THEOS

A shimmering golden bubble appeared around them as Heracles activated a protective talisman in response to the incoming attacks.

Just in time too, as the next volley of arrows contained seemingly countless amounts of explosive talismans attached to them. Each of the resulting explosions splashed harmlessly off their own barrier, and sent dirt, mud, and bits of plants flying into the air.

Amidst the barrage, dozens more hairless warriors spilled out from the castle, and joined the offensive.

A man dressed in golden armor and holding a golden spear rose higher in the air than the rest of his clan, almost escaping it entirely, and immediately started barking orders from within the barrier.

Luke glanced at them nervously, and tore his eyes away. Ignoring them for the moment as he looked at the slip of paper in Heracles’s hand. It looked like any other talisman, but the way the Son of Zeus longingly gazed at it, stoked his curiosity.

“So what does that one do?” He asked eagerly.

“It’s a teleportation talisman. I don’t know what tier it is, but we found two of them on Lemnos. Out of every talisman I have, this one is the most useful. It should take us anywhere I’ve seen with my own eyes… It’s also the only one I have left, and I don’t have the ability to get more.” He frowned. “As far as I know, there’s only a single god who knows the pattern to create them, and he… can’t anymore.” He took a deep reluctant breath, and started scanning the castle grounds in search of a place to enter. “I wanted to keep it for…” He shook his head. “Never mind.”

That does sound useful… Instantly going anywhere you want, that’s... A single one of those is basically a get out of jail free card. I mean… It’s not super useful to me personally, the only places I’ve been are Carim and now Sylcra, but for someone like Heracles who’s actually seen the world… He could move halfway across it in an instant. Unless… he mentioned a god… could it take me back to Earth?

“Teleportation isn’t impossible for heroes though. Why would that be rare?” Nel looked at it skeptically.

“You’re right of course. But when I say anywhere, I mean it. With this, I could go to Olympus, Atlantis, Elysium, or even jump back to the Argo– all without any cost to me. The way heroes teleport doesn’t compare, and it drains them. Most, like your grandfather, rely on artifacts that gather and store ambient mana to mitigate the cost, but even then it’s quite difficult and the range is small. WIth help, they could probably make a network that spans the Archipelago, but that’s it. You have to be a god or something close to it to really travel the world freely. With this, I can. So long as I’ve been there before, I can be there again. Some wards might block it, but…” He trailed off, and looked meaningfully at the barrier surrounding the castle. “Not that. A Rebel Hero won’t have anything that can stop this.”

Nel’s jaw practically dropped to the floor, and her eyes widened in surprise. “Maybe we shouldn’t–”

Heracles tore the perforated tab.

The talisman flew out of the air, and an ominous pressure emerged from it. Every instinct Luke had told him to get far away from it, and his knees buckled, and dug into the soft fur of the griffins back. His mouth immediately went dry, and he took a hold of his mana and struggled back to his feet, nervously eyeing Nel’s crumpled form resting against the griffin’s neck.

“Steady.” She yelled, and her familiar began bucking, threatening to throw them off of it and onto the ground. Its wings stretched out to the side, and began beating nervously, while it screeched. “Stay.” Nel yelled again, running soothing circles on her neck.

What kind of talisman is that? Luke thought with horror.

Space itself seemed to fracture in every direction and formed a black web-like pattern from where the slip of paper anchored itself in the air.

Heracles roared, taking one strenuous step after another towards it. Stretching an arm out in front of him, he tried to touch it.

The cracks surged forward and crept up to his arm. Blood sprayed from his hand and forearms. Undeterred, he grit his teeth, and kept pushing forward.

His ring glowed softly, and brilliant silver armor appeared around him, covering every inch of his body.

Luke didn’t know how much it helped, as the cracks had no difficulty spreading through it, but it seemed to provide him enough relief to close the last few inches between him and the talisman.

The second his finger touched it, a black hole appeared in its place. A cloud of devastating pressure gusted forward and instantly the griffin ceased its thrashing. The attention of something landed emerged from the blackness.

Recognition spread across Luke’s face, before he carefully schooled his expression. He knew that inky blackness. He would never forget it. It was the same one he had been engulfed in when he died on earth. It was the darkness of the Aether.

Where the fuck did Heracles get this thing.

Unable to tear his eyes away, he felt where the path was leading too. Forcefully turning his gaze away from it, he could just feel the spot behind the castle where it would deposit them.

“GO NOW.” Heracles yelled, breaking him free of a daze he didn’t even know he was in. He winced at the blood pouring from the seams of his armor, and looked to Nel. She nudged her griffin forward, but it reared back from the light sucking hole in reality.

Before that moment, Luke didn’t know that birds could look that scared.

“NO. AURA. NO.” She yelled.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Luke panicked as the golden wings of her familiar started flapping in agitation as it inched back from the portal.

Knowing what was about to happen, he leapt from its back, and on cue, the griffin flapped its wings and disappeared into the sky with Nel still on it. A golden bubble appeared around them as they did, and Luke watched with despair as a handful of the Warrior’s flew from the shielded castle in pursuit of her.

