"This is a bit... unnerving. You guys better be careful out there. I should have killed that basta*d back then. At least I'd have one less problem to worry about. To add on to the problems, we don't know what cards he has up his sleeves this time around. If his abilities are similar to that of Jake, I'm sure you can handle him quite easily." Arnold replied to Talos.

He further continued, "If he has became a necromancer, that can mean only one thing. He has become a Paladin or a vassal. Though I doubt he would have become a vassal in such a short time. Not without someone's help at the very least. But I can never be sure until I use the probe skill on him. System-sama won't be able to ensure anything until and unless I'm within a kilometres range of him."

Arnold was still on the beach in front of the mysterious Island. The place had been crowded not more than an hour ago, but now it was completely deserted. Not a single soul was there, apart from Scylla and Arnold, who had his gaze fixed on Delos. He was excited for the upcoming battle, but at the same time, he was worried as well. After all, he had a good reason to feel that way.

This battle was going to be his biggest challenge ever. He was prepared physically to take him on, but he also needed to be mentally prepared for any crap Hercules could possibly throw at him. However he was interrupted as, during this time, Talos called him to give him a somewhat disturbing update regarding the situation in East America. 

"Right, master." Talos' static voice echoed through the communicator, "I'm planning to engage him with an all-out barrage of artillery. I'm sure he would find a way to survive that. However, even if he manages to survive that, we will still achieve our primary goal of dwindling down the monsters his army by quite a bit."

"Hm... you do that and keep me posted. Although I might not be able to receive the calls once I reach the island. So it'll be better if you contact any automaton accompanying me-" Arnold stopped abruptly as an idea struck into his head, "Better than that, tell Yu Zhung to use his ability and contact me. With the psychic link between him and I, we wouldn't need to worry about conversing between battles."

"That is a great idea, Master." 

"Alright then, good luck to you and the others. I should probably get going as well." Arnold was about to disconnect the call when Talos interrupted him. 

"Master, I want to apologise for not being able to finish the battle sooner. Because of my incompetence, you have been forced to face Hercules with an incomplete army-"

"T, you worry too much. Do you seriously think I'll think of fighting against someone like with without a plan?"

"No, I don't."

"Then shut your trap and start worrying about yourself. You better not make me rush there to save you. Haha!"

"Never again, master." Talos mumbled as he remembered the night Arnold had to come and save Nina and himself.

Beep.

Arnold might have acted all cool with Talos on the call. But he was worried about them. He had never expected to see the Brigadier General again. After he had banished the general from the base, he was sure that the general wouldn't last for long in the harsh wastelands. But he was wrong. The General had come back from the verge of death and was stronger than before.

"What a drag..." Arnold sighed heavily, "This guy just had to appear out of nowhere to complicate things. Welp, there's no point in thinking about the past now. I got to focus on Hercules first. Scylla! Time to go!"

Scylla responded to her master's voice, leaving the sea creatures behind, hoping to feast on them some other day. With an explosive noise, she landed in front of Arnold and licked his face, while he stroked her humongous head. She behaved more like a dog in a dragon's body. But her demeanour immediately changed whenever Arnold was under threat, or in case she was told to do so.

"Had fun in the sea?"

Khuu~

"Good girl. This time, let's have fun on that island. Shall we?"

She nodded as Arnold grabbed onto her neck and made himself comfortable on her back.

***

Meanwhile, on the island, Hercules was getting impatient as his rage had slowly welled up to the brim. It had been a while since he had challenged the vassal, and yet he hadn't received any response from the mortal. He could not tolerate the blatant disrespect a mere mortal was showing to him. But due to his father's advice, he was forced to sit quietly on one of Poseidon's favourite creatures, known as Cetus. 

Hercules thought if he killed a few people on earth, it would sure agitate the vassal and he would come looking for him. That's why he had ordered Cetus, the world whale, to wait at one location so that the mortal would know exactly where to look for them. However, his plan did not seem to be working. As Arnold was nowhere to be seen.

"I don't care what father has to say." Hercules fiercely slammed his club down, making a crater on the creature's back, "If that imbecile doesn't show up within the next hours, destroy the land in front of you."

"Yes, my lor- Argh!"

A plethora of the soldiers howled in pain a fire rained on them from the heavens. 

"Who in the heavens name-"

"It's me, Mario!" Arnold yelled as Scylla raced towards Cetus, "Fcking retard. Who else will it be, if not me?"

"You dare mock me, human?"

"Do I really have to answer that?" Arnold jumped off of Scylla and landed right in front of the demigod, "Mockery is a form of battle as well, right?"

"It will be my pleasure to make you shut your mouth."

"I mean, you can try if you want."

***

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