The Reaping

Chapter 10: Prey or Predator?

Dust swirled in the air where Zeus had crashed, the stone wall behind him cracked from the impact. He exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the hit. Blood dripped down his temple, but his expression remained unreadable.

"This body is useless," he muttered, his fingers twitching as faint sparks of lightning crackled along his knuckles. "My power is barely a flicker of what it should be."

A chill crept down my spine. So I was right. Zeus wasn’t holding back—he couldn’t. He wasn’t fighting at full power because Mikey’s mortal body simply wasn’t strong enough to handle it. That was the only reason I was still standing. If Zeus had been at full strength, this fight would’ve been over before it even began.

He hurled another bolt of lightning at the Goblin King, the crackling energy slamming against its armored chest. The monster didn’t even flinch. Zeus’s frustration was starting to show.

The Goblin King let out a deafening roar, saliva flying from its jagged teeth as it picked up speed. Its massive club carved through the air in a wide arc, aiming to crush Zeus against the dungeon wall like an insect. My breath caught in my throat.

But Zeus barely reacted. His sky-blue eyes flickered with irritation before he floated upward, dodging effortlessly. The club crashed into the wall with enough force to send cracks sprawling outward. Dust and debris exploded from the impact, momentarily obscuring Zeus from view.

I swallowed hard. He’s still fast. Too fast. But how long could he keep dodging before Mikey’s body collapsed?

The dust settled, and there he was—hovering above the Goblin King, arms crossed over his chest, unimpressed. He clicked his tongue in annoyance. "You're persistent. But I grow tired of this."

Another bolt of lightning tore through the air—stronger this time—but the Goblin King took it head-on without even slowing down. My stomach dropped. It wasn’t working. If the Goblin King landed another hit, Mikey’s body wouldn’t survive it.

I had to do something. Before I could act, Zeus spoke—without even looking at me. “Mortal.” His voice was low but commanding. “I need time. If you can keep that brute still for just a few seconds, I’ll finish this.” I stiffened. What?

Since the moment Zeus took over Mikey’s body, he had treated me like an insect he was waiting to squash. Now, all of a sudden, he was asking for my help? Relying on me?

Was it desperation? A calculated move? Or was there something more? I didn’t have time to figure it out.

My daggers were too short to land a fatal strike. I wasn’t strong enough to hold out on my own.

Hold?

The word echoed in my mind. Then it hit me—Wielders don’t just use weapons. They control the elements they’re blessed with.

The Goblin King wasn’t even paying attention to me. That gave me one chance. Zeus began chanting in Ancient Greek, his deep voice resonating through the dungeon. Sparks of electricity crackled around him, growing brighter, more concentrated. He was preparing something big.

I took a shaky breath and stretched out my hand. My heart pounded as I focused on the Goblin King’s shadow. I had no idea if this would work.

The dark shape beneath the monster shimmered—then shifted. My chest tightened. I clenched my fist.

The Goblin King snarled as its own shadow coiled around its legs like living chains. It staggered, trying to move, but the darkness held firm.

A notification flickered beside me:

New Skill Acquired. Unique Skill: Shadow Snare.

I barely had time to register the words before the sky exploded with light.

A massive bolt of lightning descended, striking the Goblin King with a deafening roar. The impact sent a shockwave blasting outward.

I was thrown backward, my body slamming against the ground. Pain flared through my ribs, my vision blurring at the edges.

Through the haze, I caught a glimpse of Mikey. The Greek tunic Zeus had manifested unraveled into smoke, fading away. Mikey’s normal clothes returned—then his body slumped forward.

A final notification appeared where the Goblin King had stood. I squinted, barely able to focus.

Dungeon Cleared.

And then everything went dark.