25. Spartans are one or none

Clenching his hands they become dirty, from the dirt.

His face marred with frustration and pain, he struggles to get up from his knocked position. His knuckles turning red from how hard he was clenching he rises with a tired sigh, as he manages to balance on his two feet. His breath makes a cloud in this cold and dead place. 

A hand suddenly shoves him, sending him tumbling into the ground as if it wanted him there. Looking up he sees a face right in front of him, one belonging to a man but now owned by his corpse as nearly half of his body was severed off. His fish eyes making him want to throw up.

A moment later and a bronze javelin spikes the ground right where he would've been. The world spinning from the force of his tumble and the gruesome sight he quickly stands suddenly more concerned about the sharp edges coming toward him compared to his exhausted mortal shell. All around him was death, the clashing of metal and screams of men like a brutal song.

His head like a rotor as it spins looking for any piece of weapons or shield. Quickly jumping to the nearest spear he raises it just enough to stop a damnable blade of death from reaping his soul. So with the quick maneuver or his spear the offenders neck was caught between the shaft of his spear and his arm, and without hesitation and with the jerk of his body another string of fate was cut, the man's spine having been snapped.

And then it was quiet.

As the mans body dropped he heard for the first time in days something he truly cherished. Silence. No feet running to kill him, no battle cries to shake off fear, no clashing of metal and no screams of death.

Looking around he could almost smile. There were no more enemies trying to kill them. That thought quickly died though as he noticed that out of the several hundred beings that walked into this field only 3 remained. Out of giants, Cyclops, gorgons, minotaur and dryads only 3 humans remained, 2 men and one woman. They looked at each other with emotions only friends Made in war could share.

Suddenly a loud bell was heard, with a ring. 

"Well look who's still breathing!" A man says, his voice booming across the now silent field yet he was nowhere to be seen. In the next moment most of the many bodies littering the floor started to flow into the ground, a black shadow loosely wrapped around each of them and he could vaguely see them clawing at the ground to resist the pull. But it was inevitable so in the next instance only a few bodies remained. All of them belonging to his friends. Quickly clasping his hands with his thumbs pointing up he recites a prayer, hoping that they might find their way to Hades' Hall. 

His thoughts were interrupted by the same voice announcing the event as over

"Congratulations. You are the lucky few who have managed to survive, 'Apocalypse'. To congratulate you on this impressive feat Lord Hades has arranged for the three of you to meet him. I'm sure he has something special in mind for such impressive humans as yourselves." A portal materializes in front of them it's purple, black swirling hypnotizing to some, terrifying to others. Each of them look at each other, scanning for hints of fear or hesitation to go forward. For if one goes they all go. 

Luckily for them however is that they spotted no such thing all of them more than willing to meet their patron god Hades. So with no words said they walk through the gate and into their new lives. 

.....

In a large circular room, one seemingly screaming war room with weapons, maps and figurines sat Hades. Currently he was absorbed in training his army. A large hologram splayed out in front of him on a large center table, one showing the terrain of Greece. It was currently centered on a river crossing, on one side stood rows of men and women all of them tall and strong. They each sported a spear and shield with a short gladius strapped to their waist, their armor was quite heavy, far from what most imagine ancient warriors to wear they had on heavy plate, the pauldrons themselves weighing in the tens of pounds along with the full faced helmet with a narrow slit as the only peep hole.

They were nearly suffocating, their bodies pushed to the absolute limits, their minds nearly broken, but it would be worth it. Forcing them to train in gear that slows them down will make them exponentially faster without it, forcing their eyes to focus and block out the rest of the scene will prevent distraction and disorientation, in the end increasing their effectiveness by great lengths. 

But forcing them to fight to the death... will prepare them to die. 

Just across the barely 10 foot wide stream stood another army one of horrifying might. Feral beasts in the shape of men, their skin dark like night and eyes red as blood. Their snarls and frenzied roars were all they were able to manage as they desperately tried to jump toward the soldiers. Yet they were stopped by a translucent cyan chain clasped around their neck, one connected to all of them locking them in place. They all led downward, as if their holder was under the earth, which he was since their captor was none other than Hades. He has stolen their souls in a truly vile manner, but these were the worst mortals he could find so he felt nothing for them. 

Holding the chain tightly around his hand he observes his soldiers. Watching for any weakness or fear. It would be this army who would fight the Asgardians, warriors renowned for their skill and bloodlust, he needs them to be ready to fight unrelenting power and not falter.

So feeling like there was nothing else to gain by waiting, with simply breath he released the chains. Instantly the ravenous demons rushed at the wall of metal like beasts. Easily jumping through the water and reaching their shields. The first to make it was easily dispatched, its head flying off to who knows where, its body dissipating into shadows but that was only one. 

