Chapter 1: The Beginning of the Journey
Chapter Text
A/N
Hello everyone! Just wanted to clear out a few things before the start of the story.
The initial chapters are inspired from the canon and 'Percy Jackson and the Game' by 'imjusttryingtofindmyway'. This was used as a building base since this is the first time I am writing a fic and I have no qualms about this. However, I do ask you to be patient since the fic is very different down the line.
This fic is available on ffn, webnovel and wattpad as well under the same book and author name. You can see how the chapters turn out by tuning to the latest ones.
Disclaimer : I do not own PJO or any of its characters.
Chapter 1: The Beginning of the Journey
Percy yawned as he sat on his seat as the lecture droned on. He was currently in class at Yancy Academy with Grover sitting beside him. He did not know how long it had passed since the class began, all sense of time seemed lost to him as he kept fidgeting on his seat ever since class began.
"Mr. Jackson, if I would have your attention please?", called Mr. Brunner as he just finished his lecture on the First Titanomachy.
"Sorry. What was it that you were saying?", Percy replied.
"What events led to the defeat of Kronos during the First Titan War?"
"It all started when a prophecy was issued by the Fates that Kronos' rule would end the same way he ended his father's - by one of his children cutting him to pieces with the very same scythe he used on his father Ouranos."
"Correct. And what is the the significance of Greek Mythology in the modern world?"
Percy thought for a moment before answering, "I honestly do not see the relevance since this is of a time long past gone and doesn't seem as important as other subjects such as tax planning or savings which would be helpful in the modern world."
Mr. Brunner simply raised an eyebrow at that. "Mr. Jackson, they affect the world in more ways than one", he replied mysteriously.
Percy being Percy simply overlooked it while Grover seemed a little pale from what just transpired.
Soon classes ended and everyone went their way to go about their day at the academy.
Far away from Earth in a remote place unknown to all save for its occupants sat three old ladies - one spun a thread while another worked the loom and measured the thread while the last one cut it as per requirements.
These were the three Moirai - Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos.
Suddenly a message popped up seemingly out of nowhere and landed in front of them. It had two simple words. But these words carried much more power and meaning than they appeared to.
'It's time'.
Lachesis took out a sea-green thread and it glowed an ethereal sea green light. Little did anyone know that this seemingly small action had more depth than anything ever. This would change the fate of the entire world itself and it rested on one particular 12 year old demigod - Perseus Jackson.
"Perhaps it is quite early for him to enter this life", mused Clotho.
"It may be but even grandmother knows how important it is. We must follow her wishes for Perseus has a major role to play in what is to come soon" said Lachesis.
Atropos remained indifferent and ignored her sisters while she continued cutting threads of various colours and sizes. If one looked closer, one would notice a hint of foreboding on her face for what was to come for the young demigod.
Seeing the sisters conversing like this with regular expressions compared to their stoic masks in front of the general populace would've made any person in the supernatural world sweat profusely and sent into a state of worry.
"He has a long road ahead. I hope he is up to the task", said Clotho as the light died down.
Percy awoke the next day with a sea green screen floating in front of him with ancient Greek runes running along its borders with a simple message displayed - 'Welcome to the supernatural, Perseus Jackson'
Percy stood there for a moment just trying to make sense of what exactly was going on. He tried rubbing his eyes, squinting and even went as far as slapping himself - hard just to make sure that he was't actually dreaming. Regardless of how hard he tried, there was no denying that the screen was there right in front of him with its beautiful runes lazily spinning.
Hesitantly, he reached out and touched the screen not expecting it to work mid-air but to his surprise the screen faded before the next screen popped open.
Perseus Jackson
Son of ?
Perseus is the son of ? and Sally Jackson. He has ADHD and Dyslexia which helps in ? and ? He has a natural affinity with ? due to his heritage which grants him control over ? and ?
Race : ?
Level - 5
Exp - 10 / 270
HP : 250 / 250
MP : 250 / 250
STR : 5
VIT : 2
DEX : 2
INT : 1
WIS : 1
LUC : 1
Points : 0
Money : $0 / D0
Status : None
Percy had had his fair share of experiences whilst living with his mom and Gabe in New York but nothing could ever prepare him for the information displayed right in front of him. He sat there gobsmacked trying to make head and tail of the screen. Just as his thoughts could drift any wilder, suddenly he felt a sense of calm wash over him making him focus on what was in front of him and rationalise things with a clear mind. Suddenly, a notification popped up.
Gamer's Mind Activated! (click for more information)
Hesitantly, he reached out and clicked it.
Gamer's Mind is a skill which is always active. This helps the player to always stay calm and to logically comprehend the situation. Grants immunity to any psychological attacks and negates any effects.
"Huh", Percy thought. It was certainly quite a useful skill one which would help in quite a few situations. Just as he was about to explore more of it, Grover's voice rang out.
"Percy? Are you alright? You have been staring at the ceiling for the past 15 minutes."
Percy realised that Grover could not see the screen which meant that only he was the one who had access to it.
"Yeah, I am fine. Nothing going on." Percy decided to keep this a secret at the moment lest people think he was going to be even more stupid than he already was. He did not want to imagine himself being shipped to a mental facility for what he was seeing at the moment.
"Let's get ready unless you're looking for another detention for arriving late to class", the ever worrying Grover replied.
Percy threw on his uniform as he and Grover walked out of their shared dorm towards another day of inevitable torture. Little did he know that his life was going to change in more ways than one.
A/N
I will be updating this fic weekly.
If you have any suggestions, reviews or anything, please be candour and let me know! I will surely look into it.
Until next time.
Chapter 2: Discovery
Chapter Text
A/N
I have created a discord server for this fic. It's basically for providing updates, providing feedbacks, chilling etc.
h t t p s : / / d i s c o r d . g g / P Z P b B 5 S f 7 2
(remove the spaces ofc)
As classes ended, Percy walked quickly to his room and plopped on his bed eager to find out more about this newfound 'thing'.
Notifications kept popping up during the day but Percy avoided them to avoid getting into any more trouble since he already had ADHD and if kept gesturing in the air for no apparent reason, people would think he finally cracked and well, he avoided thinking more about it. Sure, he wasn't the sharpest but occasionally he was able to read the room so to speak.
Percy had no idea how to see the screen whenever he wanted to so he just imagined one in front of him. Lo and behold, the screen popped up in its glory with a few notifications awaiting his attention.
...
Notification 1
You have gained 1 INT for attending classes and somewhat paying attention.
INT : 1 + 1 = 2
..
Notification 2
For reading a book, you have gained a new skill!
Language :
Modern English
Level 4 (-80% to all forms of English, +5% for every level gained)
..
Notification 3
For observing people around you, you have gained a new skill!
Information :
Observe (tap for more information)
Level 1 - MP, HP and basic information.
...
The plethora of information came as a surprise to Percy who honestly didn't expect all these things. He swiped the first two since they were pretty self explanatory. The third notification caught his eye. He tapped on it and the new information was then displayed.
...
Observe (Level 1)
Observe lets you detect a target and provides information about them.
...
Percy whistled as he read the information. This was certainly a useful skill for information gathering. He could use it in several situations. He dismissed the notifications and opened the main screen. His stats popped up.
...
Perseus Jackson
Son of ?
Perseus is the son of ? and Sally Jackson. He has ADHD and Dyslexia which helps in ? and ? He has a natural affinity with ? due to his heritage which grants him control over ? and ?
Race : ?
Level - 5
Exp - 10 / 270
HP : 250 / 250
MP : 250 / 250
STR : 5
VIT : 2
DEX : 2
INT : 2
WIS : 1
LUC : 1
Points : 0
Money : $0 / D0
Status : None
Skills
Language :
Modern English (Level 4)
Information :
Observe (Level 1)
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max level)
...
Looking at the hovering screen, a thought stuck Percy. This page looked just like one which he saw when he played a game. This meant that the system worked just like a game and that he was the 'gamer' in this case. Being the gamer meant he could have several abilities and unlock new ones, go on quests and receive rewards and the like. This also meant he could become better as a person and make his mom proud just as he always wanted and dreamt of.
...
For thinking in a logical manner and drawing a fitting conclusion, you have gained 1 WIS.
WIS : 1 + 1 = 2
...
Percy raised an eyebrow at that. Well, that was certainly interesting. A thought struck him. He quickly dismissed the screen and immediately hurried to one place that he never thought he would ever head to unless he was absolutely desperate or in a conundrum - the library.
As Percy entered the library, he walked around to one of the racks at the back and pulled out the first book in sight. It read - Myths and Stories of Ancient Greece. Just by reading the title he was bored out of his mind. Silently groaning he pulled out a chair, settled himself and started reading. After 2-3 chapters, he came across an image with Ancient Greek inscribed in it. As he watched it, the words suddenly flew to his mind and he was immediately able to read what was written.
...
Ping!
New skill created!
Language :
Ancient Greek (tap for more information)
Max Level
...
Percy froze up as he read the notification. This was certainly not what he was expecting whilst reading a book. He quickly tapped the notification and his jaw dropped in shock.
...
Ancient Greek (Max Level)
Due to your birth, you have an inherent ability to read and speak Ancient Greek proficiently.
...
From reading this, he was able to decipher that this particular trait was somewhat related to his origins. That meant that his father was Greek and therefore he inherited it from him. There really was no other explanation for it since he had never read Ancient Greek before today and he had gained a mastery over it in little more than a minute and just by looking at a piece of paper with a little text on it. Moreover, the gaming system said something about him entering the supernatural though that was still up for debate. For the moment, he entertained the notion of 'supernatural' and concluded that this ability was a gift more than anything.
...
For masterfully breaking down a statement and arriving at a logical answer, you have gained 1 WIS.
WIS : 2 + 1 = 3
...
That did it. It just confirmed one part of what he wanted to know. Maybe just maybe he might finally be able to know who his father is after all these years. His mom always told him that she would tell him only when the time was right but the right time never came. Just before he could dwell more on it, he was brought out of his musings as another notification popped up.
...
Quest Alert!
Find your true origins and your Father's name.
Rewards -
100 XP
Information about your true origins
Information about your abilities
New Status
Passive Skill
Accept / Decline?
...
Percy immediately tapped yes. He would certainly not look at the gift horse in its mouth. This was huge for him and he would do whatever it took to finally know his father. Gabe certainly wasn't someone who he would ever call his 'step-dad' or a human as a matter of fact. His mannerisms were easily that of an animal if he were to be honest with himself.
Letting go of that line of thought, he continued reading the book. Soon, he finished the book and was pleasantly surprised with the notification.
...
Due to constant reading, your skill in Modern English has increased.
Modern English
Level 4 + 1 = 5 (-75% to all forms of English, +5% for every level gained)
...
Percy dismissed it and got back to reading. Soon, it was closing time and Percy had finished another book and had another 6 books ready for check out so that he could read it at night in his room. His skills increased too which was an added bonus for him.
...
Due to reading new books and learning more about the world, your skill has increased.
Modern English
Level 5 + 1 = 6 (-70% to all forms of English, +5% for every level gained)
Your intelligence has increased.
INT : 2 + 1 = 3
...
Percy was thinking as to how this increased so quickly and his brain returned with nothing. An idea popped up in his mind, who better than to ask someone who is interested in gaming? As if reading his thoughts, the gaming system immediately issued him another quest.
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Discover how the gaming mechanism works.
Rewards -
50 XP
Knowledge about the system
+2 LUC
Accept / Decline?
...
Percy raised an eyebrow yet again. He was pretty sure it was going to be the beginning of a new habit since the system seemed to be a smartass or simply read his thoughts every time. He sighed and accepted the quest. He knew just the person for it.
Percy walked to the dormitory building and knocked on the door of the one person who could be dubbed the God of Gaming in his school. This man somehow knew everything under the sun when it came to gaming. How he knew everything was beyond him. He knocked on the door and waited.
"Come in", came the reply.
As Percy walked in, he was immediately greeted by the sight of what one would expect from a gamer's room. A messy room was putting it lightly. The walls were filled with posters from different games which he couldn't begin to name. The floor was a literal dumpyard with packets, cans and the likes thrown carelessly. Percy didn't even feel like commenting about the odor. He simply left it at that.
To satiate his curiosity, Percy tried using Observe on Mark.
...
Mark
HP : 150 / 150
MP : 0 / 0
Mark is Percy's friend who is very much in love with Gaming. He aims to become a professional gamer down the line and practices for it daily. He thinks highly of Percy.
Due to constant use, Observe has levelled up.
Observe
Level 2 - HP, MP, Species and other basic information.
...
"Hey Mark, I need a bit of help about this new game I am playing", Percy said.
"Sure, what about it?" Mark replied.
"I made a character recently and tried making him read a book. Every time he read a book, his skills increased immediately without putting in much effort into it. Why is that?"
"Well, I am assuming your stats are still low from what you just told me. This is because the requirements needed to level up that particular trait are quite low initially due to you not being good at it. As time passes and you practice the same trait over and over, the requirements for levelling up will increase and thus, you will have a harder time doing those."
"What about ability points? What are those and how do you use them?"
"Ability points are usually gained once you level up your character. Think of them as boosts that will help your character become stronger quicker. But, just like your traits, as you level up, the XP requirements will also increase. So, it is better that you store your ability points to use when it is needed and try grinding your skills as much as you can."