“NO TIME. GO.” Heracles yelled again. “I’ll be right behin–”

Face set in determination, Luke nodded, wrapping himself in a coat of his mana, he flew through the portal. The second he crossed through to the other side, he felt dissolve. The pressure disappeared entirely, and he was behind in a secluded spot on the opposite side of the castle. For the moment, hidden from the others, but separated from his allies, and surrounded by enemies.

Instead of blood, he felt dread run through his veins.

Shit. Shit. Shit. He cursed over and over again in his mind. Okay, it’s not that bad. It seems like none of them noticed me come in. So, that’s something.

Forcibly calming himself down, he pressed himself clean against the wall, and carefully peaked around the corner.

Heracles had flown high into the air, and Luke strained his eyes as he watched him down what looked to be a healing potion. Their eyes briefly met through his armor, and Luke nodded to him.

Opening his mouth, he rested a finger across his lips. Imperceptibly, Heracles nodded at him. Seeming to clue into Luke’s intentions.

What happened next stunned both him, and each of the Clan Skyscar members. The Son of Zeus rose high into the air, and began to yell.

“I AM HERACLES. FAVORED SON OF ZEUS, KING OF GODS AND A PRINCE OF OLYMPUS. AND YOU–”, he pointed his club towards the flying warrior’s inside the barrier surrounding the decrepit castle, “ARE MY ENEMIES. SURRENDER NOW, AND I SHALL SPARE YOU MY JUDGMENT.”

A hush fell over them, and immediately they stopped attacking. The man in golden armor flew to the very edge of the barrier.

“Your Highness…” He said reluctantly, bowing down in the air. “Our families have been captured and we are sworn by oath to serve the Empress. We can not do as you ask, and humbly ask for your mercy. If you attack, we will be forced to die by your might.”

Taking that as his cue, Luke scanned the castle walls, and finding a window, flew towards it.

Distantly, he heard Heracles demand for them to deliver him Tyrisa. A moment later, the world once again devolved into battle. They had refused.

If they really swore oaths, that was probably going to be the outcome from the start. Alright. No problem. I just have to kill her, and it should work out.

Luke hyped himself up and peaked inside the castle.

Seeing that no one was there, he stuck his sword into the window’s frame. Then as quietly as he could, he heaved it up, and flew inside. Landing lightly on his feet, he took a deep breath, and looked around the cobblestone interior, and the gas lamps illuminating the corridor, and began walking down it, while channeling negligible amounts of mana into his boots so he was just an inch over the ground, and not making any noise.

Idly peeking his head into the rooms as he passed one empty room after another. Carefully checking each as he did.

I’ll need to find her fast though. If I'm found, I’ll likely have to fight, and getting into a fight would be bad.

Not only have I never fought a warrior before, I don’t want to kill any of them either. More than that, most of them will probably be stronger than me, and might even have Techniques of their own. Any one of them could have an advantage that instantly wipes my own.

That said, I also had a perfect ascension to the Warrior-tier… It’s possible that most of them still have attributes in the Mortal-tier, but some of them may even be centuries old. If that’s the case… Shit.

Heracles is distracting them for the moment, but I doubt they’ll focus on a threat outside their wards if they find one inside them.

Coming to a halt at a corner, he carefully poked his head past the corner, withdrew it instantly, and then poked it back out.

There was no one there, but it opened up to a set of stairs. One end going up, and the other going down.

If I was a Rebel, recovering from wounds, would I rest at the top of the castle or the bottom? Anyones that’s a threat to her, would be able to fly… so bottom it is.

Silently inching forward, he went around the corner, and poked his head over. There was no one there, but Luke could hear two voices

“I don’t get it, why is fighting this Heracles guy such a big deal?” A gruff voice echoed through the second floor.

“Because, if he’s actually a son of a god, and we kill him… the Empress won’t be able to protect us. Or herself.” A woman answered.

“He’s gotta be lying though, right? What would the child of a god be doing all the way out here, and why would he be trying to kill us? Do you think the Empress killed someone he cares about or something?”

No, Heracles just isn’t a fan of letting people with more power than restraint have their way. Luke thought dryly, straining his ears to make out the direction the voice came from.

“Look, it doesn’t matter.” The woman snapped. “We’re stuck with the Empress until she dies and the oath we swore breaks. Until then, wait here. I’m going to see what’s taking the alchemists so long. The sooner we get her the potions, the sooner she can go and kill the bastard, whoever he is. Honestly I hope she does, and I hope he’s actually the child of a god. Maybe one of those bastard Olympians will actually come down from their gilded paradise and kill her.” She muttered under her breath.

Luke slid back, as the woman crossed quickly flew past the stairs, and descended deeper into the castle.

Is she… Feeling his heart beat in his chest, Luke sent both his swords and their sheaths into his inventory. Then swapping out his robes for a fresh pair he took a deep breath, and strode forward. A vial of healing potion in each of his hands.