Brushing Up On Battling

[thegunner18]

Ajax reverted back to his normal, golden furred form and waited for Layla to stop screaming, he was used to it now anyway, before speaking again. "He's gone into the underworld, and is now probably trying to find a way into Mount Olympus." the darkness was lifted from the sky and it was now light again.

Ajax glanced at the spot that the croc once was and then back to Layla. "I couldn't stop him, he was already too far into the mud before I could do anything." he started circling the spot that the croc sank into the ground, analysing for any way to follow him. "We have to follow him, even if it is into the underworld, as that is the only way we can catch him. Although...I can't think of any way down to the underworld." he looked at Layla. "You're[\i] a great thinker, do you have any ideas?"

[xscar10]

As Krateros sank into the mud he heard them above him, and started to think.
"What the... Come on." He thought as they dug; he started to fall into the mud, and opened a portal with his claws.

He was falling into the underworld when he landed in Cronus's hand.

He had to try to stand, cause he strained his legs in the fall.
"Cronus, Still in Tartarus I see." He was still mostly covered in mud so his claws, and gauntlets are hidden in mud.

`Why did you hide Krateros?`

"Because I cannot just tell them our plan, and my plan they rejected."

`Then you should kill them.`

"I can't... They are demi-gods, killing them would not change anything."

`You lie... You do not wish to kill them, you see something in them.`

"I do not feel for them, and I couldn't if I wanted to; together they were to powerful."

`Krateros, you are not a good lier... regardless, you will be reunited with your love, and we will be free.`

"No, she has anger issues, and he fallows her blindly. Like an younger brother, trying to protect his older sister."

`And you see a distorted mirror of yourself. Anyways you should take this soul.` He held up a purple fire.

`This will help you in the fight against the gods, it is the soul of Achilles.`

"What about his heel, I am no fool."

`Not to worry, I know his weakness, and I will give you these.` He held up two boots.

`The boots are just iron, but immune to magic.`
Krateros reached out, took the soul, and put on the boots.

[Lionsunrise]

After Layla had exhausted her fury, she answered Ajax's question: "Although...I can't think of any way down to the underworld." he looked at Layla. "You're a great thinker, do you have any ideas?"

Layla hoped Ajax wouldn't freak out because of her answer. "We must summon Melinoe. The Goddess of Ghosts." Layla walked in the direction of the Temple they had built as a shrine to the Gods, major and minor. It was built of white marble, with columns and a triangular sloping roof. Layla padded up the steps.

"It's said that Melinoe always has a way out of the Underworld, so she should also know ways in." Layla went through the marble doors, and passed the shrines to the Gods until they reached Melinoe's. "I did her a favour before, so she owes me. Just don't be startled by her appearance," she added. "Melinoe is... Unusual. And if you see ghosts from your past, give no reaction. Concentrate on me."

Layla focused on the picture of Melinoe. It shimmered and changed into ghosts she knew, looking like they were in pain. Layla drew a claw down her foreleg, hissing at the pain. She let the blood flow down her pinkish fur and collect in the bowl at Melinoe's shrine. "Melinoe! Come out!""

[xscar10]

`This is Alala the spirit of the war cry, we have recruited her help.`

"I see, and how will she help?"

`She will strengthen your voice of Olympus.`
Alala cried out, and the scream brought him to his knees. He stood up, and felt the new power in his veins.

`Now go, return to the surface, and bring Zeus to us.`

"Very well." Kreateros jumped down off his hand, and onto the ground below. The ground burned his feet, but he looked up, and that was the least of his problems.

"Not this again."

[thegunner18]

When Ajax heard Layla say that they needed to go to melinoe, the goddess of ghosts, his eyes widened in shock and he tensed up. "You're not serious are you?" before his question was answered, Layla walked off in the direction of Melinoe's temple. "Okay, you are serious." he said before following her to the shrine. 

Layla entered the temple but Ajax stopped outside it to look around. Multiple emotions were running through him, and fear was one of those. What would happen when Melinoe was summoned? how would they summon her? He quickly glanced up at the entrance and saw Layla disappear through it. Ajax ran up the stairs and caught up with Layla. Once he was next to her, Layla said something at Melinoe.

"Melinoe is... Unusual. And if you see ghosts from your past, give no reaction. Concentrate on me."

Ajax nodded and looked at her."Alright then, I'll dot that, I trust you." They walked a little further and eventually got to Melinoe's statue. As soon as they entered, multiple ghosts flew out of the statue. "Just concentrate on her....Just. Concentrate. On. Her." he said to himself, just about keeping himself from looking at them. "So...how are we going to summ-" Ajax stopped when he saw Layla cut her foreleg with her own claw, blood slowly pouring out if ot into a bowl. "Layla!..." He knew it was probably some sort of way to get Melinoe to come out, but he was still concerned for her.

Melinoe! Come out!

Ajax slowly raised his head and saw Melinoe. He thought that unusual was a bit of an understatement for her.

[Lionsunrise]

Melinoe had taken the form of a lioness. She was indeed unusual. She was a perfectly ordinary lioness in most ways, except for her skin. Her right half was normal, except snow white. Her left half was completely black and smooth, hardened like marble skin. An aura of darkness surrounded her. She changed into ghosts Layla knew- deaths Layla regretted or could have stopped.

«"I am Melinoe, the Goddess of Ghosts. What do you want, Daughter of Athena?"» Melinoe seemed to whisper inside their minds, her voice constantly changing to a ghosts'.

