Divine Retribution
2063 Words
Gradually, my feet touch the ground after I conclude the fight is over. Any minute now, I will go unconscious. Mila is the nearest to me. She looks at me with widened eyes. Is she afraid of me because I'm covered in blood? Maybe not, since she has seen far worse in the Underworld.
I walk to her and she says, “Leo-” My chin is over her shoulder and she supports my weight.
Disabling my Demigod Mode, I whisper, “Take care of me.”
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*
Leo leaves the land of the conscious for a while. He is about to slip and fall on the ground but Mila holds him, wrapping him around her arms. The blood paints her armor and face indefinitely. His face is so peaceful looking up as his chin is against her chest. She pulls him up and Darius helps her. He is fine now.
“Thank you, Darius,” she says. “But you have to get back protecting us. I can carry him.”
“There're no more enemies, my lady. Leo took all of them out.” He grits his teeth in anger. “I'm pathetic compared to him. How am I supposed to protect my sister?”
“No, you're not. At a given time, you'll be able to control your power just like Enzo. Just don't be hard on yourself.”
“Yes...,” he hesitates. “my lady.”
Other people watch them carrying the b****y boy to a safer place. They stay out of their way. No praises for the hero or celebration for their salvation is happening. They could not, after seeing the horrifying bloodbath. He is not a hero but a “monster free from the leash” for them.
Mila and Darius hear whispering and murmurs of the opinions of the people as if they forget they are in a grave situation. Gods, demigods, and humans start to say what they want to say.
“They should lock him up now before he kills us all.”
“He ripped the throat of that goddess with his bare hands.”
“Anytime, he could do that to us too.”
“Why is Lady Mila and Lord Darius helping him? They should just let him die.”
“It's good that he saved us earlier but we're gonna be fine afterward. We must get rid of him. Who knows when he will start to kill us all?”
Darius glares at them. “If one of you has something to say, say it to my face!!” he roars. All of them stop murmuring.
“Let them be, Darius,” says Mila.
“I won't let them talk trash about Leo! He saved their butts and they're being ungrateful!”
“I know but it is not important now. Focus on getting out of here safely.”
“Yes, my lady,” he sighs, calming himself. “And I think he's changed, my lady. He's not the Leo I used to know.”
“Me too,” says Mila. She is looking so concerned and fearful of the future. “He's confrontational and always has been but this time it's different. I didn't expect him to be this violent in a fight. I don't know what to say but he feels like a stranger to me now.”
“Don't worry, I'll bring him back to normal, my lady.”
“Do your best, then.”
On the other hand, Danae's fight against Dragunov still rages on like eternal fire. None of them wants to lose. With heaving breaths, Danae holds her trident as firm as she can. She has bruises on her face but Dragunov is unscathed. His strength never faded away even after receiving thousands of strikes from her. It is like he is completely invincible.
“One of the perks of being the God of Strength is gifted with a good amount of Olympian Strength,” he says from afar. “Your attacks never hurt me.”
Panting, she shouts, “Shut up! Let's get this over with!”
“Fine!”
They put up their stance, showing that this will be the last clash. The ground beneath their feet explodes. Heading to beat each other, they prepare their most powerful attacks.
“Strength of the Universe:”
“Ocean's Fury:”
“Last Will!!”
“RAGING CURRENT!!!”
Her trident is covered by very dense water, glowing so bright, brighter than any star. The clear blue sky above them is outshined by this blue light. It is jealous of the blueness of Danae's power. Dragunov's eyes glow orange. His right fist is also emitting light.
It is his fist against her trident. The loud clang shakes the Earth down to its core. The mountains, oceans, and skies roar with it. Hot plasma is created at the epicenter of the impact, emitting a bright light. The surface of the ground near it has been vaporized. A mushroom cloud rises over the stratosphere.
The people stop walking and look at it from the distance. Later, they are blown away by the shockwave. It is not lethal enough at this distance and just makes them fall over. Mila is the first to stand up to look there, knowing that this is the fight of her sister. Her eyes begin to well up in tears, wondering if her sister won. Darius carries Leo on his own. With his left hand, he taps her by the shoulder.
“Are you okay, my lady?” he asks.
“I am,” she nods, wiping her tears before facing him. “Let's go.” She helps him carry Leo again.
“And by the way, where are Lady Aurelia and Lady Eleanna.”
“MILA!!!” screams Aurelia behind them.
Without any hesitation, Mila turns around. A million tons of weight put her down. Her breath stops. She is choking herself. Uncontrollably, her jaw trembles, seeing the back end of the Trident impaling Danae in the stomach. As if her ears are gone. She could not hear Aurelia's cry, the panic of the people around them, and the painful cough of Danae. Like a slow fountain, Danae coughs blood from her mouth.
Mila's mind begins to perceive all of the chaos, including in her heart. Her cry is the loudest there is. She runs to Danae, sitting on the ground, seconds away from death. Aurelia is sitting, sobbing so hard that she could not speak.