"Sounds right. Well, thanks for the info." With that, Percy walked out and headed back to his room.
As he walked, another notification popped up.
...
Quest Complete!
Discover how the gaming mechanism works.
Rewards added.
...
Percy entered his room and saw Grover lounging on his bed reading what seemed to be like a nature guide. Percy suddenly had an idea. He used Observe and what he saw shocked him. It seemed as though the system had opened him to an entirely new world and just about everything was going to shock him from here on out. Just before he could outwardly react or say something, Gamer's Mind kicked in and calmed him down instantly.
...
Grover Underwood
Species : Satyr
Title : Protector
HP : 1500 / 1500
MP : 750 / 750
Grover Underwood is a satyr tasked with protecting Perseus Jackson due to him being a ? Grover loves Percy and thinks of him as his best friend. He loves enchiladas and fruits or rather food in general. He is attracted to nature.
...
What the actual frick. Percy blinked. He blinked again. And again. He was having a hard time believing that his best friend was a satyr of all things. A half man and a half goat. Suddenly the pants all day long, his reluctance to wear anything else except for shoes and the crutches made sense. Percy swiped the box away. Grover was strong. Quite a bit. He saw his friend in a new light after reading the new information provided to him by the system.
'So wait. If Grover is a satyr, it means the Greek myths are not myths but very much real. If they are real, it meant that the other stuff was real too which meant that the supernatural was real' Percy thought with a start. Suddenly, the welcome message started making sense. Before he could dwell more on it, Grover's voice rang out.
"Percy?! Are those books that you're carrying with you?", Grover exclaimed. He was clearly shocked to see Percy of all people carrying books to read. Surely the end was near.
"Yes, in fact, I have realised that I need to improve myself. It is high time since I did something about my grades and reading seemed like a good place to start due to my Dyslexia", Percy replied.
All Grover could do was nod mutely, still trying to process the information dumped on him out of nowhere. After a while, he smiled. He was happy that his friend had started to take care of himself and maybe just maybe, he might be able to get this demigod safely to camp this time round. The failure of Thalia's death still loomed over him. He pushed these thoughts out of his mind as he settled down into a blissful sleep.
Percy on his part, completely forgot about his earlier thought and sat down to finally start reading the 6 books that he had gotten as he pulled an all-nighter.
By the time morning came, he was done and the notifications caused him to smile.
...
Your skill in Modern English has increased!
Modern English - Level 6 + 5 = 11. (-45% to all forms of English, +5% for every level gained)
Your intelligence has increased!
INT : 3 + 3 = 6
...
His final stats for the day were :
...
Perseus Jackson
Son of ?
Perseus is the son of ? and Sally Jackson. He has ADHD and Dyslexia which helps in ? and reading Ancient Greek respectively. He has a natural affinity with ? due to his heritage which grants him control over ? and ?
Race : ?
Level - 5
Exp - 60 / 270
HP : 250 / 250
MP : 250 / 250
STR : 5
VIT : 2
DEX : 2
INT : 6
WIS : 3
LUC : 3
Points : 0
Money : $0 / D0
Status : None
Skills
Language :
Modern English (Level 11)
Ancient Greek (Max)
General :
Observe (Level 2)
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max level)
...
He swiped the boxes away as he got ready for another day.
Chapter 3: Revelations
Chapter Text
Chapter 3: Revelations
Percy was not a morning person. Not in the least. He despised it with a passion. He was so engrossed in the books that he read the previous night that he completely forgot about the classes in the morning right up until Grover whacked him on his head and went commando all of a sudden.
"Percy, GET UP! We are getting extremely late for class. I don't know about you but I really don't fancy a detention when tomorrow is a Saturday. I would very much like to have some peace of mind from this hellhole they call school", Grover exclaimed in a panic.
"Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Not again", Percy groaned. Just as he was about to get up, a screen popped up in front of him.
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Reach class on time, avoid detention and pass the test.
Rewards -
$50
50 XP
+1 INT
Failure -
Detention with Ms. Dodds
Accept / Decline?
...
Immediately Percy hit accept. He did not have time to ponder who Ms. Dodds was. He proceeded to haul ass as he changed his clothes and zoomed out of the room with Grover in tow at a record time. They ran like their lives depended on it and boy were they relieved when they reached on time with just a minute to spare.
Panting, Percy made his way to his seat. Just as he sat down, the old Math teacher he was accustomed to was suddenly replaced by someone else. The new teacher was a fifty year old woman who wore a black leather jacket during the summer season. Even though she was relatively short compared to the other teachers, everything about her screamed danger. She looked like the sort of woman who would ride a Harley and wouldn't think twice before running you over with it or give you a wedgie for being a dork.
In the sweetest voice he swore he had ever heard she said, "Class, I am your new math teacher, Ms. Dodds. I expect full concentration and cooperation whilst in class otherwise you may well have to spend a lovely afternoon in detention with a few tasks in hand."
There was a dangerous tone to the last part of the sentence or so Percy thought.
"I will now be taking a little test to determine where you all stand before we move forward with the syllabus this year", she continued.
Wait, test? Now that he thought about it, the gaming system already knew about her and the test before this even came to pass. How in the hell did that happen?! The more he thought, the more he realised that this system was something far more powerful than he gave it credit for and so far whatever information it had given him was true to its word. He resolved to start placing more trust in it if he were to find out who his dad is amongst other things.
Soon, the tests were distributed. Usually, Percy had an extremely hard time giving any tests. However, this time round, as he looked at the test, he could already solve a few of the questions which earlier he could only dream about solving. The questions were relatively simple and straightforward for a student of Grade 6. With a start, Percy realised that this sudden change may as well be attributed to his increase in intelligence. It was only at 1 yesterday and within a day, he was at a solid 6. Though not a big increase, it was certainly good enough for a start. He was not one to complain. Besides, this also helped him to avoid detention with Ms. Dodds. Something told him that it was not in his best interests.
As the test was over, Percy thought about trying to use Observe. He certainly needed to level it up if he was to encounter any monsters in the future and needed help in identifying them. Just as he used it, the results were surprising in the least. Just by looking at the description he started panicking as a cold sweat trickled down his forehead. Before he could do anything, Gamer's Mind kicked in again, straightening his emotions immediately. He breathed a sigh of relief. Thank gods for it otherwise he would be in quite the trouble. He glanced at the screen once again and sure, it was there -
...
Ms. Dodds a.k.a Alecto
Species : Fury
Title : Hades' Servant
HP : ?
MP : ?
Ms. Dodds is one of the Kindly Ones who serves Hades, God of the Underworld. She is currently tasked to watch Percy.
...
There was no mistaking it. Alecto. A fury. Hades. Why on Earth were these things suddenly surrounding him? He had no idea as to how this came to pass and could only wonder. Right now, he knew he had to be careful at what he did because things weren't the same. Not anymore.
Soon, the period ended and Ms. Dodds walked out with a final glance at the class. It seemed like that but in reality, she was staring right at Percy. He could feel her gaze sharpening and for a moment his breath hitched before he managed to calm himself down not wanting to show any hint that he knew more than he let on.
Just then a notification popped up.
...
Quest Complete!
Reach class on time, avoid detention and pass the test.
Rewards added.
INT : 6 + 1 = 7
Exp : 110 / 270
Money : $50 / D 0
...
Percy quickly checked it over and dismissed the screen.
Soon, the day progressed and Percy got bored. He tried using Observe on other people to level it up and to his surprise, quite a bit of information was revealed. By doing so he was able to level up his Observe to Level 3.
Of all the people, one that somewhat stood out to him was that of Nancy Bobofit. She was a red-headed girl with freckles who spent most of her time bullying other kids or stealing from them. This was not what surprised him. What really got to him was what was written in her description.
...
Nancy Bobofit
HP : 175 / 175
MP : 0 / 0
Nancy Bobofit is Percy's acquaintance. She has trouble connecting with her parents as she hardly receives any attention. This has led her to become a kleptomaniac in order to gain some attention even if it is negative. She spends her time bullying and stealing in school for said attention.
...
Percy could not help but want to help her out or just be there for her seeing how she was suffering and the facade she put up for the world was nothing short of remarkable if he was being honest. He put away the thought for contemplation later as he focused on the next class of Mr. Brunner.
Recalling the previous day's conversation, Percy thought that Mr. Brunner too knew something more than he let on. So as his teacher entered, he decided to use Observe on him. Nothing could have prepared him for the result. He was not expecting this. Then again, Alecto was in his school as his Math teacher watching over him so it wouldn't be a stretch to imagine that Mr. Brunner was here too or as he was popularly known as Chiron.
...
Mr. Brunner a.k.a Chiron
Species : Centaur
Title : Trainer of Heroes
HP : ?
MP : ?
Chiron is one of the most popular figures in Greek Mythology. Widely regarded as the Trainer of Heroes, he groomed many notable figures including the likes of Achilles and Hercules. He is currently at Yancy Academy watching over Percy due to him being a ?
...
Again that damned question mark! It was starting to grate Percy. Why was he suddenly surrounded by figures of the Greek Mythology? What was so special about him? He was just a normal teenager growing up in New York with the best mother and an unknown father. What was it that attracted these people?
As the class got over, all the students walked out and headed towards the swimming pool. Today was physical education and their coach had decided on swimming. It had been a while since Percy swam so as he changed and jumped into the pool, he came across a notification that would change life as he knew it.
...
You have come in contact with water! Due to your heritage, you gained a boost.
HP and MP restored. All elemental effects negated. Body completed healed.
+2000 HP
+2000 MP
+20 STR
+20 VIT
+20 DEX
Breathe Underwater ability active.
...
This was by far the biggest clue he could get in regards to his heritage. Clearly, this had something to do with his absent father. He could already understand Ancient Greek because of him and now this. He already had an inkling about his father being a God after the revelations last night but it was a shot in the dark for all he knew. This just got him one step closer. One major step forward. From all the information provided, he could guess that his father somewhat belonged to the Greek Mythology and had an affinity with water if the notification was anything to go by.
Deciding to test his theory, he swam to the deep end and plunged deeper into the water. As he opened his eyes, he could somehow see everything clearly. He could see the location of each and every student in the pool, their feet kicking the water even the bubbles emerging as a result. He held his breath for as long as he could until he took another risk. He stopped holding his breath and tried to breathe just as he normally would. To his surprise, he was able to breathe just as he was able to above the water. Everything just came naturally to him.
Now that this was proved, he joined the dots from what he knew till now. He clearly had water based abilities, his dyslexia and ADHD were somehow related to this. Moreover, he knew Ancient Greek reflexively and was somehow surrounded by the Greek supernatural world. Percy then tried remembering what he could about the Greek Mythology. The Gods had defeated the Titans in the war which meant that they were the ones ruling Earth. He had red blood which meant he was human. Or wait. Human? So why didn't it show up on his status page like it did for others? Was it because he was something more? The only thing he could think of that shared the traits was a demigod since the Gods were the ones who were supposedly around if he truly believed the system. Did it mean? No, surely not. Percy kept shaking his head profusely but nothing could deter him from his thoughts and the one conclusion it formed.
He was a demigod. Not just any demigod. The only God who fit this criteria was Poseidon. He was the demigod son of Poseidon - one of the 'Big 3' or so as they were called.
To further cement this claim, a notification popped up. With dread he started reading it.
...
Quest Complete!
Find your true origins and your Father's name.
Rewards added.
Exp : 210 / 270
Information about your true origins
Information about your abilities
New Status : Demigod
Passive Skill : Son of the Sea God
...
Percy pulled up his stats and just floated underwater with wide eyes as he digested the information. This was certainly not what he had in mind.
...
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod
(gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. He has ADHD and Dyslexia which helps in combat and reading Ancient Greek respectively. He has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes.
Level - 5
Exp - 210 / 270
HP : 250 / 250 (+ 2000)
MP : 250 / 250 (+ 2000)
STR : 7 (+ 20)
VIT : 2 (+ 20)
DEX : 4 (+ 20)
INT : 7
WIS : 3
LUC : 3
Points : 0
Money : $50 / D0
Status : Demigod
(Due to being a Demigod, your ADHD lets you be more attuned and observant in the battlefield helping in improving your combat prowess and staying alive.)
Skills
Language :
Modern English (Level 11)
Ancient Greek (Max)
General :
Observe (Level 3)
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max level)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, +20 VIT, +20 DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in contact with water)
x.x
A/N
It is a tad slow in the beginning since I wanted to set-up the story before moving onto combat and the other things that you would associate with PJO. For the next chapter, I have a few plans but I still need to outline those before diving into it.
As always, please review and follow! It means the world to me! Thank you! :)
Until next time.
Chapter 4: Up and About
Chapter Text
Chapter 4: Up and About
Percy was stumped. He was a demigod. A son of a God. Poseidon. This intake was all too much to bear for a teenager. While a part of him was happy that he was finally able to find out about his father, another part of him was freaking out over the fact that the supernatural actually existed. Him being able to breathe underwater was pretty much the first real experience he had relating to it. He was distracted for a few minutes, thankfully no one noticed the absence of the demigod except for Grover who was sitting on the bleachers overlooking the pool.
