Chapter 7: Chapter 7
Herakles idea of physical and mental training was the same but a much more extreme version of his teacher Chiron's teachings. Because it turns out when a giant that's more than four meters tall grabs you and literally wrings your guts and organs when he twists you in his hands... You learn really fucking quick how to grapple at the level he of strength he controlled himself at and didn't bother with 'tricks' like Baldur or Hecate's blessing.
"Those monster's regeneration? You just needed to smash them with that Tungsten club you made! If you stack their regenerating forms atop one another and keep smashing them into a uniform paste their souls will break down before their bodies will!" Herakles roared teaching me how I could have dealt with those cult members as he casually backhanded me through a thick marble pillar that made my back and ribs shatter into mush like a playdoh sculpture being thrown off the top of a parking garage.
"Get back up! I did not die when the Hydra coated me in its toxic blood, fumes, remains and its bulk after I cut hundreds of its heads off!" He continued to yell as he stomped towards me and in response, I drew upon the God of Strengths blessing upon myself that he gave me. And thus my body arced with crimson lightning with my eyes doing the same as time all but reversed upon my wounds cleanly reforming my body below the neck.
"Good! Your Gods Hand blessing has actually been unlocked but your puny mortal frame will only allow you to regenerate a single life once every year at best... So, its best that you get used to dying here in training before you get assassinated in the real-world Haha!" Herakles laughed proudly of my accomplishments after seemingly training with him for the last three hours.
It turns out that Herakles so-called simple blessing that he gave me was not just a general body tune-up into a super soldier basically. No, I received a modified version of his own body that was the strongest demigod to walk the earth bar none, and that included the Gods Hands that signified his labors allowing him to ascend into godhood and join the Olympians at his father's side.
And to unlock the essence of the God's Hand, I naturally had to die first. So, in the name of training me in the ways of not being a pansy bitch in Herakles words, I was smacked around his temple with the only so-called cheats that he allowed was Hecate's transmutation of weapons I could use against him.
Fat lot of good those did when even weapons made out of Osmium and other superheavy and toxic materials did fuck all against him and would just shatter or bend on his seemingly impenetrable flesh when I could actually get a blow in.
"Fuck you..." I cursed as I rolled back to my feet and as the giant of a man came towards me I used his own massive bulk to escape as I kicked his chest twice in a backflip sending the heel of my boot into his chin, but the man only took hit on chiseled chin like it was nothing as instead of getting stunned he grabbed my leg and I groaned as he lifted me in the air and then my world was again pain as he smashed me into the ground by my leg while I tried to stab his hands that were holding my leg with some of the ultra-thin and sharp daggers I transmuted earlier.
"Yes! Claw for every inch of life and never give up and accept your death, Jake!" Herakles cheered me on as he flung me away when I stabbed a razor blade under his fingernail which actually seemed to cause him a bit of pain or just maybe he was humoring me.
"Eat all... The dicks." I spat while I was literally drowning on the blood that filled my punctured lungs, but even as I ducked under one of Herakles's jabs that sought to punch my head off my shoulders, and he really could do that as I learned the hard way. I was desperately hoping that Beta was having a much easier time with Baldur as she was likely still in our communion otherwise, I would have woken up by now and escaped this horror.
"Put your back into your punch's Jake! Don't punch through your opponent, punch through the mountain behind them!" Herakles kept advising and as one of his punch's landed on my shoulder and I knew that I no longer had an arm socket as the agony filled my mind.
-
On the other hand, Beta was having a wonderful time as Baldur lived up to his name as the most beautiful and beloved of all the Norse Aesir. "Lady Beta, relax your arms and square up your shoulders like this." The god spoke gently as he softly directed the young elf woman on how to project small lances of light so she could use them as arrows for the divine bow Baldur gifted to the girl for her becoming his acolyte in the mortal world.
After Beta followed Baldur's directions and successfully sent a trio of large light arrows into the target down the range of Baldur's temple that was shaped like a Viking longhouse, Baldur proudly clapped his pale work of art hands. "Well done Lady Beta. Now let us retire to return to the art of properly feasting and I will then teach you how to work on your hand's dexterity with some painting. While we listen to the Norse Birds sing their songs." Baldur said elegantly as he strode with his fur lined royal clothes and cape trailed behind him.