“DANAE!!!” she screams. “Hang on! We'll get you healed! Where's Lord Santos?!” she asks them.
“He got killed, Mila,” says Juliet behind her. She embraces Mila from behind, her tears falling too.
“How about the God of Medicine?”
“He's been killed months ago,” says Jia.
“Anyone who can heal?” she asks, in a weak, pleading voice.
Everyone looks at each other, waiting for someone to step up, hopefully. But no one did.
“Dyami...,” she utters, realizing that he might be able to save her. “Where's Dyami?!!”
Hyeon and Arua step aside, between and behind them is Dyami, looking to the side.
“Dyami, heal her!!” she demands, holding his arms.
“I can't,” he says as she pulls him.
“You can! Do it!” She makes him kneel beside the suffering Danae. Everyone also encourages him.
His tears begin to fall too. The pressure everyone is putting on him, makes him feel even worse. “I CAN'T!!!” he screams. Everyone shuts their mouth.
“What do you mean, you can't?!!” shouts Mila. “You're the only one left who has the power to heal!”
“I'll only make it worse!!” He rises.
“Dyami!!”
“I've been working on it but I never made any improvements!!”
“Then go!! You're useless!!” Mila lets out.
The others are surprised. Dyami is hurt, walking away with his head bowing down. They understand that she is panicking, that's why she said it. They did not pull the Trident or Danae will bleed out faster and die. Mila just kneels beside her and holds her b****y hand.
“Just hold on, Danae,” she says, trying to be calm. “I'll definitely save you.”
Danae shakes her head like she does not want her sister to be troubled further. “You...'ve.... done... e... nough... for... us.” She coughs. “Do... things... for... your... self... this... time...”
“No! I love all of you!!! Father, Mother, you, and Aurelia! Everything I do is for us!!”
“Mila,” sobs Aurelia. “please save her!”
“Hang on, Danae, I-”
Danae smiles at someone before her feet. Mila and the others realize that it is Enzo. He swallows, looking at Danae without blinking. His face is stern. No emotion can be perceived from him.
“Enzo!” screams Mila. “I-” she runs out of things to say and just lets him do what he wants.
He kneels slowly next to his beloved. His right palm is on her left cheek. Her fresh blood sticks on it. Unhurriedly, he nears his face and he kisses her slowly. Both taste her blood on her lips. Then he just puts his forehead against hers. Everyone else goes away to make space leaving him, her, Aurelia, Mila, Juliet, Darius, and the unconscious Leo.
“I'm sorry I'm too late,” he whispers.
“It's... fine,” she smiles then groans in pain, shaking her head. “I'm... a... fraid,” she finally cries. Her sisters cry more.
“I'll be here holding your hand. Don't be afraid. We are here for you. Your sisters, Juliet, me, Darius, and Leo. Just tell me something you want us to know. Or ask anything and I will do it.”
Her tears are mixing with her blood in her hair as she smiles. “Take... care... of... my... sisters,” she says. “Tell... Fa... ther... I... love... him.”
“No, Danae!” cries Aurelia. “Don't leave us!”
Danae has no strength left but she just puts up a smile, telling her sister it is fine. Darius could not say anything. He just looks down, afraid to get emotional. He cares too but does not know how to show.
“And...,” Danae continues. “Do... you... love... me?”
He embraces her and says, “Of course, I do. Of course, I do. I love you even in your next life. But wait for me for a little longer.” He stands up. “Don't go yet, my love. I'll be back in a second.”
She nods once, as slow as a glacier. Then he disappears. She closes her eyes.
“Danae!!” cries, Aurelia.
“She's still breathing!” says Mila. “She's waiting for him!”
At the crater of the battlefield, Dragunov is still there, laughing endlessly after his fight against Danae—which he won. Enzo arrives, walking step by step towards him. Dragunov can spot him from this distance, walking down the crater.
“Enzo!!” he shouts. “I'm glad you're here! Did you see our fight?!! Hahaha! It's so fun toying with her! I didn't break a sweat so I can fight you with full strength!!”
Enzo does not answer and just clenches his right fist. The whole world feels the grip. The ground shakes without reason and the air is heavy. Dragunov lowers his stance for a moment. He feels somehow, terrified. His senses involuntarily focus on Enzo. Dragunov shakes it off by smirking.
Beginning his charge, Enzo runs preparing, “Fist of Twenty-five:”
Dragunov prepares, “Strength of the Universe:”
Even too far away, Enzo lunges his fist early. “Divine-”
“You're finished!!!” laughs Dragunov. “You're too early!” Then finally says, “Last-”
He is confused why a sword is in front of him, falling from above. It is now at his face. He partly thinks that this is the last time he will see his reflection. Then Enzo appears in front of him, his fist an inch away from Dragunov's face.
Enzo says, “Retribution.”
*
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- Writer
