Chapter 46: Sophia the Big

Chapter 46: Sophia the Big

I just want to get this straight incase there's another Sophia that I dont know about. You are referring to the Cyclops that fought Cyzicus to a standstill a hundred years ago, correct?

The same one you told me would kill people for wandering in her territory, and told me to avoid.

Yes. Nel said, flying back onto the griffin. Before Luke had a chance to change his mind, she patted her familiar twice on the back, and suddenly they were more than a hundred feet in the air. Cutting through the wind with unreasonable speed. The earth beneath them contracted rapidly, as they blitzed over it.

A sinking feeling in his core came and left in an instant as they climbed to their final altitude.

Its quiet. Luke said, blinking slowly. Surprise blooming on his face as he realized that he couldnt feel any wind on his face.

This is so much better than a shield and rug. He grinned softly. Leaning over the side slightly, and surprised to see they were already above water.

The Capital must have been on the rivers bank, just like most of the other towns.

Of course it is. She scratched the griffin's neck. Shes manipulating the wind.

Oh. How?

Nel shrugged her shoulders. Animals cultivate differently than humans. Especially those that can trace their bloodline to divine creatures like Aura. And shes in the Warrior-tier. She grinned proudly.

Shes descendant from a god?

Nel looked at Luke oddly. Well an eagle and a lion cant have babies when they're in the Mortal-tier. As for her, she shrugged her shoulders, I dont know for sure if she has divine ancestry, but I think its likely. Whichever creatures sired her line, wouldnt be weak though. Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

What tier do you have to be able to have kids with a different species? Luke asked curiously. Only to blush a moment later he heard Jax snicker in amusement, and Nel cough awkwardly.

I shouldnt have asked that.

Im not interested in that, I was just wondering. He tried to clarify.

Jax burst into laughter.

What did Gramps want us to tell Sophia? Rex asked, saving him from further embarrassment.

He wants her help. She answered flatly.

To fight the Rebel? That seems unlike him. He mused. Hes always so He gestured vaguely.

He is, she nodded. He wants her to power the teleportation altars while he puts an end to the Rebel once and for all.

You think he stands a chance? Hes old. Rex said reluctantly.

She tensed. He does. She answered, but even Luke could tell that she was uncertain. Shes worried that Grandfather may ascend to the next tier soon. If he does, then there is no hope for her victory.

But according to her own words, he needs something to get there. A prize from the Olympics. So at the very least, hes six months away from that happening, assuming the tournament doesn't go on for longer. Even then, its up to chance. If the people he puts in dont win, then hes likely to stay stuck. Maybe. So the Rebel probably thinks that he has a decent chance.

Will the Cyclops care about Cyzicus ascending? Luke asked. Arent they delaying their battle until one of them grows stronger than the other? If thats the case, why would she help.

I I dont know. Grandfather seemed confident that she would agree, but well find out once we get there. If not, then I dont know. She admitted.

It doesnt make sense. Luke frowned. Sure it would stop the Rebel from taking the throne as easily if there's another Hero powering the altars, and it would add an obstacle to her path, but that would only matter if Cyzicus lost. Does he expect to lose?

Holy fucking hell. What the fuck is that?

Hovering in the sky above the griffin, was a massive ugly serpent-like thing. It had hundreds of bat-like wings arrayed in neat rows along its side, jutting out like the legs of a millipede. Its scales were a dark pink the color of an open wound. At the tip of each wing were wicked ivory claws.

Nel summoned her spear from her ring, flew off the griffin, and charged the beast. Lightning arced along its silver shaft, ready for battle. Leaving Rex alone on her mount.

Help! Jax shouted falling from the sky, the wind muffling his sound to a mere whisper. One that Luke heard. Angling himself forward, he hurtled through the sky towards him. Eager to get away from the creature, and more than happy to save a life.

Jaxs eyes met his, and he stretched his arms wide, in an effort to slow his descent.

Right. He saw me use my boots.

He caught up to him in seconds, and latched on to his robe. Orienting himself so that his feet were perpendicular to the ground, he shot short pulses of mana into his boots to slow their fall. Being careful not to send too much lest his momentum lead him to injuring himself. His body was not yet strong enough to handle the strain from stopping from an extreme velocity to nothing without serious injury.

This is bad. He realized as soon as he grabbed onto him, calling up his status as he checked the state of his mana. I dont have enough for a proper landing. If I let us fall normally, until were close to the ground, I might be able to make it, but the timing will need to be perfect. Were over water, but at this height a fall would kill us regardless, and without a boat, wed drown once we fell in anyhow.

Were too far away from the shore to swim. Fuck.

He craned his neck, and searched through the sky. His eyes locking onto the griffin in the distance. It was panicked, and moving haphazardly in wide circles around them.

Thats the only way. He realized. Pumping more and more mana into his boots he slowed three fall to a crawl, and yelled.

REXXXXX. OVER HERE!

His knees aching, he stopped their fall, and bounded through the air in giant leaps. Racing towards Nels steed.

Rex turned to face them, and after a brief glance, climbed to the front of the creature. Pointing desperately behind him in an attempt to make it see them. It ignored him.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Were gonna die.

I got you! Nel yelled, hurtling through the air towards the pair. Grabbing Luke, she whistled loudly, and flung them towards the beast. The griffin turned in the sky, and swept towards them, catching the pair gently on its back.

Where is it? Jax asked right away, drawing his sword from its sheath as he looked through the sky.

I dont know. It just vanished. Rex said after a moment.

What do you mean? Luke frowned, as he knelt on the griffins back, clutching her fur tightly.

One moment it was there, then Nel threw her spear at it, and then it vanished.

Thats good right? Maybe it fell out of the sky! Jax said.

If it was gone, Nel would have come back. Rex argued, a worried frown on his face.

Nel suddenly stretched her arm back, and launched her spear into a seemingly empty spot in the sky. Red mist exploded outward as her spear sank into something.

The air shimmered, and the serpent revealed itself.

Did it just Jax trailed off.

Yes. Rex said flatly.

Why can a snake fly, and make itself invisible. This is bullshit.