Bab 7: Mind over Matter
"Is this about the Manticore?" Ghidorah pondered aloud. "I can still remember his pitiful cries when I ripped his tail from him." he reminisced with a cruel smirk.
The Mother of Monsters' face faltered for a moment before it returned to its coy smile. "I am afraid not, dear dragon. My objective is not revenge. No matter how much I wish it was so."
Both Ghidorah and Hecate watched them closely. The Chimera did the same as he walked in circles around the three of them. Hissing at Ghidorah when he was near the dragon and gaining a growl from Ghidroah in return.
"Then why are you here, Echidna? For what purpose have you left Tartarus?" Hecate's voice remained even. Not showing her inner nervousness.
With a giggle, Echidna revealed a sinister look. "My reason? To see if your dragon is strong enough for what I have planned."
She didn't elaborate on her words as she shared a glance with her son, who nodded and roared at Ghidorah. Who barely dodged the wave of fire that was released from his Goat head. Jumping back, Ghidorah cursed as the Chimera was already upon him.
Hecate went to help her lord, only for Echidna to appear behind her and use her tail to restrict her movements. Her sharp nails were poised to pierce the witch's neck at the slightest resistance. Causing Hecate to go stiff and her eyes to widen in shock at the snake's speed.
"I'm sorry, my dear, but I can not allow you to interfere. Do not worry, though. If I wanted him dead, I would have brought my other children." Echidna forbade. Her right hand rested over Hecate's shoulder.
"W-What could Ghidorah possibly help you with, Echidna?" Hecate asked through gritted teeth. Angered at her weakness.
"Is that his name?" She asked. "But to answer your question, dear. Nothing as he is now. It's what he can become that can help me." The mother revealed. Her eyes trained on her son and Ghidorah.
The latter is still on the defensive as the Chimera used it's three heads to keep him on his toes. The sheer versatility of the monster allowed it to overwhelm Ghidorah who was still not used to his new form. However, it did not stay that way.
When the Chimera lunged at Ghidroah, the dragon utilized his smaller size to sidestep him and counter. A potent yellow energy coated his fist as he unleashed a powerful left hook that impacted the lion's jaw. Forcing the monster back.
Yet, that was all it did. The Chimera merely shook off the attack and jumped right back into the fray but that was all Ghidorah needed. With him now ready to combat him, Ghidorah suddenly found himself leading the fight.
Dodging and weaving before countering his fellow three-headed beast. The battle, while not overly flashy or destructive, showcased Ghidorah's battle IQ that allowed him to compete with the more powerful foe.
For every attack he landed barely even hurt the Chimera. It's skin was far tougher than Ghidorah anticipated and as such he began to use other means. Condensing his aura above his palm, Ghidorah created an orb made of the same power his gravity beams are.
Then, he formed a magic circle above the orb. Coating it with gravity magic that turned the orb from it's yellow color to a deep red. All of this happened in mere moments as Ghidorah used his immense speed to appear right above the Chimera.
Who, while being able to react to his attack, did not expect the effects of it. That forced the beast to his knees the moment it was slammed into him. Increasing his own gravity tenfold and giving him no time to adapt. The sheer surprise the beast felt kept him down even longer.
Which Ghidorah capitalized on. Landing right on top of the beast and grabbing onto his body as his arms glowed golden. A clear sign of his absorption ability at work. Having transferred from his missing heads to his arms.
Seeing this, Echidna smirked wickedly as she inspected this phenomenon. This ability she had sensed when her children's power was strangely taken from them over and over again over the years. Thus, she had to see it for herself and now that she has, she plans to milk it for all that it is worth.
Angered at his power being sapped from him, his snake tail suddenly bit into Ghidorah's neck. His fangs inject their poison into him before throwing him to the ground. Creating a crater from the force as Ghidorah grabbed at his neck.
The poison made him feel weak, slow. The potency of it overpowered his passive regeneration as he kneeled on the ground. Coughing up blood as he realized how much he hated poison. Which was only increased when the sound of the Chimera's mocking laughter filled the air.
Causing rational thought to exit Ghidorah's mind as he promised to end Chimera here and now. Not caring that he would attract the attention of the Greek gods, he entered a state of outrage. One of the main reasons why dragons are feared throughout the realms.
However, his slaughter ended before it could begin. "That's enough, Chimera!" the voice of Echidna commanded. Which was instantly followed by the Chimera as he stood down.
Allowing Ghidorah to calm down as he focused his power on his regeneration. Forcing the poison out of his body in moments. Standing up, he watched as Echidna released Hecate. Who teleported by his side a second later.
"Forgive me, my lord. I was not strong enough to help you." Hecate begged. Still irked by her weakness.
Which Ghidorah merely waved off, still keeping his eyes on Echidna and Chimera. "There is no need for forgiveness. I have yet to complete my side of the deal, after all." he reminded.
Which eased her worries a bit. Though, she vowed that she would not fail him after she became stronger. She would have no excuse then, she believed, and she would not allow herself to be a burden. Especially when she knows what being his priest entails and how important her role is to him.
"While this deal of yours sounds interesting, I have my own that you should take into consideration," Echidna interjected with a smile. "Of course, I could always just summon my other children if you do not."
Ghidorah frowned at her threat but bit his tough regarding it. "Get on with it. My patience for worms is running thin."
His words caused Chimera to growl at him. Still agitated over his power being stolen but at a look from his mother, he relented. For she knew that even if Ghidorah was weaker than him, the chances of Ghidorah winning was not low. His irregular powers allow him to turn any fight in his favor given the chance.
Therefore, she will not give him that chance. "Of course, we should get right to it." With a flick of her hand, she created a small table with two seats. Where she sat down with her tail wrapping around her chair.
With an annoyed look at the snake, who merely smiled in return, he sat down as well. Hecate standing behind him to his left and the Chimera sitting down on Echidna's right. His three heads never once left Ghidorah as he watched for any sudden movement.
"As I am sure you know, my husband has been trapped for thousands of years. I want you to help me free him." She informed in a tone that made sure they knew that she was not asking.
The strangled sound that came from Hecate showed her surprise. The Storm Giant is locked up for a reason and his power is nothing to scoff at. With only the Unseen One, Hades himself, being stronger than him throughout the entirety of Greece.
However, Ghidorah only raised an eyebrow at her words. "And what makes you think I can do that? I have neither the power nor the plan to complete such a task. Not when that mountain is watched so closely by those fools in the clouds." he questioned.
She chuckled in response. "If any ultimate-class could get the job done, I would not be wasting my time here, dragon. That is why I needed to make sure your ability was as strong as I thought it was with Chimera here." She patted his lion head, causing him to purr.
Ghidorah could understand now. "Heh. So who am I going to devour? Which beast of legend am I going to slaughter, Echidna?"
Pleased at his astuteness, she answered. "Two beasts of legend, Ghidorah, not one. Known all throughout Greece by the names Scylla and Charybdis. They possess the power required."
Now that interested, Ghidorah. He still remembered when he was in school and they had to read the Odyssey in class. And now he is going to slay them. Well, he will be if he can find a reason to go along with Echidna's plan.
'My lord, while this is a gamble, it would be best to go with it. Those two are around your level but are completely mindless. Planning their deaths would be a simple matter for you, if only a strenuous one, my king.' Her voice informed him telepathically.
To which he responded with his own telepathic spell. 'That is good to know. Besides, if I do not go along with this, then she most likely has every intention of informing the gods of us and we cannot have that.' he agreed.
She was smart, Hecate has seen that first hand and thankfully her king could see that as well. Even though it hurt his pride to work for someone else, she could already see him thinking of ways to get back at the Mother of Monsters.
"And after that?" He prodded.
"You just need to keep those useless divinities from interfering. They will most likely send two of them to get rid of you after you release your power when fighting the two monsters. Once Typhon is free, your job will be done." Echidna explained.
She made it sound like he could leave after that, but both of them knew she would not allow it. Ever since she arrived, Ghidorah could smell the hatred that rolled off of her even when she tried to hide it. So it was obvious to him that she was just using him before she would have Typhon kill him.
However, she underestimated him. Believing him to be unaware of this motive and he will use that to his advantage. Even if it meant following along for now until he could act. And when he could, nothing will stop him from slaughtering her. After all, no one controls him if he has anything to say about it.
Standing up, Echidna spoke one last time. "Now, I must be off to make sure things are in order. It was nice seeing you, Hecate." she looked the witch in the eye before walking away. The Chimera growled at Ghidorah before following.
Narrowing his eyes at the beast, Ghidorah flipped him off. Kind of hoping that the beast would attack him so that he could get him back for the poison. Yet it was not meant to be when the Chimera merely snorted and left with Echidna.
"Mama's boy." Ghidorah mocked and turned to Hecate while still sitting down. "We are destroying them and that storm giant too."
His priest matched his malicious smile. "Oh, no doubt, my king."
Thus, they began planning his rise. Using Echidna's plan as a base for his evolution. All the while, Ghidorah found himself creating his true goal. Not one that he inherited from the original, like devouring the world, but his own true motivation.
Which is and always will be to demolish any who might try to rule over and control him. For he will not stand for it. Even if it means devouring the entire metaverse to see it through.
Status Power Mingguan
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