P.O.V)

    The Coliseum seemed to go silent at what they were witnessing.

    Arissa didn''t know what had happened.

    The Hellhound was poised to attack like it usually did, only for it to come to a screeching halt before Kane.

    The cheers and pandemonium of hot blooded Amazons looking forward to Kane''s execution, were rendered mute by the unexpected turn of events.

    And that''s when she felt it. And not just her.

    "Monster..."

    Lyra gulped as she and almost every other Amazon surrounding Arissa took a unified step back, staring at Kane''s position with wide unblinking eyes.

    Sweat dotted her brows, and her hands slightly shook. None of them had ever felt something so...raw and visceral.

    Arissa actually found her hand inching towards the weapon on her hips, as her body reacted to a perceived threat.

    The dust in the arena settled and the scene was fully revealed to them.

    The Hellhound sat on its hunches, whining in subservience before a still restrained Kane.

    Arissa tightened her grip on the frame of the barricade around the arena, eyes wide and skeptical.

    "He used his Hades damned Killing Intent on the Hellhound?! And it worked?!"

    She asked herself, incredulous and full of disbelief.

    "He what?"

    Lyra echoed, the look in her eyes changing as she reevaluated Kane. Who was this man? Were all males so...resourceful and terrifying?

    Gritting her teeth, Arissa snapped her face toward Lyra.

    "Give me the horn."

    Lyra wordlessly complied.

    Arissa snatched it and brought it to her lips, only hesitating for a second as a heap of doubt blossomed within her.

    She could not mess this up, not when Alkyone was relying on her.

    This was the show of power they needed to cement her position as someone to be trusted by the rest of the Island.

    The Amazons would never follow a weak Queen.

    So Kane had to die. He had to die in the most gory way possible. And if the damned Hellhound couldn''t do it, then she was going to take matters into her own hands.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Up close and the Hellhound was no less intimidating than before. Nay, It was even more so.

    But even a monster from legend would falter when put under the effects of my Trump Card.

    A fully loaded blast of killing intent directed it''s way. The phantom of death unleashed. A promise. Like a sharp knife hanging above a beating heart...

    A skill that you couldn''t train. Only sharpen with each life you took.

    A whine that sounded as if it was projected from a loudspeaker caught my attention. The Hellhound was staring at me with a mix of fear and nervousness, it''s chest rumbling deeply.

    Oh. I was yet to retract my killing intent. Closing my eyes, I breathed it all in. The unmitigated malice and violence.

    The commotion settled. Breathing became easier for all exposed to the effects of the Killing Intent.

    When I opened my eyes, it was with a small smile on my face.

    "You don''t really want to fight either do you?"

    I asked the beast, staring deep into it''s eyes.

    In response, a wet tongue rolled out of its fiery maw, licking my torso and face, covering me in dog slobber.

    "Ooof, you should really get a breath mint."

    I joked, hit on the face with hot dog breath.

    "Then again, I don''t think they make any that come in your size."

    Another lick, accompanied by a happy bark that sounded more like the rumble of thunder, escaped the Hellhound, indicating to me that I''d won it over.

    "Okay okay, get me out of here and I''ll find you a bone or two."

    I added, my eyes landing on Arissa and the Amazons on the edges of the sand field. Most of whom were looking at me in fear and trepidation.

    My smirk turned feral.

    "There''s no shortage chew toys for you to play with."

    Fortunately, the 20 feet tall and even longer Hellhound woofed in understanding.

    With a swipe of its claw, the Hellhound smashed apart the ballistic bolts holding me in place,

    allowing me to jump to my feet.

    Then it opened its jaws wide, exposing to me long teeth the size of my hands in a mouth that was covered in super hot blue flames.

    "What are you-"

    My words were cut short when the Hellhound wound it''s head around and breathed out an inferno of flames my way.

    While my whole body tensed, I realized that danger sense had yet to activate, meaning it wasn''t an attack.

    I forced myself to calm down, enjoying the cascading flames as they melted the last of the ballistic bolts around me, leaving me standing unburnt and whole on the Arena.

    "That''s a good boy..."

    I rubbed its lowered head, only for the cheeky thing to growl a little, a spark off it''s coat jumping onto my finger and slightly burning it.

    "Oh, so you''re not a boy...a girl then? My mistake."

    I chuckled, wincing as I looked at the finger and...found no burn marks.

    The fire-she had such phenomenal control of it.

    Woof!

    She confirmed with another bark, going back to licking my hands, only for us to be interrupted by the blare of a horn.

    A very familiar one.

    Looking over at Arissa told me everything I needed to know. Especially with the malicious expression she was sporting.

    I coldly stepped away from the Hellhound.

    The beast herself tensed, a dangerous growl rumbling forth from her chest and permeating the arena. She could feel the danger as well.

    As if on cue, danger sense activated, with the air being filled up with dozens of long metallic shafts. The sharp tips descending onto our position glinted beautifully in the sun.

    I see. So that''s what you''ve decided Arissa. Your initial plan to use the Hellhound has failed. So the backup plan is to pelt us with a barrage of ballistic bolts.

    "Hey."

    I called out to the Hellhound, holding up my chained hands.

    "Would you mind?"

    Another growl and I was awash with flames.

    (General P.O.V)

    "Hold!"

    Arissa gave the order as a ball of flames exploded in the area around the Hellhound, melting all the ballistic bolts before they could land on target.

    "Sister...has the Hellhound always been this ferocious?"

    Lyra muttered from beside her.

    Arissa gave no answer, only tightening her hands on the barricade as she watched the flames die out, revealing Kane...still alive.

    "Why won''t you just die?!!"

    Arissa lost control of her rage.

    "Archers! Listen up! Don''t stop firing until I say so. By the time you''re done, I want to see that mongrel and his new pet full of holes!!"

    "Quick Question."

    Kane yelled out. And with no visible chains on his wrist, jumped ontop of the Hellhound''s head, a grin on his face.

    "Who''s the mongrel and who''s the pet here? You need to be more specific."

    "Archers!!"

    Arissa clenched her jaw so hard, her teeth almost cracked.

    "No mercy. Fire!"

    The Amazons manning the ballistic mechanisms didn''t need to be told twice.

    There was the unmistakable sound of metal grinding on each other, the bolts slotting in place with an audible clang.

    Then...

    Twacckk!!!

    Kane watched the third barrage flying at them with barely a reaction, wringing his freed wrists.

    The fire had managed to melt even the chains, something he had hoped for but not expected. Fortunately, that saved him the trouble of dislocating his thumbs.

    "You ready?"

    He rubbed his new ally''s head.

    She barked out, paws slamming onto the sand and producing sparks that instantly turned the particulates into glass.

    Translation? Of course she was.

 NOT A CHAPTER! But...still something good.

    Hey. Can''t Update today or tomorrow(it''s valentines and I have plans.)

    As a Placeholder...I give you... 3 fics.

    **********************************************

    A man of steel x Invincible SI.

    Chapter 1: Val-Zod.

    (General P.O.V)

    The battle of Metropolis happened differently.

    In another timeline, General Zod''s neck was snapped by Superman.

    In this world, Superman never got the chance. Whether by a stroke of luck or maybe through divine intervention, Zod failed to terraform the planet way earlier. And as a result, the city was spared the battle between two gods.

    And seeing his soldiers, his men, fall prey to the world engine, their d.n.a being the cause of their demise, the General of the Kryptonian Army simply broke.

    "Zod, take my hand!!"

    Superman yelled, one hand stretched out as he fought the pull of the imploding world engine behind the Kryptonian General.

    The latter looked into the eyes of Jor-el''s son and...realized something.

    Even in death, Jor-el had beaten him. For his son, his legacy, still stood defiant before him.

    Lile his father, Kal-el had chosen the hard way. The difficult path. And instead of detesting him, hating him, Zod finally understood.

    "Your father would be...proud."

    Zod told the young Kryptonian, who had turned his back on his people...but not his home.

    He saw the surprise in those blue eyes, so much like Lara''s. Imploring him to listen to reason like years before, for Zod to stop fighting. To let go of his anger. Of his guilt.

    Of his Duty.

    He refused that time.

    And he refused this time as well. For Zod was PRIDE. Whether in life or in death.

    His eyes never left Superman''s. Even as he stopped resisting the pull from the sure death behind him. The world engine pulling on his d.n.a with the might of a black hole.

    It wouldn''t fit for the ship to go down without the Captain.

    "Protect your home, Kal. And pray we never meet again."

    He left those words behind as a warning but also as advice. For Superman had no idea, the task he had taken upon himself.

    He could be a protector like Zod once was. Or he could be a destroyer, as Zod now was.

    (Elsewhere)

    (Years Later)

    (Val''s P.O.V)

    "Okay son. Start slow."

    A dark skinned giant of a man, whispered to a young boy.

    I''m that young boy. General Zod, my father(to me he''s dad, but during our training sessions he always insists I call him General Zod)is teaching me the ways of Torquasm vo, the Kryptonian martial Arts for physical discipline.

    There''s also Torquasm Rao, which is mostly focused on mental discipline but we usually train that during the night in our meditation exercises.

    I''m currently 5 years old. This isn''t my first life...

    Otherwise any normal 5 year old would be complaining about punching the trunk of a Queensland blue gum tree, with their bare fists.

    Especially when my Kryptonian powers are yet to manifest.

    Oh yeah, metaknowledge for the win.

    Bam!

    My fists raw and red screamed at me to stop, and yet I kept on. A steady tempo of flesh on wood.

    Bam!

    Blood flowed freely through my clasped fingers, leaving a patch of red on the tree.

    Bam!

    Bam!

    "Keep your breathing constant. That''s how you regulate your strength."

    My father would occasionaly offer instruction.

    I adjusted on the fly, not breaking the tempo.

    Bam!

    Bam!

    "Stop hunching your shoulders. You will lose a fraction of strength that way and in a battlefield, that means death, boy."

    "Yes father."

    I felt the light tap of a stick on my forehead. A warning. I swallowed, correcting myself.

    "Yes, General Zod."

    "Mmhh."

    I heard him hum in satisfaction, all the while I was glaring at the tree trunk before me. Despite wailing on the thing for almost a week, there was no lasting damage.

    It fuelled me to punch even harder.

    Thwack!

    The stick landed, this time hard enough that I winced while clutching my head in pain.

    Whirling around, I was met with a cool gaze and raised eyebrows. I reluctantly let go of my anger.

    "Tonight you meditate until morning. It seems you need more Torquasm Rao lessons."

    General Zod said.

    "What? But-"

    I begun, only to bite my tongue and sigh.

    "Yes General Zod."

    A small smile of approval, one that was gone so quick that I thought I had imagined it, flashed across his hardened visage.

    "Good. Now, you will keep punching that trunk until you break it, or the sun dips down."

    Aaaand we''re back to his no-nonsense attitude.

    I turned around, adopting the basic stance for Torquasm Vo, and promptly begun hammering away at the trunk.

    This went on for a week. Each morning I would wake up sleepy due to the Torquasm Rao session the night before (meditation sounds easy in theory but you try pairing it up with a young body that was full of energy and see what you get- either I squirmed alot or I slept alot. In both instances, Zod was there with his trusty cane).

    The rest of the day would be spent with him teaching me about the history of our home from the stars, Krypton.

    That would be usually in the morning, then it would be maths, (gah) Kryptonese, which is the Kryptonian language and the basics of Science, strategy and warfare. Lastly and maybe weirdly, religion.

    I never took him for the religious type before. But as I would come to learn, my father was a complex man.

    We worshiped Rao. In this world, far from Krypton, that meant bowing at the morning sun and the setting sun.

    We also lived in the mountains. Had been, ever since I could remember.

    All my past life memories came rushing back when I was 4 years old, throwing me into a long week on and off coma.

    During that time, Father had meticulously taken care of me. Feeding me, bathing me and telling me stories of his exploits as the General of Krypton.

    He never hid anything from me.

    Just like that, 1 more year would pass as we trained, keeping to the schedule established, only with sparring included.

    I was going to turn 6 tomorrow.

    One of those instances of training helped me learn there was more to fighting than pure strength or speed. Or in other words, Torquasm Rao, was the core of Torquasm Vo.

    *******

    The cold mountain breeze blew on an open field, right behind the cabin we lived in. (As stated, Dad and I lived secluded in the mountains,far away from civilization)

    Black eyes met similar ones as we faced off. Or rather, I faced off against him.

    He was standing, hands clasped behind his back, that detestable cane I hated, swinging back and forth behind him.

    I breathed in, exhaling slowly as my body oriented itself into a ready stance.

    My eyes judged the distance between us with a critical analysis. I knew, one wrong move and I was getting that cane on my forehead.

    "Well, boy? We don''t have all day."

    Da- General Zod addressed me. But I knew what he was doing. Taunting me to attack.

    I knew better.

    My heel scruffed against the ground, widening my stance.

    Then I was off. Jumping backwards as Zod appeared on my previous position, the cane in his hand tearing into the ground and leaving a small crater.

    I knew it.

    But him attacking so suddenly revealed an opening.

    And I was off again, dashing to his left with a hand pulled back.

    He saw me coming from a mile away and waited until I was mere inches away from him.

    Then the cane cut through the air, whistling as it was set to deliver the mother of all whacks onto my face.

    Only for me to slide in between his feet. I can''t believe that worked. Heart pumping with excitement, I knew I had him. I was going to land my very first blow.

    In a second I was up, spinning my heel into the back of his knee-

    Darkness took hold.

    I woke up a few minutes later with the father of all headaches and an agghead on my forehead.

    Looming over me, My father tsked, a disappointed look on his face.

    "You got too excited and paid the price. Battle demands a cool head. You never know if or when the enemy intentionally sets up a false opening."

    "Ugh."

    I rubbed my head, throwing him a sour look.

    "Did you have to hit me so hard?"

    General Zod shifted places with my father and I saw one of his rare smiles.

    "You''re my son."

    He patted my shoulder.

    "If anyone can take it, it''s you."

    I gaped up at him. Such unreasonable logic. I''m 6 dammit.

    A serious look crossed his face.

    "Val. I don''t train you because I hate you. I train you because you need to learn how to protect yourself once I''m no longer around."

    That...brought me short. An anxious feeling bloomed within me.

    "No longer around?"

    I repeated.

    "Father...what do you mean by that?"

    Was he...was he going to leave me?

    Instead of answering, the cane in his hand smacked the top of my head, gently. And General Zod was back.

    "Get up. We spar again."

    (General P.O.V)

    The cottage was quiet, the only sound audible, being the soft breathing of a child.

    His child. His son. His Legacy.

    Zod closed the door gently behind him. Despite not displaying the more apparent Kryptonian abilities, Val''s senses were very attuned.

    He could hear a grasshopper from a mile away if he focused. And Zod had to float above the ground to mask his footsteps as he moved down the steps.

    Finally outside, the former Kryptonian General looked up at the sky, at the moon shining down on this Earth he''d gotten stranded on- after the World Engine sucked him in.

    He''d thought he would die.

    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    And no one else had survived besides him. But he hadn''t come out unscathed. His powers...they''d been steadily fading away over the years.

    His cells irreversibly damaged during the transition.

    Otherwise he wouldn''t entertain her.

    The woman floating on the sky, the glare of the moon highlighting her muscular physique while still retaining it''s feminine curves.

    Zod, flew up slowly, the cloak he wore flapping in the calm night breeze as he arrived before the mother of his son.

    "Anissa."

    Zod greeted with a small smile.

    With short hair, a beautiful face and full lips, the Viltrumite female closed the distance in between them and passionately started kissing him.

    "You trimmed your beard."

    She purred, stroking his cheek.

    "I like it."

    Zod placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her away.

    "Not here. He might hear us."

    The look in her eyes shifted from seductive to...something soft, her line of sight on the cabin below.

    Then she turned an glared at the Kryptonian.

    "Spoilsport."

    Voom!

    The air cried out as Anissa ascended, leaving the Earth''s atmosphere.

    Zod looked down at the cabin for a few seconds, before turning his gaze to the sky and following after Anissa.

    They had a battle to commence. A battle to decide whether Val stayed with his Father or left with his mother to be trained like a Viltrumite.

    A battle that had been happening every year since he was born, on the eve of his birthday.

    The battle of Legacies.

    (Elsewhere)

    In a high tech operations room with rows of screens and agents manning those screens,

    A bespectacled man, swiveled on his chair as a prompt appeared on one of the monitors.

    "Sir, we got a match."

    Donald, second in command of one of the most influential men on the planet, told said man.

    On the grid showing earth, two fast moving objects were being tracked as they left the atmosphere.

    "Well Donald, Christmas just came early."

    Cecil Stedman, the director of the Global Defense Agency replied, leaning over the railing.

    Who knew revamping their monitoring systems and modifying them with the help of the Mauler twins would be a great idea?

    "Track their trajectory, I wanna know where they''re going but most importantly...where they''re coming from."

    He gave the order.

    **********************************************

    And 2.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Saint A/N: Lovers of One Piece, I bring you a Lunarian SI or OC whatever you wanna call it.

    -0-

    Chapter 1: The Sun Pirates.

    (Gabriel Narrating)

    ~(Someone was scrubbing the floors of the Sun Pirate''s ship)~

    The age of pirates.

    No one would have anticipated the kind of chaos and unprecedented change the seas would undergo due to the actions of one man.

    Gol.D. Roger.

    The king of the pirates. The only man to journey to Raftel (Laugh tale) and find the legendary treasure, One Piece.

    Well La di da.

    Good for the guy. Also fuck him too. I blame him for all the stupid shit I had to endure. Or rather, the stupid shit the previous owner of this body went through.

    The feelings of hatred for anything Pirate coming from the memories of the young Lunarian I had taken over were potent enough to bleed into me.

    Pirates had captured him and sold him to the Celestial Dragons afterall.

    So...yeah. Suffice to say, the hate was strong in this one. And through inheriting the body, I seemed to have inherited the animosity as well.

    Only on a smaller scale. Thank god.

    Because in this world, with my mindset and race, the only path left to me was that of being a Pirate.

    And with this body, a body whose potential I couldn''t even begin to explain or fathom, I could make it to heights that even the King of Pirates couldn''t hope to reach.

    "I WILL surpass Gol. D. Roger. I WILL surpass Kozuki Oden, I WILL surpass Rocks D Xebec, the beast Kaido, Garp. I''ll even surpass you...Luffy."

    -0-

    "Do you know what''s he''s mumbling about?"

    Macro asked, the pelican eel Fishman scratching his head in confusion.

    ~(the scrubbing stopped. Only to pick up again)~

    "Phsh..."

    Aladine let out a smoke from his pipe, throwing a side glance at the boy they had managed to rescue along with other slaves from Mariejois.

    "Speaking of, have you ever seen anyone with wings and fire burning on their back? Is he...is he even human?"

    Hatchan whispered.

    Most of the Sun Pirates gathered around the deck looked at each other cluelessly.

    "This world is large and incomprehensibly complex. All manner of creatures exist. Even those that remain yet undiscovered."

    A young Jimbe pitched in from where he sat, crosslegged with a cup of Sake in his hands.

    His crewmates, fellow Fishmen like him hang onto his words.

    The blue skinned future Warlord licked his lips, sighing in contentment and throwing an analytical look at the young boy.

    "I''ve heard of one such race. A rare one known as the True Gods. With wings as white as snow, an ever burning flame above the spine and skin as rich as ground coffee. The boy is most likely a Lunarian and-"

    "He has a name."

    A soft voice interrupted.

    All attention turned to their subject of discussion.

    Only to find the Lunarian boy facing them with no shred of fear or nervousness in his star shaped irises, just a cold gaze that made some flinch.

    Something that made Jimbe stare at him strangely.

    ''Haki?''

    The future Straw Hat member mused.

    "Oh yeah? And what would that name be?"

    A deep and authoritative voice came from the direction of the cabin.

    The source turned out to be a tall Salmon-Pink giant of a Fishman who walked out onto the deck.

    "Captain."

    The Sun Pirate crew stood straighter, creating a path for Fisher Tiger to make his way through.

    The young Lunarian boy craned his neck up, then up some more, his curious but frigid eyes meeting impassive beady black ones.

    The scrubbing fully stopped as a little girl with a perpetual and unnatural smile on her face, looked up in wonder at the Captain of the Sun Pirates.

    A wonder that was shared among the rest of the crew, watching on as one giant Fishman faced a much much smaller figure.

    Yet it was like staring at two suns, each presence unbowed and undiminished by the other.

    "Gabriel."

    The young Lunarian boy finally answered, his pure white angelic wings twitching behind him.

    "My name is Gabriel. Thank you for saving my life."

    He bowed.

    -0-

    (2 months later)

    (East Blue)

    Standing on the frame of the deck, Gabriel jumped off the Ship of the Sun Pirates, drifting to the ground slowly with a gentle flap of his wings.

    His feet landed on the shores of cocoyasi village. Hopefully a new beginning for him.

    The blue seas were meant to be peaceful after all. Besides the occasion blue seas pirates, marines and bandits of course.

    And after training with the Sun Pirates for 2 months, none of those would pose an insurmountable challenge.

    But even with that, he was still pitifully weak, being in a 9 year old body with less reach and coordination.

    Ergo, training was a necessity.

    Lots and lots of training. For he knew what was coming. Sooner or later he would be tracked down, hunted for what he was.

    It wasn''t a question of If but When. Whether they sent an Admiral after him or the CP division of the Marines, it didn''t matter, he knew they would come.

    And he would meet them head on.

    He would be ready.

    "Hey Gabriel!"

    Jimbe called out from the ship.

    The young Lunarian turned around, adopting a smile as he faced his saviours.

    "Try to stay out of trouble, alright kid?"

    Jimbe told him.

    Koala, the little girl who similar to Gabriel had been saved by the Sun Pirates sat on the Fishman''s shoulders, waving farewell at him.

    Infact, the whole crew was present to send him off, including Fisher Tiger and...Arlong.

    The serated nosed Shark Fishman held a certain...glint in his eyes as he stared at the Island before them.

    Gabriel held back a sigh, his wings twitching.

    Welp, fate and the plot dictated by Goda sensei, ensured he would be seeing Arlong soon.

    Very soon if the timeline was to be trusted. Though Gabriel was confident the ripples from his presence here were minimal.

    "I can''t promise anything."

    Gabriel replied, to which the crew stared at him strangely.

    "What?"

    He curiously asked.

    "You just don''t speak alot Angel-kun."

    Koala answered with a laugh.

    A laugh that was shared with the rest of the Sun Pirates. Gabriel wouldn''t admit it, but he was going to miss them.

    The only reason he had escaped the horror and torture that was the home of the Celestial Dragons was because of them.

    Some of the memories left behind by the true owner of the body he occupied made him sick to his stomach. And that was saying something as he had been a nurse in his previous life.

    Back to reality, Gabriel bowed, his long white hair cascading over his face, obscuring his eyes which were slightly misty.

    "Thank you. All of you."

    He said sincerely, knowing that he wouldn''t be seeing them for a long while if ever.

    An image from his past life, of Fisher Tiger''s dying breath in the infirmary of the ship came to mind. He had been wrestling with the decision to tell him of his impending death. To warn him.

    But...

    He knew better than anyone except Koala, the depths of the depravity and inhumanity they''d endured.

    And while traumatized, Koala and he had a chance to recover from the trauma, unfortunately for a prideful man like Fisher Tiger...

    It wouldn''t be wrong to say, he wanted to die.

    Gabriel straightened up from his bow, eyes meeting that of Fisher Tiger. As before, an unspoken conversation took place between them.

    But this time, Gabriel decided to voice it out for the rest of the crew.

    "I promise, I might not be Joyboy, who the legends say is coming..."

    With that initial statement, a few in the know like Jimbe sucked in a deep breath, shocked to their core.

    "But I will destroy Mariejois one day. I will bring down these so called gods from their perch above the world."

    With each word, the silence stretched. All the Sun Pirates and one human girl awed by the convinction in his tone.

    "So you can rest easy knowing that no one, not a Fishman or Human or any other race, will suffer in their hands once I''m through. This, is my vow to you."

    A way to show his gratitude.

    Fisher tiger could only smile to that.

    -0-

    Gabriel watched the Ship sail away, the Sun Pirates flag flapping in the air as it disappeared into the Horizon.

    "Now then."

    The young Lunarian muttered to himself, turning around to face his home for the next...until he was strong enough to not needlessly die in the Grand line.

    So maybe 10 years. Yeah...in 10 years he would sail the seas and begin his dream.

    Which meant, he needed power that rivalled that of a vice admiral. Anything less was unacceptable and anything more was impossible without fighting some tough enemies.

    Luckily, the one who sent him here gave him something to survive. A particularly useful Golden Finger.

    From here everything would depend on his will and conviction.

    The Lunarian stared at a silver ring on his finger. One stenciled with strange characters he had never seen before.

    Trying to remove it was impossible.

    And Rubbing it brought forth an interface of sorts in his mind.

    A floating scroll with brown and frayed edges.

    Written on the scroll was a singular title:- The Angelic Ascension.

    P.S: Lunarian wings are black but for the sake of the setup, Gabriel''s are white.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    And 3:-

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    AN/ Something I wrote a while back.

    MY INVINCIBLE FATHER: Omniman SI.

    Chapter 1: Nolan Grayson

    He kept staring at the mirror.

    Had been. For the last hour. And yet...none of this made sense.

    The face that looked back at him, was none other than Nolan Grayson''s. Otherwise known as Omni-Man.

    He was inside a neat room. With a simple bed in the middle and a half open window letting in a warm breeze.

    The curtains ruffled slightly.

    The sound, woke up his pregnant wife. Another headache he was going to have to address.

    "Nolan, baby? Come back to bed. It''s cold without you."

    Debbie''s voice was soft, loving...desiring.

    And they stirred up the same emotions in him. And love. A love that was deep as it was shallow. He knew how the real Nolan felt.

    She wasn''t different to all the other lovers he''d had in the past. Maybe the most...insatiable one. The way she moaned when he brushed her nipple with his lips.

    "Go back to sleep Debbie."

    Nolan''s voice rang through the bedroom, deep and steady.

    A sound that always managed to ease her. She rubbed her bulging belly lovingly. And then peacefully went to sleep. Her breath evened out. She was dead to the world.

    Nolan or rather the soul within him sighed, rubbing his chin in irritation.

    "Oi, is this a joke or something?"

    He asked in an annoyed voice.

    "I''m 56. Too old to have a brat. Take me bac-..."

    He stopped, as a burning envelope flew into his hand from the open window.

    The envelope was red and had the insignia ''666'' imprinted on its surface.

    Nolan opened it with a stony gaze, pulling out a white letter.

    "(You have been banished from hell. Deal with it.)"

    Nolan stopped, scratching his beard.

    "(Due to an error with the Office of the ~Damned~ Souls Resource Management, Subject XxxX 012276 has been released on probation. Upon successful completion of an issued mission, the subject''s sentence will be completely annulled. Do you accept? It Doesn''t Matter if you do. Abandoning the mission will result in [True Death)"

    The paragraph cut off there. Then a few skipped rows down, there was another piece of text. The mission.

    His brows arched.

    "How ironically annoying."

    He breathed out through his nose, jaw

    "In my past life I enjoyed reaping lives...and now I''m supposed to safeguard them?"

    He stared at his wife''s reflection in the mirror. His eyes returned to his own reflection. A handsome man, Nolan Grayson was.

    A strong man.

    Veins bulged across his terrifyingly cut physique. The physique of a man at his prime. The physique of a warrior.

    He could feel it. The raw power in his limbs. Enough to create earthquakes with a single punch.

    Enough to vaporoze a man with a single slap.

    And he had some firm butcheeks as well. Good for jumping and running. For added measure he squeezed them. Solid rock.

    This body was fashioned after numerous battle, honed through life or death altercations.

    It was fitting.

    Maybe he could do it. If only for the next 18 years. And then ge could off the brat and his mother. Or rather his wife.

    He had to keep up pretenses after all. Play the firm but loving father and husband.

    He was even going to train the brat, so that when the time finally comes for him to release his pent up agression, the brat would be a worthy challenge.

    Turning around, the New Nolan Grayson, not only the prince of an intergalactic warrior race of conquerors, not only a father or husband, not only...dubbed history''s worst serial killer as recorded by 2081 A.D, not only a former prisoner of the worst level of hell, accepted his new life.

    He accepted it all.

    The letter and envelope left on top of the dresser self combust, burning from the edges in.

    And the words on the final paragraph, before the letter turned into ash, read:

    (Your mission is simple, Nolan Grayson. This is a world in need of a savior. The Avengers Initiative shall fail and the World will be infected by a Zombie Plague. 18 years. Protect Earth 2149T for 18 years and you can have your freedom.)

    The next morning, Nolan woke up to a sensation he hadn''t felt in a long time. A sensation that he had missed.

    The lips of a woman wrapped around his member.

    He peeked his eyes open, meeting the doe-eyed lusty expression on Debbie''s face.

    "Mmowjng, oowj do Sweep?" (Morning, how''d you sleep? )

    She tried to speak with his dick in her mouth, sending waves of pleasure through him.

    "Dammit woman, you really know how to work me up."

    He growled.

    Debbie squelled as he pulled her to his chest, tickling her sides and making her laugh uncontrollablly.

    "Stahp stahp..."

    He only stopped when she was mellow like putty in his hands.

    She snuggled her back into his chest, fitting in perfectly between his large and muscular hands.

    He even felt her kneading them, almost entranced. It was something he learned she loved from Nolan''s memories.

    Debbie was attracted to his vicious strength. The Alpha male power he exuded whenever he walked or talked or...fucked.

    She was an insatiable woman afterall. And an insatiable needed an insatiable man.

    "Hey babe,"

    She called out.

    "The baby wants some fresh croissants from that French place and the wife prefers a plate of crumpets and a tub of ice-cream. If only I had a..."

    Within a single second he was out of New York, the next he arrived in France and was back inside the bedroom on the last second.

    "...husband who could..."

    Debbie trailed off aa her nose picked up a wonderful scent.

    On the drawer next to the bed was a packet with the breakfast she wanted.

    Debbie turned to face Nolan with an hungry look on her face. She carressed his cheek.

    "Have I ever told you how wonderful you are, Nolan Grayson?"

    Nolan smiled with mirth.

    "Not nearly enough."

    "Then allow me to express my gratitude."

    Debbie Loosened her gown, revealing herself to the man she wholeheartedly believed was her husband.

    Outside the room, pleasurable moaning could be heard as Nolan mercilessly fucked his pregnant wife.

    The sky at the attitude he was floating above ended at her point on the horizon.

    The canvas of life in the form of a sphere shifted from shades of blue, green and brown just under his chin, giving way to an endless expanse of stars and mores stars.

    It was a view the old Nolan was used to. The new Nolan didn''t see the point in it.

    He supposed it wasn''t bad. And some might consider it beautiful even. But it wasn''t the same as killing. It didn''t give him the same appreciation of existence as the transition from life to death in someone''s eyes.

    But it will have to do.

    To succeed in his mission meant forging an identity. That of a hero. And for there to be no chinks in his armor, he had to go deeper than that.

    He had to change his mindset to reflect that of a hero.

    18 years...

    He caught himself before he could complain about it being too long. He was a viltrumite now. 18 years...heck even 1000 years was nothing to him now. It would all pass in the blink of an eye.

    Before then, his cover had to be ironclad.

    As it so happened, fate had the same plans. With his hearing, he was able to pinpoint a crisis that needed his help.

    Without a moment''s hesitation the future Omniman, the cape of his costume flapping, begun to descend towards Chicago, a fire was burning on a the 13th floor of a building in Downtown.

    He got there in less than 3 seconds. Something that had him questioning just how powerful Nolan was. He could cross the world in a matter of seconds.

    And that wasn''t his top speed.

    Questions for another time.

    Right now he had lives to save. He floated down onto the floor, ignoring the roar of flames as he closed his eyes, using his ears.

    The fast and panicked heart rates of 12 people scattered about the office reached his ears.

    "Okay. I''ll get the ones about to be crushed on the floor below out first."

    His form blurred, the burst of pressure from his sheer speed, causing a pocket of displaced air to collapse, instantly putting out the flames, before a loud sonic boom erupted behind him.

    Down below, the police had cordoned off the entrance to the building, blocking the crowds of onlookers and reporters while the fire-men evacuated the employees.

    A young photographer just happened to look up.

    "Hey what happened to the fire?"

    Just then, bars of metal and pieces of debris from the destroyed floor rained down onto the ground.

    "Lookout!"

    The photographer cried out, looking around urgently, trying to urge everyone to leave, only to find them all staring up.

    So he did as well, and there floating above them all was a tall man, dressed in a white and red costume with an I on his chest.

    The man had a warm, comforting smile as he gazed down at them. A smile that eased the young photographer despite being dumbstruck by such a strange scene.

    "Don''t worry Citizens. Rest easy. For I am Here."

    And then he flew off.

    No one said anything. All of them, the police, the firefighters, the rescued victims.

    It was like that...until he left.

    And only then did any of them find themselves breathing. That...that presence and aura.

    "I was just saved by a Superhero. A real life Superhero."

    One person, covered in smoke and a few burns said, disbelief apparent on her face.

    "Like Captain America. Or an angel. He swooped in through the flames and pulled me out..."

    Another one chimed in.

    That was when the crowd noticed the 12 new additions. The office workers that were stuck in the fire.

    The only question in the Photographer''s mind was one that carried with it serious implications.

    A simple question nonetheless.

    How was the world going to take this?

    (Elsewhere)

    News of course, spread far and wide. Throughout not only the country but the world itself.

    It was the year 2002 after all, Superheros were a thing of the past. Of the 40''s

    And interested parties took note.

    To be specific, a certain one eyed spy in a multi billion dollar air carrier looked at the picture of Omniman on the wall of his office and frowned.

    But he was far from the only one.

 Issue #15: X, The Enemy.

    [[In the mystic tapestry of ancient sorcery, three distinct classes exist. With the fourth class relying entirely on certain divine variables.

    I. Homo Magi - Blood-Blessed Sorcery:

    The mana, a celestial boon from Hecate, graced only those with the divine lineage of the Gods. These were the native magi, bearers of an ancient inheritance written in their very blood.

    II. Occultists - Relic-Wielders of Arcane Art:

    Masters of borrowed power, these individuals were collectors of treasures and artifacts. They transcended the boundaries of nature, drawn into the arcane through the resonance of powerful artefacts. The King of Atlantis holds one such item: Poseidon''s Trident.

    III. Champions and Legacies:

    Shrouded in mystery, Champions and Legacies are the strongest of all Ancient Sorcerers. Tales of the most illustrious, like Herakles or Perseus, whispered of ascension to godhood at the culmination of their mortal existence.

    Lastly, the fourth one,

    IV. Priests and priestesses:

    Ambassadors of the divine, inheritors of an immortal legacy. Through sacred rituals, a divine gift, they illuminate themselves with the radiant light of the gods, serving them in this life and the next.]]

    -- As recorded in the Archaia Mystika- The lost tomes of Atlantis.

    (General P.O.V)

    "He''s only just one man! For Hera''s sake, he has nowhere to hide or run! How do you keep missing him?!"

    Arissa shouted, chastising while equally trying to bolster the Amazon''s spirit amid the impossibility happening before them.

    A battleground they held the home advantage to, and yet-

    "Well, what are you man-hating bitches waiting for? Come at me then!"

    Kane declared, standing on top of the Hellhound''s flaming head, hands stretched out in defiance and confidence.

    The area around the beast from the Underworld was filled with ballistic bolts, all blocked or parried.

    None of the massive arrows had managed to tag Kane, though it wasn''t for lack of trying. And he had made doubly sure that no harm came to the Hellhound as well.

    It wouldn''t do to lose the only ally he had, besides Steve of course- but he was nowhere to be seen. Probably dead.

    Standing next to Arissa, Lyra gulped at the man who had flipped the entire script on its head.

    "Sister, maybe we should wait for the Capt-"

    She begun, her tone unsure only for Arissa to throw her a deathly glare.

    "Are you stupid? We have a job to do and you want to disappoint the Queen by waiting for her to come and handle it?"

    "I..."

    Lyra trailed off, blinking in surprise at the pure venom pouring off Arissa''s tone.

    The second in command walked up to Lyra, looming over her with an almost deranged stare.

    "If you can''t deal with the pressure, then leave ''dear sister''. We have no need for cowards here. You taint these sands with your presence."

    The latter recoiled as if struck.

    "Sister..."

    Even Izah couldn''t believe how hostile and worked up Arissa had gotten. Especially considering she was the most level headed in the squad.

    "Archers! Line up!"

    Arissa ordered, walking up and down the line of Amazons who quickly got to work following orders.

    "Take aim!"

    A follow up command saw strings from powerful bows pulled back, sharp arrows notched.

    The Hellhound started sniffing and huffing, sensing the danger about to befall them.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    "Here we go."

    I told my mighty stead.

    Her hackles rose up, chest rumbling with a deep growl that resonated across the arena.

    For the umpteenth time, and despite the previous instances showing how less than effective arrows were on us, the skies were covered with hundreds of them.

    Without wasting time, the Hellhound opened its mouth and for a lack of better description, woofed.

    I kid you not.

    The woof was special, a woof of the century given that a pillar of flames wide as a city bus surfed forth, the inferno swallowing the projectiles and leaving us unharmed.

    The blue flames continued on, washing over the sand and blasting the barricade around the Arena. Said concrete structure was turned into a red-hot melted slag.

    A section of the stands beyond the barricade were quickly abandoned by the onlooking Amazons, the seating area having caught on fire, burning with intense heat.

    "That...was a bit overkill, girl."

    My hands found themselves gently rubbing the Hellhound''s head.

    "But that''s precisely what I wanted."

    She barked in happiness.

    The sound sent our adversaries into a frenzy. Added to the hot flames that I could even feel from a distance away- it wasn''t surprising the ranks were panicking.

    My gaze found Arissa''s, curious onto what her next move would be after the failed arrow shower.

    I wasn''t disappointed.

    The Coliseum was suddenly filled with the sounds of beating drums, acting as a sort of announcement to what followed.

    Draped in silver war armor, wielding not conventional weapons but strange battle axes used in ancient times called Labrys (normal ones are double headed), a squad of Amazonian stepped forth from the side gate.

    They had the look of heavy infantry, being in a phalanx formation, only without the spears and shields that made it effective in the first place.

    In exchange, glowing silver nets were gripped in their hands- telling me they had a slightly different purpose than the direct attacks their compatriots had been employing.

    I blinked in realization, seeing the genius behind the strategy.

    The arrows to hound us in, before the Heavy Infantry attacked. Or rather, captured the Hellhound using the metallic nets.

    4 nets shared among 8 Amazons, 2 individuals holding both ends.

    And with that crazy Amazonian strength, each physically on par with 10 men, they could very well achieve it, proving to be a headache for mo?.

    Sure enough, another volley of arrows were fired at us, this time with a few ballistic bolts mixed in.

    Not bad. Not really.

    That said, sometimes there was just no way to bridge the gap when your opponent had overwhelming power on their side.

    And that''s exactly what I had.

    None of them were expecting a multi-ton giant burning wolf bearing upon them with the force of a runaway train.

    And even if they did, there was little they could do to counter that.

    To their benefit, the Heavy Infantry held their line.

    "Left side..."

    "Right heel..."

    "Jump..."

    I directed my ride, dodging and weaving through arrows and ballistic bolts by using Danger Sense to anticipate where an attack would land.

    The fact she could understand me well enough, was something I found intriguing. I would spare time to marvel at that later, right now...

    Whoosh!

    More and more arrows missed us. If it was hard to land a blow before, now it was nigh impossible.

    Hitting a moving target required a crazy amount of skill, trust me, I know.

    It''s why my preferred method of assassination was to scout the target''s usual haunts. Like their homes, or a particular golf club they liked going to on Sundays. It could even be a hotel they frequented while cheating on spouses.

    Their guard would be down and a well timed hollow point bullet to the head opened up the brain.

    However, these Women were more than good enough to target me on top of the Hellhound.

    The only reason they were successfully failing at that endeavor was Danger Sense and the fact that I was just too good.

    I snatched a bolt aimed for the Hellhound''s eyes out of the air,

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Clang!

    Then used it to block another one, the shaft of the bolt I held vibrating in my grip.

    Nice try Arissa.

    I wound my hand back and threw the ballistic bolt at her. It cut through the wind faster than she could blink.

    Bang!

    (General P.O.V)

    "Look out!"

    Lyra yelled, blocking the bolt with a shield she held, only to be thrown back by the impact, the strength behind the throw proving too much for her.

    She slammed into Izah, the both of them bowling through some of their sisters.

    "Damn you."

    Arissa grit her teeth, staring down at Kane just as the Hellhound he was on, got within range of the the Hounders(the Heavy Infantry)- a specialized group of warriors whose job was to handle the Hellhound, whenever things got heated in the Arena.

    The silver nets they held gave her confidence. While they lacked the same enchantments as the silver chains Kane had worn, they were still made from Osmium.

    On top of that, they were treated with a substance that could negate the Hellhound''s deadly fire.

    But...he didn''t know that. And that would be his undoing. His overeliance on the Hellhound''s flames.

    And why wouldn''t he? It was a simple but effective strategy. And while Arissa detested this man, she could admit he was resourceful.

    "This is the end of the line for you."

    The second in command whispered, leaning on the barricade, eyes viciously narrowed Kane''s way.

    She straightened.

    "The instant that Dog is captured, I want everyone- And I mean everyone...to charge. Bring me his head."

    "Yes ma''am!"

    The warriors around her stood up even straighter.

    Down on the sands, the clash about to unfold made the entire coliseum pop with noise from the crowd.

    The hellhound opened its jaw wide in a move that was now familiar to everyone and breathed out an inferno of blue.

    All within Arissa''s expectations.

    However, the flames were not aimed for the Hounders, instead, they carpeted the ground, almost instantly liquidifying the sand and turning the space between the Hellhound and the Heavy Infantry into a pool of Lava.

    The Hounders looked around in panic, as the flames missed them but left them standing on a small patch of unaffected ground, surrounded by molten sand.

    "What!"

    Arissa couldn''t believe it. And her disbelief was only heightened when the Hellhound came to a sudden stop, the momentum throwing Kane into the air.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    As stated, I hate- absolutely hate getting close range.

    Sometimes however, there''s just no choice. And when those times happen, well...

    (General P.O.V)

    The bottom of Kane''s boot landed on the face of the first Warrior with a sickening crunch.

    The warrior sailed back, nose smashed in with blood trailing in her wake.

    Guttural screams escaped her as she fell right on top of the molten lava, skin getting seared into the armor she wore.

    By the time Arissa turned her gaze from the moaning Amazon, 3 more warriors were down for the count. Taken out by fast and devastating strikes to places meant to cause the most damage and pain.

    "Archers!!!"

    The Amazon called out loudly.

    "Wait! Our sisters are still down..."

    Izah, having extracted herself from the mix of bodies behind them tried to remind-

    "What are you waiting for?!"

    Arissa roared at the archers, apoplectic with rage.

    "Fill him with holes!!!"

    Before Izah, Lyra and their sisters'' eyes,

    More arrows fell on Kane''s position, which also happened to be filled with the groaning bodies of their sisters.

    On his part, the Assassin didn''t bother to grace the arrows with a look, as fire erupted above him, turning every aerial thing into ash.

    Kane finished breaking the shaft of a labrys someone had thrown at him.

    The warrior in question paled, taking uneasy steps backwards before wincing as her heels were burnt by the lava behind.

    She looked back at him only for darkness to fill her vision, the flat side of the labrys smacking onto her face.

    Her body tipped...and fell into the smoldering zone behind. She wouldn''t die but the burns would be nothing to joke about.

    With the final member of the Heavy Infantry down, Kane turned his attention to his next victim.

    Arissa''s heart skipped a beat, face twisted in an expression of unadulterated fear.

    The eyes staring at her made her feel small and weak. Just like that time...

    Suddenly angry, she grabbed Izah pushing her forward,

    "All of you! Attack! Protect me! Keep him away!!"

    The Amazons, true to their discipline formed a human made barricade between Kane and Arissa.

    The crowds in the stands roared in approval.

    "Hahahahaha!! YOU CAN''T GET TO ME YOU SILLY SILLY MAN. YOU''LL DIE HERE!!HAHAHAHAHA!!"

    Laughing uproariously, Arissa was confident that she was safe. While Kane was powerful, he was only one man.

    What could one man do against hundreds? Thousands? Tens of thousands?

    (Kane P.O.V)

    "Pft."

    I couldn''t help but snort, shaking my head at the sheer stupidity before me.

    As if numbers had ever stopped me before.

    "You misunderstand me Arissa."

    Using her name made her flinch.

    Oh this next part is gonna be good.

    "I don''t need to come you, you''re going to come to me."

    I punctuated that statement by shooting out a long strand of web, the tendrils wrapping around her torso, restraining her hands before pulling her through the ranks of her sisters and into my waiting hand.

    Her neck found itself well within my grasp. Literally. The fingers wrapped around it in a tight grip.

    She meeped.

    A smile slowly worked itself onto my face.

    "You were saying?"

    "Let her go!!"

    The annoying one, Izah I think, vaulted over the barricade in a bid to rescue her.

    Only for another web shot, this time the fluid- thick and gooey, to splatter and glue her to the stands behind them.

    Those 3 days of non-stop training and discovering my powers were finally paying off. By clenching the spinneret on my wrists I could compress the web into something thick and viscous.

    Like glue. Or cement. Or both even.

    "Think anyone else will try to rescue you?"

    I asked the woman who had very vocally advocated for my execution.

    "Ack!"

    Arissa coughed, trying to wrench my hand off her neck and verily failing.

    I eased up on my grip, allowing her to gulp in large amounts of air like a dying man.

    "Well?"

    I prompted, giving a small squeeze to remind her of our reversed position. I was the one with the power now.

    She spat on my face.

    For a second I froze, caught unprepared. I couldn''t expect Danger Sense to warn me of something so dumb and petty but I was still annoyed.

    "The Hellhound it is."

    I growled at her widening eyes, before turning and throwing her at the foot of the Beast from hell.

    I like that.

    Beast from hell- pretty badass.

    And to show my faith in her was unbiased, the Hellhound growled low, a deep menacing sound that even sent shivers across my body.

    Arissa''s face was priceless. Pure unbridled terror.

    And I couldn''t blame her, not with the mirage of heat and ferocity wafting of the Beast from Hell.

    See, it fits.

    "Sic em girl."

    I gave her the order and my new wolf friend was only too eager to comply.

    Wide jaws widened even further and we were all treated to the sight of a furnace.

    The inside of the Hellhound''s mouth glowed a hot blue, boiling saliva dripping from its maw.

    Arissa cowered, going limp with fear.

    Then right before she was split into two by hot and sharp teeth...

    Nah, the bitch died.

    There was a loud snap as bones were shattered!

    Her upper body disappeared into the Hellhound''s mouth, leaving behind a fountain of blood spraying out of a torso-less corpse.

    The crowd went silent.

    Or rather, they were quiet before- but now the coliseum was a graveyard in the night.

    You could have heard a pin drop from a mile away.

    Everywhere I looked, I was met with horrified gazes.

    I walked up to the Hellhound, the lower part of Arissa''s body disappearing in its mouth.

    The Monstrous Beast From The Deepest Part of Hades knows where licked its lips, cocking its head at me in an admittedly cute way.

    In case it wasn''t obvious, I''m a dog person. Or Wolf in this case.

    Damn. What a way to go. I''ve seen plenty of deaths, being responsible for most of them but...never turned into dog food. Or wolf. Semantics.

    I hope Diana doesn''t make an issue of this. And even if she does, I''m in the right. Bitch tried to kill me, I''m justified that I succeeded where she failed.

    Bye Arissa.

    "And what a good girl you are..."

    I rubbed the hellhound''s neck fur. The sounds of contented happiness she produced was adorable.

    Fuck it. I''ve decided.

    "What do you say you leave this place with me? It''s a big world out there with so much to see and explore."

    I made the offer and if the scalding hot tongue licking my body was any indication...she was all in.

    "Great. But now you need a name. What do you-"

    My words cut off.

    Whoosh!

    There was a massive crash followed by a large impact that shook the entire coliseum.

    Krakoow!!

    Diana had been sent colliding with the Hellhound''s side and both of them smashed through the obstacle course in the middle of the Arena.

    What just happened?...how? And who?...

    Mutters escaped the crowd and following their gazes...

    I blinked in a healthy amount of confusion, My hand tightening into a fist as I stared up at the Royal Box in the stands and met...

    ...Alkyone''s eyes, staring down from her elevated position.

    "Useless."

    She intoned, voice somehow audible through the entirety of the Arena.

    "All of them. Arissa, Lyra, Izah...all of you disappoint me. You disappoint your queen."

    Saying that, and without breaking eye contact with me, she held up something.

    A wave of discontent and outrage spread out through the Coliseum as Alkyone secured a crown I was 100% sure did not belong to her, on her head.

    To make matters worse, she sat on the imposing seat behind her. The one meant for Hippolyta.

    Guess this proves my suspicions- it was a mutiny.

    The noise reached an entirely new crescendo, making me wince as my ears were assaulted.

    "SILENCE!"

    Alkyone thundered out, face twisted in anger.

    "How dare you?! I am your Queen! You should bow down and prostrate yourselves before me."

    Wow. And I thought Arissa was dumb.

    I ignored her, turning to face where Diana and my new pet were. It was a pity that the obstacle course was left in wrecks.

    Speaking of...I was still missing a lot of context. What or maybe who had enough power to send THE Diana Prince flying at such speeds?

    Her body had been a blur but I remember seeing her covered in blood, albeit for a split second before the Hellhound(really need to come up with a name for her) acted as a cushion, possibly saving her life.

    I stopped before the two, staring up at the Beast of Hell''s whining form. The attack seemed to have taken the wind out of her but she looked fine.

    I rubbed her head, smiling slightly as her hot tongue lolled out of her maw and licked my hand.

    My smile faded as I bent down, meeting Diana''s eyes through strands of her disheveled hair. Eyes that contained anger and...a healthy amount of caution.

    Or was it...fear.

    "What happened?"

    I asked.

    Her eyes fell. I got the message- she wasn''t going to say anything.

    I closed my own, breathing out.

    "You''re holding onto your ribs. I''m guessing they''re broken. Your armor is shredded and you have second degree burns across your hands. Diana, anyone that can do that must be crazy powerful. And crazy dangerous."

    I placed my hand on her head.

    "I. Need. To. Know. What happened?"

    When she looked up, her blue orbs were full of hate and defiance. Not for me though.

    "You''ll know soon enough."

    The Themiscyran princess bit out. "She''s just waiting for the perfect time..."

    "...and for those who refuse my gracious leadership...I would like for you all to meet my new friend...the Witch of Aia."

    Alkyone''s gloating voice reached my ears.

    As if on signal, the whole Coliseum fell to a hush.

    A low growl, that of a cornered animal escaped the Hellhound. It''s hackles also rose up.

    My whole body froze in place. My blood turning ice in my veins. I knew without a shred of doubt, that whoever had arrived posed the greatest threat to my life I had ever felt before.

    I didn''t need Danger Sense to know that.

    Diana''s eyes watched a certain point in the air behind me, getting up on unsteady legs.

    "She''s here."

    (Elsewhere)

    Steve could only stare, tongue tied as Serena shed her robes, black hair cascading down her back in flowing waves.

    Each step she took brought her deeper and deeper into the center of the glowing waters.

    Behind them, on the entrance of the cavern leading to the said pool, were the two guards- propped up with hands and legs tied by Steve''s boot laces.

    Roiling gently, the water in the pool reached the High Priestess'' hips, ripples spreading across its surface as she looked back, giving the British Spy a full frontal look.

    Pink nipples topped large brown mounds, standing prominently.

    Steve Trevor, pilot, spy, lover of beautiful women swallowed.

    "Well? Will you join me?"

    The high priestess asked, stretching out a hand to beckon Steve.

    Gulping again, Steve shed his aviator jacket, hands quickly working on removing his boots. All the while, his eyes never left hers.

    "And you''re sure this will work?"

    Steve questioned, not even trying to hide his unabashed lust as he stared at her.

    Serena merely smiled softly, the look on her face saying she found Steve''s concerns to be adorable.

    "I swear on the styx."

    She brought her palm to her chest and made a vow.

    At Steve''s clueless stare, she added,

    "The Styx is a river found in the underworld which is Hades realm. Any pledge made by invoking it is unbreakable, carrying deep consequences and a punishment greater than the pledge made."

    "Oh."

    Steve shrugged,

    "Right, mystical river that is in the world of the dead. Got it."

    He replied in a tone that said he cared little. His priorities set on something else.

    A beautiful sound escaped Serena as she laughed, causing the soldier to shiver in suprise and happiness.

    "You laughed. No one ever laughs at my jokes."

    She was...perfect.

    Apparently that sealed the deal and Steve was wading through the pool in a moment''s notice, slowly approaching Serena.

    She closed the distance between them, wrapping her hands around his neck and pulled him in her warm embrace.

    "Trust me, this will work."

    She told him, staring deep into his eyes.

    "The only way to circumvent Circe''s spell is to perform this ritual."

    Tone full of doubt yet eager, Steve responded,

    "Not that I''m complaining, but how is sex supposed to counteract a spell made by a millenia old witch? And why won''t you tell me what the spell is?"

    Goosebumps spread across his body as the woman who was the religious voice of Paradise Island, trailed her hands across his bare chest.

    "Leave the technicalities to me, Steve Trevor."

    She whispered to his ears.

    Unseen by Steve, a malicious glint emerged in her eyes.

    "You just relax and let me handle evveeeerrytthing."

    She crooned.

    ***************

    Had to split the chapter in two for this specific Cliffhanger.

    Almost lost all content when my device started lagging. So thank you to anyone who prayed I get off my ass and post something.

    Don''t worry, next chap will be up tomorrow. And its crazier.

 Issue #16: X, Personal

    Saintbarbido A/N: Broke the frame of my glasses. The screen huuuuurtttss.

    (General P.O.V)

    She''d won.

    There was no defeating her now. Not when Hippolyta''s legacy was bleeding out in the sands of the arena.

    Captain Alkyone no more. Meet Queen Alkyone.

    And to ensure no thoughts of revolution or a reinstatement of the old regime arose- it was time. Time to cement her reign.

    "...Look on dear subjects."

    She spoke, voice projected by the enchantments carved on the royal box.

    "Look on and bear witness to what happens when you defy royalty."

    From the Eastern gate, a squad of Amazons led the 12 Senate members out in chains.

    Another wave of pandemonium and confusion rose up.