Grover looked on with worry for his friend and feared for him as he was unable to see him for a few minutes. However, they were put to rest as Percy suddenly resurfaced and started the swimming drills with his peers who knew how to swim. Grover, ever mindful of his surroundings, found it odd that Percy was somehow able to spend time underwater more so than the average human or demigod. He had an itch about it, one that he did not want to scratch. He was afraid if Percy too turned out to be a child of one of the Big Three. The sea-green eyes and the recently demonstrated affinity with water weren't helping things. Not in the slightest. So there he sat terrified of what was to come. He needed to speak with Chiron. He could already smell that Ms. Dodds was not human but what she was was beyond him for the moment. He knew that something was odd about her so he needed to act fast. He resolved to speak to Chiron as soon as classes ended. Thankfully, this was the final class for the day.
Unaware of the inner turmoil of his friend, Percy had already begun swimming. A notification had popped up after a few laps which Percy dismissed.
...
Ping!
New skill created!
Swimming (Level 1)
Your swim speed is of an average human : 3 km/hr.
Bonus : Due to you being a son of Poseidon, you gain boosted progress.
...
By the end of training, Percy should have been pretty tired like the rest of his class but oddly enough, he felt refreshed. It was as though he had a full night's sleep and just woke up brimming with energy. While it was certainly new, it wasn't unwelcome. He chalked it up as a son of Poseidon thing wherein the water refreshed him as soon as he submerged himself in it. He would need to test this again later on.
So, the classes came to a close. Percy was brimming with excitement for what was to come next. He quickly changed and walked out. He really wanted to try a few things but he had his bags on him.
'Only if I had a place to store them', Percy mused. As if reading his thoughts, another notification popped up.
...
Ping!
Inventory storage now available!
What sort of a game doesn't have a limitless inventory box? Presenting you with your very own inventory box. Along with the aforementioned benefit, items stored in the box will stay in pristine condition. This includes food.
...
Percy gaped. This was certainly helpful. He touched the inventory box and sure enough, another blank screen appeared with quite a few boxes cut out in it. Hesitantly, Percy reached down and got his backpack near the screen and pushed it in. True to its word, the backpack disappeared into thin air and appeared as an item in the storage. He smiled. Percy then quickly made his way to a waterfall in an area which was not frequented at this time of the day.
Slowly Percy dipped his fingers in the water and felt the rush of power and calming effects of the sea envelope him. It felt like the sea was embracing its long lost prince and was eager for its return as the water rippled with barely contained excitement. A notification box popped up but Percy dismissed it with a wave of his hand. He needed to focus. He felt the water around his arms making contact with it. He felt a thread in his gut that was longing to be connected with the water. He let it reach out and connect. He opened his eyes and slowly willed the water to start rising from its position and sure enough a few tendrils started rising. He watched with happiness as he willed more of it to join the tendrils and more kept rising. Just as it was at its apex, Percy lost concentration and the water fell back into the fountain. A few notifications had popped up which Percy had ignored and sure enough it was there.
...
Ping!
Ability Discovered!
Water Control
(Level 1 - Cost 50 MP / Min)
The ability to control water in its most basic form.
Ping!
Due to continuous practice, Water Control has levelled up!
Water Control
(Level 2 - Cost 49 MP / Min)
...
This motivated Percy to practice even more and the next few hours were spent trying to control more and more water, making it rise, swirl in the air and then disperse. Only for the process to be repeated. As late evening approached, Percy was finally able to get a few basics down. He could now control water when he was in contact with it and had a little easier time connecting with it, he didn't have to focus as much as he had to initially. Moreover, without contact with water, he could raise a few tendrils with his connection alone but it was far more difficult and straining for him to maintain for long.
What surprised him was that he again did not feel tired in the slightest despite using up MP to a huge degree throughout the time. The more he thought about it, the more confused he got until a metaphorical bulb went off in his head. The water regenerated his HP and MP as soon as he came in contact with it or entered it. For example, if he used up all his MP and then entered the water again, instantly, his MP would be regenerated. Percy grinned like a maniac. He was going to squeeze the system off of everything it was worth. This exploit was nothing short of a highway to increased powers though he would certainly have to work for it. It was huge for him, he would not have to wait for his MP to regenerate now. Just as he got up and walked off to the library, a string of notifications he had been ignoring popped up.
...
Ping!
Due to continuous practice, Water Control has levelled up!
Water Control
(Level 3 - Cost 48 MP / Min)
Due to continuous practice, Water Control has levelled up!
Water Control
(Level 4 - Cost 47 MP / Min)
Due to continuous practice, Water Control has levelled up!
Water Control
(Level 5 - Cost 46 MP / Min)
Due to finding a loophole in the system by thinking in a rational manner and connecting the dots, your WIS has increased!
WIS : 3 + 1 = 4
...
Percy was pleasantly surprised with the level ups as well as the bonus increase in intelligence. It seemed as though the game itself wanted Percy to progress quickly and become stronger than before. Dismissing the notifications, Percy walked to the library and grabbed a huge stack of books ranging from Grade 2 to Grade 12 in an effort to increase his reading skills. His dyslexia held him back quite a bit but now that he had a means to combat it and become smarter, in order to make his mom proud, he was going to use the situation to its full extent.
It was almost 7pm by the time he reached his room and was surprised not to see Grover lounging around as per usual. He chalked it up as Grover being busy with something and proceeded to start reading a book. By the time it was 9pm, Grover still hadn't returned and Percy was starting to get worried about his best friend. True, even though Grover was a satyr and could protect himself better than Percy could, he could still not stop and worry.
Curfew started at 9 so Percy had to be extremely careful not to get caught. He was certainly not afraid of sneaking around or anything. He just did not want to get caught with the school informing his mom about his behaviour, the last thing he wanted was for her to be even more worried about him. She as it is had a lot on her plate with Smelly Gabe in his life. He wrinkled his nose at the thought of Gabe but dismissed it quickly. Making up his mind, just as he was about to step out of the room, a screen popped up.
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Find Grover without getting caught
Rewards -
+1 DEX
70 XP
Failure -
Detention with Ms. Dodds
Accept / Decline?
...
Percy gulped and immediately accepted the quest as he made his way out of the room. His room was located on the first floor of the dorm so it was relatively easy for him to sneak out at the moment. He quietly made his way towards the staircase. Luckily, he did not come across any teacher. He quickly made his way down and ran in the cover of shadows so as to not be detected by any passing teacher by chance even though the corridor was empty. Finally he reached the door and slipped out.
Just as he stepped outside, another notification popped up.
...
Ping!
New skill created
Sneaking (Level 1)
Allows you to sneak up on someone or get around with the cover of darkness / shadows
10% chance of not getting caught
10% chance of critical strike
...
Percy contemplated which place to check first. Grover was a satyr - a being related to the Greek Mythology and was tasked to protect him. The most obvious choice was for him to be spending time with Chiron since both seemed to be related. He could not be spending time with Alecto since she was a fury and for the life of him, he could not bring himself to trust Hades. The accounts he read certainly did not help. Deciding on checking Chiron's room in the teacher's wing, he quickly made his way.
Chiron's room was conveniently put on the ground floor due to him being 'specially abled'. Hence, he did not need to worry about climbing a damned building to find Grover. Just as he reached, he saw Grover in the middle of a conversation with Chiron if the frantic waving of hands or the look of desperation on Grover's face was anything to go by. Chiron to his credit, was calmly sitting on his wheelchair while trying to placate the satyr.
'What can be so important for Grover to behave like this?' Percy thought. 'Might as well try to listen to the conversation but I need a means to do that.'
Whether it was luck or bad luck, Percy found another window slightly ajar which could help him in his endeavours. He could not stand right next to the window due to the light, he had to crouch down a bit and stay in the shadows in order to avoid being detected. He would not be able to hear the whole conversation but it was better than nothing. Just as he finished his line of thought, another screen popped up.
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Eavesdrop on Chiron and Grover
Rewards -
100 XP
?
Failure -
Chiron and Grover finding out about you
Loss of respect
Accept / Decline?
...
Percy raised an eye at the question mark. It seemed as though he would get a random prize on completion. He shrugged as he reached out and tapped accept. As the screen disappeared, Percy settled himself into position and sure enough parts of the conversation were audible.
". . . . Percy acting strange," a voice he identified as Grover's said.
"Difficult . . . . camp . . . . time," another voice replied. This was definitely Chiron.
'Camp?' Percy thought. 'What about it?' Before he could dwell on it more, the conversation continued.
'"Kindly One in school . . . . . safety . . . . ," Grover continued now on the verge of panicking if his tone was anything to go by.
". . . . Sally . . . . quickly . . . . too late," Chiron replied.
Wait. Back up. What had his mother got to do with any of this? For the life of him, he could not seem to make head or tail of the conversation.
"Summer solstice . . . . thief . . . . . lightning bolt," Grover said. He seemed like he was almost at his wits end now. Whatever they were talking about was certainly unpleasant.
"Peace Grover, all we can do is wait and hope Percy is ready when the time is right," Chiron replied as suddenly Percy could hear things clearly. It seemed as though it was meant for him to hear as the conversation was in a hushed tone earlier but it was quite clear now.
Percy backed up slowly taking extra precaution so as to not get caught. He turned away and just as he was about to make a break for it, he froze when he heard a voice that chilled him to his very bones. Thankfully, Gamer's Mind got activated and he was able to straighten himself up immediately.
"The smell seems to be coming from here", he heard Alecto muse to herself as she suddenly materialised in his line of sight. Thankfully since he was still hidden, she did not sight him but it was only a matter of time before he was caught. It was now or never. Just as he got ready, another screen popped up.
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Return to room undetected.
Rewards -
100 XP
+2 LUC
Failure -
Death
Accept / Decline?
...
This was certainly a no brainer as he immediately accepted the quest. He looked up to see Alecto slowly making her way towards him as she searched around. Percy turned sideways and clung to the sides of the building, hoping to stay hidden in the shadows whilst being on the lookout for Alecto. Slowly he made his way around the building and backtracked to his dorm as something else suddenly caught Alecto's attention it seemed. Fate seemed to be on his side tonight if he was able to get out of there unharmed. He made his way to his room and settled in his bed, breathing a sigh of relief. Today was close and it brought more questions than answers.
Sighing Percy summoned his screen, taking in the plethora of notifications displayed.
...
Ping!
Notification 1 : Quest Complete!
Find Grover without getting caught
Rewards added.
DEX : 2 + 1 = 3 (+ 2)
XP : 210 + 70 = 10 / 428
Notification 2 : Level Up!
Level 6
HP : 250 + 50 = 300 / 300
MP : 250 + 50 = 300 / 300
2 ability points added.
Notification 3 : Quest Complete!
Eavesdrop on Grover and Chiron
Rewards added.
XP : 10 + 100 = 110 / 428
VIT : 2 + 1 = 3
Notification 4 : Quest Complete!
Return to room undetected.
Rewards added.
XP : 110 + 100 = 210 / 428
LUC : 3 + 2 = 5
Notification 5
Due to continuous use, sneaking has levelled up!
Sneaking (Level 2)
11% chance of not getting caught
11% chance of critical strike
Notification 6
New ability unlocked!
Running (Level 1)
Your sprint speed is at 24 km/hr. It is that of an average human.
...
Percy's eyes bugged at the amount of rewards and skills that he got from his adventure. This was certainly interesting. His abilities and skills were still quite low, he needed to work on those if he needed to become better. He was still scrawny and short for his age. There were lots of things he needed to start doing.
'No time like the present eh?', Percy asked himself. With that thought, he grabbed his pile of books with renewed vigor as he settled for another night of intense reading since sleep was no longer an issue. Somehow, he didn't need to sleep and never felt lethargic ever since he got this gaming system with him. This changed the way he functioned and he was loath to waste it even a little bit.
By the time Artemis had made way for Apollo to set out on his journey across the skies, Percy was finished with a night of focused reading. Sometime during the night Grover had arrived and seemingly dropped dead on his bed which Percy just ignored. As Percy got up to stretch and felt the various pops in his back, the notifications that he had been ignoring throughout the night popped up. He had read close to 8 books and had currently reached Grade 5 level of reading.
...
Ping!
Due to continuous reading, your Modern English has levelled up.
Modern English
Level 11 + 1 = 12 (-40% to all forms of English, +5% for every level gained)
Due to continuous reading, your Modern English has levelled up.
Modern English
Level 12 + 1 = 13 (-35% to all forms of English, +5% for every level gained)
Your intelligence has increased.
INT : 7 + 1 = 8
...
Percy swiped those boxes away and brought up his main stats.
...
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod
(gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. He has ADHD and Dyslexia which helps in combat and reading Ancient Greek respectively. He has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes.
Level - 6
Exp - 110 / 428
HP : 300 / 300 (+ 2000)
MP : 300 / 300 (+ 2000)
STR : 5 (+ 2 + 20)
VIT : 3 (+ 20)
DEX : 3 (+2 + 20)
INT : 8
WIS : 4
LUC : 5
Points : 2
Money : $50 / D0
...
Percy realised that he still needed to improve his stats since he was still at a low level and his HP and MP were nowhere near that of Grover. He needed to get strong. Fast. So he decided to spend the next week grinding his stats and at least reach level 7 in all his stats save for LUC. He had no idea how to increase that. Whilst he was at it, he could also improve his other abilities like water control and running. He assumed he would need more and more of those if he were to encounter any monsters. He could always increase his water control whilst swimming since that would replenish his MP and he would not have to worry about exhausting himself over and over again whilst he waited for his MP to regenerate. Happy with the plan, Percy finally noticed the screen floating in front him.
