Demi-God Twin Chapter 15: Daedalus Falling.

Chapter 15: Daedalus Falling.

(Iphicles P.O.V)

The elemental arrow flies and smacks onto Herakles' club. Unfortunately, the wood serves as a shield, negating the lightning.

"Nice of you to show up Teacher!"

Cackling like a madman, Herakles' massive frame drops down on Chiron, the club descending in a crushing blow.

Chiron meets the attack head-on, parrying with his bow. Sparks fly as the two clash, their power shaking the air.

“Get to safety!” Chiron barks, his voice sharp and commanding.

Atalanta steps forward, her damaged bow raised. “I can fight—”

“No!” Chiron snaps, his tone leaving no room for argument. “You’ll only distract me.”

I grab Atalanta’s arm before she can protest further. “He’s right. We have to go.”

"Too late!"

Heracles bellows, swinging his club with all his might. The force of the blow shatters the mist surrounding the island, creating a shockwave that ripples across the lake. Waves crash against the rocks as Chiron evades, his movements swift and calculated.

I have to use my right wing to shield Atalanta and I.

"Teacher has gotten even stronger."

Atalanta comments, sharing in the shock and awe that grips me as we witness our Master go all out.

The centaur twists in midair, firing down arrows of lightning at Heracles. The attacks hits their mark but barely push him back. Herakles' relies on his Strength to hold ground.

“You’re just delaying the inevitable!” He roars, charging again.

Chiron glances at me, his voice sharp. “Iphicles, the Royal Seal! Use it now!”

The Seal? Use it how? And for what?

I don't understand what he means, but I trust him and grab the medallion around my neck, a symbol of my Royal lineage.

Surprisingly, the medallion glows with light and pulses faintly in my hand, as if alive. Another Magical Artefact? But how? I've had this seal all my life and it's never once lit up so brightly. More importantly,

"What do I do next?! How does it work?"

I ask showing it to Atalanta.

"No clue."

Her attention is fully on the battle, where the only person with the answer is busy fighting to protect us.

Master Chiron leaps back with remarkable agility, a conjuction of wings and his four legs churning powerfully as he evades. Despite the situation, I find myself watching his aerial combat and learning. The way Teacher commands the air is effortless. In comparison, my flying is awkward, jerky and embarrassing.

So far, the fight is more of a cat and Mouse chase. And while the Mouse is a Master of agility, sooner or later, luck plays a factor. And the Cat gets It's prize.

Teacher's black wings flare out, lifting him momentarily into the air to dodge the next blow, which slams into the ground where he stood moments before.

The resulting impact splinters the rock, sending debris flying in all directions. The whole Island shakes and we struggle to hold our footing.

“Still nimble for an old man, I see,” Heracles taunts, swinging his club in another deadly arc. “But you’re slowing down. Don’t tell me all those centuries have finally caught up with you.”

“Slowing down?” Chiron quips as he gracefully lands on a rock outcrop a few feet away. “You’ll have to hit me first to prove it, boy.”

Heracles roars and lunges forward. This time, Chiron doesn’t dodge.

Instead, he ducks under the club’s swing and counters with his hind legs, a thunderous kick that sends Heracles stumbling back several paces.

Wasting no time, the Centaur bursts forward, galloping toward his fallen bow, his hooves pounding against the rock.

As Heracles recovers, Chiron’s wings flare out again, launching him into the air.

He pulls back StarEnder, lightning string humming with latent power, preparing an arrow of pure magic.

“You’re just as arrogant as ever, Heracles,” Chiron says, his voice steady despite the chaos. “Your strength is impressive, but brute force isn’t everything.”

The arrow flies. It strikes Heracles square in the chest, frying his Bear Hide and skalding his skin.

Heracles steadies himself, laughing as he brushes his burn covered chest as if it’s nothing. “Oh, I’m well aware of my strength, teacher. I surpassed you a long time ago. The only thing you have left to give me is validation!”

"Impossible. That was a direct shot. You should be paralyzed..."

Chiron is momentarily shocked. And Heracles takes advantage of it.

Swinging his club with both hands, the force of his blow creates a shockwave so intense it blows Teacher off his feet.

The mist that has begun to settle around the island is blasted away again, revealing the sheer destruction wrought by Heracles’ strength.

The side of a nearby cave collapses under the tremor, and waves surge across the lake, crashing against the jagged rocks.

Chiron catches himself midair, his wings flapping powerfully to regain balance. He twists and fires another arrow, this one a gale of wind slicing through the air like a razor.

A cackling Heracles deflects it, the gust scattering harmlessly against his godly strength.

“You’re not wrong,” Chiron says, circling him warily. “You have grown stronger. But strength without discipline is nothing more than chaos. I taught you better than this.”

I grit my teeth at the sadness in Master's words.

Heracles smirks and steps forward. “You taught me to win, old man. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

With a deafening roar, Heracles leaps into the air, bringing his club down in an overhead strike.

Chiron barely dodges, the club’s impact creating a massive crater that sends chunks of rock flying our way, pelting my wing shield.

Using the momentum, Teacher flies upward and fires another volley of arrows—lightning and wind—directly at Heracles.

Heracles bellows in frustration, the arrows striking him like rain against a mountain.

“You’re only delaying the inevitable!” he shouts, swinging his club in a wide arc. The force of the swing creates a horizontal shockwave that catches Chiron midair and slams him into the ground.

“Chiron!” Atalanta screams, wrenching herself from my hold.

"No! Remember what he said!"

I stab my wing onto the ground, blocking her path.

"So what?! We stand back and watch him die?!"

She demands.

"No, we trust him." I answer, palming the Royal Seal.

I understand her frustration, but all we can do now is watch. And when an opportunity presents itself, we strike. I've already made up my mind. If it comes down to it, I'll go down fighting beside Teacher.

"Get up..."

I whisper staring at Chiron's fallen form.

He groans, pushing himself upright as blood trickles from a gash on his temple.

Despite his injuries, his confidence never wavers. He shifts to shield both Atalanta and me from Heracles’ advance.

“Iphicles,” Chiron says, his voice strained but commanding. “Get the Seal ready. This fight isn’t about victory.”

Heracles grins savagely, striding forward. “Oh, but it is. And you’ve already lost.”

Chiron flaps his wings, launching himself toward Heracles in a desperate gambit.

He fires three rapid arrows, but Heracles easily deflects them. When the centaur tries to dodge another swing, Heracles anticipates it, his club catching Chiron’s flank.

"I told you, I've surpassed you!"

The force of the blow sends Chiron sprawling, his wings crumpling awkwardly beneath him. StarEnder skitters across the rocky ground, falling

“Chiron!” Atalanta and me scream, her voice raw with desperation.

Heracles slams his boot down on Chiron’s head, pinning him with merciless strength. My whole body shivers with rage.

“Stay still,” Heracles growls, pressing harder. Chiron groans, his breaths ragged and shallow. Blood pools beneath him, staining the earth.

Heracles turns to us, his predatory grin widening. “Should I crush his skull like a ripe watermelon.”

“No!” Atalanta cries, taking a step forward.

“Beg,” Heracles commands, his tone cruel and mocking. “Beg me for his life. Get on your knees, plead like the worms you are, and maybe—just maybe—I’ll show him mercy.”

I freeze, every nerve in my body screaming for action, but my legs refuse to move. Beside me, Atalanta hesitates, her knuckles white around her broken bow.

Chiron’s voice, weak but resolute, cuts through the oppressive silence. “You… and Atalanta… must live. Don’t waste… your time… on me.”

Heracles’ grin turns vicious as he leans more weight onto Chiron’s head. “What’s it going to be, little brother? Grovel, or watch his skull split?”

He drags his club along the ground, carving shallow trenches in the dirt as if toying with us.

“The Seal, My Prince.” Chiron rasps.

My hand instinctively tightens to on the medallion.

“Bleed on it,” He continues. “It’s the only way… the only way you’ll escape.”

Heracles’ eyes narrow, his grin vanishing as he realizes what Chiron means. “No,” he growls, his voice low and dangerous. “You’re not getting away that easily.”

The centaur groans in pain as Heracles raises his club again.

Atalanta darts forward, snatching Chiron’s fallen bow.

She pulls it back and shoots a lightning arrow that strikes Heracles in the side, forcing him to stumble back and giving Chiron enough time to roll free.

“Bleed on it!” Chiron yells, his voice breaking with urgency “Now!”

“No!”

Heracles growls, trying to jump me. But Atalanta keeps him at bay with a barrage of lightning missiles.

The distraction is all I need.

Ignoring the searing pain in my leg, I grab Atalanta by the waist and with a powerful flap of my right wing, leap toward Chiron.

My blood flows freely as I press the Seal to his chest, the medallion flaring with radiant scarlet light.

Heracles charges, his roar deafening. But the Seal activates, enveloping us in a blinding glow.

“NOOOO!” His scream echoes as we vanish.

The last thing I see is his enraged face, the ground beneath him splitting apart as he slams the club down and the island begins to sink.

~End of Arc 1~