    Especially when, behind them, Queen Hippolyta and the Royal Guard, Pillyphus were similarly escorted, hands bound in silver cuffs not unlike the ones used on Kane.

    "Agatha."

    Pillyphus called out to her long time friend, an Amazonian with a scar falling from her forehead through her eye and down her cheek.

    "This is madness. And you and your squad know this."

    Pillyphus added, face pale with blood loss.

    Alkyone had ordered for her to be treated. Not out of mercy however- she needed to make an example out the Queen''s long time friend and lover.

    Devastating Hippolyta made the whole thing that much sweeter.

    "Silence prisoner."

    Agatha hissed, prodding the blunt end of her spear onto Pillyphus'' ribs.

    The latter took it like a champ, though the twist of her face showed she felt the pain.

    "Pillyphus."

    Queen Hippolyta called out in a cold tone.

    "Do not beg."

    All the guards escorting them shivered at the Queen''s frigid tone.

    "Hold your head up high. These Amazonian are cowards. Do not waste precious air on them. They''re not our true fight, she is."

    And that''s when Pillyphus and everyone in the Coliseum noticed the dot gently floating down onto the Arena. It grew bigger and bigger until Alkyone''s voice cut through the tension with gleeful commentary.

    "...and for those who refuse my gracious leadership...I would like for you all to meet my new friend...the witch of Aia."

    "It''s really her."

    Pillyphus bit out.

    "It''s really Circe. How is she here? The Matron goddesses sealed her away thousands of years ago."

    "Alkyone must have found Circe''s prison and begun whittling away at it for years."

    Hippolyta theorized, just as their procession arrived at their destination.

    The execution platform where a guillotine awaited.

    They were constructed close to the barricade on the other side of the Obstacle Course.

    And had not been in use for hundreds of years.

    This ensured everyone in the Arena could see them except for Diana and Kane, who were busy watching Circe.

    "Added to the presence of males on the Island, the immortal magicka running through Themiscyra must have further weakened the seal, allowing her to escape."

    The Chair of the Council pitched in.

    "I said, silence!"

    Agatha lashed out with a kick that sent the former to the ground.

    "Hey!"

    Hippolyta yelled, voice strong despite the predicament.

    "Do that one more time and I promise you, not even Circe will save you from my wrath."

    The scarred woman blinked in fear. She hadn''t forgotten who they were dealing with.

    Only for the air to grow heavy. A pressure none of them were expecting pressed on their shoulders.

    "Well well well, if it isn''t two of my old friends. Still as spirited as ever I see."

    Circe said, appearing above Hippolyta and the rest.

    The former queen looked up with no fear in her eyes only for her mouth to fall open in shock.

    Levitating beside Circe in the air were Kane and Diana, hands clawing at their necks as the Witch of Aia choked them with telekinesis.

    "Release my daughter at once!"

    Hippolyta slammed her foot on Agatha''s knee, snapping it and sending her onto the ground howling in pain.

    Then she proved why the Gods chose her to be queen of an Island of warrior women. By using her right foot she flipped Agatha''s spear up before kicking out again.

    This time her foot landed on the pommel, sending the lance flying towards Circe.

    The spear cut through the air sharply, only to stop mere inches away from her.

    Then it fell to the ground, all momentum lost.

    "And mean as well. Tsk tsk tsk Hippolyta, is this how you treat an old friend?"

    Circe sneered down, twitching a finger and bringing Diana forward.

    "Maybe I should teach you a lesson on manners...what would you say...I make your daughter''s blood boil in her veins? You know I can very well do that."

    "No..."

    Hippolyta said weakly.

    Diana was her biggest strength...and weakness.

    "Circe! You can''t get away with this!"

    Pillyphus barked out from the Queen''s side.

    "Watch me."

    Was all Circe said, before Diana''s screams of pain filled the entire Coliseum.

    Hippolyta and everyone else could only watch in horror as steam left the Princess'' body from every orifice on her face.

    Her skin also glowed a bright red.

    Alkyone seated on the Queen''s rightful throne chuckled darkly.

    "Yes...yes...more. Make them hurt..."

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Fuck.

    The situation from before while less than ideal was still salvageable. I don''t know how to fight this.

    My body was entirely immobile and out of my control. The only thing I could do was regulate my heart beat as the oxygen supply going to my brain was woefully missing.

    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    She had us by the balls, only it was the neck.

    She was Darth Vadering me years before Vader was even a thing.

    On top of that, Diana''s agonizing screams were not only an assault on my ears but an affront to me who owed her a favor.

    And Circe, the Bitch of Aia was torturing her before her own mother. This is worse than the Blue Swan mission in Chile. (I try to forget that particular clusterfuck)

    Still, we were in a bad spot. And I had to come up with something before my body could no longer take it and pass out.

    That''s when I heard a growl behind me. A sound that was heard throughout the entire Coliseum if the way Hippolyta and the Amazons below us reacted.

    The Hellhound.

    My beautiful Beast from Hades!

    Yes!

    It begun with the warmth of a camp fire before the temperature dramatically rose up.

    "Don''t think I forgot about you mutt..."

    Circe was only just turning around, when a massive tank of flesh, burning with blue flames all over its body collided onto her. Sending the Bitch from Aia flying away hundreds of feet.

    Immediately, the force choking me disappeared and Diana and I found ourselves falling onto the ground.

    A strand of webbing shot out, grabbing the princess and pulling her to my embrace a few feet before my soles landed on the Arena.

    "Jesus...you''re burning up."

    I told her, actually having to let go. Partly due to the heat and partly due to the enemy still being alive.

    We couldn''t drop our guard. I could still hear her heartbeat.

    "T-thanks."

    The Princess threw my way, eyes on the furthest end of the Arena, right where The Hellhound stood. It''s back was to us as she faced a hole made in the stands.

    Her jaw opened her a surge of blue flames washed into the hole, melting a large portion of that section of the Coliseum.

    All the Amazons there had wisely evacuated.

    "That W-won''t keep her down for long. She''s annoying to fight. "

    Diana complained, rubbing her neck.

    "I know."

    Came my answer.

    "She''s strong. Very strong."

    But there was a way to beat her. This is what I do for a living. Killing those that should not be killed...or could not be killed.

    "But everything has a-"

    I begun.

    "-weak point."

    Diana completed.

    We stared at each other.

    "Kane, I need to ask you for that favor you owe me."

    Diana said, finally rising up to her feet while grabbing a spear that lay on the ground.

    "I need X."

    She said in a tone that brokered no argument.

    Following her gaze, I understood what she meant.

    "Okay. You handle the Bitch, I''ll rescue your mother. Lord knows we might need all the help we can get."

    "Thank you."

    Diana nodded at me, then the look in her eyes changed as she crouched low.

    "By the time I''m through with Circe, no help will be needed."

    Then she leaped, easily clearing the large distance between us and the Hellhound. Spear in hand- she charged into the fiery pit created by Circe''s body.

    Meanwhile, I had a job to do.

    "Oi."

    I called out, walking towards a woman who resembled Diana to a scary degree.

    "We haven''t been formally introduced your majesty."

    I bowed down, proper etiquette demanded showing respect to royalty. They took that shit seriously.

    "My name is-"

    "Halt!"

    A woman with a scar on her face called out, leaning on another guard while favoring her right leg.

    Thwip!

    Thwip!

    Thwip!

    A few strands of spider web covered her mouth and body, shutting her trap.

    I did the same to the other guards as well, not having the patience or inclination to deal with more Arissa types.

    Hippolyta and the former prisoners looked at the webs around the immobilized Amazon''s strangely.

    "You''re Kane. The man my daughter was so taken with. I have to say, you''re more attractive in person."

    Hippolyta said from the head of the group, eyes roaming over my shirtless form.

    "You flatter me your Majesty."

    I smiled at her.

    "What say you we get those dastard things off your wrists?"

    She held out her hands.

    I grabbed the chain connecting the manacles together and applied pressure.

    Snap! The chain links broke.

    The manacles followed right after. Then I repeated the same to what I suspected was the upper brass of Themiscyra.

    The attire they wore certainly gave credence to the notion.

    "That was pure Osmium. Not even an enchanted blade could have cut through, yet you broke them quite easily."

    A regal and tough looking Amazon said from the Queen''s side. She had a hand over the left side of her belly; where I could see blood leaking through her clothes.

    Despite the injury, her body was tilted my way, prepared for any move made on Hippolyta.

    "I''m a man of many talents."

    I responded just as the Coliseum trembled with a powerful impact.

    Diana vs Circe was well in it''s second round.

    "I believe it would be wise if you escorted her majesty from the Arena. Something tells me things are about to get more hectic."

    I pointed out, another shake rocking the ground we stood on.

    "I believe so too."

    Hippolyta agreed, turning to address Pillyphus and the others.

    "Unseen and unnoticed, the flesh wounds from our past went untreated and now they have festered. I want Alkyone''s head."

    The last part was said while she stared at the Royal Box on the stands.

    "And a new crown as well. The one on her head is tainted by her idiocy."

    Her subjects stood to attention.

    The wave of discontent and outrage in the Coliseum was quickly changed to cheers and adoration.

    "Tch. The lot of them should face execution if you ask me. Not one stepped forward to defend their queen."

    The Queen''s Royal Guard said, sneering at the spectators in the stands.

    "Then I wouldn''t have subjects to rule over then, would I Pillyphus?"

    Hippolyta shot back.

    "Besides, it''s the sheep mentality problem."

    I pitched in, only to change my follow up statement as we were out of time:

    "And you should really be going now...

    Danger Sense had started going out of whack.

    "Duck!"

    Especially when my Hellhound pet was sent flying away from her position, body sailing above us before smashing onto the wrecked obstacle course behind.

    It wasn''t the only thing to follow though, as massive pieces of rock and a cloud of dust was right on her heels.

    I jumped over the Queen''s group, landing behind them in a bid to intercept the projectiles.

    Okay, how does Spiderman do it in the movies again?

    Oh yeah.

    I stretched the right hand to the left and vice versa, then I let it rip, producing and spinning the webs from my spinneret in a splattered shape.

    I could intuitively reshape my webs into what I wanted although that only worked for simple shapes like balls, nets e.t.c

    The ends of the webbing attached to each side of the arena creating a blanket of sorts that stopped every projectile in place.

    "Now for the kicker..."

    I listened intently, before pulling the blanket back, like the string of a bow and when Diana was sent flying into the skies I released the web blanket.

    It snapped back in place, all those rocks and pieces of the Coliseum thrown back the way they came. The target being Circe whose position I could auditory tell.

    Clash!

    Boooom!

    More dust arose.

    A whistle left my lips and without waiting a single second, I started running forward, knowing two things.

    One, Circe was most definitely not dead and two with the three of us maybe we could change that.

    Woof!

    My Beast from Hades came through, appearing at my side and keeping pace with me despite moving at speeds that I was sure would outpace a car.

    I jumped ontop of her, rubbing her head with pride just as an enraged Circe burst out of the devastated stands.

    "You fucking stinky mutt! I will-"

    She started, only for me to give the signal.

    Blue flames hotter than anything else leapt out of the Hellhound''s mouth. The flames were so ferocious, they looked more white than blue.

    They completely burned a hole through the Coliseum, exposing the whole structure to the open air, and the ocean beyond the coast.

    "Hahahahahaha!"

    Circe appeared high above us, cackling like the witch she was.

    "I see you little man. How resourceful, not many can tame a Hellhound."

    She spread her hands out, a malicious grin on her face.

    "But you''ve just dug your own grave, all elemental magic share the same weakness. An opposing element."

    Oh crud.

    Behind her, tons of water rose out of the ocean. Her range was insane!

    The Tsunami of water was easily high enough to blot out the sun, casting a shadow over the Coliseum.

    The Hellhound started whining, taking scared steps back.

    "Yeah, I agree as well. Let''s get out of here."

    I ordered and without wasting time, she was off, approaching the obstacle course.

    "You can''t outrun this and you can''t hide!!"

    Circe''s voice reached me despite the noise of surging water above us.

    Krakoom!!!

    A pillar of green lightning fell from the sky, decimating what remained of the obstacle course with impunity.

    First telekinesis, then hydrokinesis and now electrokinesis?

    That''s final boss capabilities. Way too high for the current me. I''ve only been in this place for 3 days!

    Before I could figure a way out of the tight spot we found ourselves in, Circe''s water attack finally arrived.

    I looked back, seeing the destruction about to befall us, only for my vision to be covered by blue flames.

    And then I was somewhere else. Still in the Arena however. Looking around, I discovered I was surrounded by some of the Hellhound''s flames left burning during her initial attack.

    Did she teleport me through the flames?

    Turning back in urgency, I was treated to a sight that made my blood run cold and hot at the same time.

    My former position was gone, now covered in a large crystal ice structure and within that ice, staring right at me, (she knew where I would pop out-meaning that she was the one that sent me away, saving my life) was my...was my friend.

    Her eyes did not blink. The blue flames burning on her fur were nowhere to be seen.

    Then the ice cracked.

    And shattered into a billion pieces, dissolving into mist and disappearing into the air.

    I reached out with a hand, before letting it fall listlessly.

    "I finally have a name for you...Pyra."

    Diana landed right next to me, feet pattering on the now wet ground.

    My voice chopped through the silence of the Arena with the force of a guillotine.

    "Hey Diana, Let''s Kill this bitch."

    "Gladly."

    Diana curtly replied.

    (General P.O.V)

    Descending from the heavens like some sort of sick and twisted god, the witch of Aia stared down at the insignificant insects on the ground.

    "Kill me?! Do you know how many have tried that? Even the gods could only seal me. I''ll show you where happens to little shits who try and act tough around me-"

    The whole Coliseum started shaking madly, prompting the spectators on the stands to escape as a large chunk of it was unceremoniously torn away.

    The super massive chunk of stone cast a shadow over Kane and Diana.

    Circe grinned maniacally, a split lip (Diana had gotten in a few shots in) looking macabre on her wild face, filled with hatred.

    "-Crush them!"

    She finished and without much preamble, the chunk fell down on the Demigoddess and the assasin.

    The entire Arena went silent, awaiting the inevitable impact.

    ZzzZzttttt!

    Thwip!

    Only for the boulder to part in two, a fast moving glowing yellow whip slicing the rock in two.

    "Borrowed a page from your book."

    Kane smirked at Diana, holding onto two dozen feet long tendrils of web.

    Yellow sparks of bio-electricity ran down the length of the tendrils which were more like whips, hissing erratically.

    Diana winced.

    "More lightning...yay..."

    Kane''s eyes were dragged to the burn marks on her hands.

    "Oh trust me, mine won''t just leave scars, it will split her apart."

    "I hope so."

    Diana replied, a hard look in her eyes as she stared up at Circe.

    "I admit, I need all the help I can get."

    Kane stepped closer to her.

    "Then listen close...she has a range on all her magic spells. It''s a pretty big one but outside of it..."

    "The magic fails."

    Diana finished.

    "Done whispering?"

    Circe asked.

    "Because if you are...it''s time to spill Zeus blood on these sands. There''s a ritual to do."

    Interesting. But not important for now.

    I turned to fully face her. My new target.

    "And Circe, you made one mistake. You made things...personal. And you never make things personal with an assasin."

 Issue #17: X, End.

    (General P.O.V)

    The Coliseum was by now long abandoned.

    Only 3 individuals remained in the vaunted sands of Themiscyran pride.

    Kane watched Circe like a hawk who watched Diana with equally the same type of intense focus. It was clear the Witch was more focused on Diana as a threat.

    Kane liked it that way.

    A low wind blew through the ground, the only thing missing being a tumbleweed to add to the palpable tension that seemed ready to blow.

    And then Circe shifted her footing, forcing her form to go lax, body to relax.

    "Just to make it fair to the two of you, I''ll give you one free shot."

    The Witch said, confidence pouring off her in waves.

    Kane and Diana stared at each other and then in the blink of an eye, the two of them were approaching Circe from the left and the right, feet almost flying over the ground due to the speed of their silmuteneous dash.

    The first one to initiate an attack was predictably, Kane. The lightning whips in his hands, crackling with yellow bio-energy had a longer reach than anything Diana had.

    Zzztttt!

    Whivvv!!

    Crackle!

    The first whip missed Circe by mere inches as she parried it away with a wave of telekinetic force.

    Kane came to a sudden stop, spinning around and whipping the bio infused web back, aiming to snag her on the whip''s return trip.

    Sensing the relative danger from the self made weapons in the Assassin''s hands, a wave of water formed at Circe''s urging- having pulled all the water molecules soaking the sands from her previous attack.

    The water formed a wall between her and the whip, which cut through it without even wasting a second.

    But strangely enough, every millimeter the whip managed to cover only slowed it down.

    Circe had infused the water with telekinesis, packing the molecules even tighter together.

    Knowing that tugging would demand more strength than he was willing to share with the enemy, Kane intentionaly destabilized the bio-energy in the whip.

    The action caused it to frizzle into nothing, producing a burst of energy that turned the water wall into steam.

    Diana took that chance to charge through the cover of the steam, one hand on a shield and the other on a short Gladius, edge glinting sharply.

    And her trajectory was aimed right for Circe''s neck.

    By the time the Witch caught on to the ploy of their fighting style, Kane to distract while Diana attacked, the blade''s edge had sliced a fire on her cheek.

    Fortunately she had bent down at the last second or else she would have lost her head.

    "You bitch! My beauty!"

    Anger and disbelief evident in her words and motions, she sent a burst of green flames Diana''s way, aiming to pay her back for the wound on the side of her face.

    Diana rolled under the hand, escaping the flames and coming up behind the Witch with a slash aimed for her back.

    Only for the ground between them to rise up in a repeat of a similar move from before.

    A mound of Earth intercepted the sword, giving Circe enough time to fly away before Kane''s Whips tagged her from the side.

    Zzztttt!

    The mound was split horizontally by the snaking whip, losing its top half.

    The battle stalled.

    Circe, floating above the Arena was breathed heavily, staring down at the two with an indescribable emotion in her eyes.

    Maybe letting them have the first shot had been the wrong idea. These two had good synergy. Covering for each other''s weaknesses.

    Kane stepped up next to Diana, a single whip in his hands, both their attention turned above them as they faced off with Circe.

    "You ready?"

    The Demigod asked the Assassin.

    The Assassin''s response was to shoot a web from his left hand at the shorn off piece of mound from Circe''s spell and hurl it at the Witch.

    "Mmph."

    The witch snorted, showing her disdain for what she considered a weak attack.

    Only for Kane to surprise her again by sending Bio-energy through the web.

    Arcs of yellow electric energy lanced up it''s length, landing on the piece of mound and promptly blowing it up in her face.

    Pebbles and dust pelted the Witch of Aia.

    "Aarghhh!! Damn you! Little pest! I''ll murder all of you!"

    Circe shot back through the air, one hand on her face while the other was aimed at Kane''s position.

    "Emerald Lightning!!!"

    The sky above darkened. Thunder rumbled just as wide arcs of lightning fell on to the Arena.

    Kane danced out of the way of each. strafing, dodging and weaving around the Arena as the lightning missed him by mere seconds and inches.

    It was like he knew where the attack would land before they did.

    Circe cut off the lightning shower, believing that nothing and no one could have survived that barrage.

    And even if Kane had, he wouldn''t have come out of it unharmed.

    No. The one she needed to guard against was Diana. Zeus'' brat was fast, strong and skilled enough to actually pose a threat.

    That was why a curse escaped her lips as large pieces of the torn barricade around the perimeter of the Arena, were suddenly sailing her way.

    Her brief distraction had cost her.

    The chunks of the barricade were each aimed at her position, and the directions she could escape to, cutting off her escape routes.

    Circe brought both of her hands forward, face scrunched up in concentration.

    The chunks of the barricades slowed down in the air before she sent them hurling back the way they came.

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Appearing from Circe''s front, Diana jumped.

    Her foot landed on one of the barricade chunks, leaping off it and it''s subsequent compatriots with a ballistic bolt in her hand.

    The chunks landed behind her, destroying part of the stands.

    The muscles on her hand grew prominent as she swung the arm back, veins jutting out.

    With a great yell and heave, the air screamed along the path of the ballistic bolt as it left her hold.

    Too fast to dodge, Circe showcased the speed of her casting as a great whirlwind of sand and cutting winds surrounded her, slightly diverting the ballistic bolt from its intended path to her heart.

    "Got you!"

    An explosion of wind escaped her position- her dress shifting into a flying carpet and sending her dashing towards Diana, riding on the currents of the whirlwind below her.

    Diana felt her body get seized by an incredible force, the clamps of Circe''s telekinetic hold, proving too much to an airborne Diana.

    Circe''s other hand begun roiling with a funnel of sharp winds, a vicious smile on her face as she steadily approached the immobile Diana.

    "Aaand DIE!!!"

    The Witch commanded, only for Diana to be wrenched out of the way by strings of webbing attached to her back.

    The Demigod''s smug face as she was steadily pulled out of Circe''s reach contrasted with the surprised anger on the latter''s face.

    Her mistake however, was forgetting she wasn''t fighting Diana alone.

    The Demigod landed on the stands to the right, crouched low and spun.

    The webbing stuck to her back grew taut, straining with Diana''s strength as she rotated clockwise, sending the other end of the webbing whipping around.

    The creator of the webs cut through the air like a missile headed for Circe''s blindside, the plan having worked beautifully.

    This time Diana set up a false opening while Kane initiated his attack.

    Circe quite literally- never saw it coming.

    Zzzzztttt!!

    Bam!

    Crack!!

    A flare of yellow and blue appeared in the air above the Arena.

    There was the sound of a large impact as Circe''s neck twisted, her spine broke and half of her head disappeared under a punch that sparked with erratic bio-electric power.

    The whirlwind died down, her flying carpet shifted back into a green flowing dress, and the body of the witch of Aia fell.

    It smacked down onto the arena with another bone shattering impact.

    Kane landed a second later, his right hand slightly trembling. He''d put half of all his Bio-energy into that one attack.

    Diana timely appeared beside him, shield and sword held at the ready.

    The two watched Circe''s unmoving body expectedly for over a minute before Diana fell out of her stance, cocking her head in question.

    "You think she''s dead?"

    The Demigod whispered at the assassin.

    Kane narrowed his eyes at the Witch lying on the sands before them.

    "She''s missing half of her head. If she survived having the left hemisphere of her brain turned into mush then...we would be fucked."

    He replied, walking closer and prodding her corpse with his foot.

    Blood was beginning to pool around Circe and brain matter, some of it blackened by Kane''s final attack was in full display within her cracked head.

    One loathsome eye stared at nothing, wide with abject fear and shock.

    "Yeah."

    He affirmed with a nod.

    "She''s as dead as they come."

    Saying that, he dropped to his back, staring up at the sky with a tired expression on his face.

    This was the first time he''d truly ever used his new abilities so extensively.

    He was exhausted, hungry and irritated. Not having a shower for 3 days would do that to someone. Not to mention the life or death battle he''d been forced to go through.

    Diana lay down next to him. Side by side, the two stared up at the sky slowly clearing of the dark clouds.

    "That actually happened."

    Diana breathed out.

    "I still can''t believe it was that easy."

    "Easy? Hell nah."

    Kane snorted.

    "She underestimated us. Not to mention with the right information, killing anything is possible."

    Diana turned her head, the strands of her hair falling before her eyes.

    "What was that last attack? It was-blinding and very powerful."

    Kane held up his right hand, fingers curled in a fist. Bio-energy started arcing around it as tongues of yellow energy with specks of blue intermixed in, manifested.

    "It''s supposed to be Venom Blast. But...there was something within as well."

    He answered, a curious glint in his eyes.

    "It felt...hot."

    "I agree. Right before you made contact, there was a blue flare. Almost like..."

    Diana trailed off.

    "Pyra''s hellflames."

    Kane finished.

    "Pyra? You named the Hellhound?"

    Diana raised her eyebrows.

    Kane sat up, still staring at his fist. This time with an intensity that surprised Diana.

    "She saved me."

    He said after a short pause.

    "I can''t count the people who saved me in one hand because the number would be Zero. And yet within these three days, I''ve come to owe not one but two life debts."

    Diana sighed, sitting up as well.

    "Well. You can consider one of those life debts repaid."

    Her eyes turned to Circe''s body.

    "I was wrong. I wasn''t strong enough to face her alone."

    Kane blinked. Hearing Diana admit something like that...

    The Assassin smiled at his curled fist.

    "Yeah? Well we didn''t do it alone...Pyra helped."

    A beautiful smile appeared on Diana''s face.

    "I was wrong about you as well. Thank you X."

    She said, sincerity pouring off her.

    Kane was momentarily blinded by the genuine gratitude she was showing him but nonetheless, he accepted the hand she was offering him.

    "Please, call me Kane. X is for when I''m on the job."

    Their palms clasped in a firm handshake.

    Krakkk!

    A crack appeared on the ground in between them.

    They watched as it grew bigger, cutting right in the middle of the Arena.

    Waves of green fire begun to lick the air, coming out of the crack.

    The two of them turned to Circe''s still body, only to watch as it was swallowed into the ground.

    Turning to each other, incredulous looks on both their faces, Kane only had one thing to ask.

    "Huh...is that supposed to happen?"

    He stared down at their clasped hands.

    "Did us shaking hands-"

    Pulling her palm from the handshake, Diana jumped to her feet, Kane following an instant later.

    The ground started rumbling, pieces of the Coliseum falling away into the crack that was forming a wide crevice.

    "No no no no..."

    The Princess started shaking her head, worry and fear apparent in her tone.

    "This isn''t supposed to-"

    "Diana?"

    Kane called out.

    She didn''t hear him. Or rather she was too concerned with what was happening to pay him attention.

    "Diana!"

    He grabbed her shoulders, forcibly turning her to face him.

    "What''s going on?!"

    Grim blue eyes stared at him apologetically.

    "I am sorry Kane. But because of me...your life might be over."

    Kane narrowed his gaze at her.

    "This isn''t the first time I''ve found myself in a situation I had no hopes of surviving. Tell. Me. What''s. Going. On."

    Diana breathed in, the look in her eyes changing. Resolve re-appeared.

    "Circe was planning on using my blood as a catalyst to bring forth Heracles and his Hoarde from the Underworld."

    Kane blinked at the bombshell.

    "Heracles? You mean Hercules? Why you?"

    Kane enquired, already knowing the answer but wanting it confirmed.

    With haunted eyes, Diana replied:

    "Because we''re both children of Zeus. We share the same divine blood."

    "Oh."

    His suspicions had been right.

    "But we killed her before she could complete the spell right?"

    Kane pointed out, as more of the Coliseum started chipping away and falling to the emerald depths below.

    "Also...now would be a good time get out of here."

    He told her, noticing the destruction was about to reach them, with the crevice turning into a massive trench.

    "It''s no use."

    Diana shook her head, pointing above them.

    "The ritual has already started."

    Sure enough, a dome of green energy had popped up above them.

    Kane wasn''t about to believe that it was too late. He shot out a web at the stands and swung away, coming at the dome with his fist cocked back, bio-energy sparking across its length.

    Boom!!!

    He landed the punch on the dome. The whole thing trembled, rippling with tons of power before it was redirected to the source, slamming him back.

    The Assassin dug a groove with his body in the sands, flipping to his feet before his momentum brought him sliding till he reached Diana.

    "Okay."

    He shook his hand- which was in pain.

    "That clearly didn''t work."

    "I don''t understand."

    Diana shook her head before a different expression, one of rage appeared in her eyes.

    "Serena."

    She bit out, venomous realization in her tone.

    "There was a second part to the Ritual. My blood on the sands of the Arena to create a path is the first part. The second is to provide a sacrifice to power and stabilize the way through. A sacrifice that not only needs the life of an Amazon but that of a man..."

    "Steve."

    Kane realized.

    (Elsewhere)

    (Below the Arena)

    Standing in the middle of a green pool of water, the high priestess, naked, held her hands stretched out.

    Steve''s body floated behind on the surface of the water, the throat slit with blank eyes staring up at the ceiling.

    "So, Circe failed."

    Serena muttered, bringing the knife on her hand to her neck.

    "It doesn''t matter. I planned for this. If I can''t bring you to Themisycra my love, then I''ll bring Themisycra to you."

    She ran the knife through her neck, slicing it open with no hesitation.

    Falling back in the pool, blood spraying out, Serena reached out with a trembling hand to the mural on the ceiling.

    A mural showcasing a battle from Millenia before.

    "H-Herakles..."

    (General P.O.V)

    "Great Hera. This must have been her plan b from all along."

    Diana theorized.

    "In case Circe failed on her part, she could still send the Island to the Underworld. Circe would have been fine either way as long as Themiscyra was destroyed and every Amazon dead...or worse."

    "It''s just one thing to another..."

    Kane shook his head. His luck hadn''t been the best this week.

    "So what do we do now?"

    "Nothing."

    Diana answered, to Kane''s horror. Unbeknownst to her, she continued.

    "Thank Zeus the Spell seems to be limited to the Arena. The Island will be safe at least."

    "I''m guessing we don''t get the same deal?"

    Kane asked, he and Diana stepping away from the wide trench that had pushed them to the very edge of what used to be the greatest Coliseum in the world.

    Looking down at the awning pit, all they could see was green fire and mist.

    "No. I''m-"

    Diana begun, only for Kane to grab and hold her to him.

    "None of that sorry stuff."

    He interjected, flexing his wrists. He was going to need all the webbing he had.

    A sharp glint passed through his eyes.

    "Hold on tight to me. It''s not over yet. I''ve survived your Island''s discrimination, bad food and mosquitos the size of cockroaches. How bad could the underworld be?"

    Hades had no idea what was coming.

    *******

    Next Chapter:- Aftermath.

 Issue #18: Aftermath.

    Issue #18: X, Aftermath.

    (General P.O.V)

    "Alkyone!"

    A voice sounded out from the other side of the huge double doors that led to the Throne Room.

    Alkyone''s face paled on the Throne she was seating on.

    "No. I thought I had time! How is ''she'' here?"

    The self-proclaimed Queen demanded from the hapless guards around her.

    She and her contingent of Amazon''s had bailed the second things got heated.

    The plan was to raid the Royal treasury, have her people load everything they could onto the galley''s moored in the docks, then use the secret exit behind the Throne to escape what she knew was on its way.

    Retribution.

    The only thing that had kept her waiting was news. News on whether Circe had won.

    But with the Queen''s Royal Guard here...basically on the other side of the chamber, things were not looking too good.

    "Capt-"

    Izah standing at the foot below the Throne, begun, only for Alkyone''s death glare to silence her.

    "Captain? I''m your bloody Queen!"

    Punctuating the statement by slamming a palm on the arm of the Throne, Alkyone stood up to her full height, sneering down at her squad members, her sisters.

    "I have been chosen by fate itself to be the one seated on this throne. To lead our people. How dare you-"

    She launched off into a delusional tirade of complaints and insults.

    At the steps of the Throne, Izah and the other Amazons who were still loyal to Alkyone looked at each other.

    A secret conversation seemed to pass through them.

    (A few minutes later)

    "On my signal!"

    Pillyphus raised a hand outside the throne room.

    The warriors with her tensed, holding onto a long log they were using to try and break in when...the double doors swung open.

    "Halt!"

    The General gave the order, curious as to what Alkyone was planning.

    "We have you surrounded."

    She announced.

    "The only way out of here is through the secret entrance behind the throne room, which we have already blocked off or...through me. It''s over Alkyone."

    The sound of steps rang out, approaching the doors.

    Pillyphus tensed, hand hovering over the sword on her hips as she readied herself for a fight.

    Only for a strange expression to befall her when something round and smooth was thrown out into the hallway.

    The General stepped forward and scratched her chin in confusion.

    "Well, that''s one way to deal with the problem."

    Lying on the ground before her, eyes shut with pain and mouth open in horror, was Alkyone''s head.

    And through the doors, on their knees with their hands held behind their backs, was Alkyone''s squad.

    Izah stared up at Pillyphus.

    "We had no idea she would go so far as to put any of our sisters in danger. That was not the Captain we knew. So we took matters into our own hands."

    The two of them looked at each other for a few tense moments before Pillyphus sighed.

    "You''re lucky the Queen said she wanted her head."

    The Squad was ready to relax when a word stopped them.

    "But"-

    Lyra, Izah and everyone involved readied themselves. They knew what awaited them. The punishment for mutiny.

    "-That means little when dealing with traitors. Prepare yourself to follow your ''queen''. May the gods have mercy on your souls."

    Pillyphus finished, the sound of weapons being drawn from sheaths, alerting Alkyone''s squad to what fate awaited them.

    "Enough."

    Hippolyta''s voice cut through the tension with the force of a guillotine.

    She stepped from behind Pillyphus.

    "Thats enough death for today. Cuff them and take them to the dungeons."

    She directed, sternly gazing down at the Amazons who couldnt even meet her eyes.

    "They earned a hearing by being the ones to dispatch their former captain."

    "Yes your majesty."

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Pillyphus nodded, turning to the warriors behind them.

    "Well, you heard the Queen. Get to-"

    KRAAAKK!!!

    A loud sound, like that of something tearing apart, reached their ears.

    As one, all attention turned to the Coliseum in the distance, only to witness the ancient structure collapse into a pit of green flames.

    (20 minutes later)

    Hippolyta stood at the Palace balcony, staring down at the Garden that her daughter loved to visit.

    The Queen had an unreadable expression on her face. But the tightened palms hidden within the sleeves of her dress showed that she was less than happy.

    No. ''Less than'' couldn''t quantify the well of tumultuous emotions within her.

    Her daughter- her light-

    "Mmmh...your Majesty?"

    Pillyphus cleared her throat, snapping Hippolyta out of her thoughts.

    The mother breathed in a shuddering breath. Upon exhale, the prim and regal Amazonian Queen returned.

    "Yes?"

    She asked, turning around.

    "I''m sorry my Queen."

    Pillyphus bowed her head in shame.

    "We scoured the whole city. The Princess is nowhere to be found. The news is...not good."

    She stepped to the side, revealing a scared Bulma with a haunted expression in her eyes.

    "She saw everything. I''ll let her explain."

    The Queen''s gaze landed on the young girl.

    "Speak up Bulma. What happened to Diana? Where is my daughter?"

    (General P.O.V)

    Bulma fled the palace in haste, her young heart pumping wildly due to the tense atmosphere she''d just escaped.

    She cut through the Royal kitchen, snagging a couple of Apple-mangos that only ever grew in Themiscyra.

    The head chef was barking orders in a frenzy, ensuring that Bulma could even get her hands on the special Ambrosia bread only served to the Royal Family.

    It simply melted in her mouth.

    She almost moaned in delight when she nibbled on a loaf, hiding behind the Garden storeroom while ensuring the coast was clear.

    At this time of the day, the Garden would usually be abandoned as it was reserved for Diana.

    And the princess would normally remain there for the whole afternoon, reading or simply relaxing.

    And seeing as Diana was stuck in the Underworld, no one would disturb Bulma.

    She brought out the last of the Applemango and quickly finished it off, leaving the Ambrosia bread tucked away in the shed for the return trip.

    Zeus only knows how tired she got whenever she flew to and from Mount Olympus.

    Any other means of transportation would only jeopardize her cover.

    Bulma cast a look around the garden, making sure for the last time that the coast was clear.

    Sighing, she closed her eyes and when she opened them, her entire form had shifted.

    Divine sprendor surged out, only to stop, contained by an ironclad will. The will of a God.

    A will that belonged to a stalwart figure, power to his frame, a straight spine and skin that shone like gold.

    His beautiful face, impassive as stone, only lost its attractive pull due to the pair of wings on his ankles, a feature of authority.

    A feature of the God of Messengers.

    Hermes'' grim countenance was shattered by a long suffering sigh.

    "Father won''t be happy with this."

    (Sphere of the Gods)

    (Mount Olympus)

    (Zeus'' Personal Office)

    Hermes landed on the Parapet at the top floor of a massive mansion, his form that of a Warbler.

    The mansion was built far away from Mount Olympus, being the summer house of the King of Gods.

    The warbler chirped(part of protocol he absolutely detested and wouldn''t do if it wasn''t for who he served directly under), staring through the window into the inside of the mansion.

    On the other side was an opulent office, exuding timeless authority.

    The room featured classical elegance, with a central mahogany desk complemented by modern executive furniture.

    Ancient Greek-inspired artwork adorned the walls, blending harmoniously with a subtle touch of mythological finesse.

    Ironically, a large poster of Liam Neeson as Zeus framed the backwall of the office, looking out of place but no less magnificent. (A/N: I know the timeline)

    The view from the window reflected Zeus''s dominion, his arrogance and most importantly, Authority.

    At the very center of the desk, next to a picture of the King of God''s posing with The Jade Emperor, was an instrument of incredible might and power.

    A silver Lightning Bolt.

    Slik

    The window was slid open by a wave of hand from the King of the Gods.

    And finally Hermes turned to the center of everything in the office. Nay, the center of everything in Olympus. Though the one in question would claim to be the center of the Universe.

    Zeus would never be mistaken for an unassuming man.

    Tall despite being seated, his posture alone demanded attention. You couldn''t help but bow your head before him.

    Which is what Hermes did right after flying inside the office, shifting into his godly form on the tiger striped carpet before Zeus''s desk.

    The sound of a pen scribbling on paper continued on even after Hermes had arrived.

    An undermined time later, a sigh could be heard.

    "Any news on Ares'' whereabouts? I''m still getting reports from the Asgardians on his raids on their territory."

    A soft voice inquired.

    Hermes winced.

    "Apologies father but...big brother is proving to be unusually stealthy."

    "I admit, it is quite strange of him."

    Zeus acquisced.

    The scribbling stopped. Hermes took that opportunity to look up, meeting the eyes of the most powerful force in Olympus.

    A face that was similar to his. Only manlier. Hair just as lustrous only silver where Hermes'' was golden blonde.

    And lastly, the distinguishing factor, a beard where Hermes was clean shaven.

    He could have easily passed for the God of Beauty, his aura alone radiating an otherworldness that when compounded with the sheer power hanging in the air...was simply breath taking.

    The SkyFather''s stormy gray eyes,

    cool, like a pond in the early morning, bored holes through Hermes.

    The God of messengers had no confidence on them remaining that way after what he was about to say.

    "Father I- there''s been-"

    "You know why I gave you another task on top of your primary job, boy?"

    Zeus cut in, placing both hands on the desk between them.

    The God of messenger''s blinked, looking for the right response

    "Ah, because I''m the only one who can fly fast enough around the world?"

    "Besides that."

    Zeus prompted, dismissively.

    A certain pressure appeared in the room, growing in intensity with every passing second.

    For Hermes, it was steadily getting harder to breathe. A trail of sweat fell down the side of his face.

    What made it worse was that he had no response. Luckily one wasn''t needed as the King of Gods continued,

    "It''s because you''re reliable. Everyone has a part to play. For example, I''m the King. So I delegate. I order. I command."

    Hermes gulped, the look in his father''s eyes changing into something hard.

    "I let them see the arrogant, lustful and reckless Leader because when all is said and done...the only way to live with snakes is to be one of them. They''re no different than children. Incompetent. Worse than humans because we are in all possible ways: better. And we know it."

    Zeus leaned back on his chair.

    "But you, you''re different Hermes. I let you see this side of me because you''re useful. Your place in Olympus is to be USEFUL. Do you understand me?"

    Hermes straightened up, not daring to meet his eyes.

    "Yes SkyFather. I''ll have Ares'' whereabouts in a day."

    "Good."

    Zeus nodded and the pressure seemed to drain out of the room.

    "This really is not his style."

    Zeus hummed, tapping his chin in thought.

    "I would have sensed him were he moving through the air, and I''ve ordered Hades and Poseidon to be on the lookout for him, covering the ground and the sea. I suspect foul play. Someone must be helping him hide from me..."

    "You think it- might be someone from a different Pantheon?"

    Hermes chanced a question.

    Zeus eyes fell on him.

    "What are you still doing here?"

    Hermes shivered, turning his gaze to the floor. His wings twitched, palms growing sweaty.

    "There''s...something you should know Father. It''s about Diana."

    The God of Messengers paused.

    The pressure returned.

    "What about your sister?"

    Zeus asked in a frigid tone.

    Praying that he survived what was about to follow, Hermes or to the Amazons in Themiscyra, Bulma told the King of Gods everything, from Kane and Steve''s presence on the island, to Alkyone''s rebellion, Circe''s death and Diana falling to the underworld...

    He left nothing out.

    And that day everyone on Olympus, the Major and Minor Gods, Divine Spirits and all cowered under Zeus wrath. Wrath that was contained in one name.

    "HAAAADDDESSS!!!!!"

    (EARTH)

    For 7 days and 7 nights, a worldwide storm raged.

    The weather was rough enough that the Great War stalled.

 Issue #19: X, The Defiant.

    Volume 2: The Great War.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Diana clung to my side with the grip of a Koala, her considerable strength threatening to turn my ribs into dust.

    It was actually hard to breath. But that was the least of our worries.

    "I hope you know what you''re-"

    She begun in a grim tone.

    "I don''t. Let''s get that out of the way."

    I cut in, staring at her nervous eyes.

    "We might. No, we will surely die...but I''m gonna fight all the way to stop that from happening."

    She looked at me strangely, before turning her gaze down and gulping.

    "Well, if I had to pick anyone else to die with..."

    The rest went unsaid. Time was up.

    Below us, the chasm was now wide enough that with a resounding crack, the edges of the Coliseum collapsed from above, plunging everything into the awning pit. Us along.

    "Hold on!"

    The action detached the webbing I held with my left hand, the other end clinging to one of the ballistic bolts mechanisms.

    It passed by us on its descent.

    I let go.

    For one second, I felt Diana''s heart skip a beat. Then we were falling towards the green depths.

    Wood, metal and chunks of rock rained down with us. Dust obscured our sight, making it hard to breathe clean air.

    One last look above, showed the dome of energy close up.

    Hope I have enough web for this.

    I flexed my wrists and started shooting out webs, spinning them into a tight sphere around us, covering our bodies with enough of it that if we were to land at terminal velocity, most of our bones wouldn''t be shattered on impact.

    I could feel the drain on my web fluid, the action causing me to feel dizzy and hollow inside in a way that was foreign and strange.

    The ball grew in size with us in the middle, blocking the debris raining down, while bouncing off the edges and sides of the cavern we were dropping through.

    And then darkness claimed us. The only thing I could feel was Diana''s tense breathing.

    (General P.O.V)

    In waters that could not be fully explained as they existed in boundary of the living world and the afterlife, a large ball made of webs floated calmly, hitting the banks of the river before continuing on.

    This river was lifeless, yet shadows could be seen within its bluish depth, the souls of the damned. Those who had broken vows and pledges sworn by it.

    The greedy who had never had enough. Now forced to drink to their fill and drown endlessly for eternity.

    This was the river Styx. The River of Hate.

    Some tried to sink their clawed hands into the Web sphere.

    What stopped them was the almost autonomous electric charge that would zap out into the water and air, harming these dead souls with the energy of life force.

    An energy that should not have existed in the Underworld, the realm of the dead.

    An energy that was like a beacon to the shades that wandered along the shores of the river, yet instinctively they avoided the Styx.

    For one fall inside and they would be trapped for all Eternity.

    And so the ball of web continued on unassailed, drifting aimlessly down the styx until, a massive waterfall appeared to it''s front.

    And over the waterfall, the kingdom of the dead begun.

    Stretched out as far as one''s mental fortitude could allow understanding, it had no end.

    Only a dreary, dry and hot wasteland with blackened vegetation, stubbornly growing amidst the fiery terrain. Numerous cracks were scattered on the soot laden floor, jutting out high geysers of lava.

    And closer to the ground, a fog that consumed all light and most likely the sanity of those caught within.

    The waters of the River Styx bifurcated into dozens of distributaries that fell into a massive plunge pool hundreds of feet below.

    And in the middle of the pool, lay an island.

    An island occupied by a single creature.

    A massive three headed dog, with a serpent for a tail, and a mane of snakes, chewing on the bones of a creature bigger than itself.

    Sparks of red, blue and yellow flames seemed to jump off the left, middle and right heads respectively.

    This was Cerberus, the guard of the Underworld, laden with the duty to prevent the dead from escaping the land of death.

    Or the living from entering it.

    Sniffing the air, all three vicious heads looked up, the bone that was bigger than the trunk of an oak tree, momentarily forgotten as it sensed something approaching from above.

    It snapped to attention, a low rumble escaping its huge and heavily muscled chest.

    From the crest of one of the River Styx distributaries, a round object spilled over the weir, falling towards the plunge pool.

    Cerberus eyes, dark pools of blue, yellow and red fire watched as the ball of web descended.

    But Cerberus was not the only one to notice this strange and unfamiliar object.

    In the darkened and gloomy skies of the Underworld, many a creature existed but none as ferocious as the vulture-like harpies.

    A distant cousin to their variants in the world of the living, these particular ones were even more bloodthirsty and fractionally dangerous.

    They were the agents of punishment. Torn gray wings blending with the gloomy atmosphere native to the Underworld.

    Screeching with excitement and gleeful malice, the swarm of harpies, with beaks and claws as sharp as those of Stymphalian birds, dove towards the sphere.

    Just as they were about to tear through the web ball and expose what lay within...

    GROWWWLLLL!!!

    A thunderous roar from Cerberus halted their advance, scaring these fearless creatures into a mad panic.

    Screeching, the swarm pulled away as fast as they could, flying away from the Guardian of the Underworld.

    The ball of web plunged into the pool, before resurfacing, drifting above the lake buoyantly.

    It eventually found it''s way onto the banks of the river, right before Cerberus.

    The three heads stared unblinkingly at the round object, sniffing at it.

    The left head begun to growl, as the Guardian beast rose off it''s haunches, its hackles raising.

    It could smell the stench of a God wafting off the ball.

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    The right head snapped at the left before it could bury it''s fangs into the curious ball in front of it.

    Before both heads could fight, the central head nipped the confrontation in the bud, with a much quieter but more intimidating growl.

    Then it licked the sphere, releasing a snort at the other two.

    A snort that made the left and right head reavulate the sphere before them.

    Hidden within the aura of a God, was a familiar scent. Faint as it was. It was the scent of on of its own. A brethren. A descendant. The scent of a Hellhound.

    "How peculiar."

    A hooded figure, drifting on a lone wooden boat with a lantern on the bow, lighting it''s way among the murky waters, stated.

    The boat came from deeper into the kingdom of the dead; the river Styx breaking into two and carving around the small island the three headed Dog was on.

    On either side of the river was a large obsidian arch way acting as a gate.

    Written in bold Greek, the words, "ALL PATHS LEAD THE SAME WAY"

    laid prominent on both gates.

    The hooded figure padded an oar through the waters from the left, and yet reality appeared bent, for he appeared from the right as well. Each action made- a mirror of its counterpart.

    "You''ve never been one to show favor, Cerberus."

    Charon, the Ferryman stated in a whispery voice.

    Cerberus sat back down on it''s haunches, the left and right head going back to sleep while the central one stayed awake, watchful and vigilant. A spark of undeniable intelligence in its eyes.

    Charon''s boat bumped against the ball of web in the water.

    Looking up, a skeleton with green orbs for eyes was revealed within the confines of his hood.

    He reached out a hand, a skeletal limb with long fingers which he used to gently stroke the ball of web.

    Streaks of yellow electricity jumped out at him, failing to do any damage.

    "Mmmh." The Ferryman hummed in thought.

    "I''ll take it from here old friend."

    Charon spoke, to which Cerberus'' middle head huffed.

    "The master seeks audience with our ''unwanted'' guests."

    The hooded underworld deity explained, turning his gaze to the Three Headed Hellhound.

    "If you wouldn''t mind?"

    The Central head sniffed, before turning it''s head to the ball of web.

    It opened its maw and blue flames as hot as the sun surged out, disintegrating the ball of web into nothing.

    "I''ll be back for the next batch soon. Maybe I''ll bring you another Dragon bone."

    Charon said, rowing his boat, with two new occupants behind him.

    (An undeterminable time later)

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Ever been hit with deja vu intermixed with nostalgia, a healthy heaping of vertigo and on top of that, the worst hangover ever?

    No? Really?

    Well lucky you.

    It fells like I went 100 rounds with Circe. And this time she took me seriously.

    The world was spinning round and round enough that it took more than a few seconds to realize I was moving.

    Drifting on something.

    The last thing I remember is spinning more web than I had reserves for. The aim being to create a protective sphere around us, increasing our chances for survival.

    A protective sphere with enough thick padding that any force or impact transferred through to us, would be a fraction of its initial value.

    We would feel it but I was banking on Diana and I being durable enough to take it.

    Thankfully, I was right. Though that begged the question, where was I?

    My heart rate remained constant as I listened, trying to figure out exactly what was around me.

    This move had helped me greatly before. You have no clue how many times I''ve caught a target with their guard down when they thought I was passed out.

    Slowly, I begun to make out sounds.

    The gentle lap of water, steady breathing, steady heart beat and the whistle of a cold breeze, ruffling against something cloth-like. The air smelled of...

    That''s impossible. It smelled of nothing.

    I opened my eyes.

    This...is most obviously not the inside of the web sphere.

    The sky was dark. Not a cloudy dark, just a dark canvas with a few pinpricks of light on it, that were too dim to be stars.

    And there was so much gray mist obscuring the air around me, that I couldn''t see much of anything else.

    Placing two hands under me, I sat up.

    The vertigo immediately increased ten fold.

    "Ugh...I liked it better when I was passed out."

    I bemoaned, hands on either side of my head.

    "Thank Hera. You''re awake."

    Diana said from my front, looking over her shoulder with a relieved smile.

    I stared around at us.

    We were on a boat sailing over a dark blue river. One with...

    "Are those..."

    I questioned, gaping at the shadows of people tugging at the edge of the boat from within the water.

    Pale fingers grasped at the wood, only for a membrane of invisible energy to repel them.

    Most had wide unblinking eyes that seemed to pull you in-and-NEVER-WANT-TO-LET-GO...

    "Hmmph!"

    I snorted, Releasing my killing intent.

    Apart from breaking me out of the spell, it did nothing to disuade them. In fact, the action spurred them on.

    "Your hands are tainted with blood."

    A wheezing voice said from my front. Immediately, my guard was up.

    "They''re attracted to that."

    The hooded figure who I had ''somehow'' missed, added from the front of the boat, their voice like the breeze around us, bitingly cold.

    I say ''Somehow'' missed because there was no way I had. So how...

    "This is Charon. The Ferryman of the underworld. He''s the deity charged with transporting the souls of the dead."

    Diana provided. Then she growled,

    "He''s also incredibly frustrating."

    My eyes jumped between the two.

    "How so?"

    In response, Charon held up two golden coins in the air.

    "You could not pay the fee. So I extracted 10 years of your life as recompese. Welcome to the Underworld."

    "What? Ten years? Fee?"

    I looked at the livid Diana, understanding why she was so worked up.

    Still,

    I cleared my throat.

    "Something like that would need our express permission. And even had you asked, the answer would have been a very clear and resounding no."

    "Those are the rules."

    The hooded figure stated in a tone that said he didn''t care whether or not we accepted it.

    That wasn''t goint to work for me.

    "Did you-"

    "Tell him that we did not come here of our own volition?"

    Diana interjected.

    "Yes. He told me to take it up with the boss."

    "You mean Hades."

    I breathed out, connecting the dots. We were in the Underworld, on a boat with Charon. I might not be a mythological expert but a few trips to Europe had made me interested in its rich culture.

    The Acropolis was a wonder of architecture based on how long ago it was constructed.

    But that''s besides the point.

    "10 years is too much."

    I shook my head. As a human being, I had about 80 years in me.(Of course I had plans for immortality, that was just obvious. One of my goals was to make it to the 21st century and beyond even. But I had to make sure I had more than enough time to achieve that goal.)

    "I know! I said the same thing!"

    Diana yelled, throwing her hands up while looking at me over her shoulder.

    I gave her a blank stare.

    "What?"

    She blinked my way.

    "You''re a demigod and an Amazon at that. If anything, your lifespan might be in the hundreds if not thousands. 10 years is nothing."

    I answered dryly.

    She had the grace to look sheepish.

    "Look at it this way."

    Charon interrupted, looking back at us, revealing his skeletal visage.

    "The punishment for not paying the required one Obol coin is wandering the shores of the Styx for 100 years. I can take you back there if you so wish."

    Diana and I shared a look. And we agreed, this was far from over.

    The boat continued on, the mist thick at most places and thin in some. The places where it was thin, revealed sights to us that boggered and bothered the mind.

    So many people. Dead spirits doing nothing but staring as we passed.

    And even phantom creatures from mythology.

    Like a several eyed beast with a mad gaze or a centaur whose flesh was covered by boils that dripped with hot pus. Pus that burned holes on the ground.

    We even saw one or two raving Satyrs stumbling about with mournful wails.(Diana told me they were the ones who had willingly died just to look for Pan, the God of the wild in the Underworld.)

    The Themiscyran princess was proving to be a treasure trove of information.

    Passing by a few ghostly figures that caused the other souls to scatter in fear, she explained,

    "Those are Banshees. Creatures of sorrow and lamentations. It is said, any Amazon who dies an unworthy death, becomes one. Forced to haunt the shores of the five rivers for all eternity."

    So, she was most likely looking at her sisters.

    I patted her shoulder, pointing at the sky when she turned to me.

    "What about those flying things?"

    Creatures that looked like a cross between a bat and a snake.

    "Soul seekers."

    She answered.

    "They move through the mist ensuring no peace comes to those that fail to pay Charon''s toll."

    We stayed silent after that.

    I was mostly occupied with the fact my wrists felt numb. And trying to produce webs left them burning something fierce.

    The good thing was that now, I knew the limit of how much web I could produce.

    Draining those reserves, for however long, I would be rendered ineffective web-wise.

    I also pulled up the interface, curious to see if anything had changed.

    And lo and behold...something had. Not.

    Yeah. Just joking.

    X~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X

    Spider-Man X.

    MILES MORALES STRAIN: 100% d.n.a INTERGRATION.

    Abilities unlocked:

    Super strength.

    Spider sense.

    Web-creation.

    Wall-crawling.

    Enhanced Healing.

    Enhanced Senses.

    Enhanced Stamina.

    Enhanced Durability.

    Enhanced Flexibility.

    Bio-Energy Manipulation.

    X~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X

    As brief and dry as ever.

    I don''t know what I was expecting. Maybe the flare of blue within the venom blast had filled me with hope or something.

    Nothing like that it seems.

    "We''ve arrived."

    The Ferryman said, breaking me out of my thoughts.

    Diana gasped. And I soon saw why.

    One second we are deep in this unfathomable fog, then the next we''re out.

    The sky becomes red, the air gets charged and oppressively hot.

    The real kingdom of the dead is displayed for ours eyes to consume.

    Charon''s boat hit a wooden dock where the river ended. Or rather, instead of ending, it seemed to disappear below the wooden planks of the docks, falling into a lake far below us.

    And it wasn''t the only one. 4 more rivers like it flowed into the lake, in a semi-circe perimeter around us.

    A green river that, Diana told me was known as the Acheron or the river of pain, a yellow one called Lethe, or the river of forgetfulness, Cocytus, the grey river or river of wailing and the final one: Phlegethon, a river of fire.

    The Five rivers of the Underworld, all surrounding a structure in the middle that stole our collective breath away.

    You see, the docks transitioned into a short bridge, one that led to an incredible place.

    Call it a castle, a mansion, a palace. It was all that and more. It''s walls were obsidian with precious gemstones from diamonds to rubies, to everything imaginable.

    Towers jutted out into the red sky.

    It was grand. It was imposing.

    It was...

    "The Underworld Palace."

    Diana whispered in naked awe. And I found myself agreeble with the sheer scale of its mightiness.

    A palace worth the king of the Underworld.

    HOWEVER, I wasn''t sure the opposite was true.

    For Hades dwarfed the presence of his Palace by a factor of billions.

    The second my gaze landed on the King of the Underworld, I knew without a shred of doubt, this was a level of power I would never hope to reach.

    It wouldn''t stop me from trying though.

    And the first step towards that endeavor was keeping my head held up high, even as Charon bowed in subservience.

    Even as Diana prostrated herself within the boat.

    Through the short distance between the boat and the head of the bridge, cool and power-vibrationary eyes met my own.

    And I Defiantly gazed into the abyss.

 Issue #20: X, The Herald.

    (General P.O.V)

    Clang!

    Clang!

    Clang!

    Clang!

    The sound of metal on metal resounded across the entire forge.

    The heat hanging around, formed an oppressive atmosphere that no normal human would survive in.

    Clang!

    Clang!

    It was only fitting then, that the Being responsible for the meticulous metal pounding was as far from human as the heavens were from the earth.

    Hunched over, barely 5 feet tall, left hand on a pair of tongs and right hand on a glowing silver hammer, Haephestus hammered on, adding the finishing touches to his latest project.

    "You said come back Tuesday."

    An arrogant voice stated from his back.

    "It''s Tuesday and I want my suit."

    Haephestus swallowed a sigh, face grimacing in annoyance.

    "Patience brother."

    Clang!

    Even with the new arrival''s disruption, he never paused on his methodical approach: swing, raise the hammer and then swing again.

    "You know how much I care about the details."

    The God of Blacksmiths added, the red glow of the metal on the anvil reflected on his round googles.

    "It doesn''t have to be pretty Haephestus."

    His brother groused in a deep rumbling voice.

    "Where it''s going, things won''t be...pretty."

    "Present company excluded of course."

    Haephestus chuckled, he was used to his...less than appealing appearance. Jaded was he that he could even joke about it.

    "Just hurry up."

    The new arrival answered like a kid denied his favorite toy.

    The other good thing about poking fun at himself, was that others would be left with no ammunition to do the same.

    Very quickly, Haephestus completed the final piece. And only then did he turn around to face his kin.

    Ares. The God of War.

    Just like everytime they encountered each other, Haephestus stomped down on the feelings of jealousy that gripped him.

    Ares had their father''s mighty body and powerful gaze, their mother''s sheer godly splendor and attractiveness. Especially her luscious hair.

    While her''s was golden, Ares'' was silver, just like Father''s beard.

    Standing at 6''8, he might not have been the tallest God ever but he was one of the most imposing.

    With shredded arms the size of tree trunks and a chest that was broader than should have been aesthetically pleasing, yet was.

    The aura and presence around the God of War, spoke of undeniable strength. And battle lust.

    To top it off, was the golden armor he wore, a blood-red cape attached to his shoulders, sashaying in a non-existent breeze.

    He was the very text book definition of a God. Power, arrogance and grace.

    Basically...everything Haephestus wasn''t. But the latter had had millenia to come to terms with that.

    After all, everything he wasn''t made him everything he was. A creator. An artist. An architect. A builder. A visionary.

    Ares could only destroy. Haephestus could create.

    Polar opposites.

    "Well?"

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    His brother''s impatience got the better of him. Enough that he was now looming over the work bench.

    Haephestus HATED whenever someone did that.

    Thankfully...

    "The final piece is done."

    The God of the forge declared, holding up a wide black chest piece.

    Ares said nothing, merely gazing at the piece with an imperious smile slowly spreading across his face.

    Haephestus carried the chest piece to a different section of the forge, where the rest of the suit, Ares had commissioned awaited to be assembled.

    A massive 8 foot exoskeleton with no discernible weaknesses across it''s metallic chasis.

    "It''s..."

    Ares begun.

    "Glorious?"

    Haephestus cut in derisively. He ain''t seen nothing.

    "Just wait until I secure this..."

    Saying so, he slotted the Chest piece onto the suit of armor. With a click, the latches adjusted perfectly, leaving behind an intimidating tool of war.

    Its creator stepped back to admire his work.

    "Now its perfect."

    Haephestus sighed in satisfaction.

    "The Osmium and Mithril alloy will conduct your Divinity much easier than-"

    "Thank you Brother. Truly. But you''re mistaken."

    Ares interrupted, placing a hand on Haephestus'' shoulder, turning him around so that they were face to face.

    "The armor is not meant for me. I''m the God of war."

    He stated as if it were an obvious thing.

    "My body is a weapon in itself. Only one forged in war."

    The mood in the forge immediately changed.

    "Huh? What do you mean?"

    Haephestus blinked in confusion.

    "I thought you needed the armor for you and father''s millenial culling of the Elder Ones?"

    Ares looked down with a shake of his head.

    Then his body started trembling with laughter. Laughter that he couldn''t hold in anymore. Laughter that filled the entire workshop.

    "You...you don''t get out much, do you Haephestus?"

    Ares questioned, his chuckles dying out.

    "I..."

    Haephestus stammered, completely dumbfounded.

    Ares straightened up, displaying the wide maniacal grin marring his features.

    "Because if you did, you would know of the war the mortals wage. They call it the Great War. A war raging across the entire planet."

    "Ares..."

    Haephestus begun, a horrified look crossing his face.

    "You..."

    "Oh no no brother."

    Ares held up his hands in an act of innocence.

    "They started it on their own. Without my urging. Can you believe that?!"

    He shook his head, the look in his eyes changing.

    "Which is why I felt left out. I''m the God of War..."

    He scoffed in offense.

    "You''d think they''d involve me somewhat. Maybe a sacrifice or two, a prayer made to my glorious self. Or erect a statue...buuut nooo."

    He bent down closer to Haephestus, their faces inches apart. And The latter couldn''t help but shiver at the madness in his younger brother''s eyes.

    The shadows in the dimly lit forge seemed to grow more menacing, as Ares'' presence seemed to tower over him, despite the fact they were now eye level with one another.

    Eyes ablaze with a sinister fire, he spoke with conviction.

    "These mortals, these pitiful insects, believe they comprehend WAR."

    Ares'' voice completely changed. If before it was deep and authoritative, now it was calm and chilling.

    Ice-cold despite the heat thriving in the air.

    Everything seemed to go quiet, all to allow him center stage. The star of a macabre show.

    "They dance with their toys, crafting weapons of mass destruction with such arrogance. Little do they know, they play in realms they cannot fathom."

    Haephestus opened his mouth but nothing came out.

    A twisted glint played in Ares'' eyes as he continued,

    "They fancy themselves gods of war, meddling in divine affairs, attempting to usurp my very essence. But, oh, they have no concept of true war��the visceral brutality, the insatiable thirst for blood, the wails of the helpless. Hahahahahaha!"

    Haephestus couldn''t stomach that sick demented laugh. Worse was the glee Ares injected.

    The God of the Forge found himself looking away, a grossed out expression on his face.

    He''d never imagined that he could see True ugliness. Something that went deeper than the surface.

    Unaware of the emotions he was inducing within his younger brother, Ares'' voice grew darker, resonating with impending doom,

    "They''ve birthed instruments of annihilation, but the day is coming when those very weapons will turn upon them, upon their families, their children. And in that moment, they will taste the bitter reality of their delusions."

    He leaned closer to his brother''s ears.

    "I''ll strip away their illusions, reveal the naked truth of war, its unrelenting horror. They strive to do my job, but they are mere pretenders!"

    He raved.

    "I shall unleash the tempest of chaos upon them, and they will witness the true glory of war �C the raw, unbridled power that only Divinity such as I can wield."

    Another cruel laugh echoed through the forge as Ares reveled in his malevolent vision. An almost orgasmic quality in his tone.

    "I can''t wait to see them writhe in despair, futilely grasping for salvation. In their pursuit of war, they''ve awakened the beast within me. All these years...I''ve been forced...to watch..."

    He paused, chest raising in heavy breathing.

    A wide palm landed on Haephestus'' head, squeezing. A pressure that made the God of Blacksmiths wheeze fell upon him, constricting his chest.

    His face was forcefully turned towards Ares. And he found himself staring at those mad eyes once again.

    "I will show them the meaning of fear, the true face of a man who has stared into the abyss and found it staring back."

    Ares whispered.

    "And it will be glorious, Brother."

    And...Haephestus believed him.

    Then just as quickly, the pressure was gone and Haephestus fell to the floor on his knees, rubbing his chest.

    The God of the Forge slowly turned his gaze up.

    "You''re Mad."

    Ares chuckled, as if finding Haephestus'' words funny.

    "Mad? wrong. I''m evil. ''He'' on the other hand..."

    The God of War with malevolence leaking from his every pore, stepped aside, revealing someone behind him.

    Clink!

    Clink!

    A figure just as large, limbs wrapped in divine chains that Haephestus himself had created, stepped out of the shadows- oozing with insanity.

    One look and Haephestus paled.

    "No! Impossible!"

    Haephestus recoiled in shocked fear, falling on his butt and scrambling backwards.

    Ares walked past the God of the forge, eyes on the Suit of Armor framed on the wall.

    "And it just so happens that the Two of you have a score to settle."

    The God of War added with a chuckle, palm stroking the chest of the suit of armor.

    "No...no...wait! Zeus! Father!! Mother Hera!!...anyone! Hel- Glurk!!"

    Ignoring Haephestus'' agonized grunts, Ares narrowed a contented gaze at his new prize.

    "I think I''ll call you, Godkiller."

    He announced, the eye sockets of the Armor lighting up as he branded it with his divinity.

    A symbol depicting two crossed Axes appeared on the chest of the Armor.

    "The perfect sheath for the perfect weapon."

    He muttered to himself, spinning around on his heels to face said ''Weapon''

    "Wouldn''t you say so, Herakles?"

    Looming over Haephestus'' remains, body torn apart limb from limb, golden ichor covering his hands, Herakles remained silent.

    The only thing keeping him from jumping at Ares and giving him the same treatment being the same crossed axe insignia glowing on his forehead.

    The brand of the God of War.

    "Perfect."

    Ares grinned at the non-response. Dogs lived to serve after all, not share opinions.

    "While they flounder about looking for me...you shall be wreaking havoc in my place. The God of War''s Herald."

 Issue #21: X, Hades.

    (Diana''s P.O.V)

    It''s him.

    Just like the murals above the throne room depict. Like the tapestries framing the walls of the palace halls.

    A mountain of a God, with black hair the color of pitch darkness.

    A mighty Prong in hand, a Divine class weapon on par with only two others, Father Zeus'' Lightning bolt and Poseidon''s Trident.

    And it burns with hell flame, hot enough that my back is sleek with sweat and those eyes...

    I didn''t dare gaze at them, my face pressed to the floor of the boat as it was.

    I couldn''t imagine, meeting my uncle like this. Under such...strange circumstances. Not to mention...be completely bowed by his sheer presence.

    Truly, mother was right. The three elder gods are on entirely different level compared to the others.

    Then I heard heavy steps coming our way.

    It was only thanks to Tyche''s luck, I was able to spot Kane, chest puffed out in mortal defiance.

    What is he thinking?

    Are all men so...reckless?

    Shoving an elbow into his ribs, I was able to grab his forearm and tug him down to my-

    He resisted.

    WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM?

    This is the God of the Underworld! Proper decorum aside, Hades was said to be more wrathful than even Zeus, when crossed. If he considered Kane''s actions as disrespect then...

    Kane''s hand landed on my shoulder, then with strength I was surprised he had, he forcefully pulled me up. To my feet.

    And suddenly the God of the Underworld was there, standing before us. Cold eyes staring down at...Kane.

    Great Hera.

    Fine. If my ''uncle'' decides to punish Kane, then it''s clear which side I''m on.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    I can bow but I never kneel. Not to anyone.

    But dammit, just standing in place hurt. An ache across my entire body as I withstood the pressure from being in front of a veritable God.

    The eldest son of Kronos, the Titan of time.

    How should I even describe Hades? Imagine Circe, then mutiply the threat I felt from her by a factor of millions.

    And it still didn''t come close to what this guy was outputting.

    Despite that, I never broke eye contact.

    Even as he and his procession of 3 crossed the distance between us, up until he was just THERE, critically analysing us with eyes as black as his hair.

    I felt Diana try to pull me down to her level. To give the God of the Underworld Face.

    Unfortunately, she didn''t know me well enough.

    It was stupid. It was reckless and above all, it was exactly ME.

    I refused to kneel. In fact, I grabbed her and forced her to her feet.

    And now the two of us were facing off against Death itself.

    The Unseen One.

    And holy assassin God himself, (this was a world of myth, can''t discount his presence) Hades was taaaaalll as fuck.

    Menacingly so. Enough that he dwarfed even Chiron, who was at the very least 6''7.

    "The guests have been delivered, my Lord. I shall take my leave."

    The Ferryman straightened, stepping into his boat.

    I heard the paddles gently row him away.

    And now we were alone, standing at the very edge of the docks/bridge.

    Behind us, an inescapable river. In front of us, an undeniable force and to our sides, a fall that I don''t think Diana and I wanted to see if we could survive.

    We were locked in.

    The Princess then surprised me by stepping in front of me, protectively.

    I clenched my jaw, tapping into the bio-electric charge just under my skin.

    If worst comes to worst, I could use a venom blast to distract and the little webbing I''d recovered to swing Diana and I away.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    "Lord Hades, forgive us for..."

    She started.

    Only for her to interrupted by the sound of thunder.

    Wait, not thunder, laughter. Great peals of laughter coming from Hades himself.

    I blinked, momentarily losing control of my powers, causing a few streaks of yellow to flicker around my fingers.

    Fortunately, everyone was more focused on Hades to notice.

    The God of the Underworld was practically doubled over, one hand on his belly, the other on the shaft of his prong, as he laughed and laughed.

    How the crown on his head stayed in place was a mystery.

    Diana and I stared at each other in surprise and disbelief.

    Blam!

    A slap landed on the back of Hades'' head, shutting him up immediately.

    I took that opportunity to study the one responsible, finally paying attention to the 3 individuals standing behind Hades.

    "Forgive my husband."

    The absolutely gorgeous and FULL(only way I could describe that body) woman whose presence was only slightly diminished by Hades'' spoke up from his side.

    She had honey blonde hair, as soft and vibrant as spring itself.

    A second later, she made me reavulate the ''soft'' part when she dug an elbow into Hades'' side, prompting an embarrassed cough out of him.

    "Sorry my love."

    Embarrassed, the unseen One replied in a voice that could only be described as deep. The deepest voice that had ever reached my ears.

    "Welcome Niece."

    Hades turned our way, an accomodating smile on his stony face.

    "Come in. And Make yourself at home."

    -0-

    Diana and I were silent as we marched behind the king and queen of the underworld.

    It was one thing to tresspass the Underworld and have Hades personally arrive to punish us...and it was something completely different for him to be so...chill about it.

    Him and his wife, Persephone, the goddess of spring, paid us little mind, engaged in conversation about the most inane of things.

    Even the two attendants flanking our sides were very blatantly ignoring us.

    Diana pinched me.

    Swallowing an exasperated sigh, I turned my head to look at her, eyebrow raised in question.

    "What was that?"

    She whispered heatedly.

    "I might have been fighting Circe then, but I saw you bow to my mother. Why would you not show the same level of respect to the damned Lord of the Underworld?!"

    I wisely chose not to scoff. For starters she was right to be confused.

    So instead, I stayed silent, eyes simply watching Hi- It. This thing wasn''t human.

    Whatever a God was- it was clear from the way he walked and talked, the way his muscles didn''t twitch, the way his steps were measured to an almost perfect degree and that insane awareness of the environment around him(at least Persephone tried to act more natural)- they were SUPERIOR to us.

    At least biologically.

    "When a huge tree falls down on a smaller one, the small one gets crushed under it''s weight. We don''t even qualify to be a small tree before your Uncle."

    I told her bluntly.

    Turning to appraise Diana, I was met with a surprised expression as she processed my words.

    "We''re the weeds growing underneath it''s shade. A long ass way of saying, we''re Weak Princess. And it bothers me. A lot."

    My gaze turned to watch Hades. He and Persephone, along with the attendants were now attentive, not even bothering to hide the fact they were keenly listening.

    Which is why I didn''t pretend to not know what position I was in.

    "You asked me the reason I didn''t bow down? It''s simple. What would it serve a creature that sees us as something less than nothing? There''s no distinction between an ant and a mortal to them."

    Hades stopped walking.

    As a consequence, we also stopped.

    Then the God of the Underworld spun around to face us, his long ass coat billowing behind him.

    Blam!

    The Prong in his hand slammed onto the floor, before getting swallowed into its shadow.

    Those black eyes landed on me. A quizzical glare on his face.

    I felt Diana grab my wrist. This time I didn''t pull away.

    "You...what''s your name?"

    Hades asked (read: demanded)

    "Kane. But my enemies know me better as X."

    I replied in a steady voice, despite the fight or flight response my body wanted to adopt.

    "X..."

    He breathed out.

    "Never heard of you."

    Diana''s grip on my wrist tightened to a painful degree.

    I stepped forward, finding that the top of my head only reached his chest.

    "It would be surprising if you had."

    I looked up, pulling onto my Killing Intent, not to intimidate but to stay grounded.

    "Anyone who has...is dead."

    Silence. The tension became palpable. Just before it could reach a crescendo...

    A slow chuckle escaped him.

    "Mmmh. I like you."

    Then his gaze was off me, and I could breath easier.

    "Minos, situate our guests in the best rooms we have."

    He instructed the attendant on our right, a long haired middle aged man with a full beard and a scepter in his hands.

    He wore purple and gold accented robes that reached the floor.

    "Send servants to get them ready for Tonight''s feast."

    Saying that, Hades spun on his feet and begun to walk away.

    "We shall talk more during Dinner, Diana."

    Persephone told her half-sister, before following after her husband.

    The two of them were then swallowed in a cloud of darkness that appeared at the end of the hall.

    Diana heaved a sigh of relief, catching herself before she could lean on the wall.

    "You''re mad, you know that?"

    She shook her head at me.

    "Mad?"

    The aforementioned Minos who had been bowing up until the King and Queen had disaappeared from our sight, repeated darkly.

    And suddenly, he was in my personal space, staring at me like I was crap beneath his boots.

    "Do you have any idea how lucky you were? Challenging Lord Hades like that? You should be thankful you''re still alive you stupid mortal!"

    I narrowed my eyes.

    "Minos, right?"

    Diana came in between us.

    "The former King of Crete, now one of the three judges of the Underworld."

    "Mmph."

    Minos managed to sneer and snort at the same time, pompously adjusting his robes.

    "I''m not surprised a child of Zeus can recognize another. Yes, in my mortal life, I-"

    "Was responsible for creating the Labyrinth, where you regularly sent young children every nine years to die inside of it."

    Diana said in a cold tone.

    "You should be imprisoned in the darkest levels of Tartarus, yet here you are, holding station and looking all the more mediocre."

    "B- but...I...You-"

    Minos took a surprised step back, trembling in anger.

    Oh this was too good to pass up.

    "Minos huh? Isn''t he the guy whose wife was fucked by a bull?"

    I scratched my head, acting dumb.

    "Pfft! Hahahahahahahaha!!"

    The other attendant, couldn''t hold it in and burst out in laughter, the sound especially loud, echoing within the long halls of the Underworld Palace.

    "You...peasant!"

    Minos bit out lividly, a long limb that turned out to be a snake the size of a Python, slithering out from under his robes peeking menacingly over his back.

    "I''ll kill you and spare Lord Hades the stain of your presence!"

    Diana and I tensed in preparation. The one thing I liked about her is that she never backed down from a fight. Something we had in common.

    And call me arrogant but this guy simply deserved a beating.

    Hissing, the snake coiled through the air on a direct path to us.

    "Enough, Minos."

    Only for it to come to a sudden halt with a word from the other attendant, who had finally stopped laughing.

    Minos turned his way, anger pouring off him.

    "Stay out of this Aeacus! I''ll have my pound of flesh!"

    "In due time, yes."

    Aeacus responded, placing a hand on Minos'' shoulder. And by the way the latter winced, squeezing it.

    "Right now, you heard the master. Do you really want to disobey a direct order from him?"

    Minos shuddered in fear, the snake for a tail he had, retracting into the folds of his robes.

    "Mmph!"

    He threw another scathing glare our way before stomping off in anger.

    "Forgive him. He was a king once. And in death, that entitlement crossed over."

    Aeacus said smoothly, a smile that didn''t quite reach his eyes plastered on.

    "If you will please follow me, I''ll show you to your rooms."

 Issue #22: X, Shower.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Diana and I said nothing, as we followed the gray haired middle-aged man through the winding corridors.

    He was the complete opposite of Minos. Hair cut close to his head, a few inches shorter than Diana and wearing the most generic gray robes.

    "Back there."

    I broke the quiet atmosphere, curious about something.

    "You said, in ''due time'' he would get his pound of flesh. What did you mean exactly?"

    Aeacus changed direction as we arrived at an intersection, taking the left corridor.

    "Minos, just like me and one other, is a judge of the Underworld, responsible for judging and condemning the damned."

    Aeacus threw a critical look over his shoulder.

    "You''re surrounded by so much death aura. It''s a forgone conclusion that when your time to die finally comes, you might find yourself at his mercy. Which is why antagonizing him was such a bad idea."

    "I''m an atheist."

    I shrugged, to which he snorted.

    "And even if I wasn''t, the only religion I subscribe to, is the religion of money."

    A part of my subconscious felt off at the admittance. The part of me that held Spider-man''s legacy. It wanted me to create not destroy but most of all...

    To save.

    I was still trying to figure that out...

    Soon enough, we were standing before a massive door, lanterns burning with a green flame on either side of it.

    "This is you, Princess."

    Aeacus revealed.

    "The room is enchanted to provide you with anything you might need. Simply ring the bell above the bed."

    "You have my gratitude Judge. A bath would be very much welcome. I''m covered in grime."

    Diana sighed in relief.

    "Aeacus,"

    She spoke again, before we could move on to my room.

    "You''re a son of Zeus as well, correct?"

    The Judge blinked.

    "For all his faults, Minos was right about you. You have a keen eye."

    He nodded, looking around the empty halls.

    "That makes us family. To an extent. If you need anything...don''t hesitate to call on me."

    He then looked in between us.

    "I''ll give you two some privacy."

    Saying that, he stepped a distance away.

    Diana and I were left staring at each other.

    "Kane I..."

    "Thanks Princess."

    The two of us spoke at the exact time.

    "You''re thanking me? Why?"

    She questioned.

    I answered with a wry smile,

    "I saw you back there. You were ready to step up to your uncle for me. That took some balls. Dude is intimidating as fuck."

    "Yeah."

    She laughed.

    "He sure is. As expected of one of the big three. I''ve heard tales but I never expected him to be so...much."

    She shook her head, a serious expression crossing her face.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    "That''s not what I wanted to talk about. Kane, promise me that you will try to be more respectful when facing Hades or Persephone."

    "The gods are different from anything we''ve ever faced before. They''re not Circe. They are incapable of dying at Mortal hands. You would need a weapon of incredible divine power just to injure them."

    I nodded in understanding.

    "Alright. I can''t promise to worship the very ground they walk on-"

    "Neither do I expect you to."

    "-but I''ll treat them properly. They did welcome us into their home afterall. I might kill people for a living,but I have manners."

    My words served to put her at ease, given the soft smile she now spotted.

    "Good. Well...have a lovely night then. Hera knows we earned it."

    She pushed the door open, before gently closing it behind her.

    Immediately my face fell.

    Diana was only half right.

    There was another way to kill a god. It was the hard way. Getting strong enough that it didn''t matter whether or not I had a divine weapon, to be able to kill or at the least injure a God.

    A few decades from now, Earth will be crawling with beings strong enough to do exactly that.

    Kryptonians, space cops wielding tools that can tap into the emotional spectrum for incredible power, speedsters faster than light itself...or even normal humans with a will and mind that could let them accomplish anything.

    Hell Diana will be among those ranks.

    Her potential was even greater than mine.

    Which is why I couldn''t slack off. To create the kind of life I wished for myself, to create the perfect assassin organization...I needed to be strong enough to face any being and come out on top.

    "You seem distracted, Mr. Kane."

    Aeacus spoke as walked.

    "Penny for your thoughts?"

    Seeing an opportunity to gather more info, I cleared my throat.

    "You said there were three judges. You and Minos make two. Who''s the final one?"

    Aeacus chuckled a bit.

    "That would be Rhadamanthus. The judge of Elysium and the men of Asia. But that brute has always been more concerned with fighting. He''s probably in the Training hall as we speak."

    I stopped walking.

    "Training hall?"

    Aeacus turned to regard me, only to sigh.

    "I see, you''re like him too. Another battle maniac."

    I didn''t correct him. Afterall, training equates to proficiency. And after Circe, it was clear I needed more of that if I was to survive long enough to even come close to achieving half of my goals.

    A short distance from Diana''s room, we arrived at mine.

    And as the door was closing behind me, the gray haired Judge placed a foot at the bottom corner.

    "One last thing."

    He eyed me up and down.

    "A maid servant will be here shortly to take care of any needs you might have."

    He said in a suggestive manner.

    "The feast is in 3 hours, so take all the time you want."

    I gave a grateful nod, before closing the door and turning around to stare at my room.

    One word. Way out of my budget.

    That''s five words.

    But they encapsulated the view better than anything else.

    Okay, first things first, the chamber exuded an unsettling grandiosity, adorned with gold accents against obsidian walls.

    My eyes meticulously analysed it''s layout.

    An important habit I''d developed over the years was dissecting a location for advantages.

    Advantages I could use to aid me in a mission, or defend myself in case something happened.(you would be surprised how often things went FUBAR)

    "Mmmh the tapestries are a good hiding spot."

    I muttered to myself. The silky smooth folds inscribed with various mythological creatures.

    So were the alcoves at the corners of the room. The light from the lanterns on the walls dim enough that you could hide a shadow.

    Besides that, there was a massive king size bed with red sheets, a soft rug made from an incredibly large creature, based on the fact it covered the dozens of feet long room.

    A drawer and mirror stand, next to the bed, a small shelf with a few books that I was definitely going to check out soon and lastly...a door to what I hoped led to the bathroom.

    Slipping out of my boots, I approached the door, swinging it open and revealing rows and rows of different clothes.

    Ah. So a walk in closet.

    And I thought the opulence couldn''t get any more...well opulent

    From headware to footware, everything inside was designed for royalty.

    I''m gonna have fun here.

    At the extreme end of the room was another door, thankfully this one did lead to the place I wanted. Another gold and black accented chamber.

    A...dare I repeat it, Royal bathroom.

    And without much ado, I was naked in record time and scrubbing the cacked dirt of Themiscyran soils and 4 day sweat off my body.

    The shower over head felt like a deep tissue massage from an angel''s hands. I could feel the exhaustion wash away, bringing with it a feeling of relaxation and peace.

    I''ll admit, if the King of The Underworld has to pay the water bill, I might have just used up his entire tokens.

    2 hours. Thats how long I spent inside the shower.

    I eyed the bathtub on my way out, a golden(everything was either golden or black here) towel wrapped on my hips.

    Next time, I was taking a dip within its ceramic confines. The wonders a bubble bath does to you cannot be fully explained.

    Within the closet, I managed to catch a full frontal of my body. And without all the dirt, it was like looking at a different person.

    My increased height was no surprise, I already had to adjust my balance and coordination while in the cell on Themiscyra.

    Which had meant aligning my new physique and powers with my mind. Hence increased awareness of my body.

    That said...is it just me or is my package bigger?

    Not that I''m complaining, a good dick has gotten me out of trouble just as much as it''s gotten me INTO trouble. Haha

    Moving on, I was also shredded and lastly, above my heart was something new.

    A sort of Tattoo. A strangely familiar one. A spider covered in burning flames, the shape of a wolf''s head.

    I don''t remember getting this. The blood, sweat and dirt must have covered it up.

    Resolving to think about it later, I turned my attention to another monumental task.

    Looking for a change of clothes amidst the sea of luxury attire.

    "Spoiled for choice."

    I complained under my breath.

    "Never thought that would ever be a problem."

    Should I go for something familiar like a suit? Or something unfamiliar yet exotic. Like a silky Indian inspired golden Sherwani with black pants.

    A friend of mine, one of the best information brokers from my old world loved Sherwanis. And they looked good on him.

    Considering we had the same body size(now just relatively)...plus they looked easy to move in...maybe I should go for it.

    Knock! knock!

    Someone was at the door.

    My eyes lit up in realization. Aeacus did say he would send a maid servant.

    Good. I''ll use her to pick out something good.

    With only a towel around my hip, I got to the door, grabbed the handle and opened it.

    Diana, standing right out in the hall, raised an eye brow at my half naked form.

    Wait...what is she doing here? Where is the maidservant?

    "Expecting someone else?"

    The Themiscyran Princess asked in a mirthful tone.

    I swallowed my next reply once I refocused on her...and what she was wearing.

    Wow.

    A completely black dress with feathers patterned around the waist and skirt portion, reaching just above her knees.

    The dress left her hands bare, with a golden headband around her forehead that gleamed beautifully, under the light of the Lanterns on either side of the door.

    To complete the set was a golden necklace with a stylized Hawk hanging from her smooth neck.

    I''m not ashamed and neither would she be, for me to say we practically ogled each other.

    So, knowing what the right answer was in this scenario, I stepped aside, one hand motioning for her to come in.

    "Not really. But now that you''re here...I need help with something."

 Issue #23: X, War.

    (General P.O.V)

    "So what do you think of him, Cerberus?"

    Hades asked from his throne.

    He had just finished listening to the reports from the judges. A daily tally if you will, of the current number of denizens in the underworld.

    After all people died all the time. And most of those who had no religion to speak of during their mortal lives, usually ended up at his doorstep.

    Adding that number to those who occupied the three levels of the Underworld and the final figure was staggering at best and aunerysm-inducing at worst.

    Thankfully, this portion of his job was over for the day.

    Which is why, right after the Judges and other deities of the underworld had left, he hadn''t hesitated to call on his trusty guard.

    Coming out of his Hades'' Shadow, Cerberus was the size of a normal dog.

    "He has fire in his eyes."

    The central head of the hellhound replied, licking it''s teeth while lying down at the foot of Hades'' throne.

    "So you''ve decided then?"

    Hades questioned.

    "You will test him?"

    "Awwooo!!!"

    The hellhound gave it''s response in the form of an earth shattering howl.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    I have a girl in my bedroom.

    Man, this would be more nerve-wrecking if Diana and I were in our teens. Fortunately, I was way past that hormonal fueled stage.

    And Diana was at the least thousands of years old. Sheesh, and I thought I had more experience than her...

    Which is why our conversation flowed as it normally did. Naturally. With the only slight difference being I was in the nude.

    Half nude to be exact.

    But we were about to change that. Right after Diana made up her goddamn mind.

    This was the tenth- And I kid you not- tenth outfit she had picked out for me, only to discard it once I tried it on.

    The floor of the walk in closet was full of haphazardly strewn about clothes.

    "Try this."

    The princess said, throwing a frilly shirt my way.

    One look at it and I decided enough was enough.

    "No."

    I refused, balling it up and throwing it back her way. The shirt landed on her forehead.

    "Pfft."

    I snorted in amusement at the look she was giving me. Part annoyance and part questioning.

    "For starters, I would never be caught dead in that."

    I decided to grace her with an answer.

    "And secondly, we''ve been at this for close to an hour. Did you forget we have a feast to attend? I don''t know about you, but I''m starving."

    My stomach had been Persistently growling at me.

    The thought of keeping Hades waiting was enough to jar her out of the stylist fugue she was in.

    "You''re right."

    Diana slapped her forehead, hurriedly routing through the ocean of clothes around us.

    "We need to find you something! And quickly."

    Sighing, I joined her, grabbing a pair of gloves that I threw to the side upon spotting the gold accents. Everything had a little gold on it, and I was slowly getting sick of it.

    "I can understand having trouble picking something out for myself, but you''re not as helpful as I thought you''d be Princess. How did you even choose your dress?"

    I shook my head.

    "Oh I didn''t. The maid servant, a sweet dryad told me I looked good in black."

    Diana responded shyly.

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    I paused to stare at her blankly.

    She stopped.

    "What?"

    "I-"

    Knock! Knock!

    Someone was at the door.

    Fuck. We used up all the time we had.

    "Put this on. Hurry, I''ll go but you some time."

    She instructed, throwing me whatever was in her hands before immediately leaving the room.

    I stared down at the black shirt with silver buttons in my hands, eyebrows raised in a little surprise.

    First thing without gold in it. Mmh, I could make this work.

    -0-

    The maid servant, another dryad, the first time I had ever seen a green skinned being before, led us through a long hallway to the banquet hall.

    We passed by a windowed hallway, the view outside a mishmash of horror: Lava, trillions of souls languishing in agony within it, so many monstrous creatures and above all, the aura of suffering that permeated up into the Hall.

    "The Underworld palace is located deep within Tartarus itself."

    Diana stated in a faux-confident tone, masking her own disturbed emotions.

    I said nothing.

    But I kept in mind the fact that I could end up there...if I wasn''t careful enough.

    We already had an enemy in the form of Minos. This feast...I had to swallow ny pride and leave with the God of the Underworld''s favor. I was after all in his territory.

    Soon after, we arrived.

    And the first indication of that were the two massive hellhounds decked in what I could only describe as flame armor guarding the doors.

    With them, stood 3 beings outputting an aura that was no less that of Chiron.

    2 of whom Diana and I knew. The judges.

    Aeacus stepped forward...and bowed.

    "You both look lovely. Kane, adjust your collar please."

    He muttered under his breath.

    "When I introduce you two, remember to bow before the King and Queen, they''re not normally sticklers for rules but this feast is important. Appearances need to be maintained in such an official setting."

    Diana and I stared at each other. Something fishy was going on.

    "Mmph."

    Minos stepped towards us, not even bothering to hide his disdain.

    "They''re ready for you. Follow me."

    Saying that, the three judges walked ahead of us, passing under the watchful gaze of the Hellhounds before Minos pushed open the huge doors to the banquet Hall.

    And immediately, the soft sounds of a lyre being struck resonated out into the corridor we stood on.

    Diana instantly looped her hand over mine, linking our elbows together.

    I swallowed as my spider sense somehow started going off. We were afterall, entering a room full of Gods.

    Yeah...apparently the feast was much much larger in scope than what Diana and I had imagined.

    And to make matters worse, Aeacus made sure everyone in attendance learned of our presence by loudly announcing us, as we entered.

    "Introducing the Princess of Themiscyra, Diana and her companion, X the assassin!"

    The judge proclaimed.

    And it seemed that I''d rubbed off said Princess as Diana''s next word was not only crass, they best described our situation.

    "Fuck."

    Diana bit out.

    I pulled her closer, plastering a smile on my face.

    "Smile and act like you wouldn''t want to be anywhere else Princess."

    (Elsewhere)

    (Eastern Front)

    (March 19th)

    The recent rain cast a mist over the area, making visibility an issue.

    Splash!

    Bam!

    Splash!

    Bam!

    2 pairs of Steps sounded out, each footfall made, sending clumps of mud and blood soaked water splashing about.

    A massive figure easily over 6 feet tall appeared through the fog, golden chains subtly glowing covering his limbs.

    Around him were dead soldiers. Bodies of both the soviets and the central powers.

    Most of whom seemed to have been ripped apart and beaten to a pulp.

    Soldiers, some of them barely 18: kids forced into a war they never wanted.

    It was sickening to see.

    And yet Herakles, unbothered by the spectacle, whether due to the fact he was not himself or was used to it- maybe both- kept on walking, passing by the small mountains of corpses stacked together.

    A romanian soldier, young and barely old enough to be called a man remained silent in his hiding spot, eyes wide with a thousand yard stare as he watched the beast of a man, responsible for destroying both enemy troops in a matter of hours, walk away.

    Oh the story he had to tell.

    No one would believe him.

    Bullets hadn''t worked on his skin. And one swipe of those golden chains had slashed apart heavy guns, barricades, vehicles and bodies alike.

    He had been fortunate enough to fall unconscious from the concussive force of an explosion nearby.

    And when he woke up, there was no longer the sound of gunfire like he had grown used to.

    No longer the wheezing sound from difficulty in breathing common among the tuberculosis affected soldiers.

    It was just him.

    And the God of death''s shadow, looming over.

    Slowly, as he heard the steps fade away, the soldier extricated himself from the pile of bodies he was under, his rifle clasped in his hands.

    He got on his elbows and knees, crawling backwards while his eyes never left the direction Herakles had taken.

    Inch by inch, he cared not for the blood and other visceral matter lying about. He had nothing in his stomach to vomit despite heaving in horror at the wide and unblinking eyes of his comrades.

    Which is why he had to live. Someone had to report this.

    They weren''t fighting the Germans or Austria-hungarians anymore.

    Fueled by new determination and confident that that...thing was gone, he got to his feet, turned around and-

    Promptly smacked onto a solid wall of metal.

    Dazed, the young soldier looked up from the ground, blinking the blood and sweat from his eyes.

    Throughout the ordeal, he''d forgotten something crucial.

    There had been two sets of footsteps.

    And standing before him was the Godkiller suit, towering over him silently.

    Hands shaking, heart pumping wildly, an animalistic roar escaped the soldier as he raised his gun and for the first time since coming to this hell, unloaded his entire magazine onto the chest of the suit of armor.

    Ratatatatatatatatata!!

    A few bullets missed him as they pinged off the suit''s chest plate.

    The smoke cleared.

    No dent in its carapace.

    The rifle in his hands fell to the ground and the young soldier, body weak and eyes blurry from the onset of a panic attack, begun to crawl away.

    "No...no! No! No!"

    He grasped the cross hanging from his neck tightly.

    Tears fell from his eyes, as the will to live in him died once a shadow appeared above him.

    "Mama..."

    Splurt!

    Snap!

    The Godkiller''s foot crushed his entire torso into nothing.

    Then it raised it''s foot again, and brought it down on the corpse''s head.

    Bam!

    Splurt!

    And again.

    Bam!

    Bam!

    And then it kept moving forward.

    Heavy steps sounded out as the Godkiller suit followed after Herakles.

    All remained quiet in the Eastern Front.

    (Elsewhere)

    The ramifications of what had happened on the Eastern Front hit both sides of the war equally.

    The consequences far reaching and wide.

    For starters the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, necessitated by Germany encroaching on Russia''s capital city, Petrograd (St. Petersburg) was rendered null and negotiations fell through.

    Russia accused Germany of violating the ceasefire in effect while Germany blamed Russia for scheming against their backs.

    Both forces had lost a combined 1.1 million soldiers in one day. 800,000 Russians and 300,000 Germans and Austria-Hungarians.

    The hate for each other stoked flames of war to burn even brighter on other fronts.

    Down history''s line, the treaty would have affirmed Ukraine''s independence but now...it practically turned the entire country into a war zone.

 Issue #24: X, Omen.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    The second we arrived, Persephone had promptly stolen away Diana, leaving me standing at the entrance to the Ballroom in full view of everyone.

    Fortunately, my own ''act less interesting than a stone at the side of the road'' attitude and the level of egos within the chamber, ensured I was ignored.

    I cast a final glance out into the room, taking note of everyone''s relative positions, before carving out a mental pattern.

    The reason for that was to stay far away from Persephone and Diana. Or rather, the crowds of Gods she was introducing to the latter.

    Yikes. The princess looked like she wanted to be somewhere else.

    The other reason was to assess threats.

    So far, I''d noted 5 Gods and Goddesses, I termed as ''stay away from until you have a working plan''

    They sent off Spider Sense ringing something crazy.

    The first was of course Hades. The God of the Underworld was seated in his throne, head bent as he spoke to a sun tanned God on a throne next to him.

    Aeacus, and Minos stood in wait below the stairway leading to the thrones.

    Said sun tanned God was Poseidon. He was dressed in a snug, blue-scaled armor, sandy blond hair flowing like water behind him. In his hand, he held a golden trident.

    The trident output a different kind of pressure.

    The third was a tall woman in a majestic dress, with light armor touches and a shining shield shaped like an owl on her arm.

    Athena. Most likely. I kept something in between us, blocking her line of sight.

    She had very keen senses. I could tell from the way her body was angled. It might not seem like it, but she had a better awareness of the room and it''s occupants than I did.

    The fourth was a white haired girl-who''s currently and clearly headed my way.

    Shit.

    I grabbed a drink from a passing Dryad, ducked under an obsidian tree with gems for leaves, before hiding behind a pillar.

    "Nice moves."

    A voice drawled from my left.

    I turned my head to regard the one who had spoken. A flash of light caught my eye.

    "You too."

    I complimented the gray haired, bespectacled God dressed in a robe with the symbol of a serpent entwined around a rod.

    "Oh this?"

    He held up a glowing ruby, one clearly plucked from the strange potted obsidian plant next to him.

    "I wasn''t stealing...this is for...charity. Yes. Typhoid and Influenza are pretty bad this time of the decade and the hospitals don''t get enough support with the bloody great war going on..."

    He trailed off grumbling before he caught himself.

    Coughing in embarrassment, he extended an arm forward.

    "Sorry, I am-"

    "Asclepius, God of Physicians."

    I cut in, shaking it.

    "Gotta say, wasn''t expecting a God to be..."

    "Polite? Well-Mannered?"

    He interjected with a wry smile.

    "I was going to say nice."

    I replied to which he shrugged.

    "I''ll take that I guess. So Mr. X the Assassin, what''s a guy like you doing in a place..."

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    He shook his head with a grossed out expression.

    "Sorry, I just noticed how cliche'' I was getting."

    "Don''t worry, I was about to call you out on it."

    I patted his shoulder.

    "Thank you my good man. Sometimes I forget life is not a moving picture. But, where you come from they''re called movies right?"

    He asked cheekily.

    How did...

    "Hahaha. Don''t frown, it looks bad on you."

    He waved his hand before me, a flash of green passing through me.

    "Just like I thought, you have vaccines and antibodies for sicknesses without a cure in this time frame. Ergo...time travel..."

    He came closer,

    "Or...interdimensional shenanigans."

    Asclepius said, eagerly awaiting my response.

    I kept my face blank, tilting it before taking a slow sip of my drink and swallowed the moan of pleasure, threatening to escape me.

    "What-"

    "It''s refined Ambrosia extract."

    A different voice said from my back.

    "Take more than a few sips and Diana will be carrying your inebriated form out of the banquet hall."

    The white haired girl was back, or rather I had placed myself in her line of sight.

    "Lady Artemis."

    Asclepius bowed smoothly.

    "Always a pleasure to see you. As lovely as the light of a full moon-"

    "Enough." She coldly replied as I turned around to face her.

    Stormy gray eyes stared back at me.

    Asclepius from the side gazed in between the maiden goddess and I before I felt him begin inching away.

    Artemis said nothing for a few seconds, lips twisted in a confused frown that made her look both cute and petulant. At the same time.

    Her presence however was like the surface of a pond. But you know what they say, still waters run deep.

    "I get the sense you''re thinking something rude."

    She begun in that bell like voice.

    "What gave you that impression?"

    My voice was calm as I took another small sip of my drink.

    She was right. This thing while it tasted like all the best drinks I''ve ever had mixed together...was also very strong.

    "Your eyes. I''ve met assassins before but never one with such...a cutting gaze."

    I had no response for that.

    And from the way her face straightened into an impassive expression, she wasn''t interested in one.

    "Hold out your hand."

    She ordered.

    I was tempted to refuse but...a part of my instinct told me I would regret it.

    So I presented her with my left hand.

    She slapped it away before grabbing my right one. I stomped down on the urge to pull it back.

    "There."

    A flash of silver light appeared at the back of my palm, a tattoo of a gray crescent moon.

    "And my debt to you for defeating Circe and protecting Themiscyra is paid."

    Then she turned around and promptly disappeared into the sea of gods.

    She left me there, standing in place like a fool with no explanation as to what the Tattoo was.

    -0-

    Right after that...weird encounter, I took the chance to stay in the shadows, merely the observer.

    On my way to an alcove close to one of the windows, a shadow passed by me, cloak flapping around as a woman in a gray hood blocked my way.

    I looked around, only to find that no one else had reacted to her sudden presence. It was like she was...invisible.

    "No. Not invisible. I''m everywhere at once. They have come to learn to ignore me...for what I am."

    A whispery voice, like the hiss of a serpent before striking, left her hood.

    "And who might I have the pleasure of knowing?"

    I stepped into a smooth bow, a cordial smile on, as I faced this stranger.

    The mysterious ones are always the most dangerous.

    "Can you not tell?"

    She responded playfully.

    "You above all should."

    Cryptic.

    I straightened, an inquisitive arc to my mouth,

    "Can''t say I do. But I''ll tell you, what kind of Goddess I suspect you might be."

    She remained silent.

    "You remind me of a butterfly in the night."

    I breathed out, ignoring that the shadows around us were getting...larger and more menacing upon my statement.

    Spider Sense remained silent however.

    "A butterfly in the night sometimes represents a messenger from beyond. In some cultures it might be considered a good thing."

    She replied.

    I snorted.

    "Bullshit, this is a world where nothing is inherently innocent. I''m more inclined to think of it as an Omen. A bad one."

    Through the shadows of her hood, a small smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

    "Well then, if you consider me the goddess of Bad Omens, how about I leave you with one."

    Oh shit. I messed up.

    Wary, I instinctively started pulling on my bio-energy.

    She stepped close, the rim of her hood almost touching my chin.

    " He will visit you. In a fortnite on the night of a victory against the Lover of War. "

    I grabbed her shoulders uncaring about the consequences.

    "Who? Who will visit?"

    The hood fell away as she looked up. A pale face with black pools of darkness focused on me. And everything faded away, leaving the two of us alone, surrounded by darkness.

    Her smile turned a pure evil.

    "THE MANY FACED GOD. THE GOD OF KILLING. THE GOD...OF ASSASSINS."

    I blinked.

    And she was gone.

    I was left in place, holding in my hand...a completely black butterfly.

    "Where''d you get that?"

    A sudden voice, dryer than saw dust with a light Indian accent asked from over my shoulder.

    Shit that was the second time it happened. These gods had to be using some ability to cover their presence.

    Kind of like what Hades had been doing. Manipulating his whole being to impose himself in the view, or retract himself and completely erase any biological feedback I might have used to read him.

    I turned around, folding the butterfly into my palm, before hiding it in the pocket of the pants I had on.

    Rhadamanthus, the third judge, was staring unblinkingly at me.

    I forced a smile.

    "Nothing to concern yourself with. I was actually wondering when I would get the chance to meet you in pers-"

    I stopped talking.

    He held up the black butterfly by two fingers.

    I palmed my side. It was no longer in my pocket.

    "Nice trick."

    I growled low.

    "How''d you do it?"

    The judge said nothing, eyes narrowed at the butterfly in his fingers.

    Brown eyes turned to regard me.

    "You have no idea what this means, do you boy?"

    Boy?

    Insult aside, there was something I seemed to be missing.

    Right before I could ask what that was, he held up a tanned hand.

    "Not here. The King is about to begin his address. You might want to pay attention, he gets...moody on the Eve of his Wife''s return to Olympus."

 Issue #25: X, Fall.

    (General P.O.V)

    When Hades got to his feet, everyone gathered in the banquet Hall went silent.

    Like a spotlight shone on him, every eye found itself inexplicably drawn to the Unseen One, shadows hovering around him and his wife. Almost protectively in regards to the latter.

    In Kane''s keen senses, the God of the Underworld''s presence seemed to billow out, blanketing the whole chamber.

    Diana sidled over next to the Assasin''s position and the two of them cast their focus on the host of their feast.

    "Friends, family. It''s always an honor to have you present during this night."

    Hades begun, a rare gentle smile on his face.

    "The night of the vernal equinox is special for two reasons. One, my wife-"

    Saying this, he took Persephone''s hand into his own, gazing into her eyes with love.

    "-Gets to rejoin her mother, my sister Demeter in Olympus. And second, I start to count the days till I see her again."

    There was almost a collective ''aaww'' moment from many of the goddesses gathered.

    Heedless, Hades continued,

    "My light in the darkness. My hope in the dreary night. My-"

    "Oh Zeus'' smelly balls," A snide voice lamented.

    "What a load of crap."

    The doors to the banquet Hall were blown open, a pair of yelps; the hellhounds manning the entrance, bodily smashing into the chamber.

    Before anyone could react, Shadows shot out, intercepting their uncontrolled flight by swallowing them.

    Kane grabbed Diana''s hand, stepping back into the crowds of Gods and Goddesses.

    The princess made no protest.

    The whole banquet Hall was focused on the soon-to-be-dead fool, who had interrupted the Lord of the Underworld''s speech.

    The three judges, Minos at the head stepped forward to face the intruder.

    Hades from where he was standing, no longer had a smile on his face. He lowered the hand controlling the shadows, narrowing his eyes at the entrance to the chamber.

    "You have a lot of nerve coming here...Ares."

    The Unseen One spoke, his words sending a wave of surprise across the room.

    ""Ares!?""

    ""The God of War?!""

    ""Does he have a death wish?""

    ""Did you hear what he did?""

    The crowds of minor and major gods were sent into a frenzy. After all, Ares was the last person anyone would have expected to crash the party.

    "Oh dear uncle. It''s not just nerve, I''m confident in leaving here unharmed."

    Ares in his silver armor remarked, appearing through the shattered doorway, only to stop at the top of the stairway.

    "I just thought I''d drop by for my sister''s farewell party. Why I wasn''t invited beats me. We are family after all."

    "That''s as far as you go, kin-killer."

    Minos grunted, the tail wrapped around his hips snaking out, waving in the air.

    Flanking his sides, Aeacus and Rhadamanthus pulled on their own divine energy, filling the chamber with a pressure that made it hard for the weaker gods to remain standing.

    The three of them surrounded Ares from all sides, standing in a formation that blocked the God of War''s path into the chamber.

    Ares slowly blinked at them, crossing his hands over his chest.

    "A duo of my father''s bastards and a man out of place. You think that''s enough to stop me? How foolish."

    From his back, blood red weapon constructs, spears, swords, arrows were launched out, hurtling down towards the judges.

    The three of them stood at the ready, prepared to uphold their Lord''s authority.

    However, they had underestimated the speed of the projectiles. Thus, before they could be turned to pin cushions, the shadows across the room rose up again, swallowing every single construct.

    "You dare raise arms against my subjects-"

    Hades growled out, his aura rippling out and drowning the judges combined presence.

    "IN MY OWN HOME?!"

    Not only minor gods, a few major ones in attendance stumbled.

    As for Ares, he balked, a thin sheen of sweet appearing on his brow.

    He wiped it away with his forearm.

    ''Even with all the preparations done...we still underestimated him.''

    One of the two soul''s within the God of War admitted.

    ''Focus Phobos, we can''t falter now...we''ve come too far. Father will skin us alive if we fuck this up.''

    The other soul admonished it''s counterpart.

    ''I know. We''re to cause a distraction...I just hope we survive Hades'' anger-''

    Phobos told his brother.

    ''By the time he realizes, father will have his army and then no one can stop us.''

    Deimos replied.

    Their conversation took only but an instant.

    In reality, laughter escaped the God of War, red fire burning across his body.

    "I do dare! I DARE ALOT!"

    He exclaimed.

    The film of red fire warped and deformed as it struggled to bare the full blunt of Hades'' divinity.

    Cracks begun appearing around the Hall, the glow of lava and wails of the dead reaching into the hall. The lanterns around pulsed with green flames, burning at the same intensity as Hades'' anger.

    A wave of unrest gripped everyone within the chamber.

    Far away from the action, at the edges of the hall, Diana and X were on their knees.

    ''This isn''t a fight we can participate in currently.''

    Kane reasoned, turning his focus away from the heated confrontation to stare at the window next to them.

    The atmosphere outside, while unfavorable to their mortal bodies, was their only option in case things got...even more heated.

    Stolen story; please report.

    He made eye contact with Diana and the two of them nodded.

    "Enough of this."

    Poseidon grunted, coming in between Hades and Ares.

    A livid Hades turned to his face him.

    Poseidon raised his hands in an act of peace.

    "Brother...as great and justified as your fury is...could we try to solve this in a more civil manner?"

    The God of the seas suggested.

    Hades, face twisted in rage was about to refuse when Persephone grabbed his hand.

    Immediately, the anger in him drained out.

    Persephone placed her other palm on his cheek, turning him to face her. Both husband and wife stared into each other''s eyes.

    "He''s not worth it."

    She softly spoke.

    Hades sighed, placing his forehead against hers.

    "You always bring me back...thank you, My love."

    Ares, a dark look flashing across his face chuckled.

    "How...quaint. The beauty has conquered the beast. You know when we were young...the name Hades held gravitas...and then you fell for the bitch."

    The room turned frigid.

    Whoosh!

    Poseidon''s trident shot out, cutting through the air, spearing into Ares'' shoulder and sending him flying out of the banquet Hall.

    But it was too late.

    All light within the chamber was drowned out.

    SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

    THE LORD OF THE UNDERWORLD could no longer be appeased.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Spider Sense screamed at me to get going or get dead.

    I immediately grabbed and pulled Diana towards the window, smashing through it as we fell out of the underworld palace in controlled panic, my heart beating so fast I could hear it.

    There have only a few times in my life, where abandoning a mission had become necessary to safeguard my own life.

