Most of the boulders in his way weren't aid at him. That didnt stop them from relentlessly crashing against the barrier of his protective talisman three and four at a ti seemingly every second. Just the sheer volu of them made the sky above Heracles lethal to be in, and Luke was grateful that he had dozens of talismans burning a hole in his inventory. Each of them ready and more than capable of stopping the Mortal-tier attacks quite easily.
How is he even alive? Even a warrior should have fallen after days of this. Luke thought as he looked below at the figure of Heracles, barely visible through all the debris flying through the air. He had been awed by his martial prowess just from seeing him fight off the giant horde from a distance. Being in the thick of it left him reeling.
Correcting his course with his boots, Luke summoned a handful of untorn talismans into his hands. Calling them directly from his inventory was more convenient, but he suspected that the Son of Zeus would have questions if he used one of them that way in front of him.
Counting down in his head, he replaced his talisman with another one, monts before it was set to expire. Rapidly slowing his descent as he did so, and stopping a hundred or so feet in the air above the man.
Hey! He yelled. Waving his arms wildly.
Im kind of busy here. You with that other guy? He said, his voice booming like thunder. A deep guttural and manly sound if there ever was one.
I am. My nas Luke, and I have your ring. He said, tearing the end off another talisman.
You do? He asked. Genuine surprise leaving his voice.
I do.
HAHAHAHAHAAHA. At last! Throw it to .
Luke slid the tal band off his finger, and dropped it. Almost imdiately, it was caught by so invisible force and stilled in the air. For a mont it just hung in the sky, right outside of the bounds of Lukes barrier. An instant later, the air cracked, and it slapped into Heracless waiting palm. Leaving a thin trail of rapidly fading lightning in its wake.
Fancy. Luke thought, impressed in spite of himself.
A talisman appeared in his hand, and a fraction of a second later a bright golden barrier rippled outwards, and washed over and past Luke. He watched stunned and with his mouth slightly ajar as every giant in the area was suddenly pushed back hundreds of yards by the shimring light, and the sky cleared of their earthly orbs. Leaving him and Heracles alone in the sky, standing under the warm flow of his talisman.
I thank you! Heracles said, rising into the air, so that the chain was taught against the slab of tal anchoring him to the ground. He frowned angrily as he tested his bonds, before carefully schooling his expression.
Dont worry about it. Luke shrugged, as he scratched his head. Im not exactly being altruistic here.
Taking his first good look at the legendary Son of Zeus. He was younger than he would have thought. Appearing no older than twenty, his hair was a matted and sweat soaked blonde. Thin whiskers peaked out from the edge of his lips and the side of his cheeks. Deep bags under his eyes, rimd his startling blue and bloodshot orbs. Thin strands of electricity seed to shiver within them, as he stared right at Luke. All told, he looked just like he had been fighting nonstop for days, but still managed to appear handso. Not disheveled and insane like Luke expected a man in his position to be.
He grinned, as he slung his club over his shoulder like a baseball bat. Do I know you? He cocked his head to the side. You seem familiar.
This is the first ti weve t. Luke said, tearing his eyes away from him, he scanned the crowd of giants for any signs of Lukeus. Having lost sight of him earlier when he was working his way through the barrage of boulders.
He found him imdiately. The newly ascended warrior fell through the barrier and crash landed on his side. Stumbling to his feet a mont later, he walked back to the edge of the golden barrier and postured in front of the Warrior-tier giant he had been keeping occupied. Making one obscene gesture after another at the creature, with a wide grin on his face.
The giant tilted its head to the side, and its eyes crinkled in confusion. Shrugging all six of its limbs, it sat down in a squat and stared right at Lukeus.
That is so creepy. Luke thought as a shiver ran down his spine. Theres sothing wrong with these things.
Is that Lukeus?
It is.
And you said you were Luke?
I am.
Mmm. Heracles scratched his chin idly. Who sent you?
Hmm? The Seed, obviously but I cant tell you that now can I? I dont know. He answered eventually.
Co on, you dont have to be like that. Was it Dad? Uncle P? Uncle H? Hers? Ares? He paled. Please dont tell it was Apollo. He pleaded. A desperate edge in his voice.
I- uh. Lukes mind went blank as the Son of Zeus rattled off one god after another. I really dont know. Im not trying to hide it from you or anything. He said, lifting his hands into the air in defense.
He frowned. You dont know huh? That sounds like sothing all of them would try and do. Fucking mysterious assholes. He grumbled.
Theyre asshols for helping you out?
No. They're assholes because their help doesnt co free. Last ti I got in a bind, Apollo made clean He stuck his tongue out and shivered. His face gained a green hue as he rembered sothing thoroughly unpleasant. I dont want to talk about it. He said eventually.
Thats fine.
I should probably do sothing about that one, huh. Heracles said, squinting in the direction of the Warrior-tier giant. His ring glowed on his finger, and a bow appeared in his hand. He drew the string back, and Luke watched in fascination, as an arrow entirely composed out of blue energy materialized.
