They all hiss in response and lunge at him!
He blocks her upcoming attack and says, "I'm being serious!"
There was no doubt that earlier he was filled with bitterness and resentment but now his eyes reflect mischief and could it be excitement?
<
Perseus doesn't attempt to pick up his abandoned sword again and instead continues to defend against Juno's attacks.
Until he decides to use his overwhelming brute strength to push her a few feet away from him.
Juno struggles to catch her breath.
//It's no use... I can't break through!//
"I'll make you a deal."
She freezes, "What, what is that supposed to mean?"
<
"If you can defeat me in this fight, not only will I let you go but I'll tell you everything I can."
"Wh-what's with this sudden change?!" she asks with obvious doubt.
"Do I need a reason?"
<
He ignores that remark, "After spending so much time burning in 'hell', only thinking about revenge, I've forgotten something I truly enjoyed doing."
//Huh?//
He wipes off some of the dust on him, "Before I became a God, when I was just a half-immortal, I used to spar a lot."
That is not what she was expecting to hear. Seems like the snakes also feel the same.
"Fighting you reminded me of those simple times. I haven't fought one on one with anyone else in... Regardless, thanks for the reminder, Juno. Believe me or not, I intend to keep my word."
"And... if I can't beat you?"
He smiles, "Then you will come with me, of course."
He rushes straight towards to where she's standing and attacks once again with brute force.
A mad, fallen god fighting with killing intent is nowhere near as bad as a man fighting with joy in his eyes.
Even with Medusa's Blessing on her side, she's starting to feel the strain. And because of that one of his fists lands on her stomach!
<
The force is too great and she falls to her knees, coughing out blood.
She lifts her head up and notices much to her despair, that he's practically unscathed! Other than his appearance being a mess, the most severe wounds they caused, have already closed up!
//Immortals have the power to heal this fast?//
Great.
He looks down at her with a complicated gaze, "With some practice, you could be good. You won't even need those parasites that grew on your head."
<
Hearing the snake's reaction he laughs bitterly, "I'll admit, I'm very bad but all you other Immortals, or should I call 'Gods', are worse! You all think you're so high and mighty! But you're no better than any other mortal. When I first heard of this so-called blessing, I laughed! What help could Medusa's scraps possibly offer."
<
"Is that so?"
Juno swiftly picks herself back up and wipes off the blood on her mouth with a frown.
"Don't let those parasites clog your mind, defeat me by your own will."
Juno ignores the pain and the confusion.
It doesn't matter.
All that matters is that she has to win this fight, she has to save her friend.
With those thoughts on her mind, Juno and the Immortal Snakes move faster than ever before to end this fight once and for all.
But even though their attacks have gotten sharper, they are still at a disadvantage.
Since their state of being, is currently a mess.
Perseus annoyingly dodges most of her fierce blows and remains unbothered by the bites from the Immortal Snakes.
He's still on the defense.
He blocks Juno's fist that was aiming directly at his chest and sighs, "I think it's time to end this. Do you admit defeat?"
<"Never!"> They all hiss out simultaneously.
Juno quickly tries to take back her hand but he's not only blocking her attack, he isn't allowing her to take it back! He has a firm grip on her fist, keeping her in place.
Unable to free herself she attempts to strike him on his neck with her other free hand but he also blocks it in the same way!
A standstill.
He blocks, they continue to push forward!
There's no going back.
Twelve voices chant, <<<<<
"Don't you know... you can't kill someone who's already dead."
Juno ignores his words, she ignores everything in this moment.
She only wants to win.
Even if all the odds are against her, she still wants to live!
"Juno stop being foolish, you must end this fight now or everyone you love will die."
Everyone will die.
She doesn't waver, in fact she does the opposite.
Screaming her lungs out, screaming to drown out his words, it was the push she needed.
"I won't let you win! Not after ruining my life!"
Two things happen after she says that.
Perseus stops defending.
He let's go.
She couldn't stop it, even if she wanted to.
It was too late.
It was too late!
It was going to happen!
Her fist targeting his chest…
It hits!
It hits too well.
It makes sense after all.
Juno gave this attack everything she had, it was a strike meant to end the fight.
But was it meant to kill?
This strike didn't just land its mark but went beyond that.
Juno's arm ends up going completely through his chest.
Like nothing!