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Reach minimum Level 7 in all stats except LUC.
Rewards -
250 XP
$100
?
Failure -
Staying weak thereby dying early.
Accept / Decline?
...
The last part was quite ominous in Percy's opinion and he shuddered and the implications. With that in mind, he accepted the quest as he got ready for the coming week.
X.X
Timeskip - 1 week later, Friday
Percy panted as he finally finished his running for the day. It had been a week since he had started working harder than before. Not wanting to die was certainly a big motivator for him and he wanted to avoid that as much as he could. Thank you very much.
Nothing noteworthy happened during the week when it came to the people around him. He and Grover kept hanging out like usual while Chiron somehow started pushing him harder than ever to learn about Greek history. He was fairly certain now that his teacher was aware of his presence during the night he eavesdropped on his conversation with Grover but decided to not call out Percy on it. Alecto well, she was just being Alecto if that made any sense. She creeped him out more than anyone ever could and that was something coming from a boy who grew up in New York. He really did not want to recall his experience with her nor did he want to spend more time than necessary in her presence so he avoided detention as much as he could.
Whilst that was taken care of, his stats had been progressing steadily throughout the week. Overall he was quite happy. Just as he sat down to finally rest and wrap up the day, a notification popped up.
...
Ping!
Due to constant running, your DEX has increased.
DEX : 6 + 1 = 7 (+ 2 + 20)
Running levelled up!
Running (Level 3)
Your sprint speed is at 26 km/hr. It is that of an average human.
Percy breathed out a sigh of relief as the quest was finally over.
Ping!
Quest Complete!
Rewards added.
XP : 110 + 250 = 360 / 428
$ : 50 + 100 = $150
LUC : 5 + 3 = 8
...
That was certainly a sweet reward. He needed luck quite a bit given his track record of getting kicked out of schools for situations out of his control. His stats sheet now read :
...
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod
(gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. He has ADHD and Dyslexia which helps in combat and reading Ancient Greek respectively. He has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes.
Level - 6
Exp - 360 / 428
HP : 300 / 300 (+ 2000)
MP : 350 / 350 (+ 2000)
STR : 10 (+ 2 + 20)
(Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 7 (+ 20)
DEX : 7 (+2 + 20)
INT : 11
(Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 7
LUC : 8
Points : 2
Money : $50 / D0
Status : Demigod
Skills
Inherited :
Modern English (Level 16)
Ancient Greek (Max)
Swimming (Level 1 - 3 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Running (Level 3 - 26 km / hr)
General :
Observe (Level 3)
Sneaking (Level 2)
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max level)
Son of the Sea God
(Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 9 - 42 MP / Min)
...
He had made great strides and overall he was proud of himself. The bonuses provided on reaching base level 10 for his stats were a welcome addition. The number of books needed for levelling up his INT stat also greatly increased as he was gaining a higher level in it. While this was a bit troublesome, it had the added bonus that now he had started scoring well in class due to his rise in intelligence. From barely passing, he was now able to achieve a grade of C. Though it could still be improved, it was a start. His water control too had improved by leaps and bounds, he could now control water in a better manner without having to be in it and could now control and move large amounts of it by will though it still strained him a bit.
As Percy was walking back, he decided to take the long route to his dorm. This one led through some woods in the school premises which were against a backdrop of rocks. As he walked through the woods, he came across a barren patch of land near the rocks. While this wouldn't have been unusual, something told Percy that it was a good idea to go and probably inspect it. Ever since his intelligence increased, Percy was now able to think things in a better manner which was beneficial for him given his prior history in mindlessly charging into things sometimes hurting himself more than the other.
'Observe', Percy whispered to himself.
Just as he did, suddenly something protruded from the rock and a small section covering the 'thing' was destroyed. Percy walked closer cautiously and saw that the 'thing' was in fact a glowing blue Delta waiting to be pressed. Percy used 'Observe' again and his jaw dropped.
...
Ping!
You have spotted an entrance to the Labyrinth!
Available -
Dungeon (Level 5)
Do you wish to enter?
Yes / No?
...
Here, sitting right in front of him was the entrance to the damned labyrinth itself. To top it off, there seemed to be a dungeon as well, like the ones available in video games where you killed monsters to gain additional rewards and loot. This seemed interesting. He could come back tomorrow once he was refreshed and check it out. He pressed 'No' for now and returned to his room. On his way, a screen popped up.
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Clear your first dungeon.
Rewards -
200 XP
2 Ability Points
$1000
Failure -
Death
Accept / Decline?
...
Percy accepted the quest as he walked back to his room to finally have a good night's sleep after a long time.
You have slept in your own bed! All HP and MP restored.
Percy dismissed the screen as he woke up and yawned. Today he was going to head into the dungeon and he was brimming with excitement. After getting changed, he headed for breakfast. Today was an off thankfully which meant that he did not have to worry about the time. In case he got late, he could always sneak in.
As Percy entered the cafeteria, he noticed one important aspect rather, one lack thereof. It was completely devoid of life save for a handful students who were eating alone or chatting quietly. Percy made his way to the buffet table and Observed the food available. His logic was that since everything had the aspect of a game, consuming food would help restore HP and MP for him. On the table there were an array of meals but he took note of the ones that granted him the most HP and MP upon consumption. He looked around him and surely, all the students present were engaged in their own conversations or busy with something or the other. He quickly scooped up handfuls of food and dumped them into his inventory until he was satisfied. His inventory now read as :
...
Apple x 10 : Restores 20 HP
Banana x 10 : Restores 10 MP
Pancakes x 15 : Restores 20 HP and 20 MP
Hot Wings x 30 : Restore 10 HP
...
He put some food on a plate so as to not arouse suspicion and looked around to see who all were there. He saw Nancy sitting alone on one of the corner tables and he remembered the information he read about her when he used Observe on her. She was alone; needed someone in her life to be there for her and most importantly, she needed her parents. Percy walked up to her and slid onto the chair opposite to her.
"Hey Nancy", Percy greeted cheerfully.
"What are you doing here dork?" Was the immediate reply from the red head.
"Can't I get to know more about my bully?", Percy asked cheekily. He knew she was trying to push him away by showing a rough exterior but he wasn't going to let her. He wanted to have a little talk and slowly build up some trust.
"What is it in for you?", she asked with narrowed eyes.
Percy shrugged. "Should people have an ultimatum when speaking to others?", he asked.
"Not really but when it comes to freaks like you, who knows what's going on?".
"Come on Nancy, all this time and you can't even get my name right? It is Percy, P-E-R-C-Y, Percy. See it is easy to pronounce!"
"Honestly, how can you be so annoying and upbeat first thing in the morning Percy?"
"I don't know I guess it is how it is."
Nancy just shook her head at that having given up on trying to understand the sea-green eyed boy in front of her. He would be doing something and seemingly go off a tangent for no apparent reason leaving others scratching their heads.
"Seems like someone's warming up to me", Percy's voice rang out as she cleared her head of the thoughts.
"Fat chance. You're still an idiot Percy."
Percy mock clutched his heart in shock as he said, "that hurts".
Nancy smiled at that. She gave a true smile to Percy as she was amused with his antics. She had had a crush on him for a while now and could not never figure out how to talk to him so she resorted to bullying him or trying to avoid him just as 7-8 year old kids did.
By the time Nancy was done with her thoughts, Percy had already scarfed down the food and was up. "Well, I better get going, need to finish off some work today", Percy said. Technically, he wasn't lying since he did have to finish off the dungeon which would be classified as 'work' in his world.
Nancy looked a bit put out but schooled her expression before Percy could notice it. "See you around, Jackson".
With that over, Percy walked out and before heading towards the woods, he grabbed 5 bottles of water and chucked them into his inventory. He had an idea that if he was in a dire situation, he could always use the water to heal himself. Finally he walked out and reached the clearing to begin his first adventure as a demigod. As he pressed the delta, a screen popped up,
Labyrinth :
Dungeon (Level 5)
Percy pressed Dungeon. Immediately, the rock crumbled and a set of stairs heading into the Earth was revealed.
"Well, here goes", Percy said to no-one in particular as he descended the stairs. A few seconds later, the boulders magically sealed themselves, not leaving any evidence that it was in fact the entrance to one of the most dangerous places in the Greek Mythology.
Just as he finally reached level ground, small torches blazed to life in the corridor illuminating the area and the path forward in an eerie glow. To the side of what Percy assumed to be the starting area stood a medium sized chest. 'Must be the kind you get before missions,' Percy mused. He opened the chest and used Observe. Sure enough, there were :
...
Iron Sword x 1
Basic sword - 50 damage
Iron Shield x 1
Basic shield - 20/20 durability
Small Potion x 5
Restores 20HP
...
Percy was glad that he had gotten a weapon since he had initially just planned on fighting unarmed if it came to it. He quickly put the potions in his inventory and equipped the sword and shield.
He then made his way down the corridor as it expanded to accommodate more people. Torches lit automatically along its length casting just enough light to be able to see properly but not enough to call it bright. Just as he was walking forward with his shield raised in one hand and sword in the other, something fell from the ceiling in front of him.
It was a skeleton though several bones were missing from what Percy could see. It just carried a sword and a shield, nothing too special about it. Percy used Observe.
...
Skeleton - Level 5
Generic skeleton reanimated by necromancy.
HP 350
MP 150
Kill to gain - 25 XP
...
Percy eyed the skeleton, matching its stance with his own. Slowly, he approached it and just as they were a few feet apart, the skeleton suddenly dashed forward with its sword raised, aiming to impale Percy in one fell swoop. Percy to his credit instinctively raised his shield to block the oncoming attack and swung his sword trying to cut the skeleton from its other side. The skeleton, like Percy, raised its shield and blocked the strike. Following his instincts, Percy dropped back and let the skeleton charge him once again. This time, instead of raising his shield, Percy merely stepped to the left and dodged, letting the sword fly over his head while he slashed at the skeleton.
...
Weapon Damage - 50
Bonus Damage due to STR - 12
Total Damage - 50 + 12 = 62
...
Percy quickly dismissed the screen and did a quick math in his head. He needed to get in approximately 7 strikes before he could kill the skeleton or he could try to go for one of its vital points. In this case, the only vital point he could make sense of was its head.
Percy turned around and blocked another incoming strike with his shield as he again retreated. This time, he took a different approach. As the skeleton came at him again this time with an overhead strike, Percy used his strength to knock the blow off tangent and make the skeleton stumble. Capitalising on the opportunity, Percy then attacked it, cutting its head clean off like a hot knife passing through butter. The skeleton then crumpled to a heap of bones leaving behind one bone and a paper whilst the rest of its body and items seemingly got sucked by the ground.
Percy inspected the bone and for the life of him couldn't figure out anything special about it. He stored it in his inventory though since this was his first monster killed ever so it had a bit of sentimental value to it. Next, he inspected the piece of paper which suspiciously looked like a dollar note. He picked it up and sure enough, it was a $10 bill. He squinted and raised it at different angles to make sure that what he was seeing was actually true. Finding no issues with it, he put it in his inventory and sure enough, a notification popped up.
$ : 150 + 10 = 160
XP : 360 + 25 = 385
Percy grinned as his sea-green eyes sparkled with $ signs. If this was the level of enemies he was going to face, he would have no issues racking up money.
Percy raised his sword above his head and charged in with a war cry, "AHHH!"
5 minutes later,
"AHHHHH", Percy's screams of dread filled the corridor as a horde of skeletons chased him. This was so not how he imagined things going down.
As he had been running inside, several skeletons suddenly materialised on both his sides and at his back, blocking any retreat. There were approximately 20 of them. He would have liked to say that he stood his ground and faced them off like a brave person but he would be lying as he did the only thing that came to his mind, he bolted.
As he was running further inside the dungeon, he looked over his shoulder to see that 3 of the skeletons were easily able to keep up with him. He had an idea. He suddenly stopped, turned around and immediately swung his sword sideways at his head level. This sudden gesture didn't give the skeletons any time to react as they all fell into a mass of crumpled bones. Happy that the immediate danger had been dealt with, Percy quickly pocketed the drops.
...
$ : 160 + 30 = 190
XP : 385 + 75 = 32 / 640
Level Up!
Level 7
HP : 300 + 50 = 350 / 350
MP : 350 + 50 = 400 / 400
2 ability points added.
Ability Points : 2 + 2 = 4
...
Percy didn't have time as he swiped the screens away. The horde of skeletons were quickly approaching and he needed to do something about it quickly. There were still 17 left. He grabbed a bottle of water from his inventory and uncapped it. He willed the water out and formed a line covering the entire breadth of the passage they were in. With that, he sent the water at the horde at high speeds. The first three rows were immediately taken out of commission as the water pressure alone was enough to knock their heads out. The others were either stunned, rather as stunned as a skeleton can be, whilst some fell down.
MP : 400 - 42 = 358 / 400
Percy then lurched forward stabbing and killing the stunned zombies since the downed one would take a while to get back up. A few of them had lost their weapons as well so it was just easy pickings.
Soon, Percy was done with the horde. And had collected all the drops. He now had :
...
$ : 10 x 17 = 170 + 190 = 360
XP : 75 x 17 = 1275 + 32 = 1307 = 635 / 911
Level Up!
Level 8
HP : 350 + 50 = 400 / 400
MP : 400 + 50 = 450 / 450
2 ability points added.
Ability Points : 4 + 2 = 6
Iron Sword x 8
Iron Shield x 7
...
Looking at the stats, Percy was ecstatic to see that he had levelled up twice so quickly. In the past week, he had received hardly any XP but now it was raining points and money. Truly this was a good day. As he swiped away the screens, he almost missed the last notification. This was truly an important one, this skill would be the beginning of the legend whose skill in this weapon was almost unmatched, one who would give Gods, Titans and Giants a run for their money.
...
Due to constant use, new skill created.
Sword Fighting (Level 1)
Your skills with a blade
2% more damage with swords.
...
Percy needed this. Out of everything, this seemed to be the best skill he had unlocked till date. Quickly dismissing the screen, he walked to what seemed like the final chamber. As he entered it, a sight greeted his eyes that he had a hard time believing.
At the center of the chamber was a dias with a coffin of sorts with an eerie glow to it. Just by looking at it, Percy shivered. But, this wasn't what made him tongue tied. What really got to him was the figure standing over it with its arms raised.
It was about 2 metres tall with a crooked body. It wore a black armour with red lines engraved across it with sharp thorns everywhere. Two horns protruded from the helmet. The face was something that couldn't possibly be described. It had a disgusting, rotted face with empty eye sockets glowing with a flashing red light. To its side lay a huge rippled sword which was nearly 130 cm long coated in red and black fog. There was also a huge shield of the similar colour like its armour which appeared to be ¾ the size of its body. Percy also noticed a black stone glowing in one of its fingers as though it was being used for something on the coffin.
...
'Observe'.
Death Knight (Level 35)
Mid-tier undead servant of the Sorcerer King Ainz Ooal Gown.
HP : 20,000 / 20,000
MP : 5,000 / 5,000
...
As Percy read on, he slowly started looking at the figure with wide eyes, his mind going into a state of panic. Just before he could do anything rash, Gamer's Mind activated and he was once again grounded to reality.
In that time, the knight had discovered Percy's appearance and looked mad for some reason if the glowing eyes were anything to go by. It quickly picked up its sword and shield and walked towards Percy, ready to kill the transgressor who dared to interrupt its ritual to resurrect its master, the Sorcerer King - Ainz Ooal Gown.
...
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod
(gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. He has ADHD and Dyslexia which helps in combat and reading Ancient Greek respectively. He has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes.
Level - 8
Exp - 635 / 911
HP : 400 / 400 (+ 2000)
MP : 450 / 450 (+ 2000)
STR : 10 (+ 2 + 20)
(Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 7 (+ 20)
DEX : 7 (+2 + 20)
INT : 11
(Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 7
LUC : 8
Points : 6
Money : $360 / D0
Status : Demigod
Skills
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 1)
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Modern English (Level 16)
Swimming (Level 1 - 3 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Running (Level 3 - 26 km/hr)
General :
Observe (Level 3)
Sneaking (Level 2)
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max level)
Son of the Sea God
(Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 9 - 42 MP / Min)
Chapter 5: Exploration
Chapter Text
A/N
Just posting till Ch 10 or something to catch up a bit. Do read on.
x.x
Chapter 5
The knight walked around the coffin and towards Percy in a battle stance as it communicated its thoughts on Percy's presence. On the other hand, Percy searched for a way to kill this monster. He was not letting this mumbo-jumbo happen and neither was he going to back down from a fight.
Percy analysed the situation and decided to store his shield. The knight would be slow and heavy due to his armour and weaponry, Percy could use his superior speed to go in and attack it and step out before things could turn awry. He also summoned a water bottle and poured half of it on himself. Immediately, a screen popped up.
...
Son of the Sea God activated!
STR : 10 + 2 + 20 = 32
VIT : 7 + 20 = 27
DEX : 7 + 2 + 20 = 29
HP : 400 + 2000 = 2400
MP : 450 + 2000 = 2450
HP and MP restored. All status effects negated. Body healed.
...
Satisfied, Percy quickly dismissed the box. He needed to get a few critical hits in if he wanted to make it out of here alive since his damage was extremely low at the moment. As an afterthought, he chucked the bottle at the knight who, as he expected, cut the bottle letting the water spill on it. Percy grinned. This was exactly the time of advantage he needed at the start. He focused on his connection with the sea and willed the water to turn into multiple spikes and pierced them into the chinks of the knight's armor. The effects were immediate.
...
Notification 1
Spikes Damage : 500
Critical Damage : 300%
Total Damage : 500 x 300% = 1500
Death Knight
HP : 20,000 - 1,500 = 18,500
Percy
MP : 2450 - 41 - 100 - 25 = 2284
Notification 2
Due to constant use, Water Control has levelled up!
Water Control
(Level 10 - Cost 41 MP / Min)
Notification 3
Due to new skill created, Water Spikes has unlocked!
Water Spikes
(Level 1 - Cost 100 MP | Damage 500)
Create sharp spikes out of water to impale enemies.
Notification 4
Due to your mastery in Water Control, Water Manipulation has been unlocked!
Water Manipulation (Level 1 : 75 MP / min)
Manipulate water to form different shapes.
Notification 5
New skill unlocked!
Critical Strike (Level 1 : 300% damage)
Deal extra damage from hitting vital points of your enemies.
...
Percy knew that this attack would have some effect on the knight but to this extent? He could not fathom. Further, the water manipulation skill would be handy now since he needed all the help he could get and changing the forms of water would be helpful.
The attack seemed to annoy the knight more than anything. It did not make any sound whatsoever. It just continued on its path in order to beat Percy to a pulp. Percy was out of ideas so he just did the first thing that came to his mind - charge in, think later. He used his speed to maneuver around the knight as it continuously tried to impale Percy and started chipping away at the knights health. He was able to get in a few strikes until he got caught in the knight's shield and was blown back from the attack.
...
Sword Damage : 50 * 10 strikes = 500
Bonus STR damage : 32 * 10 = 320
Sword Fighting skill : 820 * 2% = 16
Total Damage : 500 + 320 + 16 = 836
Death Knight
HP : 18,500 - 836 = 17,664
Percy
HP : 2400 - 1000 = 1,400
Due to continuous use, Sword Fighting levelled up!
Sword Fighting (Level 2)
3% more damage with swords.
...
Percy was shocked, immediately Gamer's Mind activated and calmed him down. He just hit the knight so much, yet, he hardly made any damage to it. On the other hand, the knight reduced his health to nearly half with just a swing of its sword. Percy shuddered at the thought of the attack power of its sword. He then maintained some distance from the knight as he quickly thought of a plan. He needed to get rid of the sword first since it could outright kill him with one swipe. If the knight dropped the sword, he could in fact use it against the knight itself but he would need a window of opportunity for this since the knight also had a shield plus he needed to have increased strength to even lift the damned blade and he needed luck to pull it off. Percy then poured his ability points into LUC and STR.
...
STR : 14 + 2 + 20 = 36
LUC : 8 + 2 = 10
(Bonus : Chance of better loot +10%)
...
Satisfied, Percy was able to come up with a plan. He summoned all the remaining bottles from his inventory and dumped one over himself as he had dried up and needed the bonus.
HP and MP restored. All wounds healed.
He felt the bruise healing up and the pain from the blow fading away as he sighed. He then threw the remaining 3 bottles at the knight who, as expected, continued slashing at them until he too was drenched. This was what Percy needed. He willed all the water on its body to enter through one of the chinks in the knight's armour on its sword arm and had it settle over the joint that connected its arm to the rest of its body.
'Water Spikes', Percy yelled as he willed three different sets of spikes to rise within the Knight's armour.
Immediately, he was rewarded with the sound of iron clattering and a faint 'thump' as the sword arm of the knight was completely cut off from its body. The water had expanded into spikes and punctured through whatever the hell there was underneath the armour and managed to break it.
...
Spikes Damage : 500
Critical Damage : 300%
Total Damage : 500 x 300% = 1,500 * 3 = 4,500
Death Knight
HP : 17,664 - 4,500 = 13,164.
...
This caused the knight to suddenly kneel down and drop its shield as it clutched its right part of the body where an arm used to be. Percy then quickly willed the remaining water on the knight to form a veil around its eyes to temporarily blind it as he dashed forward seeing his opportunity. Percy reached near the sword grunting as he tried to lift the heavy blade. He was able to awkwardly hold the blade at an upwards angle as he brought it towards its neck and stabbed it.
...
Sword Damage : 5,000
Critical Damage : 300%
Total Damage : 5,000 * 300% = 15,000
Death Knight killed!
Dungeon cleared!
...
The knight almost immediately dissolved into a swirl of darkness and dissipated without a trace. There remained a few drops from the knight as Percy panted from the mental and physical toll this outing had taken from him, especially this fight. He knew he needed to end this fight quickly otherwise he would be Percy kebab. His clarity during the battle was outstanding as he menatlly patted himself.
Not wanting to stay in this place any longer, he quickly collected whatever he found around the place and looked for the glowing delta sign which had appeared sometime when he was collecting the loot. He pressed it and waited for a second as a set of stairs leading to the surface materialised. Percy ran up the stairs and was greeted by the evening sun as he reached the surface. He then plopped down on the grass as he rested his back against some boulders as he was still processing what had transpired. As the adrenaline rushed died down, Percy realised he was far more tired than he initially thought he was. For now, he didn't have the energy to go through the notifications that kept popping up. He ignored them and ran straight to his dorm room as he could feel sleep coming in. Just as he plopped on his bed, his eyes immediately fluttered close as he drifted into a dreamless sleep. He had stopped having dreams / nightmares ever since the gaming system popped up in his life. He didn't spend much time dwelling on it and had decided to accept it for what it was.
You have slept in your own bed! All HP and MP restored.
Percy woke up the following morning as he dismissed the screen out of habit. He was now refreshed and ready for the day. He recalled yesterday's fight and the notifications and decided to bring them up.
...
Notification 1
Quest Complete!
Clear your first dungeon.
Rewards added.
XP : 635 + 200 = 835 / 911
Ability Points : 0 + 2 = 2
$ : 360 + 1,000 = 1,360
Notification 2
Fast travel has now been unlocked!
Location : Yancy Academy
Notification 3
Due to effective use of your mind to come up with battle strategies, you gained 1 WIS.
WIS : 7 + 1 = 8
Notification 4
Rewards for killing Death Knight :
Death Knight's Sword
Death Knight's Shield
Resurrection Stone
XP : 835 + 2,000 = 674 / 1,663
$ : 1360 + 1000 = 2360
Notification 5
You have gained two levels!
Level 9
HP : 400 + 50 + 50 = 500 / 500
MP : 450 + 50 + 50 = 550 / 550
4 ability points added.
Ability Points : 2 + 2 + 2 = 6
Notification 6
Due to constant use, Water Manipulation has levelled up!
Water Manipulation
(Level 2 : Cost 74 MP / Min)
Notification 7
Due to constant use, Water Spikes has levelled up!
Water Spikes
(Level 2 - Cost 100 MP | Damage 550)
Notification 8
Due to constant use, Observe levelled up!
Observe (Level 4)
Observe now shows what people feel about you.
(Range : 10 levels above you and all levels below.)
...
Percy sat still as his jaw dropped. He did not know what to think of the amount of rewards and level ups he had received from one dungeon. This was way beyond his expectations and he did not know how to react. Before he could lose his thought, he quickly pressed on the resurrection stone and brought it from his inventory. Now that he had a closer look at it, he could see that it was in fact a pure black ring etched with diamonds throughout with a black stone set on it. The stone glowed purple as it gave him a feeling of death.
...
'Observe'.
Resurrection Stone
(Can resurrect anyone to fight on your side.)
(Upto 100 levels over wielder.)
(Upto 4 at a time.)
A stone blessed by Death. It allows its wielder to resurrect upto 4 spirits bound to it.
...
Percy just stared at it. This. This just changed things by a huge margin. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever imagine having power over death and being able to reincarnate someone and that too his ally which would be bound to him and follow his orders. He was visibly excited to try it out but he didn't want to tip off Grover about it. He turned around to see that the satyr was still asleep. He quickly got up, freshened up and ran to the clearing once again.
Percy stood at the clearing as he got the ring out yet again. He slipped it on his finger and to his surprise, it fitted perfectly. It seemed as though the ring adjusted its size for its new wielder. He did not know how to use it so he just went with his instincts and tried to connect with it just as he did with water. As he concentrated, he could feel the ring light up and glow brighter than before. Suddenly, spirit like things or visuals materialised in front of him. He recognised these as the ones who he had killed in the dungeon. The Death Knight was easy to spot due to its height. Percy simply pointed at it and willed the ring to connect with it. The other images then dissolved as a wind-like thing flew to his ring and then proceeded to expand until he saw the Death Knight kneeling in front of him on one knee.
"Will you listen to all my commands?",Percy asked hesitantly.
The knight simply nodded.
"Cool, keep your stuff then. I won't use it anyway", Percy replied as he summoned the sword and shield from the inventory. The knight graciously picked them up and nodded its head in acknowledgement.
"You can return now", Percy said. He still felt uneasy at the thought of commanding someone to do things as per his whims but he also needed someone to help out in tough situations. The latter part of his inner turmoil had won as he had reincarnated the knight. Seeing that he was done for now, Percy headed for breakfast. Seeing that he was early and it being a Sunday, there were fewer people than the last time he was here. Since he already had a lot of food stored in his inventory, he didn't need any more of it though he did stack up on 5 more bottles of water. He grabbed a plate and served himself breakfast fit for a king. He practically hadn't eaten since yesterday and he was starving. Percy looked around to see a familiar red hair waving at him from one of the corner tables. Percy raised an eye at that. Until yesterday, she was hostile towards him and now her attitude towards him had suddenly taken a 180 degree turn. He was glad though that he could be there for her and she thought of him as a friend now if anything else. He made his way to her table and slid in the seat opposite to her and gave her his soon-to-be signature lopsided smile. With that, breakfast passed.
Percy returned to his room to find Grover awake.
"Hey Perce, you ready for the museum trip tomorrow?", Grover asked.
"Huh? What trip?", the ever so intelligent Percy replied. Even though he did become wiser than before, he still had his self professed moments of stupidity; how someone could achieve this of both worlds was still beyond him but he somehow managed to pull it off.
"Our class trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Mr. Brunner. He announced it last week during Greek class."
"Huh, must've forgotten about it."
x.x
~ Next day ~
"Here we have a statue of Kronos as he ate his children", the voice of Mr. Brunner rang out as he obsessed over the Greek statues and paintings around the museum. "Can someone mention the significance of this event? I have asked this in class before, those paying attention would be able to answer it."
Percy ignored him as he looked around the museum trying to find something of interest. Ms. Dodds has also accompanied them for some reason and had been glaring a hole at his head since the start of the trip. He was annoyed by the constant icy stare and his ADHD too hadn't been helping. He simply could not focus, not until he saw something that made him grin ear to ear.
"Mr. Brunnner", Percy interrupted Chiron.
"Yes Mr. Jackson?"
"What is this painting about?"
Chiron to his credit had somehow managed to react outwardly as he managed to keep a poker face at this. Mrs. Dodds on the other hand was another story altogether.
"This picture represents Hades along with the Three Kindly Ones who help him watch over the Underworld", Chiron said carefully. Percy ignored the tone.
"So he basically created three bats to look over a place of death? What exactly do they even do other than hang upside down?" Just as the words left his mouth, he felt a sudden spike in power and a feeling of intense hatred directed towards him. However, Percy simply ignored it and continued, "I mean come on, how can these old people do anything anyway? Shouldn't they simply, I don't know, retire?"
By now, Alecto was seething. No mortal or demigod had ever had the guts to insult her or her sisters. Those who did were dragged to the Underworld, granting them an early death, where they were punished for it. Even though they weren't extremely powerful, they still had a lot of authority since they directly worked under Hades.
"Mr. Jackson", Chiron said in a warning tone trying to placate the situation.
"Honey", the sweet voice of Alecto drifted out.
Percy turned towards her and gave a sickeningly sweet smile as he matched her tone, "Yes, Ms. Dodds?"
By now, Grover had gone into a full blown panic as his face adopted a look of horror.
"Come, I need to have a word with you. Alone", as she eyed Chiron.
Chiron seemed apprehensive to leave Percy and Alecto alone. Even Grover would not be much of a match against a Fury. On the other hand, he needed to get the mortals out of danger as well since only he and Alecto were here, he had to escort them out. He was stuck in this dilemma until he caught Percy's eye. Percy discreetly nodded, conveying that everything would be fine and he didn't need to worry about it. Truth was, Percy was shared shitless but he also needed to get rid of her since she kept a constant eye on him and that she was a constant danger to him. Percy was certainly not okay with a monster so close to him and since his escapades yesterday, he devised that he had a fighting chance if not outright death.
The group then moved forward as Percy and Alecto moved to a remote part of the museum.
"It was only a matter of time before we found you Perseus Jackson", Alecto started. Welp, that did not bode well. Whenever someone used his full name, it usually meant that trouble was brewing and considering the fact that he was the one to instigate it in this case was really no brainer. He should have really thought this through instead of just outright instigating and challenging a Fury.
"I knew I smelled the sea on you but I did not know for sure. However, since the last few days, the scent seemed to be getting stronger. Initially, the master wanted to confirm what he had heard but now that you have revealed what you know, I shall first claim your soul and then inform the master about it. No one in their right mind would antagonise a Kindly One."
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Kill Alecto.
Rewards -
500 XP
$1000
?
Failure -
Death
Accept / Decline?
...
"So you're just a puppet?" Percy asked, completely ignoring her rant as he accepted the quest.
"Silence", Alecto bellowed as her eyes began to glow like barbecue coals. Her fingers stretched, turning into talons. Her jacket melted into large, leathery wings and claws and a mouth full of yellow fangs, and she looked ready to slice him into ribbons.
"Have you considered visiting a dentist? Because you really need to", Percy blurted out. Alecto hissed as she got angrier.
...
New skill unlocked, Taunt.
Taunt (Level 1)
Make your enemies angrier. Increase their chance of making a mistake by 5%.
...
This was exactly what he needed. Just as Alecto flapped her wings and jumped towards Percy, he pulled out his sword and shield seemingly out of thin air. He was able to deflect the first blow with his shield but got staggered in the process.
"What kind of sorcery is this?!", Alecto hissed. "Never mind because you would be dead."
As Percy prepared for her next attack, he realised that the shield had already been dented. He decided to keep it for the time being since it still offered some protection. Alecto suddenly grabbed the shield as she yanked it back. She was stronger than she looked as Percy with his level of strength was unable to hold it. She then proceeded to throw it away and then immediately slashed her claws across his chest, drawing blood.
HP : 500 - 300 = 200
Percy did not have the water bonus for his health. He had less than half his health and she could now basically one-shot him. That was not a happy thought, not in the least. He tried swinging his sword at her but it seemed to just pass through her. Percy drew a look of confusion and horror as the blade did not affect her in the least. Seeing his stupid expression, Alecto hissed with laughter or it so seemed.
"Foolish demigod, only a blade of godly origins can harm me", she explained.
'What was it with evil people explaining their own weakness?' Percy thought to himself. He however had more pressing issues. How can he harm her then?
Suddenly, Chiron appeared near one of the entrances still in his wheelchair.
"Percy, use this!" he exclaimed as he threw a pen at him.
Percy looked at Chiron as though he was an idiot. If a sword couldn't harm Alecto, how the Hades would a pen do? What would he do? Write on her with it or poke her with it? He had decided that if he died here, he would torment Chiron till the end of his days. He sighed as he uncapped the pen.
Immediately, it sprang into a beautiful 3 feet long blade which was shaped like a leaf. It was a shimmering bronze sword with a double-edged blade, a leather-wrapped grip and a flat hilt riveted with gold studs.
Percy did not have time to admire its beauty as his body suddenly moved on its own accord as he dodged a slash aimed at his head. He rolled sideways and got up with the sword ready. Alecto then flew right at him again this time ready to kill him for good. Percy went with his instincts as he stepped towards the side and brought the blade down from Alecto's shoulder to her other hip. The blade passed through her like a hot knife through butter. She then exploded into yellow powder and was no more. As the battle high faded, Percy looked around to see if there was anyone else only to find that he was alone. Chiron too had disappeared.
His wound was still bleeding so he summoned a bottle of water from his inventory and poured it over himself feeling the cuts close and his HP restore. He then looked at the blade and used 'Observe'.
...
Anaklusmos
Forged by the Cyclopes, tempered in the heart of Mount Etna and cooled in the River Lethe, the sword contains the immortal power of Zoë Nightshade, one of the Hesperides. Hercules was its former owner.
200 damage, 2% chance to instantly kill.
Bonus : 2x Damage to Monsters.
...
Percy whistled. Now that he had a good look at it, this sword was beautiful in its own aspect. It even seemed to glow as though it was familiar with him. Little did he know that the sword was most effective when wielded by those of the sea. Percy then noted the notification that had since popped up.
...
Quest Complete!
Kill Alecto!
Rewards added.
XP : 674 + 500 = 1174 / 1663
$ : 2360 + 1000 = 3360
Mark of the Furies (tap for more information)
...
Creeped out, Percy reached out and tapped it.
...
Mark of the Furies (Level 1)
Grants shapeshifting powers. Can alter minor physical attributes. Effects increase with increase in proficiency.
...
Percy gaped. That was... unexpected. He realised that he needed to get out of here quickly since Chiron must be waiting for him outside. He quickly summoned his Resurrection Ring and got Alecto back.
"Master", she bowed.
He acknowledged her presence and then called her back into the ring as he was in a hurry. He would talk to her later about this change as he stored the ring back into the inventory. He didn't want people knowing about it since its appearance itself was outwardly. That was a bomb he wanted to avoid as much as he could.
With that over, Percy walked out of the museum as though nothing happened.
"Percy, where were you?", asked Nancy.
"In the museum, having a word with Ms. Dodds?" Percy replied though it came out more as a question since it did happen right in front of her.
"Who is Ms. Dodds?"
"Our new math teacher?"
"We never got one, what are you even blabbering about? Have you finally lost it?"
By now, Percy was more confused than anything. He needed answers and he reckoned that there was one person who could answer it better than anyone else. He excused himself and made his way to Chiron.
"Thanks for the pen", Percy said as he offered the pen/sword back to Chiron.
"Keep it. It is of more use to you than me Mr. Jackson and don't worry about losing it. It will always return to its owner", Chiron explained.
Percy nodded gratefully. This sword was far better than the iron one he had been using in the dungeon the day before. It was like a power upgrade if he had to say something about it. As Percy looked at the pen, it may have been a trick of the light but it seemed to be glowing with excitement. Unknown to Percy, the sword had craved the presence of the sea and now finally after thousands of years it finally had it. What better source than the son of the sea God himself?
"I still need to know why no one can remember Ms. Dodds", Percy said.
"Who are you talking about?"
"Do you really want to go down that line?", Percy said as he leaned near his ear and whispered, "Chiron?"
Chiron on his part sat shell shocked. Never in his life would he have imagined to be discovered so easily and by a twelve year old more less! Chiron quickly schooled his features and replied, "We will talk about it once we're back".
Satisfied, Percy nodded as he went back to the mass of students.
~Timeskip : Back to school in Chiron's room~
"So Percy, how did you know about Alecto?", Chiron asked as Grover stood nearby eating an apple nervously.
"Trade secrets", Percy quipped. He wasn't letting anyone in on the fact that they literally had giant floating identification bubbles over their heads in his eyes.
"And do you know what you are?"
"Demigod".
It looked as though him having the knowledge of his birth and origins was something that they did not count on as Grover was almost ready to faint from the revelation. His worry had skyrocketed since Percy's aura seemed to grow more potent and could easily match that of one of the children of the Big Three. He did not want another failure and he needed to save Percy's life as well.
"Speak to your mother. Tell her Chiron says 'It's time', she will understand. The summer break starts tomorrow and the earlier this is taken care of, the better it is."
Done with the conversation, Percy proceeded to walk back the clearing near the entrance to the Labyrinth and idlelly scrolled through his stats, inventory and the likes when suddenly an epiphany hit him. His inventory box could hold anything of any size as long as Percy could lift it and put it inside, Percy remembered. So in the event someone tried to shoot him or throw a knife at him, he could practically increase the size of the box and store everything in it immediately. Realising this, Percy felt like an idiot.
...
Ping!
For finding another loophole in the system through your logical thinking as well as realising your self-admitted moment of being an idiot, WIS has increased.
WIS : 8 + 1 = 9
...
Percy's eye twitched. This game had its own sick sense of humour.
x.x
~Timeskip : Outside Percy's apartment~
Percy stood in front of his apartment with clear reluctance and disdain on his face. He was apprehensive to enter as he now would have to meet an animal in human skin. He wouldn't have entered this place if it weren't for his mom. He reached out and knocked on the door.
Just a moment later, Sally came out to greet him in all her glory as the Goddess of Moms, Blue Food and most importantly, Blue Cookies. According to Percy, no one could ever match up to her. She was simply too good for this world and sometimes even wondered whether she was real to begin with. She was that amazing.
"Percy!", Sally greeted with a huge smile on her face as she immediately enveloped her baby in a tight hug.
"I had missed you so much, you have certainly grown quite a bit since I last saw you", she said appraisingly.
Percy to his credit blushed at the praise. He had certainly become a bit more developed ever since he discovered the gaming system and his origins. Even though it had hardly been a month, there were still faint traces of muscles being developed and Percy no longer looked frail as his body became healthier.
"It's good to see you too Mom", he replied with a matching grin. However, that grin was knocked off his face as he noticed something on her face that he previously hadn't. There was a bruising on her face which was still being healed as though someone had hit her. It didn't take a genius to add up the facts as immediately Percy adopted a look of rage on his face.
"Where is he?" he growled.
"Honey, it is alright. You don't have to worry - ", Sally tried before she was cut off.
"This is the final straw. He hit you. The moment he did, he was gone. Till I was there, it was fine but not anymore", Percy growled as his previously calm, beautiful sea green eyes turned into a harsher and darker shade of green, the color of a storm brewing. A storm, which would destroy everything in its path with nothing to stop it. The storm's target was Gabe and today would be his final day.