"Yes Lord Baldur! Can you show me how to make little light knives so I can sculpt with wood and make those runes you explained as well!?" Beta asked earnestly and Baldur smiled indulgently before patting Beta on her head.
"Oh, course dear child, that's no trial at all. Now come, I promise my mother's recipe for Kladdkaka is something you will never match in your mortal life." Baldur spoke as he helped the Beta pick out a hearty platter of Norse food as well as a gentle wine that wouldn't affect the girl's mind.
"I hope Jake is having fun with Lord Herakles and trying that Greek food you mentioned." Beta said excitedly before she continued as she shook in joy at the taste of the chocolate like coffee cake that Baldur recommended.
As Baldur went to take a drink of his own much stronger wine he had to hold in his composure and avoid choking on the wine as although each god's small pocket realm was well secured for the occupant's privacy it didn't take a medical god to watch Jake's body and soul get mangled repeatedly in the precise manner to bring the theory of broken bones heal stronger than before to Jake's body.
"Yes... He is learning much from Herakles." Baldur said dryly into his mug, so his response didn't worry his acolyte unduly. "I think that we can continue our lessons after our meal, another day as Jake's training with Herakles has probably be something... Extremely strenuous so it would be best if you have the strength to help the Apostle get some rest and watch over him." Baldur said more seriously as he noticed that although Jake was getting wrung out and 'dying' within his soul it wasn't actually killing him though it was actually doing some minor damage to his soul.
And such a thing would be terrible for his progress if his soul had to take years to recover, which would also slow down the accumulation of power for his own divine power as well as Hecate as Baldur could feel Hecate seething in her corner of the so-called Gaia Pantheon at being left alone.
"Ah!" Beta cried out looking apologetic. "I thank you for your lessons, Lord Baldur, uhm how do I leave?" She asked and Baldur chuckled at how pure the elf's thoughts were as it was completely evident that even in the face of Baldur's beauty befitting being the Norse God of masculine beauty that she was still fixated upon Jake.
Baldur merely waved at the white-haired girl, and she broke apart into dust as her consciousness was sent away from his realm and then a roar of fury rang out as Jake's consciousness was likewise taken from Herakles realm and Baldur chuckled gleefully watching through his own realm as Herakles's realm shook at the God of Strengths raged at his lessons being cut short.
But Baldur's boasting laughter instantly stopped as a blur broke through with pure strength of his realm and flew across the void between realms and smashed into and through the barriers of his own realm. Helplessly Baldur manifested his own dual short swords made out of pure white light as Herakles stood up from the shattered wood walls of his long house temple.
"You sparkly little shit! You ended my training with the Apostle!" Herakles roared before charging at Baldur who only wryly smiled and readied his weapons to do battle with one of if not the physically strongest god in the Greek Pantheon.
-
"Ughhhhhh!" I groaned in mental exhaustion as I laid face down on the marble floor of the church as Beta came to out of her own communion with the god Baldur.
"Jake are you okay!" Beta screamed as she saw I was bleeding out of my nose and eyes, but I waved her off as I flopped on the ground truly incapable of even rolling onto my back as it felt like my mind was smothered in a blanket of exhaustion along with my own body being weighed down by several weighted blankets.
"Beta... Can you carry me to bed." I said weakly as I gave up fighting at my bodies exhaustion as I got bodied by Herakles. If anyone deserves some pity and to be dragged to bed it was me.
Beta then gently rolled me over so she could see what was wrong with me and seeing how I was bleeding out of my nose and eyes she started doing the first aid she knew that began with her lifting me up from my arm pits and dragging me to bed and then propping up my head to stem the flow of blood.
"Uhm should I make you some soup or something?" Beta offered but I shook my head and groaned at the feeling of my stiff necks cracking as even though all the training was done within my soul. It still somehow translated to working on my body as well.
"No... I just need some rest I think." I assuaged Beta as I did the best I could do to simply relax into the pillows and hopefully get some rest so my body could heal before the consequences from my light show the previous night caught up with me.
"Ok... I am going to lay down in this couch and read, so I can still keep an eye on you though!" Beta said firmly and I wanted to coo at how adorable she looked as she raised up her hands like she was going force me to stay in bed.
