Chapter 6

Instead of dodging the cloud of toxic, caustic, fumes, Jackie barreled straight on through, trusting in his Iron Armor, Chi Enhancement, and the Head of Copper, Limbs of Iron Transformation to see him through all right. He burst outta the cloud of fumes with a few burns but that ain't nothing that a healing pill can't cure. Meanwhile, the Dragon was expecting him to dodge, not run through, which meant that it was outta position to defend when Jackie came through the cloud cutting with both Butterfly Swords.

Twin Slashes cut more gouges into the Dragon's scales, though the damage was superficial. The Dragon still roared in anger as Jackie hit it with both blades, following up with a kick that was empowered by the Strong-Maned Boar Stomps the Ground Technique that Brother Piggsy'd shown him. That got a bit more of a reaction outta the Dragon as the technique smashed it backward into the wall again.

The Dragon, hissing in pain, swiped at Jackie with its tail, trying to crush him under the bulk of it. Jackie almost caught it full-on in the torso but managed to skip backward with the Wave Step and the Quicksilver Stepping Method. The tip of one of the spikes on the tail still cut into his shoulder like some kinda sword, cutting a line across Jackie's deltoid muscle. Jackie's blood spattered across the floor, but he ain't outta the fight just yet.

Jackie Grit his teeth and pushed on through, coming forward with another pair of slashes with his Butterfly Swords which cut into the comparatively less-armored scales on the bottom of the writhing mass of scales that was the Dragon's tail. This actually did damage instead of just gouging the scales, drawing blood that sizzled as it fell on the floor of the cavern. The Dragon roared out in pain and reared its head back, spitting out a more concentrated toxic cloud.

Jackie immediately used the Resplendent Crane Takes Flight to get outta the cloud, however, he still collected some pretty serious burns from the caustic nature of the cloud. Part of his right bicep was exposed to the air, the skin having been eaten away entirely. Jackie knew he ain't gonna survive being in that sorta cloud for very long, even if the poisonous factor wasn't gonna kill him, the acidic part would.

Growling, Jackie figured he was gonna need to end this soon before the Dragon figured that out, or he'd be toast. Problem was, the asshole was covered in those scales that might as well be impenetrable. Jackie'd only managed to do any real damage to the dragon once, and that was 'cause it'd gotten cocky after the tail swipe and exposed its less armored underbelly long enough for Jackie to cut into it. Meanwhile, Jackie was burned to shit in multiple places and cut open across the shoulder.

Jackie flew up as high as the cavern'd allow and started pelting the damn Dragon with spells. Conjured Buckshot bounced off the scales, blasts of flame and electricity washed over the Dragon's head to little effect, conjured icicles and wooden stakes shattered against scales that might as well've been diamond plates. Summoned boulders of rock crumbled on smashing into the armored bulk.

Another concentrated gout of caustic fumes was the Dragon's response. Jackie threw up a shield with Abjuration and flew backward with the Techniques of the Resplendent Crane, just barely avoiding being killed by the breath weapon. That shit'd been so concentrated that even his strongest Abjuration shield was being eaten through. It lasted long enough for Jackie to bug outta the fumes, though. . .barely.

Sorcery ain't working, and his Chi Techniques were only doing a little better than his magic. Jackie could see how this asshole'd taken on Demigods and won before. He was just too tanky and that breath weapon was a killer. About the only thing Jackie could think of right now was to go for the eyes, but that'd mean getting close enough to the thing's head that he wouldn't be able to dodge another breath weapon. There ain't nothing for it, though.

Jackie flew in toward the Dragon's head, pouring on speed as he channeled his Chi into his Butterfly Swords using both the Roaring Lion's Claws Dual Butterfly Swords Technique as well as the Strong-Maned Pig's Adamant Tusks Technique. Both compounded on each other and made the attack stronger. Jackie was sorta hoping that it'd be enough to punch through the Dragon's Eye and into its brain, even if the asshole shut its eyes.

Whispering a brief prayer to any God who might be willing to help him out here, Jackie struck the Dragon. There was a crack of displaced air as he broke the sound barrier just before striking. The Dragon, for its part, reached out with a claw to try and smash Jackie aside, but that didn't do shit. Jackie's blades, backed up by all the Chi techniques and mystic transformations he could muster, carved through the blocking claw, even as the talons carved into Jackie's side. Jackie's right-hand Butterfly Sword dealt with the claw, while his left-hand blade plunged into the Bastard's all-seeing eye.

