Paige's POV

Nagtago ako sa likod ng isa sa mga puno, humihingal.

From a distance, I could hear the low growls of a panther, eagerly seeking for its prey. Pumikit ako nang nakakunot ang noo at tinuon ang kinaroroonan nito ayon sa kaunting ingay at malabong presensya nito.

Iminulat ko ang aking mga mata. Maingat kong ginalaw ang aking ulo upang sumilip.

Nahagilap ko ang puting balahibo nito, at muling nagtago nang panandalian itong lumingon sa direksyon ko.

The goddess has driven me far away from the battle. Too far, in fact, as I have just come to realize that I'm stuck in the middle of a dark forest at the base of a mountain.

I meant to distance myself from the others, but I didn't expect to reach this far in the realm.

Narinig ko ang mga kaluskos na papalapit sa'kin, dahilan na huminto ang aking paghinga. I could feel something slowly approach me.

Habang hinihintay itong tuluyang makalapit sa'kin, yumuko ako't sinuri ang duguan kong balikat. Pumipintig ang sakit ng sugat ko sa ilalim ng napunit kong kapa.

Sinubukan kong igalaw ang aking braso ngunit napatingala lang ako sa matinding kirot.

I barely made out alive after the goddess clawed the front of my left shoulder. Napahawak ako sa kaliwang braso ko sabay yuko, nang nanginginig ang mga labi.

"Bella..." I whispered.

But she didn't appear.

I knew she was occupied, but the least I could do was try to call for the one of us who could be summoned with just a whisper.

Sraightening my lips, I diverted my attention to the slow-moving steps drawing closer. Binitawan ko ang duguan kong balikat, at bumukas ang aking kanang palad nang magtipon ang enerhiya rito.

Napansin ko ang pagtigil ng presensya sa mismong likuran ng kahoy na pinagtataguan ko.

My fingers twitched from the energy that's gathering in my hand. I was prepared to throw it the first moment I see the animal, but I was caught off guard when it appeared above me and with a deafening roar, rammed me hard to the ground.

Napasigaw ako sa bigla sabay tulak nito mula sa ibabaw ko. Gumulong ako sa lupa saka nagmamadaling tumayo. Pagkatuwid ko ng aking likod, nakarinig na naman ako ng angil at muling natumba pagkatapos akong talunan ng hayop sa likuran.

The panther pounced off of my back and bit my right shoulder.

My spine arched from the instant pain. My head fell on the ground and my mouth tasted dirt as I let out a silent scream, immediately generating a force field from inside my body that exploded and blew the animal away from me.

My head throbbed after the sudden release of my power. All the adrenaline has already left my body ever since Artemis took the form of a white panther to outrun me, meaning all I could sense was only excruciating pain.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga sabay tihaya sa lupa.

Clawed on the left, bitten on the right, blood slowly drenched the rest of my top as I helplessly lied on the ground.

Umiling-iling ako nang nakahilata, pinipigilan ang aking diwa na matangay ng matinding kapaguran dahil sa natamo kong mga sugat.

"You are strong..." Artemis' voice reached my ear like a soft-blown breeze.

"You are foolish," sabi ko. "For not killing me at this moment." Binasa ko ang aking lalamunan. "Would you rather wait for your prey to bleed to death?"

"And brilliant," she continued. "How unfortunate..."

Overwhelmed with pain, my lips pursed tight to stop a whimper.

"You know..." Napapaos ang aking boses nang sagutin ang goddess. "-what's more unfortunate?"

"You," sambit ko. "I don't know what happened but clearly, you've gone mad... all of you."

Patuloy kong minasdan ang mabagal na paggalaw ng korona ng mga puno.

"And of course you wouldn't admit this..." Madahan kong ipiniling ang aking ulo paharap sa kanya. "No one admits they're mad..." Pinaningkitan ko siya. "Unless they're haunted."

Are you?

My eyebrow twitched with curiosity.

Mad? Or just being haunted?

"Why are you doing this?" pabulong kong tanong. "What do you really want?"

Amidst the darkness, Artemis, as a white panther, glowed like the lone moon in a starless sky. She was a panther that's the size of a large wolf, and her silver eyes rivaled the characteristics of pure steel, that I could almost see my own reflection in silver.

Napalibutan din ng manipis na puting usok ang kanyang paanan, habang malamig niya akong tinititigan nang hindi gumagalaw.

"You are kind to consider that there is an acceptable reason behind this." The goddess didn't open her mouth. Instead, she let the wind speak for her and carry her voice to me. "There is."

"But to you, it is not acceptable," dagdag niya. "It will never be."

Bahagyang umawang ang aking bibig nang mahinuha ang ibig niyang sabihin. "Power-"

"-is the reason why gods exist," she continued. "Power for us, is not just our immortality."

"We were born from it. We feed from it. We thrive from it..." Her eyes brightened. "And we will end everything for it."

"But we cannot have what we want, said the Fates, if you are still around," aniya. "We can spare your parents for being the mortals who saved the realms, but you..."

She moved towards me, slowly transfroming into a woman carrying a white bow. "You have no reason to live."

"Except the son of destiny..." Tumayo siya sa aking paanan. "For he understands that nothing must stop us from reaching the pinnacle of greatness... and bring power... and hold it..."

Pinanood ko kung paano hatakin ng goddess ang tali ng pana niyang nakatuon sa'kin.

"Power that will give a goddess of the moon, the sun... the stars... the world..." A wicked smile smeared on her grim face. "We can outlive mortals, thus, we must not be outdone."

"Paige!"

Napatigil si Artemis pagkatapos umalingawngaw ang galit na sigaw ni Reign na biglang lumundag patungo sa kinatatayuan niya.

Unang naglaho ang goddess bago mawala rin si Reign.

Wala pang ni isang segundo nang dagliang pumuti ang aking paningin at narinig ko ang maingay na pagtama ng makapal na kidlat sa lupa.

Ilang sandali pa'y muli kong narinig ang boses ni Reign.

"Paige-" nag-aalala niyang tawag. "Paige!"

