Archon screamed out in pain.
Styxx drove him back as Archon struggled to keep up with his blows.
“Go ahead,” Archon taunted, “put me back to sleep. I will get free again. And when I do, I’m coming for both of you. There’s nothing you can do to stop me. I will return.”
“No,” Styxx said firmly. “You won’t.” He feinted right and when Archon moved to defend, he shot back with a well-practiced swing that severed the god’s head in one final stroke.
Urian’s eyes widened at that bold move.
Everyone in the room froze as they realized what Styxx had done. And more to the point, they became aware of what he really was.
A Chthonian god-killer. They alone had the power to destroy a god and send his or her power back to the Source. And while killing a god weakened them, they were still the baddest asses in the Nether Realm.
The only things that could kill one of them was the Source, one of its servants, or another Chthonian.
And judging by the heat in Urian’s arm, his powers didn’t like it at all. But that was okay, he was impressed.
Apparently, so were the Atlanteans, as they dropped their weapons immediately and stood down.
Except Bethany and Leto, who continued to battle like champions.
Nonchalant about it, Urian walked over to Styxx. “Should we break them up?”
Before he could answer, Set intervened by grabbing Leto in a fierce sleeper hold. As soon as she passed out, he tossed her over his shoulder. “While I respect your need to beat her, daughter, I’m the one with a much larger grudge against this bitch. Not just for what she did to you, but for what she did to your brother.” He leaned forward to kiss Bethany’s cheek. “I will be back very soon and never fear … while I would never strike a lady, this bitch is open season.” He paused to glance at Zakar, who smiled wickedly.
Then the three of them were gone.
Urian cringed, grateful to the gods that he wasn’t his great-grandmother. That batch was burnt.
“Brother?” Bethany whispered as she turned to Styxx. “I have a brother?”
He pointed to Seth, who stood back from them. “Seth was born long after Apollymi had frozen you in Katateros.”
Bethany went to meet him for the first time while Styxx knelt beside Acheron, who was stone gray from head to toe. He frowned at Urian. “What is this?”
“Aima,” Dikastis answered, kneeling by their side.
Styxx started for Dikastis to finish him off, but Urian held him back so that he couldn’t hurt him.
“Easy, god-killer,” Urian said with a laugh. “He’s on our side.”
Styxx narrowed his gaze. “You sure?”
“He stabbed that one.” Urian pointed to Teros. “And saved my ass.”
Maahes joined Seth and Bethany to help with their introductions, while Ma’at came over to Styxx’s side.
She rubbed Styxx’s back reassuringly. “Acheron will be fine. As soon as Simi brings the antidote, he’ll wake up.”
Styxx appeared doubtful. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Otherwise, Apollymi wouldn’t be so quiet.”
Urian realized she was quiet …
Even when Simi returned with three leaves from the Tree of Life that only grew in the Destroyer’s temple in Kalosis, Apollymi remained extremely reserved and dubiously silent.
That cannot be good.Urian had never seen her like that before. What fresh menace was this? Every hair on the back of his neck was standing on end.
