Bab 27: New Weapon, Medusa And Aries.
Outside the temple of Apollo, Billy stood,facing Ethan and the rest.
"That prophecy sounded kind of epic" Billy said,
"Going through this, I can see why the wizard said, I am stupid" he said further.
Ethan nodded "you are not, you just think before you do things"
He turned to Diana " Do you know where the groove of Aries is?"
Diana replied " The location is off world, but the entrance is located at Greece"
Ethan nodded " Before we do this I will need some tools, my armor is not functional, I will need some protective gears."
Diana smiled and winked at him I know where to get you one, Follow me"
"Where" Ethan replied.
" The forge of the fallen one, the one who made my own weapon and armor" Diana answered.
"Who is the fallen one" Billy asked.
" Hephaestus, God of the forge" Diana replied.
________________________________________
Location: Hephaestus forge.
Ethan adjusted his clothes as he followed Diana through the towering halls of Hephaestus' forge. The air smelled of molten metal and divine power. Hephaestus, the smith of the gods, stood towering over an anvil, his broad shoulders gleaming with sweat and sparks. He turned his attention to Ethan, his eyes narrowing as if measuring the mortal's worth.
"So," Hephaestus rumbled, his voice deep as the earth's core, "you're the anomaly Diana speaks of."
Ethan inclined his head respectfully. "I'm just here to do my part."
The god chuckled, a sound like grinding stone. "You'll need more than mortal steel for what lies ahead."
Hephaestus reached into a glowing chest and pulled out two gleaming bastard swords. Their edges shimmered with an ethereal light, and runes danced along the blades.
"These are enchanted with celestial fire," Hephaestus said, handing the swords to Ethan. "They'll cut through monsters and magic alike."
Next, he presented Ethan with a suit of body armor that seemed to mold itself perfectly to his form. "This armor will shield you from most attacks and enhances your speed and strength. Use it well."
Ethan bowed. "Thank you."
Diana, standing nearby, smiled approvingly. "Come, Ethan. We have no time to lose."
With the blessing of the goddess Iris, a rainbow-like light enveloped Ethan, Diana, and the Shazam team, teleporting them to Greece. They landed in a desolate area surrounded by towering mountains and ancient ruins.
Diana pointed to a crumbling temple in the distance. "The entrance to Ares' realm lies within."
Inside the temple, they found a swirling, dark portal surrounded by faint whispers of rage and despair. With determination, they stepped through and found themselves in a vast, dark labyrinth.
The walls pulsed faintly, alive with magic and menace. "Stay close," Diana commanded. "This place was designed to disorient and separate intruders."
They began their journey through the twisting paths. Diana's ingenuity and Billy's wisdom, granted by Solomon, helped them navigate traps and illusions. However, the labyrinth fought back.
From the shadows, a herd of Minotaurs charged, their axes gleaming wickedly in the dim light. Before they could regroup, Hyperborean giants descended from the towering ceilings, swinging massive clubs.
Ethan and the Shazams unleashed their powers, while Diana danced through the chaos with her lasso and sword. Despite their efforts, the unrelenting assault caused the group to scatter.
"Stay together!" Diana yelled, but the labyrinth shifted, walls sliding into place and separating them.
Alone now, Ethan moved cautiously down a dimly lit corridor. His armor hummed faintly, sensing the danger ahead. The air grew colder, and the silence became oppressive. Suddenly, the floor trembled, and fifty monsters—Cyclopes, Chimera, and skeletal warriors—charged him.
Ethan drew his swords, the runes flaring to life. With a roar, he charged into the fray, his strikes swift and precise. Flames roared from his blows as he invoked the power of Shazam. After a grueling battle, the ground was littered with the remains of his foes.
Exhausted, Ethan leaned against a wall to catch his breath. That's when he felt the subtle shift in the air—a predator's presence.
"Ethan…" a voice hissed, cold and hypnotic.
He spun, instinctively closing his eyes. Medusa stood before him, her serpentine hair writhing, her petrifying gaze useless against his closed lids.
The fight was brutal. Relying on his hearing and instinct, Ethan struck blindly, dodging her claws and the venomous snakes snapping at him. Several near misses left him bloodied, but with a desperate lunge, he drove one of his enchanted swords through her chest.
Medusa shrieked, her body turning to stone. Her petrified form collapsed into rubble, leaving only her severed head. Ethan carefully removed her eyes, their residual magic glowing faintly, and placed them in a pouch.
