CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

Predator, Part 2

“How did you—”

“We have known about the relic for a long time, but the secret to finding it was uncovered only recently,” Apex stated matter-of-factly.

“That…that’s impossible!” Jackboot protested. His gaze drifted to Sam. “There’s no other record of the clue’s existence except for the one we know about.”

But what if there were? Sam thought.

This was the only conclusion he could draw from Apex’s words, and if there wasn’t then—Sam glanced sideways at his companions.

No, we don’t have spies in this group, he reasoned. There’s no motive...

Thunder wasn’t likely to sabotage the very quest meant to save her and Farsight wasn’t likely to be in league with anyone connected to her sisters’ murderer. As for Jackboot, sure they’d just met him, but he didn’t even know about the Golden Fleece until Sam had brought it up. Also, Sam had established a genuine [BOND] with this new hero, and that had to count for something.

I can trust these people…we’re a team now. As conviction filled Sam’s thoughts, he concluded that there was no leak, which meant Apex had other sources. Other allies. That meant one thing. “You’re working for Chimera, aren’t you?”

Surprise flitted across Apex’s face. Although it was quickly replaced by sudden understanding. “The Trickster always was too loose with his tongue.”

No, this secret hadn’t come from the Trickster’s lips, but Sam wasn’t about to admit that the Wardens were looking into the dealings of a secret organization of villains hiding in the shadows. He didn’t want to get Bethany in trouble. Besides, Chiron had figured out their existence as well.

“How did your organization of evildoers learn about this location?” Farsight asked while she pulled her bow out. “You didn’t get it from any of us. We’re all allergic to acts of villainy.”

Sam couldn’t help but feel relieved that Farsight believed that everyone was innocent too. It was the master’s twelfth lesson; Trust in yourself and in those fools you choose to surround yourself with until the moment that they prove unworthy of your faith in them.

“There are no secrets that cannot be uncovered by the eyes of shadows that stretch across the length and breadth of the world.” As Apex took a single step forward, the ground beneath his foot cracked in protest. “And now comes the test for you heroes,” He bared fanged teeth at Sam and his friends. “Show me you deserve to be my opponents in this struggle for the fleece… Show me you are fit to survive.”

There was a ‘snikt’ that accompanied the claws that popped out of the tips of Apex’s fingers. Then the villain pounced on them like a lion about to gut a herd of gazelle. Perhaps Apex was self-assured in his vaunted strength. He had a right to be. He was a villain on par with America’s top heroes, after all. However, these new heroes he thought were sheep had fangs of their own, and they were eager to meet his charge.

“Herculean!” Sam bellowed.

[Herculean (Δ)] is now active. Based on probability and threat assessment calculations, your current strength is temporarily quadrupled [232].

It was quite the indicator that even the system recognized Apex was such a threat that it was willing to give Sam the very rare quadruple boost of power.

WARNING! Your body is still learning to adapt to this power. You will accumulate damage while it is active.

You’re not a match for his strength, kid, Chiron warned. Go for lesson number thirty-seven instead.

“I know,” Sam said through gritted teeth. “Use my opponent’s momentum against him—”

Barely a moment had passed when both combatants reached the other. But just as Apex launched a clawed hand at Sam—one intended to skewer him in the throat—he just barely managed to duck out of its way. Then he zipped underneath Apex’s body and hooked his arms around the bigger man’s trunk-like legs.

“—and catch him off balance!” Sam recited his master’s teachings.

With an almighty heave, Sam swept Apex’s legs to the right in what was essentially a super-powered double leg takedown.

It was a perfect execution that was instantly reversed by someone who had way more experience in brawls than Sam did. Apex broke Sam’s grapple by shifting his legs back at the last second. Then he forced his massive bulk on Sam’s back, pushing them both down into a sprawl that put the villain in an advantageous position.

Get out from under him, kid! Chiron ordered.

But it was too late. Sam felt himself get lifted by his waist, up past Apex’s head where he was left hanging in the air in what Sam quickly realized was the setup for a suplex powerbomb.

He’s about to take you for a ride, lame-brain! Chiron warned. Break out of his grasp already!

