Dungeon Raider System

"And this little thing will let us know if someone is a god?" Asked Scofield with a disbelieving look on his face.

"You know, for someone who's read so much you really are ignorant," Jon wiped his nose and adopted the same smug he would whenever teaching archaeology. "this isn't just a regular vintage camera. It is the first Kirlian camera ever invented and I'm amazed you don't know about it since it's from your time... 1939."

"Pretty funny for a quarrelsome boy like you," Scofield laughed ironically. "but will it work?"

"Only one way to know for sure." Jon said before pushing the door to the library open and before he had the chance to say hi, Gertrude spoke.

"I've been expecting you."

"As expected of Lady Fate, you already knew we're coming. So, can I?" Jon asked with the same smile he would use to pick up girls at bars.

"Just because I know what is likely to happen and the consequences of such an action, doesn't mean I do not live in the present. If that was the case, what use would it be for me to come live among mortals? The future could be a miraculous thing and the past may hold the fondest of memories, but it is only in the present that we can enjoy the taste of a good steak." Gertrude spoke what she thought were words of wisdom, even though she knew the meaning would go over Jon's head.

"I do not follow." Jon said.

"I mean that just because I know I will be seduced by a handsome man in the future and I will give eventually give in to the passion and pleasure, doesn't mean I don't want to actually live the experience and enjoy it." Gertrude scoffed prompting Scofield to laugh merrily at the young hunter's expression.

"I am most sorry, my Lady, but I am a taken man." Jon said as apologetically as he could.

"Don't you back down now, the world is counting on your sacrifice." Scofield said as he placed a hand on Jon's shoulder.

"I would not dare stand between death and her loved one, nor should any mortal or god. She might not be the strongest of us, but I have a high opinion of her work ethic. No, I did not mean you. I meant the eye candy." Gertrude said the last sentence looking straight at Scofield who seemed to shrink under her gaze.

"Alright, since you didn't have an issue with me doing it, guess it's your turn to bite the bullet. Do not disappoint her." Jon winked and made a clicking sound at Scofield as he retreated from the library leaving Mister Scofield quite literally shaking in his boots.

"He won't..." Was the last Jon heard before closing the door and it wasn't until half an hour later that the doors would open again.

Mister Scofield walked out pale and disheveled as no one had ever seen him before. Lipstick marks decorating him instead of stars and the only thing he managed to do was hand Jon the picture he took from the goddess of Fate.

In return, Jon handed him his flask which Scofield accepted despite not being accustomed to drinking in public and instead of mockery, he found an understanding gaze and the right words to go along.

"I've been there, you'll need to replenish some calories," Jon then inspected the picture and saw the depiction of some sort of energy that looked like electricity, only instead of drawing arcs it seemed as though it rippled. Then he also saw what he could only describe as an absolute horror he wanted to forget the moment he laid eyes upon it, Gertrude was naked in the picture. Before he could comment on it, though, he saw that behind the old figure of a granny that seemed to be closer to the grave than to life, the outstanding beauty of a spectral woman appeared. "who would have thought."

"I know," Scofield shook his head mistaking Jon's assertion as him sizing up Gertrude's power instead of her looks. "it's a good thing she's neutral, but I'd rather have her on our side."

Now with the means to identify gods, the two hunters climbed up in an armored vehicle and scouted the city taking pictures along the way searching for disturbances in the energy. The streets were empty, but due to their large following of soldiers both mounted in vehicles and on foot brought life back into the city.

There were only a few hours until the barrier lifted up by the now governor Tina Celes went off which meant time was of the essence, but thankfully Sister Marianne had been keeping tabs on all the gods present in the city and they also made a list of the most dangerous ones.

"The first one should be right around that corner. His name is Apollo, like the Greek god." Jon informed.

"If there's any truth in the myths about him, then we can expect him to use a bow as a weapon and he also should be able to control disease." Scofield added to a Colonel that rode along with them who just happened to be Mayhem.

"Sounds nasty." Mayhem said trying to fight the urge to let a wicked smile loose.

"He's actually the weakest on the list, he's the patron of prophecy and poetry."

"Do not underestimate poetry or you'll find yourself in a pinch." Scofield climbed out the vehicle and Jon followed as if they had rehearsed it.

"Over there." Jon pointed at a bar.

"It's not the time." Scofield growled as he buried his head on his palm.

"I'm not saying we should go on a bender, I'm saying he's right there!" Jon pointed at a handsome man who had casually gathered a crowd with his guitar. There was nothing out of place and he would pass as a regular civilian, if not for the Kirlian photography Jon took of him that showed a ghostly figure of a naked man that shone in bright golden light.

"I'm sorry lads, it's time for me to go." Apollo rushed his beer before parting with the crowd.

"Fellow brit?" Jon asked.

"Nah, I always use a foreign accent wherever I go. Exotic tales are always more believable after all." Apollo shrugged as he walked towards the hunters and the army, confronting them without showing a hint of fear.

"I am sorry to inform you, Mister Apollo, that you overstayed your welcome in this city." Scofield politely said.

"And?"

"We can make it the easy way or our way." Jon said with the confidence only someone on the right track to become a divine rank hunter could.

"No choice then, guess I'll have yet another great story to tell after this..." Apollo sighed before his eyes lit up in a bright light that could have blinded the blind. Next thing Jon knew he was already on the ground and unable to move.

"I wasn't ready yet." He coughed a mouthful of blood.

Mister Scofield had covered his eyes in the last second and managed to prevent the loss of his sight, but that didn't mean he was a rival for a godly creature running at him. Especially since the kick he landed on Jon's face propelled him on the perfect angle towards the former librarian and the punch landed directly on Scofield's face with a shockwave impact that threw away the vehicles that had formed a circle around the target.

Both holy rank hunters were taken down in just a split second and while it seemed grim, it happened exactly as they expected and the soldiers unleashed all manner of bullets on the unsuspecting god. Bullets and traits rained on him mercilessly and while they didn't cause much damage, the resulting explosions caused him to be unable to get a foothold while the powerhouses recovered.

The agreed upon signal was Scofield lifting his hand, which caused the soldiers to pause just long enough for Jon to launch himself at Apollo who received a powerful punch to the face followed by a similar movement by Scofield.

"Fire!" Mayhem shouted the moment Scofield lifted his arm and the rain of bullets kept pouring on Apollo to the point of creating a crater.

The fight had gone to dire to hopeful in a matter of minutes as Apollo remained helpless on the receiving end of the beating of the century. He noticed their strategy and acknowledged his mistake the moment the seemingly weak soldiers fired the first shot, but that didn't mean he could do anything about it as even his godly powers were useless against the sheer amount of kinetic energy and heat.

"I bet you won't be telling this story." Jon spat on the ground after landing another punch. Their solution to hunting gods was far from elegant, but it worked so well even those who had devised it were left speechless when they saw blue blood erupting from the corner of Apollo's mouth.