Chapter 11

The Steam Tunnels under the second level of Olympus ain't as pretty as the rest of the damned place in Jackie's humble opinion. Of course, ain't no way that a utility tunnel was gonna compete with the Homes and Temples of Gods on the aesthetics front, but Jackie was sorta blown away at how close his assessment of the place was. Shit looked just like the sorta tunnels and sewers under Gotham, just with a different kinda stone. Gotham was all brick and concrete, with the sorta cables and tubes that a modern city had for electricity and shit. Olympus was all dark stone blocks and dark tile, with copper pipes for water and steam.

"Still smells like shit, though." Grumbled Jackie as he picked his way through the sewers.

"Look on the bright side, Brother Drinky. At least we aren't hip-deep in innards." Offered Brother Sandy.

"True, it could be a lot worse. Remember that time in the Western Kingdom of Women? The Child-Bearing Stream that flowed through the town? Master Tripataka drank the water and got pregnant?" Questioned Brother Piggsy.

"As I recall, you gave him the water and had a drink yourself." Pointed out Brother Sandy.

"Don't remind me. Like I said, it could be a lot worse." Groused Brother Piggsy.

"I don't think any of us are gonna drink this literal shit water. Somehow, I doubt the piss and shit of the Gods is any cleaner than the sorta pis and shit found in the Mortal World." Pointed out Jackie.

"You'd be surprised what some folk would eat or drink. Some Hungry Ghosts will only eat excrement." Retorted Brother Sandy.

"To be fair, those kinds of Hungry Ghosts should be exorcised as fast as possible." Added Brother Piggsy.

"Not really seeing how that applies to our situation." Frowned Jackie.

"Well, you could be a Hungry Ghost, for example." Shrugged Brother Sandy.

"I ain't dead yet and I'll thank you to not suggest in that direction." Huffed Jackie.

"True. I guess that you'll just have to deal with the smell, then, Brother Drinky." Nodded Brother Piggsy.

"Not for much longer. If this map they gave us is right, we oughtta be coming up on the main cistern soon. That means would should be good to hang a right and we'll be in the steam tunnels under the Gymnasium. Ain't gonna need to deal with the shit smell then." Grunted Jackie as he unrolled the vellum map of the Olympus sewers he'd been given by Athena.

"Then I suppose we should press on in the hopes that we may be out of the sewer portion of our journey speedily." Intoned Brother Sandy.

With that, they continued on in silence for a bit, passing through more shit-smelling, slime-covered, stone and tile tunnels. As they went, Jackie noticed the copper pipes were getting more frequent and bigger, always hanging close to the right wall like some sorta metallic growth. That told him the map was right on the money in terms of being accurate. Good thing too, cause the vellum shit it'd been made of ain't meant for the damp environment and was sucking up moisture like a motherfucker. Jackie ain't sure if it woulda lasted long enough for them to find their way back if they'd gotten lost.

Eventually, after a bit more time walking, the three of 'em managed to exit the stretch of tunnel out onto a catwalk over a big-ass cistern. The archway they exited outta was carved in the shape of some kinda snarling sea beast. Probably one of Poseidon's pets or some shit like that. As the river of shit flowed out into the Cistern below, Jackie looked up and spotted a mosaic set into the ceiling. It looked like Herakles fighting the Hydra, which gave Jackie a bad fucking feeling.

That feeling was validated when bubbles started to erupt outta the muck-filled water of the cistern, forcing Jackie to leap forward hitting the metal grate of the catwalk just ahead of the gout of steam and fire what erupted outta the water and cooked the section of catwalk he'd been standing on. As that happened, a pair of red-scaled, glowing-eyed, reptilian heads erupted outta the water, fang-filled maws dripping sizzling poison as they lashed out at Brother Piggsy and Brother Sandy.

Fortunately, both Jackie's sworn brothers were made of sterner stuff than to be taken out by a surprise attack by some sorta Hydra. Brother Piggsy smashed an elbow strike into the head that aimed for him, using the Strong-Maned Boar Smashes the Stubborn Rock Technique to break its skull as he did so, while Brother Sandy disappeared in a cloud of sand with the Great Sand River Bears Away the Serpent Technique, reappearing next to Jackie.

