Chapter 3: The First Battle with Typhon

“But when Zeus had driven the Titans from heaven, huge Earth bore her youngest child Typhoeus of the love of Tartarus ... Strength was with his hands in all that he did and the feet of the strong god were untiring. From his shoulders grew a hundred heads of a snake, a fearful dragon, with dark, flickering tongues, and from under the brows of his eyes in his marvellous heads flashed fire, and fire burned from his heads as he glared.”Hesiod, The Theogony (730-700 BCE)

Speed was not a gift bestowed to Cratus. Strength and durability were his areas of expertise. Nonetheless, he had wanted to be the protector of Zeus, and he would not be one to shirk in his duty.

That does not make what he had to do next any easier.

At a full sprint, he ran for his king’s palace.

When he burst through the door, Zeus was in mid conversation with Metis.

“Metis, you are important to me,” Zeus said, imploring.

“Then act like it! My voice needs to matter!”

“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty,” Cratus said, dropping to one knee in front of the two. While it had been assumed that Metis would be Zeus’ queen, Zeus was king. There was no question about him or his position on Olympus. As such, Cratus would always give more respect to his leader.

“What is it, Cratus?” Zeus said, annoyed.

Metis seemed to match the king’s irritation until she saw the concern on Cratus’ face.

“The ground quake, Your Highness,” the protector started.

“Was likely Poseidon dealing with Oceanus. Things in the sea will calm down. They usually do,” Zeus said dismissively.

“That is not all, Highness,” Cratus added quickly. “It seems to have awakened a monster, and they are heading right toward us.”

Metis and Zeus jumped into action. Metis held out her right hand and the Aegis shield materialized into her hand. For Zeus, he held up his right hand and his master lightning bolt erupted from the cloud to his grasp. In his left, the magical gift fist appeared.

“Show us the way!” Metis commanded

Cratus did not have to take them far to see the very force of nature that was coming. Tornadoes rocked the land in the wake of a monumental creature approached Olympus. A mighty roar shook the mountain home of the gods.

Zeus grimaced. “Gather the gods. We ready for battle!”

“Wait!” Metis shouted. “I think I see ... Is that Poseidon?”

The three gods stared out to see the second son of Cronos summon a deluge to capture this new creature’s attention. Atop a swirling pillar of seawater, there was Poseidon.

They all knew Poseidon was not one to back away from a battle. Cratus turned from Zeus to Metis. “What are our orders?”

Zeus looked to Metis, ensuring that he made the right decision. Metis quickly nodded. “Ready the other gods. Get Hestia and Demeter here, immediately, and... kindly bring Prometheus.”

Zeus’ warning about Prometheus was understood by Cratus. While the god of strength had been chastised after his elevation to Zeus’ protector, Cratus had become Zeus’ protector. All of Olympus and its occupants knew who he was, and he and his siblings had been given great honors for that. He would be apologetic to Zeus, but only to Zeus.

In Cratus’ heart and mind, he did what was necessary.

“Yes, my king!” Cratus said, running off.

When Cratus was far enough away, Zeus marveled at the creature. “Why is Poseidon fighting the creature alone?”

At first, Metis had no answer. After a moment, she looked at the monstrous creature’s form. “The gails! They must be doing something to Poseidon’s territory.”

“His precious ocean,” Zeus muttered. “So he goes in headfirst without help?”

“You’re one to talk,” Metis chided. “If it were you, you might have done the same.”

Zeus let out a laugh. “I might at that,” he conceded.

The appearance of the monster made Zeus forget all about his worries. There was no disagreement with Metis that was worth the loss of Olympus. Truthfully, deep down, he loved his advisor. It was just the prophecy of the Fates and the prediction of Gaia’s that had him worried.

“Should we help him?” Zeus added, wondering.

“Wait ... We don’t know what this monster could do. Let us see what Poseidon accomplishes before we charge head first into this,” Metis answered tactically.

While Zeus was a courageous warrior, he knew when to listen to sense and when to listen to his instincts. Metis was loyal to him, and she was trying, always trying, to preserve his rule. He knew that much of her, no matter what else he knew.

He nodded. “Very well. But until then?”

“We observe, and we get the others to ready themselves,” she said cautiously. She paused, looking him over. “Is there any chance we would ask Hades for help?”

The look of furious indignation Zeus gave her was answer enough.

“Aha! Giant Creature!” Poseidon called out after the immensity above ignored him.

“Why do you challenge me, godling?” the monster called back. “I have no quarrel with you. Only Olympus for shaking my mountain home.”

“I am Poseidon,” the second son of Cronos declared. “I am called ‘Earth Shaker’. While I have no problem with someone wanting to fight my bolt-head of a brother, surely, I was the one to cause offense.”

The monster stared in utter bewilderment at the statement. Little did Typhon understand that he met with Poseidon. The Lord of the Oceans was fun-loving bravado personified. The sea god did not need an excuse to have an adventure, but when he had one, he would take it. Further, by having an adventure that saved Zeus’ hide, the undisputed lord of the cosmos would owe Poseidon a favor, which was always nice to have when one lived forever.

“Your winds are damaging the wildlife in the oceans and disrupting the flow of my rivers,” Poseidon announced. “I cannot abide such disrespect.”

“I am Typhon, born of the Earth and the Underworld,” the monster cried back. “You will abide me.”

Poseidon let out a great laugh and hurled his Trident at the creature. This was a blow that might have subdued Atlas at the height of the Great War. This supposed Typhon was blown back. The weapon was locked into his chest, and reddish gold ichor seeped from the monster wound, confirming that he was of the divine.

“This is the destiny of those that oppose the King of the Seas,” Poseidon laughed out. He let out another burst of laughter with his fists on his hips

The newcomer struggled under the rubble of a small mountain. The gloriously powerful King of the Seas floated on his tower of water, staring down at his opposition. Somehow, Poseidon had hoped this would have been more of a fight. He had left his palace for this, and all because Pontus sensed some forces brewing on land that might decimate the sea. The sea Primordial would need to work on his sense of judgment in the future by Poseidon’s estimation.

Little did he understand that the monster was by no means bested.

When the body started to move, Poseidon held out his hand to summon his Trident back to his hand, but the weapon did not budge. The Sea King blanched at that turn of events as it had never happened before.

Drawing his sword, he realized that this immense being, at its full height could look upon him atop his wave of water.

Tendrils, reminiscent of those legs of Cetus’, burst out of the monster’s back. The Trident was still trying to be free, wiggling in the chest cavity of the beast. With one of those tendrils, the monster pulled the weapon free and brandished it.

Poseidon watched with wide eyes as this happened. Never before had such a being made his immortal weapon look and feel like such a toy. With his blade brandished, he readied himself. With the snake heads, flaming maw, and new octopus-like tendrils coming from the creature’s back, Poseidon realized all too soon that this fight would not end as quickly as he had hoped.

Typhon flung the Trident with more force than Poseidon had hurled it. The Sea King swiped the weapon away, but he did not know that was the monster’s stratagem. A second blow struck Poseidon from behind. When Poseidon fell off his water tower and crashed into the ground. With another tentacle, Typhon grabbed Poseidon by the ankle.

The god screamed, all sense of a fun adventure was long forgotten, as he was lifted overhead and slammed Poseidon against the rocky mountainside over and over. When Typhon relented to see his prey’s response, the waters rose up and a monstrous sea creature roared at Typhon.

Unafraid, Typhon marched forward and clashed with the two newcomers, unaware of Pontus’ true goal. A tube of water shot through with a dolphin in it. When it passed by Poseidon, the King of the Sea, lifted a hand, and the dolphin’s fin caught his hand. The rush grabbed the god and returned him to the watery domain.

Pontus was aware of the danger, and while battling Typhon, he sent another stream to collect the sword and Trident of Poseidon. Once the metal was in the sea, both the Primordial and Cetus withdrew from the dangerous newcomer.

Typhon laughed at his victory. The cowards and losers were nothing compared to him. He let out a cry to his triumph. He looked to the mountain of the gods and his home.

He exhaled. He might have the strength to defeat more oncomers, but Echidna was close to giving birth. With that, his choice was no choice at all. He turned from his sight after bellowing out a massive cry. The snakes on his body released fire, adding to the intensity of his call.

With his statement made, he turned away from Olympus and left.

Zeus and Metis had watched the battle in astonished bewilderment. This newcomer had overpowered Poseidon without so much as breathing heavy, and to add worry to their concern, they saw this creature battle Poseidon’s pet sea monster and Pontus.

Both reacted much the same way: complete shock.

They both thanked the Moirai when the beast turned back.

Later that very night, one after another, the gods met around Hyperion’s great flame.

Prometheus and Hestia were working on some kind of stone with metal entrappings on it.

“What is this?” Zeus asked.

Prometheus inhaled and grabbed Hyperion’s torch and touched Hyperion’s Flame. The entirety of the flame from the bowl that Hyperion had made. Upon the closest inspection from nearly one hundred feet away, it looked like stained glass. Hestia lifted the glass and put it in their new container of stone, gold, and silver.

“Hera,” Prometheus strained as the blue and yellow flame nearly licked his face. “Any time now!”

Hera seemed to appear out of nowhere as she breathed on the new container. Symbols around the stone glowed. Zeus tilted his head and say the letters read something akin to, “Η φλόξ αυτή να καίει για όλο τον Όλυμπο.”

(May this Flame/Flox Burn for All of Olympus)

Prometheus set the Flame back into the bowl and it burst with new life, but nothing of the glass or container were touched or consumed.

“Did it work?” Prometheus asked, looking at his near scalded hands.

