From the observation post, Jim scanned the action through his binoculars, his eyes fixed on the chaos below. Slater and several other squad officers clustered nearby, radios buzzing with urgent chatter. "All units, move to designated positions and engage the target!" Slater's sharp command cut through the static, his voice carrying the weight of authority.

  The moment he finished speaking, the deep thrum of approaching helicopters vibrated through the air. Ajax Two-One and Two-Two swooped in on each side of Cetus, their rotors cutting through the wind with a deafening roar.

  Jim's pulse quickened, adrenaline coursing through his veins. Now's our turn. Time to bring it on, he thought, his determination fueling him as the moment of action approached.

  The battlefield erupted in gunfire. The deafening roar of 105 mm howitzers thundered behind him, their shells streaking toward the massive beast. Nearby, the booming swoosh of mortar rounds contributed to the chaotic sounds. Almost simultaneously, a fiery burst of red lit up the sky as rockets streaked from the helicopters' pods, cutting through the air like spears before slamming into the monster from both sides.

  The creature writhed, wailing in confusion as explosions rocked its body. A relentless barrage tore into its right side, shredding the soft, exposed flesh. Rockets detonated as they struck, sending gory debris flying in all directions. Its insides were being ripped apart.

  The petrified left side proved almost invulnerable, however. The rockets and artillery struck, but instead of tearing through, they merely chipped away at the petrified surface, sending stone fragments splintering into the sea.

  A voice crackled over the radio. "Central, this is Ajax Two-Two! Weapons ineffective—changing position!"

  Slater responded swiftly, "Roger. Move into position alongside Ajax Two-One."

  "Ajax Two-Two copy, moving."

  The helicopter veered off, circling behind Cetus to join its counterpart on the softer, vulnerable side. Both helicopters unleashed hell, hammering what remained of its torso. Artillery shells and mortar rounds continued to rain down from above, pounding the beast relentlessly.

  Jim's gaze flicked toward Medusa, who watched the carnage unfold with a knowing grin. He let out a slow sigh of understanding. She planned this—she wanted it to die in agony.

  Without warning, Cetus lunged forward, its colossal left arm plunging deep into the seabed. A moment later, it surfaced again, its massive fingers gripping a handful of large boulders. The creature's guttural growl echoed as it gathered its strength, muscles rippling beneath its rocky skin. With an earth-shattering roar, the beast hurled the boulders into the air toward the helicopters with terrifying speed.

  "Ajax Two-One taking fire!"

  Jim watched in horror as the aircraft desperately maneuvered through the barrage of incoming rocks. The helicopters twisted and banked through the air, their rotors cutting sharp arcs against the sky as pilots fought to avoid the deadly projectiles.

  Most of the massive stones missed and plunged harmlessly into the harbor, each impact sending violent eruptions of water skyward.

  But not all the projectiles missed their targets. One struck the cockpit of Ajax Two-One, the aircraft's windshield exploding into a constellation of cracks that spread like lightning across the glass.

  Another boulder struck the helicopter's main rotor. The impact sent a visible shudder through the entire airframe, and the aircraft's nose pitched downward at an alarming angle.

  Jim could see the pilot's desperate attempts to regain control, the aircraft's movements becoming increasingly erratic and violent. The helicopter spun, its tail rotor carving wild circles in the air as it entered an uncontrolled descent.

  The engines' screams grew louder and more strained, punctuated by the grinding of failing mechanical systems. The inevitable was unfolding before everyone's eyes as the stricken aircraft plummeted.

  With a final, soul-rattling whine, Ajax Two-One fell out of sight beyond the rocky banks. With a thunderous explosion, the helicopter hit the ground, shaking the earth with terrifying force. Moments later, a massive plume of thick smoke and orange flames spiraled into the sky, curling upward like a monstrous serpent, marking the catastrophic end.

  A voice came over the radio, "Ajax Two-One is down! I repeat—Ajax Two-One is down!"

  Upon witnessing the fiery plumes, Slater immediately yelled into his radio. "Ground crews, get a team over there—now! Hustle!"

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  Chaos erupted in the makeshift command center below as officers scrambled to reroute ground forces to the crash site.

  Ajax Two-Two, meanwhile, had its own problems. A boulder clipped its rear stabilizer, sending it into a brief spiral, but the pilot recovered—though black smoke billowed from the tail.

  "Ajax Two-Two taking fire! Damage minimal—disengaging."

  "Copy that. Get out of there!" Slater snarled, his fist crashing down on the table. "Dammit!"

  He immediately switched to the main channel, his voice boiling with anger.

  "Listen up, all units. We just lost our air support! Hit it with everything we've got—cannons, mortars, rifles, grenades—whatever you can find! Bring that thing down!"

  A barrage of affirmative responses echoed back over the radio, each one a sharpened promise of commitment. The air was thick with tension; the urgency escalating.