    2 times to be exact.

    One was when a building I was in during a mission in Haifa, Israel, was surrounded by a squad of highly trained Mossad agents with heavy weaponry.

    And the other was when the target I was contracted to kill, was more useful to the world alive than dead.

    The second time could be labelled under personal extenuating circumstances but...just like my instinct told me to bail back then...

    Everything in me was screaming to put distance between Hades and us.

    Diana wisely wrapped her hands around my torso, leaving my hands free for what came next.

    Two of my fingers curled inwards in a familiar gesture, forearm stretched out as I picked a target.

    Then in a display that would have made the former me green with envy, I accurately shot and attached a web to the underside of the dock-bridge leading to the palace.

    The web grew taut, wrenching Diana and I in a sideway arc around the palace.

    A palace whose structure was now bleeding out darkness, apparent through my peripheral vision.

    "Kane..."

    Diana called out.

    As if on cue, Spider Sense blared out at me again and by reflex alone, I cut off the web.

    And not a second sooner, a flash of golden light speared right through where we''d been an instant ago, missing the two of us but blowing the bridge into kingdom come.

    Wood and obsidian metal fell around us. Diana punched out into the air, producing a pressure wave that expelled any debris from falling on us.

    That said, without the web and adding in the blow back impact caused by her fist, Diana and I started descending in a tangle of limbs, headed toward the lake below.

    The same lake that all the five rivers of the Underworld fed into. In other words, a guaranteed death if we didn''t do something.

    The descension allowed me to spot what had almost taken us out. Or rather, others like it.

    A collection of golden light raining upwards, cutting through the dreary underworld atmosphere and splintering off into parts unknown.

    From the slight pressure each light was outputting...they had to be Gods.

    Gods--escaping a palace that was nothing but a mass of burning shadows.

    The gasp of disbelief that escaped Diana and the absolute grip she had on me, told me I was more right than wrong.

    Almost immediately, an explosion of pure obsidian darkness consumed the entire palace.

    And then I saw it.

    For just a single second...

    The hand of GOD.

    A silver arm, completely made of lightning tore right into the underworld, holding a bolt of CHAOTIC BLAZING WHITE lightning.

    "HADES!! YOU DARE KILL MY SON!!!"

    A loud and maddened voice called out.

    "I DO NOT FEAR YOU ZEUS!!! I''LL EVEN KILL YOU!!!"

    Hades'' own voice answered back, unbowed.

    Like a black hole, everything around the palace, was pulled into a single point and then expelled into a wave of black fire.

    The fire changed into a huge hand holding onto a fiery prong the size of the Eiffel Tower.

    The lightning bolt and the prong collided.

    It was...catastrophic.

    KRWAKOOOM!!

    BANG!

    I winced my eyes shut at the resulting flash of light.

    The noise and shock waves hit a second later, throwing Diana and I onto the sides of the cliff.

    The stone shredded my back as I took the force of the impact, leaving me breathless.

    Then we bounced off, continuing to fall towards the lake below.

    "Kane!!"

    I heard Diana call out to me but...something was wrong. Her voice sounded far away.

    She...was no longer in my arms.

    We were separated. The impact of the clash between two major Olympians had wreched us apart.

    "Hold..."

    I stretched out a hand, aiming to-

    I cant...

    ...I couldn''t muster enough strength to create another web. My hands felt as heavy as jelly and my ears were bleeding.

    I could feel the blood trickle down the sides of my neck.

    The final image I had of her, was as a massive golden owl swooped down and curled it''s talons on her midsection.

    Diana, hand stretched out towards me fought to get off the hold, looking on in horror as the distance between us grew longer and longer.

    "No..."

    Her lips moved.

    The owl flapped its huge wings, ascending higher and higher with the princess while I got closer and closer to the water belo-

    Ever had an ice bath before?

    No? Well, it''s your lucky day, as I get to reveal exactly how it feels.

    It feels like a thousand knives carving out your flesh.

    This felt worse than that. I plunged into the lake and sank, immediately feeling its unnaturalness. It''s hatred for life.

    And the many many disgruntled and hostile forms that eagerly swam my way, planning to rip me apart.

    With nothing else to do, I pulled on my bio-electric aura and released a wild and erratic burst of venom blast.

    Then I kept on doing it, abandoning all sense of reason.

    I wasn''t going to die here. Not if I could help it.

    (General P.O.V)

    Within the lake under the Underworld Palace, occasional flashes of yellow could be seen.

    And then the swimming form of a man in a black shirt would get closer to the surface of the lake...inches away from breaking through...

    Only for thousands of pale hands to grab onto his limbs pulling him back down.

    Then the water would bubble and churn as another wave of yellow electric energy would be expelled out.

    This would repeat for half a dozen times.

    And then...eventually it just stopped.

    No more flashes. No more man. The lake remained undisturbed.

    (Thanatos)

    (A few years ago)

    He was inevitable.

    He was merciless.

    But above all he was fair. As death holds no allegiance, neither to gods nor mortals.

    He was...

    "Thanatos."

    Hades called out, a bit of frustration evident in his tone.

    "Did you kill one of Cerberus'' heads?"

    Said 3 headed Monster Dog that was the fearsome guard of the Underworld, was lying on the foot of Hades throne, whining piteously.

    It''s left head was doing the actual whining, while the central head glared at the black haired God, teeth barred viciously.

    As for the right head, it''s tongue was lolled out to the side of its jaws, eyes staring at nothing.

    It truly was dead.

    "It said it had a headache. I tried to help relieve the pain by rubbing it''s head."

    Thanatos whispered.

    Hades rubbed the sides of his head. Now HE was feeling the onset of a headache.

    "Thanatos...how many times do I have to remind you...anything you touch will DIE. That is the basis of your job. It''s who you are."

    For Thanatos, he''d heard those words a billion times before. Both from his family and from his boss.

    While many mistook Hades:- his boss, the God of the Underworld for the God of Death, only a few knew that that station and domain belonged to Thanatos.

    And even fewer still, knew just how potent his divinity truly was.

    Put simply, Thanatos could kill anything.

    He was the PRIMORDIAL DEITY OF DEATH.

    His mother Nyx, suspected with enough training...he could even kill conceptual entities like Chaos Itself.

    The drawback?

    So great was he, that one single look from a mortal was enough to induce loss of life.

    A single touch from him and even powerful beasts and gods were in danger of dying. Case in point, Cerberus.

    That was not even considering the fact that if he actively decided to use his divinity...nothing could escape him.

    -0-

    Back in his palace, an obsidian mansion created from darkness and smack dab in the middle of the death realm(a pocket dimension attached to the Underworld), Thanatos sat, bored out of his mind.

    Hades had suspended him from court. This time for 10 whole years.

    That meant...no more gardening time with Persephone, playing catch with Cerberus, sparring with Hades or even river rides with his younger brother Charon.

    Man...if only he was the God of Time, then he could make the years move faster.

    Unfortunately that ability lay in the hands of The Titan of Time, Cronus and he was in Tartarus. And even for someone like Thanatos, Tartarus was...less than ideal for a casual visit.

    At least his work wouldn''t suffer.

    He had his grim reapers, disembodied shades created from his own divine essence spread out across the world. Billions of them-killing people in his stead.

    Killing sounds harsh but...call a spade a spade, not a big spoon.

    He would just have to settle playing chess with himself.

    Nothing apart from him could survive the death realm after all.

    Nothing.

    -0-

    2 years into his suspension, Thanatos had had enough of chess. He''d played against himself, his shades, splinter selves(each of the 12 personas of death within his psyche) and was now playing against...

    Well himself.

    -0-

    5 years into his suspension, the God of DEATH had the very bright idea of creating LIFE.

    Meaning, he tried to create a companion. Mother Nyx had father Erebus. Hades had Persephone. Cerberus had his three heads. Chiron had his work. His sisters well...they were as devoted to their chosen profession as Chiron. And that was saying something.

    Everyone he knew (the whole world was his playing field afterall, so he knew a lot of people) had something. Or someone.

    And so the question became what is the fundamental aspect of life?

    A start. A spark. Or rather...a seed.

    Intuitively, Thanatos drew in all the energy of the Death realm and condensed it into a [SEED].

    And then he pulled a part of his own essence, (as a result his power would be forever deprived of 0.000000000000000001% of its total reserves) and gave the seed a spark.

    For any other God across Gaea, the galaxy, the universe, hell-- the Multiverse itself, this would have worked.

    It didn''t for him. If a tier system was in place, Thanatos would be the premier God of Death. He was as diametrically opposed to life as day was from night.

    The whole dream had taken three years to be conceived, entertained, before ultimately dying.

    He was after all linked to death most inescapably.

    Everything he touched...tried was bound to die.

    He was cursed to be alone, for all eternity. No companions or friends.

    And then a gasping Kane- the last of the ghostly forms from the lake burning off against his blue fiery figure- landed right at the steps below Thanatos'' throne.

    With this cloak of blue fire, Kane jumped up, breathing heavily while looking around with a sharp and vigilant gaze.

    "Oh..."

    He coughed, eyes glowing the same blue as the flames around him.

    "I survived."

    Then, his eyes closed and he slumped over.

    Thanatos, the queen in his hand hovering above the board, about to checkmate himself, only had one thing to say.

    "Huh?"

 Issue #26: X, Loss.

    Issue 26: X, Loss.

    (General P.O.V)

    In the softly illuminated War Room in Washington, Colonel Robert Thornton, a seasoned military strategist, faced the President and a group of high-ranking officials.

    An understated gravity pervaded the table as they quietly pondered the developments unfolding in Europe.

    And the amount of shit fucked mess Ukraine had landed itself in.

    The choices before them spanned from delicate diplomatic mediation between Russia and Ukraine, to the prospect of a frontal assault on the German Western Front.

    The latter was a risk. The best outcome would be an end to The Great War. The most likely outcome however, would be the US getting embroiled in a war they never started.

    The other consideration was extending a humanitarian hand to Ukraine by dispatching relief food and weapons.

    This added another layer to the somber discussion. In simpler terms, it wouldn''t be cheap.

    The 28th President, Woodrow Wilson had a stern countenance and a contemplative demeanor as he listened to each official''s perspective.

    For instance, General Mitchell advocated for a prudent diplomatic approach, emphasizing the imperative of forging strategic alliances. Preferably with the Russians, to stabilize the volatile region.

    Admiral Reynolds, one of the oldest serving admirals, on the other hand pressed for a display of military might, suggesting that a direct intervention could curtail further escalation.

    Who they would attack, whether the Russians or Central Powers remained another subject of discourse.

    Since entering the room, Colonel Thornton had listened aptly to the differing opinions.

    However, for anyone who knew him, the rhythmic tap of his pen on the wooden table showed his impatience.

    And when he''d exhausted that impatience, he spoke up.

    "Mr. President, large scale involvement in the war imperils American lives. We must explore other alternatives."

    It was a credit to his pragmatic sensibilities and capacity to deviate from conventional military strategies, that no one interrupted him. Or called him out on the same.

    The president, fingers interlocked under his chin gazed at him expectantly.

    "What do you have to add Robert?"

    Clearing his throat, Colonel Thornton motioned at the aide near the door.

    The other top military officials looked on in confusion as the aide walked out of the room.

    Then their attention was pulled to the colonel as he got to his feet, a folder in his hands.

    "Mr.President</a>, as differing as every opinion in this room is, one thing I''ve gathered...is that we all want to be involved."

    No one denied it.

    "To that end, You should know exactly what it is we''re getting into."

    As if on cue, there was a small knock on the door.

    Then the door swing open and in walked the aide.

    Behind him however, was another figure.

    A tall man with sideburns and a sharp, experienced glint in his eyes walked into the room.

    Three scars ran across his face from the top left to the bottom right, parralel to each other.

    "I''ve been observing this...great war," he began, his gaze piercing through the somber atmosphere.

    "And you cannot win it without me. Not when Gods and monsters have joined the fray."

    Vandal Savage informed the room.

    "Allow me to explain the situation."

    (Themiscyra)

    (Diana''s P.O.V)

    A man.

    On the island.

    I''d never seen one before him. Never seen One like him.

    `~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

    The tip of my blade comes to rest under his chin.

    "Talk, intruder. Who in Hades are you?"

    I demand with hostility, prepared to take him down as the law demands.

    "Watch your words."

    I hastily add. Who knows what convicing lie he has on the tip of his tongue?

    Mother and Pillyphus have warned me of their honey buttered words.

    "I witnessed what you did to my sisters, and my patience is wearing thin today."

    I let him know that he holds no sway with me.

    And then...he laughs, saying,

    "How...scary."

    `~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

    Looking down at the awning pit, all we can see is green fire and mist.

    At least the ritual is confined to the arena. The island will be safe. I don''t care what happens to me. But Kane doesn''t deserve this.

    I turn to him. To apologize for bringing him into a fight not his own.

    "I''m-"

    I begin, only for Kane to snake a powerful hand and hold me close to the side of his bare chest.

    He''s sweaty and covered in dust.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    But his warmth makes me flush in embarrassment. I''ve never been this close to a man before.

    "None of that sorry stuff."

    He says in a strong tone, a sharp glint in his eyes.

    "Hold on tight to me. It''s not over yet. I''ve survived your Island''s discrimination, bad food and mosquitos the size of cockroaches. How bad could the underworld be?"

    He jokes.

    But...it helps. I feel secure knowing he fights at my side.

    `~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

    Everything goes badly.

    I feel so helpless as Athena carries me away.

    I''m forced to watch as Kane falls to his death.

    Hi name freezes in my mouth. My strength, the same strength I have always been proud of, fails me.

    Had it not, I would have broken Athena''s talons, torn the claws apart just to get to him.

    I owe him a life.

    And now I can''t eve-

    `~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

    Diana woke up, gasping for air, her whole body shaking.

    "Shh daughter, let it all out."

    Her mother was there, at the side of her bed, arms wrapped around her shoulders as she gently rubbed her back.

    "Cry it out. It''s not shame for a warrior to mourn a fallen comrade."

    Diana, strong as she was, could not help but break down in tears at the loss of Kane.

    The loss of her friend.

    (A week later)

    At the palace training grounds, a flash of steel and black filled the open field.

    Diana- the godslayer sword in hand, a weapon created from Zeus'' shield and gifted to the strongest Amazonian warrior, clashed steel with her own mother, Hippolyta.

    It was a spectacle, a common one, as Hippolyta had been the one to finish Diana''s training after her Aunt Aintiope left Themiscyra.

    Pillyphus had the same feeling now.

    Back then, sister and sister had fought.

    Back then, Hippolyta had lost. A queen, a daughter of War had lost to a warrior.

    Fitting.

    Antiope had proceeded to take her squad and venture out into the world.

    Loyal Amazons at her side...they all knew she would be fine.

    But Diana was alone now. More than that: That man, had meant a lot to her.

    And perhaps that''s what gave her strength to fight her much more experienced mother and push her back.

    Because Diana now knew as Antiope had...what was out there.

    If only...

    A flash of blue fire bloomed close to Pillyphus.

    The general immediately found herself kneeling before...

    "Lady Persephone, to what do we owe your company?"

    She smoothly greeted.

    Persephone walked out of the rift of blue flames with a small smile on her radiant face.

    The queen of the underworld was now dressed in a white gown with a crown made of lyre circling her forehead.

    And around her, she carried a scent of morning dew and freshly baked bread.

    "Pillyphus, a delight as usual. Please stand up. You know I don''t like all that formality."

    Persephone ushered her up.

    Pillyphus accepted the gesture, noting the two twin hellhounds besides Persephone, casting a shadow over her.

    She stood up even straighter.

    "I shall get the queen immedia-"

    Persephone cut the Amazonian General off by pushing right past, and walking towards the balcony, attention on the spar between mother and daughter.

    "Out of all children of Zeus, Diana''s potential is...truly limitless."

    The goddess of spring noted.

    "Even after being broken. After laying eyes on things reserved to an unfortunate few, she''s still hopeful."

    Persephone crooned.

    "Then again...the hopeful ones never last."

    "I''d like to differ."

    Pillyphus spoke out of station.

    "Enlighten me."

    Persephone allowed it.

    "She''s lost something, Yes. But Unlike us, Diana has never had to face a life or death situation, or even rely on anyone, especially a man to save her life before. So all this is new to her."

    "And?"

    Persephone asked, intrigued.

    "It''s not tainted. Her heart. She can love a man. And that is not the worst thing...maybe that can destroy the circle of hatred that has dictated our fate for millenia."

    Pillyphus said it in a straight face.

    No emotion.

    "And if the pride of Themiscyra can accept a man, with all their flaws, maybe there''s hope for the rest of us."

    She added.

    Persephone nodded.

    "You''re right. But whether...she can remain hopeful after being exposed to the ugliness of our side of the family..."

    "You don''t have to worry about that Lady Persephone."

    Pillyphus said in a strong tone.

    "We Amazons were created for one purpose. To keep the God of War in check. And now...Ares has to worry. For hell hath no fury like an angry Amazon."

    At that moment, down on the sparring ground, Hippolyta''s blade was cut clean through by Diana, officially ending the spar.

    Diana was the victor.

    A closer look showed the blade of the God-killer sword in her hand, sparking with white lightning.

    "I liked Kane. As did my husband. He was...interesting."

    Persephone quietly muttered, studying Diana''s hardened expression with pity.

    "On a more serious note."

    The Spring Goddess said, turning around to face the general.

    "I didn''t come here for a casual visit."

    With that, her gaze moved past Pillyphus and onto the woman who formed out of the flames burning around the hellhounds.

    "Pillyphus, meet Hebe, the goddess of youth. She''s here to return Diana''s lost lifespan."

    (Elsewhere)

    "Come on. One last game. I''ll let you beat me this time."

    Thanatos whined.

    Kane, seated on the other side of the board, could barely keep his anger and frustration in check.

    He thought he''d met insufferable deities before. Like Minos(fuck that guy), but Thanatos took the cake.

    How could a God be so...needy and whiny?

    Didn''t he have almost unlimited power on his his side to entertain himself?

    It had been a week! A full fledged week! Since he found himself in Thanatos'' realm.

    A place of perpetual darkness(how he could see anything was an enigma, but so were the flames burning around his body 24/7)

    "Fine. One last game but..."

    He held up a finger.

    "You''ll keep your word and take me back to the palace."

    Kane gave a condition.

    Like many times before, Thanatos readily and willingly agreed.

    "Yes. One more game and we''ll see."

    Bam!

    Kane slammed his hands on the table between them. Finally having had enough.

    "Swear it. On the Styxx."

    Thanatos'' brows rose up in surprise.

    "The Styxx huh?"

    The God of Death considered it for a scant second before shrugging.

    "Fine. I swear on the Styxx that after one more game...you''ll be free to leave this place and come back anytime you want."

    Kane could have pushed to fully understand what that final part meant, but he was too relieved to bother.

    Not to mention,

    He was bust using his very analytical eye to read every move Thanatos made on the board.

    All to make sure the God would not try to extend the game(like he had done before. A single game could last 2 days) or pull a trick.

    And so they played.

    Thanatos was terrible at chess.

    That was one thing Kane had come to learn.

    The other thing he''d learned over the course of the week?

    The God of Death was also terribly bored and lonely. It was one of the reasons Kane hadn''t pushed to leave as hard as he could.

    The other reason...was the trauma that had stayed with him. The trauma from the lake.

    He''d used every hypnotic skill in his assassin repertoire to lock those memories as far deep and away as possible.

    The screaming of the dead- spirits full of hate and regret, clawing at his soul, at his body...

    Only venom blast had kept him going. He could remember unleashing blasts after blast of bio-electric energy at relentless wave after wave of the dead.

    Spider Sense at a constant heightened level of activation, warning him that if he stopped for just a single second...he was done for.

    And so he kept on doing it, all the while pumping his hands through the water, all in hopes of swimming up and shooting a web onto something to pull himself out.

    Yet, inches from breaking through, the lake itself would pull him down.

    Tons of water pushing on his shoulders. A weight he couldn''t shed off or carry.

    At least yet...

    He had trained to hold his breath for 10 minutes. With his enhanced constitution, he held out until 20.

    Then...he exhausted his bio-energy reserves...

    The hands around his limbs begun to overpower him and he sank.

    And sank.

    The surface of the water growing further and further, his vision blurrier.

    Mere inches away from true death, his chest started itching, then it straight up burned.

    Blue flames spread out across his body despite the fact he was underwater.

    All the spirits around him shrieked in pain. Kane pulled on more of the flames within him, forming a sphere of blue flames.

    Then following an instinct he was only just now realizing he had, he wished to be somewhere else.

    The sphere of flames imploded upon him, and he popped out in Thanatos'' Realm. The death realm.

    That was a week ago.

    Since then, they had been playing chess. Kane trying to center himself after his ordeal, while Thanatos talked to him about anything and everything.

    Through that Kane learned about Thanatos'' 10 year suspension.

    But the God mostly spoke about his family.

    As a consequence and maybe a benefit, Kane now knew more about the power dynamics in the Underworld than before.

    Like the fact while Hades was the undisputed sovereign leader, he wasn''t the most powerful being in his own realm.

    Leave alone Tartarus,( Thanatos called it a jail for those who were too powerful or too bad to be punished any other way) the Underworld was it''s own universe.

    With places that not even the Olympian Gods dared approach. Even Zeus would have to seek audience.

    One of those places was the primordial castle of Nox. Where Thanatos had grown up in.

    Nyx and Erebus, Chiron, his sisters, The Kerez, his cousins, The Erinyes, the God of Death was liberal with information.

    And as they played the final game between them, Kane finally took the chance to ask a question that had been on his mind.

    And as the God of Death, who else was more appropriate to ask.

    "Hey Thanatos, without a divine weapon or power on par with one, how would a mortal go about killing a God?"

 Issue #27: X, Fire.

    Issue #27: X, Fire.

    (General P.O.V)

    Kane won the match.

    Just like the previous 2 times.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    "Dammit."

    Thanatos whined as he draped himself over his throne, a frown on his pale and youthful face.

    "Lost again. This time I was sure..."

    "You play against yourself a lot, right?"

    I asked with a roll of my eyes.

    He nodded.

    "That makes sense."

    I said staring at the board occupied mostly by my pieces.

    "You''re...sufficiently okay. But when you meet a more experienced opponent you''ll get your ass handed to you...''is what I''d tell someone else."

    I smirked.

    "But...you, you just plain suck."

    He groaned in embarrassment while I chuckled. That was for stretching the whole thing for another day.

    "How about another game then?"

    The God of Death suddenly sat up.

    "One to reclaim my honor and- wait where are you going?"

    But even before he could finish, I was already on my feet, stretching my body. My bones creaked and muscles flexed, I turned to answer him.

    "Sorry but I have a God to kill. And if I remember correctly, the deal was that you''d let me leave."

    He looked away in embarrassment before pouting.

    An image of someone from my past life superimposed above him and my sharp intake of breath did not go unnoticed.

    Thanatos stared at me in confusion.

    "So is it always dark in here?"

    I enquired, slamming the door shut on some unwanted memories.

    This was a new X. A new Kane. A new me. And this new me had no time for ghosts. Even if they used to be family.

    Thanatos walked down from his throne, coming to stand beside me.

    Before us, the view was as expected- devoid of all light. Yet the enigma, the puzzle I was yet to solve, was how I could perceive anything, let alone survive.

    For context, imagine the wide and encompassing view of the ocean. Stretching from horizon to horizon with no break in sight.

    That was Thanatos realm.

    A sea of black, below a sky of black, surrounded by all black. All everywhere.(I can imagine my literature teacher shaking his head at me)

    Even the throne behind us and the chess board on the table disappeared into darkness the second he turned his focus elsewhere.

    How could anyone live in such an empty world? A world devoid of life? Devoid of anything...

    Then again, I had no right to complain. I felt a kinship to him. Thanatos'' realm was a mirror of what lay inside me. Perhaps that''s what bothered me.

    "You have a deep connection with death. I suspect, you do not fear...dying?"

    Said God broke me out of my thoughts in a soft voice.

    "Not since I was 14. Someone showed me...that Death was actually an escape."

    I don''t know why, but I found myself telling him something I had never told anyone before.

    "My older brother...he was like you actually. Always whining. But he was never afraid. He taught me how to be brave..."

    It was a long time ago...I haven''t thought about him since...

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    "He sounds wise. Death while an End is not to be feared. I can tell he faced his with his head held high. "

    He answered after a while.

    An image of an older boy, smiling down at me, hands wrapped around my shoulders while my dagger was shoved into his chest, appeared in my mind.

    ''Why are your hands shaking Kane? Remember, hold steady. Always hold steady.''

    The boy whispered.

    No Thanatos. You''re wrong, there was fear in his eyes when he died...

    "I lied. I can''t send you back."

    Thanatos spoke up.

    The dead stare I gave him made his next words hurried.

    "The nature of my suspension...I can''t leave my realm."

    He explained.

    "Not on my own power at least."

    "But then how-"

    I begun, stepping up to him, my anger stirring up.

    Thanatos, seeing the livid expression on my face, held up a hand.

    "You came here by yourself. That means you can leave on your own."

    Saying that, his eyes trailed over the blue flames perpetually burning all over me.

    "Those flames are special, they can connect with any spark, I''m sure that''s how you appeared here...do the same but now picture where you want to appear."

    I breathed out, instantly settling my emotions down. That brief trip down memory lane always had the effect of...irritating me.

    "Sorry about that."

    I apologized.

    Thanatos waved me off, sitting on a cushion that appeared from the darkness around.

    "Sit."

    He motioned to another cushion that manifested below me.

    "I shall help you focus."

    -0-

    The nature of the flames burning around my body was different from my other abilities.

    For instance, whether it was Venom blast or web-shooting, they were abilities deeply rooted in my own awareness of my own body.

    Flexing my wrists had the effect of producing webs, while clenching and unclenching my body let me tap into bio-energy. Then releasing it felt like stretching my limb out for a punch or a kick.

    It was physically intuitive. And I excelled at the physical nature of my repertoire of spider skills.

    The blue flames however...were completely out of my control.

    That or they were dependent on a different aspect entirely. Either my sub-conscious mind or- and I''m liberally stretching this out- my soul.

    That was...less intuitive.

    It was why the flames had been burning above my skin without going out for a weak straight.

    Underneath them, my clothes remained whole and hell- there wasn''t any actual pain either.

    They almost felt soothing, like a warm blanket around my shoulders during winter.

    I also suspected they were the reason I could survive in Thanatos'' realm. Or part of the reason anyway.

    "...I had forgotten, but Cerberus'' fire looks similar. Only his are much much stronger."

    Thanatos revealed.

    "And although weaker I''m banking on you sharing the same innate ability shared by all Hellhounds- Flame travel. With enough will and my knowledge of the Underworld, we might be able to precise the coordinates of the Boss''s palace and send you there."

    "Okay."

    I inhaled, finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. It won''t be long now Diana...

    "How do we that?"

    "First...concentrate and try to find the-"

    Thanatos'' voice trailed off as I looked deep within myself.

    After a decade plus of training, I had mastered the art of ignoring any and everything while meditating.

    This even included my biological functions like breathing, or the sound of my heart pumping.

    Everything fell away.

    Then slightly but quickly, I felt something.

    My chest begun burning. Right where the tattoo of a spider in flames was.

    And then...I became consciously aware of the flames themselves, the way they licked the dead atmosphere within Thanatos Realm.

    The way they protected me from everything- I was sure they would turn anything into ash before it could reach me.

    Just like...how Pyra had my back.

    "Good..."

    Thanatos'' voice pierced through the haze of focus.

    "Now try to locate a spark...it can be anything, fire, light or even someone''s spirit."

    The God of Death directed.

    My brows scrunched up. I could feel the flames but nothing else.

    Trying to spread out my awareness into the surroundings wielded less than was useful and it also felt...weird.

    Trying to look within, to follow the connection between the spider tattoo which seemed to be the source of the flames, made the fire flare up but nothing else.

    I tried to dive into the link only to feel a block obstructing my mind. My will.

    Whatever the mental block was, I couldn''t bullrush it. Doing so carried with it a risk of messing up my memories, or worse my personality if something unwanted bled through.

    Almost half a day after starting, I opened my eyes in frustration.

    "It''s not working."

    I mused, rubbing my chin in thought.

    "It''s only been a few hours. Be patient."

    Thanatos instructed, eyes still closed and hands folded on his lap.

    "This is something you cannot rush. Let the fire speak to you. Cerberus never seems to struggle."

    "Right. Compare me with a God knows how old, 3 headed monster dog."

    I groused.

    Thanatos smiled, peeking one eye open.

    "Now who''s being whiny?"

    This bastard. Even as I glared at him, I couldn''t help a similar smile from spreading across my own face.

    I had to concede.

    "Touche."

    That out of the way, I renewed my focus with gusto. There was no more use in complaining. Thanatos, as much as I peeved me to say, was right. I was whining.

    ''Maybe it''s the way I''m doing it? The first time I ever noticed these flames was back when I was fighting Circe. The second time was...in the lake.''

    I shivered at the memory.

    ''And now too...I guess. It''s not hard to make the connection. These flames are Pyra''s last gift to me. And I remember her sending me through them before Circe killed her.''

    I just needed to unearth those emotions and the sensation of moving through the fire. How it felt like.

    I levelled my breathing pattern. My chest rising up and down in a steady rhythm.

    Then I remembered...

    The warmth around me increased.

    (General P.O.V)

    Thanatos, watching his new friend, was left surprised.

    The flames around Kane, billowed out in gentle plumes, encircling the two of them in a sphere of flames and then, the God of Death felt Space melt and deform around the sphere.

    And in an instant, they were outside his realm.

    "You did it."

    Thanatos whispered in an elated tone.

    "I didn''t think you could do it so fast but...you actually did."

    Kane opened his eyes, a glint of excitement and wonder in his eyes as he stared at his burning hands, and the sphere of flames around them.

    "The flames...they''re not mine but they feel...like a part of me. Like Pyra isn''t dead..."

    He muttered, breathing in deeply. In a smooth motion, upon his inhale, he pulled all the fire into him.

    This action had an unintended consequence.

    It revealed to them...exactly where they had headed up after leaving Thanatos'' realm.

    They were inside a chamber with the floor being made of lava, (the only safe place to stand on, being the box in the middle of the room that they were coincidentally sitting on.) and all around them, restrained by glowing chains, with links the size of a ship''s anchor, were large behemoths.

    The Titans of old.

    And their attention was on the two.

    Thanatos turned to Kane, a blank expression on his face.

    "I''m thinking it wasn''t your intention to teleport us to Tartarus?"

    Kane could only shake his head wryly.

    "Trust me, I might not fear death but even I''m not that suicidal. This is what I hope you think it is...an accident."

 Issue #28: X, [First Flame]

    In the beginning, there was darkness and chaos.

    From within that chaos, a spark ignited, and thus the [FIRST FLAME] burned true.

    -Unknown Text.

    (General P.O.V)

    The Titans. Most beloved children of Mother Gaia.

    But...as their family had shown time and time again, that love only extended so far.

    Similar to Kronos'' usurping his father''s rule by emasculating him and cutting him up into pieces, so did his own son do the same to him.

    And Kronos with his top officials, his brothers...were imprisoned in Tartarus for all eternity, never to see the light of day ever again.

    That''s...what they let THEM THINK.

    For you see, Kronos; known as the smartest Titan, had a backup plan. Well, it wasn''t a plan per se. More like a last ditch hope.

    All his desire for freedom fueled by a hunger for vengeance, placed on a prophecy made by one of their sisters.

    Phoebe, the Titan of Prophecies.

    And to Kronos'' elation, it seemed all that hope was not misplaced. The time for them to regain their freedom had arrived!

    The time for the prophecy to come true was nigh!

    And following that his cold cold revenge. Colder than the winds of Jotunheim itself...

    As soon as his awareness managed to sense the sudden presence of a Primordial Deity, he wasted no time!

    "Get him you fools! That''s our way out of here!"

    He roared out into the chamber that acted as the cell for him, and 4 of his most trusted high ranking Generals.

    -0-

    As for Kane and Thanatos, the instant they heard the scratchy voice coming from the box they were standing on...

    Not to mention the massive titans easily over 20 feet in height, bound by glowing chains around the chamber- that instantly focused on them...

    Not to mention how those Titans, following Kronos'' orders begun powering up their own divinities...

    The two of them looked at each other and came to the same conclusion.

    "We should..."

    Thanatos begun, standing back to back with Kane.

    "Probably bail? Yeah I think so too. Hold on."

    Kane concluded hastily, immediately closing his eyes and settling into a focused state.

    He breathed out, trying to call out the flames that had landed them here in the first place.

    One of the Titans whose skin was covered by glowing red cracks opened his mouth, releasing a huge pillar of red flames at the two intruders.

    Kane felt the heat coming from his front, and while he tensed, his spider sense did not go off.

    Voompp!

    The pillar of fire landed on a dome of death energy created by Thanatos, which instantly nullified Hyperion''s flame attack.

    "Fools! Shoot the lava! Aim at the lava!!"

    Kronos voice wheezed out once more. The origin point coming from the box the two were on.

    Kane''s face instantly twisted in irritation. Raising a leg, he slammed his foot onto the lid below them, bellowing out,

    "Shut up! Your voice is super annoying."

    It was also making it hard for him to focus. But he wasn''t going to tell Kronos that.

    "Raaarghhg!!"

    A roar filled the air.

    Another Titan, this one covered in stars and constellations begun straining against the divine chains holding it. The chain links collides against the wall behind him and producing loud bangs.

    The action was mirrored by the other 3.

    "Great Gaea! Are you all stupid!? You can''t break the chains! Use your domains! Target the Lava! TARGET THE LAVA!"

    Kronos went almost mad with rage, a monumental amount of frustration leaking into his voice.

    That said, the Titans did comply with his orders.

    And out of nowhere, Kane was hit with a sudden bout of dizziness as four Titanic presences, no weaker than a Major God''s filled the chamber.

    The action of Thanatos releasing his own divine presence, managed to alleviate the pressure on Kane''s mortal soul.

    "I''ll handle them!"

    The God of Death assured.

    "Just focus on getting us out. As drained as they are, if they manage to break the seal on the floor...we''ll be in trouble."

    He flexed his black wings and sent a cloud of smoking feathers at the four Titans.

    The feathers shot through the air leaving behind a trail of black, peppering each Titan on their foreheads and chests.

    The instant they landed, they managed to disrupt the Titans'' internal energy and immediately the 4 slumped in their bindings, dead to the world.

    A short moment passed.

    The entire chamber begun to rumble. The Lava around roiled, striking the sides of the box both Kane and Thanatos stood on.

    Kronos, apoplectic with rage, roared out,

    "DAMN YOU THANATOS! I WILL CUT OFF YOUR DICK AND FEED IT TO..."

    During the commotion, Kane was not idle.

    Following that same burning sensation, he had managed to call out his flames amidst Kronos'' tirade.

    The flames burning a brilliant blue in the glowing red chamber, encircled the two of them and with a pop they disappeared from the cell.

    "...YOUR WHORE COCK-SUCKING MOTH- Eh, they''re gone?"

    The king of Titans noticed their missing presence 2 minutes into his tirade. He had been on a roll.

    "Huh...is everybody alright? I can''t- I can''t really see anything from inside the box."

    He called out to no response.

    "Iapetus? Crius? Coeus?...Hyperion?"

    He called out again, his tone unsure.

    None of them answered.

    A bad feeling gripped the king of Titans.

    Only for his worries to be dispelled by the knowledge that death was not permanent in Tartarus(in case Thanatos had killed them) and secondly, the prophecy still remained unfulfilled.

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "No worries...we''ll huh, get them next time boys."

    Kronos added.

    "Good job. Though...you should have gone for the lava like I said, you STUPID DUMB MORONS!! I CAN''T BELIEVE I CALL MYSELF YOUR-"

    -0-

    Olympus.

    The seat of power to the Greek Gods.

    Each deity, with a distinction between the Major and the Minor ones, had a temple dedicated to them.

    Said distinction laid in the fact that the 13 major God''s temples were grander, bigger and more opulent as compared to the minor deities.

    This was not dependent on only station but rather POWER AND ZEUS.

    Of all, few could claim a higher authority or power than the eldest female Olympian God.

    The flame of Olympus. The heart of the greek gods. The goddess of the Hearth- Hestia.

    Bloomp!!

    A sphere made of blue flames materialized in a beautiful hall.

    While the hall was small, barely the size of a school auditorium, that was only in relation to the other temples surrounding Mount Olympus.

    In truth, Hestia''s temple while fulfilling most criteria of being grandiose and opulent, was a much more tamer version of her sisters'' and brothers''.

    "What the heck was that about?"

    Kane asked his travelling buddy, The sphere of flames dispersing around them.

    "And don''t lie."

    He added.

    "It''s clear they were expecting you."

    Thanatos frowned, looking away.

    "There''s a prophecy...that I will one day be the reason Kronos and his Titans walk the world once more."

    Kane''s brows raised.

    "Okay. Wow."

    "Only the boss and my family know. "

    The God of Death turned to Kane, a serious look on his face.

    "And now you as well."

    "I''m not going to run my mouth if that''s what you think. It''s not my business anyway."

    Kane shrugged.

    His thoughts went to his encounter with the hooded woman during Persephone''s banquet.

    "Besides I happen to think prophecies are dumb. We get to choose our own fates."

    He snorted.

    Thanatos stared at Kane with a complicated look.

    "You are a very curious mortal, Kane."

    "And you''re a very curious God, Thanatos."

    Kane replied with a smile, extending his hand out with the fingers locked.

    The God of Death stared at the hand, cluelessly.

    "What are you doing?"

    "Oh man...you don''t know what a fist bump is?"

    The assassin gaped, shaking his head.

    "That''s it. Soon as we get back, I''m telling Hades to let you out more. Speaking of...where are we? I was expecting more doom and gloom."

    Before them, was a fire burning on a stone layered floor.

    The flame on the hearth flickered a soft yellow. As common as could be found anywhere.

    And on the other side of the hearth, stoking the red coals was a small teen girl with short black hair, dressed in a yellow dress with all kinds of flower petals across its length.

    Thanatos immediately bowed, with Kane following his lead, even though he didn''t understand why.

    "Lady Hestia...forgive us for the intrusion."

    Hestia?!

    Kane looked up...or rather down at the little girl who seemed to pay them no attention.

    Then she spoke.

    "You smell like Daddy."

    Kane and Thanatos stared at each other- something that was becoming a routine now.

    "Uh...we got sidetracked and landed in Tartarus by mistake."

    Kane found himself answering in honesty.

    The assassin frowned rubbing his neck in surprise.

    "How..."

    "You can''t hide anything from me silly."

    Hestia giggled, finally looking up from the flames she was tending to.

    Kane blinked at the fire burning in her eye sockets. She didn''t have regular eyes, just two glowing yellow orbs.

    "Oh. That''s great, I guess."

    The assassin replied, tapping into the flames within him, in case things turned ugly.

    With each activation, they became easier to call out.

    "Oooh, such a beautiful flame, you have."

    And suddenly Hestia was next to him, his left palm held within her soft hands.

    "But you''re using them so crudely."

    She tutted in disappointment.

    "Like that brute Hyperion."

    The little goddess tilted her head to the side, tapping her chin in thought.

    "Are you also a brute, mister Kane?"

    To Thanatos shock,

    Kane bent down to her level, placing his hand on top of her head. Then he tousled her hair with a gentle smile.

    "Maybe."

    The God of Death almost had an heart attack at how free his new friend was acting with the goddess.

    This was Hestia! Despite looking like a child, she was older than almost every other Olympian.

    If she complained to Zeus or Chaos forbid, Hades...he was facing 100 more years to his suspension!

    Not to mention, she could obliterate Kane herself and Thanatos would be placed in a tough position.

    He could try to defend his new friend and face almost every Olympian''s wrath or not and lose the only person who could possibly visit him in his realm to play chess!

    Why couldn''t they have ended up in another temple?!

    ''Maybe having friends isn''t as good as it''s made out to be.'' Thanatos reasoned, glaring at Kane.

    This guy could be the death of him! And he was DEATH!!!

    "Lady Hestia, forgive my companion. He breathed in Tartarus'' air and his mind was affected."

    Thanatos said apologetically, placing a hand on Kane''s shoulder and pulling him away from the heart of Olympus.

    "We''ll be out of your hair as soon as..."

    "Mmph."

    Hestia snorted.

    Then her foot rammed onto Thanatos'' shin with a resounding whack!

    Thanatos'' pale face twitched.

    "That won''t work. I don''t feel- huh?"

    His wings trembled.

    His face grew red. With a pained howl, the God of Death clutched his shin.

    "Ow ow ow! Hades on a Pitchfork!! That hurts!! Why does it hurt?!"

    The little girl giggled darkly, turning to Kane.

    "As I was saying...your flames are pretty. Instead of using them like this..."

    She held out a hand and above the palm, a brilliant blue flame begun dancing in erratic fashion.

    It burned in the air. From the base to the tip, measuring a few inches in height.

    The tongue of the flame was clearly unstable and rough, dancing to an hectic tune with no rhyme.

    "Use them like this..."

    The erratic flame instantly smoothed out. It grew shorter, reshaping from a cone to a gentle blue sun, the size of an orange.

    The inner core of the flame was a deeper hue than the outer layer.

    "Hellhounds don''t sense other flames and then burn through space to teleport, silly. That''s impossible."

    She lightly admonished.

    "Though in your case you''re more like a spiderhound..."

    Kane shifted his intent gaze from studying the flame above her palm, to her.

    The way she guessed his thought process astounded him.

    Was he that open? He knew he wasn''t. Rather She was...scarily intuitive.

    She might not have been as physically imposing as Hades, but out of all the Gods he''d come across, Hestia had to be the most interesting.

    Or if he was honest with himself, most terrifying.

    "They connect to the singular flame. The [FIRST FLAME]. The one where every other flame comes from. Including my own. Including Prometheus''."

    Kane was rendered speechless. All he could do was listen.

    Unaware of his fascination, Hestia continued,

    "And then using that connection, they can link to another flame, allowing travel to anywhere, anytime, any plane...with no restriction."

    The flame in her palm disappeared.

    Hestia turned around, crouched before her hearth and continued tending to the fire.

    "You know...I could send you right at the entrance of Big Brother''s palace."

    "Oh yeah?"

    Kane breathed out, half of his mind occupied with the revelations of the gift Pyra had left him.

    He stood to his full height.

    "And what would it cost?"

    "Nothing silly."

    Hestia giggled.

    "I would do it just because I''m nice."

    Her gaze went unfocused as she stared into the flames.

    "I''m the nicest God in Olympus after all. Isn''t that right, Thanatos?"

    She gazed at the God of death over her shoulder, almost daring him to say otherwise.

    "Uh...yeah. Of course Lady Hestia."

    Thanatos bit out, still feeling the pain radiating from his shin.

    "None are as kind and nice as you."

    Kane opened his mouth to sate his curiousity on the relationship dynamic between the two, but instead shook his head.

    "I''ll tell you what I told another God. Nothing is ever free."

    The assassin stated bluntly in reference to Hestia''s offer.

    "Okay then. How about this: I''ll help you because it''s within my divine right."

    The wood on the hearth crackled as she prodded it.

    "As the goddess of home and family, proper treatment of guests falls under my purview. If that''s not enough, then take it as thanks for saving my little niece."

    "Diana."

    Kane muttered.

    Even with such a huge distance between them...the Princess was still helping him.

    "Then I accept, Lady Hestia."

    Kane bowed his head in gratitude.

    "But perhaps you could instruct me on how to do it instead. I can''t count on you being there to bail me out."

    "No."

    Hestia immediately refused.

    "That responsibility is not mine."

    Thanatos lightly tapped Kane''s shoulder, shaking his head in a gesture that said, ''don''t push it.''

    "Alright."

    Kane nodded.

    "We are ready when you are."

    Hestia dropped the stick in her hand into the fire.

    Immediately, the flame jumped up, growing in size and shifting colors from a gentle yellow to a dark blue, with starlights glinting in its ethereal shape.

    "Come back here when you''re done with Ares, and I''ll tell you more about the [FIRST FLAME]. Who knows, it could be useful to you."

    She said mysteriously.

    The flame before them, coiled like a snake according to Hestia''s direction, her hand movements beautiful- as if she was directing an orchestra.

    It wound around her in a stream not unlike water, engulfing both Kane and Thanatos.

    Hestia waved at the two before with barely a sound, the flames imploded, sending them away.

    Hestia stared at the place the two had occupied, a complicated expression on her face.

    "So, that''s him...interesting."

 Issue #29: X, Guardian.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Hestia''s flames were gentle and warm.

    Being engulfed in them felt like a deep and relaxing sauna session,(something I used to do enjoy after a mission) and I was surprised they could invoke that type of sensation from my body.

    All too soon, it ended and when the flames disappeared, we were no longer within her temple.

    The transition was smooth, lacking the distinct pop I was beginning to associate with flame teleportation.

    Then again, comparing her flames to mine was like comparing an F1 race car to an old garbage truck with a clogged exhaust pipe.

    She was seamless. I was crude.

    "Kane. Listen to me."

    Thanatos broke me out of my thoughts with a whisper.

    The very second the flame sphere unravelled, he was on guard, positioned to my front. Almost protectively.

    I tilted my head up in surprise, interest stirred, before spotting what had him so worried.

    "Whatever happens, remember that I can take care of myself."

    He added.

    "And the Underworld has rules. So DO NOT interfere in this."

    The God of Death said in the most earnest tone I''d ever heard.

    In a display of prideful stubbornness, I stepped out from behind him, fully revealing myself to the 3 headed dog that was sleeping on the ground some distance away.

    I was sick and tired of needing protection. From now on, I wasn''t going to hide behind anyone.

    Thanatos tensed but the thrice headed dog merely huffed out a breath.

    Taking that chance, I looked around.

    Hestia''s teleportation seemed to have deposited us on a small island.

    Above us was a waterfall, the familiar dark blue waters pouring into the pool behind us.

    A perpetual mist covered the entire area, whether caused by the waterfall or just a feature of this place, who knows?

    The pool broke off into two rivers, moving around the Island.

    On the mouth of each river was a large obsidian arch way acting as a gate.

    Written in bold Greek, the words, "ALL PATHS LEAD THE SAME WAY"

    laid prominent on the plaque facing the pool.

    Yes. While my Greek is spotty at best, I wouldn''t mistake those words.

    -0-

    As for the only occupant on the island, It looked to be asleep, all the heads with their eyes closed.

    The nostrils breathed out plumes of fire. The temperature hot enough that Kane and Thanatos could feel it.

    Even from a hundred feet away on the shores of the small island.

    Aware that they were facing something that could easily kill him, Kane called out his own flames to cover his body.

    Vooomp!!

    Wisps of blue flickered around him, reforming into a rippling coat of blue fire. The tongues were noticeably smoother than before.

    He seemed to have learned some tricks from watching Hestia manipulate her flames.

    But Kane had something more.

    To muster the strongest defense and offense strategy, he also tapped into his bio-energy, ready to release a venom blast if it became necessary.

    As if sensing the flame''s activation, Cerberus'' left and right head woke up.

    And immediately after sniffing the air, 2 pairs of eyes zeroed in on them.

    Thanatos placed a hand in front of Kane, barring his way.

    Kane looked at him with a narrowed gaze.

    "Remember what I just said. Do not interfere."

    Thanatos told him, a bite in his words, then he begun to walk forward.

    Kane sighed, throwing a frustrated look at Thanatos.

    To be honest, the God of Death had actually become a sort of friend to the assassin.

    But that dog...Kane knew hostility when he saw it. And the air the 3 headed monster dog was giving off was ominous.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    It was ready to jump at them and tear them to pieces if they got closer.

    And that wouldn''t be a problem because he believed in Thanatos'' strength. The God had faced off against 4 Titans after all.

    ...If only his Spider Sense wasn''t ringing with a clear warning.

    And his mind signalled onto the cause of that warning- the flames escaping it''s nostrils.

    They were...terrifying.

    All he could do was be on guard in case he had to step in.

    There was a move...he''d been thinking of adding to his arsenal. If it worked, it would guarantee a direct hit.

    "Hey."

    Kane called out, stopping Thanatos in his tracks.

    The heads kept watching on curiously.

    "I won''t interfere. Just as long as you remember...I''ll back you up, even if you won''t like it."

    Kane affirmed, offering a fist bump.

    The God of Death looked at the hand offered, before extending his own fist and slowly they collided.

    Wings twitching, Thanatos looked up.

    "I still don''t get it."

    "Nah you will."

    Kane waved him off.

    Thanatos turned around and started walking forward. Over his shoulder he threw a few more words at Kane,

    "Oh and trust me, it won''t come to that. You see, Cerby and I are frie-"

    Instantly,Kane jumped over him, creating a wall of blue flames that blocked an angry stream of flames from Cerberus'' right head.

    The Assassin found himself pushed back by the much stronger fire, shaking his palms slightly as they were singed.

    The head looked away, ticked that it had failed to burn the guy that had killed it before.

    "Clearly, a third of It doesn''t agree with you."

    Kane merely stated, straightening up and passing by Thanatos, patting his back a few times.

    "Now let''s get this over with. I''m eager to meet the mythical Cerberus."

    Thanatos merely shook his head, muttering something under his breath about crazy mortals.

    That said, A small smile was apparent on his lips. A smile that vanished upon turning his gaze back to Cerberus.

    In case things predictably got dicy...this could be his last chance to talk to Kane.

    "Wait."

    Thanatos stopped him.

    "before I forget...here."

    Curious as to what it was now, Kane turned to find Thanatos holding out his palm.

    A black bead floated calmly above it.

    He pushed his hand out and the strange bead instantly sunk into Kane''s chest.

    The latter allowed it to happen as he couldn''t sense any animosity from the former.

    That said, he fixed him with a glare,

    "Did you just..."

    The assassin asked the God incredulously.

    "Merge a compressed seed full of death energy into your body?"

    Thanatos cut in cheekily, before answering,

    "Yes. Yes I did."

    Kane narrowed his eyes at him.

    "I should punch you."

    This was the third time a God had done something to him without his consent.

    First was Chiron- who stole 10 years of his life(he was getting that shit back one way or the other). And maybe some compensation along the way as well.

    Then there was Artemis who just straight up left a tattoo on his wrist. Though that was meant to be a gift apparently.

    Third was the ominous hooded goddess-she gave him a dead butterfly. A Dead Butterfly.

    He still struggled to believe that interaction had happened.

    Of course Rhadamanthus, one of the 3 underworld judges, had come in and stolen it. (Strange as the dead butterfly was, Kane was ALSO going to get that back. It was just the principle of the matter. What was HIS was HIS, not someone''s elses.)

    "You could try." Thanatos shrugged, the corners of his lips lifting in smug satisfaction,

    "But I won''t feel a thing. Death is the total absence of life, and as pain is a part of life, no dice."

    Kane simply gave him a dumbfounded stare before shaking his head with a sigh.

    "You know what, it''s not even worth it."

    The two of them dropped the subject, continuing to walk on.

    With each subsequent step closer to the Guardian of the Underworld, the air grew heavier. A pressure that steadily mounted.

    Thanatos'' wings fluttered in agitation, their smoky forms undulating, deforming in shape like a flame about to flicker out.

    Kane on the other hand, kept his face completely blank, appearing unaffected by Cerberus'' intimidating presence.

    The flames around him seemed to almost push against the 3 headed monster''s influence.

    A few scant meters from Cerberus, the left and right heads begun to growl.

    Kane felt goosebumps break out across his entire body. The warning was clear.

    Stop or die.

    The Assassin halted, as did Thanatos. As the God of Death, his senses were even more attuned to danger than Kane''s.

    The central head snorted, opening it''s eyes and staring at the two of them balefully.

    "You have nerve showing up here, Thanatos."

    A voice that was ominous with an echoing quality escaped the huge creature.

    Muscles twitching across it''s entire flame, Cerberus stood on its legs, its form, under the light of the flames burning on it''s coat, casting a shade on top of Kane and Thanatos.

    "Cerby, its been long, old buddy. Is that anyway to greet a friend?"

    Thanatos chuckled sheepishly while scratching his head.

    The right head instantly snapped out, trying to lunge forward and chomp him up.

    Whoosh!

    A wall of flames appeared before Thanatos, flaring up and momentarily stopping the Head.

    "I told you to stay out of it."

    Thanatos rounded up on Kane and half whispered-half shouted.

    "Sorry. But that head wasn''t going to stop. If I hadn''t intervened, you''d be dog food."

    Kane interjected, pulling back the flames onto him.

    He could now manipulate the blue flames to create a few more shapes besides the sphere that teleported them.

    A flame wall was something simple. Just a thin sheet of packed flames.

    "Mmmh...so the Killer makes a move."

    Cerberus snorted, bringing both men''s attention back to him. Those baleful eyes were now entirely fixed on Kane.

    "Tell me something, Pup. Do you know what those flames are capable of?"

    Thanatos stepped up, wings flaring up as darkness wafted from his body.

    "Don''t."

    He warned Cerberus, his tone as cold as ice itself.

    "Touch my friend and we''ll have a problem Cerby. A big big problem."

    The Central head blinked in surprise.

    "Friend? You can''t have friends. They would die just from being near you."

    The statement was like a gut punch to Thanatos'' belly.

    "Ok. That''s enough."

    Kane walked forward, his hands curled into fists. His coat of flames lost their smoothness, growing erratic once more.

    "You turned out to be more of a dick than I expected. I would have asked nicely for you to let us through, but now, now we''ll just go through you."

    The mood grew hot, owing to the sudden intensifying of the blue flames wreathed across the huge HellHound.

    The central head lost all signs of its smug attitude. It licked its lips, growling out,

    "With flames not your own, you dare challenge me Pup? How quaint."

    "They don''t need to be mine. They just need to burn you."

    Kane shot back, stretching his feet apart, readying himself.

    "Thanatos, there''s no other way."

    He told the God of Death who was rooted in the same place, silent after Cerberus'' statement.

    "Both of you...should stop."

    Unexpectedly, Thanatos came in between them.

    Kane gritted his teeth, eyes shifting from the mass of muscles and fire glaring down at them to the God of Death.

    "Kane. I''m not supposed to be here. I was suspended remember?"

    The God of Death added with a sigh.

    "And I told you, the Underworld has rules. Just as the mortal world does."

    Kane had no answer for that. If it was another time he''d say ''screw that'' but it was clear in his eyes that Thanatos took his punishment seriously.

    The Assassin scoffed, straightening up.

    "I''ll play nice if Doggo promises to do the same."

