31 Issue #30: X, Ghost.

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Issue 30: X, Ghost.

(General P.O.V)

(XxX)

Voomp!

Following an intuition deep within him, X's body disappeared from its position.

He hadn't figured out short range teleportation through his flames.

But this was as good a time as any!

Somehow, he linked with the flames burning around Cerberus head, teleporting under the right head's chin.

Sparks of bio-energy clad his fists and with a left hook, a venom blast escaped him-

Only for it to strike at the air, causing a distortion and a burst of electric energy to explode outwards, expelling some of the mist in the sky.

Speaking of, he had suddenly found himself over 100 feet above the Island.

X had no time to wonder what has happened.

Instead, he hurtled down towards Cerberus' position with the force of an enhanced superhuman.

The speed and trajectory of his fall was too fast and slightly off course.

Without much thought, he attached foils of thin but durable webs on the underside of his arms and shoulders, creating a wingsuit, that instantly slowed down his descent.

Flipping about, he cut through the air in a controlled glide, diving face first.

Cerberus, looking up at the human missile headed for him, narrowed its eyes.

"Not bad Pup. But the skies are not yours alone to claim."

20 feet from the heels of his feet slamming onto Cerberus, X felt his danger sense go off.

Immediately he tugged his wingsuit to the right, strafing away sideways and timely dodging a screeching Harpy as it passed through his former position, claws flashing out with a dark wind.

A slash appeared on the cliff behind him.

And the Harpy wasn't alone either.

A multitude of caws and screeches sounded out from all around the air.

The perpetual fog hanging over the small island and the pool of dark water, blew away, revealing over a dozen more harpies.

X analysed the situation, reoriented his form by spinning his body around, before ejecting a large explosion of blue flames from his feet.

His body was suddenly pushed upwards and for the second time, he dodged the onrush of mythical creatures seeking to tear him apart.

The flock wound up, flapping their wings before climbing after him.

Only they didn't need to.

Thwip!

A web clung to one of the Harpies, and before it could so much as squack, X was already on its back.

His hands wrapped around its head.

Snap!

He twisted, easily breaking it's spine, before leaping off it's back and towards another Harpy.

He grabbed its wings and heaved, tearing them off it's back with a single tug.

The Harpy cried out as it fell off the air just like it's comrade, a trail of dark blood streaming behind it.

Both unfortunate creatures smashed into the pool of the river styx, never to resurface again.

By then, X had dispatched most of the other harpies, relying entirely on his quick and deft movements, web creation, Spider Sense to avoid their attacks and his enhanced strength.

All without using his flames or the destructive venom blast.

A single punch could shatter bones and pulp flesh after all, there wasn't a need to expend more energy than needed.

A few of the harpies escaped, flapping their wings and flying away as fast as they could from the assassin.

Only for the air to be filled with the distint sound of,

Thwip!

Compact web balls, compressed into bullets shot through the air, snagging the 4 of the Harpies that had scattered in every direction.

Following that, the web bullets exploded into a thick glue like web, ensnaring their wings and limbs.

The harpies fell towards the ground, bones breaking and bodies twisting upon impact.

Cerberus right and left heads growled as X, webs around the last Harpy's head, piloted it on a path aimed for the Underworld Guardian.

Both side heads, opened their maws, about to unleash flames his way.

Thwip!

Two web shots covered the dogs' jaws, clamping them shut as the Harpy plowed onto the Central Head-

Only for X to feel his own flames jump out of his control, engulf both him and the Harpy and suddenly, they were prowing onto the ground behind Cerberus.

The Assassin flipped off the harpy as it continued on, skipping over the waters of the Styx before drowning after sinking within its blue depths.

On the shores of the island, X landed in a crouch, the blue flames around him dying out, revealing a young black haired man in a black shirt and blue pants.

He turned around to face the enemy, a mask created from webs covering his nose and mouth.

It wasn't enough but it filtered the dead air in the atmosphere.

Groowlll!!!

Cerberus left and right head begun to growl, molten saliva dripping through sharp teeth and down their blackened lips.

The drops melted the ground, leaving round shaped holes that glowed red.

A savage gleam in It's 2 pairs of eyes, the heads seemed to have fallen into a state of bloodlust, about to pounce on X's back.

"Zip it."

Only for the Central Head, the one in control to nip the agression in the bud.

Both heads cowered and the Central Head shifted It's focus onto X.

"You...you seem different now. Sharper. Dangerous."

Cerberus pointed out, a curious note in It's voice.

X gave no response, merely staring blankly at the 3 headed Dog.

