I HATE THE WAR GOD

Hades opened up a chasm in the Earth. "This will lead you back to the world of the living. Are you sure about this, Yiannis? Your plan is risky."

"Yeah, I'll be fine. If things do get out of hand, you'll have my back, right?"

"Yes," Hades nodded. "I will go to Olympus as quickly as I can. Good luck, my son."

"Well, we'll be off then." A Fury flew above me, and I felt her claws grip my shoulders; the same happened with Vittoria and Helen. After we were lifted back into the world of the living, the Furies flew back down. Hades clapped his hands together, and the abyss gradually closed.

I felt a gust of wind tousle my hair. The moon still lit up the sky. It was ominously quiet, like in one of those mystery movies. This type of scenery indicated something big was about to happen. Soon, my plan will come to fruition, and I'll be one step closer to making a better world - one where the gods don't exist.

"Yiannis, do you really want to do this?" Vittoria locked her eyes with mine. She wanted to know what my intentions were, although I wished to know hers as well. Was she on my side? I would have to find out later. Ares is a bigger priority now.

"Yes, Vittoria. I do want to do this. What will you do?"

"Isn't that obvious? I'm going to help you."

"Same with me," Helen said. "You can't beat a god by yourself."

"What, you don't believe in your big brother? You're such a meanie, Helen," I pouted. Helen hugged me. "You know you can't."

"Yeah, you're right," I hugged my little sister back.

"Not to ruin the moment, but we need a plan to beat Ares," Vittoria said. "I'll protect Helen; you go one-on-one with the war god."

"Too bad you're all going to die." Ares was a couple of yards away from us. He smiled at me. "You were supposed to die, squirt."

"And you're the thief. You were using me this whole time. Do you really want war this badly?"

"I'm the god of war, idiot! I live to fight!" He pulled out a lightning bolt - Zeus's master bolt(a counterfeit, anyway). "But don't worry, I'll make everything right. My old man is still looking for this. Once he sees this, he'll call out Hades and declare war. Poseidon will do the same, and we'll have a nice little slugfest going."

"You think you can beat us?"

"Of course, I can! I'm a god! But nevermind that. You lied to me back at the Hermes Hotel." He pointed at Helen. "That young lady over there is your little sister, isn't she?" Shock must have been all over my face because Ares seemed amused. "You thought you could hide something from the gods?"

"Yeah. You didn't figure it out until you eavesdropped on us, so don't act like you're smart."

"You sure you want to talk to me like that? I was going to kill you, but I could just use your little sister."

"I'd like to see you try," I was strangely calm. The only thing I felt was rage. If Ares so much as touches a hair on my little sis, I'll...

Within a second, I parried Ares's first strike. Vittoria moved Helen out of harm's way as we fought. My sword may have been made from darkness, but other than that, it was no different from your typical longsword. Ares's blade was three times as big as mine and a lot heavier. Ares was also the war god and had a bounty of experience I sorely lacked. I was a noob going up against a hacker who's immortal and can't die.

I ducked, avoiding Ares's next swing, and kicked his legs from under him. I brought down my blade, but Ares just swatted me aside like I was a fly. I was put on the defensive, and Ares pressed me tightly. I was too exhausted to stop time, and even slowing it down too much could wear me down drastically. Still, if the fight goes on like this, it'll be a matter of time before my head gets chopped.

I slowed time around Ares down a little bit. Barely noticeable, but a big help nonetheless, considering who my opponent is. I managed to push the war god back a few feet, and we danced as our swords clashed.

Ares smirked. "How quaint. But how long do you think I'll be before I rip your head off?" An arrow went inside of the god's thigh. Another hit him in his heel. Helen had fashioned a bow for Vittoria with her powers. Then, sharp black spikes jumped out of the ground and impaled the war god. I only managed to pierce his legs, but now I have the upper hand. I slashed furiously, and Ares had trouble keeping up with my onslaught. The spikes were still rooted in his legs, after all. Ares now sported a decently sized cut on his right arm. I thought I could finish it then, but I was wrong.

