Chapter 5: Ice Cold Stare

  The blue magic barrier around the doors to Olympus disappears.

  Melody: Thought there'd be a puzzle there for a second.

  Al: Heh.

  Melody: You laugh?

  Al: Look at the inscription atop the doors. “May no Demon enter this city.” Perhaps, we have run out of fortune.

  Melody: Maybe they didn't account for half Demons.

  Al: … You are only half Demon?

  Melody: Yeah. All Succubi are... You didn't know that?

  Al: No book I've read holds such knowledge.

  Melody: Heh! I knew something you didn't.

  Al: No man knows all. Not even the fabled Mimir.

  Melody: Who's that bloke?

  Al: Tales speak of a traveler, smarter than any living or dead mortal, named Mimir. Some say Mimir assisted Zeus to find those worthy of power. However, no evidence suggests that Mimir truly exists. Perhaps, he represents mankind's lust for knowledge?

  Melody: Huh... Anyway, let's get on with it.

  As they approach the doors, they automatically open in front of them. As the dust from the doors clears, the view of a massive, Greek-looking city, that was destroyed long ago, makes itself clear. There's a giant crater in the center of the city and a lake leading to a waterfall on the right side of the city.

  Melody: Whoa! That Angel did all this?

  Al: I must admit, the tales do not share the true size of Olympus and its destruction. The sheer power Thanatos must have used during the Seven Hour War is rather staggering.

  Melody: Seven Hour War?

  Al: Indeed. With all the wisdom in battle of Ares and Athena, and all the power the many heroes shared, they could only last a mere seven hours... If tales are true, that lake is where Poseidon was killed. It is said that there was flooding across the continent following his death.

  Melody: And yet, the water still falls.

  Al: Yes... That would be Dracula's castle.

  Beyond the city, there rests a grand castle on the edge of the mountain. There appears to be a large balcony high up on the castle's main tower.

  Melody: Time to get through some rubble.

  They start climbing, crawling, and walking through the city.

  Melody: Whatever happened to that Zeus and his power?

  Al: Zeus gave his power to Jacqueline JoeStar, the first and the highest mage on the planet Monsoon. After that, Zeus lived as any other man. Pandora's box rests on a pillar at the end of the last trail in the city, unless Dracula has set his eyes upon it.

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  Melody: Wait. All those mages over there come from Zeus?

  Al: Indeed. Jacqueline could not contain all the knowledge of magic she held. Thus, she made book after book on the subject until all she knew was on paper. To this day, many try and fail to understand the extent of the grand library in Red Stone city.

  Melody: Maybe you could be the one to do it.

  Al: If I knew a way to the planet, I would give it a fine chance...

  Melody: You seemed to have some skill before I got here.

  Al: Mother took me hunting as a child. As an adult, I rented swords and brought back Demons.

  Melody: I think that's the shortest story yet.

  Al: It has been refined. There have been brutes interested in the source of my power. I'm sure some of my resilience comes from my father as well.

  They come across the lake that sprung from Poseidon's body.

  Melody: Hold on a sec... What's that down there?

  There's a shiny object sticking up from the bottom of the lake.

  Al: I suspect it to be Poseidon's trident. Perhaps he was impaled by it during the battle.

  Melody: That oughta fetch a pretty penny... Hold these.

  Melody gives Alucard her weapons.

  Al: Surely, you will not attempt to obtain it?

  Melody: Don't call me “Shirley.”

  Melody jumps into the lake, swims to the bottom, and takes the trident. She then swims back out, drenched with water.

  Melody: Got It!

  Al: Your clothes are quite wet again...

  Melody: Should I take them back off?

  Al: As amusing as that may be, I have no blanket up here. You may have to receive a cold.

  Melody: I'll get through it.

  Alucard gives Melody's weapons back and the waterfall's roar dies down some.

  Melody: Would you look at that? This thing must've kept some of the bloke's power. We should try it out before selling it.

  Al: It is made to be thrown and received. Far away opponents and those with flame-related abilities would be weakest against it.

  Melody: Good to know.

  They continue on their way.

  Melody: I just realized how cold it is up here. Haven't got any fire magic, would you?

  Al: I have a spark.

  Alucard puts his left arm around Melody and she puts her right arm around him.

  Melody: Feeling warmer already.

  Al: As am I.

  Their path through the city ends with a round plaza, above any other structure, with a set of stairs at its back. There's a large crack through the center of the plaza. They stand at the railing and look back on the city.

  Melody: Almost there. Getting hyped?

  Al: I am certainly more excited than before.

  ? Oh! How sssweet! I almossst hate having to kill the two of you.

  A naked snake woman with snakes for hair makes herself present as they ready their weapons. Alucard keeps his eyes away from the hers.

  Al: Melody! Whatever you do, keep your eyes off of Medusa's gaze.

  Melody: I'll just check out her chest then!

  Medusa: SSSmart boy. But, I'm just a bit sssmarter.

  Medusa attacks Melody with her snakes as she forcefully takes away and throws Alucard's weapons. Melody shoots and stabs some of the snakes. Medusa then quickly turns around and constricts her tail around Alucard. She grabs Melody by the head and forces her eyes open, so that their gaze may meet. Melody then quickly turns to stone.

  Al: NO!!!

  Alucard burns with a red magic and gets the tail off of himself. Medusa turns around and tries to meet his gaze, but it remains centered on her neck.

  Medusa: What kind of power iss thiss?

  Alucard grabs Medusa's head and bangs it against the ground a few times. He then pins her tail down with his foot as he pulls hard on her head.

  Medusa: W-Wait! I Can Help You Kill Dracula!... You want my body? You Can Use It! As Much As You Want! Jussst Don't-

  Alucard rips off the head of Medusa and lets it fall to the ground as the red energy leaves him. He then looks at Melody.

  Al: You... You were a great hunter.

  A tear rolls down from his left eye as the familiar sound of hitting metal fills the air. He turns around to find the blacksmith from before with his shop to the left of the stairs.

  Sindri: Hey there, guys. Oh! Er, guy.

  Al: Dwarf! Is there a way to cure petrification?

  Sindri: Well, I've been looking into what I could make with Demon parts, and I might be able to help you. I just need three things. First, the head of Medusa.

  Alucard puts Medusa's head on the table.

  Sindri: Alright. Next one may be a bit tougher. I need the head of the Reaper.

  Alucard puts the Reaper's skull on the table.

  Sindri: Wow... You've been busy. I don't suppose you have the heart of a Griffin on you? If not, there's one right up those stairs.

  Al: Hmm... I shall return shortly.