"Mom, please grab the bags and go sit in the car", Percy managed to say calmly. They were supposed to go to Montauk today as their custom and the day had already been ruined. Sally wanted to protest but knew that there was no stopping her son, not right now. She wasn't that worried for him against Gabe since what could a mortal do against the son of a God? She just nodded, grabbed their bags and walked out of the apartment.
"I am not comfortable with what you are doing dear and I would still implore you to forget about it", Sally tried.
"No mom, this I have to do", was the immediate reply as he turned towards the open apartment door.
"Sally? What the hell is taking you so long to get me a beer? Do you want me to come over there and whip you into obedience?", shouted Gabe from within the apartment. Little did he know that he had already signed his death warrant and was soon going to go on a date with him to the Underworld. Percy was going to make sure of that.
Percy then proceeded to walk into the apartment as he noted the discarded beer bottles, pizza boxes and many other things that littered the place. He saw the animal sitting on the couch watching tv.
"Oh so you're back punk", he said.
Percy didn't reply and merely stayed quiet as he proceeded to think about a way to kill this filth.
"Are you deaf? Or should I kill that bitch mother of yours to teach you some lesson? Or better yet, should I teach her a lesson so that she knows how to raise her kid right?"
By now Percy was seething. Never had anyone tested his patience like this animal did. He suddenly felt it, it was fleeting and could've been easily missed but he caught the rope of connection like he did when he had tried to control water. This time round, the connection seemed to be of water but it was of a form which was something far more potent : blood.
...
Ability unlocked, Blood Control!
Blood Control (Level 1)
Control the flow of blood within any being.
(Cost : 150 MP / min | Range : All levels below you)
...
Percy used this new connection as he felt the flow of blood within Gabe's body.
"I will use these two same hands to discipline her as I did a few days ago. She would not stop sobbing. She needs to be trained", the animal continued.
Percy reached out and commanded the blood flowing into Gabe's right hand to pump faster and then he made it stop there. As more and more blood started flowing in with the rest of it not being circulated, the hand started to expand as it suddenly burst into a shower of bones, flesh and red liquid. Percy being extra precautious had already summoned some water and commanded it to form a gag over Gabe's mouth to avoid any sound going out. Gabe screamed himself hoarse as tears fell uncontrollably from his face. He clutched the stump which was formerly his hand and kept crying but Percy was not going to have any of it. He felt the blood in the other hand and commanded it to do the same as the other hand which was clutching the place where the first used to be also broke like the former. Gabe was now holding both stumps in front of him with his eyes wide as he kept screaming in shock and crying in pain.
Percy eventually had enough of it as he made all the blood spontaneously clear the heart as it stopped beating. Since there was no more blood pumping to the brain or the heart, the body stopped responding as Gabe's eyes rolled back and he felt forward with a thump. Percy willed the blood to carry Gabe as he opened his inventory and chucked his body in it. He was going to have a few 'words' with Poseidon when he met him next.
The apartment was a mess with Gabe's blood and former hand all over the place. Percy opened a bottle of water and willed the water to clear all the blood and gore from the apartment as he flushed all evidence away.
Percy had kept a hard face on throughout the whole situation but couldn't stop thinking about what he had just done. This wasn't something he'd ever do or anyone his age should be exposed to but this needed to be done or else his mother would be hurt. This was the easiest choice he had to ever make and he didn't hesitate. Percy then walked out of the apartment, closing it behind him as this place held nothing more than nightmares. He would need to help find a new place for his mom and wouldn't mind doing so.
He finally reached the car and sat with mom. No words were exchanged, they didn't need to. Both knew how the other felt due to the bond only a mother and son could. The car ride to Montauk was a quiet affair, neither wanted to break the peaceful silence they had settled in. Soon, they reached their cabin and settled in.
It was nearly evening when Percy and Sally were in the kitchen. Suddenly, the door burst open as Percy immediately leapt on his feet summoning Riptide and stood protectively in front of his mom. As the figure looked up, Percy recognised the familiar face.
"What the hell Grover?", Percy blurted out before he could think of anything else.
Grover was scared more than ever as he looked at Sally and said the words she never thought she had to hear, "We need to get him to camp right now. It is coming after him."
Sally immediately understood as she left everything, took the car keys and grabbed Percy as she dragged him towards the car while Grover followed closely behind.
"Mom, what's going on?" Percy asked, a little fearful.
"Honey, I am taking you to a place where you will be safe. Your father asked me to take you to it at the earliest possible but I did not want you so far away from me. I tried to keep you as long as I could but it seems that the time has come for you to stay there", Sally replied.
"Perce, it is a camp where more demigods like you live and train", Grover supplied. "Right now, we need to reach that place since you are at risk right now."
...
Quest Alert!
Reach camp safely!
Rewards -
XP 1000
New friends
+2 ability points
Failure -
Destruction of the world
Death
Accept / Decline?
...
Percy stared at the screen. Why on earth did the safety of the world depend on him reaching camp? He did not have time to dwell as he accepted the quest. The system really had a sick sense of humour or it was being correct Percy did not know. For now, he needed to reach this camp quickly.
Rain had suddenly started pouring down and the visibility had reduced significantly. Sally was able to expertly navigate the roads as she gunned the engine.
Suddenly, an inhumane roar tore through the rain and Grover turned white as a sheet.
"Grover, what is that?", Percy asked fearfully. Before his emotions could rise further, Gamer's Mind took control once again as Percy immediately calmed down.
"We just need to reach quickly", Grover replied.
Suddenly, a tree came flying out of nowhere and landed on the road ahead of them almost hitting the car. Sally swerved as she tried to avoid the tree in front whilst keeping control of the car. However, the car skidded off the road and ended up on the side of the road, unable to move.
"Everyone out, quickly!", Sally screamed. This was unlike his mother to be so panicked. Percy quietly complied as he kicked open the door and helped Grover out.
Suddenly out of the woods a tall silhouette appeared. Lightning cracked as the figure was now revealed.
It was seven feet tall. It's arms and legs were bulging with muscles he couldn't even begin to name. It wore no clothes except under-wear. All that was fine. The issue was with its upper body. Coarse brown hair started at about its belly button and got thicker as it reached its shoulders. Its neck was a mass of muscle and fur leading up to its enormous head, which had a snout as long as his arm, snotty nostrils with a gleaming brass ring, cruel black eyes, and enormous black and white horns. Percy immediately recognised it though Grover was the one to voice it albeit hesitantly.
"M-M-Minouatur", Grover blabbered.
"RUN", Sally screamed.
The trio ran towards a hill where a pine tree stood tall and mighty. As they ran, the Minotaur charged at them and swung its massive axe. Sally and Percy managed to avoid it but Grover was unlucky as he got caught on the flat of its blade thankfully and was sent sprawling upwards.
"Grover", Percy screamed. Seeing his best friend get hurt made Percy's concern skyrocket. He kept running as he reached Grover and hauled him up. Sally supported him with Grover in between them as they carried Grover up the hill.
The Minotaur suddenly charged again but this time it reached out with his hand and suddenly grabbed Sally as she was trying to dodge the swinging axe. Just as he got a hold of her, Percy watched with dread as Sally's face converted into that of extreme fright. He watched as the Minotaur squeezed his mother in its hand as she writhed in pain when suddenly she burst into a golden light and disappeared. At that, the world stopped for Percy. He looked around, trying to find his mother but saw no sign of her. Dread settled in but more than that, anger was at the surface. This monster had just taken his mother from him. It was not going to survive.
Percy unceremoniously dropped Grover as he summoned Riptide and the Resurrection Stone. He connected to the ring and summoned the Death Knight. He needed all the help he could get. His anger kept going up as he replayed the dreadful moment again and again. Suddenly, he felt another tug in his gut but unlike last time, it was strong. He reached and connected to it as he suddenly felt the storm around him and the location of each drop of water as it felt on the Earth below.
You are in contact with water! All water related bonuses activated!
Percy ignored the notification as he willed the water to fall even more, battering the entire place with rain.
"Attack him", was the simple order from Percy as the Death Knight charged at the minotaur. Whilst they were locked in a battle with none of them gaining an upper hand. In his anger induced state during the battle, he gained greater clarity and control as he took note of all his surroundings.
Percy willed multiple spears to form from water as he recalled the Death Knight. He willed the spears to attack the Minotaur at high speeds, each finding its mark. The Minotaur's knees shattered first as it fell on the ground, then its arms were pierced in multiple places and the axe fell on the ground as the nerves connecting to its hands were destroyed. Percy then walked to the Minotaur and looked at it with hate with his dark green eyes swirling like the storm around him. He raised Riptide and brought it down as the blade passed through everything with hardly any resistance - it severed one of the Minotaur's horns and continued on its path as it finally dug into the Minotaur's neck, finally killing the monster. As per custom, the Minotaur burst into a yellow substance as it disappeared.
...
Ping!
Inherited Skill unlocked, Control Storms!
Storms (Level 1 : Summon a few clouds, providing light rainfall. Cost : 500 MP)
As the son of Poseidon, you have control over storms.
New ability unlocked, Water Spear!
Water Spear (Level 1 : Cost 50 MP / spear | Damage 100)
Make a spear out of water.
...
Percy threw the horn of the Minotaur into his inventory, dismissing the notifications as he ran back to Grover. The storm was over as Percy receded control over it and the rain turned into a drizzle. He quickly picked up Grover as he walked up the remaining few metres up the hill. As he passed the tree, he felt some resistance until it disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared.
...
Ping!
Quest Complete!
Reach camp safely.
Rewards added.
XP : 1174 + 1000 = 511 / 160
Ability Points : 6 + 2 = 8
Level Up!
Level 11
HP : 500 + 50 = 550 / 550
MP : 550 + 50 = 600 / 600
Ability Points : 8 + 2 = 10
...
In the distance, Percy could see a large building which he assumed must be a house. He walked towards it and as he reached its stairs, he dumped Grover as he too fell beside him. Killing Gabe, losing his mother and then the fight with the Minotaur had finally taken a toll on him - menatlly and physically. Just as he was about to temporarily drift into the world of the dead, two faces filled his vision. One was a familiar-looking bearded man, the other was a pretty girl, her blonde hair curled like Cinderella's. They both looked at him as he heard the girl say, "He's the one. He must be."
With that, Percy's world went black.
x.x
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod
(gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. He has ADHD and Dyslexia which helps in combat and reading Ancient Greek respectively. He has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes.
...
Level - 11
Exp - 511 / 2160
...
HP : 550 / 550 (+ 2000)
MP : 600 / 600 (+ 2000)
...
STR : 14 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 7 (+ 20)
DEX : 7 (+2 + 20)
INT : 11 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 9
LUC : 10 (Bonus : +10% chance of better loot)
Points : 10
Money : $3360 / D0
...
Status : Demigod
...
Skills
...
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 2)
...
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Modern English (Level 16)
Swimming (Level 1 - 3 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Running (Level 3 - 26 km / hr)
Storms (Level 1)
...
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 2)
Critical Strike (Level 1)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 1)
...
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max level)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
...
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 10)
Water Spikes (Level 2)
Water Manipulation (Level 2)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 1)
x.x
A/N
And that's the end of the chapter. I introduced quite a few essential skills in this chapter and we're onto the canon now. Of course there will be some changes to it so looking forward to that.
Do favourite and review!
Welp, that's that.
Until next time.
Chapter 6: New Family
Chapter Text
Chapter 6: New Family
Percy groaned as he woke up, instinctively swiping away the screen that popped up in front of him. His body somehow felt weak as though he didn't have any muscles and just the act of moving would exhaust it. He tried to gain some level of clarity in regards to his surroundings but so far was failing as everything still seemed jumbled up until the recently transpired events hit him. Montauk, the fight with the Minotaur, carrying Grover to the big house and most of all his mother disappearing. He did not know what had happened to her or what the yellow particles signified. For all purposes, she may have died or worse, something else must've happened to her. Before he could start panicking for her, Gamer's Mind kicked in and instantly calmed his worried mind.
"Relax Perce, don't strain yourself", a familiar voice rang out.
Percy turned around to see Grover sitting beside his bed with an orange t-shirt on. That was okay but what shocked him was the brown fur poking out from his legs and the hoof present instead of a human foot that he had.
Seeing Percy's face and the unasked question, Grover explained, "Yes, I am a satyr but you already knew that didn't you? And yes, I have a hoof as a foot."
Percy just nodded along. After all that had transpired till now, he wasn't exactly surprised anymore. Just then he realised he was thirsty, he looked around for some water and sure enough, beside him lay a tall glass of what seemed like iced-apple juice, with a green straw. He gently grabbed and brought the straw to his lips and drank the juice. However, the taste he had expected was completely different from the one he was currently experiencing. He tasted his mom's homemade blue chocolate-chip cookies but in liquid form as she sometimes gave it to him. The taste was exactly the same and he tried not to start crying again since he missed her so much right now.
"Perce, I am so sorry", Grover started snapping Percy out of his thoughts.
"Why?", Percy asked.
"I was supposed to protect you and I - I failed. I couldn't do anything except get whacked around when the Minotaur came and both of you had to carry me because of which your mother might be dead. I literally did nothing", Grover replied with tears now starting to form on his face.