Lumuhod siya sa tabi ko. "Oh, Gods-" puna niya. "I'm sorry I-"

"Reign." Tinignan ko siya. "They want to write their own destiny..." sabi ko sa kanya. "Just like what our parents did."

"Nakakagalaw ka pa ba? Shoot-" Tila hindi niya narinig ang sinabi ko. "Ang daming dugo-" Dali-dali niyang tinanggal ang kapa niya. "Kahit anong mangyari, Paige, huwag kang pumikit-"

"Reign," I seriously called, dahilan na mapatigil siya. "I don't need you to tell me what to do."

Maingay siyang napabuntong-hininga. "Alam kong hindi na kailangan," aniya. "Pero bawal ba?"

"And did you-" I gently shook my head. "Did you even hear what I said? About the gods?"

She sighed, again.

"If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day," she quoted, na ipinagtaka ko nung una. "If you teach a man how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime."

She gently buttoned her cape around my neck.

"Only, they're not men. They're immortals. They don't need to eat fish to live- in fact, they don't eat at all," dagdag pa niya. "They only crave."

"So if you give a god a fish, he will want to eat every kind." Inayos niya ang kapa sa aking harapan. "And if you teach a god how to fish, he will want to conquer the ocean."

It was a metaphor, of how the gods desire to be above anyone else. How they will never truly be satisfied.

"Where'd that come from?" usisa ko.

"Elpis," mahinahon niyang sagot. "Sinabi niya sa'kin kung gaano sila kaiba sa'tin."

Tinulungan niya akong maupo.

"There's really no reason behind this, except that they're gods just being gods?" tanong ko.

She hummed in agreement. "Can you stand up?"

She held my back as I slowly stood on my feet, wincing a few times.

"But Reign..." Nanghina ang aking boses sa bandang huli. "Don't you feel bad for them?"

"Why would I?" tugon niya.

"They don't need food... water..." sabi ko. "Do you know what is left for them to survive?"

Hinintay niya akong sagutin ang sarili kong tanong.

"A purpose," sambit ko. "They still need a purpose to survive."

Nagkasalubong ang kanyang kilay.

I slightly tilted my head to make a point. "And what's the purpose of being a god if a man is more powerful than you?"

"You're saying that we can't blame them," she restated.

"Reign..." nanlambot ang aking boses. "You're a top student. What happens when another student, regardless of class, surpasses you?"

"Then I'm simply not the top student, anymore."

"What do you think happens to a god when a man, that should be less than him, becomes more of a god than him?"

Hindi siya sumagot.

"The god will stop being a god, Reign," saad ko. "Or worse, the god will lose his purpose..."

"The god will cease to exist," pagtatapos ko.

"So, the gods aren't mad?" she clarified.

"Not yet," mariin kong sagot.

Matagal-tagal niya akong tinitigan.

"Anong gustong mong gawin natin?" aniya. "Kausapin sila?"

Umiling ako. "They've become too desperate."

The gods have turned to killing us to survive.

Desperation works like that.

It blinds you, and forces you to do unspeakable things, like how a stranded crew could turn to eating one of their crewmates to survive, and it has already happened before in human history.

Think, Paige. Think.

"Where's our brothers?" tanong ko kay Reign.

"Hindi ko rin alam," aniya. "Bakit?"

"We need to go," tugon ko. "To some place else where the Olympians can't reach us."

"Paige." She sounded worried. "You know that the only place where they won't follow us..."

"I know," sang-ayon ko. "Let's go."

Isa's POV

Dragging the scythe behind me, I gave the god a curious look while walking towards him.

Mula sa pagkakaupo sa lupa, dahan-dahan siyang tumayo, at hindi ko napigilang mapangisi nang masulyapan ang gintong dugo na umaagos mula sa kanyang tagiliran.

I giggled uncontrollably as I quickened my steps, and finally laughed when I ran towards him.

My fingers curled tightly around my weapon. Leaving a small explosion on the ground, I leapt to where he stood, swinging the blade across the side of his neck with the intent of beheading him if only he didn't disappear.

Sumubsob ang aking mga paa sa lupa pagkatapos akong dumausdos dito.

Quickly sensing a presence behind me, my scythe formed into two katanas that I used to stop his sword from reaching the top of my head.

Nagsimulang manginig ang aking mga braso kakapigil ng lakas niya. Pinihit ko ang isa kong paa sa lupa at malakas na tinulak ang kanyang espada. Umikot ako nang nakaangat ang mga braso at akmang hihiwain ang kanyang gilid kung hindi niya lang nagawang sanggain ang sandata ko.

My ears rung loudly before I got blown away from the impact of our weapons.

Habang nasa ere, nag-anyong pana ang isa kong espada at pilit kong pinihit ang aking katawan paharap sa kanya.

My eyes met his first, before he unexpectedly met with one of my arrows that flew with the speed of light.

Tumama ito sa harapan ng kanyang balikat bago sumabog.

My weapons disappeared. I lowered my arms with palms facing behind me and gathered darkness in both my hands. I didn't plan to fall on land so I threw the darkness to where the god stood and became one with the shadow that flew towards him.

Nilingon niya ako.

He caught my gaze as soon as I appeared in front of him.

Using my own arrow made of light, and while obviously annoyed, Ares attempted to stab me, but it was me who stabbed him first, when a tall black spike grew from the ground in between us, its sharp tip piercing through the middle of his wrist.

Hinawakan niya ang dulo nito ngunit bago pa niya ito nagawang masira, isa pang malaking tinik ang umusbong mula sa lupa saka tumagos sa kanyang kabilang pulsuhan.

Sunod-sunod na nagsilabasan ang maiitim na tinik na mas matangkad pa sa kanya upang pigilan siyang makagalaw sa pwesto.

Nakatingala ako sa kanya nang wala sa sarili akong napahawak sa malalim na sugat sa bandang dibdib ng katawan ng kapatid ko.

"Do you know what it takes to kill her?" malamig kong tanong.

The god looked upon me with a furious gaze while trapped inside a prison made of thorns. His face and neck flushed red and his eyes glowed even redder, brighter, than his golden armor and blood.

"Me," I subtly answered.