But no way in hell I was getting up when it felt my like very soul was screaming in agony along with my body at every movement beyond breathing.
A couple minutes later as I had my eyes closed and was simply counting each of my breaths to hopefully lull myself into sleep, so I no longer had to worry about flexing my hands or arms in the wrong way and sending a lancing pain of agony through body. I heard Beta cough and try to get my attention. "Hmm? Whats up Beta?" I asked softly.
"Ah. The communion with Lord Baldur went well and I received a simpler version of your light projection that's easier to use on a smaller scale. Also, Lord Baldur was really nice and told me about the Norse gods and fed me some native foods with a super yummy cake to go with it!" Beta said excitedly and I wanted to roll my eyes at her excitement.
I wasn't jealous that she got to hang out for three hours with a gentlemanly Norse god that respectfully and gently taught her how to use her blessing... Not at all.
Ok I was fucking jealous, and I wanted to give Beta's soft white hair a noogie to let out my frustration, but she was too cute to hurt like that.
"I am glad you got an easier blessing to use than Alpha's is. Just don't fall behind as Alpha already has almost perfect mana control to boost her own physical abilities." I warned her before I groaned in pain and spoke again. "Alright let me take a nap for a bit, just wake me up if Alpha and Zeta get back." I spoke tiredly as I closed my eyes.
"Alright... I will watch over you Jake just rests for now." Beta said as gently threw a thin blanket over my form that wouldn't weigh on me while also taking off my inside tennis shoes as the marble floors were too cold to be running around in socks and I didn't want to track in dirt from outside that we would actually have to clean.
After fussed over me for a minute she retreated for me to finally get some actual rest and with the knowledge that I was going to be left somewhat alone I was finally able to actually close my eyes and my mind drifted into unconsciousness.
-
Alpha was irritated no she was mightily frustrated as not even half an hour into her talks with Okun Kageno who was starting to see her side of things about the Cult of Diabolos they were interrupted by people she knew she had to treat with kid gloves if she could defeat the leader in question to begin with.
"Princess Iris and Alexia of Midgar... The Apostle has mentioned you two in passing but I didn't think I would see you so soon." Alpha spoke wryly as the two princesses and their accompanying knights filled the room with the knights standing at attention against the walls.
What actually confused the hell out of Alpha the most, was how princess Alexia had several bruises across her face and was clearly walking with a bit of limp despite her clear attempts at projecting a noble demeanor.
"Hmm, so you have knowledge of us and yet you didn't see fit to announce yourself and your presence within the kingdom?" Princess Iris pressed on Alpha who subtly placed a hand upon Zeta's lap who was sitting behind her as Alpha saw out of the corner of her eye that the cat beastkins fur of her bushy long tail stuck up as Zeta's instincts put her in a flight or fight sense.
"No... I have only converted to the faith of my Lord in the last month or so. Our clergy haven't even left Lady Kageno's lands as we don't even have enough people to preach so my Lord saw no reason to go to the Capital." Alpha said deferring to Jake's leadership and making Iris backpedal as should she press; it would make her look like a tyrant demanding why a lesser person didn't rush to the royal palace to announce them opening a shop or something.
"Ahem," Alexia spoke up drawing Alpha's attention to her and saw beyond the superficial bruises across her that she was rather attractive with her petite frame and shorter silver hair. "We as the representatives of the Royal Family were sent here to see the holdings of this church due to nature of the rumors of the church actually preforming miracles with no subtlety." Alexia said while not even looking at her sister at all making Alpha wonder if their was some kind of bad blood between them or something.
But if anything, she didn't want this princess Iris meeting Jake at all... She was literally his type! She was actually a 'grown' woman and she had the large breasts that Jake seemed to pay attention to as well! Alpha thought distastefully as she focused more on the petite princess Alexia that was far more appealing to her eyes.
"Yes... The Apostle of our faith has been heavily blessed by the gods within our religions pantheon and thus has made it his goal to bless upon the people that come to him for dearly needed aid as well as generally healing the townspeople when they make a mistake and end up hurting themselves." Alpha wryly explained with Princess Iris raising an eyebrow as she stood up.