That was easier said than done. Apex’s arms were as hard as steel and twice as strong. Luckily for Sam, he wasn’t fighting this battle alone.

“I’d appreciate it if you let my friend go now”—Jackboot jumped into view—“and we can go our way and you go—”

Sam was tossed around like a rag doll, his body turned into a shield against Jackboot’s incoming heel kick.

“Styx—argh!” Sam yelped.

Their bodies collided in midair, and then Sam and Jackboot were crashing hard onto the cement ground moments later.

“Yow,” Sam grunted. It was a sentiment Jackboot mirrored with, “Bloody Duat…”

Despite the pain and grogginess brought about by their crash, Sam still managed to hear Farsight’s comment of, “Idiots,” as she passed them by.

Get up, lame-brain, Chiron ordered. Don’t let the ladies show you up…again!

It took some effort, but Sam staggered to his feet eventually. Regeneration had helped a lot to keep him standing though.

ALERT! Please wait while [Regeneration (ζ)] works to heal your head trauma.

Can’t, Sam thought. I can’t give Ashley more reasons to make fun of me…

As for the teenage seer in the form-fitting black infiltration suit and the red hood capelet, she was doing remarkably well against Apex despite him being more than twice her size. Farsight twirled out of the way of his claw swipes like a ballerina dancing across a stage while firing arrows at him from very close range. Very few of Farsight’s arrows stuck, however, as all but two—the ones that stabbed into each of his feet—were repelled by the thick lion’s fur draped over his shoulders.

Sam, who couldn’t find an opportunity to join this deadly dance, watched in frustration as arrow after arrow broke against the lion’s fur. “That’s a relic, isn’t it?”

It’s the indestructible Nemean Lion’s Fur… Herc gave it to me for safe-keeping before he died…but I passed it to his descendants after a few millennia, Chiron grumbled. Should have waited for someone more deserving but the damn thing was just collecting dust in my closet.

Here was another one of Hercules’ famous relics, which like his bow carried powers that made even the gods envious. The Nemean Lion’s Fur—which was named after the horror that became the first of Hercules’ twelve labors—now protected Apex from all physical attacks—but perhaps not against the elements.

Sam smelled ozone. He tasted the static in the air.

“Styx,” he sighed. “She shouldn’t—”

A bright blue bolt of thick elemental energy cut across the sky on its way to the ground, and the scenery around Sam went white. A half-second later and he felt the shockwave from Thunder’s [Thunderstrike (α)] nearly blow him off his feet, but Sam just barely managed to plant himself on the ground because he’d expected this powerful area-of-effect attack. When the dust settled moments later, Sam was once again witnessed to the unbridled power of the woman who constantly made his heart skip a bit.

Apex had been obliterated. There was nothing left of him save for the white puddle on the ground where the villain had stood. It shone brightly in stark contrast to the scorched earth it lay on.

“Sam…” Thunder called, her voice weak.

He arrived at her side just in time to catch Thunder as her legs gave out on her.

“Hey, hey,” he searched her face and noticed how pale she’d gotten from that single attack. “You did it. You nuked him to kingdom come.”

Sam wiped at the sweat coating Thunder’s brow with the handkerchief he’d pulled out of his utility belt.

Despite the obvious strain on her, Thunder shook her head. “The real Apex wouldn’t have died from just that…”

“What do you—”

“It’s candle wax,” Farsight answered.

She was kneeling beside the white puddle with her fingers dipping into it. Jackboot stood on guard behind her like he was expecting Apex to spring back to life from that white goo on the ground.

“We were fighting a copy,” she reported.

“How could a fake be so powerful or feel so life-like?” Jackboot asked.

“There’s a villain...called the Candlemaker...” Thunder spoke in a voice that was barely a whisper. “He can make copies…of others with…candle wax... Copies that can…wield…a fraction of the original’s…power...”

“Explains how hard he hit,” Jackboot replied. “But not that fur cape—”

Whatever Jackboot was about to say was lost in the sound of another alarm suddenly coming to life. An alarm that originated from somewhere other than the main building they were currently in.

“You don’t think...” he began, but Thunder finished the thought with, “This copy was a distraction... Apex is…after the Liberty Bell...”