Ares slashed as hard as he could, sending me flying again. My hands were bleeding, and so was my chest. Ares crushed the spikes I made to bits, then proceeded towards me. His sword made sparks as it rubbed against the ground. "It was fun, kid. You managed to hurt me. Nobody's done that since Hercules, so I'll reward you by killing you quickly."

"Aww, you can't just let me be? Jerk."

"Tch. Time to die, kid." An arrow pierced Ares's skull, and the war god was furious. He glowered at Helen, who was shooting at him from atop a tree. "You know what? Your little sister just got on my bad side. I think I'll kill her first." Before he could, I implanted more spikes into his legs. He broke them, but then Vittoria emerged. Helen made her a sword too, and she showed some insane skills with it. Vittoria parried the war god like it was nothing. She actually sliced the god's face and gave him a little cut while pushing him back towards me. I made another sword and drove it into the war god's boot.

Golden blood oozed from all of Ares's injuries. The war god was drenched with the stuff, yet he fought on like a madman. I guess he didn't get the "God of War" title for nothing. Even so, my hands were screaming in pain. Vittoria kept on the offensive, but that was because I was helping her. Even she would be forced on the defensive if she was on her own against Ares.

That's when I noticed it. Ares was breathing hard. The cocky grin plastered on his face was just for show. He was clearly in pain. I was too tired to give him another severe injury, but Vittoria could pull it off. I just had to make an opening for her, something I doubt I could do in my current state. Beaten and bloody is not how you'd ideally want to be when fighting a war god.

An audience began to form around us. We had a group of spectators watching us now. I ignored them, but then the cops showed up. "Put your hands up and drop your guns!" Guns? I guess that was because of the mist warping their perceptions. Ares roared and stepped on the ground. He waved his hand, and police cars blew up. A fire broke out. People screamed as they ran away. The cops shot at Ares, but the bullets just ricocheted off his chest. It did nothing but annoy the war god. "Don't interfere in our affairs! Get lost!" The poor policemen were engulfed by flames. "Now to barbeque the two of you," Ares laughed.

Vittoria pushed Ares's blade away and went in for the attack, but Ares disarmed her. Vittoria jumped back, but the war god grabbed her throat. "You're a little too good with a sword." He brought his blade within an inch of her neck.

"No!" My sword clanged with his. I tried to go on the offensive, but Ares had no problem evading my attacks and bruising me up. Vittoria was suffocating. I didn't have the strength to critically injure the god. I would collapse if I made any more spikes shoot out of the ground.

Luck saved me when I needed it most. Or rather, my little sister came through for me. An arrow gouged the war god's left eye, and he howled in pain. That was my chance. I charged. Ares swung his blade in an arc, and I rolled under it, got up, and stabbed him from behind, right where his heart(assuming gods have the same anatomy as humans).

Ares bellowed so loudly that he sent a police car into the sky. Vittoria landed on top of me, much to my discomfort. We both needed her to sing her healing chant, but she was unconscious at the moment. Ares glared at me with eyes of pure hate. "You have made an enemy, Yiannis Cirillo! A horrible enemy! You will feel the curse of Ares! When you fight, hoping to succeed, you will feel my wrath!" His body began to glow radiantly. I stared in wonder at his true immortal form. For some reason, looking at him didn't turn me to dust, although he was blinding.

A chariot hovered in the sky. It was moved by skeletal black horses with flaming manes, and I recognized the man on it: Hades. "Well, well, if it isn't Ares. Getting smacked by another hero. You were always an overrated god, you know that?"

"Shut your mouth, Hades! Zeus will declare war on you!" Hades raised an eyebrow. "Declare war? On what grounds?" Ares clenched his teeth. "Damm it! Nothing is going to plan!"

"What plan? Did Zeus really set this up after all? How very interesting. Keep talking, Ares." Ares realized he slipped and tried to flee, but my father pinned him to the ground and tied him up. Hades picked me up and smiled. At the moment, he was fifteen feet tall. "You have done well, my son. The gods have witnessed your little skirmish here and know Ares is the thief. All eyes have turned to Zeus, and he doesn't look so good. We will discuss matters at Olympus, but you're in no condition to talk. Go to sleep, my boy."

"Father," I croaked. Hades lifted Vittoria and me onto his chariot, and Helen sat beside me. Then my eyes closed, and I was out cold.