The blade sliced deep, plunging through the slitted pupil and pulping the eye before sinking in as far as it'd go into the Dragon's brain. There was a loud roar that burst Jackie's Eardrums and sent rocks falling from the sides of the cavern as the Dragon began thrashing back and forth in its death throes. It smashed its head into the cavern wall, bashing Jackie against the wall at the same time. Jackie cried out in pain too, the smash cracking several ribs. He still kept hold of the Dragon though, plunging his Butterfly Sword in once again.

The Dragon whipped its neck around one last time, this time bashing Jackie into the other cavern wall. Jackie felt his tailbone crack from the force and this time, he couldn't keep hold of the Dragon. It ain't seemed to matter, though 'cause the Dragon was done. With a strangled shriek, the asshole toppled backward into the pit where all the treasure was and went still.

Jackie'd done it, he'd fucking killed the Colchian Dragon! The fucking Bat couldn't do that! Hell, he'd be willing to say that most of the other White Hats couldn't've done that! Superman, Princess Diana, Captain Marvel, those guys coulda done it and now Jackie figured he'd been added to the list. He didn't feel much like celebrating. though.

"Ugh. My everything hurts." He groaned in pain.

He took stock of his injuries and grimaced. He ain't in much better shape than the Dragon. Broken Ribs, a cracked tailbone, bleeding from his side and shoulder, with acid burns on both arms and his face, and a bruised kidney. Maybe he shouldn't've put himself on Princess Diana's level yet if this was the sorta shape he was in after winning.

He reached for his pill chute and pulled out a healing pill and a chi pill. He'd need two healing pills to get back to full health, but one would be enough to get back into fighting shape. The chi pill would refill most of his reserves, but not the whole shebang. He had to ration his pills, unfortunately. He only had so many on him, and this was just the first battle in what was gonna be a bigger campaign, after all.

As he felt his most egregious wounds heal up and the less egregious wounds become more manageable, Jackie pushed himself up. He went over to the treasure and frowned at it. Zeus'd probably demand most of this stuff for himself, though he'd probably say it was for the War Effort or some other kinda bullshit excuse. If Jackie wanted any of it, he was probably gonna haveta claim his share now. Better to ask for forgiveness or some shit like that.

He claimed one of the containers of Peach Wine of Immortality, along with a quiver of Golden, Mystic, Scythian Arrows, a pair of Magical Godmetal Bracers that'd enhance the wearer's strength, speed, and toughness, an Orichalcum Hoplon Shield, a Magical True Jade and Godmetal Dao, a suit of True Jade and Godmetal Tiger Warrior Armor, and a pair of True Jade and Godmetal Butterfly Swords which had more than just the standard suite of enchantments on them. He also grabbed around two thousand gold coins and a silver wine cup.

Jackie put on the armor and strapped on the Dao and the new pair of Butterfly Swords before putting everything else except for the cup in his armory bag. The coins'd be worth at least two to three rocks, while Ollie could get some use outta the arrows when the time came to fight Apokalips. The Shield was for Princess Diana since it was better than the magical, but still normal steel, Amazon Shield she had currently. The Bracers were for Bruce to use. Jackie'd already outpaced the enchantment on them, but this way Bruce'd be able to go toe to toe with guys like Bane without using untested experimental power armor that'd fuck his spine up after taking damage.

As for the Peach Wine of Immortality, Jackie'd drink that once he reached the open air, now ain't the time. He had something else in mind for right now. Looking down at the pool of Dragon's blood that'd collected on the floor of the cavern, Jackie took the silver cup and used it to scoop up some of the Dragon's Blood and held it aloft in a mock salute.

"You know, they say that drinking Dragon's blood gives mystic power and knowledge. I'd be an idiot to pass up that sorta boost." He mused before downing the cup.

Immediately, he dropped the cup as he began to shake and spasm. He only had a brief moment to process that this might've been a mistake before Jackie fell to the ground spasming. For a few moments, his world was twitching and pain, before all of a sudden, the pain subsided, the twitching stopped, and he was hit with a surge of energy. It was like his mystic core was suddenly infused with a buncha extra power, so much that he felt he could probably break past a whole lotta the walls and plateaus his mystic training'd run into recently.

"Killer. Probably oughtta wait to down the Wine of Immortality till I've processed the magic power boost, but still, killer." Grinned Jackie as he stood up. His mind was already thinking up ways to become an Archmage in a buncha different schools of magic that he never really showed much promise in before.