Layla's voice was strong and clear. "We wish for passage to the Underworld. Krateros has somehow reached the Underworld, and we are trying to stop him from escaping a second time."
Melinoe hissed. «"That fool is taking ghosts that do not belong to him. He could steal them without my knowledge when I did not know of him, but the souls of the Underworld are safe from him now. Lord Hades knows where he is now. Krateros will not escape Tartarus without defeating Hades, his army, me and you two. I will take you to the exit of Tartarus. Krateros is trapped, and Artemis will be killed if she does not comply with the gods.»" It was a long speech for Melinoe. "«By the way, I hope that neither of you have another ghost by the time your quest is over.»" She looked directly at Ajax. "«Does your friend have anything to say to me?"»

[xscar10]

Krateros stood in front of the screaming gate, with the adamantine columns in front, but between him and the gate was the hydra.
"I have to go through this again?" He said nonchalantly, as he drew his claws.

The hydra attacked and he grabbed it by it's teeth; he slammed it's head into the ground, and broke it's neck. The many other heads lashing out, and biting him, as he pummeled them. He knew he was 'out-numbered' so he decided t test his knew roar. He took a deep breath, and released a direct roar that threw the hydra to the ground. He continued to roar, and he could see the air being pushed away; he stopped and fell to the ground, to see his work. The hydra was still together, not a single head lost, but beaten unconscious.

"Now to open the gait." He walked over to one of the columns, rocks cutting his feet, and the heat was intense. He crouched down, and started to lift one of the columns.
"Lift with your legs." He said to himself. He lifted the column over his head, and threw it at the gate nearly destroying it.

"Now to Hades, and then the surface."

[thegunner18]

Ajax was listening very carefully to the conversation that Layla was having with Melinoe, trying his best not to do anything stupid in front of them, just in case something important that he needed to remember popped up.

Ajax was relieved that he wasn't being involved in the conversation, or at least, he wasn't being talked to directly. Well, that was until the very end, just when he thought he was off the hook.

"Does your friend have anything to say to me?"

Ajax started to stutter as he heard this, knowing that he was now being talked to directly by Melinoe. He tried not to keep eye contact with her. "Er...um...No, nothing important that you, er...need to know really."

Ajax quickly glanced up at Melinoe and brought up the courage to look at her instead of avoiding her. "Well...actually, there is one thing I want to say. Why would Krateros just randomly go down to the underworld if no one down there is helping him?"

[Lionsunrise]

Layla stiffened as Melinoe disappeared, reappearing a centimetre from Ajax. «"The Titan Kronos, Lord of Time, is assisting him. Kronos has taken the soul of Achilles and bestowed it upon Krateros.»' Layla's ears flattened in confusion. Krateros loved Artemis yet joined a being who would kll her happily?

«"He somehow took it without my knowledge, but I will show Krateros what happens when you steal ghosts from me!»" The goddess was trembling from rage. «"Kronos has guided him to Tartarus, and gave him the soul. However, Lord Hades and his army are waiting outside the Gate, and they all know of his weak spot. In any case, Lord Hades and myself together should be able to rip the soul from his body. Queen Persephone, the Furies and Cerberus shall fight as well."»

Melinoe took a step back and a dome of darkness descended over them. «"I will bring you to Hades."»

[xscar10]

As the pillar burst through the gate, Krateros stepped through. He was surprised when he saw the army Hades had gathered, and a little impressed.
Hades was a large mandrill, and so was Persephone, the army was all lions.

"Well, this was unexpected." He said, as he drew his claws, smiling all the while.

`There is nothing you can do to escape, give up now.` Hades said, as his armies moved forward.

"Normally I would gladly give in, but not when there's something to lose." Krateros said getting ready for the fight.

`Then you will sent back to Tartarus.` Hades said as his armies charged.

Krateros grabbed the pillar as the furies charged him. He threw the pillar at the jumping Cerberus, and roared at the furies. The furies fell to the new more powerful roar, and Cerberus wasn't able to lift the pillar off himself.

Krateros charged into battle, as the army and him met, he pummeled who he could, but was buried beneath them. He let out a pulse roar in all directions, scattering them, and used his chains to beat them down. He saw a flurry of arrows in the air above him, and was unable to dodge, so he blocked his head, and took the arrows straight on. They snapped against his body, and few penetrated his scales.

Queen Persephone saw a chance to attack, and as she drew her bow and arrow she saw the iron boots... but before she could tell Hades, Krateros grabbed her with the chains. Hades was angered by this, and threw his stave, turning it into a snake. Krateros released her and cut the snake in two. Hades turned invisible and drew a sword, but when he attacked Krateros, he saw the boots.

Krateros was knocked back by the sword, and Hades was about to finish him when an arrow hit his leg. Hades fell to one knee, and turned to see who had shot him, seeing nothing able to fire the arrow behind him.

When Krateros saw Hades turn, he took advantage of this; he stood up, and used the chains to bind him.

Though he was weakened Krateros spoke-
"Hades... you are a strong adversary, but I know your weakness." He lifted him up, but as he did Persephone shot another arrow at him. As it stabbed him in the back, he threw Hades, and turned to her.

"I am done here, I will not do any more damage." He said, as Hades stood up to fight again.

`You shall not leave this realm alive!` Hades said his sword in his hand.

Krateros grabbed the pillar again, and threw it at Hades, Hades of coarse avoided the pillar, and pursued Krateros.

[thegunner18]

Ajax looked around for Melinoe as she disappeared, quite afraid of what would happen next. He continued looking about and then suddenly froze as she reappeared right in front of him, merely a centimetre away from his face. He was so shocked that he barely took into account what she was saying. He did hear something about Hades knowing Krateros' weak spot though.

The next thing that Ajax heard was that Melinoe was going to take them to Hades. "Oh great...this day just can't get any better, can it?" he said sarcastically to himself and rolling his eyes. "alright, lets go, lead the way." he said to Melinoe.

[Lionsunrise]

Ok, guys, thanks for your help. I think my RP battling skills are fine now Seeyaz