The God of Gravity part 2: Olympus

No Turning Back

I saw its venomous-looking mandibles already an inch away from me. My adrenaline rushed in my body then I saw everything so slow but my body can't move.

What will that venom do if it gets into my body?

How much pain will I feel?

Will I be able to survive that?

What is-

A fist slowly got near it, inch by inch but faster than the scissor-like bite of the giant spider. The mandibles got crushed as soon as the fist touched it like breaking a thin layer of ice. It was Darius's fist and I saw him gritting his teeth exerting all of his strength into this one punch. Then my perception of time came back to normal.

"-aaaargh!!!" screamed Darius as the huge spider went tens of meters away and slammed against a very thick tree trunk. Its slimy guts splattered across the forest floor and sizzled as they corroded the leaves and wood.

I checked my body if a venom or some of its blood got on my skin and I saw the sleeve of my shirt melting! "Damn!" I yelled. "I gotta get this off of me!"

I managed to take it off without touching it and I heard, "Gaghcckk!!!" sound of someone who coughed blood from his throat.

"Darius!" I screamed when I saw him looking blue, his wounded arm got splashed by the venom, his chin is full of blood from his mouth, and his swelling veins on his skin. He fell to the ground and I went to help him.

"Darius!" I yelled. "Don't worry, I'll get help! Just control your blood flow! Can you hear me?" He is breathing shortly and fastly and his eyes looked everywhere and not focusing on one thing. "Darius!" Then he twitched and grunted.

"Ngrrghhh," he faintly growled in pain as I wiped the remaining venom on his wounded arms.

I have to go and find someone who can help! "Help!" I cried in desperation. "Someone!"

No one answered, not even the ogre we came across earlier. I looked around and I noticed that the other spiders fled already. Darius is still breathing but I know he's in a very great deal of pain because he saved me.

"Just hold on there, Darius," I said to him. "I will not let you die!"

I tied him behind my back and I left our things because they will slow us down. The goal is to get help as soon as possible but the question is which way should I go? I can't even make up where we are now because of the fog and after we ran through the forest. My phone got broken by the venom and Darius doesn't have one. We have no map of this place and I am not sure where should I go!

"Yarghhh!!!" I exerted and concentrated all of my energy to boost my senses and I sense someone with Olympian Strength far away and in the direction behind me! I ran in that direction without hesitation. I don't know how I did that or who is that person, but it doesn't matter! I will not let Darius die!

I noticed while running in that direction that the ground is getting steeper. The trees also showing that they are leaning in that direction because of the slope. Maybe it is the way to Olympus. The night is disturbingly silent and the sound of crickets and owls can no longer be heard. The leaves beneath my feet crushed and brushed, the air moving in and out of my throat as I panted, and the sound of the wind in my ear is all I could hear. Then I noticed that there has to be some noise coming from Darius but he doesn't make one. I can't hear him breathing behind me. and his body feels cold.

"Dammit! Don't you dare go cold on me, Darius!!!"

Then I heard his single long, slow, and gentle inhale. He's still alive! I get it now! He's breathing slowly while keeping his blood flow slower so that the venom cannot spread fast.

"That's it, Darius! Just Hang on!"

Then I saw a group of sleeping giant wild boars ahead and they're not far. There are so many of them and I must go around if I want to avoid them but that will take more time. So, I prepared my feet and exploded into a bursting speed, and jumped over them all. They growled and grunted when I woke them up until I landed on the other side. I adjusted my grip on Darius's thigh and ran faster than before. I sense a few of the boars tried to chase me but gave up right after I ran faster.

I felt the ground becoming harder and rockier. Then the trees are getting thinner and the leaves on the ground were lesser. I smell and hear water, far from where we are. I hear the screaming water as it goes through the rocks. There were no trees anymore, and just grey boulders, and the hard ground. The mist is getting thinner and allowed me to see far and saw a wild river. The water is so noisy.

I stopped before where the rough river starts and it flowed from the left and to the right at a very fast speed that I can't see how deep it is because of the splashes. I can't see where the other side of the land at the distance even though the fog got thinner. I am guessing that it's very far and I can't jump over it or else we will drown. I sense that I am still far away from the person who has an Olympian Strength and I have to cross this raging river to get there.

I looked to my left and I saw this tall and thick tree that miraculously grew on the rocks. I have an idea for it. I quickly ran towards it by jumping over the rocks. I almost slipped because of the moss and the moisture. I need to be careful but fast. Finally, I am at the foot of the tree. I looked up and I can't see its top.

I am guessing that the distance of where I can't see the top of the tree is equal to the distance of where I can't see the part of the river. Then I don't know how far is the land on the other side. But I have no choice. If Darius dies while I live then I won't become the King of Olympus! I will keep my word that I will not let him die! A man doesn't go back on his words!