With that done, Jackie set to climbing up toward the exit outta the Dragon's Lair. He'd left probably ninety percent of the Dragon's Hoard down in the cavern, along with the Dragon's corpse, which could be turned into a shitload of valuable reagents for rituals, crafting, and shit. If everything Jackie'd heard about Zeus was right, though, the King of Olympus'd want all that for himself. As he clambered up onto the ledge where the exit was, Jackie took one last, longing, look at all the shit laying down there he'd be leaving behind.

"Fucking Zeus. Guy better appreciate all this." Muttered Jackie under his breath. Who was he kidding, of course he wouldn't. It was Zeus he was talking about. Grumbling, Jackie turned and continued the climb up through the Ganymede Tunnels.

Eventually, the twisting tunnels started to open up into a wider area with what looked like some sorta underground lagoon stretching out into a cavern. Jackie walked along the lagoon shore till the ground flattened out and he came to what looked like some kinda mansion or villa on the lagoon's shore. Behind the villa was a passage leading up out into the open air. Princess Diana was standing on some kinda patio looking out over the lagoon.

"Hey! Gotcha something!" Called out Jackie, reaching into his Armory Bag and pulling out the Shield. He tossed the Shield at Princess Diana who caught it with a look of surprise.

"Jackie? You were victorious?" She questioned. Jackie nodded, pulling off the tiger-faced mask that came with the armor and giving Princess Diana a shit-eating grin.

"Yeah, that overgrown purse ain't able to put me down. Grabbed some stuff from the hoard." Answered Jackie.

"I'm not sure if that was wise. Zeus can be particularly insistent about certain things." Cautioned Princess Diana.

"I left the Big Guy ninety percent of the whole shebang. Plus the corpse for whatever he needs magic reagents for. If that ain't showing him respect, I dunno what is." Shrugged Jackie.

"That was probably a wise decision. In normal circumstances, I think he might press for more. Given the situation, however, I suppose even Zeus would be unable to gainsay your share. Not when we ride to his relief." Grinned Princess Diana.

"So, what is this place? Did we make it?" Queried Jackie, looking around.

"This is Ganymede's Estate at the Source of the River Styx. That passage there leads up out onto the first level of Mount Olympus. It's behind the outer lines near the battlements which means that we should be able to hit the defenders from the rear while Sun Wukong, Erlang Shen, and the Main Assault Force hit the enemy from the fore. Attacked from two sides, even gods might not be able to stand firm. We'll have our breach." Informed Princess Diana.

"Yeah, I was at the War Council too, you know. I know the plan. The River Styx, like the one that goes to the Underworld?" Asked Jackie.

"Indeed. This is its source. It flows under Mount Olympus, past the roots of the Mountain, deep into the Underworld where it forms the boundary between the Mortal Realm and the Realm of Lord Hades." Informed Princess Diana.

"Right. Nice place for a vacation home. I guess this Ganymede Guy's got some pretty interesting tastes." Snorted Jackie.

"I suppose you could look at it like that. We shouldn't tarry, though. The Main Assault should be arriving from the rally point momentarily, it is best we attack the enemy shortly after they arrive." Intoned Princess Diana.

And with that, she turned and led Jackie up outta the Ganymede Tunnels and onto the First Level of Olympus and toward their next fight. . .

XXXX

AN: So yeah, the Colchian Dragon is no slouch. It's only really got a few weak points because its scales are pretty much invulnerable. Furthermore, while Jackie wasn't going to be instantly killed by the Dragon's breath weapon, thanks to his training and Sun Wukong making him immune to poison, getting hit with it multiple times is still bad, given how it isn't just toxic, it's also acidic.

Suffice to say, Jackie got his ass kicked in the process of killing it, but now that he has killed it, the rewards are immense. I'm not just talking about the new armor and weapons either. Drinking Greek Dragon Blood is a surefire way to supercharge your magical ability, and the Peach Wine of Immortality he looted from the Hoard is going to do the same for his Chi.

As for the gifts Jackie took from the hoard, while Diana and Ollie have no problems using magic stuff, Bruce is another matter. Expect him to put up a fight over using the Bracers. Bruce doesn't really trust magic, even if he understands it's a real thing, he sees it as too fickle to be relied on. It's why he outsources magic stuff to other people he knows instead of learning any magic himself, even though he absolutely could.

At any rate, the next chapter will be our first look at Mount Olympus proper and the first fight with an actual God.

Stay tuned. . .