Chapter 20, Zeus

Last night, I felt Haruki's existence return. He has returned to his original self meaning we don't have much time. I have to get off this continent soon, I have to get back to Haruki.

I packed my things and headed to the town gate with everyone when I heard a loud sound, as if thunder and then at the entrance, stood a man, with brown hair and white skin, I couldn't see his eyes because they were covered by his hair. He was badly injured and wounded, the guard didn't stop him or, the guard didn't even move, I think he is frozen?

"H-Hermes!" The voice of the man called out, it was ragged and hoarse but Hermes' face was immediately filled with dread when he heard it. He ran for the man immediately.

"Zeus!!" He exclaimed and everyone suddenly started panicking and ran for the man.

"Who is he?" I asked Takeshi.

"Zeus is... one of the First Borns." Hime-san whispered. "He, Hestia, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter and Hera are the First Borns or so the legend says."

"I see." I went towards the man with them.

"These are horrible wounds how did you get them?" Hermes asked as we saw how badly injured he was.

"T-the seal... it's breaking." He answered as he fell on his knees. "We... failed..."

"Oi! Zeus!!" He shook the man who was starting to lose consciousness.

"How is this possible? A Guardian can die?!" Klaus-san asked in surprise and fear.

"We can die. When we sustain so much damage that our Core break." Hermes answered sadly. "His has been broken, he only has a little time left."

"If he dies, then the seal would break right?" Takeshi asked.

"Yes. If one of the First Borns die then..." Hermes was hesitant to answer.

"He won't die." I said as I came closer.

I held Zeus' hands in my and brought our forehead together. I channeled the magical energy in the air and converted it into magical power.

"Return, Revive, Restore, Time which flows endlessly, like a river, I order you, let the flow be disturbed and the balance broken." I said and a magical circle appeared over head. "Time which flows forward endlessly, time which waits for no one, I emplore you, go back, reverse, distort, gears of the clock, Rewind."

"A Healing Spell?" Linlin-san asked.

"Half true. That's a temporal spell." Takeshi said. "Rewind. Since Healing Magic doesn't work on nonliving beings."

"What do you mean?" Aishea-san asked.

"It means, like the 88 Familiars, the Guardians probably have a base, something that binds them to this world." I told them. "Therefore, they aren't human but artificial life. Like humunculi and automatons."

"I see. Then they can't be classified as living beings but rather as non-living beings like golems correct?" Veronica asked.

"That's right." Hermes answered her. "We aren't human but rather projections, though we forgot what our cores or base are."

"If I had to guess, it would be something important to you." I stated. "Or a medium of sorts."

"Would that be... the Blessings by any chance?" Elias-san asked.

"Doubt it." Takeshi said.

"Yeah. The First Hero was said to be a cautious person. If I had to guess, even if it was in the Blessings, there must be a condition on how to get it to appear." I stated as I healed Zeus. "Most likely, a spell similar to the Condition on the Familiars."

"More importantly, Zeus said the seal was breaking. Meaning..." Takeshi turned to Zeus. "That the Titans are close to being revived."

"So, what do we do?" Elsha-san asked.

"Nothing." Zeus answered as he started to recover. "Humans... can't do anything... only one of pure Aerial Blood and Hero Blood may be able to help us."

"That means the two of you." Dres-san said as he turned to me and Takeshi.

"I think it means Haruki and Haruka." Takeshi said. "I'm not a Pureboooded Hero. Haruka and Haruki are the only purebloods and I'm certain, soon enough, Haruki will come to this continent."

"What do you mean? Haruki is still...." Hime-san stated as she looked at us who were hesitant. "No way?! Has Haruki?!"

"Yeah. I felt it last night. His Memories have returned. We don't have any more time to waste." I stated. "Zeus, try to surpress the threat for a little longer while we search for the ones behind it. I'm not waiting any more. I'm heading to Minerva and Athena city."

Suddenly, the ground began to quake and I turned my head to see ten Titans, around twelve-meters talls. All charging for the city without hesitation.

"Hurry, to my shrine. We'll activate the Aegis Shield!" Hermes exclaimed as we followed him.

At his shrine, the people of the town gathered and we all watched as Klaus-san placed his hands on the shrine and suddenly the pillars grew bright and a barrier began to form overhead.

"Evacuate the women and children first, those who are willing to fight please stay. I'll pay a huge amount to anyone who fights!" Klaus-san exclaimed.

"That's suicide! Forgive us Young Master Klaus, we can't fight Titans!!" Voices answered.

"We aren't risking it sir!" More exclaimed.

The Titans had arrived and were banging at the barrier. The barrier will hold them off but what happens when it breaks? Everyone here will die. I have no choice. I turn to Takeshi who was reaching the same conclusion I was when Hermes stopped us.

"Just a minute." He said. "Take this, it was your Ancestors but this will help you."

He offered me a ring, made of silver with a blue gem on it. As I stared into the gem I recognized the mark inside it. The Family Crest. I turned to him and he smiled. I wore the ring on my right ring finger and he smiled. And then suddenly, he took my hand with the ring and kneeled down.

"Hermes?!" I was taken by surprise.

"Haruka. I hereby lend my power, my Crest, to thee." He said and kissed the ring, then, a symbol appeared on his hand, a shoe, no, a boot? I don't know, but it has wings on it.

It rises to the air blue and strings come down from it and it begins to connect to my ring and I felt my power grow stronger.

"Hermes!!" Zeus exclaimed with a worried voice.

"Hermes!!" I exclaimed. "What did you do?"

"I just shared a bit of my power with you, it'll probably only last a little more or less than half an hour." He said. "Can you take them out in that time?"

"Yeah. Thank you." I answered and suddenly cannons fired at the Titans.

"What was that?" Rosa-san asked.

"Those are!!" I exclaimed when I saw them.

Positioned on the walls like hawks, large cannons so big it'd be impossible for someone to carry them up there.

"Salamander's Cannon?!" I exclaimed.

"I'm lending them just this once." Takeshi said,he was gone and only his words were left in the air.

"Where is Mr. Takeshi?" Aishiea-san asked.

"You four, here, take these." I tossed the four guards special magic guns. Riffles. "Fire them at a distance."

"Yes sir!" They answered as they split up and headed for the wall taking up sniping positions.

They along with Salamander's Cannon should buys us a bit of time, in that small amount of time, I have to kill the Titans with Hermes' power.