    Thanatos nodded in thanks, turning to face a yawning Cerberus.

    "Cerberus I-"

    Voooommmp!

    Two streams of fire, too fast to react to, escaped the right and left head silmuteneously, boxing in Thanatos in his position.

    They instantly turned the ground into a pit of melted sand, the hard terrain liquidifying into red hot Lava, 10 plus meters around.

    Kane landed on the edges of the crater. He hadn''t been the target but those flames had almost turned him into ash- if it wasn''t the warning from his spider sense.

    But still, the Assassin was rendered speechless with shock, as he watched the scene of devastation.

    For all of 1 second.

    Then his eyes turned cold and Kane was replaced with X.

 Issue #30: X, Ghost

    (General P.O.V)

    (XxX)

    Voomp!

    Following an intuition deep within him, X''s body disappeared from its position.

    He hadn''t figured out short range teleportation through his flames.

    But this was as good a time as any!

    Somehow, he linked with the flames burning around Cerberus head, teleporting under the right head''s chin.

    Sparks of bio-energy clad his fists and with a left hook, a venom blast escaped him-

    Only for it to strike at the air, causing a distortion and a burst of electric energy to explode outwards, expelling some of the mist in the sky.

    Speaking of, he had suddenly found himself over 100 feet above the Island.

    X had no time to wonder what has happened.

    Instead, he hurtled down towards Cerberus'' position with the force of an enhanced superhuman.

    The speed and trajectory of his fall was too fast and slightly off course.

    Without much thought, he attached foils of thin but durable webs on the underside of his arms and shoulders, creating a wingsuit, that instantly slowed down his descent.

    Flipping about, he cut through the air in a controlled glide, diving face first.

    Cerberus, looking up at the human missile headed for him, narrowed its eyes.

    "Not bad Pup. But the skies are not yours alone to claim."

    20 feet from the heels of his feet slamming onto Cerberus, X felt his danger sense go off.

    Immediately he tugged his wingsuit to the right, strafing away sideways and timely dodging a screeching Harpy as it passed through his former position, claws flashing out with a dark wind.

    A slash appeared on the cliff behind him.

    And the Harpy wasn''t alone either.

    A multitude of caws and screeches sounded out from all around the air.

    The perpetual fog hanging over the small island and the pool of dark water, blew away, revealing over a dozen more harpies.

    X analysed the situation, reoriented his form by spinning his body around, before ejecting a large explosion of blue flames from his feet.

    His body was suddenly pushed upwards and for the second time, he dodged the onrush of mythical creatures seeking to tear him apart.

    The flock wound up, flapping their wings before climbing after him.

    Only they didn''t need to.

    Thwip!

    A web clung to one of the Harpies, and before it could so much as squack, X was already on its back.

    His hands wrapped around its head.

    Snap!

    He twisted, easily breaking it''s spine, before leaping off it''s back and towards another Harpy.

    He grabbed its wings and heaved, tearing them off it''s back with a single tug.

    The Harpy cried out as it fell off the air just like it''s comrade, a trail of dark blood streaming behind it.

    Both unfortunate creatures smashed into the pool of the river styx, never to resurface again.

    By then, X had dispatched most of the other harpies, relying entirely on his quick and deft movements, web creation, Spider Sense to avoid their attacks and his enhanced strength.

    All without using his flames or the destructive venom blast.

    A single punch could shatter bones and pulp flesh after all, there wasn''t a need to expend more energy than needed.

    A few of the harpies escaped, flapping their wings and flying away as fast as they could from the assassin.

    Only for the air to be filled with the distint sound of,

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Thwip!

    Thwip!

    Thwip!

    Compact web balls, compressed into bullets shot through the air, snagging the 4 of the Harpies that had scattered in every direction.

    Following that, the web bullets exploded into a thick glue like web, ensnaring their wings and limbs.

    The harpies fell towards the ground, bones breaking and bodies twisting upon impact.

    Cerberus right and left heads growled as X, webs around the last Harpy''s head, piloted it on a path aimed for the Underworld Guardian.

    Both side heads, opened their maws, about to unleash flames his way.

    Thwip!

    Thwip!

    Two web shots covered the dogs'' jaws, clamping them shut as the Harpy plowed onto the Central Head-

    Only for X to feel his own flames jump out of his control, engulf both him and the Harpy and suddenly, they were prowing onto the ground behind Cerberus.

    The Assassin flipped off the harpy as it continued on, skipping over the waters of the Styx before drowning after sinking within its blue depths.

    On the shores of the island, X landed in a crouch, the blue flames around him dying out, revealing a young black haired man in a black shirt and blue pants.

    He turned around to face the enemy, a mask created from webs covering his nose and mouth.

    It wasn''t enough but it filtered the dead air in the atmosphere.

    Groowlll!!!

    Cerberus left and right head begun to growl, molten saliva dripping through sharp teeth and down their blackened lips.

    The drops melted the ground, leaving round shaped holes that glowed red.

    A savage gleam in It''s 2 pairs of eyes, the heads seemed to have fallen into a state of bloodlust, about to pounce on X''s back.

    "Zip it."

    Only for the Central Head, the one in control to nip the agression in the bud.

    Both heads cowered and the Central Head shifted It''s focus onto X.

    "You...you seem different now. Sharper. Dangerous."

    Cerberus pointed out, a curious note in It''s voice.

    X gave no response, merely staring blankly at the 3 headed Dog.

    With a snort, Cerberus lay down.

    "Well? Are you not going to ask the question? Are you not wondering how it is, I was able to take control of your flames?"

    Indeed, the first time was when the Assassin was sent to the sky, and the second was a few seconds ago-just before X had landed his attack.

    Fighting Cerberus just became harder. Meaning entering the Underworld also became harder.

    X tilted his head, as if finding the question funny. Bio-energy begun roiling around his body, the erratic yellow current surging to his hands.

    "I see." Cerberus rumbled.

    "To you, all that matters is completing the kill. I can respect that."

    X bent low. The enemy had no discernible openings. There was no way to kill It when it was on guard.

    "Came to the same conclusion, haven''t you?" Central Head snickered.

    "You might be an impressive killer for a mortal, but you have no idea, what stands before you. So, before I tire of this farce and Swallow you whole, how about...a chat?"

    For a few tense seconds, X and Cerberus faced off, an assassin that had made killing an art form and a creature that had made it a sport.

    Between them, countless lives had been lost.

    X blinked, averting his gaze.

    The sharp air around him disappeared.

    "Would you look at that, The Pup is back."

    The right Head spoke.

    "We should have killed him when he was strong."

    The left head grunted. On the ground, Cerberus'' front leg paw scratched the ground with it''s sharp nails in agitation, leaving behind deep grooves.

    "I had no idea Dumb and Dumber could talk."

    Kane stated, sitting on the ground before Cerberus.

    The heads snarled out, sending a wave of fire down towards Kane.

    His danger sense immediately cried out but before he could jump away, the flames carved around him in two precise paths, spun in the air before exploding in the faces of the left and right head.

    "Idiots."

    The Central Head admonished.

    "Getting worked up over something as trivial, makes what he called you true."

    Kane''s heart meanwhile was hammering in his chest.

    He''d thought he''d maintained a good distance between the two of them. At least enough that he could react in case they tried to attack him like they did Thanatos.

    But that fire...was faster than it had any right to be. Not to mention the kind of control the Central Head exhibited, causing the flames to miss him while just a few inches from his face.

    Kane narrowed his eyes, reevaluating Cerberus threat. Even escape was a problem, as any time Kane tapped into his flames, Cerberus could just...take control of them.

    Which meant, he needed a counter to that. But...how?

    "What did you do to Thanatos?"

    Kane asked.

    He didn''t think Thanatos was dead by any means, so it was likely Cerberus had sent him away.

    "I merely banished him back to his realm."

    Cerberus explained.

    "Not only do I hold the power to deny or grant entry into the Underworld. I also maintain its order and enforce Lord Hades will. Thanatos had 5 more years to his sentence."

    Alright. Kane was by no means happy with that but he understood. Hades was the one he would have to talk to about Thanatos freedom.

    It seemed the meeting with the Lord of the Underworld was only getting more and more crucial.

    But how was he going to get past the huge dog who was proving to not only be powerful but quite adept at affecting Kane''s own arsenal?

    "I have to say, I am curious about one thing."

    Cerberus admitted.

    "You could have used those flames to escape to the Mortal world. And yet, you chose to return to the land of the dead. Why?"

    "Would telling you convince you to let me through to see Hades?"

    Kane lobbied.

    The Head snorted.

    "Would you be willing to lose another ten years to the Ferryman?"

    Kane scoffed.

    "Not in a million years. I''m getting those ten years back. With interest."

    "Then it''s a no." The Guardian of the Underworld responded.

    "I don''t owe you a thing."

    "Then I guess chat time is over."

    Kane stated, rising to his feet while stretching his body.

    He didn''t have a choice. He had to use ''that''.

    "Oh, finally getting serious are we?"

    A sharp glint appeared in the Central Head''s eyes.

    "I haven''t had a human snack in some time. This should prove to be...fun."

    "I won''t lie-"

    Kane chuckled, running a hand down his face. His stance was relaxed, unguarded.

    Yet...Cerberus'' middle head perked up, feeling a slight danger coming from the assassin.

    "No one has had me at a disadvantage since I arrived here. Not the Amazon s, Circe or even the Titans. But you..."

    His body instantly disappeared. His scent, his sound...every trace of him was gone.

    Cerberus jumped to his feet.

    The mist around seemed to thicken, the shadows to deepen.

    All three heads growles, hackles rising.

    "...you''ve pushed me to the extreme."

    Kane''s voice came from everywhere.

    "And anyone who''s seen this move, hasn''t lived long to regret it."

    Fire bloomed across Cerberus'' shoulders, back and limbs, turning the massive hellhound into a burning massive hellhound.

    "Ghost Step."

    The wind whispered, spreading out in an echo that came from everywhere.

    The Assassin struck.

 Issue #31: X-Pyra.

    (General P.O.V)

    Miles Morales was unlike any other spider-man.

    Leave alone his widely different backstory, his own powers were a level higher when compared to other Spider People.

    Out of all those abilities, the most well known and maybe even his signature move, was the venom blast. An attack that when released, unleashed a devastating burst of bio-energy from his limbs.

    But that was far from the only special ability he had.

    And in Kane''s case, while a venom blast to the face could solve a lot of problems, he was first and foremost, an assassin.

    A killer.

    And his job demanded stealth more than it did power.

    In other words, out of every Spider ability he had access to, none was as compatible, or complimentary to his assassin skills as...Invisibility.

    Spider Sense was a close second.

    But even it paled in comparison to invisibility. The ability to disappear from sight.

    And the reason was pretty simple.

    Kane was already trained to completely erase his presence. He could dim any sounds he made by a special foot technique called the Ghost Step.

    Ghost step, required an immense control of his body. Where in he was rendered almost completely weightless.

    He would leave no footsteps or tracks behind.

    Add invisibility on top of that? And you were facing an enemy you could neither see nor hear.

    The true Assassin Spider.

    -0-

    On the small Island that acted as the guard post for one of the scariest and most powerful creatures of the Underworld,

    A gigantic Hellhound with three heads was standing in the middle of a storm.

    Said storm was not a natural weather phenomenon, rather, it was an onslaught of slashing attacks that fell on Cerberus hide.

    The slashes left light injuries on the Guardian of the Underworld, as it failed to defend against the Assassin Spider''s unexpected attacks.

    The attacks came from every direction, not always aimed to cause damage, but also to wear it down.

    The right head howled in pain as it''s ear was scorched, the fur singed by what looked to be lightning.

    A burst of blue flames escaped Cerberus body, spreading out through the entire ground.

    The flames went high and far, even blanketing the surface of the river Styx, terrifying the lost souls within its depths.

    This wild burst of flames was but one of many released in the minutes following the ongoing fight.

    "Come out come out little Pup! You can''t hide-!"

    One of the heads snarled.

    Only for it''s statement to be cut off by an earth shaking impact on it''s chin.

    The left head immediately got knocked out, a shockwave passing through its skull and rattling its brain.

    Cerberus'' body staggered in place as one of its heads flopped onto its chest, dead asleep.

    While the Central Head begun barking at it to wake up, the right head seemed to go ballistic.

    Large fire balls escaped it''s mouth, pelting the entire area.

    Some stray shots even landed on the cliff behind, causing huge explosions that dislodged large debris-boulders that fell on the pool of water below.

    Splash!

    Splash!

    One of those boulders, it''s potential weight in the dozens of tonnes, seemed to change direction while in the air, falling on top of Cerberus.

    There was a flare of Blue Fire and the 3 headed monster raised it''s two heads, breathing out a storm of fire overhead.

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    The boulder was immediately turned into ash and smoke.

    The smoke covering the air was subsequently blown away, revealing a dozen more smaller sized rocks descending upon the Underworld Guardian.

    "I told you! It''s useless!"

    Central Head furiously roared out.

    It and the right head widened their jaws for another flame breath, only for web bullets to land inside their glowing blue maws.

    It only took a second to flash burn the webbing but within that second, Cerberus was pelted by the dozens of rocks, getting buried within them.

    -0-

    (An underteminable distance deeper into the Underworld)

    At the end of the River Styx, Hades'' Underworld palace was in a state of reconstruction.

    Indeed the aftermath of the battle that had occured here a few weeks ago was yet to be erased.

    The souls of the dead lugged huge rocks and other material up a ramp constructed on the backs of Titanic creatures.

    One of those creatures was a truly heaven defying bone dinosaur.

    The tip of its tail reached a few miles below the bridge/dock, just a scant hundred meters above the lake that the five underworld rivers fed into.

    At the end of it, was a cave of some sort.

    Through the cave''s mouth, denizens of the underworld- millions of souls-carried up large stones and other materials using the spine of the dragon as stairs.

    The journey up was incredibly far and would have taken a single person more than a few days to reach the top.

    But if the dead had something, it was time.

    -0-

    Within the confines of the Lord of the Underworld''s throne room, shadows danced under the green light of the glowing gemstone chandelier, hanging from the ceiling.

    The walls were lined with cracks, and a layer of dust covered the ground.

    At the foot of the stairs leading to the throne, Rhadamanthus sat cross legged, eyes set on a glowing crystal ball placed on a cushion before him.

    The crystal ball displayed the battle happening between Cerberus and Kane.

    "He''s going to lose."

    A deep voice rumbled forth from the Throne above the stairs.

    Rhadamanthus turned his focus to his Lord and Master. Hades was leaning his cheek on the palm of his right hand, a frown on his visage as he watched the fight.

    "Yes."

    Rhadamanthus muttered under his breath.

    The weight of the dead butterfly in the inner lining of his robes felt particularly heavy.

    "Then again, he has surprised us before. Few can survive Tartarus."

    Rhadamanthus shrugged, his eyes glinting in a strange light.

    "Mmmh."

    Hades merely hummed.

    "Even so, Cerberus was right. He is unprepared. Willful but that can only go far when facing a God like Ares."

    "But he''s not alone, Lord Hades."

    The Judge reminded him.

    "A mortal might struggle against a God. But a powerful mortal like him and a demi-god working together? I would hate to be Ares."

    He was right.

    Despite the poor showing, Hades still felt the assassin could be useful.

    But Kane''s defying power, while impressive could only go so far.

    Which meant Hades would personally have to stake something. Had to assist in his own limited way.

    "Rhadamanthus."

    Hades called out to the Judge.

    "There''s a certain soul in the Asphodel Meadows I need."

    Before Hades could give out the name, the fight displayed in the crystal ball suddenly changed.

    Hades sat up, green eyes unblinking.

    "Well..."

    Rhadamanthus chuckled to himself.

    "That is totally unexpected."

    Hades rubbed his chin.

    "Indeed. It seems...we might have underestimated Mr.Kane."

    He had to agree.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    I hate fighting close range.

    Sigh. I feel like that will eventually become my Mantra.

    That said, an opponent like Cerberus needed an adjusted strategy that demanded a mix of both close, mid and long range attacks.

    Invisibility and Ghost Step, ensured he couldn''t see me to take control of my flames, but I was still wary of using them.

    Spider Sense seemed to peep everytime I considered calling them out to either teleport, or add to venom blast for increased power.

    So I was stuck with every other trick in the book.

    I cut off the webs around the debris that had fallen on Cerberus, landing on the ground before the mound of boulders, my chest rising and falling fast.

    Despite ny enhanced Stamina, using Spider Sense to hop over the wild bursts of flames Cerberus released, while still using invisibility and Ghost Step AND venom blast was slightly taxing.

    But the result was that I''d taken out one head.

    Only two remained.

    And my next hit was guaranteed to finish this. I just had to wait for the perfect instant.

    Timing was everything.

    The mountain of rocks begun trembling, the cracks along the debris glowing red as streams of blue fire leaked through.

    Meanwhile, my right hand surged with waves and waves of bio-energy, the electric charge frying the sleeve of my shirt and turning my entire forearm golden.

    It was more power than I''d ever packed into a single venom blast. Even more power than when I''d punched at Circe.

    Back then my control over Bio-energy had been laughable at best.

    But in the week following that, I''d gotten a better handle of it.

    The air around my hand crackled with streaks of lightning.

    I started walking forward, slowly at first and then the tip of my foot slammed into the hard ground and I raced forward at the fastest speed I could reach.

    The surroundings blurred, everything unneeded went out of focus.

    My attention was firmly on the debris Cerberus was burried under. And my hand, swung back ready to deliver the final blow.

    This fight is over.

    -0-

    The boulders collapsed ontop of Cerberus glowed, melting before a massive explosion of fire sent everything outward.

    Red rocks and molten lava blew into the surroundings, and Cerberus was revealed- body reforming from the flames.

    He was smaller.

    No longer over 20 feet.

    The biggest change however was instead of a single body and 3 heads, Cerberus had split it''s body into 3.

    3 individual hellhounds flanked each other, standing side by side.

    Kane -unseen and unheard- did not allow himself to be distracted by the unexpected change.

    He chose one of the Hellhounds(the Middle one) and prepared to unleash his devastating blow.

    Kane''s Spider Sense blared at him in warning. But he was too close, barely a few feet from landing his strike.

    So he chose to ignore it. He chose to risk it.

    For one single instant, he thought he had succeeded. For one single instant, the critical hit was guaranteed.

    The Hellhounds'' raised their heads to the sky and as one...HOWLED.

    The air trembled.

    His mind went fuzzy as the sound slammed into him and raptured his eardrums.

    A mouthful of blood escaped Kane''s mouth from the impact of the soundwaves unleashed by that single howl.

    He instantly lost his invisibility, the bio-energy rippling around his hand was released into the already devastated surroundings, striking at the ground.

    Sand and rocks followed his body as he smashed onto the hard ground, creating a groove with his back.

    The Island groaned, a crack appearing in the middle, under the Assassin'' disoriented form.

    Kane''s body fell into the forming trench, his chest smacking on a rock ledge, before bouncing off and falling toward the flood of water that had poured into the crack.

    For a few minutes, pandemonium reigned. Then the soundwaves strong enough to liquidify a normal person''s organs died down.

    Cerberus stepped to the edge of the trench, now back in his real form of 3 heads.

    "You got overconfident."

    All three heads said, matter of factly.

    "Some assassin you are. It''s a shame. You were almost worthy of the gift."

    The guardian''s eyes roamed over the suspended form of Kane, the assassin clinging to a web that was attached to the side of the trench.

    Kane said nothing, merely glaring up at Cerberus. There was no way to dodge what was coming.

    Cerberus widened his jaws, a swirl of fire brewing within. In a silmuteneous action, 3 pillars of a blue firestorm hit the trench.

    A collosal wave splashed on the sides of the large cliff.

    Around the small island, the waters raged. The island itself splintered apart.

    With a resounding series of rumbles and churning water, it sank beneath the river Styx.

    Standing on a cloud of blue flames, Cerberus huffed.

    It''s favorite spot was gone. All because of Kane.

    Say what you will, but that Pup had been tenaciously strong. Only his apparent lack of ingenuity with the flames had held him back.

    The mission was accomplished. Kinda.

    Hades had ordered him to test the Pup, but...yeah, Cerberus got carried away and killed him.

    Oh well. It was his fault for being weak.

    The Guardian turned to face the waterfall, returning to it''s watch position.

    Thwip!

    From Cerberus'' right, a web covered in blue flames shot over his shoulder, attaching to the face of the cliff over a hundred meters away.

    Thwip!

    On his left, just over the other shoulder, another web-also covered in fire- clung to the face of the cliff.

    Cerberus turned around too late.

    By the time It was reacting, the 3 head monster had received a blow to it''s chest, that sent it flying through the air.

    It''s back slammed onto the cliff at such a high velocity, that It Was driven inches inside.

    Heads spinning, the Guardian of the Underworld sniffed, looking out at what had delivered the devastating blow.

    Cerberus could only gape as a spider made of flames scuttled along the cliff, filling the Hellhound''s vision.

    The spider was shaped like a black widow, staring at him with 8 red glowing eyes. 8 red eyes that seemed angry with him.

    And within it''s body, Kane''s vague form could be seen, his entire body covered in burns...that were already healing.

 Issue #32: X, Spyra.

    (General P.O.V)

    Without giving the mighty dog a chance to capture it''s breath, the flaming spider released a thick strand of web from its belly.

    The web wove around Cerberus'' serpentine tail, submerging the head within the folds of the heated web fluid.

    And with a push off the cliff, the Spider tugged at it''s prey and The Hellhound was wrenched out of the hole shaped like its body, spun around and duely smashed on to the cliff side once more.

    Bam!!!

    The whole area rumbled, pieces of rocks getting torn off the cliff, before falling to the pool of water below.

    Dust covered Cerberus'' body from view.

    Taking that brief reprieve, the 3 headed Hellhound broke into a thick stream of fire.

    The fire swirled into the air, separating and reforming into three Hellhound clones.

    The Hellhounds escaped into different directions, running and leaping off clouds of fire.

    Thwip!

    Thwip!

    Flaming web bullets pursued. Flying across the air at crazy speeds, leaving a trail of blue behind.

    And without much difficulty, they accurately hit the targeted spots on all 3 Hellhounds.

    There was a burst of blue light and the web bullets exploded outwards like tar upon impact, covering the Hellhounds with bluish fire.

    Two of the Hellhounds yelped, falling off the sky while entangled in sticky burning webbing.

    The last Hellhound broke off into more clones.

    9 to be exact, and of an even smaller size- these ones happened to look similar to puppies.

    Some swooped down towards the falling adult clones while others turned into speedy balls of black, that attacked the spider with fast moving fireballs.

    The cliff was pelted with the projectiles, destroying more and more of it, while the Spider merely evaded by scuttling across it''s side, the tips of it''s legs piercing into the stone with relative ease.

    It seemed as if it knew where the attacks would land before they landed.

    The numerous miniature Cerberuses discarded the ineffective strategy and started bombarding the cliff side with their own bodies!

    4 much larger explosions managed to shave off close to 10% of the cliff, the force sending the Fire Spider sailing through the air, hurtling on the shockwaves produced.

    Kane, within the confines of the burning spider grunted as his body was rattled from the impact.

    An issue became apparent- While in the air, the spider could not dodge quite as effectively, especially while Kane was yet to wake up- his flesh steadily healing from the burns sustained.

    That''s when Cerberus unleashed a huge cyclone of fire from below.

    The fire pillar was produced by the miniature clones and the two remaining Hellhounds combining into a manifestation of flames.

    Space itself seemed to melt akong the pillar''s path, creating a self contained false world of flames around the spider.

    -0-

    A few miles away, Minos grunted from atop a black Pegasus he rode on.

    He was in charge of overseeing the reconstruction of Hades'' Palace.

    And because of that, he had been dutifully directing the lines of souls involved in material transportation up the ramps- when something caught his attention.

    It begun with a wave of pressure blasts that carried immense heat.

    Turning to the glowing skies,

    Minos'' shocked eyes watched the horizon, where a tall pillar of fire, dozens of miles long and just as wide, surged into the Heavens.

    The head of the pillar shaped like a snarling dog.

    Within it''s jaw, clamped in between it''s teeth, a lighter colored fiery spider, could be seen.

    Despite its much smaller size, the Spider was able to resist the crushing bite of Cerberus'' flame construct.

    The Spider''s legs were braced against the roof of the construct''s mouth and the tongue, pushing back against the biting force.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    "Is that Cerberus?"

    Riding on a similar Pegasus, Aeacus, the last judge, asked while flying closer.

    "I don''t see who else it could be."

    Minos muttered, a quiver in his voice. Despite being a judge, he had never witnessed a battle of such extent.

    He knew if it were him, Cerberus would not need such power to crush him. So the question that remained was, who was the 3 headed monster Hellhound fighting?!

    "This is bad."

    Aeacus spoke up.

    "The reverberations of the fight are destabilizing the soul concentration in the river Styx."

    The river of Hate.

    Below them, in the depths of said river, hazy forms could be seen swimming up it''s length.

    The souls of the dead in the massive lake under the palace, seemed to go into a frenzy, all pulled to the bright lights and immense power given off by the ongoing battle.

    "You''re right."

    Minos agreed, watching the lines of the souls he was in charge of, begin to turn towards the bright light.

    The two judges stared at each other.

    "We need the boss."

    -0-

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    I''m in a sea of blue.

    Floating in warm air.

    My eyes peeked open as I heard and felt a trembling close by.

    Immediately, I closed them as too much light bombarded into me.

    But the pressure waves did not stop.

    Instead, a rhythmic boom seemed to go off. striking at the walls of the warm cocoon I was in.

    The slightest shaking sent off waves of pain across my body.

    But pain was a friend, so I chose to ignore it as I always did.

    ''Something is up. I''m in...danger.''

    Once again, this time carefully, I opened my eyelids.

    And indeed I was in a sea of blue. A world of blue flames to be exact.

    My heart beat soared as I recalled what had happened.

    I''d been sure I''d had Cerberus right where I wanted him. I had been so close to delivering that final blow.

    But it was stupid and reckless of me to ignore Spider Sense. This wasn''t like my previous world, where my training and abilities pretty much guaranteed victory.

    This was a world of Gods and monsters.

    And failing to learn that lesson had almost put me out of commission.

    Permanently.

    I would have died. I should have died.

    But I hadn''t. Even if for just a few nano-seconds there, I think, I''d lost.

    When Cerberus'' flame breath slammed into me, I had no choice but to immediately call out my own flames to protect me.

    Despite that, my skin had cracked, my blood had boiled and then, a gentle warm feeling had pervaded my body.

    That feeling...was yet to diminish. I could feel it even now. Like a warm embrace.

    "W-What are you?"

    I groaned out, aware of the link I could feel with the fire construct around me.

    The main source of the warmth.

    I could already tell it wasn''t a simple creation of flames but a manifestation of flames given life. Or life given flames. It was confusing.

    I could already tell...the flames were mine and the life in them- the soul, was familiar.

    So familiar infact, an image appeared in my vision...

    "P-Pyra?"

    I tentatively called out.

    The flames around me surged up in nostalgic excitement.

    Warm and gentle feelings poured down the link, filling me with a calmness and assurance I wasn''t ready for.

    An assurance that I would be protected. That I was safe.

    And despite my wariness, I felt myself relax...

    "Oh nice."

    I sighed, no longer able to hold back the pain of my burns.

    My awareness receded as I let go consciousness, allowing myself to fall into a state between sleep and wakefulness.

    Trusting that whoever this was...they would keep me safe until I was healed up.

    -0-

    The Spider and the Dog construct flew higher and higher, almost reaching the upper stratosphere of the Underworld.

    Past the perpetual mist, bright chunks of gemstones and precious earth metals shone down with the intensity of stars.

    This was the true sky of the Underworld.

    A personification of Uranus, only hidden underneath the earth''s crust. But still in its own dimensional layer.

    The two Flaming creatures were about to slam into the ceiling when a loud shout pierced through the entirety of the Underworld.

    "ENOUGH!"

    The clouds of gray hanging over the Land of the dead were expelled away.

    And in a phenomenal that was out of place in the gloomy landscape of the Land of the dead, the gorgeous light from the Gemstones washed through the dreary and hopeless terrain.

    -0-

    (3 days later)

    I woke up lying on something soft.

    Like usual, I made no indication I was awake. Only, using my ears to listen in.

    There was a slight skittery sound coming from across the room.

    The sound was vaguely familiar, reminding me of the fast typing on one of those old keyboards.

    Opening my eyes, I was treated to a room in disarray.

    The ceiling seemed to have recently filled-in cracks.

    And secondly, I was lying on a bed with golden sheets that were littered with a multitude of slashes.

    Half of the silky fabric was basically strips. The other half was burned at edges.

    The carpet on the ground had melted into clumps of a black substance, which turned out to be one half of a pillow.

    The other part was stuck to the wall on my left.

    That initial sweep of the chamber clued me on where I was. The guest room assigned to me when Diana and I first arrived in the Underworld.

    But that didn''t explain why it was in such a mess.

    I swung my feet off the bed, rubbing my chest. Specifically, the spot with the tattoo of the spider imprinted on my skin.

    The flesh there felt raw and itchy.

    Before I could think too much about it, my feet landed on something sharp.

    Of course, the skin there was harder than treated leather, seeing as I shattered whatever was underfoot easily and with no discernible injury to my sole.

    I looked down, staring at the remains of a vase lying on the floor.

    Next to it were gemstone flowers with diamond leaves lying around.

    Some of the leaves seemed to be chewed right through. As impossible as such a sight was.

    The sound of glass shattering pulled my eyes to the right.

    And that''s when I saw it.

    Its 8 legged form draped over a lantern with a shattered glass, as it tried to get to the green gem inside.

    In fact, that''s when the spider seemed to notice me as well.

    And I kid you not, it''s entire body was made up fire. Blue Fire that is.

    With 4 pairs of eyes staring at me with childish curiousity, the creature was the size of my palm.

    And it''s shape vaguely resembled that of a Black Widow spider.

    A memory of a much larger spider, holding me within its body in a protective shell rose to the forefront of my mind.

    A surprised smile appeared on my face.

    I raised a hand, waving at it. It raised one of its legs, returning the gesture, albeit unsurely.

    The Fiery Spider then skittered across the carpet, leaving holes on its surface before eagerly and unexpectedly (on my part) jumping onto my open palms.

    Surprised and intrigued for equal measure, I brought it closer to my face.

    "Hi, you must be...Spyra."

    I greeted, the name flowing out of my lips before I could help it.

    Afterall, this was an incarnation of my fallen friend.

    Pyra''s soul, through the craziness that was the DC Universe seemed to have incarnated into the adorable looking spider before me.

    It was only fitting that her name be Spyra.

    She had also, saved my life.

 Issue #33: X, Agenda.

    (General P.O.V)

    -Mediterranean Coast-

    -Allied Territory-

    The beachfront, a stretch of golden sand hemmed in by cliffs, concealed bunkers with coastal artillery, manned by soldiers who stared out into the ocean.

    On the shore itself, trenches snaked through the dunes, guarded by barbed wire barricades.

    In one of those trenches, an American soldier with binoculars nudged his partner as a vague shape begun to appear from the horizon.

    "Hey, is it just me, or is that a sail ship?"

    -0-

    "Is that it?"

    An excitable Bulma asked, leaning on the railing of the ship.

    The mist around the galley slowly dispersed, revealing what lay beyond.

    The coastline was visibly drawing closer as the Quadrireme treaded the water, pushed forward by the combined rowing of over 200 Amazons.

    Standing on the deck with another 200 warriors decked out in armor, weapons and shields, Diana''s face was impassive and hard.

    While the rest stared into the distance with anticipation and nervous energy, she seemed lost in thought.

    And it was clear to everyone around, those thoughts HAD to be related to the coming battle.

    Persephone and Athena had informed her of everything.

    In fact, everyone in Themiscyra knew of what had occured in the Underworld.

    And subsequently, who was responsible for Kane''s demise. The man who helped save their home.

    Her hand tightened into a fist.

    Ares...he was going to pay.

    Not just because he was indirectly responsible of Kane''s death but because it was her duty.

    The Gods couldn''t come down and deal with this.

    That would invite other Pantheons to join in. And the thought of more gods walking the mortal world was anathema.

    She had seen first hand the devastation the clash between Hades and Zeus had wrought: The Underworld Palace reduced to a twisted vortex of shadows, darkness and blinding lightning.

    The pressure has Kane had swung the two of them away had been suffocating.

    That was the kind of power that could alter landscapes and destroy any opposition.

    Man''s world was not ready for that level of warfare.

    And consequently, they were not ready for a God like Ares. One whose power was fueled by War.

    Hippolyta told her this is why the Amazons were first created. To keep the God of War in check.

    Thus, there was not only a personal stake for her in the fight, but also a responsibility as the Princess of the Amazons, next in line for the Throne.

    -0-

    A loud alarm begun to blare out from the steadily approaching shore.

    It seemed the soldiers had spotted the galley that was making its way to land.

    "We''ve arrived, Diana."

    Pillyphus, hitherto silent, informed the princess.

    Hippolyta had ordered the general to accompany Diana for the added protection. Not that she needed any.

    Diana had more than proven her competence by not only saving Themiscyra, but surviving the Underworld and returning to the land of the living.

    That said, it wasn''t a bad thing to have all the backup available to her. Especially if she was going to face her war obsessed Godly brother.

    And Diana knew this. She welcomed it. Kane had showed her the power of teamwork.

    He might not have been with her any more, but her sisters were the perfect replacement.

    She could trust them to watch her back.

    As it was, Pillyphus stood behind her in full armor, awaiting her orders.

    "Have everyone at the ready."

    Diana calmly instructed, walking forward.

    "I''ll move on ahead and ensure they do not attack us out of ignorance."

    Pillyphus wanted to remind her that the ship''s defense made that unnecessary.

    The hull was created from Osmium and the sails woven from hemp and harpy hide.

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    On top of that, it was enchanted to stay afloat even in the event of a capsize.

    Only a fully powered strike from a God would have a chance at destroying the Quadrireme.

    Even with that, the General decided to stay silent. It would do well to be careful. Who knows what manner of weapons man had invented over the years Themiscyra had lived in seclusion?

    Strapping her shield to her back, Diana strode to the edge of the railing and with a mighty leap, cleared hundreds of meters of water.

    She landed on the heavily fortified beach front with a loud impact, scaring many soldiers into attack mode.

    "Halt. I come in peace."

    She declared, reaching to her back.

    Twang!!

    A bullet pinged off Diana''s bracelets as she brought her left hand up in a casual block.

    In one of the trenches dug across the shoreline, the nervous soldier who had pulled the trigger shrunk at the scathing look the Demigod threw his way.

    Diana raised her other hand, revealing something waving in the morning breeze.

    A white cloth could be seen flapping above her head, held within her palm.

    The universal symbol of surrender. But in this case, she was using it as a symbol of non-agression.

    -0-

    Turns out, while the perception of Man''s World was an unruly place, the white cloth still held some meaning.

    The soldiers had thankfully settled down, allowing her sisters to reach the port unassailed. (although two naval ships had flanked their right and left, to stop them from escaping)

    The Amazonian galley docked with minimal trouble. But that did not mean they went unaccosted.

    Naturally, beautiful women from a mythological island appearing at a territory occupied by sex starved soldiers, was bound to create some commotion.

    As a result, the port was filled with droves of soldiers vying for attention and almost fighting over who would help their newest allies, in disembarking the ship.

    To be clear, the Amazons needed no help.

    And the allied soldiers-composed of mostly British, Italians and Americans, had learned that the hard way.

    A few tried to get grabby with the female warriors and paid for it.

    Their broken bones had ensured everyone knew not to take the Amazonian warriors lightly.

    ''Her Amazonian warriors.'' Diana corrected herself. For they were under her now.

    Without a guide into Man''s world, but with Ares needing to be stopped, her mother had allowed Diana to leave Themiscyra but only with a contigent of the Island''s best 400 warriors.

    The main force was gearing up for war back on the Island, but it was slow going.

    They needed to route out any more Alkyone sympathizers after all.

    But the force with her was more than enough.

    And the trip was also relatively smooth.

    They had navigated the sea by following the stars and with a prophecy from the Oracle to boot- Diana and her warriors had ended up on the coast of the Mediterranean sea after a week long trip.

    Things were going as intended.

    She was right where she needed to be. All that was left to do was find Ares and cut off his head with her godkiller sword.

    And that would be the easiest part. She would just need to follow the path of destruction he left behind.

    At least according to the Oracle.

    "You look like your mother, princess."

    A voice reached her ears from her back.

    2 people were walking towards her from the command tents.

    Diana tensed upon spotting a man with mutton chops framing the sides of his face, and 3 scars slashed across it.

    He was strong. With wide shoulders, a buff physique and wearing a long coat above an officer''s uniform.

    He walked at a leisurely pace. Like a beast on the prowl. Next to him, her presence outshined by his, was Pillyphus.

    Diana raised her brow at how stiffly the General of her forces was walking. She had never seen Pillyphus so...guarded.

    Turning her gaze back at the man, Diana narrowed her eyes. There was something...off about him. Something that sent her teeth on edge.

    "Your highness, I would like for you to meet...Vandal Savage."

    Pillyphus introduced, an almost wary expression on her face.

    Diana clasped the hand offered in a firm handshake. It didn''t escape her notice how heavily calloused his palm was.

    And the name...

    "Vandal Savage...where have I heard that before?"

    She muttered in question.

    "Ah, I see Hippolyta still speaks of me. How unexpected. Pleasant but unexpected."

    Savage grinned harmlessly.

    The gesture was meant to be appeasing but to Diana it came off as fake.

    She decided then...she did not like this man. He was different from Kane. Arrogant but without grace. The kind of arrogance that reminded her of Alkyone.

    The kind of arrogance she felt like punching.

    "Mr...Savage, is an old acquittance."

    Pillyphus explained, coming in between the two.

    "Old acquittance? how? Don''t mortals in Man''s world have a short lifespan? It has been millenia since the Amazons secluded themselves."

    Dian pointed out curiously.

    Looking at Savage, he had to be a few decades old at the most.

    And while the name sounded familiar, that was about it.

    Instead of answering, Savage moved past the two of them, eyes cast over the Camp the soldiers were helping the Amazons set up.

    "At risk of sounding rude, I have a more important question, Princess Diana."

    Pillyphus nodded her head at Diana.

    The General had had an intensive talk with Savage and the top brass, and with Savage''s help, come to a tentative agreement. Even so Diana was the one to make the decisions.

    "What question?"

    The princess inquired.

    Unseen to the two, a satisfied smile spread across Savage''s face for a brief moment.

    "Who is the real enemy? Is it the God of War, Ares? Is it Humanity? Or as you call it, Man''s world?"

    He turned towards her, raising his hand before Diana could respond.

    "Or could it be you and your 400 strong warriors? Sent here as an infiltration force."

    "I don''t understand."

    Diana bit out coolly.

    "It''s obviously Ares. He seeks to take advantage of this war to grow his power and influence."

    The Princess stepped closer to Savage, her blue eyes meeting his black irises.

    "Listen well, Vandal Savage. If he is not stopped and allowed to succeed, it won''t matter who stands against him then. They will all fall. Everyone across the world will suffer."

    "And while I agree. Not everyone is of the same mind." Savage shook his head.

    "War is fought by men but financed by agenda and profit. And no one will want to waste resources on an enemy they can''t see. Or believe exists."

    "I''m not asking for help."

    Diana instantly shut down the notion.

    "The Oracle led us here not to fight in your war but to defeat Ares."

    "Even so. You must choose a side. It will make things much easier for you."

    Savage added, eyes glinting with something Diana couldn''t identify.

    "That is how things work around here, princess."

    Diana, frustration hidden deep, stepped forward.

    "I am not your enemy Vandal Savage. But anyone that stands in our way, we will go through."

    Clap.

    Savage clasped his hands together.

    "Good to see that Amazonian spirit persists. And while I don''t doubt you can take on anyone and come out on top, I have a better idea."

    "Explain."

    Diana growled out.

    While the look in her eyes would have intimidated anyone else, Savage merely shook his head.

    "You see...relations in the warfront are strained. Trust between allies has gone down the drain. And every nation involved have their own agenda."

    Diana and Pillyphus shared an ignorant look. Man''s politics were not their concern.

    Seeing this, Savage sighed.

    "It figures that Hippolyta would send you out without considering the consequences."

    "Would you rather fight Ares on your own?"

    Pillyphus asked in a snide tone.

    "Certainly not. While I might be competent, I''ve had enough of battling Gods to last me my lifetime."

    He replied offhandedly.

    "What I propose, is for me to be a bridge. I''ll handle the technical issues. The questions of your loyalty. The contents of your missions. In return, I shall send you where your...talents can better be utilized. Places that would benefit from having 400 Amazons around. That includes finding out Ares'' whereabouts...so that you can take him out. I''ll keep you informed just as long as you agree to help out when I need you. What do you say princess? Allies?"

    Diana looked at the hand offered.

    There were many reasons to say no. And she could feel Pillyphus'' eyes boring a hole onto her back. It felt as if she wanted her to refuse.

    But before she could do that...she was curious about something. All this time, her instincts had been telling her not to trust Savage.

    She had to know whether those feelings were unfounded.

    Diana reached towards her hip, and brought out the laso of truth.

    Before Savage''s surprised eyes, she tied one end across his wrist while she was left holding the other.

    Staring deep into his eyes, Diana opened her mouth.

    "What is your true agenda in all this?"

    For a second, she was convinced he wouldn''t answer.

    "To push humanity to the peak of its evolutionary potential."

    Savage responded, his eyes momentarily glazing over.

    Diana said nothing. Instead, she clasped his offered hand with a nod.

 Issue #34: X, Ground Rules.

    (General P.O.V)

    Diana and Pillyphus followed Savage into the command tent.

    The deal was that Savage would be a sort of bridge between the Amazons and the allied forces.

    But before that, the Princess had to be formally introduced to the rest of the command.

    The first impression Diana had upon entering the War Room was- a bunch of old men with huge bellies bickering amongst themselves.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    I''m in a bad mood.

    Sigh.

    My glasses, the last memento from my homeworld lay broken in my hands. The frame had snapped at the side and half of the left eye lens was missing.

    Another sigh escaped me as I placed the specs on the countertop below the bathroom mirror I was standing before.

    The glasses had served as more than a quick way to disguise myself. They had also been a distinction between Kane and X.

    A sort of way to differentiate between both personas.

    But now...

    They were of no use to me broken. It was best to just discard them. Just like I''d discarded anything of my former life once I found myself in DC.

    I''d known intuitively that I couldn''t go back.

    And even had the option existed, I''m not sure I would have wanted to.

    There was nothing waiting for me back there. No family. No friends. Just more people to kill. More enemies to make.

    And you could kill a corrupt politician so many times until you realized...the system was the problem. More just took their place.

    Like a Hydra. Cut off one head and another would grow from the decapitated neck. It was a fruitless endeavour.

    That said, I still had a promise to keep and a desire to fulfill.

    Ny mission, as crazy as creating an assassin organization was- would ensure a steady flow of income. (killing people is profitable)

    But you could even argue, such an organisation was needed. Nay, it was necessary.

    In a world such as this, where Justice could come in many forms- most of them were ineffective.

    The DC Heroes did not kill. But does that mean killing is bad? Evil, sure. But bad?

    Would killing a sadistic asshole like Firefly- who got off on inflicting pain by burning people to death, be bad if it spared the world some pain?

    To be honest, I didn''t have an answer to that. Not the correct one at least.

    All I know is that left to me, a bullet through the brain would be the viable option. A simple and permanent resolution to a single problem affecting many.

    And while I knew my ideology and warped moral compass would bring me to blows with the Justice League and other premier heroes, that was at the least a century away.

    Right now...my concerns were more based.

    For starters, after a thorough examination of my body...it was weird to find no burn marks whatsoever.

    The last thing I remembered was getting roasted by Cerberus'' fire.

    From the memories of the agony I''d endured...I estimate half of my body had sustained third degree burns.

    I even distinctly recall the smell of my own flesh cooking. Like roast rib. Not that bad actually.

    Yet somehow...I''d healed.

    A warm and light skittering I was starting to associate with Spyra climbed across the back of my neck, jumping to my head before settling there.

    "I''m guessing you''re the reason I don''t look like a discount Freddy Kruger?"

    I used a finger, stroking the fiery spider under it''s chin.

    "Ow."

    I retracted the digit after the little shit dug her fangs into me.

    The fangs were sharp enough that two pinpricks of blood appeared on the skin. I narrowed my eyes at her reflection in the mirror.

    "That wasn''t very nice-"

    I started, only to trail off as a small burst of flames ignited on the puncture holes.

    Stolen story; please report.

    The skin on my finger pad knitted and the holes made by Spyra''s fangs disappearred.

    Spyra waved her front legs in the air, as if mocking me for jumping the gun.

    "Yeah yeah...laugh it up."

    I grumbled.

    Still, the power to regenerate was a welcome change.

    I wonder how fast it is? Does it stack on top of enhanced healing to not only deal with my injuries but things like illnesses, neutralizing toxins and what not?

    In addition, what else could I do with these flames?

    There was still the teleportation thing I was yet to fully master.

    Made all the more difficult with the added risk that someone like Cerberus, could just steal away my control again.

    But that could be dealt with by training.

    The experience gained from trial and error could not be discounted. It''s how you kept your skills at a consistent high level.

    Then there was the whole Hestia encounter.

    She talked about the [FIRST FLAME]. The name somehow felt imposing. Something that could evoke a certain weight just by uttering its name...I won''t lie, I''m interested.

    Then again, that was very far off.

    For now the main focus should be ensuring no one can mess with my control. With the secondary focus being exploring what other benefits the flames brought with them.

    I wonder if the Underworld Palace has a library. The library of the land of the dead had to have some interesting books.

    Add that to the list of requests I was going to ask Hades.

    Luckily, in the question of my abilities, I knew the first place to look for information.

    With a simple thought, I brought up the interface,

    X~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X

    Spider-Man X.

    MILES MORALES STRAIN: 100% d.n.a INTERGRATION.

    Abilities unlocked:

    Super strength.

    Spider sense.

    Web-creation.

    Wall-crawling.

    Enhanced Healing.

    Enhanced Senses.

    Enhanced Stamina.

    Enhanced Durability.

    Enhanced Flexibility.

    Enhanced Speed.

    BIO-ENERGY MANIPULATION (Updated):-

    -Venom Blast:- A powerful electric strike that unleashes a burst of bio-energy that stuns the target and deals concusive damage. The range is dependent on Stamina and Bio-energy reserves.

    -Invisibility:- the ability to camouflage yourself, including clothing, to match the surroundings, making you effectively invisible. With the skill [Ghost Step], the effectiveness of this ability is increased by 100%.

    Xx[NEW!!]xX:- Blue Flames:- A hellhound''s last gift. Flames that burn with the User''s very will. The stronger the will, the hotter the flames.

    Effects include:-

    Flame Displacement:- link with another flame that you can detect through any of your senses, allowing almost [INSTANT TELEPORTATION].

    Flame Manipulation:- Allows intuitive control of blue fire to incinerate, create constructs e.t.c. The temperature and range is dependent on Will and Bio-energy reserves.

    Xx[NEW!!]xX:- Spider Totem:- the Hellhound''s Pyra''s flames interacted with the User''s Bio-energy, manifesting into a living Totem.

    Effects include:-

    N/A.

    X~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X

    "I still don''t know what to make of you. And the interface agrees with me."

    At my words, Spyra seemed almost annoyed. She jumped to the top of my head, and melded into me.

    Flickers of blue fire died out as I run a palm over my hair.

    It had grown longer. The top would usually branch into an Afro and get tangled up.

    I needed a shave or else I''d end up looking like an impoverished Afro Samurai.

    Scratch that, a shredded Afro Samurai.

    Actually...not a bad look. With my increased muscle mass and height, I could pull off such a cool look.

    I was a different man altogether. And nothing made it sink in more like staring at my reflection.

    X or Kane.

    Assassin or Spider.

    Maybe that was the wrong way to look at it. I was both. And yet not. I needed both to survive. One to work exclusively in the night- the true Assassin Spider.

    And the other to just live...

    Spyra''s fire sent waves of warmth radiating outwards as she appeared on my neck, breaking me out of my thoughts.

    Only then did I notice that I''d been staring at myself for half an hour.

    I could tell that by recalling the count of beats my heart had made.

    I splashed some water on my face, secured the towel around my waist and left the bathroom.

    The bedroom was no longer looking like satan jizzed all over the place.

    The beddings and sheets that had been burnt by Spyra had all been replaced.

    It must have been one of the attendant Dryads. I recall sensing a presence while I was in the shower.

    Still, this was something that had to be solved now, rather than later.

    I slung a generic shirt and tunic over me, taking a minute to marvel at how comfortable they felt, before it was time.

    For the talk.

    Thwip!

    Thwip!

    A fast combo of web shots, glued the burning spider on the gold accented wall of the room.

    The air around Spyra seemed to warp like a mirage as she struggled to escape. The heat in the room almost immediately intensified.

    I snapped a finger and the flames burning around her were stolen by me, getting absorbed through my hand.

    Spyra stopped struggling. Almost stunned.

    Cerberus had taught me a valuable lesson. And the description on the interface about ''Will'' affecting the strength and control of your flames hammered the point home.

    I could manipulate any flame around me if my will was stronger than the one casting them.

    Case in point,

    "You''re not really Pyra, are you?"

    I mused to myself, peering down at the spider''s renewed struggles.

    "Thought as much."

    I straightened.

    The Interface hadn''t lied.

    An intuition told me that I wouldn''t have been able to absorb Spyra''s fire had she really been Pyra reincarnated.

    The blue flames were hers in the first place.

    That said, my earlier conjectures were proven right.

    This was a new lifeform. One formed from my Bio-energy and Pyra''s last gift.

    The flames burning around her flared up, and the webs melted. I allowed it.

    The spider in blue flames fell to the ground, the points of her legs piercing the stone underfoot.

    ''Jack ass.''

    I got a sludge of burning web fluid shot at my face.

    Fortunately, she settled down after I promised to let her eat whatever cloth or garment she wanted from the walk in closet.

    Going by the gemstones dotting the walls, it was obvious something like that wouldn''t put a dent in Hades'' vault.

    Still, it was a temporary solution until I figured out what else she could eat.

    Her biology was truly strange.

    Every part of her was blue fire manifested into a solid shape. Flames given form.

    I closed my eyes and the link between us had grown stronger.

    While I was reluctant to trust anyone too much, Spyra had not only saved me while I was in trouble...she could be a useful asset to have around.

    Before that however, we had to deal with something.

    Delving into the link once more, I focused on her fiery presence in the next room(she was raining down havoc in the walk in closet) and using Flame Displacement in a way it wasn''t intended, I teleported Spyra into my open palm.

    A half eaten shirt was clamped between her fore legs, and she was munching away.

    Upon noticing her surroundings had drastically changed, Spyra turned to me, questioningly.

    I brought her closer to my face.

    "Listen, If you''re going to stay with me, then we need a few ground rules."

    I told her in a serious voice.

    "First of all, don''t eat what I''m wearing. I''d hate to go into battle with a wardrobe malfunction."

    She reluctantly accepted.

    "Secondly."

    I cleared my throat, an eager smile spreading out across my face.

    "We''re going to train. Hard. The next time we come across that 3 headed pooch, he''s absolutely getting wrekt."

 Issue #35: X, The Judge.

    Issue #35: X, The Judge.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    The second time, I walked through the halls of the underworld,

    Deja Vu hit me with the force of a 12 Wheeler truck.

    I could almost catch a whiff of Diana''s scent lingering in the air. Could almost feel her warmth next to me, her hand hooked on the crook of my elbow.

    I wonder how she''s doing...

    Knowing the family drama we witnessed last time, she was probably back in Themiscyra.

    Hades gave me the impression he was wise- he wouldn''t keep her around after what had happened with Zeus.

    I didn''t have all the details but the King of Gods had seemed angry at Hades for something. That fury culminated in the battle that led to Diana and I getting separated.

    I wonder what the aftermath was.

    Judging by the freshly covered cracks lining the hallway, the palace was just recently restored.

    I was away for a week or so, Diana must think I''m dead. Nothing could survive the waters of the Underworld rivers. I was immensely fortunate.

    Now whether word has reached to the world of the Living about my being alive, is a different thing.

    All said and done, I had to know what I''d missed. And for that reason, I was having a servant show me the way to Aeacus.

    The last time I saw him, he''d been amenable and had welcomed Diana and I.

    The only other option was Minos who did not like me, Rhadamanthus who I did not like and Hades.

    I doubted I could just be granted audience with the King of the Underworld out of the blue, so the last one was out.

    That left my buddy Aeacus.

    -0-

    "The Judge is busy."

    A tall suit of armor holding onto a diamond shaped shield and a pole axe said in Aeacus'' own voice.

    All my senses told me this was an automaton. There was a distinct lack of breathing and from such a close distance, I should have been able to hear the heartbeat.

    "Well that''s a shame."

    I sighed as Spyra combusted into place on my shoulder, curiously staring at the armor. Specifically, the golden accented cape strapped to it''s back.

    I sensed her crouch in preparation for a jump.

    "Whoa, not so fast."

    I lightly admonished, snagging her form in midair before forcibly absorbing her into me.

    Was it animal abuse? Maybe. But I had no patience for her crazy appetite over any fabric.

    I could sense her anger through our link.

    ''I''ll get you some curtains to munch on later.''

    I sent through our link, turning to regard the long hallway behind me.

    The Dryad that had been showing me the way, had disappeared the second we arrived at our destination.

    But I easily remembered the way back. It wouldn''t be an issue to locate my room.

    That said, I wanted to do a bit more exploring. There was nothing to do back in the room except trying to stop Spyra from intentionally vandalizing our hosts'' property.

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Was it weird that she liked eating cloth? It was weird right?

    In any case, I would rather try my luck at finding the library as mentioned before.

    With Aeacus being seemingly busy, that left me with the library as my best if only source of information.

    While I couldn''t find it, I stumbled across something even cooler.

    The training room.

    -0-

    It was a few turns through the dark and shadow clad hallways that I came up on it.

    A massive mural painted along the end of the wall. Quite literally, the Hallway simply came to an abrupt dead end.

    The mural depicted a black haired man holding onto a soft looking woman.

    Hades and Persephone.

    These two shared something real. It was in the way they gazed at each other.

    One wouldn''t think they were the king and the queen of the Underworld.

    Just a man and a woman...in love.

    "Ah, one of Da Vinci''s best."

    A voice said.

    From nowhere. I couldn''t discern it''s origin point.

