Achilles sarcastically clapped after hearing his horse entrance speech. “Bra-vo. I feel bad when you’re the only one who is able to speak. Athena should have given both of you the ability of human speech.”

Balius, his other horse turned its head to Xanthus and neighed. Xanthus nodded and looked at Achilles. “ Balius said that he rather be dead than having a stupid mouth like m…...you!YOU! Balius said that you have a stupid mouth! You should punish him!i.”

“Oh shut up Xanthus! Look in front of you!” Achilles pointed forward with his spear.

Heracles stood still, watching their ridiculous behaviour. His body singed and scratched a little in the arm, but other than that there was no damage to him.

“Look like the explosion is not enough to damage him. Guess we have to charge directly at him.” Achilles remarked.

“Done?” Heracles asked. He leap up high into the air with his club held with both hand.

“Balius, Xanthus!”

With the sound of their hooves against the hard ground, The horses pulled the chariot out of the way before Heracles slammed his club on them. Their trot became canter which in turn became a gallop as they climbed the wall of the crater.

They gained more and more speed and momentum as they climbed the almost vertical wall. Xanthus and Balius hooves caught on fire as they got near the top of crater. The sound of chariot wheel grinding the rock couldn’t be heard anymore as both the chariot and horse flew in the air.

The horses galloped in the air as if they were still on the ground, getting further and further to the sky. The chariot turned sideway when it was far enough from the ground and began circling in the sky above Heracles.

“ACHILLES!” Heracles let out a thunderous shout as he extended his arm to the side. His shout could be heard by Achilles whose chariot was hundreds of meter above where he stood.  “LET’S US SEE! WHO IS THE GREATEST OF GREEK HERO BETWEEN US!”

Heracles took out a huge bow that is as big as his body and place a proportionately huge arrow on it. His muscle tensed and bulged as he pulled the string and aimed it at sky.

Smile appeared on Achilles face. “I take your challenge Hercules. Let us decide who is the greatest of greek hero.” He tighten his grip of the rein that controlled both Xanthus and Balius. “Xanthus! Balius!” Both his horses and his chariot sparked lightning around them. They got faster and faster at circling the sky that a huge halo of lighting appeared in the sky.

With a huge shockwave Heracles let go of the arrow in his hand. His hair blown by the shockwave as his arrow accelerated to a speed faster than that of the sound. A deafening sonic boom erupted as the arrow twisted the air and pierced the sky.

The arrow missed, but the ripple in the air could be felt by Achilles and his horses as the arrow passed them. The arrow flew past them and didn’t stop even when it reached the cloud above. It created a visible hole in the thick cloud that covered the sky that night.

“Impressive! But you won’t beat me if you can’t hit me!” Achilles shouted.

“Then dodge this!” Heracles replied  by shooting several arrow in quick succession. Even though he shot multiple arrow, each one was as powerful as before.

None of it hit Achilles chariot, but it came closer than the first one before.

‘This is bad! He will hit me in one point.’ Achilles thought. He raised one of his arm then pointed it at Heracles below. “It’s time to attack boys!”

Both of his horse changed their direction and took a dive, followed by his chariot. They gained more speed as they descended. Thunder and flame erupted around and enveloped them, creating a barrier that protected them and at the same time increased their destructive force.

Heracles took out his club and held it with both of his hand. Red mist evaporated from his skin, and pushed out the air around him. The ground under gave up as he raised the club above his head. “God of war, Stance!”

Rose couldn’t believe what had transpired. She had seen a legendary spirit like Aldwin or Hector fight before, but what she saw on that night was on a whole another level. Arrow that travelled faster than sound, blazing chariot that flew in the sky faster than a racing car, she was both amazed and afraid. And just when she thought that there could be nothing more unbelievable that could happen, she was proven wrong.

Aldwin stood in front of her, his arm extended forward. Black smoke shielded both of them in a spherical shape. The last thing she saw before the black shield formed was Achilles chariot taking a sharp dive at Heracles.

The ground quaked and rumbled all around her. She could only imagine what was happening.

The black smoke returned to Aldwin’s body after the ground calmed again. Her eyes widen, looking at the devastation all around her. The side of the mountain that she was on was gone. The road, the park, and everything in front of her that was part of the mountain, turned into a steep cliff. The trees and forest all around her caught in a blazing flame.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Impressive! don’t you think?” Lucifer appeared next to them. His broken and twisted left hand had already healed almost completely. He was carrying Elizabeth on his back.

“Lucifer!” Rose shouted and jumped back..

“Easy girl! We may be enemy, but watching two legendary hero fighting each other is worthy of cease fire. Even your spirit understand that.” Lucifer answered.

Just like Lucifer said, Aldwin did not move. Aldwin stood silently next to her, his eyes focused on one thing and one thing only. In bottom of the cliff in front of them, two man who caused it all stood, Heracles and Achilles. Lucifer stood next to him, joining him watching those below them and ignoring Rose.

