Outlaw of the Myths - Chapter 21
As I descended the valley just as Python instructed, a roar exploded from far off in the distance. The clamor of battle was ferocious. Even from afar, my heart pounded like a drum.
-Peleus, you'd better hurry.
-Yeah, no kidding. By the time we get there, King Atreus's head might already be rolling.
I did have ways to take on a man-eating giant. With Zeus's divinity, I could manifest tremendous defensive power—at least enough to briefly withstand Artemis's might.
"Hm?"
As I sprinted along, I suddenly sensed a shift in the air. The cheers and screams had cut off abruptly.
-Everyone dead?
I shook my head at the Secret Book's question.
-No, I can feel presences. And this inexplicable tension hanging in the air—like they're locked in a standoff.
I drew my sword and advanced. Only then did the scene come into view.
"Holy shit..."
A giant at least five meters tall glared at me under the bright full moon. Had it been waiting for me to arrive? Corpses of soldiers littered the ground, and a middle-aged man who looked like King Atreus struggled desperately to rise, blood streaming from his wounds.
But that wasn't the most shocking part. The reason this man-eater fixed me with such a feral, chilling stare was because I recognized him. It was the giant who'd taken a beating from Heracles and fled.
Why the hell was he here?
I was stunned, but it made sense on second thought. The forest where Heracles and the giant had brawled wasn't far from here. This whole area must have been his turf from the start.
"Who the fuck are you? Come to challenge this body like Zeus's descendants?!"
The giant thumped his chest and bellowed with bombastic bravado. His appearance was hideous, but his confident swagger rivaled any hero's.
The Mycenaean soldiers around us all turned to stare. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Agamemnon, drenched in blood.
-Talk about shitty timing.
-Peleus, don't you love the spotlight? Show 'em what you got.
I'd assumed Mycenae had the upper hand with both King Atreus and Agamemnon—Zeus's bloodline—in one place, so I'd come running like an eager opportunist. As Python put it, to grab a spoon in the feast. But apparently, I was the relief pitcher now. I could feel everyone's expectations piling on.
Fallen Agamemnon gazed at me with fervent eyes, as if pleading, 'Lord Peleus! Please slay the giant!'
Damn it. If I could, I'd shoot back with my eyes: Who the hell is that? I don't know him. And I'm outta here.
"You should introduce yourself before asking others, giant! What's your name?!"
Whatever my inner turmoil, a stern rebuke burst from my lips. Guess I'm the type whose facade never cracks. I wanted to bolt for my life, but I knew that wasn't an option here, so I puffed up my chest and bluffed like a pro.
"Ooh!"
Agamemnon let out an admiring gasp from the ground. He looked relieved, like victory was assured now that I was here.
"Kuhahaha! What a fun little shit. Fine! No reason to hide it. This body is Thematos, descendant of Menoetius!"
Menoetius? One of the Titans whose name echoed through history. A brute once dubbed an outlaw for his immense might, until Zeus struck him down with a thunderbolt.
-Peleus, Menoetius was one of Prometheus's brothers—the one who brought fire to you humans.
-Not your average bloodline, then. A scion of a pretty famous Titan. Explains the strength.
His ancient Titan blood seemed diluted to near-transparency, but even that was enough to overwhelm earthly heroes.
-Suddenly missing Heracles like crazy. That bastard took a hell of a beating back then. Shocked the shit out of me seeing that scary fucker run away crying.
But sadly, I wasn't Heracles.
"I'm Peleus, under the aegis of Mycenae's royal house!"
"Good! Peleus! This body doesn't usually bother remembering lunch's name, but I'll make an exception. Tasty meals linger in the mind!"
What a silver-tongued ogre. I couldn't hide my rising fury and made a snap decision.
-That fucker's getting human-sacrificed for sure!
The Secret Book perked up at the words.
-Oho! Finally offering your first tribute? Can't wait, Peleus!
A human-eating giant didn't faze it for sacrifice. And after that lunchbox crack? No way I was letting it slide. The book gaped its inky maw, belching ominous black smoke like it was savoring the thought.
"Alright! Let's go!"
Clad in royal armor, wielding a royal blade, I charged. Thematos lumbered forward to meet me. A head-on collision loomed.
"Kyahahaha! Got some guts!"
But I had no intention of smashing into that truck headfirst. Charge in on impulse, and I'd end up rocketing skyward like a home run in front of everyone.
"Raaah!"
I bellowed as if attacking, then slid under his legs in a baseball dive.
Thud!
I narrowly dodged his descending club.
"You rat bastard!"
Slipping between his legs, I didn't bother slashing wildly—Heracles had shown me blades did jack shit to this monster. So why the acrobatics? Simple: to piss him off.
"Lord Agamemnon! I'll handle him! Get out while you can!"
