Then, with what seemed like a blink, Jackson stood over the mortal with a foot raised. Pallas watched as the primordial brought his foot down and slammed on a small, shell-like barrier flashing to life just over the mortal.
It was useless.
...
Pallas watched as only five seconds passed before the barrier gave like broken glass, the mortal only managing to look up and open his eyes, forgetting that even looking at Pallas or any of the other minor gods would kill him instantly.
"Ple-Crunch!"
The mortal's plea was short as he was crushed underfoot without hesitation, forever left as a red smear on an abandoned floor. Seemingly grounding his foot for the simple fact that he could, the dark god turned his attention on them yet again but this time the desperation of the gods led them to attack.
Four hefted and threw their spears with force comparable to small tank shells, the deadly spears homing in on the primordial only for one of his wings to unfurl and knock all of them away. Jackson himself didn't even twitch as his eyes moved to the gods before he did something that terrified Pallas more.
He snarled.
The very mountain that stood upon rumbled with the primal sound as the darkness thickened at the bloodlust and fury in the dark god's eyes, his fangs growing as wisps of black fire sprang out. Then it started. Slow, deep growls echoed around them, carrying on without end.
Then within the darkness something glowed and Pallas felt all his ichor freeze as he realized what it was. An eye, glowing an icy blue simple floating alone in the darkness. Then another and another until dozens of sets formed.
Next Pallas knew there was varying growling all around as he and the other gods looked only to see the eyes move in pairs before wolves bigger than hummers stalking out of the shadows, snarling as the atmosphere got even colder. The pressure that followed their every step, the trace of divinity radiating from marking each as immortal beasts that held no fear of god in their divine forms. And all eyeing them like fresh slabs of meat.
"My pups have been busy all night," spoke the primordial, the snarl in his voice echoing around them as they looked to him again. "And now you've labeled yourselves as their just rewards," he asked, his fangs growing as his eyes flashed before he raised his right hand … and snapped.
That snap was louder than a strike of the Master Bolt in Pallas' view as over a dozen wolves all pounced at once. Like black wraiths they descended as the minor gods around him panicked. Pallas raised his blade to guard himself, silently cursing as his legs wobbled beneath him but he managed to focus enough of his power into them, strengthening them. However none of the wolves approached him and even seemed to ignore him as they attacked.
He watched as the wolves got around any spear thrust or slash, working in pairs to get into the guard of any targeted god. He watched as one was knocked down but before he could get up two sets of jaws clamped down on his opposing shoulders. He listened to the screaming and pleading as both wolves viciously pulled in opposite direction, ichor splattering for over a minute of agony before with a final scream the god was pulled in two before bursting into ashen dust
He was a lucky one.
"Pallas!" one screamed as the titan looked, barely seeing the face of Phobos, the god on his back with three wolves ripping into his chest, breastplate and all without showing any signs of stopping.
He looked like he was going to say something more before another wolf appear, its jaws completely clamping over the god's face muffling a scream. Time crawled by as the god was eaten alive before there was a burst of ashen dust signaling the end of another of Ares' sons. Suddenly everything quieted down again and only then did Pallas realize that all the other gods had been killed, leaving him standing alone while surrounded by ichor, dust, and the wolves.
Pallas swiveled his head around, his grip on his sword shaky as he looked at the wolves and daring them to attack but none did. Instead the beasts walked backwards into the shadows and slowly disappearing, their gazes never leaving his until only he was left opposite the dark god. The titan's eyes moved to the dark god and almost flinched at the icy gaze. Seeing it along with the present situation pushed Pallas past any control as his image of calm warrior under any circumstances shattered.
"What Jackson, is that it!? You slaughter my men and now you think you've won!?" he bellowed in fury, psyching himself up even if he knew it was pointless.
He was a dead man but wasn't about to go out without hurting or maybe even taking the bastard with him. He had a godling to protect after all and Pallas would make full use of it. "Come Jackson, let's see if you're truly as dangerous as they say!" he challenged, his entire frame and blade glowing with pent up power.
One strike. One strike to draw the dark god's blood would be good enough for him.
Jackson's eyes merely narrowed but he didn't say a word, carefully holding the godling in his left hand even as his right moved to gripping the hilt of his right blade, the katana. His knees bent slightly as his eyes remained locked on Pallas' form, the very air around him changing as the sense of danger double.
'Yes, come and fight! You can't protect the child and attack with your all at the same time,' he thought as he steeled himself, preparing for his last battle. And in doing so, falling back on an age old strategy that was still effective. Bait and anger the opponent.
"The bitch already got what she deserved and now you wi-"
All he did was blink. Before, Jackson had stood before him, child nestled in his left hand and right on the blade. For a moment nothing happened yet Pallas could have sworn that he saw an apparition, a phantom of pure darkness pass him with icy eyes, and then nothing once more.
Crack!
The sound of marble sliding and giving way drew his attention as he turned his head slowly, unable to move anything below his neck as shock took hold. There he saw Jackson's back, standing rigid with his right arm steadily held at his side, the katana pointed out horizontally. Beyond him Pallas watched in disbelief as the entire wall and thrones past him fell, cut in half. Pillars, the wall, thrones … everything was cut with a perfect slash just above Pallas' waist level.
Clang!
The sharp crack of metal striking stone drew Pallas' attention as he looked back at his own blade, his previous disbelief completely surpassed at the sight of his blade. His own sword, his symbol of power, had been cut in two. His mind failed to comprehend, refused to accept what he saw and held. A symbol of power, forged of the greatest metals and constantly strengthened with the power of the owning god were meant to be next to indestructible and yet, his had been broken.
"You were strong but Chase already crippled you," was the damn dark god's words as Pallas tried to turn, this time moving his upper body instead of just his head … until he felt it.
What had been numb before blasted into unrelenting pain that he screamed as ichor suddenly splattered from the middle of his gut. He looked down only for his eyes to widen in horror as his torso slid off his bottom half. Even his arms below mid-forearm fell off with meaty thuds, still gripping the hilt of his broken sword and all the while Jackson's words passed his agonized screams unimpeded.
"Had you been at full capacity this would have been harder but regardless, you were overall … lacking," he said, his tone mocking as Pallas fell over, his top half landing on his back and face turned in the direction of the dark god who in turn had moved around to facing Pallas and slowly walking his way, the katana leisurely held at his side.
For some reason, even through the agony assaulting his mind his eyes drifted to the obsidian weapon. Something about that sword carried a dark omen beyond simple death, rage, and malice but an unrelenting sense of danger and destruction.
Even looking at it he could make out a faint, dark distortion along the edge, seemingly parting the very air around it without effort. However, his observation of only one second was ended as his eyes returned to the demon over him, looking into those eyes of writhing black flame.
"Your disappointing showing aside I'm tired of so much as looking at you so …" with that he sheathed the blade before aiming his pointer finger down at Pallas as the titan continued to bleed out, his own godly constitution acting more like a curse as it prolonged his suffering rather than letting it end already. "Goodbye Pallas, may Chaos' judgment and punishment be swift."
Without another word a torrent of pitch black fire and blue streaks within it blasted over Pallas, his screams of unparalleled agony rupturing his own vocal cords as the flames ate away at his very essence. His last thoughts through the pain being, 'Pontus, just what sort of monster have you provoked?'
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Don't forget to throw some power Stones, to keep the story going.
...
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