Chapter 9- portal to the underworld
The corruption zone pulsed like a beating heart, its black veins spreading across the clearing. From its center, Airos howled—his roar tearing through the air with such force that the iron barriers Diana had raised were ripped from the earth and hurled skyward. Trees clashed violently, snapping like brittle twigs.
Diana's breath caught. The monster wasn't just transformed—it was becoming something else entirely. She cursed herself, thinking, What would Artemis do? …No. What would Abyss do?
She struck fast, driving her iron toward Airos' throat. But before the blow could land, the dragon's corruption bent the iron itself, twisting it into black armor that wrapped around his scales. Diana gritted her teeth, straining to bend the metal, but his will overpowered hers.
Then a crack split the sky.
Axel hurled a thunder-spear, his gift igniting—Pride of a King. The weapon shattered into twin forces: one spear of pure energy, the other of raw electricity. But Airos absorbed both, his body sparking as he raised his claws to the heavens. The sky wept thunder. A storm swelled into existence, black lightning coiling like serpents around his body.
Clarita froze. Her mind calculated, analyzed, replayed patterns—but nothing fit. Every plan failed. For the first time, her flawless mind faltered.
What do I do? That wasn't what I planned. My wisdom isn't enough.
Her pride cracked. She had always wanted Athena to recognize her by her own strength, without begging for aid. But as the storm grew, she closed her eyes and whispered,
"Mother… I want your guidance. My wisdom is not enough."
The world froze. Light engulfed her. She found herself walking a silver path, voices whispering, knowledge flowing into her veins. A title burned across her soul:
Warrior of the Mind.
Her new gift surged alive—she could echo the powers of those around her. She seized Diana's iron, bending it with strength not her own. From the shattered ground rose a colossal tomb of steel, slamming down around the battlefield and trapping everyone within.
The scene cut elsewhere—
On the Amazon island, Abyss strolled beside Apollo, dragging the reluctant god forward.
"C'mon, Apollo. Artemis said be a man for once. Break a rule, live a little."
They entered the camp. Suddenly, a cold wind swept past Artemis, making frost cling to her as he go through her. She spun, ready to strike—only to find Abyss standing there with his arms folded, smirking.
"You annoying, unloved freak," Artemis hissed. "Why do that?"
"Testing you," Abyss said lightly. Then his gaze sharpened. "Where's Diana?"
Artemis' eyes hardened. "She joined my Hunt. She chose me, not you."
Abyss scoffed. "So what—I came here for nothing?" as he crossing his arms"did you just admitting to stealing my girl"?
"You didn't come to see me?" Artemis pressed, her glare cutting deeper than any arrow.
Arthur pov:
The air shifted—an outsider's presence stirred the wind. A tornado ripped through the trees where Arthur was fighting the monsters. Animals screamed as they were swept skyward. But Arthur reached out, touching the storm—turning it holy. The tornado calmed, its winds purifying the corruption around them.
From the storm stepped Noah Atlas, Hermes' chosen. His gift, Call of a Thief, shimmered around him.
"Hop on, mate," he grinned, offering his back. "Time to rejoin the fight."
Back inside the tomb, Airos roared, bending the steel walls inward. The cage threatened to crush them all. Jack blackheart, the son of Vulcan, swallowed hard. He was no match for these titans. But courage wasn't about being the strongest—it was about doing what others couldn't.
"If I can't fight like them," he muttered, "then I'll make them a blind spot to victory."
He placed his hands on the tomb. Metal decayed under his touch, collapsing just enough for Diana to shatter it. Pillars of iron erupted upward, and Axel and Clarita struck them with thunder, forging a triangle of power around Airos.
Lightning converged, slamming into the beast. For a moment, the battlefield shone like a sun. But when the light cleared—Airos stood untouched. He had absorbed everything. He raised his claws, forging a miniature sun of corruption and energy above his head.
Before he could unleash it, the orb flickered—and Airos was gone.
Arthur had reached the corruption zone and purified it completely.
The heroes collapsed in exhaustion, gasping in relief. Diana wiped her brow and muttered,
"Damn. That wasn't even the real one. Just corruption given form. And it was that strong? That dragon must be a god among gods."
But their relief shattered instantly.
The ground split. A portal of black fire yawned open. Hands—cold, skeletal, endless—burst forth, seizing Marco. He screamed as his friends lunged to grab him, but the icy hands wrapped around theirs too, prying them away.
With one final wrench, Marco was dragged below.
The underworld swallowed him whole but Ethan ADHD kicks in as he jumped behind him.