11 The Beast vs the Mage

At a forest in Sweden, that looked very much like the Crooked Forest in Poland, stood the last Maestros and Attendants.

Both Kore and Morevna broke their remaining gemstones.

Baba Yaga now summoned her chicken house, and one of her steeds.

Morevna mounted the steed, and got to safety, but Kore still stood by Iphicles' side.

" I suggest you take cover, " Iphicles said.

" And I suggest you shut up, " said Kore.

Iphicles smiled.

" Now, just like any grandmother, I enjoy having pets " said Baba Yaga, from her house, as she summoned forth strange creatures.

Iphicles' sword now glowed red.

" Looks like this is where the fun begins " said he with a smile.

Kore simply took off her jacket, revealing her abs, and well-toned body.

" Just try, and keep up, " said she, as she cracked her knuckles.

Iphicles and Kore, now both fought the minions of Baba Yaga, side by side.

" Wow… " uttered Baba Yaga, as Kore and Iphicles displayed excellent teamwork and coordination.

Baba Yaga now giggled.

" I would say, that you both deserve a treat " said the wicked grandmother of the woods, as she summoned forth nine monsters, and these nine monsters were;

The Chimera.

The Lernaean Hydra.

The Nemean Lion.

The Caucasian Eagle.

Ladon.

The Cretan Bull.

The Colchian Dragon.

The Calydonian Boar.

And the Stymphalian Bird.

Iphicles looked on in horror, as all the beasts and monsters glared at him.

He then noticed that one of the heads of the Lernaean Hydra was looking at Kore.

Iphicles quickly ran to her rescue, but he was too late.

The head captured Kore, as Iphicles was being overwhelmed by the rest of the beasts.

While Baba Yaga let out a witches' laugh.

Kore could feel her ribs snap, as she was trying to open the mouth of the head that had captured her.

She looked and saw how Iphicles were being ripped to pieces.

" Come on… PASS THE GREATEST LABOR! " yelled the maiden.

All the beasts were now sendt flying as Iphicles now stood back up, bruised and bloody, but not beaten.

Baba Yaga saw how Iphicles, with his glowing red longsword, looked like that one scene from Rogue One.

Iphicles now started to count down, as he killed each beast.

" Ennéa, Októ, Eptá, Éxi, Pénte, Téssera, Tría, Dýo, and Énas! "

Iphicles had now cut all the heads of the Lernaean Hydra, and left each wound blazing, so that more heads could not spring forth.

Baba Yaga cast one spell after another, trying to kill this unstoppable force, this raging beast.

Iphicles took blow after blow, and then some more, he then took a mighty leap into the air, he tightened his grip on his sword, and then gave a mighty war-cry;

" I. Am. Iphicles! "

As he now crushed both Baba Yaga and her house into dust, leaving behind a large crack on the ground.

Mighty Iphicles fell to his knees, with a proud smile on his face, for he had now surpassed the greatest labor of them all.

Kore dragged herself to her Attendant, while Morevna was being comforted by the steed- which still remained.

Kore and Iphicles now both noticed how Prester John came out from the shadows, with the Chalice in his hands.

" Congratulations " said he, as he held the Chalice to the victorious Maestro.

Kore grabbed the Chalice, and told it her desire.

From that day onward.

The Hellenic Republic was no longer in debt.

The many wonders of that country were rebuilt, and a grand statue was made in honor of mighty Iphicles.

Kore invited Morevna to visit Greece, which Morevna happily accepted.

All the former Maestros now moved on with their lives, while still remembering all their adventures, and that is the end of this crusade.