Sneak attack having failed, the other two heads of the Hydra erupted outta the muck-filled water, snarling at the Three Sworn Brothers, fangs dripping acrid venom and smoke pouring outta their nostrils. The head that'd had its skull broke by Brother Piggsy lolled to one side on the coil of sinuous muscle it had for a neck, outta the fight till it could regenerate, though, from the way blood stopped pouring outta its nostrils, that ain't gonna take long.

"Guess we found out why they ain't put any guards down here." Mused Jackie.

"This will hamper our timetable some." Admitted Brother Sandy.

"You two go on ahead. I'll deal with this sorry excuse for a Dragon and join you as soon as I can." Offered Brother Piggsy.

"Are you certain? Any one of us could deal with it, and you are the most powerful combatant here, now that Brother Monkey is elsewhere." Pointed out Brother Sandy.

"I'm positive. You doing it would take too long and Brother Drinky would take wounds putting this thing down most likely. I'll catch up shortly." Nodded Brother Piggsy.

"Right, just so you know, it regenerates, so you're gonna haveta take out all its heads at once if you wanna kill it. That's the only way to get it to show it's body, where it's weak. Use fire to sear the stumps closed." Informed Jackie.

"Thank you for the advice, Brother Drinky, but we have a timetable to keep. You and Brother Sandy should go on ahead." Intoned Brother Piggsy.

"Right. Come, Brother Drinky, let's not dally." Demanded Brother Sandy.

Jackie nodded and made to follow as Brother Sandy moved forward offa the catwalk and down into the right-hand tunnel. The Hydra ain't gonna let the two of 'em go unchallenged though. Two of its heads lashed out at Jackie and Brother Piggsy, jaws snapping for heads. Jackie tumbled away, hitting his head with the Flames of Zhurong, an Archmage Wuxing Elementalism Spell and the only one he'd learned so far. The Hydra's head juked to the side at the last second, forced to avoid the white-hot ball of elemental fire, but that'd taken its window to bite Jackie from it. Brother Sandy simply used the Great Sand River Bears Away the Serpent again to disappear in a puff of sand and pop up right next to Jackie. Before the Hydra could regroup, the pair dashed outta the Cistern Area.

Then the pair were through the next tunnel entrance, carved to look like some kinda snarling lion, and found themselves in tunnels that were a lot cleaner. More of those big-ass copper pipes lined the walls, radiating heat from the steam inside. From behind them, Brother Piggsy let out some sorta snarling war cry, and the sounds of battle could be heard echoing through the tunnels afterward. Jackie ain't about to waste the opening given to him and Brother Sandy. With one last look back down the tunnel, they ran for the steps outta the Steam Tunnel that they knew would be at the end of the hallway.

When they got there, Jackie and Brother Sandy found a pair of Lion-headed beastmen in Celestial Bronze guarding the stairs up. That was a light fucking guard for this kinda base, in Jackie's opinion. Just what sorta chickenshit outfit was Ares running if he only sent two guys to guard the back door to his main base? Jackie blurred into the Wavestep, not needing the Quicksilver Stepping Method too to handle some pissant Beastman. Nearby, Brother Sandy blurred into movement at similar speeds.

The pair struck out at the Beastmen Guards too quick for them to raise the alarm, though Jackie's Opponent was frantically hefting some kinda hunting horn to his lips when Jackie's elbow strike, enhanced with Iron Thrust, Head of Copper, Limbs of Iron, Basic Chi Enhancement, and the Wave Step smashed his skull in. Brother Sandy reached out with a Tiger Claw Strike backed by the power of the Great Sand River Flenses the Flesh of the Unwary Technique, literally tearing his Opponent's face off while his Celestial Bronze Xiphos was only part-way outta its sheath.

Both Beastmen fell to the floor, dead, and the Pair made their way up the stone steps. Granite gave way to the sorta marble that you used to see temples made from back in olden times as they made their way outta the Steam Tunnels and up into the Gymnasium of Herakles. It was white flecked through with bits of gold and clad in some sorta Gold and Silver alloy.