But of course, he didn't understand.

Mula sa kanyang mga mata, bumaba ang aking tingin sa nakalantad na bahagi ng kanyang dibdib na pinagitnaan ng mga tinik.

Dahan-dahang pumiling ang aking ulo habang nakatitig dito.

Stabbing him would hurt, but it wouldn't kill him.

Nonetheless...

Napapikit ako nang tumalsik ang gintong dugo sa aking mukha pagkatapos lumabas ang dulo ng tinik sa kanyang dibdib.

The god exhaled a low growl that eventually turned into a man's scream the longer he got impaled.

His voice seemed to have bounced back on the heavens. Tumagal kasi ito sa aking pandinig, at lumakas, kahit nang itikom na niya ang kanyang nangangalit na bibig.

Napayuko ako ng ulo pagkatapos biglang gumalaw ang lupa sa ilalim ng mga paa ko. Mabilis ang ginawa kong pag-angat ng tingin nang sumiklab ang kanyang buong katawan at unti-unting tinunaw ang mga tinik na nakapalibot sa kanya.

I summoned one of my katanas that automatically flew to his hand.

One by one, all the weapons and shields surrounding us levitated, and struck his golden armor to form another armor.

Napaatras ako.

Unti-unting lumaki ang kanyang anyo dahil sa mga bakal na isa-isang dumikit sa kanyang katawan at kusang tumupi ayon sa hubog nito.

In front of me stood a giant made out of different kinds of steel and his eyes, still red with fury.

Run, my mind said, but my feet couldn't.

He easily broke my katana in his hand and all the blades of every sword that gathered in his hand formed a very large sword. One that's big as me.

Kasing talas din ng dulo nito ang mga talim na lumabas mula sa kanyang magkabilang templo at nagmistulang malalaking sungay na gawa sa bakal.

He was towering over me, reaching a height of almost fifteen feet.

I was able to look at my entire body's reflection on his leg before pain suddenly erupted from the right side of my waist.

Marahas niya akong dinampot sa lupa at di nag aksaya ng segundo na itapon ako pababa.

I braced myself.

Unang tumama sa lupa ang aking braso dahilan na mabali ito, saka kumalog ang aking buong ulo na kasunod na tumama.

Walang lumabas na hangin mula sa aking bibig nang mapaawang ito sa sakit. Pagkatapos, namimilay ang aking buong katawan nang humilata ako sa gitna ng nagmistulang hukay ko sa lupa.

My vision started to fade in and out, and I still haven't taken another breath ever since I hit the ground.

Mabigat na humilig ang aking ulo sa gilid at sa hindi inaasahan, nasulyapan ang isang bagay na malapit sa paanan ng god.

It was the only armor that didn't stick to his body.

A helmet that only covers the skull and eyes, with the language of the dead engraved all around its bronze plate.

Just how powerful is my grandfather's cursed helmet?

I used the last of my strength to answer my own question. Ares tried to reach for it once he noticed, but he barely touched it as it flew to me.

Mine.

Sinalo ko ito gamit ang isang kamay. Nagsimulang tumakbo si Ares sa kinaroroonan ko nang isuot ko ito sa aking ulo.

Walang nagbago.

Nananakit pa rin ang buong katawan ko, pero napansin ko si Ares na bumagal ang takbo at tuluyan na ngang huminto.

I glanced at him from the corner of my eyes.

The god continued to stare at me, before turning to the direction where the wind blew.

"Idiot," I mumbled under my breath.

Amber's POV

Suminghap ako pagkagising.

"Puta-" Nakatulog ako. "Nakatulog ako?!"

"You were out only for a couple of minutes," pagbibigay-alam sa'kin ni Ash na nakatayo sa may mesa.

"Kambal naman, eh!" Nagtangka akong umupo sa higaan.

"You're not fully healed, yet."

Sa halip ng pagpigil niya, inangat ko pa rin ang aking likod saka bahagyang sumandal sa headboard.

"Amber," seryoso niyang sambit.

"Pwede na ba akong ma-discharge, Doc?" nayayamot kong turan. "Parang kailangan na kasi ako ng mga kaibigan ko."

"No, I'm sorry," aniya at saka lumapit sa'kin na may dalang mga basang bimpo.

"Pang-ilan na ba yan?" usisa ko. "At ilan pa ba ang kailangan?"

Umupo siya sa tabi ko at maingat na inangat ang kumot na napagtanto ko ay pumalit sa lahat ng kasuotan ko.

"Sa'n na yung mga damit ko?" karagdagan kong tanong.

"Badly burned," sagot niya. "I brought you new ones." Sinenyasan niya akong tumingin sa bedside table kaya napalingon ako rito at nakita ang bagong t-shirt at pants na hinanda niya para sa'kin.

Habang ginagamot niya ako, inabot ko ang mga ito at unang kinuha ang pares ng underwear na nakapailalim .

Mahigpit kong tinakip ang kumot sa aking dibdib at dahan-dahang sinuot yung bra ko.

Pinigilan kong huwag mapangiwi sa sakit, para naman hindi maistorbo si Ash na nakakunot ang noo at tila malalim ang iniisip habang pinapalitan ang bandages sa tagiliran ko.

"You died," bigla niyang sabi.

Kinuha ko ang t-shirt mula sa mesa at sinuot ito. "Hmm?"

"Your heart stopped beating when you passed out," paliwanag niya.

"Eh di ibig sabihin di ko pa talaga panahon," kampante kong sagot.

"I can't bring you back from the dead, Amber." Tumigil siya para tignan ako nang napakaseryoso. "All I could do is try to resuscitate you-"

Nang makita akong nagpipigil ng ngiti, napailing siya sabay buntong-hininga, at nagpatuloy sa paggamot sa'kin.

"Ba't di pares?" tanong ko.

Daglian niyang sinulyapan ang panty na angat-angat ko.

"By pair yung underwear na dinala ko, Ash!" Diniin ko ito sa kanya. "Dapat blue din yung panty ko!"

"Stop-" Lumingon siya pataliwas dito. "Stop waving that in front of my face-"

Mahina akong natawa saka inilapit ito sa kanya.

"Amber!" aniya.

"Kailangan ko yung blue!" Akmang ilalapit ko pa ito sa kanyang mukha nang bigla siyang tumayo nang nakataas ang mga kamay.

"Fine- fine!" tugon niya. "I'm going to get it!"

Suot ang isang matagumpay na ngiti, hinatid ko ng tingin ang kapatid ko na lumabas ng kwarto.

Mayamaya'y dumako ang aking mga mata sa balat ko sa tagiliran na bahagyang natatakpan ng mga basang bimpo. Maingat kong tinanggal ang isa upang silipin ang ilalim nito at agad napaiwas ng tingin.

Hindi lang naman kasi nasunog yung balat ko. May sumubsob din na bagay sa kalamnan ko at nag-iwan ng mababaw na butas.

Hindi ko alam kung paano nagawang pigilan ni Ash ang pagdurugo nito, pero may kutob akong kawalan ng dugo ang naging sanhi ng kamuntikan nang pagkamatay ko.

Nabaling ang aking atensyon kay Ash na kapapasok lang, bitbit ang pinakuha ko.

Kinisap-kisapan ko siya habang malapad na nakangiti. "Thanks, kambal."

Inabot niya sa'kin ito at agad tumalikod nang igalaw ko ang aking mga binti sa ilalim ng kumot.

Habang sinusuot ito, hindi ko napigilang mapangiwi sa mga sandaling nauunat nang husto ang balakang ko.

"You okay?" aniya.

Abala ako sa pagtitimpi ng sakit kaya hindi ako nakasagot. Nang magawa ko na ngang suotin ito, pinakawalan ko na ang kanina ko pang pinipigilan na hininga.

"Okay na," pagbibigay-alam ko sa kanya.

Bumalik si Ash sa tabi ko. "Tell me when you start to feel pain again," tugon niya. "So I can give you another dose of painkillers."

Pagkaraan ng ilang minuto, natagpuan ko ang aking sarili na tahimik na nakamasid sa kapatid kong ibinuhos ang kanyang buong atensyon sa paggamot sa'kin.

"Kambal..." mahina kong tawag. "Huwag muna kayong magpakasal ni Hedone, ah? Hindi pa ako handang bitawan ka, eh."

Nahawa ako sa namuong ngiti sa kanyang labi. "I'm not in a hurry."

"And why would you ask me that?" Hindi niya ako binalingan ng tingin. "You don't have to let me go, Amber, you know I'm never leaving you."

"Si Mama kasi, hinanapan na ako ng jowa," pagsusumbong ko sa kanya.

Umangat ang kanyang magkabilang kilay. "Did she?"

"Sino raw mag-aasikaso sa'kin katulad ng pag-aasikaso ni Hedone sa'yo," dagdag ko pa. "Tamo, tinuring pa akong bata? Alam mo, parang tanga din 'tong si Mama minsan, eh-"

"Are you?" Nangungusisa ang kanyang mga mata nang tignan ako. "Looking for someone?"

Marahan akong napahawak sa kwintas na suot ko. "Hindi na..."

Tila kuntento sa sagot ko, nginitian ako ni Ash saka muling tumuon sa mga sugat ko.

Samantalang, kusang bumitaw ang aking mga daliri sa kwintas at palihim na bumaba sa gitna ng aking dibdib na nagsimulang mamigat.

Mahina akong napahagod dito, habang unti-unting napapatingin sa malayo.

"Yung..." Tumikhim ako at ibinaba ang aking kamay. "Yung iba? Kumusta?"

"I haven't heard from them," sagot ni Ash.

Pareho kaming napatigil pagkatapos makarinig ng malapit na pagsabog. Sinundan ito ng ingay ng may gumuguho.

Tumigil si Ash sa paggamot sa'kin saka tumayo.

Agad ko namang hinablot yung pants ko at sa kalagitnaan ng pagsusuot nito, muntik na akong mahulog sa higaan dahil sa biglaang pagyanig ng buong silid.

Vance's POV

Pagkatapos tumagos sa bubong ng templo, gumulong ako sa sahig upang iwasan ang trident na bumaon sa binagsakan ko.

The trident wobbled violently before flying back to the hand of the god who just entered the temple through the hole in the roof.

Nagmamadali akong tumayo.

"Poseidon, why can't we just talk this one out-" Muli niyang binato ang kanyang gintong trident kaya napatakbo na ako. "You gave me gifts for my birthday! For fuck's sake!" paalala ko sa kanya. "You gave me a horse! I named it after you!"

I ran outside the hall and turned into a wide corridor. Behind me, I heard the god break through the wall and he continued to do so, every time I entered a new hall or corridor.

That is, until I found myself in front of a dead end.

Mula sa kabilang dulo ng pasilyo, lumabas si Poseidon. Mabibigat ang kanyang mga hakbang pagitna ng pasilyo. Huminto siya nang harapin ako, at magaan niyang itinukod ang kanyang trident na nagdulot ng mahinang pagyanig sa sahig.

My sword fell to the bottom of the river during our underwater fight, and I have nothing else to use other than my abilities.

Abilities that I inherited from him, meaning whatever I could do, he could also do.

There's been a lot of instances wherein he was able to stop my power from reaching him. His golden blood was too heavy to control so I really can't use my ability to control blood to fight him either, except maybe throw a few needles or weapons made out of my own blood.

"Vance..." His grip of his weapon tightened. "You are powerful..."

Nagtaka ako sa sinabi niya.

"Why don't you come join us?" tanong niya na ikinatigil ko.

"Join you?" pag-uulit ko.

"We seek to change the world," aniya. "Rid it of... everything."

Why does he sound like he's going down and he wants to bring me down with him?

"What do you want me to do exactly?" tanong ko.

"Let us paint it black," dagdag niya. "Everything..."

Black?

"Don't you want to control more than just the ocean, Vance?" His eyes gleamed with intense desire. "Do you not want to control an ocean of stars?" Then he whispered the last few words. "A sea of galaxies?"

"Water won't drown you, Poseidon," puna ko. "But your ambitions will."