It shot through the air silently, past Lukeus, and through the barrier, before sinking into the giant's chest. The monster didnt even realize it had been hit, before its entire upper body vanished in a spray of bloody mist.
Holy shit.
That never gets old. Heracles grinned. Its one of my sisters old bows. I dont even know what tier it is, but I killed a Hero-tier sky kraken with it on the way here. That little thing is puny compared to it. He said, gesturing to the remains of the giant.
I bet it is. Luke nodded slowly.
Hey Heracles, you asshole! I had that! Lukeus ca flying through the air, and tackled him. Only for Heracles to stop him dead in his tracks, a single palm cupping his forehead
.
Little Lulus all grown up, isnt he. He said, ruffled his hair.
Dont call that. Lukeus snarled. Im not a kid anymore.
I can see that. The way you tackled that giant was sothing else. I rember you being such a scaredy cat Youve co a long way.
He blushed bright red, and turned away. Whyd you co to Sylcra anyway?
We were getting bored on Lemnos, and then I rembered that Sylcra was pretty close, and you guys had a pesky giant problem. I figured, why not. It had been a while since I last saw you and Nel, and I bet you could use so help, and the rest of the crew could blow off a different kind of steam, he wiggled his eyebrows, and kill so stuff. Theyve grown weak after years in paradise. When we got here though, there was a huge line of ships waiting around the entire archipelago.
Lukeus nodded. Arke. She has a blockade surrounding the entire island. Wont let anyone co and go.
So thats what that was. Huh. Well, I figured Id go and check it out, so I flew ahead, and this crazy strong winged lady stopped . Then I was like, do you know who I am? And she was like yes, I recognize the arrogance of Zeuss spawn when I see it. So I was like, then you should know not to stop , and long story short, she let through.
She let you through, and tied you to that rock, and then took your storage ring and tossed it sowhere? Luke asked.
Well I may have cussed at her a bit. And I told her, that there wasnt a chance in Hades that my whole crew was going to wait outside, and I was just about to signal them to fuck the blockade and co through anyway, when she put to sleep. When I woke up, I was chained to that thing, and then a few days later that big giant popped out of the ground, and since then, more and more of these things have been popping out. I gotta tell you Lulu, I dont know how you all live on this island if those things co every ten years.
We manage.
I bet. Heracles nodded. His ring glowed softly, and a talisman appeared in his hand. Jason, its , Heracles. Im still alive, but so crazy lady with wings imprisoned . I need you to gather the entire fleet, break through the blockade and free . If you could get every other ship waiting to dock to move in as well, then that would be best. This lady is strong, but she wont kill everyone if you all move at once. He spoke to it, a grin stretching his face, he ripped the bottom half free, and it flew off into the sky.
Fuck yeah. Luke cheered internally. Problems solved.
What was that? Lukeus frowned.
That was what it sounded like. If that lady really thinks she can keep locked up without reaso with so flimsy excuse and not get payback, then she has this coming. He grinned.
Heracles, this is my ho. Lukeus said slowly. Arke is strong. Why would you put her against us like that?
Are you
Im not defending her, or saying she was right to keep you trapped here but there's more at stake than her ego and yours. If she decides to go berserk, and kills everyone here, then sure. The gods will avenge us, but wed still be dead. He said slowly.
Heracles looked affronted by the very idea. That wont happen. He said resolutely. I know her type. She bullies the weak and runs scared with her tail between her legs when soone with more leverage and stronger backing cos along. Why is she here anyway? Did you do sothing?
No. So soul escaped with sothing and shes hunting it down.
She put a blockade around the entire island to catch a zombie?
Lukeus shrugged.
Thats ridiculous.
I know. Everyone knows. Lukeus crossed his arms under his chest.
Do you have a way to break free of that manacle, while we wait for your friends to join us? Luke asked him, hoping to change the subject.
He frowned. I do. His ring glowed once again, and his club vanished. In its place a small knife appeared in his hands, made of the sa shiny tal as the cable and the giant chunk of tal keeping him tethered to the ground. This should be able to cut it without destroying the island, but Ill need a few hours. The barrier is good for a day or two, so we should be safe in the anti.
In that case. Luke turned to the horde of assembled giants just outside of the golden barrier. Take your ti. Im going to go kill those. It seems like a bad idea to leave them lying around, even if they are in the middle of a desert.
Oh, those arent a big deal. I have a bunch of Saint-tier talismans, we can have them
No. Luke said. I have a sword. Its good enough.
Are you sure? Thats a lot of giants.
Im sure. Luke insisted, before turning on his heels and walking towards the edge of the barrier. If you really want, we can blow them to smithereens when its ti to leave, if there are any left. Until then, I got it.
Theres no way in hell Im going to let this many points be wasted. Not when the Warrior-tier is right there for the taking. He thought to himself, barely managing to reign in the grin on his face.
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