Immortals!

Our wall has been built; our bait lain. Now, all that remains is to await our enemy. And yet sitting here staring out at the Ocean... I feel at peace. I am worried, I know I am. But I do not feel it. " Guess that's you watching my back, ey old friend?"

I have fought many battles on the seas, and I won all of them. Never in all my life have these waves failed me in my time of need. Don't fail me now.

" Timaeus? Is something wrong?" Leonidas asked me.

He patted me on the shoulder and sat next to me as I stared out over the sears.

" No, Leonidas. Just thinking." I replied.

" About what my friend?" Leonidas asked.

" These seas. They have always had some kind of effect on me. As if being in them boosts my strength." I spoke.

" Good we will need that strength." Leonidas spoke.

" Aye. But right now. All I feel is peace. And it angers me that these Persians are coming to ruing such a thing. It sickens me. How little these dogs " I told the man. Honestly, I wasn't one for senseless slaughter. That didn't mean I didn't enjoy battle. In fact, there are very few moments in my life, where I feel truly alive. And that's when I'm with my family, swimming in these seas, and when I'm fighting.

" I can understand that my friend. But that is why we fight. To put an end to their terror." Leonidas spoke.

" Yeah. Come on. I'm sure the men are wondering where we are. Let's go see what our Persian guests have prepared for us." I spoke.

I grabbed my gear and got to my feet and walked with Leonidas back to our front camp.

Well into the night the sound of drums beating and footsteps approaching sounded throughout the valley. Leonidas was right. We waited for our enemies.

Yes. Our enemies.

They serve the dark will of Persian kings for five hundred years. Eyes as dark as night. Teeth filed to fangs. They came in many different shapes and sizes. Creatures of the abyss. Monsters. Abominations. Soulless. One day to be known as Mutants. The personal guard to king Xerxes himself. The Persian warrior elite. The deadliest fighting force in all of Asia. The Immortals.

We sat quiet and waiting as our enemies approached. Unaware of what awaits them.

The god king has betrayed a fatal flaw. Hubris. Easy to taunt. Easy to trick. Before wounds and weariness have taken their toll, the mad king throws the best he has at us. Xerxes has taken the bait. With our enemies close we attack!

" SPARTANS! PUSH!" Leonidas exclaimed. His orders reaching every Spartan within the valley.

" AGGGGGGHHHHHHAAAAAA!" We Shouted loud as we pushed against the wall of Persian corpses. until they toppled over and crushed the Immortals in front of us.

It is time to put their names to the test. I grabbed my spear and ran over the pile of corpses. I drive my spear through the chest of the first Immortal I lay eyes on. He drops to the ground. Bleeding. Dying. Dead.

We test these Immortals.

They fail.

I pulled my spear out and swung it around my body into the face of the next one, decapitating him.

" FIGHT TOGETHER!" I shout.

These Immortals are relentless. They attack together. They die, but they do their best to take you with them.

" ARTEMIS, YOUR BACK!" I spotted an Immortal trying to flank the captain. So, I shout his name in warning. Thankfully Astinos saves him before tragedy befalls him.

" BRAAAAAAAH!" the Immortals, cut loose a creature. A beast the size of two men. He is grotesque and animalistic. My prey. With one swing of his sword, he smacks aside my Spartan brothers. He eyes me and charges.

" Come on!!!!!" I shout. I grab my spear and charge the brute. Cutting down the Immortals that stand between me with ease, as I approach my target. I get a good speed and I leave my feet. Using one of the Immortals as a springboard, I launch myself into the air. And with all the strength I have in my body, I launch my spear through the air. My target is hit. Right through its throat, my spear goes. But still he charges. I draw my sword as the mad beast approaches his gnarly and nasty growling, reaching my ears and his foul breath burning my eyes.

The beast raises its sword to strike down at me. I block it with my shield. His strike hard and fierce. But not enough to break me. I spin around with my sword and cut the tendons behind its legs. He grabs at it, but quicks moving forward. So, I strike again, I aim at his spine. I drive me sword into its back, and it gets stuck. I'm in trouble. I think fast. I raise my shield and smash it into the beasts back, pushing the blade further into the creatures back.

The creature dropped to its knees. I pulled my spear out of its neck and quickly threw it into the oncoming Immortal, trying to take my back. These Immortals were quick. Some of them harder than others to pierce through. But nonetheless we have proven they aren't so unbeatable as they think.

" ARCADIANS! NOW!" Leonidas shouts.

" AHHHHHHHHHH!" The arcadians finally join the battle. Stabbing and slashing wildly. More brutes than warriors. They make a mess of things. Brave amateurs. They do their part.

They give us a moment to recover ourselves.

" Are you alright, Leonidas?" I asked the man as I regrouped with the rest of the Spartans.

" I should be asking you that, captain." Leonidas spoke.

" These beasts haven't lived up to their names yet. Come, let's show the Arcadians how it's done." We raised our shields and spears and charged the Persians together. Our combined might too much for the immortals to overcome.

They charge us and slam their bodies into our shields. I raise my spear and stab them as they approach. So easily they fall. Not living up to their titles.

We stand firm. We stand brave. We stand. VICTORIUS!

The Immortals have failed our test. And a man who fancies himself a god. Feels a very human chill crawl up his spine.

We pile the bodies of our enemies high, once again. This tactic won't serve as bait again. But it will be a warning. A sign of what's to come. And a deterrent for those smart enough to turn away. Least they suffer our spears.

Once our task is done and our victory secured, we return to camp. It's time to celebrate!

" To Our KING!" Artemis exclaimed.

" AWHOO!"

" And Our Honored Dead! AWHOO!" I shouted.

" AWHOO!"

" Who does Xerxes dare to send next?! Who?!" Stelios, his loudmouth. But I share his optimsim.

" There's nothing that can stop us now!"

"AWHOO! AWHOO! AWHOO! AWHOO!"

I looked around as my brothers celebrated. Our victory was hard earned. And our brothers lost, went out in glory. Everything a Spartan could ask for. Yet our king did not celebrate with us. I dropped my flask and made way to Leonidas' side.

" Dark nights, ey Leonidas?" I asked the man.

" Oh, Aye. Can you feel it, Timaeus? Can you hear it. Against Asia's endless hordes. We have a chance. A small chance to obtain more than glory. A chance of victory." Leonidas spoke.

" We can. We can hold the hot gates. We can win." I spoke. A small glimpse of victory sparked in my mind. Maybe. Just maybe I would find my family once again.