After four grueling hours of navigating the labyrinth, Ethan emerged into a vast, blood-red grove. Towering trees twisted unnaturally, their bark appearing to bleed. At the center of the grove, suspended on a golden pedestal, was the Golden Fleece. Its radiant glow lit up the sinister surroundings.
Ethan approached cautiously, his armor alert to any danger. As he reached out to grab the fleece, the ground rumbled, and the air ignited with fury.
In a burst of red light, Ares appeared, clad in blackened armor, his massive sword gleaming with malice. His presence was suffocating, his rage palpable.
"You dare trespass in my realm?" Ares roared, his voice shaking the grove. "Do you think I will allow mortals and their meddling to touch what is mine?"
Ethan raised his swords, the runes glowing brighter in response. "I don't want to fight you, Ares. But I will if I have to."
The war god laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the grove. "Foolish mortal. Let me show you why even the gods fear me."
With that, Ares charged, his blade aimed to cleave Ethan in two.
The grove erupted in chaos as Ares charged, his colossal sword trailing a crimson aura of war-fueled energy. Ethan barely sidestepped in time, the blade cleaving a massive trench into the ground.
Wasting no time, Ethan retaliated with a roar, his fists igniting with searing flames as he swung at the war god. His enchanted bastard swords slashed through the air, leaving glowing arcs of heat in their wake. The two collided with a deafening clash, sparks and flames lighting up the blood-red grove.
"Impressive, mortal," Ares sneered, blocking Ethan's strike with his blade and shoving him back with a surge of raw power. "But strength alone won't save you."
Ethan grinned, his body crackling with energy. "We'll see about that."
Ethan surged forward, his movements a blur as he unleashed a flurry of flaming strikes. Ares parried each blow with unnerving precision, his massive sword ringing out with each clash. The ground trembled beneath their feet, craters forming with every missed swing.
Drawing on his Shazam powers, Ethan channeled lightning into his strikes, catching Ares off guard. A blast of thunderous energy sent the god hurtling through the grove, crashing into a towering tree that splintered on impact.
Ares rose, grinning savagely as the cracks in his armor began to mend themselves. "Good," he growled, his voice resonating with power. "Let's see if you can keep up!"
The war god lunged again, this time faster, stronger. Ethan barely managed to block the onslaught, each strike of Ares' sword sending shockwaves rippling through the air. Trees shattered, and the very ground seemed to ripple from the force of their battle.
Ethan pressed forward, using his immense strength to grapple with Ares. Flames erupted from his fists as he landed a powerful blow to the war god's chest, sending him skidding back.
But something was wrong.
Ethan's attacks, which had been effective at first, seemed to have less and less impact as the fight went on. Ares' movements grew sharper, his strikes heavier. The red glow surrounding him intensified, feeding on the chaos of their battle.
Realization dawned on Ethan. "You're getting stronger," he muttered, stepping back.
Ares laughed, his voice booming. "Indeed, mortal. The longer I fight, the stronger I become. This is my realm, my power! You cannot defeat me.
Determined not to give up, Ethan unleashed a torrent of flames, the heat so intense it scorched the ground black. The inferno engulfed Ares, forcing the war god to shield himself with his massive sword. Ethan followed up with a ground-shaking punch, the force creating a shockwave that toppled the remaining trees in the grove.
For a moment, it seemed like Ethan had gained the upper hand. But Ares emerged from the flames unscathed, his armor glowing with renewed strength.
The war god raised his hand, summoning a storm of crimson energy. With a deafening roar, he hurled it at Ethan, the blast tearing through the ground as it raced toward him. Ethan crossed his swords in defense, the enchanted blades absorbing some of the energy, but the impact sent him flying into a nearby cliff side.
Bruised and battered, Ethan climbed to his feet. His armor was dented, his flames flickering weakly. But his resolve burned brighter than ever.
Channeling every ounce of his strength, Ethan raised his hands to the sky, summoning a massive pillar of flame. The inferno roared to life, consuming the battlefield in blinding heat. Ares shielded himself again, but this time, Ethan was already moving.
With a roar, he charged through the flames, his swords glowing with divine fire. He swung with everything he had, landing a devastating blow that cracked Ares' armor and sent the god stumbling.
But Ares only smiled, his eyes burning with triumph. "Is that all you've got?"
Ethan panted, his strength waning. "Not even close."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone