LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 39: Clash with Zeus
The Interruption of Their Return
Having conquered numerous trials in the otherworld, Loki and his companions had finally acquired their respective divine artifacts. Now, they prepared for the final ritual that would allow them to return to the real world.
“We’ve made it this far… everyone’s efforts have finally paid off,” Loki said, looking around at his allies with a deep sense of gratitude.
A Sudden Intrusion
Just as the ritual was about to begin, the atmosphere changed abruptly, and Zeus appeared before them. His overwhelming presence brought an instant halt to everyone’s movements.
“I won’t let you return to the real world,” Zeus’s cold voice echoed through the space.
“Why, Zeus? What are you trying to stop us for?” Loki demanded, stepping forward.
Zeus glanced at Loki with icy eyes but remained silent. Without a word, he unleashed a sudden attack, leaving his true intentions shrouded in mystery.
A Fierce Battle Ensues
The group immediately sprang into action, using their newly acquired divine artifacts to defend themselves and retaliate against Zeus.
Loki wielded the Spear of Chaos, summoning a massive lightning strike that he hurled toward Zeus. The thunderbolt crackled through the air, but Zeus easily deflected it with a multi-layered barrier.
Gaia (Misa Morino) called forth the immense power of nature from the Eternal Gaia Crystal, trying to envelop Zeus with the force of the earth. However, his barrier absorbed the force effortlessly. Undeterred, Gaia summoned her spirits, launching successive attacks against Zeus.
Uranus (Sora Morino) unfurled the Robe of Time and Space, opening dimensional rifts to trap Zeus’s movements. The spatial distortions managed to wound Zeus, albeit slightly.
Coordinated Attacks
Seeing their chance as Zeus faltered, the entire team synchronized their attacks.
Loki, once more, brandished the Spear of Chaos, summoning another massive bolt of lightning before transforming the spear into a blade and charging at Zeus. The blade glowed with an intense light, managing to break through Zeus’s defenses and inflict a serious wound.
Apollo (Kō Moroboshi) strummed his Lyre of Light, intensifying the mental assault on Zeus. The music reverberated throughout the battlefield, amplifying his allies’ powers.
Prometheus (Kagayaki Ginga) unleashed the full force of the Digital Flame, launching a barrage of cyber-energy that struck Zeus head-on.
Hermes (Ryoko Akiha) assisted Uranus by reinforcing the dimensional rift, further destabilizing Zeus’s defenses.
Icarus (Sui Takahara) unfurled his Wings of Icarus, combining the powers of wind and fire to deliver a devastating aerial assault.
Zeus’s Fierce Counterattack
Despite his injuries, Zeus retaliated fiercely. His powers had not yet waned, and his counterattacks were brutal.
“I will end you all here!” Zeus roared, summoning a tempest of lightning and wind that crashed down upon the group.
Loki transformed his spear into a shield, trying to deflect the powerful bolts of lightning. Apollo played defensive melodies on his lyre to shield their minds from Zeus’s mental onslaught. Hermes used her wings to blink out of range, avoiding the barrage. Asclepius (Masato Matsuda) raised the Cup of Life, healing his comrades’ wounds and restoring them to fighting form. Gaia summoned her spirits to create protective walls, shielding her allies. Uranus distorted time and space, deflecting Zeus’s strikes with the Robe of Time and Space. Prometheus supported the team with cyber-energy shields, while Icarus used wind currents to soften the blows of Zeus’s attacks.
The Final Strike
“This ends now!” Loki shouted as everyone channeled the last of their strength for a final, coordinated assault.
Loki’s lightning, Apollo’s light, Uranus’s dimensional tear, Gaia’s nature spirits, Prometheus’s digital fire, Hermes’s dimensional slash, and Icarus’s wind and flame all converged on Zeus at once.
Zeus tried to erect a multi-layered barrier once more, but the combined strength of all their attacks shattered through his defenses. Wounded severely, Zeus gritted his teeth.
“So… this is your power…” Zeus muttered, bloodied but still standing, refusing to fall despite his grievous injuries.
The End of the Battle and New Mysteries
At the climax of the battle, Zeus found a brief opening and vanished, disappearing from the battlefield.
“Why would someone as powerful as Zeus choose to flee?” Hermes asked, catching her breath.
“He wasn’t trying to kill us. It seems like his goal was simply to stop us from returning to the real world… but why?” Loki voiced his suspicions as he continued to ponder Zeus’s motives.
“There was something strange about his behavior,” Apollo added thoughtfully. “It wasn’t about defeating us; it was as though he was more concerned with preventing our return…”
“Maybe something critical is happening in the real world, and Zeus knows about it. Perhaps he thinks our return will interfere with whatever’s going on,” Hermes speculated.
“Whatever his reasons, we need to return to the real world. The only way we’ll find out what Zeus is hiding is by going back,” Loki said resolutely, turning to his comrades as they resumed preparing for the ritual.
“There was a definite sense of urgency in his actions… something bigger than this battle is unfolding, and we need to understand it,” Apollo agreed.
With renewed determination, Loki and his companions continued the final preparations for their return, knowing that the mystery of Zeus’s interference would soon be revealed in the real world.