"Come to me, your grandsire," tugon niya. "And together, let us create our own endless oceans, and seas of impossibilities, made out of anything we could possibly think of-"

"A wise man once said that there is no calamity greater than lavish desires," mahinahon kong sabi. "There is no greater guilt than discontentment, and there is no greater disaster than greed."

"A wise man?" He was clearly offended. "You dare speak of wisdom in front of and against me?"

Tinapunan ko siya ng tamad na tingin.

That was not my point.

"You misunderstood," sabi ko.

"You have taken my mercy for granted." He raised his trident, and using both hands, slowly pointed it towards me. "You misunderstood and misplaced yourself."

Water gathered by the tip of his trident and formed a sphere that elongated as he pulled it back, forming a long whirlpool.

Hinanda ko ang aking sarili na salubungin ito.

Let's just hope I'd only get wet when it hits me.

Then the whirlpool glowed bright, dimming the entire corridor, spattering white and blue acid that melted the walls and floor.

One day, I'm going to survive an Olympian's attack.

Umatras ako nang isang hakbang.

But that day, is definitely not today.

Lumiwanag ng ginto ang aking buong katawan, nagpapahiwatig na itinayo ko na lahat ng depensa na meron ako laban dito.

"You have not..." Poseidon announced in deep rage, and his own menacing tone of voice echoed along the walls different words that didn't come out of his mouth.

'You will...'

"Honored my blood," he said. "For you have failed me."

'Never have in you, pride and glory,' he cursed. 'For you will fail.'

Ash's POV

The floor hissed after being turned into ash. I fell in front of Vance with a loud thud and heavily summoned my own power to stop the water from touching both of us.

Nakaharang ang aking magkabilang braso sa aming harapan nang pilit kong itinulak ang pakapal na abo sa direksyon ni Poseidon. Hindi ako nagpatinag sa matinding hapdi na dala ng mga patak ng tubig na tumalsik sa aking balat, at humakbang pasulong sabay diin ng aking kapangyarihan.

"Amber!" sigaw ko.

Poseidon suddenly pulled his power back, and I almost lost my balance. Summoning blue fire on one hand, I ran to where Amber had the god pinned on the ground and threw a flame at his hand that held his trident.

His grip loosened.

Sunod-sunod akong nagtapon ng apoy sa kanyang kamay hanggang sa bumukas ang kanyang palad.

The god threw my sister to the wall, but I was able to steal his weapon before he could grab it.

"Vance!" Hinagis ko ito kay Vance nang magawang hawakan ni Poseidon ang aking paa at hinampas ang aking katawan sa sahig.

My cape acted as a cushion, but its power wasn't enough to stop my back from aching terribly.

Poseidon managed to stand up and the moment he did so, the base of his golden trident hit his jaw. His face twisted. His body spun before he fell on the marble floor, shattering it with his heavy body and powerful presence.

Vance set his foot on Poseidon's chest and when the god's head slightly moved, he smacked the tip of the trident against his other cheek, scratching his skin with three deep cuts.

Gold liquid ran from the god's unconscious face.

"Vance!" tawag ni Amber dahilan na mapalingon siya rito. "Anong ginagawa mo?! Hindi naman 'yan namamatay, eh!"

To my surprise, my sister just received an empty glare and Vance soon returned his attention to the god under his feet.

"Say that again," tugon niya rito.

Itinukod ko ang aking magkabilang palad sa sahig at dahan-dahang inangat ang aking sarili.

I could see power pulsing beneath Vance's foot, preventing the god from moving.

"You..." Gumaspang ang boses ni Poseidon sa puntong parang hangin lang ang nilalabas nito, at hindi mga salita. "You will fai-"

My eyes widened when Vance raised the trident in his hand and plunged it into the god's throat.

A surprised breath escaped my lips.

I knew that descendants of Poseidon don't take words lightly, but I didn't know they take it this seriously.

Hinatak ni Vance ang trident at pagkatapos mag-iwan ng butas sa gitna ng leeg ng sarili niyang deity, tinanggal niya ang kanyang paa mula sa dibdib nito saka hinarap kami ni Amber.

Lumapit siya sa'min at inabot sa'kin ang trident.

Umiling ako.

Vance squinted his eyes at me before lowering the weapon. Bumaba ang kanyang mga mata rito, bago niya kami nilagpasan bitbit ito.

"No one speak about this," tugon niya.

Dali-daling tumango si Amber kahit nakatalikod sa'min ang tinatanguan niya. Samantalang, sumayad ang aking paningin sa mga patak ng dugo na iniwan ni Vance sa kanyang landas.

Ilang segundo akong napatitig dito.

He left a trail of both the blood of a man and a god. Red, from his body, and gold, from the trident he carried.

Sinenyasan ko si Amber na mauna. "I need to check on something."

Binigyan niya ako ng nag-aalangang tingin. "Pero kambal-"

"I won't take long," I promised.

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga saka tumango.

After my sister completely vanished from my sight, I turned to the god lying in the middle of liquid gold that leaked from his throat.

I crouched down beside his body and inspected not the hole in his neck, but the mark that Vance's foot left on his chest.

Hahawakan ko na sana ito nang bigla kong marinig ang tinig ng god sa aking isipan.

'We cannot be overcome.'

I was late to notice that he had his eyes opened.

"We don't plan to." Tumayo na ako. "But you are making us fight you."

"I still don't understand why we threaten you." Binigyan ko siya ng namamaalam na sulyap. "But whatever you want from us, you will not have it."

'We want your lives sacrificed.'

Nagsimula akong maglakad palabas ng hallway.

Definitely not, I thought, as I ran my fingers along the walls of the temple, leaving a line of ash that spread on the marble.

Binilisan ko ang aking mga hakbang pagkatapos makarinig ng pagguho sa aking likod.

Ibinulsa ko ang aking kamay at hinayaang masira ang kisame sa ibabaw ng katawan ni Poseidon.

Zack's POV

"Bro..." bulong ko pagkatapos makita ang bahagi ng templo ni Cronus na nasira.

Napansin ito ni Apollo na lumulutang sa tapat ko at sa sandaling lumingon siya rito, agad kong sinuntok ang kanyang pisngi dahilan na mapaikot siya habang nasa ere.

Ngumisi ako. "Heh."

Pero agad ding nabura ang aking ngiti nang makatanggap ako ng mas malakas pa na suntok mula sa sinag ng liwanag na dumaan sa aking harapan. Marahas na pumihit ang aking ulo bago ang aking buong katawan.

Kusang umunat ang isa kong pakpak nang mapaikot ako at aksidente itong nahampas sa kanyang katawan kaya napalipad din siya palayo sa'kin.

Hawak-hawak ang nananakit kong panga, tinapunan ko ng matalim na tingin ang tinuturing na golden boy ni Zeus, na hindi ko aakalaing literal pala ang ibig sabihin.

Paanong hindi, eh, lumiliwanag ng ginto yung buong katawan niya. Mula sa kanyang buhok at mga mata, hanggang sa dugong tumulo mula sa kanyang ilong.

Pinunasan niya ito at mula sa likuran ng kanyang kamay, galit niyang inilipat ang kanyang paningin sa'kin.

"I thought we had a deal not to hit each other's faces?" paalala niya.

"Magkaiba kasi yung kagwapuhan natin, bro," sagot ko nang nandidilat ang mga mata. "Yung sa'yo kasi sobrang nakakasilaw kaya kanina pa ako nangangating bugbugin ito nang dumilim naman kahit paminsan-minsan yung pananaw ko."

Yung totoo talaga n'yan, sumasakit na yung mga mata ko kakatingin sa kanya.

Sa kanilang lahat, siya ang god na pinakamadaling hanapin dahil siya lang ang may spotlight na palaging nakasunod sa kanya.

Hindi ko naman siya masisisi kasi 'yan din naman ang gagawin ko kung taglay ko rin ang kapangyarihan at hitsura niya.

"You dare break an oath to a god of Olympus?" aniya.

"Isang beses lang yun, bro," tugon ko. "Umiral lang kasi yung dugo ni Mama sa aking kamay." Inosente akong kumisap-kisap. "Gumalaw..."

Iniwasan ko ang bola ng liwanag na galit niyang ibinato sa'kin.

Pagtatawanan ko na sana yung reaksyon niya kung hindi lang sa panga kong biglang kumirot.

Sunod-sunod niya akong pinadalhan ng mga palasong kasingbilis ng liwanag kaya napaikot ako at mabilis na lumipad habang umiilag.

Umikot ako sa ibabaw ng malawak na kaparangan saka napagdesisyunang bumaba rito.

Tumakbo ako patungo sa isang lalaki na kakatayo lang sa gitna pagkatapos itapon ng isang higante.

"Tabi!" sigaw ko.

Pero hindi siya tumabi, kaya isang segundo ko lang nagamit yung kapangyarihan ko at agad nauntog sa likod ng gintong armor na suot niya.

Bumagsak ako sa lupa nang nangangatal ang noo. "Putcha-" Napahawak ako rito at napasigaw sa sakit. "Naman, eh!"

Hinarap ako ng sundalo at unang sumalubong sa'kin ang mga mata niyang kulay berde na kasingtingkad din ng buhok niyang kulay dilaw, katulad ng kay Apollo.

Pumiling ang kanyang ulo upang suriin ako.

"Bro..." mahina kong sambit.

"Imitheos?" tanong niya.

Ipinagtaka ko lang ito. "Huh?"

"Demigod?" pag-uulit niya gamit ang mas malalim na boses. "You?"

Tumango-tango ako.

"Ares?" Inabot niya sa'kin ang kanyang kamay na agad kong tinanggap.

"And Hermes," dugtong ko.

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin nang pulutin niya ang kanyang helmet at sinuot ito. "I am Akhilleús."

"Ah..." Napatango-tango ulit ako ngayong alam ko na kung bakit pamilyar yung hitsura at dating niya. "Achilles..."

"Zacharille," pagpapakilala ko sa sarili.

"Zack the phoenix?" aniya. "I heard about you."

Kailan pa ako naging 'Zack the phoenix'? At sinong may kapakana ng pangalan na 'yan? Kailangan naming mag-usap.

Ipinalikod niya ang isa niyang braso at naglabas ng isang gintong shield.

Nahagilap ng aking mga mata si Apollo sa repleksyon ng suot ni Achilles kaya umikot ako paharap sa god na may dalang pana at kumikinang habang naglalakad patungo sa'min.

"Of all the gods you ought to bring me..." Narinig kong sabi ni Achilles.

Huminto si Apollo pagkatapos makita ang lalaking nakatayo sa likod ko.

"I can take care of him for you," alok ni Achilles. "As long as you have my back."

Tumikhim siya. "The back of my feet, if you know what I mean."

"Ako na bahala sa paa mo, bro." Humakbang ako paalis sa pagitan nilang dalawa. "Wag kang mag-alala."

Ayon sa kuwento, kaya nagawang patayin ni Paris si Achilles sa Trojan War ay dahil iginiya ni Apollo ang palaso nito sa nag-iisang bahagi ng kanyang katawan na pwedeng masugatan: sa kanyang sakong.

Hinatak ni Achilles ang kanyang espada at sumugod kay Apollo na sinalubong din siya bitbit ang panang ginamit nitong pangsangga.

"Zack!" bigla kong narinig ang boses ni Reign.

"Wag!" Pinigilan ko sila ni Paige na istorbohin yung dalawa. "Away ng mga guwapo, to."

"Have you seen Bella?" tanong ni Reign.

Nilingon ko sila. "Di ba si Ares yung kalaban niya?"

"Ares and Hermes are fighting against Hercules and the other heroes right now," pagbibigay-alam sa'kin ni Paige. "And we were only able to trace her presence in the middle of an empty crater. It was the place where someone last saw her."

"Sino? Sinong nawawala?"

Dumating si Amber kasama sina Ash, at Vance na may dalang gintong trident.

"Where'd you get that?" usisa ni Paige sa kapatid nito.

"Poseidon," matipid na sagot ni Vance. "So, who's missing?"