"If you die, I will kill myself, Darius! We are gonna climb Olympus together alive, the two of us!"

Of course, he didn't answer so I started to do what I have in mind.

I checked if I am tying him tightly enough behind my back and doubled the tie to make sure he won't fall. I will have to use all of my ability to overcome this obstacle even if it is not a real fight. No... This is a REAL fight. We are fighting against death, and I pray that Lady Mila won't let him pass away sooner. I don't even know if she knows that this is happening to us.

I lifted a boulder as big as my body and put it before the huge tree. I lifted it again as I used "Lift of two:" then put it back down. Then I focused on my strength in my left fist as I "Fist of Six:" and punched the empty space over the boulder.

I quickly jumped to the branches above and jumping to another as I climbed it up. The tree is getting thinner as I reached near the top then I punched the trunk so I could stand over the flat surface to prepare my most powerful jump. Then it is all set.

"REVERSE PHANTOM - TEN SECOND DELAY!!!"

-

*

The boulder - which Leo lifted earlier, levitated.

*

-

"REVERSE PHANTOM PUNCH - NINE SECOND DELAY!!!"

Then I felt the tree shaking after the boulder went through it. I heard it shattering into pieces when it finally hit the bigger rocks. I leaned and pulled the tip of the tree towards the river. It slowly fell down and I feel the cold wind in my face. I knelt on the flat surface of the tree to prepare my jump.

I screamed "AAAAAAARRGH!!!" at the moment I jumped the longest I can.

Then it is just a leap of faith, not knowing if I can get to the other side because of the fog. I can hear the raging river below me, and the wheezing wind in my ears. Then I looked down to see that I am gradually getting near the rough waters!

"Argh!" I grunted in pain after slamming my knee on the hard rock. Then I slipped on the rocky ground but I controlled myself to protect Darius so my face slammed hard onto a big boulder.

I sat up.... "Damn, that hurts!" I looked back at the river. I barely made it! Then I stood up and continued to run.

I can't believe it worked! I purposely delayed my DT at different intervals. Lifting the boulder in ten-second delay and punching it with my five other-selves in nine-second delay, resulting in lifting the boulder and punching it to destroy the tree in perfect timing. Lord Enzo never taught me this before, but I am guessing he can do this too.

I focused on sensing where that person with Olympian Strength is, and I can tell that I am not that far. I checked on Darius, and I can hear him breathing every minute. I realized I am slowing down because of exhaustion so I ran faster. Damn, I need to watch out for my pace.

The terrain is rocky now and there are no more trees and plants. It is hard to run on these rocks because of the moisture they get from the mist. Then I saw an unusual glow at the distance. It is misty and dark, so it's easy to spot. It is oddly not in the direction of where I sense the person with an Olympian Strength is. Maybe they are people!

"Okay, Darius! I found somebody who can help you!"

I ran and heard loud squeals of voices and instruments. Then I stood over and before a shallow slope of rock and I came across a small village.

Small....

Literally.... with small creatures with their skin colors of green, their long noses, and long ears. They are small as babies and I am taller than their huts circled along around the fire.

"Aaaargh!!!" squealed one of them in an ear-hurting high-pitched voice.

They panicked bit I said, "I am here to ask for hel-" Then they unsheathed their tiny swords.

"Yikes!" I exclaimed after I saw them with sharp bone spears and arrows pointing at me. I jumped high over them and continued my way to the source of Olympian Strength I sense.

"Yaarghh!!!" they cried behind me.

I turned around to look and I saw hundreds of them riding ostriches!! "What the heck?!!!" I ran the fastest I could as they rained down spears and arrows at me. "Aaaargh!!!" I screamed as I dodged them all until I realized I am running between two cliff walls made out of grey rocks. I entered a canyon.

Above, I saw some of them running along the top of the cliff and shot arrows at me! I suddenly burst into sudden speed so I was able to dodge them. Then they caught up to me in no time! I'm getting tired! I have to deal with them! But I can't fight while carrying Darius! Damn, what do I do?!!

Then I heard them cursing at me and yelling but I can't make out what they are saying! I just ran faster and I finally got out of that canyon then I noticed they aren't pursuing me anymore! I stopped at a safe distance and I saw them from afar, turning back to where they came from. I also noticed that it is already dawn. And I find it unusual for this patch of land to be flat and leveled. Then I sensed someone with the presence of a deity.

"Who's there?" I called when I smelled a trace of tobacco and saw a faint light from a burning tip of a cigar amid the thick mist.

Then a man with a big and low voice said, "The coolest guy ye'll ever see."

I saw clearly who he is and he is freaking buffed up and huge!