"Electrum plating. I suppose we know where the wealthy Satyrs and Nymphs live on Olympus." Mused Brother Sandy.

"Yeah, and now we gotta clear it of squatters. Do you think they'll let us take some of this stuff when we bail their asses outta the fire fully?" Queried Jackie.

"Greed is not a good way to ascend to Enlightenment, Brother Drinky." Frowned Brother Sandy.

"Come on, it ain't like I'm gonna achieve Apotheosis anytime soon. I'll repent later." Scoffed Jackie.

"Even so, Zeus is not exactly known for his generosity." Pointed out Brother Sandy.

"Figures." Snorted Jackie.

Just as he said that though, a quartet of armored beastmen rounded the corner, standing still as they spotted the pair of Sworn Brothers. They were shocked, almost like they couldn't believe someone'd bypassed the Hydra in the Sewers. They got over it quick, though, drawing Celestial Bronze Xiphos Swords and charging at Jackie and Brother Sandy.

Jackie Blurred into Motion, Brother Sandy alongside him, lashing out with punches, kicks, elbows, and knees enhanced with the Iron Thrust, Head of Copper, Limbs of Iron, Basic Chi Enhancement, and the Wave Step. Each blow smashed in armor and shattered bone underneath as he pulped the chests of two of the Beastmen, a Boar and a Lion-headed Beastman respectively. Next to him, Brother Sandy thrust his hand through the chest of a Rhino-headed Beastman with the Great Sand River Courses Through the Mountain Technique, even as he breathed a burst of sand into the face of a charging Ram-Headed Beastman with the Great Sand River Wears Away Steel Technique, flensing his Opponent's head down to the skull.

As the four Beastmen fell, the pair barely paused, rushing past their fallen bodies and charging into a room with marble columns and walls plastered in some kinda off-white Stucco over which a buncha murals'd been painted over. A lotta round, stone, weights enchanted to be varying degrees of heavy lay around the room alongside various posts for gymnastics and whatnot. A single, marble, bench lay in the center of the room.

One other thing about the room was that it was absolutely fucking packed with enemies. Beastmen of a buncha different kinds stood around, ready to attack. Jackie readied himself for a fight, only for someone to call out in a feminine voice.

"No! I will handle the Mortal!" Commanded the Voice, fire in its tone.

The Beastmen parted to show an armored, winged, Goddess with a sword in one hand. Her eyes burned with fire, but there was something else in there too, something Jackie'd seen a buncha times back in Gotham. This Goddes had some kinda madness burning her up inside, though Jackie ain't sure what version she had. There was the sorta basically harmless kind like his first Boss'd had going on, in which case, Jackie might be able to reason with her. Then there was the kind that'd be too deadly to even try to talk shit out. The Kinda shit that made guys like the Joker or Mister Zsasz go out and kill folks. If she had that kinda madness, ain't no reasoning was gonna get through to her.

"Do you know who I am, Mortal?" Asked the Goddess.

"I heard about you. Nemesis, yeah? Goddess of divine vengeance or something like that?" Nodded Jackie.

"And you know of the millions who cry out for retribution yet go unavenged? The ones who died in the charnel houses of the Germans or by the bullets and bayonets of the Serbs? The ones whose only crimes were living in Turkish Lands without being Turks or who were left to starve by uncaring masters in faraway Moscow? From the Black Sea to the Pillars of Herakles, from the Deserts of fallen Carthage to the Caucasus Mountains, millions on millions of voices will not stop screaming." Ranted the Goddess, Nemesis.

"Have you tried talking 'bout this shit with people? A burden shared might not be much, but anything's gotta be better than nothing, yeah?" Tried Jackie.

"No. Nothing is exactly the cure. Ares will grant me the power to render the voices nothing, to render the harvests nothing, to render the people nothing! When everything mortal has been rendered to dust, the voices will stop! Only then can I have peace!" Snarled Nemesis.

"I commend your efforts, Brother Drinky, but I believe she is too far gone." Opined Brother Sandy.

"Yeah, I can see that. A shame, though. I think folks might been proud of me for trying to redeem her from the dark side, so to speak." Sighed Jackie.