"Bella," sambit ni Reign. "And Grey."

"I think I know where Grey is," sabi ni Vance. "But I'm not sure about Bella."

"Anyone knows where she could possibly be?" tanong ni Ash.

Tapos, sabay nilang akong tinignan.

"Oh?" Luminga-linga ako sa kanila. "Ba't ako?"

"Tanga ka ba?" ani Amber. "Ikaw lang ang may kayang hanapin ang batang 'yon! Kaya gamitin mo na yung kapangyarihan mo, bilis!"

Ipinakita ko sa kanila ang labang nangyayari sa likod ko. "Kauutos lang sa'kin ni Achilles na protektahan ko yung paa niya!"

"Ako na," suhestyon ni Amber.

"Let me," sabi naman ni Reign.

"I think I'm capable," dagdag pa ni Paige.

Napasimangot ako sa inasta nung tatlo.

Binigyan ko ng blangkong tingin sina Vance bago naglaho at lumipat malapit sa kinaroroonan nina Ares at Hermes.

"Bella." Sinubukan kong tawagin siya, pero pagkalipas ng ilang segundo, hindi siya nagpakita.

Nagsimula akong maglakad palibot habang nagmamasid.

"Bella," mahinahon kong tawag ulit.

At sa pangalawang pagkakataon, hindi pa rin siya nagpakita, o kahit nagparamdam man lang.

"Isabella Salvatori..." Pinaningkitan ko ang dalawang deities. "Nasaan ka?"

Babalik na sana ako kina Reign nang marinig ko bigla ang galit na sigaw ni Hermes.

"Father! Father will end us!" Binalibag niya ang mga sundalo sa kanyang harapan at dinuro ang ibang huntsmen. "Find it!"

"I will kill you first if you don't!" pagbabanta pa niya sa mga ito. "Go! Do not return to me without it!"

Anong pinaghahanap niya?

Lumitaw ako sa harap ng isa sa mga huntsmen na tumakbo pagkatapos utusan ng god.

Sinunggaban ko ang leeg nito saka tinulak pababa sa lupa.

"What was he looking for?" tanong ko nang nakayuko sa tabi niya.

Niluwagan ko ang pagkakasakal sa kanya nang makapagsalita siya.

"H-Helm..." Hinawakan niya ang braso ko. "Hades..."

Bumaba ang aking noo habang unti-unting dinudurog ang kanyang lalamunan, dahilan na mapakalmot siya sa braso ko.

"Helm of Hades?" paglilinaw ko.

"Ye-"

Tinapon ko ang katawan niya paangat sa ere.

Inilabas ko ang aking mga pakpak at lumunsad para salubungin ang pagkahulog niya ng isang suntok sa sikmura na ikinaangat pa nga niya.

Sa baba, nag-abot ang aming mga mata ni Hermes na nilingon ako.

Hindi ko tinatanggal ang aking tingin sa kanya nang pihitin ko ang aking kamay sa kuwelyo ng huntsman na walang malay at umikot para ibato ang katawan nito sa kanya.

Mabilis akong naglaho saka bumalik sa harap nina Reign.

"Di niyo na kailangang hanapin," sabi ko. "Andito lang 'yon."

"Paano mo naman nasabi 'yan?" ani Amber.

Nginuya ko ang totoong sagot. "Lukso ng dugo?"

Hinarap naman ni Reign si Vance. "And Grey?"

Matagal na nakasagot si Vance kaya isa-isa kaming napatingin sa kanya.

"There's..." Tinaas niya ang kanyang hintuturo. "Umm-" Kinawag-kawag niya ito, halatang nagdadalawang-isip na ituloy ang sasabihin. "There's been a situation."

"He specifically asked me not to tell anyone," aniya. "Especially Reign..."

Grey's POV

Tumingala ako at hinilig ang aking ulo sa sandalan ng trono.

Intoxicated with the taste of my own blood, I licked the fresh cuts on my lips and drunkenly laughed at the deities who have almost exhausted all their means to break me.

"He is, a strange one," sabi ni Dionysus.

Suot ang isang nagaganahang ngisi, ibinaba ko ang aking ulo upang harapin silang lahat.

"What?" My voice challenged them. "You were not prepared to interrogate?"

Muli akong natawa. "Didn't the son of Destiny tell you what you're up against when you decided to surprise us with an attack?"

"Xerxes Gabriel..." Athena called. "Your death will not be a gentle one."

"I was..." I paused to catch a breath. "-hoping so, too."

"I am not in favor of where this is going..." Hera finally spoke, after staying silent and hiding behind her husband. "I suppose we should return-"

"That's unlikely of you," puna ko.

"Silence." Her round full eyes widened to threaten. "My world bleeds because of your very existence, Omega, do you understand why?"

My mouth partially opened for a few seconds before a word managed to get out. "Please." Bumaba nang kaunti ang aking noo. "Humor me."

"My world..." She took slow heavy steps towards me. "My family..."

Stopping in front of me, she continued. "Everything I am and have will continue to bleed if you continue to live."

"You, are the true burden..." Her voice trembled deep for a woman. "For the moment you were destined to be born, was the moment everything transcended into a void of nothing but madness."

"There could only be one true Omegas in this world," dagdag pa niya. "And their blood, is gold."

"Men were not created to surpass us!" She suddenly shouted. "We did not fight wars of every generation only to be overthrown by mere..." Seemingly disgusted, she whispered, "Mortals."

"You were bestowed with great power since the day you were born, and for what?" aniya. "What is your purpose in this world except grow to become our enemies and seek to overthrow us someday?"

"So, you're afraid?" Raising my brows, I continued, "Because you know that is exactly what you did and what the gods before you did to satisfy your need for power and control."

"We were born to rule, child," she insisted.

"Has it never occurred to you that maybe we have reached a point in time that we do not need anymore a heirarchy?" I calmly asked. "Is this something you need to catch up on? Because you sound like a nagging grandmother who cannot understand how to use a phone and is now blaming her grandson for being the worse teacher when all he wants to do is help."