    I looked around, a bit spooked. You had to remember this was the Underworld. It wouldn''t be out of the question to have ghosts flying about.

    "What are you looking around for?"

    The voice came again, sounding a bit amused.

    It echoed through the empty alcoves, resonating across the whole corridor.

    That''s it.

    "Spyra, time to come out and play."

    I instructed, similarly getting ready for a fight.

    My spider Totem jumped out, fire blazing around her, prepared to take on any phantom and show it why you never mess with an assassin and his burning spider.

    With a slight groan, the mural to our front split at the middle, both sides retracting to the walls and revealing an unimpressed looking shirtless Rhadamanthus on the other side.

    The Judge was covered in a light sheen of sweat across his scar ridden body.

    I made note of that, before studying the entrance. With a keen eye, you couldn''t miss the scuff marks on the ground under the mural.

    But somehow I had.

    "It was a door..."

    I muttered dumbly.

    We had an awkward stare off.

    But too bad for Rhadamanthus I was the king of acting non-plussed in situations that required a lot of plussing.

    "Whatever you''re on, don''t bring it inside."

    The Judge ground out, staring at me like I was insane, before he turned around and walked in.

    Accepting the invitation but a little bit embarrassed, I followed after him.

    Spyra didn''t make it easy for me. I could just feel the mockery wafting off her, the fire around her flaring up with her humor.

    She had the nerve to snicker at me.

    Let''s nip that in the bud.

    "We''re never speaking of this again, understand?"

    I warned the little shit, squeezing her body to show I was serious.

    She quickly agreed after I threatened to cut down her fabric supply.

    It wouldn''t do for someone to think a hardboiled assassin like myself was scared of ghosts.

    I stepped through the entrance and promptly fanboyed.

    There was a fully equipped gym within the huge chamber. Most of the equipment used was wildly different from the standard weights I was used to.

    There was nothing modern here.

    Yet no one could deny, this was a place that turned men into super men.

    The weights even included large polished discs of rocks stacked in plates that had no business in a gym.

    A single plate was easily taller than me. And the big rack the weights were placed on had some that were as big as Cerberus himself.

    Who was even using those?!

    A number of one handed dumbbells were stacked on the left wall- made of the same black stone as the lifting weights.

    There was even a small obstacle course. But different from the one in Themiscyra, this was smaller but with deadlier traps. Like a pair of blades constructed onto the ceiling ready to swing away on the gang plank, and reap lives.

    Or send them careening into the water below.

    You heard that correct. In the middle of the Obstacle Course was a pool of water with chaotic rapids and cutting whirlpools.

    The pool ended on a ledge, where the water washed over the edge, through a spillway and fell out of the palace into the lake below.

    And last but not least, along the alcoves on the wall, was all manner of weapons.

    From metal blades, to slingshots, to stone daggers and wooden bats, to even a few a few unfamiliar armaments.

    "Clearly someone has a hobby of collecting dangerous tools."

    I whistled, spinning around with wonder in my eyes.

    A pair of shiny looking daggers had grabbed my attention. I wonder if they would be open to me borrowing a few stuff.

    "You like it boy?"

    Rhadamanthus'' voice reached me from deeper in.

    I clenched and unclenched my jaw. Then slowly, I turned around to find him sitting on a practice mat in a crosslegged position.

    The first time I let it go. This time, nah.

    "Call me boy one more time."

    I told him seriously.

    Judge or not, he was pissing me off.

    Rhadamanthus opened his eyes, revealing a sharp glint in them. His lips twisted in humor.

    "What are you going to do about it, Boy?"

    He did it. He seriously did it again.

    I shrugged off the coat I wore, letting it fall on the ground in a heap.

    "Don''t. Eat. It."

    I warned Spyra who was stretching out her grubby little legs toward the coat.

    She froze like a deer caught in headlights.

    Snorting, I felt something flying at me.

    My hand snapped out and grabbed the Kendo Stick thrown my way.

    "You look like you want to fight."

    Rhadamanthus said, smoothly getting to his feet before taking a few steps back and brandishing his own Kendo Stick at me.

    His form was impeccable. And clearly he was aware of it as he smirked.

    "I shall indulge you."

    The plan was to look for Aeacus as he was the only person in the underworld I was cordial with. That would have to wait.

    First, I had a bone to pick with this guy.

    "What are the stakes?"

    But just because I was willing to kick his ass, didn''t mean I was going to do it for free.

    The judge said nothing except for holding up the black butterfly within his two fingers.

    The message was clear.

 Issue #36: X, Princess.

    (General P.O.V)

    On March 13th, the Germans suddenly and fully retreated from the war after suffering massive losses.

    First it was the Eastern Front, where both the allies and the central powers combined lost millions of soldiers.

    There had been no survivors and the Germans- angry and suspecting Russia of foul play after agreeing on signing a treaty, elected to send another full battalion.

    The convoy crossed through Slovakia and into western Ukraine. They marched through the territory day and night, geared up for a full scale military campaign.

    And then out of nowhere, the full convoy, numbering in the tens of thousands mysteriously went missing.

    No nation came out to take credit. Ghost stories and tales of the dead walking the battlefield spread across the rank and file.

    This war had started out as man vs man with an unmatched cruelty, but now it was clear something even more dangerous was in the game.

    Taking advantage of the Central powers'' heavy losses, the Allied nations launched an attack at the German occupants in Kiev, driving them and the Astro-hungarians'' main army out of Central Ukraine.

    A few days later, a few American troops with the help of the local militia, begun hunting down the dregs of the German army who were raiding the villages around Central Ukraine as they escaped.

    The Allied soldiers chased them for miles, clearing the countryside of Central power occupation.

    But not without a fight.

    While the main force under Savage and colonel Thornton stayed right on the enemy''s heels, the Amazons had a different job to do.

    -0-

    Led by Princess Diana but commanded by General Pillyphus, the Amazons faced off against a splinter group of German soldiers on a bridge.

    The Germans had doubled back in hopes of fighting off the allies by attacking their supply chain and rear lines- a bold strategy.

    Only for their hopes to be dashed and efforts to be in vain when they encountered a force of 400 fierce women, laying ambush on a valley.

    It was a chaotic affair. And the battle had only been going on for a short time.

    To combat the heavy firepower, the Amazons formed the "Hedgehog" formation, shields interlocked together, deflecting bullets as they advanced steadily towards the enemy. (The shields were made out of Osmium)

    Escape was impossible due to the high hills and rough terrain.

    Any soldier that tried to run away was either shot by their CO for desertion, or snagged by an arrow from the archers on the rear.

    On the first clash, the soldiers were almost instantly mowed down.

    With lethal precision, the Amazons wielded their lances through the gaps in the interlocked shields.

    This is where the ''Hedgehog formation truly shone.

    The soldiers did not stand a chance at close range. Neither could they effectively attack, leaving them open for the Amazonian lances.

    The female warriors stabbed through the enemy line with brutal efficiency.

    Pillyphus, led the charge, her sword carving a path through the foe.

    Screams of pain and agony rose up into the air, audible for miles.

    Blood flowed on the surface of the muddy ground, mixing with the recent rainfall to form a dark sludge.

    Despite gunfire, the Amazons'' determination remained unbroken, driving them towards victory as they decimated more and more of the enemy.

    Briefly, Pillyphus remarked they were winning, but her thoughts soon turned to Diana.

    On another part of the battlefield, a loud crash echoed out as an army truck was sent careening off the bridge and into the river below.

    The truck exploded in midair from the impact caused by the bomb shot off a stoke mortar.

    Diana soared through the air, having dodged the bomb shell which was originally aimed at her.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    She leaped over the battlefield dominated with her sisters cutting a swathe through the soldiers.

    Her target was the men firing up the mortar for another shot.

    And as if on cue, another bomb left the mortar''s barrel, too fast for her to completely dodge.

    She held her shield to her front, taking the full blunt of the attack- the explosion momentarily hiding her body from view.

    Unharmed and without a scratch, Diana pierced through the smoke, falling upon their position and tearing through the barricade with a single sweep of her leg.

    All in all, the battle only took about 10 minutes.

    The Amazons had won against a force more than twice their number.

    The legend had begun.

    -0-

    (March 16th, 1918)

    (Western Ukraine)

    Diana stood on the edge of a cliff in her full armor.

    Down below was a small village surrounded by hills and a river that snaked around the town''s wooden perimeter wall.

    It was dusk, and the sun was just about to dip on the other side of the Horizon.

    "Do we know how many there are down there?"

    One of her sisters asked.

    "Does it matter?"

    Another one pitched in, slamming the pommel of her lance on the ground.

    "The mission is to go in and kill them all. I barely had a good fight last time."

    "No."

    Pillyphus interjected in a hard tone.

    "The mission is to rescue the innocent civilians they''ve taken hostage, Adena. Keep your bloodlust in check."

    The brown haired warrior called Adena, grumbled but said nothing.

    She and a few Amazons did not like this.

    It had been centuries since they had the cut loose. And now according to Pillyphus, they were on rescue duty.

    Still, they obeyed without question. Especially after the aftermath following Alkyone''s failed rebellion.

    On the other side of the hills, a light briefly pulsed three times. Which was the signal.

    "The army has surrounded the village perimeter your highness."

    The General informed Diana, lowering her hands which held within them a pair of binoculars.

    This and a few other equipments had left the Amazons amazed.

    It was mind blowing the technological advancement Man''s world had gone through since the last time they were a part of it.

    And after some quick teaching, a few of them had been outfitted with medkits, compasses and binos.

    For weapons however, the warrior women decided to stick with their cold weapons, citing the guns were too loud or were a dishonorable way to fight.

    "I''ll move in first."

    Diana finally spoke up.

    "Alone?"

    Pillyphus asked, staring at Diana in alarm.

    That wasn''t the plan. The plan was for the other unit to launch a frontal assault and draw out the enemy soldiers.

    Then, flanking the left and right side of the village, the Amazons could infiltrate and rescue the civilians.

    And now Diana wanted to go in alone.

    "Are you sure?"

    Pillyphus asked.

    Instead of answering, Diana turned to face the General with a strange expression on her face.

    "Pillyphus."

    She begun,

    "Does it...seem awfully quiet?"

    The older woman frowned. Indeed, it was a bit too quiet.

    Still that could be attributed with the enemy''s presence in the village. Prey was naturally silent before a predator, hoping not to draw it''s attention.

    It was likely that was the strategy the villagers had adopted.

    But even with that, there were a few other discrepancies.

    "It''s dark out already but there are no fires or smoke trails to be seen. Even though they have provisions, the soldiers should still need to light fires to ward off the cold due to the climate in the region. And yet...it''s almost as if the village is empty."

    Pillyphus remarked in realization.

    A cold wind blew through the area.

    They hadn''t questioned the intel Savage had given. After all their entire deal was that they would be allies.

    "No, there''s definitely...something or someone down there."

    Diana muttered tersely, her eyes piercing through the distance to stare at the biggest building structure in the middle of the village.

    It had a cross at the entrance.

    Just then, the sound of gunfire sounded out from the front, signifying the start of the attack.

    Diana unstrapped the shield from her back, holding it with her left hand.

    "Stay here."

    She ordered.

    "Wait!"

    Pillyphus grabbed her hand.

    "What if it''s a trap?"

    The Princess stared at the town for a few seconds.

    "Thats why it''s safer for everyone if I go."

    Diana assured.

    "I can handle an ambush if there''s one. And then you can move in for support."

    -0-

    Pillyphus could only sigh as Diana ran forward and jumped off the cliff.

    The ground under her heels cratered at the force of the lunge.

    Anyone looking up from below the cliff, would have only seen a flash of yellow arcing through the sky.

    And then,

    Boom!!!

    A few seconds later, the roof of the church caved in as Diana smashed through, landing in the middle of the walking isle.

    She straightened up, starting to look around only to freeze in shock. The first thing to hit her was the smell.

    The familiar stench of death, just like the Underworld''s atmosphere.

    Bodies lay everywhere.

    Men, women and children. Some of them ripped limb from limb.

    It was clear from the way they were dressed...these were the villagers they were supposed to rescue.

    The strangest thing was that she could even see a few enemy soldiers mixed in with the corpses. All dead. Killed in the same fashion.

    It was the scene of a massacre.

    And Diana knew the one responsible was still around. In fact, they were in the same exact building she was.

    Swallowing her disgust, the Princess of Themiscyra turned to the front.

    "Are you the one responsible for this?"

    Below the pulpit, on a section of the church clear of corpses, the Godkiller armor, jerked up.

    It''s eyes seemed to zero in on Diana.

    "Demigod..."

    A disjounted voice escaped it''s metallic chasis.

    "I have been waiting."

    Diana slowly unsheathed her sword, fully glaring at the massive hulking suit of armor.

    All these people. Even children, slaughtered with no mercy.

    "I shall take that as a yes."

    Diana stated, leaning forward in an attacking stance.

    "Prepare yourself for death."

 Issue #37: X, Clash.

    Issue #37: X, Clash.

    (General P.O.V)

    The tension was palpable.

    The standoff almost cinematic.

    The only thing missing was a tumbleweed rolling across the practice mat in between them.

    "I have questions."

    Kane spoke up, twirling the Kendo stick in hand.

    "Mmph."

    The judge snorted.

    "Earn your right to ask them by defeating me."

    Defeating him. Kane liked that arrangement. He liked it a lot.

    On some unforeseen signal, the Assassin rushed at the Judge, his Kendo stick held low, the tip facing downward.

    Upon close proximity, the assassin wound his hand up, slashing out with the shinai.

    Thwack!

    The Kendo stick was easily blocked by Rhadamanthus, who failed to move a single centimeter, raising his eyebrow as if to ask, ''Is that all you got?''

    Kane leaned in, pushing his entire weight onto the weapon.

    There was a brief loss of balance as the Judge smoothly sidestepped the assassin.

    Kane tumbled forward, but went with the momentum, rolling across the floor before coming up with his weapon held to his front in a defensive move.

    His Spider Sense had warned him of a retaliatory strike headed his way.

    Thwack!!

    The kendo stick in his hands splintered into wooden shards that rained down around his form.

    Rhadamanthus stared down at him, a smug smile on his face.

    "My win."

    Teeth gritted, Kane jumped to his feet, refusing the hand the Judge had offered him.

    "You chose to spar using Kendo, which is more of a sporting event."

    The Assassin groused in a bad mood.

    "This time, I''m choosing the weapons."

    Rhadamanthus stared at him for a few seconds before smiling knowingly. With his hand, he motioned at the racks upon racks of deadly tools on the walls.

    "Be my guest."

    Kane kept silent, instead walking over to the left wall before grabbing the pair of daggers he''d noticed earlier.

    They had a dark green handle and the metal that made up the blade was an obsidian black.

    The broad side of the blade seemed to suck in all light, before converging it at the sharp edge of the blade.

    Hefting them in his grip, he was happy to find that the weight felt evenly balanced. Just the way he liked it.

    He spun around to face his opponent who had a similar pair of daggers in his hands.

    ''They fit him well.'' The Judge couldn''t help but note to himself.

    "These won''t break quite as easily."

    Now it was Kane''s time to act smug. "You ready to lose?"

    "Less talking. More doing."

    Rhadamanthus said back, his palm doing the come hither motion.

    Their second clash happened in the middle of the sparring mat, both having ran forward at the same time.

    Sparks were produced from the impact of blade on blade.

    Their bodies were suspended in the air for a second or two, before a pressure wave was produced as a result of their clash, throwing them away from each other.

    Landing smoothly, Kane pirouetted from a stab, slashing out with his right hand, only for the dagger to get blocked by the Judge crossing his weapons before him.

    Kane lashed out with the other hand, prompting Rhadamanthus to kick out and create distance or risk getting his neck sliced open.

    The bottom of his heel landed on a well timed knee block.

    The strength behind the kick rattled Kane but he didn''t show it, choosing to instead stream right through Rhadamanthus'' guard, like water, before going on the offense again.

    ''He''s a natural.'' Rhadamanthus couldn''t help but think.

    Arcs of black flashed out with Kane entering into a storm of blade slashes, while Rhadamanthus was forced to step back, focusing more on the defensive aspect.

    Any slash that fell on his body bounced off, leaving deep welts.

    It was undeniable the skill both men displayed but even with that, it was clear Kane was better with daggers.

    While Rhadamanthus had dedicated his life and even death into mastering all forms of combat, and as much as his prowess spoke for him, he found himself in awe of the sheer skill the younger man possessed.

    This was something that trumped time and effort. Kane''s skills were just pure talent.

    "And so," the Judge remarked, unsurprised as the edge of the blade pressed against his neck.

    "I win," Kane stated simply, devoid of the arrogance Rhadamanthus had anticipated.

    A brief silence filled the air.

    "What was your question?" the Judge inquired, unperturbed by the blade against his neck.

    Kane kept the dagger in place for a few more seconds before lowering it.

    "What happened after I fell into the lake?"

    Rhadamanthus looked at him weirdly.

    "I thought you were going to ask about your little girlfriend first."

    "First of all, she''s not my girlfriend."

    He hissed, a little too fast.

    "And secondly, I can already guess that''s she''s back in the world of the living."

    A slight shudder racked Kane''s form and unknowingly, he tightened his hand on the knives.

    "It only makes rational sense she''d want to be as far away from this place as she can get. Especially with what...we saw that day."

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    The Judge hummed in thought.

    "I take it then, the two of you witnessed the Master''s battle with Lord Zeus."

    "Hard to ignore literal white lightning raining down."

    The Assassin gave a sarcastic reply. Then his face seemed to flash with something akin to fear, before the fear was replaced with something else.

    Rhadamanthus hesitated to call it resolve.

    "In any case, we had a deal."

    Kane pointed the dagger at him, the glare back on his face.

    "Start talking."

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Turns out, a lot had happened.

    For starters, just like I''d suspected, Ares was on a rampage across the world of the Living.

    In addition, he had sent his two sons, Deimos the God of fear and Phobos the God of terror to attack the Underworld Palace as a distraction.

    In the same time as the attack, he''d instigated a mass break out of the Underworld, something that Rhadamanthus said was supposed to be really really impossible.

    Not hard. Not hellish. Just really really impossible.

    And while I knew the Gods were selfish and predictably cruel,

    "So you mean to tell me, Ares risked his kid''s lives just so he could slip in and steal the souls of the dead? Not exactly father of the year contendor."

    My words made the Judge frown.

    "There is precious few a God like Ares would not sacrifice for his agenda." Rhadamanthus remarked with a shake of his head.

    "He is a slave to power."

    "Still," I shook my head.

    "How was he able to enter the Underworld with Cerberus around?"

    But even as I asked, I realized the answer was staring at me on the face.

    "Persephone''s banquet."

    I muttered.

    During that time, the banquet Hall had been full of various Gods.

    It made sense that security would be lax. Or at least lenient during a night of celebration.

    Not to mention, who in their right mind would attack Hades at his own palace during one of the most important events of the year?

    "That''s Queen Persephone to you, boy."

    The Judge derisively pointed out, lobbying a lance at me.

    "And if you want more out of me, you will have to defeat me. Again."

    Fuming, I promised myself that this was the last time he was ever calling me that.

    The shaft of the lance spun around ny dexterous fingers.

    Rhadamanthus and I circled one another, assessing each other''s movements for openings to attack.

    I''ll be the first to admit I wasn''t as proficient with a lance like other weapons. But I was still trained in the discipline of spear combat.

    Specifically, the Japanese Jukendo/Sojutsu and a light dabble in Wushu and Taiji which were Chinese martial arts.

    The most important lesson? Footing.

    A grounded stance to be precise.

    Steady like a mountain but coiled like a snake, ready to pounce.

    "Ready when you are."

    I gave him the go ahead, waiting for him to attack.

    Spinning the spear with an ease that left me gaping, the Judge narrowed his eyes my way.

    "Are you sure about that?"

    His voice had taken on an edge.

    Out of nowhere my body locked up. Spider Sense went crazy.

    An ominous aura had enveloped the judge, freezing me in place.

    Every potential move I could make, felt like a death sentence, as if the air itself had sharpened around Rhadamanthus.

    I tightened my grip on the spear, uncertainty assailing me as I failed to discern a safe opening.

    "I''m getting impatient."

    This time, the Judge was the first to attack. And from his first step as he sped toward me, I could tell, this fight was not mine.

    (General P.O.V)

    The spear. Or lance. Whatever you want to call it, was Rhadamanthus most intimate weapon.

    He''d killed more enemies than he could count using a simple spear.

    It wouldn''t be out of place to call him the God of the Lance.

    "I concede."

    Kane bit out, lying on the ground, his spear on the floor beside him.

    The tip of the Judge''s weapon was placed under his chin.

    A very similar but opposite outcome to when they had been fighting with daggers.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    6 weapons. 1 win and 5 losses.

    That''s...the score.

    Damn. This old man is tough.

    He had me beat at Kendo, the spear, the sword and shield, the bo staff, (even spider sense couldn''t warn me fast enough and I was whacked on the head once) and his skill with the Katana was unmatched, almost at the same level as his Spear mastery.

    And that wasn''t even it. There were numerous kinds of weapons stacked on the walls.

    On the other hand, I only managed to snag a win over him with the daggers.

    It was infuriating. Especially after the promised I made to myself.

    In addition, every lose was a loss of opportunities to ask questions.

    Is this how Thanatos felt when I beat him at chest.

    (Death Realm)

    "Achooo!!"

    Thanatos sneezed, looking up from his Chess game.

    "Is someone talking about me? I should hope it''s a friend."

    He mused.

    (Tartarus)

    "Curse YOU THANATOS!!!!"

    -0-

    Rhadamanthus stretched his limber form sideways, the old man''s long grey beard falling and covering his face.

    He then wound his hand over his shoulder, almost touching the ground with his fingers.

    He alternated, switching to the other hand. I''m not jealous of his flexibility even if I shouldn''t be. I''m not.

    "Are you done?"

    I seethed, hands crossed over my chest.

    There was one more area I was determined to beat him at.

    Unarmed combat. Call it confidence, call it arrogance but I was ready to throw down.

    And this time I was definitely going to win.

    A light sheen of sweat covered my bare skin- I had decided to forego my shirt after a slash from Rhadamanthus came close to turning it into strips of fabric.

    I bet Spyra would love that. Speaking of, where did she disaappear off to?

    -0-

    (Spyra)

    If Kane was okay wasting his time by getting his ass kicked...that was his business.

    She on the other hand was not.

    The training room while bare, had some tasty looking stuff.

    The soft and bouncy food lining the hard floor,

    The red sheets that lay beneath the sharpy and pointy weapons in the racks.

    Thenb there was this wooden case closer to the door that had some tough leather- she had briefly chewed on a few while watching Kane get humbled.

    But all of it paled in comparison to the long banner, hanging on the furthest wall at end of the obstacle course, flapping with the wind from the outside.

    The banner had the head of a wolf covered in flames.

    Oh hello there.

    She looked back at the bodies moving across the training mat, exchanging blows at fast speeds.

    Not the fastest she had ever seen Kane- he could go even faster if he wanted.

    And punch harder too. Huh? Is he holding back?

    Oh well, as long as she doesn''t get dragged in, they could do what they wanted.

    Now, about that banner...

    -0-

    (General P.O.V)

    Kane''s jab is blocked by Rhadamanthus'' forearm.

    The former winds up with a left hook but pulls it back before it can land, instead choosing to create a cross guard with his hands that blocks the fast moving elbow heading for his face.

    Kane deflects it to the left and throws out his own punch that lands on the Judge''s bare chest.

    The Assassin blinks. It felt like his force was perfectly negated. What an iron clad defense.

    To retaliate, Rhadamanthus brings his knee up, which ends up missing Kane as he leans back, before bringing his head forward in a vicious headbutt.

    The Judge does the same, grinning like a loon before cracking his forehead against Kane''s.

    The two of them get pushed back.

    However almost immediately they jumped back in, unleashing a flurry of attacks.

    In one occasion, Rhadamanthus'' feet collided against Kane''s arm.

    The impact was neglible and Kane''s block held. With his right palm he intercepted a punch that slipped his guard, absorbing the force with ease.

    The two stared at each other. One in surprise, while the other smirked.

    Kane then tightened his fingers around Rhadamanthus'' fist and heaved, throwing him to the ceiling with his enhanced strength.

    Mid-air, the judge spun around, slipping his legs around the Assassin''s neck.

    Then he flipped, intending to smash the top of Kane''s head on the mat.

    Kane slammed his hands on the floor, stopping his descent only for his Spider Sense to warn him of a foot about to sweep his arms out from under him.

    The Assassin vaulted up by pushing the ground with his palms, flipping away and dodging a round kick from the judge that made the air scream.

    The second Kane was on his feet, a barrage of fists fell upon him at crazy speeds.

    Like a leaf floating in the wind, Kane was able to easily dodge every strike.

    Even the Judge himself was shocked.

    He was using a forgotten South Eastern martial arts that focused on powerful elbows, claws and punches.

    It was an aggressive wild barrage of attacks with no rhyme meant to copy a tiger''s savage claws.

    With this you could smash apart rocks and tear off entire chunks of a tree trunk.

    And yet the boy dodged, parried, blocked and deflected easily.

    And when he could- he would try to grapple(on that he was a beginner at best, Rhadamanthus was able to break the holds) or attack with his own fists.

    The fight had transitioned into a full out brawl.

    Kane was naturally stronger. The two knew it. And just marginally faster too. But Rhadamanthus'' body was like an immovable mountain.

    While Kane could absorb impact from the Judge''s punches due to his training and superstrength, Rhadamanthus simply negated any kinetic force applied on his body.

    Think of it like wood being a bad conductor of heat.

    He might not have matched Kane in strength but his sheer durability was on an entirely different level.

    Kane held the advantage in offense, but Rhadamanthus held the advantage in defense.

    Bam!!

    Their feet made contact in midair.

    A small shockwave spread out into the room, causing the weapons in the racks to gently quiver.

    They detached.

    "We''ve entered a stalemate. I can''t hurt you and you can''t hurt me."

    Kane informed the Judge.

    "A draw is out of the question."

    Rhadamanthus responded.

    "Why not?"

    Kane rubbed his chin, in irritation.

    "I can''t go all out with my full strength because I might accidentally break you. A draw is perfectly reasonable."

    Besides, they had been fighting for so long and while it sucked it wouldn''t be a complete win, Kane was not in the mood for a battle with no point.

    A battle of attrition was never a go to for an Assassin.

    It was better if they could move on to something else he could win and get a question, rather than waste time.

    The Judge narrowed his eyes at the Assassin.

    "You calling me weak? Boy?"

    Rhadamanthus gruffly and very lowly asked.

    It was apparent he was angry at the implication.

    But Kane did not care. His own anger had risen at the word he hated more than anything else.

    That...was the fifth time.

    He flexed both his wrists and web fluid begun to flow out of the spinneret, encasing both his fists in a bundle of web.

    Good. That would negate the force behind his blows so that he wouldn''t break the Judge''s bones.

    But he was going to absolutely teach him a lesson.

 Issue #38: X, Weak.

    Issue #38: X, Weak.

    (General P.O.V)

    Rhadamanthus was a king once.

    And for a king to rule, he would need power.

    Not just military or political but also personal power.

    Especially personal power.

    The ability to stand before an army and charge at the frontlines with your soldiers.

    To withstand droves of enemies, each with the intent to kill and mow them down.

    The Crete of his time- during his reign- was feared.

    That was why he never backed down from a fight. He didn''t need to, confident as he was in his skills.

    So for someone to insinuate they could break him...was insulting.

    The boy in question was similarly seething at him in anger. He could see the intent to do violence in his eyes.

    As infuriating as it was to admit, it was like looking at a young him. The two of them were very alike in temperament. That same intent for violence was after all apparent in his own eyes.

    And for the first time in a few decades, Rhadamanthus was enjoying himself.

    He was having fun, yes, but more than anything, he wanted to beat the brat''s ass all the way to Sunday.

    And Win.

    However due to the boy''s superior physical parameters, The Judge was going to have to use...''that''.

    "You complained that this fight wasn''t going anywhere. Allow me to correct that."

    Rhadamanthus stated in a heavy tone.

    He raised his hands, bringing them to chest level. Then he placed one palm on top of the other.

    Kane''s eyes went wide as a godly amount of pressure was exuded by the opponent. The sudden burst of power was almost too much to bear.

    The Assassin found himself crouching low, staring up at a DEITY.

    The air around Rhadamanthus started crackling with blue lightning. The wind picked up, ruffling in from the outside.

    An aura of blue and white divine energy created a layer above Rhadamanthus'' body, and his eyes turned completelu electric.

    "I might not be an Olympian, but do not underestimate Rhadamanthus, son of Europa. Demigod son of Zeus."

    The Judge declared, his feet leaving the ground as he begun levitating in the air. No, carried up BY the air.

    Kane clenched his jaw so hard it felt like his teeth would shatter. There were no more openings to exploit. Even his keen analytical skills failed.

    This...was like the time with Hades.

    He didn''t need his senses to tell him that he was outmatched in every sense of the word.

    "I see you now know of your situation. There is little a Mortal can do against a God, Boy."

    The Judge arrogantly told him.

    The Judge was like a completely different person.

    "Before divine might, all a human like you can do, is beg for mercy."

    The Judge went on, spreading out his hands.

    Kane grunted as slash marks appeared all over his body, all due to the sharp and cutting winds surrounding Rhadamanthus.

    The intense way his danger sense was screaming reached such an extremity that it became white noise. The static confusing his mind and overwhelming his reaction speed.

    Thus, he was rendered immobile.

    In the Judge''s open palm, the lightning and wind converged, combining into an elemental ball of purple divine destruction.

    Something that left Spider Sense blaring so loudly, Kane was having a headache.

    Even his anger at being called ''Boy'' lessened. Oh, it was still there. But he was now more concerned with trying to survive whatever this was.

    ''Crap. I might need Spyra for this.''

    He admitted, reaching out through the link that bound the two of them and promptly summoning her.

    The Fiery Spider combusted into place on his shoulder, already prepared to defend her master.

    Then all of a sudden, the pressure faded.

    The wind stopped howling, the lightning stopped crackling and the aura around the Judge dimmed.

    Rhadamanthus drifted to the ground, his expression shifting from rage to confusion and then grim resolve.

    "Something urgent has come up."

    The Judge spoke evenly, staring put at the outside world through the opening beyond the obstacle course.

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    The earlier intimidating growl was gone from his tone.

    Kane remained guarded, only shifting his stance to show that he wasn''t about to attack. But he was confused nonetheless.

    "How proficient are you at Flame Displacement?"

    The Judge questioned out of nowhere, telekinetically pulling the robes on the side of the sparring mat, to his body.

    Kane and Spyra stared at one another before rounding up at the Judge.

    "Depends on where it is you want to go."

    Kane answered carefully, shooting a web at his shirt which lay a distance away, and similarly pulling it to him.

    It seemed the spar was over. Or at least paused until further notice.

    "To Cerberus."

    Rhadamanthus replied, holding out his hand towards Kane. The intention was clear, ''take me there.''

    The latter crossed his hands on his chest, his face blank.

    "I never said anything about helping you. You still owe me answers."

    "And you''ll get them."

    The Judge promised him, before adding grimly,

    "This takes precedence. It concerns the safety of the Underworld."

    Kane carefully listened to the Judge''s heartbeat, determining whether he was telling the truth. And he was.

    "I''ll hold you to that."

    Kane told him before giving Spyra a sharp nod. The spider exploded into a ball of flames that consumed the two men.

    (Cerberus'' Island)

    A sphere of blue flames manifested into being next to Cerberus.

    The Hellhound was spewing out his own variant of the blue fire, waves of super hot temperatures at the banks of the River Styx.

    The flame displacement sphere unravelled into Spyra, who jumped onto Kane''s head, standing next to Rhadamanthus.

    Before them, was a scene that was straight out of a nightmare.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    The first thing apparent was the heat.

    A world of blue fire blanketed our front.

    The flames encompassed a large portion of the terrain from Cerberus'' gray Island (I remember flashes of it getting destroyed before our fight but now it was apparently back) to about a mile out.

    Behind us was the tall cliff, blocking off escape.

    And why would escape matter in this context?

    Well,

    The air was filled with mournful wails and a stench that was worse than rotting flesh, as the souls of the dead rushed out of the River Styx in droves.

    They were in a word, innumerable.

    Revolting masses of disembodied shades dripping water from their half rotten/half spiritual forms.

    "Rhadamanthus! Good of you to finally join us! As you can see...we have a little uprising in our hands!!"

    Cerberus'' Central Head spoke up, noticing our arrival.

    "GRWWOOOOOLLLLL!!""

    "Burn! Burn into ash!!!"

    His left and right head vocalized the same sentiment, gouts of a deep blue fire I knew all too intimately, surging forth from wide jaws.

    "How''d this happen?"

    Rhadamanthus asked in an authoritative tone.

    Instead of answering,

    "You brought the Pup with you."

    Cerberus observed, creating a tornado of flames around the entire Island, disintegrating everything on the shore.

    As we were in the middle of the island, that placed us in the eye of the storm.

    The swirling mass of heat exploded apart into a disk of fire that cleared everything within a dozen mile radius.

    "Good. His flames will be useful."

    The Three Headed Hellhound said as he turned to face them.

    "Answer me. How did this happen?"

    The Judge repeated in an annoyed voice.

    Fortunately, there was a brief reprieve afforded to them after Cerberus'' fiery attack, giving them a chance to talk.

    "Things have gotten worse in the world of the living."

    The Hellhound grimly explained.

    "More people are dying due to Ares, which means more souls are arriving every second, which means..."

    The Guardian of the Underworld trailed off.

    "The Underworld''s capacity has reached its maximum."

    Rhadamanthus finished, pinching his nose at the implication.

    "Great Hades."

    "That''s not all. Charon estimates that the souls we''re getting are half of what we should. Half of the number is missing from his records."

    The Judge narrowed his eyes.

    "You mean..."

    "Ares must be harvesting them for his own nefarious plans."

    Cerberus finished.

    The mood soured.

    "Still, not everything is bad."

    The Hellhound sniffed fixing it''s attention onto Kane.

    "The Pup seems stronger at least."

    "You."

    Kane glared at the Guardian of the Underworld, while Spyra hissed from her perch on his head.

    The Left and Right head begun growling.

    "Shut up. This is not time."

    The Central head nipped it in the bud.

    "Hello Pup."

    It went on to say.

    "You''ve gotten better at handling the flames."

    Cerberus eye''s briefly flickered to Spyra before a snort escaped it.

    "But you still have a lot to learn."

    "Enough postering, Cerberus. Where are Aeacus and Minos?"

    Rhadamanthus asked, stepping to the front as more waves of undead rushed at their location.

    "Manning the skies and the boundary along with Charon. Respectively."

    The Hellhound answered.

    It wasn''t hard for Kane to notice the clear hierarchy between the two. Rhadamanthus held authority over the Hellhound.

    And Kane wasn''t surprised either. When he was fighting Cerberus, it felt like he could win, despite the Hellhound''s unmatched control over the Blue Flames.

    But after Rhadamanthus'' brief show of power, it was clear he''d underestimated the Judge.

    All his senses then had informed him he would lose.

    And this led to a startling discovery.

    Despite his new powers, despite his attempt to merge his own skills with his abilities and create a synergy effect,

    Kane...was weak.

    At least for this world.

    He hadn''t won a single fight alone since he faced the Amazons. He had help.

    Either Diana was there, or Thanatos, or Spyra...

    He''d needed someone to save his ass. That had to change. It had to change fast. Before his next big fight.

    "Let them stay in position. You hold the perimeter and ensure none of the souls manage to reach the cliff."

    Rhadamanthus instructed Cerberus, his body lighting up with a blue and white aura.

    Kane was immediately gripped with warinness. He couldn''t forget the pressure the Judge had exuded back in the training room.

    Spyra''s fire sent gentle warmth across his body, slightly lessening his agitation.

    "Meanwhile Kane and I will thin out the herd."

    The Judge finished, feet leaving the ground as he levitated forward.

    "You ready?"

    He asked, the question meant for Kane.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    What a needless question.

    I''m always ready.

    Spyra unravelled into a shroud of flames covering my body in a bright blue.

    In addition, the fire coalesced much more thickly on my feet, wrapping around my shins and ankle as I stepped up next to Rhadamanthus.

    My vision was cast out into the hordes of souls trampling over each other to get to us.

    "Don''t forget, after this, you owe me answers."

    I reminded him.

    He hummed in acceptance.

    "Hope you can keep up."

    Then with the air around him obeying his every command, he shot up towards the sky.

    The fog hanging in the air swirled into a large mass of nimbus clouds, flashes of lighting streaking through them.

    Krakooom!!

    Light bloomed as the skies tore apart.

    An instant later, lightning started raining onto the ground, decimating a large portion of the souls and scarring the ground.

    With one move, he had destroyed more than a thousand souls. Anything hit by the lightning immediately turned into ash.

    The power output was hundreds or even thousands that of my venom blasts.

    This is what a Demigod of Zeus could do. I briefly wondered if Diana would ever reach that level of power.

    Stupid question. Of course she will. And not just her either.

    I rubbed my chest, feeling my heightened heart rate. I was...excited. What I was witnessing was a hill that I had to climb and surpass.

    And if there was anything I was all about, it was succeeding. Whether that meant completing a mission or becoming stronger than anyone, I know I could bet on myself.

    "You ready?"

    I sent through the link I had with my Spider Totem.

    The shroud of flames around me flared up in confirmation.

    Slightly bending down, the fire around my shins and feet begun swirling, melting the ground.

    Bang!

    Leaving a crater behind, a jet propulsion pushed me to the sky after Rhadamanthus.

    And not to be outdone, I opened my mouth and breathed out a storm of flames at the souls of the dead.

 Issue #39: X, The Contract.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Man, I''m beat.

    That''s what going ham on uncountable number of souls by frying them with a non stop fire barrage does to you.

    The attacks ranged from fireballs to heatwaves to firestorms.

    It had only been ten minutes and yet it felt like an hour had gone by.

    By now I could comfortably control the flames to not only add a thrust to my jumps, essentially granting me flight, I could also build a more complex construct like Wings of fire to help with maneuvering.

    From a sphere to wings, I wonder what other complex constructs I could create. That was sadly something I had to reserve for training.

    But...I don''t see why I can''t start right here. While it was borderline disrespect to these souls, they were the perfect dummies to test my skills on.

    I committed to another twirl, flying along the cliff wall while letting out a controlled jet of flames from my right palm. I left a wall of fire burning behind me, blocking the way to the cliff.

    By now I had no idea how many souls had succumbed to my flames. But I still felt clunky when using them. It wasn''t as natural as my other powers.

    How should I say this, it didn''t feel economical enough.

    I turned my attention to another side of the battlefield and gaped as Rhadamanthus continued to wreak havoc with his lightning.

    His divine aura was condensed around his form tightly, and any lightning streak he blasted out, while seemingly chaotic was actually fully under his control.

    Flapping my wings to slow down, I remained suspended in the air for a few seconds, just studying his form and application.

    I wonder if compressing my flames would add more power to them.

    At the same time, Spyra and I were connected to any flames burning in the battlefield, which included even Cerberus''. Though trying to manipulate his fire felt like trying to scoop up water with a bucket full of holes.

    "You handle the detractors."

    I told my Spider Totem as she materialized onto my shoulder.

    "There''s something I need to try."

    The Spider disappeared from my shoulder in a flash of heat.

    -Spyra-

    She didn''t know what Kane was planning. But she liked that he was letting her have full rein.

    Flame displacement placed her on the soot covered ground, with her flames burning along the cliff, extending for hundreds of meters on either side.

    She had never seen such persistent creatures before (then again she hadn''t seen a lot).

    They looked vaguely human like Kane, even howling as her flames devoured the lot of them...yet more kept coming anyway.

    Welp, as long as she was allowed to turn them all into ash, she supposed it wasn''t bad.

    Too bad none of them tasted good to her flames.

    But...their numbers were a problem. How should she fix that? That''s when she remembered a trick the Three Headed Monster Dog had done.

    He''d split himself into copies. Copies that could be at multiple places at the same time.

    Had Spyra had a visible mouth and lips, she would have had a wide smirk imprinted on her visage.

    Time to get the show on the road.

    The flames around her flared up before condensing into vague symmetrical shapes.

    Dozens then hundreds of spiders the size of a palm stepped up next to her, ever burning with flames. All HER.

    But the battlefield was big. A few hundred wouldn''t cut it.

    (General P.O.V)

    The number of souls breaching the shores of the Styx seemed to increase with every second.

    And it wasn''t just the souls that the River of Hate had submerged in its depths, never to be let go.

    They came from everywhere.

    Their numbers dotted the whole landscape, rushing in a mad dash to get to the cliff and cross over to the world of the living.

    Cerberus had been dealing with them for more than hours at this point. And while the addition of Rhadamanthus and Kane as back up eased the load on him, it was clear they were losing ground.

    The dead numbered in the tens of billions. And that was not including places like the Elysium Fields or Tartarus.

    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    They might need the Boss''s intervention to handle this. But he was busy ensuring the locks on Tartarus were not compromised by the instability chaos happening.

    The other option was to-

    All around the battlefield a skittering sound rose up into the air, disrupting the Three Headed Dog''s gloomy thought process.

    Looking towards the source of the irritating sound- like thousands of insects running around- the Guardian of the Underworld was left gaping in disbelief.

    How was she doing that?

    Even Rhadamanthus, hanging in the air with glowing eyes as he commanded wind and lightning, had to stop as he saw a carpet of bright blue shapes, scuttling at fast speeds towards the Dead Souls.

    As if that wasn''t enough, the two Underworld deities had to look up when a blazing heat begun to radiate from the sky.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Spyra had filled the entire battlefield with clones of herself.

    Thousands, probably tens of thousands of burning Spiders that jumped on any soul in front of them and turned them into ash.

    Within seconds she had cleared a large portion of the region under me.

    ''Good Job.''

    I sent through our link.

    At my praise she flared up into more flamed and added even more clones.

    Now it was my turn. I couldn''t be outdone by my Spider Totem after all. It wouldn''t look good.

    Fortunately, I''d figured something out.

    Rhadamanthus had his destructive lightning. My answer to that? A sun.

    To be more specific, I pulled all the flames under my control into one large ball of flame overhead, my hands held up for easier manipulation and containment.

    At first it was the size of a basketball but as I added more and more fire into it, it grew to the size of a small truck.

    The whole sphere glowed a bright blue and released temperatures that made the air around me warp in a mirage.

    And then I compressed the whole thing into the size of a marble. It wasn''t easy either.

    A trail of sweat fell down the side of my head and my hands shook. After making sure it wouldn''t blow up on me, I begun adding more fire into the marble.

    This time, the fire itself begun to resist against my control.

    Tongues leaked from it, forming tentacles of blue flames that swirled around the marble in a chaotic pattern as it grew in size.

    Soon enough it was back to the size of a mini-truck. Only the bright glow from before was gone.

    Now the sphere had a deep blue core, which looked almost gray and the heat radiating out had made the water in the riverbed below me evaporate.

    My hands trembled even more. Sweat poured down my face, neck and body, soaking my shirt.

    I was breathing heavily but a wide smile was stretched out across my face. I''d done it.

    Every eye around was undeniably turned to me.

    The kind of power I held within my grasp...was astonishing. I literally held control over a bomb.

    Above my head no less!

    Normally I wouldn''t care for naming my attacks. That seemed cringe and childish.

    But...I''ll make an exception today.

    "Sun Judgement!"

    I declared, my voice echoing out into the terrain, announcing to all the advent of destruction.

    At the same time, my hands swung down and the blue sun above me descended.

    Next thing I knew, I was hit with a shockwave that threw me backwards, ending with my smashing the cliff face behind with a resounding bang.

    But even the light pain was forgotten as I witnessed decimation at its finest.

    The sphere had immediately exploded a few dozen meters from my body as I lost control of it.

    The air melted from the explosive combustion as the sphere turned everything in the front into ash.

    "Pfft."

    A massive mushroom cloud rose up.

    "Pfftt..."

    The cliff face started rumbling as large sections of it crumbled onto the ground.

    And as the fire died down, a deep crater the size of 10 stadiums was left behind, the edges filled with smoke from the charred basin.

    The area affected did not quite reach a mile like Cerberus'' attack but it was nothing to scoff at either.

    That was like a very small town level of destruction.

    Finally I couldn''t help it.

    "Pfftthahahahahahahahahaha!!!!"

    I started cackling like a mad man.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    I wasn''t used to the stares.

    All my life, I''d emphasized sticking to the shadows.

    And now, as I walked through the entrance to the palace next to Rhadamanthus, all the servants were staring at me like I was the strange one.

    Hello people, you live in the Underworld.

    At least Spyra seemed to enjoy the attention, waving her legs in the air while miniature spider clones hang from threads attached to the tips of said legs.

    To have it all happen on top of my head...Ah, when did I get so soft? Also what was she even doing?

    "I''m curious about something."

    So I decided to distract myself with something.

    "What happened to the souls we destroyed?"

    The Judge walking beside me flicked his eyes my way.

    "They will eventually reform. And by then the Underworld will have...stretched to accommodate the new numbers."

    There was so much to unpack in his words.

    "Stretched?"

    I settled for the more interesting part.

    "I thought the Underworld was Infinite."

    The Judge screwed his lips.

    "To an...extent. Think of Infinite as a baloon that you can add a certain amount of water to in a given time without it reaching a capacity. But then if you increase the quantity, or the rate, the baloon bursts."

    I blinked.

    A very fitting analogy to send the point across.

    But,

    "You actually know what a baloon is?"

    The flat stare he threw my way would have made a lesser man wimp. As it was, I smirked at him instead.

    "Keep quiet when we get to the King. Speak only when he addresses you."

    He grunted before ignoring me and choose to concentrate on the walk.

    We passed through the corridors and hallways silently.

    Before long, Rhadamanthus and I came before the door to the throne room- and the Judge proceeded to walk in without preamble.

    Naturally I followed along and the second I was through, the door closed behind me loudly.

    And now I was staring at the king of the Underworld, who was seated on his throne with an impassive stare on his face.

    Just like always, shadows seemed to cling to him.

    Below the throne was a long table with a dozen chairs, all of them empty except for 2.

    One of them was occupied by a grinning Aeacus who eagerly waved at me.

    And across from him was Minos, hands crossed over his chest as he glared at me.

    "Forgive me for my lateness your majesty. We were dealing with containment."

    Rhadamanthus said while bowing, with me doing the same.

    "Let''s not stand on business Rhadamanthus."

    Hades waved his hand, his tone sounding heavy and tired.

    And looking at him closely, even his face betrayed his exhaustion. I wonder what that was about.

    "I take it that you were successful?"

    Hades asked.

    Rhadamanthus gave a curt nod.

    "With our combined might, we were able to push the horde back."

    "Good. As always, you shall all be rewarded for your great service."

    The Unseen One responded.

    And then his gaze fell on me.

    "As shall you Mr.Kane. I owe you gratitude for assisting my subjects in maintaining stability."

    "Think nothing of it your Majesty."

    I said gracefully.

    "It was an honor."

    "Still, I know there''s the matter of your stolen lifespan to discuss. It is within my power to return that to you-"

    Hades paused, as if something had occured to him.

    "How about this, You''ll get your 10 years back, plus 100 more years to your life span as payment for taking up a contract. You are an assassin are you not?"

    Okay. Now I''m interested.

    I could feel every eye in the room on me. They were waiting for my response.

    "A contract you say? On who?"

    Hades'' lips thinned.

    "I need you to Assassinate the God of War, Ares."

 Issue #40: X, Betrayed.

    (General P.O.V)

    A crash sounded out as Diana''s body broke through wood and stone, sailing out of the church followed by impacting on the muddy ground.

    Her body bounced a few times before she left an imprint of her back on the wall of the village well.

    Something that crumbled the bricks making up the outer structure of the old well.

    Coughing from the dust, the Princess of Themiscyra got to her feet, furious eyes on the building she''d been thrown out of.

    It had taken one punch.

    One simple slip up where she should have dodged but had decided to tank the attack instead.

    Luckily she had her bracelets on, or else the bones in her hands would have shattered into bits.

    That''s how physically imposing the opponent was.

    Boom!

    The entrance to the church exploded outwards, the wooden doors splintering into multiple wood shards.

    Out walked the Armor.

    While it was quickly darkening, the little light available allowed her to see the blood stains covering the armor''s intimidating chasis.

    As well as the brand of War on it''s forehead, pulsing a deep scarlet.

    An agent of Ares.

    So, it''s like she suspected. No more words were needed then.

    Diana sheathed her sword, grabbing the Laso of truth from her hip before beginning to spin it around.

    The Armor immediately started running forward, it''s metallic arms spread out to grab her in a bear hug.

    "Demigod..."

    The Princess lashed out with her Laso, the end tying around the Armor''s heel. And then she tugged and it''s feet were pulled out from under it.

    Diana heaved, sending the large metallic warrior crashing through the foundations of the houses around her.

    After completing a 360 degrees twirl, she released it, throwing the over 7 feet armor crashing through the streets before collapsing a portion of the outer wall under it''s weight.

    In the meantime, Diana ran forward, leaping across the roofs of the village houses that remained standing, on a path towards the Godkiller Armor.

    Taking an even bigger leap, she reached the apex of her jump, high enough that she could touch the very clouds.

    Lightning streaked through their voluminous forms, and a light could be seen descending to the ground like a God''s Judgement.

    That light was the glint of Diana''s Godslayer sword. How fitting.

    With a roar full of power and a thunderous impact, she crashed onto the God killer Armor, driving the blade through the mark on it''s head-

    The ground under the village flashed red.

    "Wha-"

    Diana could only gasp in shock.

    And then, the whole village suddenly dissappeared. One minute it was there. The next? Gone.

    Like it had never existed before.

    (On a Cliff over looking the village)

    Pillyphus blinked.

    "Wait, where''s the village?! It''s gone!?"

    One of her sister''s yelled in surprise.

    "How?? It was just there a minute ago!"

    Another one echoed the sentiment from her side.

    Even the General couldn''t believe it for herself.

    It wasn''t normal for something to just dissappear out of the blue. That would take immense magical ability on par with Circe, or the divine power of a deity.

    It had to be the work of a God.

    And the only candidate that would have a motive? Ares.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    Which meant that the enemy had discovered they were hunting him.

    With the Princess missing, it naturally fell to her to maintain order. Her warriors were waiting on her leadership.

    "Silence."

    She roared out testily at the panicking group.

    "You are Amazonian! Act like it!"

    "But General, the Princess..."

    One of them begun, only for a glare from the General to cut her off.

    "Is strong."

    Pillyphus said in a confident tone.

    "The only thing we can do now, is to go down there and look for clues on how to get her back, or where she may have dissappeared off to."

    From their rear, a few of those army vehicles pulled up, depositing a squad of soldiers, led by a man in a grey long coat.

    "What happened?!"

    Savage demanded, walking upto a quiet Pillyphus.

    The small village below them was no longer there. It was obvious that had him worked up.

    Pillyphus however knew an act when she saw one. He wasn''t the least bit concerned with the village.

    "You were supposed to go in and rescue the villagers!"

    The irate man growled at Pillyphus.

    "And yet-"

    "And yet what?"

    The General, finally having had enough said in a low tone, her body shaking with anger.

    "Where are the villagers you are talking about? I don''t see any."

    Vandal stayed silent, narrowing his eyes at Pillyphus.

    "In fact, you know what I think?"

    She went on, still staring at the empty ground below them.

    Her hand tightened on the handle of her sword.

    "I think, that there were no villagers. And if there were, they are all probably dead. I think that this was a trap, set for us. Set for Diana."

    Her sisters instantly drew out their weapons, everyone pointing them at Savage.

    "Put the weapons down now!"

    The commanding officer among the soldiers with him- a squad of merely 10 roared out the order.

    His men raised their guns, pointing them at the 400 plus Amazons surrounding them.

    Pillyphus scoofed internally.

    If they were trying to be intimidating, then they were doing a very poor job of it.

    "No, we will not put down our weapons."

    Pillyphus sniffed disdainfully, turning around to face the Immortal, unafraid of the guns.

    "I''ll only ask this once, Savage. Where is the princess?"

    The tension was palpable. However, Savage looked the least concerned.

    He swept his gaze around at the warriors with weapons on him. Finally his eyes fell back to Pillyphus.

    And a small grin appeared on his lips.

    "Ah, Pillyphus. To think you''d let your guard down like that. Hiding away in Themiscyra all these years has made you weak and careless."

    He chuckled.

    "I gave you a chance."

    The General shook her head.

    "Knowing you, the longer we talk, the more dangerous you become. Kill him."

    The order was executed almost immediately.

    In an instant, over six arrows sailed from the Amazons- each of them accurately targeting a spot on Savage''s body.

    The latter snagged out with his hands, collecting all the arrows off the air by merely twisting around.

    "Please."

    Savage scoffed, the arrows in his hands chattering to the ground.

    "You overestimate your abilities. I have faced worse odds."

    The soldiers, even some of the Amazons reavuluated how they looked at him.

    "Are you alright sir?"

    The officer in command asked.

    "I''m fine, Captain. Just tell your men not to get involved, or else you will all die."

    Savage waved him off.

    A thin trail of sweat fell down the Captain''s face. He gulped, looking around at the women who were exuding out murderous intent.

    "No use."

    Pillyphus spoke.

    "They shall die too. Or are you arrogant enough that you think you can take us on and protect them at the same time?"

    "Me?"

    A deep chuckle left him, rumbling from his chest.

    "Oh, you''re not facing me my dear."

    Bam!!

    Something heavy landed on the ground between Pillyphus and Vandal Savage.

    The impact it made caused the entire ground to shake, a crater forming under it''s feet.

    The dust settled and a figure with glowing chains around his body rose up.

    Pillyphus'' eyes widened in disbelief. Some of her sisters'' eyes widened in terror.

    "Great Hera..."

    Someone said in a horrified tone.

    Clang.

    A few of them even let go of their weapons, allowing them to fall onto the ground as...

    "Herakles...?"

    Pillyphus bit out.

    ...the most famous Demigod, the God of Strength, the most hated man in all of Themiscyra, the bitterest enemy of the Amazons- straightened to his feet.

    "You''re facing...him."

    Savage finished in glee.

    A blood red symbol flashed on Herakles'' forehead. His eyes hidden behind his long loose hair lit up with malice and madness.

    Clink.

    The ends of the golden chains around Herakles'' arms smacked the ground. The message was clear

    Pillyphus bit her lip.

    "Amazons...ATTACK!!!"

    "AaargggH!!"