"You are yet mortal, you must be rendered nothing too!" Shouted Nemesis, interrupting.

Then, Nemesis lunged at Jackie with her blade outthrust. Jackie blurred into the Quicksilver Stepping Method, adding it to his Wave Step and Basic Enhancement, and managed to sidestep the thrust. Nemesis turned her thrust into a sideways slash and forced Jackie to bend damn near in half backward to avoid the blade. He kicked out with the Strong-Maned Boar Stomps the Ground enhancing his thrust kick, sending Nemesis reeling backward as his boot smashed into her breastplate. Nemesis turned her uncontrolled tumble into a controlled flight as she spread her wings to arrest her momentum.

"Why can't you see it? You must know of what goes on down there!" Demanded Nemesis.

"Go find Phobos, I'll handle Nemesis." Intoned Jackie as he straightened up.

"Very well, if you're certain." Agreed Brother Sandy, before heading into another room with the Beastmen following after him.

"If you still cling to life, you must be one of them! One of those who perpetrate atrocities!" Accused Nemesis, flying upward toward the ceiling.

"If you ain't with me, you're against me, huh? Guess Brother Sandy was right, you really are too far gone. I ain't gonna just roll over and die, Lady." Retorted Jackie.

"Then I will lay Divine Retribution upon you and make you die!" Spat Nemesis.

"Come get some!" Challenged Jackie.

Then, Nemesis dove downward while Jackie used the Resplendent Crane Takes Flight to fly up at her. Out came Jackie's twin Butterfly Swords even as Nemesis cut down at him. Jackie crossed both blades in front of him and caught Nemesis' Xiphos between his Butterfly Swords, activating the storm enhancements to pulse lightning through both blades, up through Nemesis' Xiphos, and into her. For a few moments, Nemesis seized up as magic lightning coursed through her. Then she breathed out a plume of white-hot flame and forced Jackie to fly away, breaking contact.

"Your magic tricks will not avail you against the Goddes of Divine Retribution!" Exclaimed Nemesis.

"Retribution? Or just big talk? I ain't seen much from you so far!" Taunted Jackie.

With a wordless scream, Nemesis lunged for Jackie once more, sword cutting out for his neck. Jackie moved to parry again, right-hand Butterfly Sword parrying the Xiphos while the left-hand blade cut out for Nemesis' throat. Nemesis, though, she lashed out with a kick that smashed Jackie back, bruising a rib even under his armor and sending him crashing to the tiled floor. With a shout of Triumph, Nemesis dove down once more, Xiphos thrusting for Jackie's chest. Jackie managed to roll away from the thrust, causing the Xiphos to embed itself in the stone of the floor to the hilt. Unfortunately, he ain't able to capitalize, thanks to Nemesis forcing him back with another plume of white-hot fire. Jackie took up his guard as Nemesis retrieved her Xiphos outta the floor.

Then the real fight began. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, here we see the start of the final day of battle on Olympus. Jackie's gonna be facing off against Nemesis, while Zhu Baijie handles the Hydra in the Sewers and Sha Wujing takes on Phobos. Meanwhile, Aoife MacDougal is in reserve at the Gymnasium, and Eris is leading forces elsewhere on the Third Level of Olympus where Poseidon's Group is going to strike. Finally, Wonder Woman, Erlang Shen, and Sun Wukong will be headed into Tartarus to stop Ares' and Circe's Ritual along with Hecate.

One way or another, the battle for Olympus ends today. Mind you, Jackie is already a God-killer thanks to him killing Deimos, so being one twice over is going to get him some serious notice from various people. Killing Nemesis will, effectively, prove that Jackie being able to do something like kill a God wasn't just a fluke.

That's something that people like the Lords of Order and Lords of Chaos tend to look for when determining just what the rules are as regards Mortal Cultivators and Sorcerers. They may see that and declare that a New Age of Heroes has fully dawned, which is going to loosen several restrictions on the sort of powers that can interfere in the Mortal Realm.

At any rate, the next chapter will be the fight with Nemesis.

Stay tuned. . .