Hestia reached in and a fragment of the flame jumped out and rested in her hand without harming her. “It did,” she said with a smile.

“What is this?” Zeus asked, motioning at the three.

“Welcome to the Hearth of Olympus,” Hestia remarked before putting the fire back. “It is something Prometheus and I have been working on. When the Titans were here, the Flame was Hyperion’s little corner of the realm. I think it can be a place for us all to gather, and warm ourselves, share stories, and just be, Zeus. What do you think?”

Zeus stared in wonder at it. “And the container?” He asked, never taking his eyes off of the fire.

“It can dilute the flame if you know how like Prometheus, Hera, and myself. To any other that reaches inside, the fire will consume them as it consumes all things.”

“How does that work?” Zeus inquired.

“Think of it like this. The Great Flame is wine. But ... the air around our hands is water. Pour enough water into wine, and you won’t get drunk.”

“Brilliant,” Zeus said, running his hands over where the inscription had been. “You all have done amazing work.”

Metis cleared her throat to help the King of Olympus.

“Right ... Sorry!” Zeus said, standing up straight. “Where is Cratus? Demeter?”

“We’re here, little brother,” Demeter announced with a coldness that warned Zeus that she was not be bothered.

Zeus knew that Demeter’s upset nature was somewhat warranted. Hera was given a position on Olympus in recognition for her power with magic. Hestia found her own way with her love of the Flame of Olympus. Demeter had been ignored despite her own contributions during the Great War.

Zeus knew that he would need to do something to help placate her at some point. With how quickly things could come up, it would do him no good to risk the anger of a goddess that controlled the weather.

Cratus stood, looking a little chastised. Zeus probably should have warned him of the temperamental nature of his elder sister.

With the assembly gathered, Zeus quickly recounted the events of the battle between Poseidon and this new creature.

“What do we know of this beast?” Prometheus wondered.

Metis raised a hand. “His name is Typhon and he claims to be of Tartarus,” she said. She held back the half where Typhon also claimed to be of the earth. She had some theories on that front.

“But what does that mean?” Hestia asked.

“I can’t be sure,” Metis answered with crossed arms. “But I think we have time to find out. He must either need to rest or he only wants to challenge us one at a time. If either is the case, that gives us time to prepare ourselves for battle.”

“You’re thinking of something though,” Prometheus pointed out. “I have seen that face on you before.”

“I want to go to the Underworld and look into it. Maybe Hades knows something.”

“Maybe Hades might help,” Hera supplied. The Mage of Olympus realized all too late that her suggestion was unwelcome by Zeus’ lightning temper.

“We will not be going to my brother. Olympus and the realm below is my domain, not his!”

“Why not follow the creature back to his lair and battle him there?” Demeter wondered with clinical curiosity.

Metis had her answer ready, but much to her gratitude, it was Prometheus answered. “I do not think that course would serve us. If he could defeat Poseidon handily as well as Pontus and Cetus ... I do not think trying to attack him in his own domicile would be to our advantage.”

“And why not?” Demeter asked, huffy.

“If you were attacked in your sleep, would you be weaker and more gentle or pissed off that someone came into your home and bothered you in your bed?” Prometheus challenged.

With a shrugging hand, Demeter relented. “I see your point.”

“Then tomorrow, we will strike the beast when he makes his way to Olympus,” Zeus declared.

“If you would, my king,” Cratus said, stepping forward. “Allow me and my siblings to battle the beast first.”

“Why?” Demeter wondered suspiciously.

“You are all battle hardened warriors,” Cratus said. “You all have minds for strategy as well as power. My siblings and are are fighters, but we would not serve you well in an organized battle. But if you ruling gods see what this Typhon can do while we battle him, then perhaps you can spot a weakness.”

“It is tactical,” Prometheus observed begrudgingly. “Are you and your siblings up for it?”

“You know firsthand what we are capable of,” Cratus answered smoothly.

Prometheus stared scornfully at the strong god. “Let them go,” he said. In his mind, he thought, Either he dies and I get a good laugh before this monster kills us all, he wins, or we learn something valuable.

Like that, the gods dispersed to prepare themselves for a battle against a monster unlike anything they had ever seen.

Typhon marched his colossal, staggering one hundred feet form to his home. After his victory over the sea god, Typhon felt invincible, and as such, he was radiating a primal power of unstoppable might. Serpents writhed around his waist, his dragonic wings spread wide, and octopus-like tendrils lashed out from his lower back, trailing behind him like sinister appendages.

Resting within the depths of their home of mountain range, Echidna waited for the return of her mate. In their cavernous lair, if one could see the dimly lit form of the Mother of All Monsters, they would see that her lower body was like a massive serpent while her upper body retained a humanoid form, albeit with features reminiscent of a spider. Her face had two eyes on the front of her face with multiple more on the side and back of her head accompanied by mandibles.