  The pier trembled beneath the pounding artillery shells. Explosions erupted in quick succession, each one rocking the ground as the barrage intensified. Soldiers climbed out of their entrenchments, their movements frantic as they launched small rockets, emptied rifles, and fired off everything they had—each shot aimed with singular focus: kill Cetus.

  More rounds found their mark. One shell exploded against Cetus's left shoulder, splintering the thick barnacle-clad skin and sending a storm of scattered tissue into the air. Another detonated with a deafening roar against its clavicle, shattering bone and flesh, sending jagged fragments flying. Cetus's immense figure thrashed wildly, shaking the sea as it let out a horrifying howl.

  It wasn't dead yet.

  With a heave of its arm, Cetus unleashed another devastating barrage of boulders, this time toward the city.

  Jim yelled into his radio, his voice strained with urgency as more stones came inbound. "Incoming! Everyone take cover!" His heart raced as he watched the devastation in horror.

  Several boulders struck a few small buildings, reducing them to clouds of dust and rubble. One boulder crushed a mortar, flattening it like soft bread under a hammer. Another slammed into the base of a building column with a thunderous crack. The balcony gave way, collapsing in a shower of stone and dust.

  High above, a young child clung desperately to the shattered remains. Jim's breath caught as he spotted the boy hanging precariously from the ledge.

  Before he could react, he saw Medusa race toward the chaos.

  She leaped onto the nearest remaining column, her serpentine body coiling tightly around it as she spiraled upward with startling speed. The smooth efficiency of her ascent was mesmerizing—fluid and controlled, her scales glinting in the sunlight as she wound higher.

  Jim barely had time to process what she was doing before she reached the top. She stretched herself out and grabbed the boy. A second later, she launched herself into the air.

  Jim's gut clenched. No way she lands that.

  But Medusa curled her body at the last moment, coiling into a tight spring. She hit the ground, bounced once, twice, then unfurled with precision.

  "Go! Get to safety!" she commanded, giving the boy a firm push toward the fleeing crowd.

  Jim exhaled, only now realizing he'd been holding his breath. Damn. If he ever doubted that Medusa was a hero, he didn't now.

  The artillery barrage hammered Cetus without mercy, each explosion shaking its monstrous form, sending shockwaves through its body. The creature, pinned helplessly by the weight of its petrified right side, had nowhere to flee—only the unbearable torment of being ripped apart, piece by agonizing piece. Every blast tore off more parts, a relentless force of destruction driving it closer to oblivion.

  A shell hit deep into the beast's chest. The explosion destroyed what was left of its lungs, and the creature took its final breath. The sound was empty and broken, echoing through the air.

  The creature's stone-covered right side broke apart from the attack. Rock and flesh burst out everywhere. The air filled with loud crashes as pieces of stone and bone fell into the sea like huge rocks.

  Every piece that hit the water made ripples spread out across the waves. The water around the dead beast turned dark with blood.

  Then, with one last shake, the broken pieces of Cetus sank. Only the ripples were left, spreading across the water where the monster had finally been defeated.

  The terror of Cetus—the nightmare that had haunted them all—was finally gone. Erased. Gone forever.

  Jim observed the action from the rooftop observation area, his gaze fixed on the sea as the creature slipped beneath the waves. A voice crackled through the radio.

  "Command, target neutralized. I repeat, the target is neutralized."

  Triumphant cheers filled the observation area and the space below. Soldiers pumped their fists in the air and shouted in victory.

  Amidst the celebration, Slater stayed serious. "Excellent. Any word on Ajax Two-One?"

  A voice on the radio replied, "Confirmed—pilot and co-pilot gunner are injured. They're on Shepherd Three-Two and headed back to Bogart."

  Slater exhaled sharply. "Glad to see they're still alive. It's all over. Good work, everyone."

  The city came alive. People slowly came out of their hiding spots, looking around with wide eyes. Their fear faded away and turned into excitement. Cheers echoed through the streets, growing louder and louder with relief and joy. Crowds filled the roads, raising their arms and celebrating wildly.

  Some gathered around Medusa, their faces radiant with gratitude as they reached for her hands. One by one, they embraced her, voices overflowing with heartfelt thanks that seemed to spill into the surrounding air.

  Through the crowd of grateful voices, the parents of the rescued boy made their way forward, tears glistening in their eyes. They bowed before her as they poured out their thanks for their son's life.

  A guard approached and, with reverent care, placed a victory wreath upon Medusa's head—honoring her triumph. Her serpents shifted just enough to make room for the garland, which came to rest like a crown.

  Jim watched in amazement. He couldn't believe how much the city's feelings toward Medusa had changed. Just yesterday, people cowered in fear and shut their doors when they saw her coming. Now they were celebrating her like a hero. He smiled as he and the other soldiers left the observation area to join the growing crowds below.

  Immediately, the people turned their gratitude toward the soldiers as well, surrounding them with cheers and deep bows of respect.

  That night, Argos was set to host a grand celebration—one that would be remembered for years to come.