"I can't do that! How could I abandon you, Lord Peleus?!"
Sweet sentiment, but he'd just get in the way. My only sure kill was Artemis's arrow, but using it in front of witnesses would spell disaster. Word would spread, and Artemis would instantly know who'd meddled in her hunt.
"Who said you get to decide?!"
The giant pointed at the fallen king. "Everyone bleeding out here is this body's property! My dinner! Losers don't leave!"
His mad rant froze everyone in place. This was bad. Time for a pivot: me running would be way more effective.
-After that grand entrance, you're just gonna bail?
-Idiot. Not bailing—luring him away. Basic logic. If allies can't escape, remove the threat.
The Secret Book was skeptical of my call.
-Think that'll work? Giant's smarter than he looks.
True enough—as I feinted a retreat, Thematos reacted instantly.
"Peleus! Run, and I won't chase. You're not defeated yet—not mine! But know this: turn tail now, and you'll be a coward forever!"
Damn, impressed by the giant's cunning. He'd sniffed out my ploy and countered preemptively. Running was cowardice, and he drew a line: no pursuit. Mockery filled his eyes, as if he'd seen through my little brain entirely.
"Kyahahaha! Outta the way!"
He swung his club, sending Atreus's guards flying, then stomped down on the king. Atreus stabbed futilely at the foot, to no avail. Thematos upped the ante with a gesture: mess around, and he dies.
"Peleus! A real man wields steel, not schemes! You emulating that coward Odysseus?!"
Irrefutable. I was floundering, fully in his rhythm. This guy was no joke—blocking my lure, shredding my pride to trap me. Who said giants were dumb? Sly as a fox.
-Peleus, you'll lose on muscle and wits at this rate.
-No shit.
Underestimating him was a mistake. Beyond invincible strength, he had eloquence and judgment to dominate the board. Humans stood no chance. But I had an ace: knowledge from experience.
This sly bastard had once fucked up big-time out of greed—stealing Heracles's jewel. Now that I owned it, his desperation made sense.
-He knows the jewel's worth. Risked death by Heracles for it.
-How'll he react seeing it now?
-Oh, nice one, Peleus. Eyes'll pop, and he'll charge blind.
He'd tried snatching it from Heracles. No way he'd resist if he thought I had it—easy pickings.
-But Agamemnon can't know about the jewel.
-Easy fix. Flash it back-turned.
With a new plan, I shouted to Agamemnon.
"I'll lure the giant!"
"Impossible!"
He'd clocked the giant towering over us too.
"Don't worry! I'll use a spell in my homeland tongue! He will follow!"
Thematos overheard and roared with laughter.
"What?! Kyahahaha! Prove it! Does this Thematos look dumb enough for your obvious tricks?!"
The "spell" excuse was cover for Agamemnon—bait to hide the jewel ploy. But how to fake the magic? Then I spotted the giant's bald dome, gleaming like a lightbulb. Pathetic follicles. An old Earth ditty popped into my head.
"Thematos! Let's see if you stay quiet after this!"
"Hilarious! Blades can't touch this body! Think your puny tongue can?!"
Oh, it can. I bellowed the forbidden chant.
"Baldy baldy shiny dome slick and bald! (Korean)!"
No one here understood Korean. But in that instant, a universal empathy transcended language, heavy silence falling like magic. Their thoughts echoed in my mind:
[Something crossed a line.]
[A curse in a foreign tongue you mustn't speak.]
[Dunno the words, but worse than cursing parents.]
[Spell, huh? Mystic power indeed. Not even aimed at me, but I'm furious. Wait—is it my hair? My scalp's red already?]
Whether they truly thought that, one thing was clear: Thematos's face hardened, paling despite ignorance of the words. He instinctively rubbed his barren scalp.
"What... did you just say?"
Thud!
The giant who'd scoffed at my lure took a heavy step toward me.
Now! I couldn't waste this. Shielding from Agamemnon's view, I flashed Heracles's jewel.
"Catch me, and I'll tell you. This too."
"That—!"
His grotesque eyes bulged. Veins throbbed visibly under the moonlight.
"How... do you have that...?!"
No need to answer. I snatched a nearby bow and bolted at full sprint. Worried he might not follow? Unfounded.
Crack! Boom!
Trees snapped behind me in a frenzy. Glancing back, debris and leaves exploded skyward like a storm. The colossus bulldozed the forest in pursuit.
"Peleus! You're dead! I'll rip your limbs off and eat 'em one by one!"
His curse reverberated through the woods. From smug to berserk, the Secret Book marveled.
-Incredible. What did you say?
-...A secret till death.
It cooed in pure awe.
-What sorcery! Robbing a Titan's heir of reason. Teach me sometime?
-Better not. You'd piss off every bald god on Olympus.