Here's a sneak peek of what would've happened had we gone to Olympus.
***
Your feet skid against the ground as you pivot and duck at the last minute. The arrows go sailing harmlessly over your head. It looks like their tracking abilities were limited, but you could not keep this up forever, not when you had other enemies to worry about. Right on cue, a shield smashed into your guard from above, before you had time to recover. Gritting your teeth, you push it aside just in time to evade the incoming spears. You lash out with Anbar-Shi, but your blow does not connect, as your target dissolves in a burst of white mist before the sword hits home. In that instant, a small bolt of lightning connects with your chest, sending you stumbling backwards.
One Zeus replica left. Five Athena replicas. Six Aphrodites. Two Areses. Three Artemis replicas off in the distance, standing atop the white hill.
Thankfully, the replicas vanished if you even managed to attempt as much as a glancing blow with your sword, though they ignored any other form of attack. They were not as strong as the real thing either. Still, you had started out against dozens more, and by now your body was on the verge of giving up, the multitude of wounds inflicted not regenerating. Whether if it was a property of the pure white weapons they used, you were not sure. On the bright side, the replicas did not seem to regenerate very fast.
In the fight, you had become certain of one thing; they did everything they could to avoid being touched by Anbar-Shi, going as far as to give up their form. Even the beast-forms of the Terasphagos that harried your ankles acted the same way, uncharacteristic of how they had behaved the last time you faced them.
As you try to think of a way to land one hit, the man appears from the hill again, rising up from its surface.
I have heard many stories about you from your friends and enemies, and your tenacity seems to underly every telling.
The man did not move, but the voice he projected in your head was full of self-assured confidence.
Well, no matter. You cannot resist forever. I do not want to waste any more of my attentions on you. Abandon your sword.
"You just gave away that you are concerned about my sword, you idiot. Are you finally willing to talk, or do I have to shove this in you?" you taunt, aware that you have not been able to approach the hill for the past hour.
There is a slight flash of anger as the white figure gives an involuntary shiver.
There will be no discussion until... hm.
The man stops and laughs.
I thought you betrayed me, thinking that he could perhaps defeat me and free you from your chains, when you delivered him without completing your tasks.
"You must have misunderstood. I thought you could take care of it yourself, my master. I did not know you had a weakness to his weapon."
The voice came from somewhere behind you, but you could not sense any presence. Still, the only person behind you in this blasted wasteland is... was supposed to be dead. Was this what others felt like when they spoke to you? The being atop the hill became slightly irritated, aware that he may have made a mistake in being so overtly cautious of your sword.
It is to your credit that you did not run away, as you so often have. Have you finally committed to finishing your duty?
There is a ring of a sword being drawn, a clear tone that somehow silenced all noise in the world. A horrible sensation creeps up your back... a dark mixture of hunger, hatred, pain and desire bearing down upon you from the other man's sword. You turn around, Anbar-Shi brought up in position.
"Well... you seem ready as always, Ean. Let me introduce myself, once again." The person in front of you brought his sword up in a flourishing salute, his eyes cold and his lips curled in a slight sneer. "I am Diogenes Camna, Lord Chancellor of the Shinar Empire, successor to your power, and the wielder of the sword that will devour your soul. Now, shall we cross blades?"
