The great temple of Athena was situated in the north-west corner of the city, far from the fighting, and had been chosen as a gathering place for the refugees who had been evacuated from their homes. Ava strode purposefully up the wide steps of the temple, passing dozens of refugees, their hands raised in fervent prayer to the gods. Ava reached the top of the steps and passed through the huge entranceway into the temple’s interior. The place was filled with priestesses and refugees, their nervous faces illuminated by wall-mounted torches.

“Greetings, soldier,” said one of the priestesses, running up to Ava, “what news of the battle?”

Ava paused and looked at the woman’s apprehensive face.

“It goes well,” Ava replied brusquely and strode past the priestess.

She marched up to the statue of Athena that stood at the end of the temple’s main hall and knelt before it.

“Athena, give me the strength to save my city,” Ava whispered fervently.

She rose and turned to the right, where the Spear of Athena rested atop a block of marble, held upright by a wooden stand. Even from where she stood, Ava could see the weapon’s superhumanly fine craftsmanship, the likes of which no mortal had ever been able to replicate. She looked down and read the words carved into the marble block: Only one with the blood of the Gods in their veins may wield the Spear. All others shall be rendered to ash.

Ava grasped the edge of the top of the block and pulled herself up onto it.

“What are you doing?!” one of the priestesses cried furiously.

Ava stood to her full height, face-to-face with the Spear. She knew she had to do this quickly, lest hesitation overwhelmed her.

“Stop!” screamed all the priestesses, rushing towards her.

Ava took a deep breath and reached out to grasp the Spear. As her fingers curled around its exquisitely-made shaft she closed her eyes, feeling her heart beat faster, knowing that she would now be burned to ash.

After a few moments, she opened her eyes and looked down at herself, seeing with astonishment that she was perfectly fine, albeit covered head-to-toe in stale blood. She looked up and stared her hand as it gripped the Spear of Athena. With a soaring heart, she lifted the weapon from its stand and raised it high.

“Behold!” she cried, looking down upon the stunned faces of the priestesses and refugees, “Athena's gift shall save our city! For I am Ava, daughter of the Gods and savior of Athens!”

She leaped to the ground and strode past the bewildered priestesses.

“I need a shield,” Ava shouted as she left the temple and descended its wide steps, “get me the best shield you can find!”

   *   *   *

As Ava neared the city’s main gate, a man ran up to her carrying a large, finely-made shield, which she took with a curt nod of gratitude. When she reached the gate, she found a skeleton force of defenders, still led by Tora. No more than two-dozen warriors still held the gate against the cyclopes.

Ava strode confidently past the last of the defenders, moving to the front of their formation. As another cyclops charged at the warriors of Athens, Ava raised the Spear of Athena like a javelin and shouted, “Fear me, beast, for I am Ava, champion of Athena, hero of Athens!”

With that, she threw the Spear as she had learned to do in training. The weapon flew as if with its own power, a blazing trail of fire sprouting along its length. The Spear pierced right through the monster’s chest, leaving behind a flaming wound as it circled and flew back to Ava’s hand. The warriors around her cried out in amazement. Ava kept her own equally great astonishment concealed behind a stony expression. Her fellow Athenians needed to believe that she knew what she was doing.

“Stand firm, warriors of Athens!” Ava shouted as she saw more cyclopes approaching. She strode forwards to meet them and hurled the Spear, the weapon blazing a twisting path through the air as it speared three of the monsters before returning to Ava’s hand.

Ava looked back at her fellow Athenians, raising the Spear and shouting, “Athena give us victory!”

The cry was taken up by every one of the remaining soldiers. Led by Ava they charged the cyclopes, the tide turning against the monsters. With every throw of the Spear, Ava slew more of the beasts. Her comrades fought harder than ever, their strength and determination returning.

At last the cyclopes turned and fled. Ava hurled the Spear after them, cutting down a few even as they fled before her.

As the Spear returned to her hand, Ava turned and shouted to Captain Tora, “Tora, you and your warriors stay here and guard the gate. I must go and aid our comrades in the city.”

Tora saluted brusquely and Ava walked back into the city, the soldiers behind her cheering her on.

   *   *   *

Ava arrived at one of the city’s southern plazas to find a small force of Athenian soldiers desperately holding their ground against several hydras, flanked by a pair of the huge water creatures. Dozens of Athenian corpses were strewn across the square, lying amidst scattered rubble from broken buildings. Ava did not waste a moment, raising the Spear and aiming at one of the water creatures.

“Athena, give us victory!” she cried as she hurled the blazing Spear.

The surviving soldiers glanced back at her, then watched as the Spear flew straight through the water creature. With a gurgling roar it burst apart, leaving nothing but a large puddle in its place. The Spear of Athena pierced and destroyed the other water creature before returning to Ava’s hand. She strode forwards to stand side-by-side with her fellow soldiers, facing down the hydras.

“I am Ava, daughter of the Gods!” she shouted up at the hydra, “I am Athena's champion, savior of Athens! Stand firm, warriors of Athens, for this day is ours!”

She threw the blazing Spear straight into a hydra’s heart, the huge monster toppling to the ground with a crash. As the weapon returned Ava walked forwards, standing alone against the two remaining hydras. She dodged and span around the beasts’ snapping heads, then threw the Spear off to the side. The weapon circled around and flew at one of the hydras, piercing each of its heads in turn before flying back to Ava’s hand. The soldiers behind her cheered as the hydra collapsed beside its fallen fellow. Ava lunged at the last hydra, diving and rolling to avoid its flailing heads. She came up standing, gripped the Spear with both hands and stabbed it deep into the hydra’s chest. The monster fell, each of its heads roaring in pain. Ava pulled the Spear from the beast’s flesh and took a moment to survey her handiwork. The three fallen hydras lay side-by-side, blood drooling from their many maws. Ava moved on towards the seawall, slaying hydras and water creatures as she went. The supernatural monsters began to flee before her, their fear spreading until hydras and water creatures across the city were falling back to the sea as quickly as they could. By the time Ava reached the southern edge of the city and looked out across the sea, not a single monster was left in Athens. She paused, slackening her posture and letting out a long, exhausted sigh. She looked to the east and saw the first faint rays of sunlight creeping over the horizon. Dawn was coming.