Chapter 9

We were at a mountain clearing with grass everywhere. Iliana informed us that they were on the other side of the mountain. We stealthily walked towards the location of our enemies, until we were less than 100 metres away. We weren't in open view but in an obscure spot behind the mountain. We discussed battleplans for a few minutes before deciding on what to do.

"Iliana, cast all the stealth spells you can on me," I demanded. She followed my command and spoke the incantations for one spell in Greek and the other Latin.

"You are invisible for a few minutes, O have your scent removed and I limited the noise you will make by any of your body functions, such as breathing. Good luck, Ezra." She explained.

"Thanks and be sure to be ready as soon as I make my move," I advised. I brandished my bident and moved forward. This was becoming a tradition for us at this point, with me sneaking up and getting a few kills before the others noticed.

I doubt I could kill these guys without them reacting fast enough though. I continued sneaking forward and behind the Chimera. It was the size of an elephant and I didn't doubt it would be faster as well. The Hydra lay about 20 metres away with a fat lady grooming its snakeheads.

Their entire group was at the base of the mountain, so there was a lot of movement space. Which could either be seen as a good thing or a bad thing.

I opted to go for the Chimera first since its heads will hopefully not grow back. With a swift but firm movement, I attacked the snake-headed tail of the Chimera, beheading the beast. It let out an ungodly screech before blasting fire at my position.

His other head was in an uncomfortable spot and he had a collar around his head that would probably protect it from beheading. I didn't know if a stab in the head would kill it or slow it down so I chose to behead his snake head first. Plus dealing with fire was always better than poison.

I dodged before stabbing it in the leg, injuring the beast further. By now its guard was fully up and I doubt I would have any other cheap shots.

"Look my sons, it appears that we have company." The fat lady said before changing forms and becoming more snake-like. She licked her lips as she eyed me. "I am rarely allowed to let my brood feasts on your kind's delicious bodies, but Lord Zeus won't argue if I defend myself."

I ignored her words and put most of my attention on the Chimera. My comrades jumped out of their hiding spots, with the two girls focusing their attention on the Hydra and George assisting me. His archery skills were average but as long as he distracted it enough it would be more than useful.

The Chimera was fast, faster than me. If it wasn't for my demigod reflexes and my skill I didn't doubt it would have gotten me already. The injuries I gave it also helped. I knew it wouldn't play around, no it was angry and would go for every killing hit that it could.

"You got a lucky shot, little demigod but don't think my children are so easily bested." She spoke with a weird gleam in her eyes.

"Not going to join in. I am afraid your children will need help defending themselves." I mocked, while I almost desperately defended myself. I wanted to play to her pride and convince her to just watch and not intervene.

She laughed. "Please. I barely need one of my sons to handle your entire group. This will be an amusing show. I am annoyed and happy that the oracle sent you here, I haven't done anything after all."

"Then why did it state that your sons killed dozens of our siblings and family members," George asked.

"Oh that, well that isn't my fault. I can't watch my children every moment of the day." She said with a wide smile.

At least I don't have to worry on that front so I chose to ignore the rest of their conversation. I continue deflecting and dodging the attacks of the Chimera. It tries to bite my head off but I duck and quickly stab it in the side of his chest. It growled before blasting me with fire again and striking me with his claws. As I desperately try to dodge, George shoots it in the side of his cheek.

It quickly turned and advanced on George, trying to finish off the weak link. This time it was his turn to desperately dodge, it didn't take long for me to hear a scream. I quickly took aim with my bident and threw it with all my strength. It went into the chest where the heart usually was.

I wanted it to turn into dust, but I knew I wouldn't be so lucky. It let go of George and came directly back to me. It had my bident stuck in its chest and a sword in its maw. I rolled out of the way and watched as it crashed against one of the rocks. Within a second I pounced and pulled out my weapon and slammed it in even deeper.

It kicked me with its goat hooves, breaking my poor ribs and sending me flying backwards. Fortunately, my finishing move did it in and it turned to dust.

"Ignore the pain," I whispered to myself as I stood up and went over to George. I sighed as I looked at his body. His stomach was torn open and his face was completely burned off.

'That's unfortunate.' I thought. I felt a little guilty but I dampened the emotion, he served his purpose and the battle wasn't over yet so I couldn't afford to let my guard down. Although his healing abilities weren't useful this time he certainly did heal us in all our other fights. I knew something like this would happen but I certainly don't enjoy it happening.

Quickly grabbing some ambrosia out of his pouch, I ate it and felt myself slowly mending; it would take maybe a day to fully heal. Taking out a drachma, I placed it in his hand so that he could pay Charon to cross the River Styx.

'George would have been quicker.' I thought to myself as I felt my bones very slowly heal. 'I guess the saying is true, you never know how much you will miss someone.'

"How dare you." Echidna came roaring as soon as she saw the dust of her monstrous son.

I readied my bident again and soon as she was close to me, I spoke with charmspeak heavily lazed in my voice. "Stop and forget I used this."

She froze for a split second not expecting me to use this ability on her. With quick use of my bident, I decapitated her, causing her to turn into dust. My ribs already hurt but that certainly didn't help. I was lucky she didn't expect the use of charmspeak otherwise she may have been able to defend herself better. She may have even broken free if I wasted more time.

I quickly ran to where the others were fighting the Hydra. Most of its heads were cut off and my plan of cauterising the wounds worked so that it didn't grow back. I saw Iliana throwing it with boulders and Amelia attacking it with her weapon.

I saw that she was bitten and looking at her face, I knew instantly that she was poisoned. "Amelia, swap out so that you can heal."

She screamed, which stunned the beast for a moment. With the distraction, she moved to the sidelines. I threw her a few pieces of nectar before I fought to delay it. Even though I couldn't feel it, my ribs were in a bad state and I didn't fool myself thinking I could defeat it while injured.

In just a few moments Amelia was back and we fought side to side. Iliana quickly used her earth magic to immobilise the beast by sinkings its legs into the ground. The problem was its snakeheads though.

I wasn't a masochist so as soon as it spewed acid, I bolted. Amelia burned red before charging the beast. It spewed her with acid but it barely did any damage. Something that she realised and was quick to take advantage of. She quickly took out the beast, slicing the heads and allowing Iliana to burn it with her meagre fire magic skill set, before strutting towards us and collapsing.

"So where is George, I don't feel so good." She spoke out of breath and that is how the mood instantly went from satisfaction and relief to awkwardness.

"...He didn't make it," I replied in a sombre tone.

"...Oh." She said and her face turned grim. Iliana meanwhile looked distraught, which I didn't blame her for. We might as well be her first friends and one just died.

"We completed the quest. We can go home and bury him," I said, giving them some bright sides. I took out more ambrosia and gave another piece to her. It would be fine as long as she doesn't take too much.

"People die all the time, we should be glad it was only one of us," Amelia said and I nodded. "I would have died as well if it wasn't for my father,"

"Yeah, I guess," Iliana replied all glum. With her eyes becoming misty, she turned around and I knew she was starting to cry.

"I don't feel like moving, why did you have to park the car so far away?" Amelia complained. Mate someone just died, making it was her method of coping, I didn't know her well enough

"We can camp out here until we heal," I said as I sat down. Everyone except Iliana was damaged. She could fool monsters with the mist so her chances of fighting things were lower. Hecate kids are too op, Chaos please nerf. Though the same could be said for charmspeaking or the sons of the big three as well.

A/N: You can read ahead on patre,on/ DickMcJones. The latest chapter is chapter 26 and I certainly won't mind the extra money.