    The female warriors surged forward in a relentless wave of death.

    As the fight begun, unseen to anyone, Bulma, dressed in a light armor slinked away.

    She had a message to deliver.

    (A few hours later)

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    "Diana...is missing?"

    I muttered, the words feeling foreign and filling me with a warped sense of irony.

    I was the one good at the ''going missing'' part.

    Now, after I had made it back from literal hell and back, Diana herself dissappears.

    "More like kidnapped."

    Minos replied, tapping the side of his chair with his tail in agitation.

    No doubt by Ares. The more I hear about this guy, the more his death becomes a necessity.

    "Naturally, Ares has become a thorn on my side I can suffer no longer."

    Hades went on.

    "However, dealing with him myself or sending my subjects to do so would incur Zeus'' retaliation. And I have no time to suffer that fool''s petty grievances. A war would impact me badly."

    "That''s why he needs an Assassin."

    Aeacus took over.

    "With your expertise at killing and Princess Diana''s demigod heritage..."

    "You should have enough power to pull it off."

    Minos finished.

    "Killing a God."

    "As of now, we only have a vague idea on where Ares himself could be."

    Hades said.

    "To that end, you will need a guide. Someone who knows the terrain of the battlefield well."

    The chamber went silent as blue flames bloomed next to the King''s throne.

    A pitch black hellhound, similar to a few I''d seen guarding some of the entrances, walked out.

    Behind it was a familiar figure dressed in an Aviator jacket.

    "Okay, I love the gloomy decor but this...isn''t the...bathroom..."

    The figure trailed off upon sweeping his eyes around and finding himself in a room full of powerhouses.

    Steve Trevor took a second to get over his confusion and gather himself.

    Then his eyes landed on me with a questioning glint in them.

    "Is this...like a club of Assassins or something?"

    Aeacus snorted, Minos sighed and Rhadamanthus and Hades stayed silent.

    Me on the other hand, I was grinning like a loon.

    Despite not seeing the guy for a few weeks, it was like no time had passed.

    I stretched out my hand.

    "What would a spy like you say to helping me assassinate a God?"

    Steve tilted his head in confusion.

    "Huh? What? God? You want to kill God?"

    His eyes flickered to Spyra.

    "And why do you have a burning spider on top of your head?"

    Okay. I think he''s going to need more context.

 Issue 41: X, Crescent Moon.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    "Not God God."

    I motioned for him to wait before he could interrupt.

    "All the myths and legends from different cultures in the world exist in some fashion."

    "Most."

    Rhadamanthus quietly added.

    "A few of the Pantheons died out at the end of the dark ages. Christianity took over in a big way."

    "I...see."

    Steve said with a frown.

    "Then all of you..."

    He motioned his hand around the room.

    "They''re deities. Yes."

    I confirmed.

    "Oh."

    His face grew pale, gulping before neatly and appropriately bowing at Hades seated on the throne.

    "It''s a pleasure to make your acquaintance...ah..."

    "Lord Hades."

    Minos helped him out. Though it was more out of concern for Hades'' status more than Steve.

    "Right. It''s a pleasure to meet you Lord Hades."

    The Spy greeted smoothly.

    "Steve Trevor. You died and were eligible for the Asphodel Meadows."

    When Hades spoke, everyone listened.

    "Assist in this matter and you shall be granted the paradise that is the Elysian fields."

    Steve took a deep breath.

    "Not to sound ungrateful, but what does this have to do with me?"

    "Ares, the Greek God of War has joined in the great war."

    I stepped up to him.

    "With him, leave alone the Central powers or the allied faction, everyone will lose."

    "He seeks to usher in a new age of Gods. One where he rules over Earth as the soverein deity."

    Aeacus in a rare instance of seriousness, explained.

    Steve blinked in shock.

    "That will undoubtedly set the stage for a confrontation between the Pantheons. And Earth will be that Stage."

    The shock evolved into horror at the implications made. Steve was after all smart enough to understand what that would mean.

    The British soldier stared at the ground, rubbing his neck with a haunted look on his face.

    "Hey Kane, isn''t all this a bit much? The last memory I have is of a blade slitting my throat. Drowning in my own blood as I stared at my Killer...and now you want me to fight a God?"

    That part I hadn''t known. However, I could infer from his statement that one of the Amazons from Alkyone''s group must have killed him.

    "I apologize that I wasn''t there."

    At my apology, he looked at me strangely.

    "The thing is, Diana and I will handle the actual assassination. I just need you to be my guide."

    I assured.

    The two of us held eye contact for a few seconds before he sighed, running a hand down his face.

    "Now that you''ve mentioned the Angel, what kind of man would I be if I backed down?"

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    "Good." I patted his shoulder.

    "I''ll owe you one."

    Steve smirked.

    "To be honest, I would rather Princess Diana owe me..."

    I squeezed his shoulder.

    "ow ow...okay okay let go."

    He winced, rolling his shoulder while grumbling under his breath.

    With that out of the way, it was time to move on to the real issue.

    "To pull this off, I''ll need equipment."

    Rhadamanthus, leaning on the wall smiled.

    "Don''t worry. I have that covered."

    -0-

    Meditation is useful in not only clearing the mind but also to think.

    There''s nothing quite as insightful as being alone with your thoughts.

    Especially when you had every right to be mad, annoyed and frustrated. Diana going missing wasn''t the problem.

    I knew she could survive on her own. The princess was that resourceful. So she could hold out better than most, atleast until back up arrived.

    No. The problem was much much simpler. I opened my eyes, staring down at the golden bow lying on my lap.

    Rhadamanthus had called it, Crescent Moon. A bow created from Adamantine, a metal that was entirely Unbreakable.

    And I thought Osmium was impressive. But compared to Adamantine, it was not even close. The latter was leagues above in terms of durability.

    Even drawing the bow a smidgen took my entire strength.

    It was a weapon forged by the Cyclopes, three sons of Uranus and Gaea, and was supposed to be a gift to Artemis from Apollo.

    Unfortunately, Apollo messed up the whole delivery thing by forgetting. And then he had had a falling out with the Cyclopes who created it.

    Hence it had stayed in Hades'' vault, gathering dust.

    My thoughts went back to the conversation I had with Rhadamanthus.

    (A while ago)

    -0-

    The three of us, Steve, Rhadamanthus and I- Spyra had disappeared once we passed a corridor with open spaces that showed the view outside.

    A lake fed by 5 distinctly colored rivers, surrounded by fire.

    Steve had momentarily gaped.

    Before pinching himself and wincing. The look on his face as he realized he wasn''t dreaming was priceless.

    Very quickly, we reached a massive metal door that was being guarded by...a two headed Hellhound that was sleeping, letting out gentle plumes of fire from its 4 nostrils.

    Apparently that was a thing. And asking Rhadamanthus about it only yielded the simple answer of, ''Hellhounds can evolve.''

    No explanation or anything. It seemed to be something not spoken about to just anyone.

    I wonder if Spyra could evolve as time went on as well. It was something worth looking into. I still had every intention to visit the Underworld''s library.

    Anyway, we made it inside and for once, I was entirely speechless.

    It felt like I''d died and gone to weapon heaven.

    Different from the training room, the racks and shelves seemed to be carved out of the wall itself.

    They were also higher and wider, carrying a variety of cold weaponry ranging from swords, spears, slingshots, pole axes, Katanas...

    Every imaginable weapon from different cultures across the planet was available.

    It was...something that left me gaping akin to Steve when he saw the hellscape outside.

    Rhadamanthus had walked to the furthest end of the room- towards a special mounted bow that seemed to absorb all the light in the room.

    When he came back and handed the bow to me, I couldn''t tear my eyes off it.

    It was...beautiful. Love at first sight.

    More than that, a small part of my skin on the right hand started itching.

    "I can feel the Huntress'' goddess blessing in you."

    Rhadamanthus had revealed.

    "With Artemis guiding your hand, any arrow you shoot will never miss its target."

    I remembered that encounter with Artemis pretty well. Even despite the terrible end to the night.

    So, that''s what the crescent mooon tattoo was for. A divine blessing that was essentially an aimbot.

    Nice.

    I wonder, were the similar names a coincidence or something else?

    -0-

    The string was woven from the silk of a web spun by Ariachne. And it''s tensile strength was even higher than my own.

    Ariachne was probably the closest thing to a Spider deity I knew of. It made sense that her webs would be tough to break or cut.

    In addition, and perhaps the best part about Crescent Moon, was it''s ability to split into two daggers by merely pressing a point in the middle of the bow.

    The gears on the shaft would shift and the bow would separate into two 15 inch golden daggers.

    The bladed edge were sharper than anything I''d ever come across. They cut through my webs like a hot knife through butter.

    And when I slashed out into the air, they made no noise. The perfect Assassin blades for close range.

    To top it off, both ends of the daggers were attached to the bow''s string, opening more options for me.

    They were even better than my Titanium blades back home. And I loved those to death.

    Now, with all that said, where was the said problem?

    Well, the bow came with only a single arrow. Just one.

    Where the bow was golden, the arrow was black with glowing veins of emerald stretching from the fletching to the Arrow point.

    The tip was drenched in the poison sack of THE Hydra. The same creature Herakles beat for his labors.

    The Judge had said that the poison in the arrow was strong enough that a simple slice from the tip, would weaken a God enough that even a mortal could kill them.

    But...there was only one arrow. Which meant one chance to get it right.

    And while I was confident in my skills, I was also confident that the world would try to throw a wrench in my plans.

    Besides, with Ares'' actions, it made sense he would be wary of retaliation from the Gods.

    If he was smart, he would have strong defenses in place, making it even harder to get close enough to shoot.

    It felt risky to pine all our hopes on a single arrow.

    "No matter."

    I sighed, tightening my hands on the Arrow.

    "I just WON''T miss."

    (General P.O.V)

    -Spyra-

    The Underworld Palace had just finished getting rebuilt.

    Above the massive structure, an out of place little bird flew circles in the sky.

    Hermes had already informed Hades of what had happened.

    He chose to go to the Lord of the Underworld first with the information on Diana''s kidnapping.

    At least Hades WOULDN''T throw lightning at the God of Messengers out of Fury.

    Zeus had issues.

    But even with that said, Hermes knew he couldn''t keep the God of Gods in the dark.

    But before he could go back to Olympus, he had to finish up things here in the Underworld.

    With another flap of his wings, the small Blue Jay dove down towards the Palace, passing through an open archway before flying through the hallways on a direct path to the throne room.

    Only to chirp in shock as the Blue Jay found itself entangled in a massive web, attached to the walls and ceiling.

    Hermes struggled to free himself, wondering where the webs had come from. And why they were glowing blue.

    A skittering sound caught his attention, and the Blue Jay''s little heart sped up in fear, as a palm sized burning spider lowered itself down from the shadows above.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    A knock at the door pulled me out of my musings.

    I placed Crescent Moon on the bed and walked to the door.

    Swinging it open revealed Aeacus. And he was carrying something in his hands. A long wooden box with dark smoke wafting off the edges of the rim.

    "Rhadamanthus has the weapon side of things covered."

    The white haired Judge begun.

    "I on the other hand, believe that if you''re going to do an assassination, then you need to look the part."

 Issue 42: X, Departure.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    "Your majesty."

    I bowed, slightly.

    "I was told you wanted to see me?"

    "Ah Kane, Good. You''re here. I was just watching the sunset."

    Hades spread out his hand, motioning to the gray and gloomy clouds above us.

    I stayed silent with my thoughts. If he said he was watching the Sunset, who was I to deny that? (Even though there was no Sun to be seen)

    I felt his eyes roam over me, inquisitively- as if he was trying to figure out a puzzle.

    "Walk with me, Kane."

    Hades finally said, allowing me to straighten up from my bow, before falling in step with him.

    "The nature of the world is constantly changing."

    He began as we moved across the balcony.

    "That''s why nothing is ever eternal. Even forever ends. The one sure thing is entropy and the Chaos it inevitably gives rise to. And do you know why that is?"

    We were in a section of the Palace I had never been in before.

    The Dryad that had led me here had followed a winding staircase that emptied out in a tower along the back portion of the Palace.

    A long open walkway stretched from one side of the balcony to the other. From the right to the left. The North to the South.

    "No. Why?"

    I asked.

    Hades breathed in, as if my question had posed a heavy burden.

    "Because there are rules in place. Existence is governed by criss-crossing patterns of chance and fate. And when someone tries to control that pattern, they cause strife. They cause chaos. That is the reason Ares cannot be allowed to succeed. The Age of the Gods ended and should be left that way. This is the era of Humanity."

    I didn''t notice it at first but while having our conversation, we had arrived at the end of the balcony.

    The King of the Underworld turned to regard me with a thoughtful expression.

    "Tell me something, what is your purpose in this second life?"

    For a single second I thought he was referring to the fact I was an Extra-dimensional traveller.

    "Not many can say they fell into the Underworld while still alive and survived. Let alone leave it."

    He clarified.

    Internally, I swallowed a sigh of relief. But externally, I rubbed my chin in contemplation.

    "Well...I''ve always wanted to create an assassin organization."

    I settled for the truth.

    "One dedicated to killing those who can''t be killed by normal means. Or even those who can''t be touched either due to their positions of power or status."

    This time it was my turn to study him. To gauge his reaction.

    "Mmh."

    Hades nodded.

    "I suppose I should have expected that. But, are you not concerned with what that will do to you? I speak from experience, and eventually all the blood you have spilled catches up."

    I looked down.

    All the blood I have spilled catching up to me?

    "I''ve already made my peace with that your majesty."

    I replied.

    "Some people NEED to die for the good of the world. And if no one''s going to do it, I will."

    My words rang with conviction. Not to mention, there was MONEY to be made.

    "And who decides who needs to die? You?"

    He posed another question.

    One that I was more reluctant to answer, because it meant admitting to myself something the similarities between me and the man who taught me everything I know.

    So I didn''t or rather couldn''t answer.

    Hades looked at a certain point in the sky.

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    "Our conversation seems to be at an end. Your ride is here."

    Even with my enhanced sight, I didn''t see anything in that direction, further driving home the gap in power between a God and I.

    My attention was pulled back to Hades as he raised his hand. A generous amount of divine energy swirled in his palm- glowing green.

    Then he placed his fingers onto my forehead and the divine energy sank into me.

    Instantly, I could feel a change within me.

    My bio-energy reserves practically doubled and my whole body sang with a vitality that wasn''t there before.

    "There."

    Hades stated, taking a step back.

    "I''ve kept my end of the bargain. You have received 110 additional years to your lifespan."

    It was...incredible. The power in me. A single venom blast would now pack twice the punch as before- if I was guessing right.

    "I don''t understand. While I''m grateful, I haven''t fulfilled the contract yet."

    I pointed out.

    Ares was not dead yet.

    Hades'' hand landed on my shoulder. His hard eyes growing a tad softer.

    "Call it an investment. I have faith in you."

    The shadows rose up from the ground beneath his feet, covering his entire body.

    Then in an implosion of darkness, the King of the Underworld disaappeared.

    I was left alone on the balcony, basking in my new vitality. But not for long as a strange sound reached my ears.

    "HEEEYYY!! KAANE!! BUDDY OVER HERE!!"

    A voice I identified as Steve, pulled my eyes to the sky where, 3 distinct forms appeared, growing bigger by the second.

    Closer to the Palace, I got a good look at what was approaching, only to gape at...

    "Are those flying horses?"

    (General P.O.V)

    "What do you think of him Aeacus?"

    Hades, nursing a goblet of wine, enquired from his most trusted Council who stood by the side of his throne.

    "Cerberus said you asked him the same question, My Lord."

    Instead of giving a straight answer, The Judge diverted.

    "And?"

    Hades prompted, a little impatiently.

    "Forgive me, my Lord.

    Aeacus chuckled.

    "I was under the impression my opinion was obvious. Kane...is an enigma. But he''s one that is best on our side."

    "Mmmh."

    Hades made a non-commital sound.

    "Are all the arrangements complete?"

    He went on to ask, holding out the goblet for a refill.

    The Judge poured the wine in the pitcher he was holding into the goblet before straightening up.

    "Yes...although, I seem to have lost contact with Hermes. Our messenger friend mysteriously disaappeared after sharing his report. No one has seen him since the meeting."

    "Mmmh. That''s worrying."

    Hades scratched his chin.

    "But not concerning enough. Knowing Hermes, he must have already left for Olympus."

    Aeacus frowned.

    "Without informing you my Lord? Highly unlikely."

    "Does he know the rendezvous point?"

    At the Hades'' question, the Judge nodded.

    "Yes. I had briefed him beforehand to meet up with Kane and the others at the ruins of the fountain of Inspiration."

    "Let us hope that will be enough."

    Hades grunted, staring at the swirling liquid in his goblet.

    Things were getting chaotic. A sigh escaped him. What he wouldn''t do to have Persephone around. Even the hardest decisions felt easier with her next to him.

    "Aeacus."

    The King called out, a resolute expression on his face.

    "I need to speak to the court officials. We need to be prepared for Zeus after Ares is gone."

    Aeacus bowed, about to leave to carry out the instructions.

    "My Lord, if I may, do you intend to stop father if he tries to take revenge on Kane?"

    "No."

    Hades immediately denied with a shake of his head.

    "That would splinter the Pantheon and weaken us even more. However, Kane is under MY obligation. If I can''t personally protect him, I know someone who can."

    Aeacus blinked before smiling wryly.

    "I take it then, I should invite ''HIM'' to the Court''s proceedings?"

    Hades didn''t respond, going back to his brooding.

    Aeacus took that as a yes, bowing down once more before leaving the Throne room. He had a certain primordial God of Death to talk to.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Pegasi.

    An equine with wings.

    Or in layman''s terms, a horse with that could fly.

    The original myth about the ORIGINAL Pegasus dates back to the tale of Medusa.

    After Perseus, a demigod of Zeus cut off her head, the blood spilling from her decapitated neck landed in the ocean and from that, Pegasus was born.

    The 3 Pegasi we rid on were descendants of the noble creature.

    But let me back track to a few minutes ago,

    Riding on the back of a black Pegasus was Steve- who looked giddy as the creature stopped in the air before me.

    Next to him was Rhadamanthus who simply nodded my way.

    The Judge was similarly riding on a Pegasus, but his was white. And on his other side was a brown Pegasus with an empty saddle.

    I''ll take a guess and say that''s my ride.

    "You''re looking comfortable."

    The comment was for Steve.

    "Naturally."

    He responded proudly.

    "There''s nothing I can''t fly. Isn''t that right Monty? Who''s a good girl? You are, oh yes you are."

    His Pegasus neighed as the Spy rubbed it''s coat.

    He named her monty?

    "Oookay."

    I simply muttered, jumping up onto the other Pegasus'' back.

    The creature under me buckled slightly, as if about to throw me off.

    "Sshh..."

    A gentle head rub and it quieted down, much to Steve''s indignant exclamation of, ''how''d he do that?! It took me an hour to get Monty to accept me.''

    Hiding a smile, I showed a thumbs up to Rhadamanthus, giving him the signal.

    With the Judge at the lead, we took to the air, leaving the Underworld Palace behind.

    Steve controlled his Pegasus to fly next to me.

    "So, what''s with the new look? I almost didn''t recognize you."

    I spared a glance down at myself.

    "My last clothes were destroyed."

    My awesome leather boots...and glasses...

    Dammit, I''ve lost so much ever since I washed up on Themiscyra.

    "Its a good look for you. Really brings out that Assassin vibe."

    The Spy complimented.

    To be honest, I had initially been skeptical about the outfit.

    Then once I''d opened the crate and looked at it...I still hadn''t been that impressed.

    It was obvious the outfit was designed for stealth, agility, and functionality.

    It featured a long coat crafted from durable, dark material with multiple inner pockets for tools and weapons. Buckles and latches adorned the coat for quick access to the arsenal.

    Attached to the coat was a hooded cloak that veiled the wearer''s face in shadows, adding mystery and anonymity. The adjustable hood allowed for easy visibility when necessary while still concealing the face effectively.

    The boots, made from the supple skin of a shade, enabled silent movement, while the soles, crafted from the back of the underworld''s Thorn tree, provided excellent grip for climbing and traversing without noise.

    Underneath, a shirt or tunic with subtle golden accents added elegance, complementing the loose-fitting pants designed for comfort and freedom.

    In summary, the outfit blended style with practicality.

    Okay. Maybe it was a bit impressive. Still...

    "Though I can''t help but feel like it''s missing something."

    Steve mused while eyeing me up, almost mirroring my own thought process.

    "Some color maybe?"

    Surprisingly, Rhadamanthus was the one to suggest.

    "Aeacus is good at many things, but he lacks an eye for anything not black or gold."

    Color huh? But how? while the material looked simple, it was tough enough that normal stitching would be a bitch and a half to handle.

    "Oh, speaking of color, where''s the Fire spider from before?''

    Steve enquired.

    A light bulb went off in my head.

    Yes...yeah that could work. Spyra''s flames were more than hot enough and her control was even better than mine.

    With her help, adding a little aesthetic to the outfit wouldn''t be hard.

    Now where was the damned spider?

 Issue #43: X, Ares.

    (General P.O.V)

    The terrain was filled with roiling hills- just a collection of rocks and boulders dotting the landscape, and barren ground that nothing could really grow in.

    The depression from two of these hills formed a deep valley, shrouded in a perpetual bloody mist that hang near the ground.

    And at the center of the valley was a ruin. The remains of a temple with half destroyed statues and monuments.

    That said, there were signs of recent occupation as a large black tent, surrounded by dozens of smaller ones, stood amidst the ruins.

    A short distance from the small camp was a large ditch.

    It was the beginning of the night, and around the ditch stood hooded figures, some holding onto torches that lit up the crater in it''s entirety.

    They seemed to be waiting for something.

    And that something turned out to be a flash of red light, as the ditch pulsed with immense magical energy.

    Right at the back of the file and rank, a woman seated in a lotus position in front of a half destroyed statue of Hecate, opened her eyes, an eager smirk coloring her features.

    "She''s here."

    The woman muttered. Finally, her chance at revenge.

    -0-

    The last thing Diana remembered was jumping at the suit of armor, her sword poised to strike it on the middle of it''s chest and obliterate the damn thing.

    Then there was a flash of red and the surroundings had changed.

    She had stumbled as she regained her footing, her Godslayer sword and Laso of truth held in each hand.

    The place she found herself in, was a ditch.

    One with strange figures standing at the edges of the rim, chanting in a language she didn''t understand.

    Damned magicians.

    This had to be a trap. One orchestrated to get her and sisters here.

    She was glad she had the foresight to order them to stay back as she went into the village alone.

    They could do more for her out there than here.

    But...she had also very likely left them alone to fend off Vandal Savage and whatever other forces were under Ares'' command.

    She shouldn''t have trusted the Immortal so easily, even with the Laso vouching for his innocence.

    While it could reveal someone''s deepest secrets, that depended on the nature of the question in the first place.

    Dammit, she should have asked him if he was planning on betraying them. But without context, that kind of question would have spoiled their chances at an alliance.

    No matter. Her focus had to be on moving forward, Pillyphus was resourceful enough that Diana could trust her to catch up.

    In the meantime, she would do everything in her power to end this.

    With the armor lying under her foot, kept in place by her sheer strength, Diana turned to the mouth of the crater.

    "Ares! show yourself! You owe me a life, dear brother."

    She growled, glaring at the magicians, who were yet to stop chanting.

    In fact, their voices had risen in volume.

    Diana''s instincts screamed at her to do something.

    Just as she was about to jump from the base of the ditch and wreak havoc, the chanting instantly stopped.

    Her features twisted in pain.

    Agony struck her out of nowhere. She grunted, staggering as her head felt like it was being split into two.

    It was the kind of headache that made one nauseous.

    And Diana had never had such an headache before.

    Not even the concussions she sustained during sparring with her sisters had ever brought on such torment.

    She fell to one of her knees, stabbing her sword onto the ground. The pain was blinding. It was the worst thing she had ever felt.

    "This is certainly a sight."

    A rich voice mused, making Diana growl, stumbling to her feet with a snarl despite the pain.

    "You called, granddaughter?"

    A statuesque figure, with glowing golden hair and a facial structure that defied mortal standards of beauty gloated from the mouth of the ditch.

    Diana looked up with bleary eyes and saw the shirtless figure sliding the slope and into the base, with a short sword in hand.

    He was tall. And the feeling he gave off was a bit similar to Hades and all the other Gods she had seen before.

    Although, the God in front of her gave off a wilder and more savage aura.

    He smelled like blood.

    "Ares, finally you face me."

    Diana straightened to her feet, breathing out as an iron glint appeared in her eyes.

    She revealed her hand, the Laso of Truth wrapped around her wrist. The pain assaulting her mind had subsided under the effects of its power.

    And the hooded figures who had been sustaining the mind attack on her, seized up, all of them falling like Puppets cut from a string.

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    "HORSE FUCKING SHIT!!"

    A loud curse emanated from a distance away.

    Only to be superseded by laughter as Ares, reached the base of the crater, clapping the sword to his chest.

    "Nicely done Granddaughter! I told Circe her little mind tricks wouldn''t work with that Laso on you! It''s good to see Hippolyta''s whelp is as ferocious as her mother."

    "Circe is here?" Diana''s face twisted in an expression of furious disbelief and idgnation.

    She remembered Persephone saying something about Ares initiating the attack on Hades Palace, as a distraction for him to steal the souls of the dead.

    Circe was apparently one of said souls.

    "It doesn''t matter."

    The princess affirmed.

    "If she stands with you then she dies, just like you will!"

    The ditch gained a trench as Diana burst apart the ground, lunging forward in a fast dash.

    Ares kept the smile on his face, casually leaning back and dodging the high kick that sailed over him.

    Diana snarled as she missed, landing on the other side of the ditch, before running along the slope, her Laso already in her hand, and the sword in its sheath.

    Killing him was too easy! She was going to capture him and make him bleed.

    Its what Kane would want.

    It''s what Kane would...do??

    Huh? The Laso pulsed even more brightly.

    That was another mind attack, like the one from before! Luckily the Laso of Hestia did more than just make someone reveal their deepest secrets.

    The Laso could also protect the user from mental manipulation as long as they were touching it.

    They had given up on trying to cause her pain and were instead hoping to mess with her judgement.

    Fuck that.

    Ares was going to die. Right here and now. It''s what she had been training for.

    She launched the Laso out, towards him.

    "Speed, a quarter of Deimos."

    He casually observed her, the ground rising up in a wave of sand to form into a battalion of soldiers with shields, forming a dome around the God of War.

    The Laso bounced off the protective dome.

    With a frustrated snarl, Diana launched off the bank of the ditch, flying at Ares with her sword drawn out, and her shield on the left hand.

    The aura around her screamed murderous intent and the wind itself seemed to aid her forward.

    There was a flash of light, followed by a large explosion that spread outwards, blasting apart the ground and widening the crater.

    The dust settled revealing a shocked Diana, the sharp edge of her blade pressed against Ares'' neck.

    The Godslayer sword was a divine class weapon, and yet- It had failed to penetrate his skin.

    "Striking power, a bit above Deimos. But not nearly enough."

    Ares stated while smirking.

    The princess grit her teeth, pressing in with all her power. The ground under her feet cracked and shattered.

    But it wasn''t enough.

    With a loud yell, Diana kicked out, her heel landing on the God''s chest. To no effect.

    She let loose a hundred lethal attacks in the span of a few seconds, but none of her hits could get through his defense.

    "Battle I.Q less than expected."

    Ares stated while still smirking, much to Diana''s mounting anger.

    The Princess poured her all into another kick but Ares heaved, throwing her away from him by merely pushing out his chest.

    Annoyed, Diana spun in the air and landed gracefully, her Laso shooting out and covering the distance between them before encircling Ares'' wrist.

    If direct attacks didn''t work, she would use the environment to her advantage.

    She tried to pull with all her might, veins jutting out across her arms.

    "Strength, half of Deimos."

    Ares termed, simply tugging his large arm and pulling the Princess to him faster than she was expecting.

    At the same instant, Ares took a leap, meeting Diana in mid air with the hand gripping his short sword pulled back.

    BWAM!!!

    The blow struck true, his fist landing on Diana''s cheek and blowing her away, dazed.

    Her arms grew lax. And the weapons she was holding onto fell out of her grasp. The Godslayer sword and shield dropping to the ground.

    Before she could go far- carried by the momentum of the blow, Ares pulled her to him again, his large palm closing over her face.

    BAM!

    He then proceeded to slam her onto the ground so hard, that the earth shook.

    Lying on her back, hair in a loose fashion, Diana tried to get back up, only for her limbs to give out.

    "Durability, less than a quarter of Deimos."

    Ares coldly observed, shaking his head with something akin to disappointment.

    "Ares I''ll kill..."

    Diana''s growl of rage was cut off as Ares raised his heel and the last thing, the princess saw was the bottom of his sandal.

    -0-

    With green robes flowing around her, the witch of Aeia flew forward, her face set in a sadistic sneer.

    Finally, Hippolyta''s daughter was in her grasp.

    To be honest, when Ares made the offer to give her freedom in exchange for servitude, she had only jumped at it for this particular reason.

    To get back at the ones responsible for her death in the first place.

    After years of quietly planning, of corrupting the minds of the few impatient Amazons in Themiscyra- she had all but ensured the destruction of her hated enemy.

    Only to have all that go down the drain due to one Demigod and of all things, a Man.

    To be fair, he hadn''t been your average man. Too strong and too vicious.

    The crowd of Magicians, also procured from the Underworld, parted as she walked through, already imagining the kind of torture-

    Unexpectedly, she found Ares walking out of the ditch with Diana''s limp form slung over his shoulder.

    "Hehehe, sorry Circe but it seems you won''t be having that revenge after all. Hehehe."

    From her side, Phobos-that insufferable git mocked.

    Circe said nothing. Were it not for his father, she would have already turned him into a pig.

    Speaking of his father, the witch bowed in reverence as the God of War reached them.

    "My Lord."

    "Circe. I can''t see why you struggled with her. For all her advantages my dear little granddaughter is terribly weak. I didn''t even get a chance to test her sword skills."

    The God of War complained, tossing the short sword in his arm away.

    The sword flew and unexpectedly dug itself through one of the magicians. It pierced his head and came out of his chin.

    The man convulsed before falling over, dead.

    Despite the apparent killing, no one reacted.

    "I apologize for my inadequacy Lord Ares. But the princess wasn''t alone. She had a man with her. He was troublesome and moved like a seasoned killer."

    Circe explained, remembering the sensation of a blade passing through her neck.

    And those cold eyes...

    "A killer?"

    The God of War repeated,

    "Interesting."

    He passed by her and Phobos, the two of them falling in line behind him.

    "Regardless Circe. If he was at the same level of power as the Princess you should have had no problem dealing with them both. You underestimated your enemies and lost."

    Despite it being true, Circe grind her teeth in anger and frustration. She especially sent a scathing look at Diana''s limb form.

    "That said, it would be unwise to do the same."

    Ares mused thoughtfully.

    "Phobos!"

    Out of nowhere, he called out his son''s name.

    Phobos meeped, trying to avoid being noticed but failing.

    "I-I''m here father."

    He said in a shaky tone.

    "Square your shoulders boy."

    Ares added after throwing a quick look at his son.

    "Y-yes."

    Phobos tried. He really tried. But it was clear to anyone that he was lacking in confidence before his father.

    "Did you complete the task I assigned you?"

    Ares questioned.

    Phobos closed his eyes, letting out a very inaudible curse before he cleared his throat and said,

    "Thh-ee Themisscyran ww-arriors escaped father."

    He stammered, trembling inside the armor he wore.

    "Huh? You let them go?"

    Ares said in an even tone.

    Phobos wilted under the glare.

    "Well boy? Spit it out then."

    His father''s harsh tone jolted him up.

    "It-it was Her-Herakles father. He-he went in charging and ma-managed to k-kill over 200 of them-them but-but in the ensuing chaos- we lost the rest over the highlands."

    Ares expectantly raising his eyebrows at Phobos encouraged the God to go on.

    "D-Deimos is- is leading a team of b-battle hogs and a squad of Spartans to hunt them down."

    "Good. At least one of you is not a disappointment."

    Ares grumbled.

    "Now pack up the camp. We are leaving."

    Phobos clearly struggling to keep stride with his father looked surprised.

    "M-may I ask W-why Father? Didn''t you need another batch of bodies t-teleported in? We s-still haven''t met the quota of-"

    "Fool." Ares sneered down.

    "If you know anything about Amazons it''s that they are relentless- and led by the sky itself."

    He glared up, as if daring lightning to shoot down from the dark clouds.

    "They will track us here. That''s why I sent you to go and get them yourself Phobos! Herakles would be someone who they''ve no doubt devised a way to defeat. But your Fear divinity could have induced panic enough that you could have finished off every single one of them. You were the back up plan. And you failed."

    Ares groused, now glaring down at his son.

    Phobos shrank into himself even more.

    The glare on Ares'' face changed to disgust at his son''s cowardly act. As if balking that something so snivelling could be his son.

    "You are a God. Act like it."

    The God of War outpaced the two, walking towards his tent, a bound Diana on his shoulders.

    "Pack up."

    Ares reiterated, not trusting his useless son to hear the first time.

    "We''re leaving this dump. Time to go to mount Etna."

    He said to himself, eyes flashing with a glint of bloodlust.

    "Time to cause chaos."

 NEW FIC!!

    This is a COMMISSIONED work.

    It will NOT interfere with Spider-Man X release schedule.

    ::----------------------------::

    Chapter 1: Reborn as the Son of a Savage.

    -0-

    (Angel''s P.O.V)

    I was born weak.

    Of body, of mind.

    But never of spirit.

    Despite being stuck in a bed with issues ranging from a rare form of bone cancer, diabetes to a speech impediment, I was eager to live.

    One might even say I was hungry for life.

    But no one else seemed to share the same opinion.

    My father was rich and once it became clear that I was always going to be a burden, he had me carted off to an hospice where I lived the remainder of my short and painful existence.

    But even then, there were highlights to be found.

    For one, with no family or friends to talk to, I fell in love with watching anime, reading manga and basically devouring every bit of Isekai fantasy I came across.

    I needed the escape to momentarily forget my agonizing life. And media provided that.

    I especially loved anime. One of my favorites being a show called My Hero Academia.

    I could relate with most of the characters as they were my age. I especially loved Todoroki. Like me, his father was distant and harsh toward him.

    And his quirk ability was something else entirely.

    The ability to create and manipulate fire and ice was no joke. And I usually played around with scenarios of what I would do if I had a powerful quirk like that.

    If I had any quirk at all...

    That said, my health started to decline once I hit my 20s.

    By then I had lived in perpetual pain all my life.

    And more than once, I had thought of deleting myself. But I stubbornly held on because that''s what the characters I idolized would have done.

    Plus Ultra and all that shit.

    Maybe I thought that at the end of my cruel joke of a life, a reward was waiting for me.

    That perhaps my Father would have a change of heart and come see me before I inevitably died.

    That didn''t happen.

    And in a particularly cold winter night, just a few days away from celebrating my 21st birthday, my life ended.

    I was alone.

    (General P.O.V)

    Standing on the balcony of a stately mansion was a tall man.

    Vandal Savage.

    A legend. A myth.

    Shaping humanity for tens of thousands of years like he had, brought about a feeling of obligation.

    A responsibility to carry on the will of man into an uncertain future.

    And throughout his existence, he had done many great deeds across history. Some were good, most were terrible but nonetheless great things.

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    But tonight...was special.

    Tonight was the night of the Red Moon. And a prophecy that was given to him thousands of years ago was about to be fulfilled.

    The birth of his successor.

    "Father, I don''t mean to intrude but the child has been born."

    A white haired brown skinned woman spoke from his back.

    Vandal turned around, side burns framing his stony face and eyes that carried unspoken amounts of wisdom falling onto the woman.

    "Lead the way."

    A deep voice left the Immortal.

    Olympia- one of his many daughters- bowed in reverence before turning around and walking back into the huge mansion.

    The recent snow scrunched under their feet, until they entered a luxurious and spacious bedroom.

    There was a large bed in the middle of the chamber. And on the bed lay a a black haired woman with skin the color if chocolate covered in sweat.

    Next to her was a small bundle, sleeping peacefully beside the mother.

    And surrounding the bed were 2 nurses and a short man dressed in a green half coat, a white shirt with sleeves folded to the elbows and large rimmed glasses.

    Upon noticing Vandal''s arrival, the short man perked up.

    "Mr. Savage. The delivery was successful. You are now the proud father of a healthy baby boy."

    "Thank you Professor Ivo."

    Savage nodded at the man.

    The short man preened at the praise.

    "It was no big deal. The DNA reader has successfully intergrated inyo his body as well."

    Ivo said, adjusting his glasses.

    "With it, he will be able to efficiently use his regenerative capabilities gained from your meta-gene. That is, if the DNA coding was successful."

    In a bid to ensure a worthy heir, Savage had influenced his son''s DNA sequence to gain the same ability that made him who he was.

    His son like him, would be an immortal. But that was not all.

    "What about the gifts from his mother''s side?"

    The Immortal asked, to which Ivo scratched his chin while frowning at a data pad in his hands.

    "The mother''s homo magi gene is present in the child but with no way to detect magic- I cannot say for certain if he will ever have her powers over the mystic arts."

    Too bad. But not unexpected.

    Vandal hummed, stepping closer to the bed.

    "I would like to hold my son."

    One of the nurses carefully picked up the bundle next to the sleeping woman and handed it to Savage.

    Vandal looked down and was met with a powerful and curious gaze.

    The child, not even a day old was staring up at him with something akin to intelligence.

    It slightly surprised the Immortal, making him blink in thought as he held his own flesh and blood.

    Vandal had had many children across the years but none were quite like his youngest one.

    From that initial eye contact, it was clear the child was not normal. And not normal was good.

    In fact it was very good. It meant potential.

    But potential alone was not enough. The boy would need time to grow and learn.

    Nothing would be handed to him. Just like nothing was handed to Savage.

    "Olympia."

    He called and his daughter obediently stepped up.

    "Raise him."

    He commanded. To which Olympia looked at the mother in question.

    "What about his mother?"

    Faster than she could see, Savage''s sword had left it''s sheath and decapitated the head of the woman on the bed.

    Blood sprayed out of her exposed neck, dirtying the sheets and painting the wall behind in a gory mess.

    "You''re It''s mother now."

    The Immortal said, casually flicking the blood off the blade before sheathing it.

    Before their shocked eyes, Savage then proceeded to leave the room.

    (Angel''s P.O.V)

    My second life begun strangely.

    For starters, I hadn''t expected to live again.

    In my past life I was an atheist. I had never really taken to religion as I doubted the existence of God.

    I mean if there actually was a God, why would he have allowed me to suffer for 20 years straight?

    In any case, whether a God was responsible for me getting reborn or not seemed inconsequential.

    The point is I had another chance at life. And this time, I would do my best to live it the way I wanted.

    Something that was made both easier and harder on account of my new heritage.

    I was the son of one of the most deplorable humans in the world. One of the most intelligent yet primitively brutal humans to ever exist.

    I was reborn as the son of Vandal Savage. But to me, he''s just dad.

    Olympia, my big sister never bothered to hide the identity of my father from me.

    Since I could remember, bed time stories were about the exploits of Vandaradg the second, from a mere man in the Bear tribe to Vandal Savage, the shot caller behind the Illuminati, an organization that has existed for thousands of years.

    In ancient Egypt, he tangled with Prince Kufu and princess Shayera- two popular heroes known as Hawkman and Hawkwoman.

    In 100 bc he was Julius Cesar, building an empire that stretched across Europe and Asia.

    In simple terms, my new father was a Great Man.

    It was a wonder how in the comics I read he was usually defeated easily. I mean, how do you contend with someone who''s been alive since the dawn of civilization?

    Olympia never failed to impress on me the expectations on my shoulders as the son of one of the greatest villains in DC.

    I was informed that I was being raised and groomed to be his successor.

    And to that end, she pushed me to embody all the traits that made Savage who he was.

    By 9 months I was already able to stand and walk on my two feet.

    By 2 years I had regained enough dexterity that I could write and read. At this time, I poured through middle school material- devouring all the knowledge accessible to me.

    By 3, I was well on my way to starting high school grade material. This was also the time Olympia begun to add physical exercises like stretching in my routine.

    She also begun to get into more in depth analysis of my father''s exploits- specifically talking about the themes of life and death.

    And the wherewithal of those in power to dictate both edicts according to their whims.

    I was told I was chosen. Just like my father had been.

    And in a way it felt true. In my last life, I was nothing special but in this one, I was the son of a Conquerer.

    And thus was meant to conquer as well.

    And this became apparent once I hit my 4th birthday and awakened my abilities.

    In the morning of that day, I woke up to something unexpected,

    A blue panel hang before my eyes,

    {~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}

    [Name: Angel Savage]

    [Metagene: N/A]

    [Race: Metahuman/homo magi]

    [Ability: Pyrokinesis]

    : Cryokinesis]

    [Equipment: N/A]

    {~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}

 Issue 44: X, Arrival

    (2 days later)

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Apparently, Spyra had a pocket space where she kept all her stolen clothes and material that she was using for whatever reason...

    Said pocket space was more of a stomach than anything, but given that she was made of fire, she could control what she wanted to burn.

    Meaning that she could store something that wouldn''t normally survive in such heat within her body.

    Given that Rhadamanthus had briefly tapped into his demigod side and created a few drops of water- and they had ended up not melting from the heat, I can thereby qualify her as...

    Useful.

    No longer shall she be known as a little shit.

    Seriously though, the space inside was also big. Incredibly so.

    In fact by the time we stopped at a small lava island near the exit of the Underworld, we still had no idea how big it was.(Despite surviving in the underworld-Steve was still human. His body needed rest.)

    But how we came by that knowledge is a different matter altogether.

    "When you said you went hunting, I wasn''t expecting the prey to be a God, Spyra."

    I chided my Spider Totem, doing my best to glare at her while hiding the fact I found this whole thing funny.

    Steve however had no problems about cracking up and laughing for all his worth.

    "Oh god! Oh god! Hahahahaha! you gotta be shitting me."

    "I am pleased that you find this amusing mortal."

    Hermes said dryly.

    Steve cracked up even more,

    "A god in the form of a bird was swallowed by fire in the form of a spider."

    The Spy''s laughter trailed off as his face twisted into horror.

    "Oh god. What the hell am I doing here?"

    "I think you broke him."

    I sighed at Spyra, flicking her on butt. She didn''t like that.

    "Apologize to the nice God and Steve."

    I firmly added, making her step forward and rub her fore limbs together.

    ''And if you''re going to try and eat Gods, make sure you finish the job.''

    I added privately through our link.

    "She said she''s sorry."

    I informed Hermes, who was chill for a God as he waved off the apology.

    That said, I couldn''t help the feeling that I knew him. That he was familiar.

    But before I could ask for more, Rhadamanthus stepped forward.

    "Lord Hermes, I''m glad that the Fates led you to us."

    He bowed, only not as low as he would for Hades.

    "Ah, Rhadamanthus. You''re here. Hades made the right choice in sending you."

    Hermes smiled, though his expression grew urgent an instant later.

    "Though I''m afraid more talk will only be detrimental to us. We must hurry."

    I followed his stare as he turned to the large volcano mountain a few hundred miles from our position.

    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "I''ll tell you more after we leave the Underworld. I have cast a speed boon and heat shields on you and the Pegasi, so we can leave right away."

    "I see."

    Rhadamanthus nodded understandingly,

    "Then let''s make haste."

    He jumped onto his Pegasi.

    Steve, sitting on a small outcrop of a rock fanning himself did the same wordlessly, and with Hermes flying next to us, we blasted toward the mountain.

    The speed boon was insane. Far faster than I could have achieved on my own with my fire wings.

    Which were not very spidery really. And I was less keen on using that sort of flashy ability. I was an assassin first.

    Theatrics came with the battle maniacs.

    Given that it took us two days to travel from the Underworld Palace to the first exit- which was a few thousand miles away according to Rhadamanthus, the fact we cleared a hundred miles in a couple of seconds was insane.

    It made me grit my teeth in frustration.

    Hades had raw power.

    Rhadamanthus had unbreakable defense.

    And Hermes had raw speed.

    They all outclassed me in some way. I wasn''t used to being number 2. I need to deal with this.

    At a steady incline the Volcano was actually deceptive of its sheer size. This close to it and the heat basically made the air warp.

    Thankfully Hermes'' heat shields kept us safe, though I would have survived with Spyra''s flames either way.

    Keeping my abilities and capabilities as secret as possible is a basic lesson every assassin learns.

    The less an enemy knows, the better your chances are for terminating them.

    The sky above us became an endless shroud of dark clouds stretching horizon to horizon.

    And the constant eruption of the Volcano, sent hot molten rocks in a beam of red Lava at the sky, blasting the dark clouds and strangely...disappearing from view.

    A question that was answered when Rhadamanthus explained ''How'' exactly we were leaving the Underworld.

    "We''re going to ride the flying lava?"

    Steve repeated as if he hadn''t heard the Judge.

    "Yes."

    Rhadamanthus replied uncaringly.

    "The heat shields created by Lord Hermes will protect us fron the high temperatures as we ride the stream upwards."

    Steve blinked at him, then turned to me.

    "Kane, you hear that? We''re apparently riding Lava."

    I urged my Pegasus forward, passing by him with a small smirk.

    "I thought you could ride anything."

    His shouts of, "I said fly dammit! I said fly!" Were drowned out by another eruption.

    Without a single hesitation, I shot forward, urging the Pegasus under me to fly even faster.

    I wasn''t keen on missing the window.

    (General P.O.V)

    "What''s he doing?"

    Steve asked just as Kane started flying towards the Volcano.

    The spy snapped his fingers in realization.

    "I see. He''s calculated the interval time between each subsequent eruption."

    And sure enough, just as Kane''s Pegasus passed over the mouth of the volcano, it erupted.

    The stream of Lava surged forth under them, making contact at just the right point and then-

    Whoosh!

    -the Pegasi was blasted to the sky at crazy velocity.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    My surroundings become a blur of intricate tunnels and vents.

    And then, I was shooting out into the open sky, the sun blazing down on me with such pure brightness, I had to close my eyes for a minute.

    Spyra turned into a flicker, excitedly appearing and disappearing through the air in bursts of blue flame.

    Wait. What the fuck?

    How was she doing that? You normally needed to have a fire present on the other side. That''s how flame displacement works.

    What she was doing defied every conceivable explanation.

    In any case, I was too elated to question her. We were finally out of the Underworld.

    A quick glance behind me revealed the others had followed my lead, similarly entering the land of the living in a shower of magma and Lava.

    The region itself, I came to learn was known as the Crimean mountain ranges in Southern Eastern Ukraine. and our exit point had been one of the mud Volcanos in the area.

    They all caught up with me fairly easy, with Rhadamanthus and Hermes pulling up beside my Pegasus.

    "I hear you''re the one taking the shot!"

    Hermes initiated the conversation as we left the mountain ranges behind.

    "The point of hiring an Assassin is secrecy Rhadamanthus."

    Instead of answering Hermes, I glared at the Judge.

    "I am sorry."

    Unexpectedly, the judge looked apologetic.

    "However, I can personally vouch for Lord Hermes."

    "You sure?"

    I bit back dryly.

    "God''s haven''t exactly instilled the best impression."

    "Enough."

    Hermes said, flying in between us. And in a flash of light he shapeshifted into Bulma.

    But the wings on his, or rather her ankles remained, beating with a steady pump as she kept pace with us.

    "If you''re waiting for me to act surprised by this revelation, you''ll wait a while. I already knew you were Bulma. It was in your scent. I just couldn''t place it."

    I chuckled at his reaction to my words.

    She tried to keep the glare she threw my way going, but sighed and shape-shifted back to Hermes.

    "Anyway, things worked out in the end, so it would be childish to hold a grudge. Just...keep the spider away from me, got it?"

    Hermes requested.

    ''Tell him to watch where he''s flying. The next time that feathered shit craps on one of my curtains...he''s dead.''

    Spyra sent through the link.

    Okay. Clearly I needed context for whatever that was.

    "She says as long as you stay away from her- you guys are good."

    I translated.

    "That fills me with more joy than you can fathom."

    Hermes said sincerely, throwing a slightly scared glance at Spyra.

    "Lord Hermes. You had information you wanted to share."

    Rhadamanthus cut in, bringing is back on topic.

    The terrain, consisting of mountains and highlands passed by us as Hermes revealed what we were getting into.

    And at the end of his tale, the clusterfuck we were undoubtedly caught in the middle of- only became more apparent.

    Millions were dead. All in the span of a few weeks. And those indirectly affected were in some cases better off dead.

    The fate that awaited them was either slavery or death after immense torture.

    Asking more about the slavery part and Hermes had this to say,

    "Ares plans to sacrifice as many lives as he can to power a ritual."

    He said grimly.

    "By imbuing mount Etna with immense amounts of Life force, he can overwhelm the seals imprisoning Typhon and unleash him onto the world."

    "Who''s that?"

    Steve was curious.

    "Typhon is a monster of untold proportions. He is as powerful as Zeus and nothing can permanently kill him. On top of that, he can control a horde of monsters."

    Hermes elaborated further.

    That didn''t bode well for the world. If indeed that was his plan, then we were royally fucked if I failed the contract.

    But...one thing stood out to me regardless.

    "What about the Gods? I can understand Hades staying out of this, so as to not risk Zeus'' wrath. But are the other Olympians really going to stand on the sidelines and watch this go down?"

    It didn''t make sense.

    Hermes and Rhadamanthus shared a look that didn''t go unnoticed by Steve and I.

    "Okay, spit it out. You fellas are hiding something."

    Steve pounted out.

    "We think...he doesn''t care."

    Hermes stated.

    "He''s no doubt confident in his power and the additional strength he''ll receive by having Typhon as his underling. That could be the reason why he doesn''t fear retaliation from the rest of the Gods."

    Rhadamanthus took over.

    "In fact I might even go as far as to say, he''s preparing for a final showdown with them."

    After that, we stayed silent. Each lost in his thoughts.

    The ground behind us was slowly transitioning from green verdant hills to a battle afflicted region.

    I couldn''t tell you how many destroyed villages and towns we came across. Refugees too. Lines of impoverished people coming from the direction we were headed to.

    "Over the next hill, is the agreed meeting point. Pillyphus should have a few scouts on the look out for us."

    Hermes told us.

    Apparently, they had always had a back up plan in case things went awry. From his explanation, it seemed Pillyphus was aware Hermes was a God.

    Having him with us, made it convenient in the long run.

    His shape shifting and ability to travel back and forth gave us a long range scout as well as an agent if infiltrating Ares'' base became necessary.

    I was already thinking of ways to create a strategy around him. The best asset an assassin has is information after all.

    Information is everything.

    "We''re here."

    Rhadamanthus pulled me out of my thoughts as we flew up the length of a massive dormant mountain and nestled behind it, along the sea cove, was a ''blink and you''ll miss it'' ruin.

    Without a moment''s hesitation, we dove down towards it.

 Issue #45: X, Plan

    (General P.O.V)

    The cry of a crow reached Pillyphus'' ears, the sound echoing through the high ranges around them.

    Dela, crouched next to her, shifted her body, handing the binoculars in her hands over to the General.

    "They''re here."

    At the same time, she informed Pillyphus.

    However it wasn''t needed as the General could make out 4 figures approaching the ruins of the fountain of inspiration from the East.

    3 were flying on Pegasi and the last one...

    Hermes, she confirmed by by a quick glance through the item in her hand. This particular equipment was useful, they were definitely keeping them.

    "Cutting it a bit close, are we?"

    Pillyphus muttered to herself. The agreed time to rendezvous was 3 days. This was the morning of the 3rd day.

    Still, at least now they could regroup and go after Diana.

    "Gather round."

    Pillyphus called her warriors, who surrounded her without a moments hesitation.

    "Now that we have some reinforcements..."

    Voooommmm!!

    Cutting her off, a loud sound, like the blare of a horn being blown, filled the air.

    Looking towards the direction the sound had come from, Pillyphus and her Amazons paled.

    "Harpy Shit! They found us."

    One of them bit out in hatred.

    "How? We covered our tracks well!"

    Another one spoke up in surprise.

    Pillyphus knew things were about to get hectic. On the other side of the range, multiple forms emerged along the cliff.

    Some were marching on foot-with barely any armor on- and the rest were riding on top of boars and large wolves.

    Using the binos, she easily identify the God at the lead.

    "Deimos."

    The General muttered gravely. the God of Terror.

    If Deimos was here, then Ares had really found them. And to add salt to the wound, next to Deimos was someone that set Pillyphus'' teeth on edge.

    Half of Themiscyra''s warriors were dead because of him.

    Herakles.

    "Listen up everyone."

    She called out.

    "I know all of you want revenge on that bastard, but now is not the time."

    The wave of discontent emerging among them was nipped in the bud with a glare from the General.

    "We will provide cover to Hermes and his companions until they''re on the ground. After that we retreat."

    It would have been better if they didn''t descend but this was the rendezvous point.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    The second we swooped down towards the ruins on the rocky beach, spider sense warned me of an attack.

    "Everyone be on guard. We have company."

    I told the rest, my Pegasus landing on the rocky beach with a flap of its wings.

    The rest descended around me, falling in a ready formation, our backs to each other.

    Hermes remained in the air. While the three of us faced different directions, his focus was on the ranges to the west.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    And sure enough, many figures appeared on the hills to the West.

    "Deimos."

    The God of Messengers mutterred the identity of the leader grimly.

    "Is he...like a God or something?"

    Steve asked, noticing the expression on all three of us.

    "He''s the God of Terror."

    Rhadamanthus revealed.

    "One of Ares'' sons."

    "If it were up to me, I would rather we faced his twin, Phobos the God of Fear."

    Hermes added in a hard tone.

    "Fear and terror." Steve mused.

    "Isn''t that sort of the same thing?"

    "Not really."

    I shook my head.

    "Terror is fear at its extreme. Your body has no time to adjust to the release of adrenaline into your system and your mind enters into a frantic state of fight or flight. Enough terror and it might even kill."

    The spy gulped.

    Even the Pegasi we were on were starting to panic.

    "So what''s the plan?"

    I asked Hermes.

    "They''re still far away that we could fly away if we wanted."

    Hermes shook his head.

    "No. I can sense Pillyphus and the others hiding behind those rocks."

    He pointed further into the beach, a few hundred meters from where we were, behind a half broken fountain.

    "We can''t exactly leave them behind."

    They had to be hiding really well because even with my abilities, I couldn''t sense them.

