Odysseus ripped the spear from the boulder and swung it in a wild arc overhead, using its weight and leverage to land a strike.
*Thud*
"Don't you know that Athena is better suited to teaching spear techniques rather than sword ones? I may not be as adequate with a spear, but I certainly know how to use one. I just preferred to use a sword." Odysseus grinned as he watched her hair, which was braided over her shoulder, drop to the ground with a soft
He didn't question why Athena never got him a spear of his own.
…
From Zoe's point of view, Odysseus was still in shock from the use of her unnatural strength, all signs of disorientation remained. She had briefly thought he was a coward as he stumbled into the darkness.
She felt vindictive after he had surprisingly hit a few points too close to home for her. She glanced backwards at the Goddess's as if to say, 'Are we done yet?'
Yet they made no move. That was something that should have caught her attention like it had before, but her anger was only beginning to dissipate, her rage still plagued her mind.
The deep forest's shade covered the sun's rays as she squinted through the darkness.
*Thud*
Then came the loud bragging, almost as if he was screaming, she glanced downwards... And it was at this point a thought came to her mind.
'Yeah… I'm going to rip out his guts and use them as a necklace.'
...
The two figures burst outwards from the forest's edge.
Odysseus charging forth with continuous thrusts whilst Zoe defends against the onslaught.
"You are still at a disadvantage even with a new weapon, you face the same issue. You are too short." Zoe said as she blocked two strikes from the spear, her expression blank.
"You simply do not have the build yet, Boy." She spat as she saw an opening, shoulder barging him. Odysseus took a step back before she could make contact.
"You know it's actually pretty hard to know what you're saying when you are frantically parrying like that." Odysseus grinned, his words ringing true as he couldn't read her lips with her flailing arms.
"Shall we end this then? I can see the boredom of our goddesses. You could even see the outcome from their expressions." Zoe said, almost emotionlessly. Athena had a slight frown whilst Artemis wore a smirk.
"I don't want to disappoint Athena, nor do I want to let my friend's gift be held by another."
"That's the right mindset. Be willing to die for your goddess, boy." Zoe allowed a brief smile as she tucked her hair backwards, removing her hair clip and letting her bangs fall.
"This is known as Anaklusmos, a gift I had given to Hercules himself to help assist him with one of his many labours. He took my gift and promised to return for me. Instead he took the credit and left me alone. Now your end will be by this blade," she said simply as the hair clip transformed into a beautiful-looking sword. Odysseus was mesmerised by it, as if it was calling out to him.
She walked forwards, dodging a few strikes from Odysseus's spear with ease. Her temperament completely changing as she barely used any effort to avoid his attacks.
She raised Anaklusmos high and swung down harshly.
Odysseus focused on the descending weapon, grasping his spear with both hands to block with the metallic handle, his thoughts already in overdrive on how to counterattack.
Even a child could block such a strike.
He had no reason to think otherwise.
He could not see Athena covering her face in anguish at that moment.
As the sword came into contact, he angled his spear slightly downwards, ready to shift his hands.
But instead of a clang of metal or perhaps a quick show of sparks, something unusual happened.
The sword passed through.
It moved through his spear like mist, as if it didn't even exist.
Odysseus's eyes widened in shock.
Any further, it would split his skull in two.
There was no sound of a ticking clock. No time to react with any sort of plan.
Odysseus's fight-or-flight response kicked into overdrive as he forced himself backwards, desperate to avoid the blow.
And yet Zoe shifted once more, her weapon moving towards the ground as she began to lower her body as if in a crouch.
She sprang upwards, raising her leg into a rising heel kick.
Odysseus could not move a single muscle further, his body completely out of his control as gravity took hold of him.
The blow connected as she slammed her foot straight into his jaw, her strength almost breaking it right there and then.
*THUD...*
Although it may not have broken his jaw, it had certainly rattled his brain. Odysseus's brain shut off like a light switch as he went straight to the floor in a loud crash.
He was out cold.