"Our world is much more different than yours-"

"Does not mean that it will not grow!" I unintentionally raised my voice, catching both of us by surprise.

Realizing what I did, I looked around while breathing heavily.

Napalunok ako. "Look-" Hininaan ko ang aking boses. "All I'm saying is, you can't be like this forever."

"The world changes through time and if you don't want to change along with it, then it's fine, but..." paliwanag ko. "But if you don't want to change so you force to change the world back into the state that you're used to, then I assure you that you will not get what you want because you're only going to destroy everything."

"Why can't we all just-" Napailing ako. "I don't know? Get on with our lives and stop getting into each other's businesses?"

"Lui a coupé la langue," utos ni Aphrodite.

'Cut his tongue out.'

Athena unsheathed a dagger after hearing it.

"Attendez, let me get this straight." My voice grew weary of trying to talk some sense into them. "You believe we are a threat to you even though we absolutely did nothing. And then you try to kill us, so we fight back. And now you put the blame on us for all this mess?"

"It is..." Kumunot ang aking noo. "A bit manipulative, non?"

But I understood.

I understood why they feel the urge to kill us after perceiving us as a threat even though we did not do anything to question their power and ability to rule.

Because this isn't the first time something like this happened.

In fact, it has happened a lot of times already.

Kings and queens have killed their own brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews to stay in power.

Kailanma'y hindi ko maiintindihan kung paano umikot ang mundo ng isang tao sa kapangyarihan pero alam kong may mga tao, o mga nilalang ngang umiikot ang mundo sa kapangyarihan at kapangyarihan lang, kaya walang pami-pamilya sa kanila, walang kaibigan.

I was not raised to believe that power is everything, you see.

But I know, for some, it is.

I know there are others who were raised to believe that the point of existing is reaching the top, where one can see and control everything, and then maintaining it.

And what usually happens to them is that, they break from the pressure.

Which is why if they won't kill themselves, then they're going to hurt or kill somebody else, regardless if it's intentional or not.

The gods are like that, but worse.

I mean, imagine living through thousands of years without going to therapy once.

You'd expect them to be these wise creatures. Ones that, through the longest amount of time have constantly changed for the better. But no, because the truth is, they're actually spiraling down towards complete insanity.

"He is stubborn," Demeter commented. "Even more hard-headed than you, Zeus."

"The other deities have not yet returned..." mahinang sabi ni Aphrodite.

"Are we going to pretend that we care?" ani Athena.

"We can still bring him with us," suhestyon ni Dionysus. "Lock him inside Hephaestus' man oven- where is Hephaestus?"

Napatingin ako sa nasunog kong binti.

The gods took their turns in inflicting pain to get me to break, except Hera and Zeus, who stood to watch.

Tumikhim ako at napakunot ng noo sa pagsakit ng aking lalamunan.

I shifted uncomfortably on the throne after some of Demeter's thorns sunk too deep under my skin.

Meanwhile, one of my legs was badly burned by Hephaestus. It is numb now. I can still move it, but I can't feel a thing, unlike Athena's shallow cuts on my skin that is pulsating with pain, especially the one that lined my jaw.

I still have a headache from Aphrodite's voice too, and my lungs hurt from the poison that Dionysus shoved down my throat with a broken glass.

Marahan akong natawa sa halip ng pinakamalubhang sakit na ngayon ko lang naranasan.

"You know the more you hurt me, the more I get numb, right?" kampante kong tugon sa kanila. "And how do you think can you torture me if I can't feel anything?"

I leaned a little bit closer to them. "Might as well kill me at this point," pabulong kong sabi.

If the gods were good manipulators, I was a good pretender, because what I just said was definitely a bluff. A lie. A fraud. An act.

I was on the verge of breaking from the pain. My eyes were swelling with tears that I tried to hide behind my heavy eyelids.

They could only tell I was exhausted, not giving up.

Pinakinggan ko sila na nagdedesisyon kung anong gagawin, pagkatapos naunang umalis nina Hera at Hephaestus.

I subtly grinned.

The two of them were the easiest to bore.

"Look at him." Demeter waved her hand to present me. "He is dying!"

True.

"And he thrives off of pain!"

Not true.

"He likes torment!"

Partly true.

"Athene?" sambit ni Zeus.

Athena didn't even bother looking at me. "He is unyielding, Father."

And for a few seconds, there was silence.

"He will succumb," Athena stated. "But not this time..."

The gods turned their avenging eyes on me, and their faces were incredibly hostile and unforgiving.

"Cheers, demigod." Dionysus raised a glass as his body turned to golden orbs that floated up to the sky. "Because of your courage, the gods of Olympus will seek to destroy you first."

Sunod-sunod na lumiwanag ang katawan ng natirang deities.

"For what you have done..." Aphrodite added. "Even the Fates cannot protect you."

Zeus was the last one to disappear and to my confusion, he did not leave a threat nor an insult.

"By the time we meet again, I would have already been consumed with the fear of being betrayed by my own kin."

What he left, was a decent message...

"For compared to your father's, the blood of a usurper runs stronger in your veins."

An explanation...

"And there is no meaning behind the power you possess except that you were destined to be greater, Grey."

And a mission...

"Look for the Furies," tugon niya. "They will be your counsel like how the Fates serve as mine."

I chuckled bitterly. "You're trying to help me?"

"It is the last thing I am able to do for my son," paliwanag niya.

"My father..." I whispered to myself. Right. Dad. The only one Zeus considers family is Dad.

"Your destiny is already written on your name, Xerxes, the ruler of heroes."

"I already know what my name means," I muttered.

"Then you should already know the burden of carrying a name as such."

I took in a deep painful breath and bore Zeus a serious gaze. "Give me one reason why I should follow your advice of seeking for the Furies."

The god smiled knowingly. "I have none."

Panandaliang umangat ang aking magkabilang kilay.

"This is all but a farewell, demigod," paalam niya. "This is a declaration of war."

Zeus faded into thin air but I could still feel it. His powerful presence that he left me with.

Magaspang ang mahinang tawa na kumawala mula sa bibig ko.

"J'emmerde les dieux," I weakly whispered.