    A vicious smile lit up my face.

    "Good. Because retreating is not an option here. Especially when we have such a good opportunity before us."

    I felt the others stare at me in confusion.

    "You said Deimos is Ares'' son right?"

    I asked.

    Hermes nodded, realization dawning on the God.

    "You can''t be thinking..."

    He stared at me as if I had two heads.

    "Yeah. We''re going to kidnap him and use him to get to Ares."

    I elaborated.

    Unexpected laughter bubbled forth from one of us. Steve and I stared at each other before looking back at the chuckling Judge.

    "Anything you''d like to add?"

    I offered to Rhadamanthus. I also wanted to know what was so funny.

    "Don''t mind me."

    He waved me off.

    "I just wasn''t expecting you to take initiative like that."

    What was he talking about? They did hire me right?

    Before we could go on, Hermes cleared his throat.

    "Gentlemen and spider lady, We might...have a problem."

    Following his gaze, something goldish glinted in the distant ranges among the incoming enemies. It looked...like a man.

    I blinked and then that man was sailing through the air. A single leap had allowed to him clear hundreds if not thousands of feet.

    (General P.O.V)

    Wearing a completely black armor with spiked pauldrons and a green cape flapping behind him, the God of Terror looked the part.

    He had blonde hair a bit richer than his father, and his face held the same touch of malice as the latter. Only, his gray eyes were even colder.

    He sat on a majestic horse, the stead stomping the hard ground as it''s rider stared down at the targets.

    After a long chase through the European landscape, they had finally tracked them down.

    But it wasn''t the Amazons alone now.

    The new additions had to be their reinforcements. Or at least they had to be working together.

    Deimos didn''t really care, he would kill them all.

    And of course there was Hermes.

    Just like his father had said, the Gods would send someone to keep an eye on the situation.

    His rowdy Men wanted in on the action immediately.

    But Deimos had a different idea.

    "Herakles."

    He softly called out.

    And from the back, the sound of heavy steps rang out. They belonged to a man or rather a Demigod touted as the God of strength.

    "Go and greet our friends."

    Deimos ordered.

    Herakles, covered in glowing chains started running forward and once he was at the ledge, he jumped down into the cove.

    Down below a few things happened almost simultaneously.

    Arrows filled the air- shot by the Amazons as they tried to snag Herakles out of the air. Some missed, but most of them shattered on his skin.

    The Pegasi Kane and the others were riding on became restless, somehow sensing the incoming calamity.

    It prompted them to move out the way lest be squashed.

    Baaaamm!!!

    The ground cratered under the Demigod''s landing.

    Kane and the other two had immediately taken to the air, avoiding the Demigod''s descent.

    Below them dust filled the beach, obscuring Herakles from sight.

    Spider sense screamed at Kane but not to warn him of danger coming his way.

    A Golden chain cut through the air, headed towards Steve''s Pegasus.

    Clang!

    Before it could land, Kane appeared in front of the chain, two golden carved daggers in his hands, which he used to block the attack.

    As a consequence, he was thrown back-sent sailing through the air after underestimating the strength behind the chains.

    A brown shadow appeared behind him, his Pegasus managing to scoop up his form before he could smack onto the bank of the hills behind.

    "Kane!"

    Steve called out, reorienting his Pegasus to face the Assassin.

    Boom!!

    Another loud sound caught the Spy''s attention and as he turned around, his eyes widened comically as a fist covered in chains was headed for his head.

    Whoosh!

    Hermes figure intercepted Herakles, his shoulder colliding with the Demigod''s midsection and sending the two on a flight over the ranges.

    "Steven!"

    Rhadamanthus called, appearing beside him and slapping the back of his head.

    "Focus."

    Something was handed to him. Looking down the Spy found a crossbow in his hands.

    "You and I will cover the Amazon''s back as we retreat to higher ground."

    The Judge explained.

    "What about Kane?"

    Steve asked, looking behind at the direction the Assassin had been sent flying.

    "Wrong direction."

    Rhadamanthus told him, pointing below them.

    Steve looked down and was left gaping.

    -0-

    Kane controlled his Pegasus to fly low along the beach.

    He passed above Pillyphus and the Amazons who had run out of cover to create distance between them and the forces of Deimos running down the hill.

    "Yiah!"

    The assassin coaxed his ride forward even faster.

    Deimos'' forces contained the souls of Spartans and the Mongol horde- they were a part of the souls Ares had stolen from the Underworld, perfect for exterminating anyone.

    Unfortunately for all involved, even the God of Terror himself, they had no concept of who they were actually messing with.

    Once Kane was above the warriors, Spyra sprouted into being above his shoulder and then she flowed down his arms and into the Crescent Moon bow in his hands.

    The whole bow caught on fire.

    Kane pulled the string back, an arrow made of blue flames molding in the space between the string and the shaft.

    He released it and in a defiance of physical laws, the single arrow split into more.

    Hundreds of flame arrows covered the air above Deimos'' forces. And when they fell, half of his warriors went out in a blaze.

 READ THIS

    My newest fic will be up on Royalroadl soon, so check it out, it''s called...

    Son of the Savage. An SI that is the son of Vandal Savage with Todoroki''s Half Hot Half Cold quirk.

    There are more than 10 chapters of it on my Patreon.

    And because I''m such a swell guy, I present you with something to take up the rest of this space:-...

    ::----------------------------::

    [email protected]</a>/Saintbarbido.

    The Fabulous Animal Man.

    Chapter 1: Discovering How To Beat A God with The Powers of a Fly.

    (General P.O.V)

    Loki.

    The God of Mischief and Chaos. Eventually the God of time and stories.

    Once a villain, later a hero.

    But right now, in Buddy''s eyes, all he could see was a face in need of punching.

    "Kneel before me."

    The Norse God of mischief demanded, four of his illusory clones hounding a panicked crowd into an open section of the street.

    Buddy was one of them.

    This was his second life. And he had exchanged his Karma points for a chance to traverse to Marvel.

    All for the sole purpose of punching this guy''s teeth in. Was it a stupid goal? Yes. Yes it was.

    Did he care? Not really.

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    "...you crave subjugation."

    Loki went on with his speech.

    Oh god. Buddy grit his teeth. That voice was grating when he was watching Avengers the first time at 15, and it was even more grating now.

    Aiming to finish this before Captain America arrived, Buddy called up his interface, a neat text box with his chosen ability in full display.

    This particular ability had cost him every memory unrelated to media. Meaning, he forgot the faces of his family. If he even had one.

    It was a worthy trade in his eyes however. For while the ability sounded basic and kind of weak at the early stages...it truly shone when used the right way.

    [Animal Man Template]

    (10% assimilated)

    (5 slots available)

    -A Fly''s reaction speed.

    -A Swallow''s flight.

    -An ant''s proportion strength.

    -

    -

    Basically, he could draw specific biological attributes from any animal nearby, The range was yet untested as he had only just appeared in this world, which also limited his options somewhat.

    But Buddy was confident. A fly''s reaction time was 20 milliseconds, 10 to 12 times faster than an average human.

    An ant could carry 10 to 50 times it''s own welght, meaning as a human, Buddy could lift a little over 800kg.(1763 pounds)

    And a swallow could fly at 20 miles per hour. Which wasn''t that fast but not slow either.

    And those three animals were what was readily available to him. If he had time.

    No. No time. Loki was about to kill an old man for failing to kneel before him.

    The scepter in the God of Mischief lit up with a bluish glow, the energy of the Mind stone placed within it agitating the very air.

    Buddy stood up, jumping into unassisted flight as he flew forward, trajectory aimed for Loki. He soared over the crowd, his shadow passing over them, hands spread outward for balance and coordination.

    At the same time, Loki released the scepter''s blast at the old man. Buddy knew the Captain had arrived and would use his shield to block the attack, saving the old man in the process.

    He on the other hand had a different mission. Winding around the beam easily, (his increased reaction time allowed him to react almost instantly) he arrived before Loki.

    The Asgardian only had time to widen his eyes before Buddy''s fist landed on his cheek.

    Thwack!

    Taking into account the mass of 800kg packed behind the punch, and the accelaration of his fist at just above 30 miles per hour, a whooping 107,280 Newtons of force was transferred to Loki.

    The God of mischief sailed through the air at fast speeds, smashing onto the wall of the building behind before falling onto the ground, dazed.

    Buddy landed softly before Loki, much to the surprise of everyone around.

    Cap, lowering the shield in his hands looked at Buddy curiously.

    Before he could approach him, the two of them had their attention grabbed by the loud blaring of Shoot to Thrill" by AC/DC coming from the sky.

    Iron Man had arrived.

    -just something fun.

    -part of my ''power mechanics'' fic ideas.

 Issue 46: X, Brand.

    (General P.O.V)

    Deimos only had a few seconds to shout,

    "Impossible!"

    Before literal fire rained down on his head.

    The God clicked his teeth, grabbing a large warrior at his side and using him to block the flame barrage.

    The arrows completely decimated him as the warrior screamed in terror, turning him into ash that Deimos cast aside with a wave of his hand.

    His use of divine energy, managed to capture Kane''s attention and the assassin wound up in the air on his first fly by, having reduced the number of enemies by half.

    His new target was their leader.

    A few of Deimos'' lackeys managed to survive the first wave, letting out war cries as they beset upon the Amazons near the beach.

    Kane ignored them, trusting in the Amazon''s compentence.

    He coaxed his Pegasus back around, his eyes not on the battle happening on the beach, but an eye catching godly figure, surrounded by the escaped Underworld warriors.

    "I''ll take a lucky guess and say that''s Deimos."

    The assassin said to himself, orienting his Pegasus to dive down towards the group.

    Deimos frowned at the oncoming enemy.

    "Archers!"

    He called and a few warriors among the battle hogs, drew upon their bows, releasing a volley of arrows to the sky.

    Kane watched the attacks with a glint in his eyes.

    "Spyra, let''s show them true skill."

    His Spider Totem flared up at his head, eager to follow his commands and wreak havoc.

    Keeping his balance steady, Kane stood on the back of the Pegasus, crescent moon in his hands, drawn with his full enhanced strength.

    The flame arrow swirling in motion between the bow and his hand made no sound as it left Crescent Moon, cutting through the air to his attackers.

    The sight of so many arrows flying to the sky as one single flaming one descended cast a strange image.

    It was almost comical.

    But right before the barrage could pass each other, Kane''s arrow expanded into a net made of molten web!

    This was one of Spyra''s skills.

    She could change the property of her fire now. Not just shape or size anymore.

    After the fight with Cerberus, the Spider Totem had understood the importance of power.

    And this was one of the fruits of her labor.

    Any arrows that touched the net were instantly devoured by the flames.

    The net was also big enough to encompass a large area around Deimos and his forces.

    With it forming a dome like structure made of flames and melted webbing that instantly begun to shrink in on them.

    Any warrior, wolf or boar that was touched by the net was immediately covered by blue fire and turned into ash, leaving the God of Terror shocked at how easy there were being dispatched.

    He didn''t have a choice anymore. His men were getting burnt and the dome was closing around him like a cage.

    Just as he was about to release his divinity, there was a click sound from his neck and following it, his energies went out of sync.

    "Huh?"

    Looking down, the God was surprised at the obsidian collar below his chin.

    In addition, something sharp was pressed to the middle of his back.

    "A single move and I''ll sever the neural pathway on your spine that sends signals to the brain. You might be a God but by the time you heal from that...it will all be over."

    Kane, who had used Flame Displacement to get behind Deimos, said in cold voice.

    "So, wanna try me?"

    The God of Terror was left fucking terrified.

    -0-

    Steve''s life had taken a dramatic twist of events.

    From being a simple spy for her majesty''s Royal army, to getting stranded on a mythical island full of women that turned out to be no myth, to dying then getting recruited to assassinate a God...

    Nothing had worked out as it should.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    And now he was fighting both Spartans and Mongols.

    But Steve was nothing if not adaptable.

    With the crossbow in his hands, the closest thing to a rifle he''d come across lately, he was able to pull his own weight.

    "Keep it steady Monty."

    He whispered to his Pegasus, his focus on a target creeping up on an Amazon''s back.

    He pulled the trigger amd the arrow jumped forward, cutting through the air before digging itself through the warrior''s chest.

    One of the women looked up and saw Steve, who flashed a thumbs up before continuing to assail the enemy''s rank and file with keen and quick shots.

    With Rhadamanthus and him working together, they were able to cut down all the dregs while the Amazons and Kane dealt with the rest.

    In only a few minutes, the battle was over and won.

    -0-

    Steve and Rhadamanthus landed on the shore in front of the sea cove before numerous Amazonian gazes.

    "My lord, thank you for coming to our rescue."

    Pillyphus bowed down as they met in the middle.

    Rhadamanthus nodded amiably.

    "Don''t mention it. Seriously, I was never here."

    Pillyphus'' eyes shook before ultimately nodding in understanding. It seemed that Hades had decided to only help from the shadows.

    Not...entirely convenient but she would take what help she could get.

    Pillyphus also sent a nod of gratitude at Steve, before she turned her attention elsewhere.

    The direction that Hermes and Herakles had sailed to.

    The two Gods had already begun to fight- the effects of their battle audible from afar.

    The pebbles on the ground would occasionally jump into the air as the entire range shook with the strength of their blows.

    The flap of wings from the group''s back heralded the arrival of Kane as his Pegasus landed between the two.

    "Hey, I brought you guys a gift."

    The assassin quiped, revealing Deimos lying on the back of the Pegasus with his hands tied behind his back by a yarn of Spyra''s webbing.

    Her''s was a few degrees more durable than what Kane could create.

    "I see the collar was useful."

    Rhadamanthus commented, throwing a look at the direction the enemies had come from, only to balk at the burning cliffside.

    Even the rocks and boulders were on fire.

    ''what a terrifying ability.''

    The Judge thought to himself.

    ''Ooof''

    Deimos found himself on the ground after Kane''s Pegasus buckled him off.

    Steve snickered at the side.

    "You...will rue the day you decided to lay hands on me, mortal."

    The God of Terror hissed at Kane.

    "My father will strip the flesh from your bones and turn you all into slaves!!"

    He raved, the dignified look on his face falling away.

    "This the guy you were making a big deal out of?"

    Steve asked.

    "He doesn''t look all that threatening."

    "If I didn''t have this collar on me, mortal."

    Deimos said in a low threatening tone,

    "I would..."

    "So your weakness is getting collared? Sheesh you''re less impressive than I thought."

    The Spy snorted.

    "Steve, stop antagonizing our prisoner."

    Kane cut in, before the God of Terror could blow a casket.

    "Besides, worse still awaits him. General...he''s all yours."

    Pillyphus stepped forward with an expressionless face. Something that made Deimos gulp despite the defiant look on his face.

    "Where is Diana?"

    She softly growled.

    Deimos chuckled derisively.

    "I''m not telling you shit, you fucking bitch."

    An evil smile that sent shivers across everyone''s back spread across Pillyphus'' face.

    "Good. I was hoping you would say that."

    She started stalking forward while twirling a silver dagger in her hands.

    "I''ve always wondered what a God''s biology looks like. I mean we know a Demigod like Herakles as a d*ck and balls but what about a full God...like you..."

    With a fearful stutter,

    "No...no...stay back! I''m warning you!!"

    Deimos started to scramble backwards.

    Only for his back to hit something solid. Looking behind him, a stern faced Rhadamanthus met his gaze.

    Booooommmm!!!!

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Booooommmm!!!!

    Before Pillyphus could turn the God into a eunuch, a loud explosion rippled out from the ranges to left, startling everyone.

    The explosion was followed by a tall golden pillar of energy that cut straight into the sky, spearing through the cloud cover.

    Knowing what was on its way, I called out Spyra and created a large dome of fire around everyone. Then I instructed her to change its property into a thick dome made of webbing.

    The ground shook as the shockwave finally reached us.

    "Hahahahahahahahaha!!!"

    Manic laughter escaped Deimos, the pressure wave the dome was guarding us against, buffeting its structure to the point cracks appeared on the walls.

    "What''s so funny?"

    One of the Amazon''s growled, pressing her sword to his neck.

    The God''s laughter died down, a serious expression taking over his face. The earlier fear was nowhere to be seen.

    "Oh please, just because you captured me, you think you''ve won?"

    He said condescendingly, all the while staring at me.

    "Did you even stop to think that maybe...this was all a part of my plan?"

    A bad feeling gripped me.

    Rhadamanthus and I shared a look, the grim expression on his face mirrored by my own.

    ""Hermes.""

    The two of us said at the same time.

    "Bingo."

    Deimos spoke up, pushing himself to his knees.

    "Don''t move."

    Pillyphus warned, forgoing the dagger and unsheathing her sword before pointing it at his face.

    "It''s already too late."

    The God muttered, but I had already ignored him by then.

    My thoughts were occupied with something else.

    ''Spyra undo the dome, now!''

    I urgently ordered my Spider Totem.

    If this had all been a ploy to get to Hermes then we had to help him. We couldn''t lose the Messenger God.

    Some of my plans revolved around him.

    Spyra was always connected to any flames she created. That extended to the web dome around us.

    I felt her influence cover the dome before reverting its property and unraveling it into flames that she absorbed.

    "Wait!"

    I grabbed Rhadamanthus before he could jump on his Pegasus.

    Everyone froze in unison. They could all feel it...

    Up to now, Spider Sense had only really gone haywire in situations where my life was in mortal danger.

    Most of the time when it blared within my mind, I could usually tell which direction the danger was coming from, its intensity and almost automatically dodge or avoid it.

    This time, the danger came from everywhere.

    This time Spider Sense went off so loudly it felt like my head would split in the middle.

    And all of it could be blamed on the two figures waiting for us beyond the dome.

    One of them was built like a body builder, easily over 7 feet with gray muscles and golden chains wrapped around his body.

    Red eyes full of malice stared at us through loose strands of ashy blonde hair.

    The Presence he was giving off was only a bit lower than Hades.

    Herakles no doubt. I heard the a few Amazons confirm that nervously.

    The other one was...familiar.

    "Lord Hermes?"

    An Amazon called out to the God of Messengers whose head was turned towards the sky.

    With a sickening crunch, he tilted his head down, his golden locks underneath his helm, falling away from his face to reveal an expressionless Hermes staring at nothing.

    Then his eyes snapped to focus and Spider Sense went eerily quiet.

    My instincts though, honed over long years of evading death started screaming at me.

    A blood red symbol flashed on Hermes forehead and then without warning...he moved.

    -0-

    I blinked and found myself standing alone on the shore.

    Blood covered the Rocky beach and my body.

    I didn''t need to look down to understand what had just happened.

    In an instant, faster than my reaction speeds, faster than Spider Sense could even warn me, Hermes had killed everyone.

    Steve, Pillyphus, the Amazons...even Rhadamanthus. They were all on the ground. Dead.

    And looking down at my chest, Hermes'' hand was speared into my ribs, his fingers gripping my still beating heart.

    ::-------------------------::

    We are coming up on the end of the Arc. Finally.

 Issue #47: X, Soul Stone.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    They''re all dead.

    I couldn''t even sense their heart beats anymore.

    Not to mention, it looked like I would be joining them soon.

    But not if I had something to say about that. Death was nothing new. Losing fri- teammates was nothing new.

    I had a mission to complete.

    With Hermes'' arm through my chest, the pain hit almost immediately after taking a breath.

    The God of messengers'' fingers were curled around my still beating heart, it''s performance greatly undermined.

    It would have been enough to completely overwhelm someone...else.

    But for me, I had more than a few dozen ways to deal with this. Without preamble, I ordered Spyra to teleport me away.

    For a second, I thought it wasn''t going to work. Then fire bloomed around my body in the familiar sphere that marked the activation of Flame Displacement.

    VOOOOPPPP!!

    I stumbled into being a small distance away- on the slopes of the ranges that overlooked the sea cove.

    Hermes still had his arm sticking into my chest. It seemed that even Spyra couldn''t leave him behind as long as he had that hand in me.

    Which is why I didn''t waste time, grabbing Crescent moon from my back and slashing out towards the hand.

    The aim was to sever it on the elbow before making distance with Flame Displacement again.

    Hermes was currently too fast for me to deal with at close range.

    Spider Sense warned me of something fast cutting the distance towards us.

    The end of a glowing chain slammed onto one of Crescent Moon''s blade, throwing off my aim and sending us flying backwards.

    In the same vein, Hermes curled the fingers around my heart even more tightly before wrenching it out of my chest.

    I coughed out blood, ragdolling on the rough ground before coming to a knee.

    My body suddenly felt untold pain and weakness:- one of my major organs was missing.

    Spider Sense tried to warn me of another chain attack but I couldn''t dodge.

    Hence the chain links wrapped around my torso and I was whirled through the air, colliding on the face of the hills and ranges around, my enhanced body breaking apart the boulders and gouging out the terrain in an uncontrolled spin.

    Then I was released, only to sail across the sky and land in the water.

    I immediately sank into the cold depths, thankful for the brief respite.

    Only for the water around me to start churning, then it was immediately separated in the middle by a chain cutting through the fucking ocean, heading my way.

    Shit.

    Flame displacement brought me to the burning slopes again. I couldn''t help but thank my past self for not putting the fire out.

    Despite escaping, my body had finally reached its limit and I found myself propped up on something, hand on my bleeding chest.

    The question of how I was still alive could be answered by two words, Spider Totem.

    Said Totem had immediately molded herself into my chest, taking the form of an artificial heart made of flames, But it wasn''t a perfect solution.

    ''Thanks Spyra.''

    I bit out, still tasting the blood on my lips.

    I was hiding behind a huge rock but I knew that sooner or later, they would find me.

    (General P.O.V)

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    "What are you doing?"

    Deimos growled at Herakles and Hermes.

    "Spread out and find him. Now!"

    Hermes disappeared so fast it was like he had teleported while Herakles choose a single direction and started walking towards it.

    Deimos knew the strange mortal was still around.

    It didn''t make sense for him to escape and leave his partners in crime. Even though they were dead.

    And they really were dead.

    Deimos stared around at the corpses on the ground. Each of them was missing their hearts. (Hermes had crushed them in brutal fashion)

    Kneeling down, he carefully cast a freezing charm on the bodies. They would come into play later and had to be fresh.

    And then he turned his gaze to an object in his hands.

    A small mirror with a few thousand silver swirling lights glinting on it''s surface.

    Souls.

    Or to him, spoils of wars.

    The mirror was created from refining numerous soul stones, a naturally occurring element in the Underworld, before forging them into the artefact in his hand.

    While a single soul stone could house one soul, the mirror''s capacity was in the tens of thousands.

    Deimos had liberally used it to imprison the souls of anyone he came across during his hunt for the Amazons.

    He would let his warriors kill and decimate entire soldier camps, refugee caravans and any undestroyed settlements that had the unfortunate luck of attracting the God of Terror''s attention.

    203 new souls had been added to the soul mirror. A good haul indeed. The only thing left to do was reunite Kane with his friends. But Deimos could leave that to Hermes and Herakles.

    Truly, he was the only one capable of succeeding in his tasks and exceeding his father''s expectations.

    A red scepter appeared in his hands. He pointed it at the bodies on the ground and activated a one way spatial relocation.

    Naturally the souls in the mirror needed bodies to house them.

    Despite Deimos keen godly senses he failed to see or hear the small needle made of flames that quietly slid into Steve''s jacket.

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Artemis'' blessing was truly a blessing.

    Without it, I wouldn''t have managed to slid a bit of my fire into Steve''s body before Deimos sent them away.

    I still couldn''t believe they were dead. But lack of a pulse and the punctured heart was pretty indicative.

    But I would get revenge for them by completing the contract.

    All that was left to do now was- oh shit, they found me!

    I rolled out of the way as Hermes smashed onto the boulder I hid behind and absolutely destroyed it with his landing.

    My hand was already on Crescent moon drawing on an arrow that I sent rocketing toward him.

    Inches from the bow, Hermes appeared so fast, he seemed to have teleported and snatched the arrow right upon release.

    I immediately caused it to explode in a burst of fire while jumping backwards to create distance.

    Whooosh!! Whoosh!! Whoosh!!!

    Spider Sense warned me of Herakles'' arrival as dozens of chains surged out from all direction.

    Clang!! Clang!! clang!!

    Moving at the limit of my current physical capacity, I blocked all of them with Crescent Moon in its blades form, my hands a blur.

    ''Spyra!''

    I called to my Spider Totem and my surroundings changed, now I was coming up behind Deimos, Crescent Moons flashing from the God''s blindside.

    I saw his body go stiff as the feeling of encroaching death grew and a shadow of fear appeared in his eyes.

    Golden chains wrapped around his torso and pulled him further from the path of my blades.

    Undeterred, I spread out my fire through one of the blades- lengthening its reach and leaving a slice mark on his nose.

    With a cry of pain and anger, the God of Terror pointed his scepter my way, sending flashy red bolts flying at me.

    Only to find me missing- a few instantaneous seconds before Hermes arrived, I had relocated to the slopes which were still burning with my fire.

    Crescent Moon was already back in its bow form and I had an arrow ready- releasing it as soon as I notched it.

    ''Rain of fire''

    (General P.O.V)

    ''My nose!!''

    ''That bastard almost sliced it off.''

    "WHERE IS HEE??!!"

    Deimos demanded, using his authority over the War brands to send waves of pain into both Hermes and Herakles!

    They were so useless!

    A sudden surge of heat alerted him to something from behind him. Looking at the burning slopes, Deimos'' face paled into a sheet of white.

    Thousands of flaming arrows! Just like the attack from before that had not only burned through his ranks but had sent back those souls to the Underworld.

    "SAVE ME!!"

    Deimos yelled and his two slave Gods rushed to do his bidding.

    Hermes begun running around him so fast that he formed a tornado that trapped the flames arrows and forcibly dispelled them, while Herakles dashed towards the slopes- moving far slower than Hermes but still scarily fast.

    The Demigod of Strength arrived before Kane who looked shocked before the chains under Herakles'' control crushed the Assassin into nothing.

    The whole ranges shook.

    A burst of flames exploded into the air and a second later, Herakles jumped back to stand on Deimos'' side.

    "Did you get him?!"

    The God of Terror demanded almost immediately.

    A songle nod from Herakles made Deimos start laughing. That annoying guy was dealt with. Finally!

    Sure bringing back his body and trapping his soul would have been better options as he was surprisingly powerful for a mortal but...killing him was acceptable as well.

    "Good. I only wish I could have tortured his soul, but good job."

    Deimos sighed. The mission was over. He achieved all his objectives and now it was time to go back.

    "Let''s go."

    He informed his remaining warriors and with a pulse from his scepter, they all disappeared from the scene.

    A few hours later, a golden hawk landed on the beach in front of the sea cove, transitioning into a beautiful woman with a statuesque figure and divine bearing.

    Athena spread her gaze out and using her superior intuition, was able to understand everything that had occured on the scene.

    "Deimos."

    She growled, before staring at the blue fire that had spread out and consumed the whole range, with a strange look.

    -0-

    (Elsewhere)

    (Kane''s P.O.V)

    Flame displacement was truly wondrous.

    As long as there was a flame, heat, spark, kindling to sense, then I could teleport anywhere.

    And because Spyra could sense any flame she created despite the distance, it was easy to fake my death by having a flame construct take my place and get dispelled by Herakles.

    While on the other hand, I appeared next to Steve, in a massive ditch filled with hundreds of corpses.

    And before me was a mountain shrouded in red mist.

 Big *ss Announcement.

    First of all, Chapter 50 of Son of The Savage is free on Patreon.com/Saintbarbido.

    You don''t have to subscribe or anything, its free for the public.  At least for the next 24 hours before I upload it. So you can also wait for the update if you don''t feel up to subbing.

    Sorry I couldn''t update today. I like having a stockpile of chapters ahead of what I upload for you guys.

    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    Anyway, you might be wondering what''s the delay with Son of The Savage. The simple answer is...Plot Planning/story boarding.

    We''re currently on a mini arc on Patreon- Suicide Squad Attacks Angel''s Mansion- and it''s crazy.

    In the meantime, if you do check out my Patreon, I have a gift for you...

    2 chapters of a GhostRider Fic called ''Time''s Up, Joker''. It''s also free for public consumption.

    I''m planning on releasing chapters early on my Patreon. So even if you''re a free member, you will be getting access to my fics right after I write them.

    That''s all,

    See you tomorrow.

    -Saint.

 New **GHOST RIDER SELF INSERT FANFIC**

    Title: Time''s Up, Joker.

    Chapter 1: A New Life.

    -0-

    Reincarnation is a real thing.

    I never believed it was possible to be reborn after dying. Especially with your memories intact.

    But it happened to me, soo...I guess anything is possible.

    Here''s the kicker, I wasn''t just given a second chance at life in a normal world. Oh no no no.

    The entity or God responsible for my second life sent me to the crazy world of the DC Universe.

    At first I had no idea where I was. And I didn''t try that hard to find out either. I mean, I was a normal kid with only faint memories of a past life.

    My childhood years were thus spent building sand castles, playing catch with my Dad and basically being a brat. At least in my Parent''s eyes.

    All until a kid named Clark Kent saved our school bus from falling off a bridge.

    That''s when my past life memories decided to pour in. I was 13 at the time.

    The influx of 38 years worth of information was hell. I was hit by migraines almost every day for a full year.

    And occasionally, I would black out at school/home or start mumbling incoherently.

    I think my mind was trying to come to terms with the memories and ended up bloated.

    It got so serious that my parents had to take me to a mental health specialist when I was 14. There, I ended up being diagnosed with split personality disorder.

    15, 16 and 17 were spent popping medication pills and trying to adjust to my new condition.

    Fortunately, I got better. It wasn''t easy, but I followed the instructions given, took my medicine and did everything right.

    By the time I was ready to graduate High School, the memories had settled within me and I no longer got headaches or blackouts. It was a testament that sometimes hardwork pays.

    And with two sets of memories, school was not a problem. I did well on my tests and actually became Valedictorian, surprising many people and making my parents proud.

    Unfortunately, the world was determined to set the scales right. All my success became meaningless when I lost my Mom and Dad to a car crash.

    It was the most unexpected way for them to go.

    I mean, this was a world fraught with danger. Whether it was from supervillains, demons, aliens...it felt underwhelming and cheap for them to die in a car crash.

    I even tried to investigate, hoping to find something that would give my loss a meaning. Some villain to blame.

    But it turned out to be the wet road, which caused a truck to lose control and slam into their car.

    I couldn''t even direct my anger to the driver as he had died too, thrown out of the window by the impact. His only mistep being the failure to wear a seat belt.

    A lot of people showed up for the funeral. My parents were well known and loved by many. Smallville was a small place so everyone knew almost everyone else.

    Even the Kents showed up. Jonathan Kent gave his heartfelt condolences with his wife Martha. Clark looked apologetic and understanding. It felt like he could relate.

    But once everyone was gone, I realized how truly alone I was. The house felt unbearable.

    For 18 years, Travis and Angela Hawthorn had been my rock. My shield. They had protected me, cared for me and I had truly come to love and respect them as my parents. But now they were gone and I was confused at what to do.

    That night I cried myself to sleep. When I woke up the following day, I had made a decision.

    I would rent out our ranch and move.

    Selling it was out of the option.

    Even if it meant I would only receive a small sum of money every month, 1000-1500 dollars to be exact, I couldn''t let go of the memories we had created in our modest home.

    Modest was a stretch however, seeing as the entire land was about 90 acres.

    There was a substantial tax on a ranch that big, otherwise I would have received a lot more money. According to Jonathan Kent at least.

    He was the one who helped me finalize the deal, and I appointed him as overseer before packing up my stuff, loading it on the Pick up truck Dad had got me for my 18th birthday, and left Smallville, Kansas.

    My name is Michael Hawthorn, and this is the story of my not-so-normal life in DC. The only thing I can say, is I wish I''d been better prepared.

    -10 years later-

    The day had been long, filled with meetings, deadlines, and the usual hustle of the office.

    But as I turned the key in the lock and stepped into our home, a wave of warmth washed over me.

    The scent of dinner wafted through the air, and the sound of little feet pattering towards me made my heart swell with joy.

    "Daddy!"

    My five-year-old daughter, Emily, bounded towards me, her face lighting up the room with her radiant smile.

    She wrapped her tiny arms around my legs, hugging me tightly.

    "Hey there, my little artist,"

    I said, ruffling her hair as I bent down to her level.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    "What have you been up to today?"

    Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she held up a piece of paper.

    "Look, Daddy! I drew a picture of our family!"

    I took the drawing from her hands and admired her work. There we were, stick figures with big smiles, standing in front of a house with a sun shining brightly overhead.

    Emily had drawn herself in the middle, holding hands with me and her mom.

    "It''s beautiful, Emily."

    I said, genuinely impressed by her creativity.

    "You''re getting better every day."

    She beamed with pride and took my hand, leading me to the kitchen where my wife, Sarah, was setting the table for dinner.

    Sarah turned and smiled warmly at me, her eyes reflecting the same love and happiness that I felt.

    "Dinner''s almost ready."

    she told me, planting a quick kiss on my cheek.

    "How was your day?"

    "Long," I admitted, "but it''s so good to be home."

    We sat down to eat, and the evening passed in a blur of laughter and conversation.

    Emily chattered away, telling us about her day at preschool and all the new things she had learned.

    After dinner, we put her to bed. I read her a story, and Sarah sang her a lullaby. As we stood by her bedside, watching her drift off to sleep, I felt a deep sense of contentment. In my past life, I''d been alone. I was glad this one was different.

    Sarah took my hand and led me to our bedroom. She could always tell when I was tired, and tonight was no exception.

    There had been a shipment coming in and one of the guys messed up the numbers. Mr. Fox, who was my boss at Wayne Industries where I worked, was NOT happy. We had to stay late to work out the issue.

    "You look exhausted."

    Sarah said softly, her eyes filled with concern.

    "Come to bed, love."

    I nodded, too weary to argue. As we lay down, she snuggled close to me, her warmth and presence soothing my tired soul.

    "I''m so lucky to have you." I whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

    "And I''m lucky to have you." Came the reply, her voice filled with love.

    We lay there in the quiet, the only sound being her gentle moans as we made love.

    Despite the exhaustion, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and gratitude.

    In that moment, I knew that no matter how tough the days could be, coming home to my beautiful wife and precious daughter made everything worthwhile.

    I drifted off to sleep, holding onto the image of Emily''s drawing.

    -0-

    Late in the night, I jolted awake, my head pounding and my vision blurry.

    I found myself sitting in a chair in the living room, arms painfully bound behind my back.

    Panic surged through me as I tried to move, only to find that my wrists were tightly tied. The warm comfort of my wife''s body was replaced by a chilling dread.

    "Sarah?"

    I called out, my voice cracking with fear.

    My heart stopped when I saw her across the room, tied to a chair just like me.

    Her eyes were wide with terror, and she was struggling against her bonds.

    "Michael!"

    she cried, her voice trembling. "Where''s Emily? Have you seen Emily?"

    My blood ran cold. Emily. Where was Emily?

    "Good evening, folks!"

    A voice, dripping with madness and malevolence, echoed through the room.

    I turned my head, and my heart sank into an abyss of despair. No. Not us. Oh God. Why...what''s he doing here!!??!

    The Joker, with his grotesque smile and twisted eyes, stood in the doorway, holding a small, struggling figure. My daughter.

    "Emily!"

    I screamed, straining against my bindings.

    "Let her go, you monster!"

    The Joker cackled, the sound filling the room with an eerie resonance.

    He held Emily up by the scruff of her dress, her tiny feet kicking desperately in the air.

    "Oh, don''t worry, Daddy. We''re just going to have a little fun."

    he sneered, his eyes gleaming with insanity.

    I wanted to kill him. How dare he?!!

    "Please, no! Let her go!"

    Sarah begged, tears streaming down her face.

    "Please, she''s just a child!"

    The Joker ignored her, his focus entirely on me and the hateful glare I was sending him.

    Unfazed, he took out a knife and brought it close to Emily''s face, making her cry out in fear.

    Seeing her like that broke something in me. I cursed myself for being weak. What was I thinking, this was DC!

    "Stop! Please, I''ll do anything!"

    I shouted, my voice breaking with desperation.

    "Anything?"

    The Joker''s smile widened. "Now, that''s what I like to hear."

    He placed Emily on the floor and walked over to me, the knife glinting in his hand. He crouched down, his face inches from mine. The stench of his breath made me gag, but I couldn''t look away from those crazed eyes.

    "You see, Daddy, it''s all a game," he whispered.

    "And I''m going to make sure you never forget it."

    He turned and walked back to Emily, who was now huddled in a corner, sobbing. He raised the knife, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

    "No! Please, no!"

    I screamed, my voice raw with agony.

    With a swift motion, the Joker brought the knife down. Emily''s scream pierced the night, and everything went black.

    --

    I woke up with a start, drenched in sweat, my heart hammering in my chest.

    I was back in our bed, the room dark and silent. Reaching out, I felt Sarah beside me, her steady breathing a soothing reminder of reality, beautiful blonde hair sprayed out on the pillow.

    "Sarah,"

    I whispered, my voice shaking.

    "It was just a dream... just a nightmare."

    She stirred and turned towards me, concern etched on her face.

    "Michael, what''s wrong?"

    "I... I had a nightmare,"

    I said, my voice barely audible.

    "It was so real..."

    She wrapped her arms around me, pulling me close.

    "It''s okay, love. It was just a dream. We''re safe."

    I melted into her embrace, my heart rate calming down. And as she held me I felt her giggling softly.

    The sound grew louder and more manic.

    My heart sank as I pulled away and saw her face, twisted into a grotesque grin, her eyes wide with terror.

    "No... no, no, no..."

    I stammered, realizing the nightmare was far from over.

    The laughter echoed around the room, and I saw her eyes rolling back.

    "Sarah, what''s happening to you?"

    I begged, but she continued to laugh uncontrollably.

    Suddenly, the darkness of the room shattered and I found myself back in the chair, my body aching and bloody from a brutal beating.

    An...an hallucination...

    I had briefly passed out from the pain of having my shins and hands broken by a bat. One of my eyes was shut and everything was painted red under the other one.

    Sarah was still in her chair, her hands broken from struggling against her bindings, frothing at the mouth, her laughter a symphony of horror.

    "Welcome back, sleepyhead."

    the Joker''s voice cut through the haze. He stood there with Harley Quinn, who was holding a crying Emily. She must have been so terrified.

    My heart shattered as I realized this could be it for us. This was Joker. Maybe if I beg hard enough...he''ll let them go. Or at least Emily.

    "Please."

    I whispered through bloodied and bursted lips, my voice barely audible.

    "Please, let them go."

    The Joker threw his head back and laughed.

    "Let them go? Oh, Daddy, you''re killing me!"

    "Why are you doing this?"

    I sobbed. "Is it because I work at Wayne Industries?"

    The Joker and Harley looked at each other and burst into hysterical laughter.

    "Wayne Industries? We didn''t even know you worked there! Isn''t that a riot?"

    the Joker cackled.

    One of the three goons in the corner hesitated, then spoke up,

    "Boss, I hear sirens..."

    The Joker spun around, pulled out a golden gun and shot him point-blank.

    "Don''t interrupt me when I''m having fun!"

    He turned back to Harley.

    "Come on, let''s bail and find Scarecrow. He promised this mix of Joker venom and his toxin would make someone laugh in terror until their heart exploded, but the wife seems to have gone mad instead."

    Harley looked at Emily.

    "What about the little one?"

    The Joker''s smile widened.

    "Let her go."

    Harley did so.

    Emily ran to me, crying,

    "Daddy, Daddy!"

    "Thank you, thank you,"

    I sobbed over her shoulder, as she hugged my bloodied form.

    "Thank you for sparing their lives."

    The Joker paused at the door.

    "You''re welcome. Oh, and I forgot to mention, what does a rabid dog do?"

    He shot at Sarah''s cuffs, releasing her.

    Sarah''s laughter stopped. She began growling, her eyes wild and feral as she looked our way, sights lingering on Emily.

    I didn''t see anything that remained of my wife in those eyes. My heart sped up in fear as I realized, the Joker hadn''t spared us.

    "Emily, run!"

    I shouted.

    "Lock yourself in your room and don''t open it!"

    Emily obeyed, running up the stairs, but Sarah cleared the distance quicker, grabbing our daughter''s leg and throwing her back down.

    "No! Sarah, stop!"

    I screamed myself hoarse, trying to move. The chair tipped over and I fell to the floor.

    Sarah didn''t even spare a look my way as she lunged at Emily, her eyes empty and soulless.

    As I watched, helpless and broken, my wife, under the influence of the Joker''s enhanced venom, began to devour our daughter.

    "NOOOO!!"

    I screamed and cried, lunging against my restraints, but there was nothing I could do. My world shattered as I lost everything I held dear.

 2025s Awesome Deal.

    Happy New Year!!

    2025''s Here baby! And boy do we have a lot planned.

    We start off this new year with a gift, Join my P@treon for a 60% Discount on membership for all tiers. That means 1 dollar for a full month''s access, or 10 dollars for an ENTIRE year''s access. That means EARLY and EXCLUSIVE ACCESS to EVERYTHING.

    Just follow the link, [email protected]</a>/Saintbarbido

    The offer ends at 6 am tomorrow.

    Check out the story below, while waiting for Jon Kent''s Update:-

    Yamamoto Template: Marvel Edition.

    A/N: This is a Commissioned chapter.

    Chapter 1: Meat Grilling in Jotunheim.

    -Jotunheim-

    The Nine realms were planes of existences located in the branches of Yggdrasil, the Sacred tree of Life and Death.

    Of these realms, Jotunheim was special. A plane of desolate cold and icy wind, normal life would struggle to survive even a minute there.

    But for the Frost Giants, Jotunheim was home.

    -King Laufey''s Palace-

    The king of The Frost Giants, Laufey, yawned as he tried to remain awake during the court meeting.

    "...annual price of Elven Turnips from Alfheim is up by 0.1%, the Dwarves have sent a complaint involving an invoice for the shipment of warhammers, Asgardian delegates request an audience regarding an unprovoked attack..."

    "Never."

    Laufey said icily, his red eyes glowing with hatred.

    "Odin''s ilk will only step inside my Palace over my cold dead carcass."

    "Moving on."

    The Royal Chancellor cleared his throat, about to continue when, a strange scent reached Laufey''s nose. He instantly sat up.

    "What is that smell?"

    The King''s voice boomed across the throne room.

    Sniffing the air, he turned his head to the direction of his 4 Royal guards. Behind the queen''s throne, one of them was acting suspiciously- his face red despite his bluish skin, and his cheeks stuffed.

    "Is that you Jeffery? What are you hiding behind your back? Show me your hands."

    King Laufey commanded.

    Jeffery, looking hesitant at first, brought his hands forward, revealing a slightly sizzling chunk of meat with a large bite on it. The meat visibly dripped with oil, producing a delicious smell that instantly filled the chamber.

    A chorus of gulps could be heard across the room.

    "What''s that?"

    King Laufey asked, eyes focused on the chunk of roasted meat, trying and failing to hide his dripping saliva.

    ''It looks and smells better than what the Palace chefs produce...''

    "Me lunch Sire."

    Jeffery answered, grip tightening on the bone as he held the meat close to him. It was hard to miss the King''s hungry stare.

    "I forgot me packed lunch at home, so I got this from the new grill stall outside the city."

    Jeffery figured telling them where he got the meat would dissuade anyone wanting a piece.

    Instantly, murmurs begun to rise out of the Royal courtiers,

    ''Grill stall?''

    ''First time I''m hearing about it...''

    ''I''ve heard rumors from the common Frost folk...

    ''Outside the city he says?, perhaps I''ll check it out after this boring meeting is over...''

    "Silence!"

    King Laufey declared, and the whole chamber went quiet.

    "The Queen shall take over proceedings. In the meantime, Jeffery will lead me to this, ''grill stall'' where I will personally investigate the...eh security risk. It could be an invasion plan from those Asgardians."

    Only a fool couldn''t read between the lines and see the words for what they were: an excuse. But only a bigger fool would call out the king for it.

    They saluted him as he left the throne room, his guards walking behind.

    Once outside, Laufey turned to Jeffery who was halfway about to bite off a chunk.

    "Oh and Jeffery, you shall hand over the meat as evidence."

    -0-

    The true nature of Ygdrassil is open to interpretation. But as such concepts are rooted in belief, if the vast majority call it a Tree, then it was in essence, a Tree.

    And naturally, a tree is home to many wild critters such as squirrels and birds. Thus the same held true for Ygdrassil.

    -0-

    A giant squirrel the size of a cow, scurried across the rib cage of a massive skeleton belonging to a Frost Behemoth.

    This giant squirrel was known as a Ratatoskr, a species of rodents that made Ygdrassil their home. They could traverse through the branches, jumping from one Realm to another with ease.

    Right now, Ratatoskr was sniffing the air, following the delicious smell of roasting meat it had caught a wiff of, to a makeshift shack below the Frost Behemoth''s skeleton.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    It stopped, a strange tune reaching its ears. Focusing it''s sights on the direction of the shack, it''s eyes fell on a tall black man standing outside infront of what looked like a kiln.

    The man was shirtless, showing off a shredded physique. His hair was completely silver in color, tied up in a single knot at the back of his head. And his chin was covered in a fuzzy beard ending with three braids.

    Folded around his waist, was a white haori which reached his knees. And below, he wore fuzzy boots secured to his feet and shins by a dull red string that gave off a bloody smell.

    Lastly, his hands held a long brown stick, with which he was stocking the coals within the Kiln while whistling.

    The coals were made of bone. Jotunheim lacked any sort of vegetation you see. Nothing could grow on the rocky valleys and high barren plateaus. It truly was a wasteland, populated by predators that preyed on each other for food.

    ''Mmmh, the stones have melted by now.''

    Ziker thought, opening the top of the kiln to reveal a thick Stone pot containing glowing molten rock.

    Unafraid of the heat, Ziker grabbed the large pot wider than his shoulders and easily set it on the ground.

    ''I still haven''t gotten used to this.''

    He thought, staring at his palms.

    The heat of the stone pot should have melted the skin off a normal human''s bones. But he was no longer normal.

    No, Ziker was something else. A Soul Reaper. And not just any Soul Reaper. The walking stick on the ground jumped to his hand at his urging.

    He held all the Powers and knowledge of The Captain Commander of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto Genryusai.

    And the walking stick in his hand, was actually Ryujin Jakka, the Zanpakuto of one of, if not the Strongest Soul Reaper in the Bleach World.

    With a thought, his immense Reiatsu rippled out, spreading across more than a kilometer before stopping. And that wasn''t even his limit, he could go further but didn''t see the need to.

    -0-

    A few hundred meters from Ziker, King Laufey and his group instantly found themselves on their knees. The sensation was akin to the weight of entire worlds pressing down on their shoulders.

    Laufey''s head trembled as he tried to lift it and failed. Right as they were about to pass out and possibly die, the weight suddenly disappeared.

    Breathing heavily, with terror in his eyes, Laufey looked to the front, at the direction of a Frost Behemoth Skeleton.

    ''W-what was that? Not even Odin has ever given off s-such a presence.''

    Past said Skeleton, in the direction opposite Laufey''s group, Ziker''s explosion of Reiatsu had not got unnoticed by another set of individuals.

    "B-brother...we should t-turn back..."

    Loki said in a strained voice, stumbling to his feet.

    He, Thor and the Warriors Four had just arrived in Jotunheim a few seconds prior. Their intention was to investigate how a few Frost Giants were able to sneak past Heimdall and infiltrate Asgard.

    Thor led the charge, giving them full confidence as they arrived in Laufey''s domain by way of the Bifrost.

    But that confidence had been shattered by the unexpected presence that had overwhelmed their souls.

    "L-Loki is right, my Prince."

    Fandral echoed, looking shaken as he leaned on Volstagg.

    "Coming to Jotunheim was a bad idea in the first place. W- we could start a-"

    "Silence."

    Thor cut him off, hand tightened around his Hammer.

    "No son of Odin would be cowered by simple trickery."

    He turned around and stared at his companions.

    "Laufey is aware of our presence and seeks to scare us back to Asgard. I shall not be swayed until he gives me a proper answer. We continue."

    With that, he started walking forward, leaving the other 4 to look on.

    "This is reckless."

    Loki told the rest.

    "We should head back while we still have a chance. With or without Thor."

    The Warriors 3 shared looks with conflicted expressions. That heavy presence had left them utterly terrified.

    Without a word, Sif got off the rock she was sitting on, adjusting her sword before following after Thor.

    The Warriors 3 did the same, passing by Loki. The latter gave an exasperated sigh and joined them.

    "Don''t blame me if we all horribly die."

    -0-

    ''Wheew, the cooking grate came out alright.''

    Ziker thought, setting up the metal grill he had forged with his bare hands.

    First he melted some heavy stones, then using Yamamoto''s knowledge Spells, he extracted the iron particulates from the molten solution with a (Bakudo 72: Expulsion), a kido spell that could expel energy. It was mostly used to cleanse an area affected by a Hollow''s presence.

    There were no hollows in Jotunheim though, and Ziker was yet to see a soul in need of his Soul Reaper services, so the high level Bakudo 72 found itself used in such a way.

    "Hadou 4. Byakurai."

    Ziker chanted in a deep voice.

    A blue spark launched off the tip of his Cane, hitting the dry bones on the grill, creating a fire. With a wave of his hand, a burst of air blew out the flame, leaving behind glowing coals.

    ''Now I just need to go out and hunt before the morning rush swamps me...''

    The thought passed through his mind, as his focus shifted to his back.

    Hung above the entrance of his shack was a dead Ratatoskr, skinned and disected- ready to be grilled. This thing had been lying in wait to attack him but his Reiatsu had killed it.

    ''I doubt it will be enough to feed those hungry Frost Giants.''

    Ziker rubbed his beard.

    With a thought, a strange game like panel appeared in midair. He was the only one who could see it.

    ::---------------------------------::

    (Mission System: Marvel Edition)

    Active Mission:- Open up a grill stall and serve 5000 Frost Giants. These guys are terrible cooks, give them a taste of Roast Heaven.

    4821/5000 Frost Giants served.

    Reward: Portal to Earth.

    ::--------------------------------::

    "Things would be much easier if I didn''t have to worry about these strange missions."

    He mused.

    Fortunately, he was 179 happy customers away from completing the mission and leaving this godforsaken Wasteland.

    "Better get to it."

    He muttered, securing the Captain''s Haori onto his body. In its Cane form, Ryujin Jakka had no belt to strap a sheath on, so he slung it over his shoulder and walked out.

    Unbeknownst to Ziker, the two groups affected by his monstrous presence, had ignored their soul''s yearning for self preservation and made it all the way to the front of the Frost Behemoth''s Ribs. Basically, the gate.

    As a result, the Frost Giants and Asgardians, bitter enemies, run into each other. Tensions instantly begun rising.

    "So, the sons of Odin dare to tread upon my land once more."

    came the booming voice of Laufey. He stood flanked by ten of his personal guards, each as imposing and menacing as the king himself.

    Thor stepped forward, Mjolnir in hand, and a smirk on his lips. "Laufey, still skulking in the shadows of your own realm, I see. We come in peace, but I wouldn''t expect you to understand such things."

    Laufey''s eyes narrowed, a low growl rumbling in his chest.

    "The presence of Asgardians on Jotunheim soil is an act of war."

    Thor laughed, the sound echoing off the icy cliffs.

    "War? You speak of war when it was your own people who started this. Coward! You send your lackeys to Asgard to do what you fear to do yourself!"

    "Careful...brother..."

    Loki whispered to Thor.

    Ice begun to gather in the Frost Giant''s hand, creating blades.

    Sif pulled out her sword halfway,

    "We are not here to fight, but we will defend ourselves if necessary."

    She warned, sensing the hostility.

    At that, Thor''s tone turned mocking,

    "Defend ourselves? Laufey, your realm is as cold and lifeless as your heart. I could melt it all away with a single stroke of Mjolnir."

    "I see. Death it is."

    Laufey responded, the two glaring at one another.

    Just as Laufey raised his hand to signal an attack, a strange, unexpected movement caught everyone''s attention.

    From the ribcage of the Frost Behemoth skeleton beside them, a man emerged, casually brushing off the frost from his clothes.

    He swept his gaze out at the two groups, judged the situation and held up a hand, signaling for attention,

    "Don''t mind me, just passing through. Hey Jeff."

    The absurdity of the situation left both sides momentarily stunned. One of the frost giants, a massive figure known as Jeffery, waved back,

    "Hey Ziker, off to a hunt? Good luck. Oh and check out the Eastside today, there might be a herd of��"

    "Quiet!"

    Laufey roared, his rage directed at Jeffery. The latter cowered, admonished.

    "And you, human, you are going nowhere. I have had enough of trespassers! You and the Asgardians will die here, so says Laufey, King of Jotunheim."

    Ziker stopped and turned to Laufey, his expression unbothered.

    "King Laufey, right? Look, I don''t have time for this. Just passing through."

    Laufey''s eyes blazed with anger, but before he could respond, Thor stepped forward, Mjolnir in hand, and lightning crackled around him.

    "Stand down, Laufey. This conflict is between us."

    The air grew colder, the tension thickening as Laufey''s guards readied their weapons.

    Ziker could have walked away. Should have walked away. However,

    ::---------------------------------::

    (Emergency Mission issued!)

    -Beat Up both groups and send an invoice to Odin for Disciplining his son for him.

    Reward: Ryujin Jakka''s Shikai form.

    ::--------------------------------::

    Well, they were about to fight in front of his stall and that was bad for business. Surely removing them by force wasn''t too excessive, right?

    Plus, the Reward was too important to ignore. While he had all of Yamamoto''s powers, that was with the exception of two things- Ryujin Jakka''s Shikai and Bankai.

 Royal Road Ban

    If you''re wondering why I''m no longer active on RoyalRoadl, it''s completely my fault.

    RoyalRoadl has strict rules when it comes to Lemon/Smut. Son of the Savage unfortunately had one which got me banned from even uploading my new fics here, which include:-

    -A GhostRider Self Insert in DC(29 chapters)(real Title- Times Up, Joker) Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    -Son of the Savage(62 chapters)(They removed it from the site)

    -Jon Kent SI: Made of Steel(35 chapters)

    -Hercules'' Demi-god Twin(16 chapters)

    -James Bond in WW2(MCU X DC Crossover) (14 chapters)

    -Anodite Magic in Percy Jackson(15 chapters)

    -*New* Killing Batman(1 chapter)

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    100 chapters:- 250

    50 chapters:-150

    10-20 chapters:-75