Chapter 28: Team demigod Assemble, runaway Aries, Attack On Philadelphia.
Ethan groaned, shaking debris off his battered armor as he tried to push himself up from the pile of rocks where Ares had smashed him. His body ached, but his spirit burned with unyielding defiance.
Suddenly, a thunderous battle cry pierced the grove. Ethan looked up just in time to see a streak of gold and crimson descend from the heavens—Diana, her lasso of truth glowing like molten light, her sword gleaming with divine fury.
"Enough, Ares!" she roared, landing between Ethan and the war god. With a single, fluid motion, she whipped her lasso around Ares' wrist, yanking him off balance.
Before Ares could retaliate, a deafening crack of lightning split the sky. Shazam, along with his siblings, streaked into the fray, their combined powers radiating like a second sun. Billy, now fully transformed, landed with a thunderous impact, his fists crackling with divine energy.
"Need a hand?" Shazam called to Ethan, grinning.
Ethan smirked, struggling to his feet. "Glad you could make it."
Ares bellowed in rage, his aura of war flaring like an inferno. With a mighty swing of his colossal blade, he shattered Diana's lasso and sent her flying back. The war god then charged forward, slamming his fist into Shazam with enough force to create a crater beneath them.
"Stay down, child," Ares sneered.
But Shazam grinned through the impact, his body radiating unyielding power. "Not today!" he shouted, delivering a thunderous uppercut that sent Ares staggering.
Ethan charged in, flames reigniting around his fists. With a burst of speed, he launched a barrage of fiery punches at the war god, pushing him back further. Diana joined the assault, her sword slicing through the air with precision, forcing Ares onto the defensive.
The Shazam siblings worked in unison, each using their unique gifts to keep the war god off balance. Freddy created blinding flashes of lightning, while Mary summoned gale-force winds to throw Ares off his footing. Darla zipped around at superhuman speed, delivering quick jabs that chipped away at his armor.
Despite their combined might, Ares grew stronger with each passing second. His strikes became faster, his movements more calculated. He slammed his blade into the ground, releasing a shockwave that sent everyone sprawling.
"You cannot defeat me!" Ares roared, his voice shaking the heavens. "I am war incarnate!"
Diana rose first, her expression fierce. "You are a relic, Ares. Your time is over." She leaped forward, meeting his blade with her own. The clash sent sparks flying as the two titans traded blows, each strike echoing like thunder.
Ethan, regaining his footing, summoned every ounce of power he had left. Flames erupted around him as he charged Ares from behind, slamming into the war god with enough force to stagger him.
Shazam followed up with a bolt of divine lightning, striking Ares square in the chest. The war god roared in pain, his armor cracking under the relentless assault.
For the first time, Ares faltered. Though his power continued to grow, it was no longer enough to match the overwhelming might of his opponents.
Realizing this, he bellowed in frustration, slamming his fist into the ground to create a massive explosion that forced everyone back.
"This isn't over!" Ares snarled, his form beginning to shimmer with crimson energy. "You will rue the day you defied the god of war!"
Before anyone could stop him, Ares vanished in a flash of blood-red light, leaving behind only the devastation of their battle.
As the dust settled, Ethan collapsed to one knee, breathing heavily. "Well... that was intense," he muttered, wiping blood from his lip.
Diana helped him to his feet, her expression somber. "Ares will return. But for now, we've driven him back."
Shazam, still crackling with energy, grinned. "We make a pretty good team, don't we?"
Ethan chuckled, his flames extinguishing as he sheathed his weapons. "Yeah, but let's not make this a regular thing."
After the grueling battle and the retrieval of the golden fleece, Ethan, Diana, Shazam, and the rest of the team returned to Philadelphia with the artifact in hand. The wizard, waiting for them in the foster home, immediately recognized the fleece's immense power.
"The golden fleece is one of the few artifacts capable of repairing something as ancient as the wand," the wizard explained. His voice carried a sense of urgency. "But to fix it and restore the barrier that keeps the gods and titans out of this realm, we must go to the Rock of Eternity. The spell was originally cast from there, and the wand is housed within its chambers."
Everyone nodded, determination etched on their faces. Diana sheathed her sword, and Shazam's siblings exchanged confident glances. Ethan, though battered, stood tall.
"Let's finish this," Ethan said, his voice steady despite the weight of the task ahead.
_______________________________________
Meanwhile, far from the mortal realm, Ares materialized in a cavernous stronghold bathed in otherworldly light. Before him stood Hyperion, Iapetus, and Perses, their immense forms towering over even the god of war. Around them swarmed hordes of monsters—Cyclopes, gorgons, chimeras, and other creatures of myth.
"You failed," Hyperion growled, his molten eyes narrowing at Ares.
Ares, still recovering from his battle, clenched his fists. "I underestimated their strength. They are no ordinary mortals—they have the might of gods, and they fight as one."
Iapetus leaned forward, his voice a low rumble. "Speak plainly, Ares. Who stands against us?"
Ares recounted the battle in vivid detail, describing Diana's prowess, Ethan's divine-like aura, and Shazam's unrelenting power. "But there's more. The boy—Shazam—has a stronghold in Philadelphia. He and his allies frequently return there. If we strike at the city, we will catch them off guard."
Perses grinned, his teeth like shards of obsidian. "Let us show these mortals the true might of the titans."
Hyperion raised his massive hand, silencing the murmurs of agreement from the assembled monsters. "Then it is decided. We will march on Philadelphia. The mortals will burn, and the heroes will kneel before us."
The cavern erupted in monstrous cheers as the titans began preparing for war.
________________________________________
Location: Rock Of Eternity
Back in Philadelphia, the wizard led the team to a hidden portal. With a flash of ancient magic, they arrived at the Rock of Eternity. The chamber pulsed with primordial energy, its walls lined with relics from countless ages.
The wizard approached the shattered wand, which lay on a pedestal surrounded by glowing runes. Carefully, he placed the golden fleece over it, chanting in a language older than time itself. The fleece began to unravel, its golden threads weaving themselves into the broken wand.
As the wand mended, the entire Rock of Eternity trembled, a surge of energy coursing through its halls.
"It's done," the wizard said, holding the restored wand aloft. "Now, I must recast the spell to rebuild the barrier."
But before he could act, a deafening roar shook the Rock of Eternity.
Back on Earth, Philadelphia descended into chaos. The sky darkened as hordes of monsters poured into the city. Cyclopes smashed buildings, harpies swooped down to snatch fleeing civilians, and a colossal chimera roared as it stalked the streets.
At the forefront of the attack were the titans themselves, their immense forms casting shadows over the city. Hyperion's molten aura scorched the ground with every step, Iapetus summoned massive earthquakes, and Perses unleashed torrents of destructive energy.
The city's defenders—police, National Guard, and civilians—fought valiantly but were quickly overwhelmed.
Sensing the attack, the wizard turned to the group. "The titans have launched their assault on Philadelphia. You must go and stop them while I complete the spell here."
Ethan stepped forward, determination in his eyes. "We'll hold them off. Just make sure that barrier goes up."
With that, the team sprang into action. Ethan, Diana, Shazam, and the siblings teleported back to Philadelphia, arriving amidst the chaos.
"We've got to split up!" Diana shouted, drawing her sword. "Take out the monsters and keep the titans occupied."
Ethan ignited his flames, his swords shimmering with divine energy. "Let's give them a fight they'll never forget."
And with that, the battle for Philadelphia began.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone