The Pantheon: Rebirth

Return of the Gods

"We don't have time for this!" Zander yells.

"What do you want me to do? Ask them to politely go away?" Parker responds throwing a spear made of water at a group of zombies.

"How the hell did Hades even find us down here?" Zander dodges a sword strike from a decomposing Civil War soldier and counters with a hook, sending him flying into an oncoming crowd.

"He's clearly been watching us somehow. Doesn't matter, we gotta get to my temple. Its just on the other side of that passageway." Parker motions his hand, causing thousands of gallons of water to erupt from the ground, sweeping the zombies off their feet.

Zander and Parker take a second to catch their breath. Zander looks down and shakes off a loose chunk of hair held together by moldy skin.

"I wonder how the girls are doing with Ares." Zander says, looking at the zombies starting to get back on their feet.

"I'm sure they're fine. But we need to end this now. I have an idea."

Zander looks at Parker, who has an enormous smile on his face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Take out your bolt."

Zander takes out his lightning bolt, the electricity reaching out to the ground, leaving scorch marks in its place. "Now what?"

"When I say so, shoot your lightning at the water."

Parker motions his hand, and the water forms a giant tidal wave in front of the now standing mass of zombies.

"Now!" Parker yells, thrusting his hand forward.

Zander aims the bolt at the water. Lightning erupts from the tip, hitting the water with enough heat to burn the Earth. The lightning spreads through the wave as it washes over the zombies, instantly melting them to piles of mush.

"Oh god, it smells like shit." Zander says, waving his hand in front of his nose, trying to dissipate the smell.

"Stop whining you pussy. Let's go!"

They take off towards the hall, trying their best to avoid stepping in the pile of skin and bones. They reach the temple, taking a second to appreciate the gravity of what they're about to do. Zander walks up to the edge of the temple and he notices the glare of energy blocking the entrance.

"So, what do I do?" Zander asks, looking back at Parker.

"You need to punch it; I wasn't strong enough to pierce through, but you will be." Parker says, taking a couple steps back. Zander looks at him, confused to why he was retreating. "Well, you need your space to swing big fella, you got this."

Parker sticks a thumbs up as Zander turns back to the energy field. Parker takes out his phone and quietly begins to record. Zander jumps up and down a couple times and rotates his right shoulder. He takes a deep breath and cocks back his arm. His arm is covered in lightning from the shoulder down. He throws a powerful right jab, channeling the force of a thousand storms. He connects with the energy barrier, the boom shaking the ground above. Parker closes his eyes to protect from the explosion of light. He slowly opens his eyes and sees Zander on the ground grunting in pain. Parker hunches over in glee as he laughs at his brother.

Zander grunts in pain. "Was that supposed to happen?"

"Yes. And it was way better than I envisioned it." He sticks his hand out for Zander. He stands up, brushing dirt off his shoulders.

"Let's try this again." Zander walks over and takes out his bolt. He cracks his neck and places the edge of the bolt against the barrier. He starts to push against it, causing the temple to shake violently. Zander pushes with even more strength as the barrier begins to dissolve. Parker steps closer, admiring the pure energy coming off of Zander. A few moments later, the barrier is completely down and Parker takes a cautious step past the doorframe.