With a snort, Cerberus lay down.

"Well? Are you not going to ask the question? Are you not wondering how it is, I was able to take control of your flames?"

Indeed, the first time was when the Assassin was sent to the sky, and the second was a few seconds ago-just before X had landed his attack.

Fighting Cerberus just became harder. Meaning entering the Underworld also became harder.

X tilted his head, as if finding the question funny. Bio-energy begun roiling around his body, the erratic yellow current surging to his hands.

"I see." Cerberus rumbled.

"To you, all that matters is completing the kill. I can respect that."

X bent low. The enemy had no discernible openings. There was no way to kill It when it was on guard.

"Came to the same conclusion, haven't you?" Central Head snickered.

"You might be an impressive killer for a mortal, but you have no idea, what stands before you. So, before I tire of this farce and Swallow you whole, how about...a chat?"

For a few tense seconds, X and Cerberus faced off, an assassin that had made killing an art form and a creature that had made it a sport.

Between them, countless lives had been lost.

X blinked, averting his gaze.

The sharp air around him disappeared.

"Would you look at that, The Pup is back."

The right Head spoke.

"We should have killed him when he was strong."

The left head grunted. On the ground, Cerberus' front leg paw scratched the ground with it's sharp nails in agitation, leaving behind deep grooves.

"I had no idea Dumb and Dumber could talk."

Kane stated, sitting on the ground before Cerberus.

The heads snarled out, sending a wave of fire down towards Kane.

His danger sense immediately cried out but before he could jump away, the flames carved around him in two precise paths, spun in the air before exploding in the faces of the left and right head.

"Idiots."

The Central Head admonished.

"Getting worked up over something as trivial, makes what he called you true."

Kane's heart meanwhile was hammering in his chest.

He'd thought he'd maintained a good distance between the two of them. At least enough that he could react in case they tried to attack him like they did Thanatos.

But that fire...was faster than it had any right to be. Not to mention the kind of control the Central Head exhibited, causing the flames to miss him while just a few inches from his face.

Kane narrowed his eyes, reevaluating Cerberus threat. Even escape was a problem, as any time Kane tapped into his flames, Cerberus could just...take control of them.

Which meant, he needed a counter to that. But...how?

"What did you do to Thanatos?"

Kane asked.

He didn't think Thanatos was dead by any means, so it was likely Cerberus had sent him away.

"I merely banished him back to his realm."

Cerberus explained.

"Not only do I hold the power to deny or grant entry into the Underworld. I also maintain its order and enforce Lord Hades will. Thanatos had 5 more years to his sentence."

Alright. Kane was by no means happy with that but he understood. Hades was the one he would have to talk to about Thanatos freedom.

It seemed the meeting with the Lord of the Underworld was only getting more and more crucial.

But how was he going to get past the huge dog who was proving to not only be powerful but quite adept at affecting Kane's own arsenal?

"I have to say, I am curious about one thing."

Cerberus admitted.

"You could have used those flames to escape to the Mortal world. And yet, you chose to return to the land of the dead. Why?"

"Would telling you convince you to let me through to see Hades?"

Kane lobbied.

The Head snorted.

"Would you be willing to lose another ten years to the Ferryman?"

Kane scoffed.

"Not in a million years. I'm getting those ten years back. With interest."

"Then it's a no." The Guardian of the Underworld responded.

"I don't owe you a thing."

"Then I guess chat time is over."

Kane stated, rising to his feet while stretching his body.

He didn't have a choice. He had to use 'that'.

"Oh, finally getting serious are we?"

A sharp glint appeared in the Central Head's eyes.

"I haven't had a human snack in some time. This should prove to be...fun."

"I won't lie-"

Kane chuckled, running a hand down his face. His stance was relaxed, unguarded.

Yet...Cerberus' middle head perked up, feeling a slight danger coming from the assassin.

"No one has had me at a disadvantage since I arrived here. Not the Amazon s, Circe or even the Titans. But you..."

His body instantly disappeared. His scent, his sound...every trace of him was gone.

Cerberus jumped to his feet.

The mist around seemed to thicken, the shadows to deepen.

All three heads growles, hackles rising.

"...you've pushed me to the extreme."

Kane's voice came from everywhere.

"And anyone who's seen this move, hasn't lived long to regret it."

Fire bloomed across Cerberus' shoulders, back and limbs, turning the massive hellhound into a burning massive hellhound.

"Ghost Step."

The wind whispered, spreading out in an echo that came from everywhere.

The Assassin struck.

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