The God of Gravity part 2: Olympus

To Where Olympus Stands!

I'm here on the rooftop of the hospital building breathing the fresh morning air. Woo! My shoulders feel better now! I don't feel any pain. My body feels stronger than before. I spent a month here in the hospital to recover from my life-threatening injuries after fighting against Darius. Not only I broke so many bones in my body, but the demigod doctor also said that I almost suffered brain damage - because I used too much of my DT. Whenever I think about it, a chill runs down my spine. I can't even imagine if I became crazy because of the damage. They said I got lucky that Lord Santos, the God of Healing came down from Olympus to heal me. He healed up Darius too because he was suffering from severe blood loss and lots of injury like me. We both got a nasty amount of injury that they made us stay in the hospital for a month so that they could check if there's something wrong with us. Although Lord Santos healed me, it took a month for me to be fully healed like this.

My family already left the Demigod District yesterday because I am supposed to climb Olympus today as the messenger god - the weirdest god I have ever seen, told me. He also mentioned that Darius will be climbing up with me. This will not be a peaceful climbing. Although he lost, he still wants to get even with me, and the whole month in this hospital is me hiding and escaping from him. That is why I am on the rooftop right now, seizing a break from the stress and just looking up to where Olympus stands. It's so high in the sky, and very steep at that.

The foot of Mt. Olympus is surrounded by forests and another ring of wall that separates wildlife from the Inner Ring District - which is basically a city for demigods and the rest of the demigod districts in the countryside. They said that nobody dared to venture there without protection because there are dangerous creatures that lurk there like cyclopses and goblins. I even heard rumors that someone saw a guy cutting trees with a single swing of an ax. They say that the tree he cut is not an ordinary tree, but an "Iron Tree" - is what they call it because it is a tree as hard as an iron, possibly harder and the man cut it without machinery. Maybe it is a god. Yeah, probably because this is Mt. Olympus we are talking about - the home of the most powerful gods and goddesses. And I am gonna climb it today!

"LEONIDE!!!"

Yikes! It's Darius!

He came barging out from the rooftop door and glared at me while panting. I ran to the edge of the roof, jumped while grabbing the edge, and swung to the open window. The nurses were startled as I landed.

"Argh!" screamed Darius after entering the same window I came from but I already ran away. "Get back here you coward!" he screamed.

While running through the hallways of the hospital, I answered, "We don't have to fight anymore! The Tournament is over! So, I am begging you to stop bothering me!!!" Damn, it's hard to run with my glasses!

"Like HELL!!! I prepared new techniques and I am sure I will beat you this time!"

"Lord Santos told us that he will never heal us again!"

"I don't give a damn! Fight me!"

"Just stop! There are many stronger deities on Olympus than me! Just climb and fight them all there!"

"Don't try to run away from what you started!"

Argh! He's not listening to me! Damn, what do I do?

I turned to the left and I sense him pulling his fist to prepare a punch. And I also sense someone familiar behind the corner to the right hall.

I heard a squealing, "What are you-" then he took the flying punch in the face after I ducked. It's the messenger god! I stopped running and Darius behind me stopped too after the accidental punch.

He floated on the air with his winged boots with anger on his face that made look so ugly. "I'm gonna kill the two of you!" screamed the messenger god.

Double trouble! Crap!

I pulled him and threw him to Darius. "Haha!" I laughed when he attacked Darius and gave me a chance to escape.

"Get back here!" screamed Darius but I already made distance.

I hope that ugly god can hold him forever as strong as the chains of Tartarus.

An hour later, I secretly sneaked out of the hospital with my things inside my backpack because I am now discharged. I looked around 360° and confirmed that Darius wasn't there. I am here at the back door of the hospital. I even checked my senses to sense his presence and felt more relieved that I can't sense him anymore. I think I don't have to change into my contact lenses.

"Phew!" I sighed while adjusting my glasses then jumped over the three-meter tall fence. I jogged my way to where I called Philip and Sander to meet and have lunch before I go on for a long journey. My body feels lighter! I am running in this alleyway and just as I reached the crowded street, I sensed a very disturbing presence behind me. I did not dare to look back because I know who it is. It's Darius. I just ran and I can tell that he's running. Crap!

"What is wrong with you?!!" I yelled while running.

"I'll get even with you!" he screamed. "Come back here!"

"Argh!!!" I shrieked as we ran on a steep downhill on the road. Damn! He's gaining on me! I've never tried pulling DT from the past but, "Foot of two: Trip!"

"What the-" he exclaimed when he tripped over and slid downhill and I stopped to go inside an alley to lose him this time.

I ran away very fast and keeping concentration on my senses if he's still there. I am sure he's not following anymore, but how did I fail to notice him sooner back at the street? Never mind, I'll stop thinking about it. It will only put stress into my mind.

Thirty minutes later, I finally got to the fast-food restaurant - which I was surprised to hear that such a thing exists in demigod culture. It's a burger restaurant and very crowded. I entered and for goodness sake!!! Why is Darius sitting at the table with Philip and Sander?!!!!

He noticed me and jumped on me. Can't dodge! Too many people!

"Aargh!!!" I screamed as he pinned me down.

He smirked as he said, "Now, a rematch! Hahahahaha!"

"Get off of me!" I kicked him away and I ran outside.

This day couldn't get much worse! How does he keep finding me? Well, this has to stop now! So, I stopped on the sidewalk and he panted fiercely as he stepped outside. People are watching us as we put on our stances. I notice something different about his stance. He is sacrificing power for quickness. He wants to match my speed. Then I'll go even faster!

The people around us watched us and they are silent because they probably knew who we are. Then a loud growl disturbed the silence. It's the growl of two stomachs. One of which is my own. I saw Darius touching his stomach. I could tell he's hungry too.

"How about this:" I suggested. "Stop asking me for a fight until we get to Olympus and I'll treat you for lunch."

He looked at me furiously and I looked at him to show that I am not afraid of him.

-

*

The people around them are sweating as they felt the tension coming from both of these strong boys. Philip and Sander also watched.

"This is gonna be bad if he's going to refuse," said Philip to Sander.

"Yeah, the whole street will be destroyed if these two fight, considering the ring they destroyed a month ago was made out of hardened steel." Sander bit his lip. "Damn, Leo. Just run away...," he muttered.

"Leo doesn't run away from a fight."

"I agree with that."

*

-

He's still standing there as I waited for his answer. His eyebrows were headbutting each other as he slowly squeezed his hands into fists. Then raised them in front of him as a stance. I put up my own and I guess we are gonna fight here.

He suddenly stomped his feet and lowered his clenched fists as he screamed: "IF RIGHT NOW YOU CAN GIVE ME TEN LARGE BURGERS!!!"

"What?" I exclaimed.

He pointed at me. "Spicy with extra beef patty!" he growled.

That's very expensive but if it's for maintaining peace in this street, I have no choice but to spend my two days of quota in a single hour. "I...," I am hesitating. "FINE!!!" I yelled.

Then he eased up and went through the crowd and entered the restaurant. I sighed in relief as well as the people around me.

Then, "Sir Leonide!" called a man from the crowd. "Can I have an autograph?"

"Me too!" said the other. Then the other people gathered around me.

Damn.... They just handed me pens and pictures of me so I could sign them. This is tiring me out! I wish I have a writer's speedy hands! Or simply a simple signature! But dang..., I love my signature because it looks like a lion - as my name starts with.

"Phew!" I sighed after all of that and they let me be.

Then I saw Philip as he says, "Well, you're Mr. Popular now, huh?"

"I wish I wasn't," I answered.

They put their arms over my shoulder as they took me inside the restaurant. Then Sander spoke, "Damn, Leo. You're learning how to boast now, aren't you?" He laughed.

"Yeah, to celebrate it," said Philip. "I guess you have to treat us."

"Hey," I said. "I just spent my two-days quota. I can't afford to spend some more."

We sat at a table for four where Darius is sitting. I decided to treat the two of them too because I would never earn this much money without their help. They simply ordered single burgers each, unlike me and Darius. I have three large burgers with more vegetables. Darius ate ravenously like a beast as he engulfed every bite from the large burgers. I sat at the opposite table of where he is so Sander is at my left and Philip at my right.

Then I started a conversation: "Do you guys wonder what happened to Julius Nephos's family?"

Both of them swallowed their food and Sander is the first one to speak. "His family left the Olympus Districts. After that confession of Julius - as their leader of the family, it put them a great deal of embarrassment. Most of their members were arrested but some are found to be innocent."

"Like Icarus," added Philip.

"Yeah, Icarus."

"Do you guys know where he is now?" I asked.

"At wah roice fuwaarrrmmm," answered Darius while chewing lots of food in his mouth.

"What?" I asked and he swallowed.

"At a rice farm," he said clearly and began to eat again.

"What is he doing there?"

After he drank his pineapple juice he answered, "Farming."

"Oh," I reacted. "That couldn't be bad isn't it?" I asked Sander and Philip but they are sulking a little bit. "What?" I asked.

The Philip answered, "I know that he did so many awful things to us but he was just following what his father told him, and he suffered. It wasn't his fault."

Then Darius slammed his fist on the table and our burgers hopped and I struggled to catch my delicious chocolate milk.

"What the hell, Darius?!" I reacted violently.

"Don't pity a man!" he declared. "When a man falls, he gets back up and wins next time! Just like I will against YOU, Leonide!" He pointed at me while biting his burger.

I was surprised about what he said as well as my friends. They smiled at me.

"You two are quite alike," said Sander.

"Can't find the better words," nodded Philip.

Then Darius just ate his burgers at full speed without listening to us. We talked about a lot of things. About how well our families are doing and how our training is going well. Darius sometimes cuts and says something and what he says is straight forward. I never thought we four would be sitting around one table and talking causally before we are preparing to part - which will be soon enough since Darius and I are ready with the things we needed in our huge backpacks to climb Olympus. I will never forget these two - my friends that helped become who I am now.

A few minutes later, we went out of the restaurant and I bumped fist with the two of them. Then I noticed that Darius is waiting for us to finish while frowning and folding his arms. And I gestured him to join us with the fist bump. He hesitated for a moment and decided to join us with a force that our fists moved.

"Who knows, that this will gonna be possibly our last fist bump?" asked Sander.

"It doesn't have to be!" I asserted. "You guys can be on Olympus too! I believe in that!"

They both smiled at me and Philip said, "Wait for me on Olympus, Leo. And I will have a rematch against you."

"No!" growled Darius. "I'll beat him first!"

Philip laughed and said, "And I will have a rematch against you too, Darius."

Darius nodded and we pulled out each of our fists.

"Kick some divine butts, you two," said Sander.

"Gladly!" shouted Darius.

"Goodbye, for now," I said while feeling heavy.

"Goodbye," said both of them.

Then Darius and I walked to where Olympus stood while my friends - more like brothers, walked in the opposite direction. We climbed the wall that separates the forest of Olympus from the urban area. I can see the mountain clearly from here, as well as the Demigod Districts as I turned around. I still feel that my farewell for them is not sufficient but I realized it doesn't matter.

The only way to go is forward, to where Olympus stands!