Very quickly they would realize that numbers were a quality of their own, and sometimes were even better as the tidal wave of teeth and claws desperate to spill their blood continued with unending hunger.

Suddenly, a knock on the door was heard. His attention pried away from the battle he opens the door with a small gesture, the three humans waiting outside quite awkwardly. 

Hades smiles.

"Welcome." He says, the three of them hesitant but feeling like it would be rude to keep him waiting enter the room and line up in front of him, the war room table in between them the battle displayed within still raging.

Their bodies were stiff, their faces masks of the slight fear they were feeling. Stand not more than 10 feet away was Hades, the God of death. Known for his ruthlessness during the War for Heaven he has instilled fear in the heart of many who have heard of him.

In person that fear could only become more real. Hades stood like a giant easily taller than 7ft yet his body was as built as a stone. His face was chiseled and eyes like stars as they glow a fearsome red. Looking at them he spoke a few moments later.

"So the three of you are the only ones who survived 'Apocalypse'? I expected at least a giant or even a Minotaur but least of all only humans. I must say that I'm quite impressed."

They couldn't help but let a small smile show on their faces, being praised for hard work always felt good, and coming from a god felt even better.

The woman was first to gather her courage and speak. "Thank you lord Hades. The battle was tough and we lost many friends but I feel it was worth it in the end." She said with a small tear in her eye. Seeing Hades in the flesh was a gift in itself. 

"Oh, yeah almost forgot about that, yeah your friends should be revived in about a day or so, though I'm going to tell you now you wont be seeing them much, or ever really." He said as he moved to another set of doors. The three of them were left stunned. Their hearts were a little lighter now knowing that their friends were not dead, but they were strung with anxiety at what Hades had planned for them.

Coming up behind Hades they follow him through his Palace, the tall ceilings and ornate walls aweing them. Eventually they come upon a big door with a hammer inscribed on its stony exterior, and with a soft push Hades enters with them in tow.

A small gasp escapes all three of them as what they see is something they could only dream of. Weapons strewn across the walls, hung on racks or on shelves each one looking either ornate or deadly. Many machines litter the large room each them them whirring as they do something of which they have no idea. At the end of the room there was a indent on the wall in the vague shape of a human, yet there were many dozens of arms putting metal together like a shell and it was halfway completed. 

Ignoring them hades walks up to said being his height barely taller than it. 

"It will be done soon, and with this we will have 475 Proto Necromechs armed and ready. And with the remaining 5 days I estimate we reach the desired 500 easily. Though, most will not be equipped with a Heavy Cannon as we currently aren't scaled enough to make the required munitions. However, I expect them to be more than capable." A small woman said, her face pointed and hair put up in a bun with a pin through it. She wore a pencil skirt and a tight fitting white button up shirt. She spoke in a near monotone voice and on her temple was a small glowing circle currently the color blue flowing in circles calmly. 

"Good, with this we can be assured of victory, against the foot soldiers at least. Now, have you brought the gifts from my forge, these are the only three to have passed 'Apocalypse' in the war simulator." Hades says motioning to the three of them standing a little awkward as they gawk at the scene before them. 

On the surface in the mortal realm very little is known about the coming war against Asgard, what is known however is that to prepare Hades has enlisted thousands of mortals of all types, training them and granting them boons to adequately fight. 

No one, ever, would have assumed that Hades would be making not one but two armies. And judging by the look of the Golem it seems that the second would be much stronger. They're nudged from their stupor by the voice of the woman again. 

"That is indeed quite surprising. Out of all possibilities 3 humans being victorious was one of the least probable. Though it does give you plenty of options when it comes to enhancements." She said adjusting her glasses eyeing them with a cold glint. 

"Yes, yes, that's for much later. However we have something else for now. Did you bring them over as I instructed?" Hades says a small smile playing at his lips. Unbeknownst to the humans it was because he gets to show off his skills, something he only really gets to do when the viewer is screaming in pain of begging for mercy. 

"Of course they arrived just a few minutes ago." She pointed her hand toward a cleared space of the room where a large rectangular table sat, one where over a dozen things sat all of them badly hidden under a white cloth. Hades walks up, all of them confusedly following until he comes up behind it and waits in silence. Waiting for one of them to muster a question as to what all this was.

More moments pass until suddenly one of the men speak, the taller and stronger looking one. "Lord Hades, I must ask as to what is happening?" He says his voice deep and gravelly one. 

And so, with a grandiose befitting a dramatic king, he whipped the sheet off the items now exposed as a multitude of different weapons as he exclaimed like he was in a movie his voice booming across the room as his eyes glowed a fierce lava like orange.

"This, my victors! Is your coronation, as my Horsemen!" 

A/N

Hope you like the chapter don't worry the Asgardians wont be cannon fodder(mostly) as i plan on making them decently strong haven't wrote in a while so I hope the chapter isn't awkward to read.