"Well in that case I would like to meet your Apostle after we exchange pleasantries with Lady Kageno after we so rudely barged into her territory." Iris Midgar spoke respectfully to the black-haired Baron of these lands.
"Oh Princess Iris, it's no insult at all. If you have more important duties, I won't hold you up on trifling matters. In fact, I would be glad to accompany you with my daughter as I would like the Lord Apostle to check her for any issues after his last healing of her." Okun spoke hurriedly as she a lowly Baron didn't dare to hold up a Princess from her duties in her territory.
While the princesses and the noble host made platitudes to excuse themselves from noble traditions Zeta leaned towards Alpha and subtly whispered. "Lady Alpha one of the knights have the smell of corruption as Lord Jake described."
Alpha's grasp over her knee under her foggy like robe tightened as she hid her expression by looking down to school her looks as she subtly nodded so Zeta knew she heard and understood her words.
"Oh, and that robe." Iris spoke up as she looked to Alpha. "Is that some kind of Artifact?" She continued to ask as she looked at the clearly magical robes Alpha was wearing.
"Sort of... It was a gift for surviving meeting and acquiring a contract with the Goddess of Magic Hecate." Alpha bluntly said making Iris raise an eyebrow in interest.
Because all Artifacts were literally thousands of years old as the secrets to actually making them had long been lost to time and today, they were now considered heirlooms and only the best and brightest had any hopes of actually working on them as the workings of the completely unknown magic system that made up the usage of Artifacts was more of an artform at this point.
"So, you could get more of them?" Princess Iris asked excitedly, and Alpha's face twisted at the thought of asking Lady Hecate to make dozens if not hundreds of such robes and how the goddess would take that as an insult.
"Lady Hecate... Is very emotional." Alpha said as evenly as she could and she saw Iris's face turn amused as she understood what Alpha was hinting. "Don't think gold or other mundane means will sway her as she is more likely to turn you into a raven or a reanimated undead warrior for her armies." Alpha warned her.
"A bunch of foolish blathering about a goddess that doesn't even exist!" One of the knights in the back spat clearly tired of this back and forth and Alpha smiled as dark shadows filled the room.
"Insult the goddess I am contracted to again and you will lose your skin and not merely your clothes." Alpha spoke softly to the man who in the split couple seconds Alpha filled the rooms with shadows was completely stripped naked of his armor and weapons leaving him only clad in his underwear.
"Now I am not my faiths Apostle. I fully admit he is more social and agreeable so before any other unfortunate words are spoken and cause issues. My compatriot and myself will be leaving to the church. When you are ready to meet us you are all welcome to join us to speak and see his miracles firsthand." Alpha said as she and Zeta walked past the silent Princesses who were just studying her as she left the room.
A minute later after the two blond girls left the room Iris hid her frown as she looked to Lady Kageno. "Lady Kageno, please have servants escort my men to some quarters for them to rest. I need to speak with my sister for a few minutes." She said respectfully and Okun nodded as she clapped her hands with maids coming in to escort away the men, including the one who was magically undressed by Alpha's shadow manipulation.
Once the meeting room was cleared Iris sighed as she turned in her seat to look at her sister Alexia. "Alexia, would you care to share your thoughts of that elven girl?"
Alexia frowned as she sent a look at her sister until a couple minutes of awkward silence as Iris waited, the silver haired princess finally spoke. "I suppose she was guarded about something. Though the way you looked so interested in her cloak may have played a part. As she was probably scared you would steal it in the name of the royal family or something." Alexia said dryly making Iris's eye twitch at how her sister's words painted her as some kind of common bandit or something.
"Ugh... I didn't mean it that way." Iris muttered wryly as she sent a look of exasperation at her sister who only hmphed looking away, leaving Iris frustrated at how they were still so estranged. "Fine, I will make it up to her or something. Anyway, I think we should go meet this new religion's Apostle sooner than later... The men I brought are unfortunately still green and I cannot help but feel they will say something else rude and cause issues." Iris spoke up and Alexia surprisingly nodded.
"Yes, the sooner we meet this phony with some weird Artifact and expose him as such. The sooner I can get back to the Captial... I will be in the carriage whenever you are ready and done playing with your knights." Alexia said as she adjusted her sword that was strapped to her side as she walked out of the meeting room.
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