“What do you think?” Lucifer folded his arm and asked while Elizabeth played with his cheek.

“Pretty obscene destructive power, but it was scattered over a large area. Heracles arrow is more impressive in term of energy density.” Aldwin answered. Aldwin turned his head to face Lucifer. “Why don’t you join the party? It’s still hot down there.” He sneered.

Lucifer closed his eyes and raised his shoulder. “Cheeky bastard, but even Elizabeth didn’t notice it immediately.”

“What are you talking about? What are you two talking about?” Rose questioned. She was confused with Lucifer remark and sudden friendly attitude.

“Look around you Rose, the sky.” Aldwin answered.

“The sky?” She searched her surrounding, looking for something that might look out of the ordinary amidst all that chaos. “Birds.”

Strangely there was a few bird that didn’t fly away from there. The bird was normal, and she didn’t feel any magic from them, but the fact that there was still bird sitting on a branch after such a huge explosion made her suspicious.

“Yes. That bird has been following us since we started to search for that friend of yours. Also there are a few drones hovering in the air, and some surveillance magic ball somewhere around here.”

“Other faction spying device.”

“Now let us see if those brutes down there notice it or not. ” Aldwin looked to those at the bottom of the cliff.

Achilles and Heracles stood facing each other. Burn wound and bruises covered Heracles body. Achilles helmet was gone,his chariot and horses tumbled in the ground next to him.

“You’re a worthy opponent Achilles.”

“And you too.”

Achilles took out his silver sword and shield.  They both prepared to continue their fight, but before they could took a step forward, a golden spear fell from the sky. The spear didn’t do any damage, but it took the attention of the two combatant.

Following the spear, a man in a radiant golden armor descended between them. His mana seeped out and boiled the air around him, making it shone bright orange like the sun. On his forehead was a mark of the sun.

“Heracles, your master demanded that you return back to base. What you have done is over the limit.”

“Ch! That weakling, all plan and no action.” Heracles barred his teeth. He turned his body and leaped into the forest.

The man in golden armor faced Achilles and bowed his body. “My apologies for interrupting your fight.”

Achilles scratched his head. “It’s fine it’s fine...” He leaped at the man before him and swung his sword. His sword met the man spear. “You’re fast.”

They pulled both of their weapon. “I take my leave then.” The man in golden armor bowed once more before walking away to the same direction Heracles took.

Achilles waited until the man in golden armor walked out of his sight before he raised his chariot from the ground. “OY! Balius! Xanthus! Don’t play dead!” He poked both of his horse.

Both of his horse that was lying on the ground slowly raised their body. “That was a good nap!” Xanthus remarked. After he raised his chariot, they took to the sky and get away from there.

“Well that was… disappointing. I was expecting a fight to the death.” Lucifer said. He walked away and waved his hand. “I look forward to our next fight.” Elizabeth pinched his cheek. “AW! What was that for?”

“You lie, Luci. You said you’re going to kill them.” She spoke with monotone voice.

“But the condition is not right. There was too many distraction.” Elizabeth stared him down. He sighed. “Okay, okay, you can sleep late for tonight and tomorrow.”

Broad smile appeared in her face. “Yes!” Her voice filled with happiness.

After watching Lucifer and Elizabeth walked into the burning forest. Rose spoke. “Aldwi-” But before she could say his name Aldwin shouted.

“You can come out now!” He eyed one of the tree near them that was not caught on fire.

From behind the tree a pale skinned woman in maid clothing came out. Her face expressionless and she appeared like a human sized doll. Rose remembered. She once saw her in the church in front of Rein’s house.

“What do you want, Doll?” Aldwin asked.

“Master Calvin have a piece of information in exchange for a favor.” She answered.

“What Information?” Rose questioned.

“A girl. Shoulder length brown hair. Amber eyes. Should you deliver Master Calvin letter.”

Rose was shocked to hear what she said. “How did you know?!”

“Master Calvin have ears and eyes everywhere. He knew many thing.”

“I’ll deliver the letter.” Rose decided without thinking, there was no time left to waste.

“Subway station 117 near the SkyRise tower. In a storage room, left hand side of the wall, not too far from the entrance.” She answered.

“Aldwin!” Rose stared Aldwin.

“What?”

Her face turned red and she hesitated to say something. She muster the courage to say it. “C-Carry me there! I don’t care how you carry me, over the shoulder or anything, just be quick!” She flustered.

Smug smile streaked in Aldwin’s face. He dashed and lift Rose up. He carried her one hand under the leg and one arm supporting her back.

“Wh-WHA?!” She was surprised. She expected him to carry her over his shoulder like before.

“Hang tight.” He shouted as he jumped off the cliff in front of them.

Rose screamed her lungs. The cliff was taller than it looked. Black smoke wrapped Aldwin’s leg, creating a dark metallic boots. He kicked the cliff as he fall, and they darted in the air.

Rose closed her eyes and braced for impact when Aldwin feet almost reached the ground. She felt nothing. When she opened her eyes they were already jumping from one roof to another.