"G-man, this isn't your fault, relax. I too was terrified but the only reason why we could make it was because of what happened, it would've been difficult to beat it otherwise." Percy didn't blame Grover in the least and didn't want his best friend to keep getting bothered by it.
"Alright. By the way, how are you feeling now?"
"Like I could kill the monster once again but more easily this time."
"That's good. Come on, can you get up? Mr.D and Chiron are waiting for you."
"Mr. D?"
"You'll see."
Percy then got out of bed and stumbled a bit but rightened himself quickly. They walked out of the room and onto the porch at the back of the house Percy had seen from the hill when he had been carrying Grover. Percy caught his breath. They must've been on the north shore of Long Island, because on the side of the house, the valley marched all the way up to Long Island Sound, which glittered about a mile in the distance. The landscape was dotted with buildings that looked like Ancient Greek architecture - an open air pavilion, an amphitheatre, a circular area - except they all looked brand new, their white marble columns sparkling in the sun. In a nearby sandpit, a dozen high school-age kids and satyrs played volleyball. Canoes glided across a small lake. Kids in bright orange T-shirts like Grover's were chasing each other around a cluster of cabins nestled in the woods. Some shot targets at an archery range. Others rode horses down a wooded trail, and, unless Percy was hallucinating, some of the horses had wings.
Down at the porch, two men sat across from each other at a card table. The blonde haired girl who he had seen briefly was leaning on the porch rail next to them.
The man facing Percy was small, but porky. He had a red nose, big watery eyes and curly hair so black that it was almost purple. He wore a tiger-pattern Hawaiin shirt, and he would've fitted right in at one of Gabe's poker parties, except Percy got the feeling that this guy could've out-gambled Gabe too. Even though he was not a role model when it came to a human physique, there was some sort of hidden danger to him. Percy used Observe and his mouth dropped in surprise.
...
Dionysus - god of wine, fertility and theatre
HP : ?
MP : ?
...
Before Grover could say anything, Percy beat him to it.
"Dionysus", Percy said.
Dionysus for his part raised an eyebrow as he looked at Percy somewhat with interest. "This is the first time someone has been able to identify me so quickly. How did you know me?"
He either seemed to be looking for praise or smite Percy if he deemed Percy 'dangerous'. Percy decided to go big as per custom.
"Even though you may seem lazy, you command authority and power underneath. With the tiger pattern shirt and the way the plants seem to come alive around you narrows down the list marginally to one god - Dionysus, god of wine, fertility and theatre."
A ghost of a smile etched on Dionysus usually scowl face. He seemed to buy his excuse and seemed quite pleased with the way Percy described him.
"You have taught this brat well Chiron. What is your name?" he said before turning to Percy.
"Perseus Jackson but call me Percy".
"Very well Percy. Welcome to Camp Half Blood. Hope you don't die soon, it would be a shame since you're the first demigod in quite a while who seems to have caught a little bit of my interest."
All the while, the blonde haired girl listened to the conversation with wide eyes. This was the first time she had ever seen the usually irritable god have a friendly conversation with someone, much less a demigod, who it seems he disliked having around. This boy was certainly an interesting person. He did something no one ever could and this in itself was enough for her to try and get to know him. She had already started coming up with plans to speak to him later or quiz him on different topics; she would've taken some notes but alas, someone HAD to interrupt her planning as she snapped out of her thoughts at the mention of her name.
"... and this is Annabeth", Grover finished.
Annabeth glared at Grover who squirmed under her gaze much to her satisfaction. Percy on the other hand, seemed quite enthralled by her.
Just as Grover had introduced Percy to Annabeth, Percy had a good look at the girl who had said those words before he had passed out from the day's events at the entrance of the house. She seemed to be his age, probably a couple of centimeters taller, and a whole lot more athletic looking. With her deep tan and her curly blonde hair, she was almost exactly what he thought a stereotypical California girl would look like, except her eyes ruined the were a startling grey, like storm clouds; pretty but intimidating too, as if she were analysing the best way to take him down in a fight.
Annabeth then turned to Percy who fully expected her to compliment him for taking down the Minotaur but his expectations were wrapped up, locked and thrown into the deepest trenches of the ocean.
"You drool when you sleep", was all that she said as she turned around and sprinted off down the lawn, her blonde hair flying behind her.
"Well, I'll go and have a nap before the evening sing-along", Dionysus said as he finished his game and walked off inside the house.
"Come Percy, I will show you around the camp", Chiron said as he rose from his wheelchair to his centaur form. He stretched a bit if that's what centaur's did as he breathed a sigh of relief.
Percy first passed the volleyball pit. He could make out several campers nudging each other at pointing at him none too subtly. He could not hear what they were saying but it was probably related to the events that had transpired recently.
Percy then looked back at the farmhouse. It was a lot bigger than he had realised - four storeys tall, sky blue with white trim, like an upmarket seaside resort. Moving forward, they walked through the strawberry fields, where campers were picking out brussels of berries while a satyr played a tune on a musical instrument which looked like a reed pipe Percy guessed. Chiron had told him that the camp grew a nice crop for export to New York restaurants which paid for their expenses. Moreover, growing strawberries didn't take any effort whatsoever. Percy guessed it was due to Dionysus' presence that the fruit bearing plants became even better in quality than they could.
The duo then moved towards the woods which Percy realised was bigger it looked from the distance. It took up at least a quarter of the valley, with extremely tall and thick trees.
"The woods are filled with monsters. If you want to train, you should be armed and I recommend having a few people with you in case things go south", Chiron said.
They continued to the archery range, the canoeing lake, the javelin range, the sing-along amphitheatre, the mess hall which was an outdoor pavilion framed in white Grecian columns on a hill overlooking the sea with a dozen picnic tables, and the arena where Chiron said they held sword and spear fights.
Finally, they came to the cabin area. There were twelve of them, nestled in the woods by the lake. They were arranged in a U, with two at the base and five in a row on either side. And they were without doubt the most bizarre collection of buildings Percy had ever seen.
Except for the fact that each had a large brass number above the door (odds on the left side, evens on the right), they looked absolutely nothing alike. Number nine had smokestacks like a tiny factory. Number four had tomato vines on the walls and a roof made out of real grass. Seven seemed to be made of solid gold, which gleamed so much in the sunlight it was almost impossible to look at. They all faced a common area about the size of a soccer field,, dotted with Greek statues, fountains, flower beds, and a couple of basketball hoops.
In the centre of the field was a huge stone-lined fire pit. Even though it was a warm afternoon, the hearth smouldered. A girl about nine years old was tending the flames, poking the coals with a stick. However, Percy felt a warmth coming from the girl herself which piqued his curiosity. He quickly used Observe and well, for the second time of the day, his mouth fell open.
...
Hestia - goddess of hearth and family
HP : ?
MP : ?
...
He excused himself from Chiron's tour as something in him told him to go and meet her. He followed his instincts since they had been right till now and walked over to her. He approached the little girl and sat beside her making sure to keep a little distance out of respect for the goddess.
"Lady Hestia", Percy said with a bow of his head.
The goddess in question looked at Percy with surprise in her glowing eyes of fire which danced with warmth and compassion.
"And who might you be, young demigod?"
"Perseus Jackson, my lady but call me Percy, I prefer that."
"Well Percy, it seems you're the new arrival I have been hearing talks about around the camp and from what I observed, you seem to have also garnered the attention of my nephew who hardly takes any interest in demigods even though he was one before he ascended", she replied.
"Umm, thanks?", Percy wasn't used to being praised and here he was being praised by a goddess herself so naturally he didn't know how to react.
Hestia laughed a little at his antics which filled his heart with a warmth and he liked it. He wanted to hear the goddess more.
Suddenly, realisation dawned on Percy.
"Lady Hestia, why is it that none of the campers are approaching you or acknowledging you since you're sitting right in the middle not to mention, you're the eldest of the children of Kronos and Rhea", Percy asked curiously.
Again Hestia smiled as she replied, "Only people with the strongest sense of family and love can sense my presence here. I am the very hearth of this camp and at Olympus due to which I am present and not present at the same time. For you to be able to see me and talk to me means that you have exceptional loyalty for your loved ones. Am I right Percy? And please call me Hestia."
Percy for his part was shocked. The goddess here was able to know who he was as a person within a span of 5 minutes. But then again, she was a goddess Percy mused.
"You are right Hestia."
"I know, young hero. Now, I think you should continue with your tour, Chiron seems in a hurry and it's bad manners to keep someone waiting. I will be watching over you, you are certainly an interesting and kind person Percy", she said as she vanished in a burst of flames.
Percy walked back to Chiron who had decided not to comment on the interaction between Percy and the goddess lest the boy ended up unconscious from information overload. Inwardly, Chiron was simply astonished. He had never seen Hestia interact with any of the campers but she seemed to be having fun interacting with the young godling in front of him. He assumed Percy was unaware that the girl who he had just spoken to was in fact, a goddess. Percy on the other hand was happy with the interaction between him and the goddess as well as the fact that she didn't ask him about how he knew about her. He really did not want to lie to such a kind and gentle goddess like her. Percy usually wasn't one for authority courtesy of the amount of schools he had been kicked out of but something about Hestia made him respect her and always be open and honest with her, he loved this feeling.
The duo then continued with the tour. The pair of cabins at the head of the field, numbers one and two, looked like his-and-hers mausoleums, big white marble boxes with heavy columns in front. Cabin one was the biggest and bulkiest of the twelve. Its polished bronze doors shimmered like a holograph, so that from different angles lightning bolts seemed to streak across them. Cabin two was more graceful somehow, with slimmer columns garlanded with pomegranates and flowers. The walls were carved with images of peacocks.
"Zeus and Hera", Percy said. He did not need to make any guesses.
"Correct", replied Chiron.
As he looked at the cabins, Percy realised that each cabin belonged to one god. Twelve cabins for the twelve Olympians. But why would some be empty?
Percy stopped in front of the first cabin on the left, cabin three. It wasn't high and mighty like cabin one, but long and low and solid. The outer walls were of rough grey stone studded with pieces of seashell and coral, as if the slabs had been hewn straight from the bottom of the ocean floor. Percy peeked inside the open doorway. As soon he did, he caught the salty scent of the interior, like the wind on the shore at Montauk. The interior walls glowed like abalone. Oddly enough, the scent seemed to calm down Percy and he felt at home. Percy realised this was the Poseidon cabin - his father's. There were six empty bunk beds with silk sheets turned down. But there was no sign anyone had ever slept there. Before he could do anything, Chiron pulled him out gently wordlessly.
Most of the other cabins were sprawled with campers. Number five was bright red - a real nasty paint job, as if the colour has been splashed on with buckets and fists. The roof was lined with barbed wire. A stuffed wild boar's head hung over the doorway, and its eyes seemed to follow Percy. Inside he could see a bunch of mean-looking kids, both girls and boys, arm wrestling and arguing with each other while rock music blared. The loudest was a girl maybe thirteen or fourteen. She wore a size XXXL Camp Half-Blood T-shirt under a camouflage jacket. She zeroed in on Percy and gave him an evil sneer. Her hair was long, stingy and brown in colour. Percy ignored her and followed Chiron.
As soon as they were done seeing the camp and had reached the cabins, Chiron spotted Annabeth and walked over to her.
The blonde girl Percy had met at the Big House was reading a book in front of the last cabin on the left, number eleven. When they reached her, she looked over Percy critically, like she was still thinking about how much he drooled. Annabeth on her part was still appraising the demigod in front of her who intrigued her.
"Annabeth," Chiron said, "I have archery class at noon. Would you take Percy from here?"
"Yes sir", she said as Chiron trotted away.
She then turned towards Percy, "What exactly did you do?"
Despite his increase in intelligence, Percy still needed to catch up on things hence, his brilliant response - "Huh?"
"How did you get Dionysus of all people to end up liking you? You are the first demigod in my time here to not only identify him as the correct god but also manage to impress him if his reaction was anything to go by", she explained.
"Huh oh about that, well, it was as I said earlier, he had a somewhat purple aura around him which reminded me of grapes. Then, the tiger print shirt and the fact that the nature around him seemed to be bustling with life clued me to the fact that he was a nature god. There are only two male nature gods that come to mind - Pan and Dionysus. Since Pan is said to be a satyr, it eliminates him leaving Dionysus. Hence, me being able to identify him", Percy explained. He tried to sound as truthful and logical as he could while trying to avoid the fact that he didn't need to deduce so much and just needed to say a simple word.
Fortunately for him, Annabeth seemed to regard him for a moment before nodding her head as she accepted his explanation.
"Whose child are you?", Annabeth asked.
At his questioning glance, she continued, "You clearly are smart if not overly so which would usually entail you being a child of Athena. However, you do not possess the one trait which usually sets us apart" Annabeth then pointed at her eyes. "All the children of Athena have the same coloured eyes so I'm going to go on a limb and say that that's usually how it is. So I am intrigued, Percy".
Percy for his part didn't outwardly react though he was quite impressed by the way she deduced things and arrived at answers. However, he wanted to mess around with her even though she did seem trustworthy.
"It's a secret", Percy finally replied with a wink followed by a lopsided smile.
Annabeth blushed a little though she was able to hide it well. She couldn't deny the fact that Percy was somewhat good looking even though he was scrawny. It didn't help matters when she saw the most beautiful pair of sea green eyes she had ever seen. Nope, she didn't like him even a teeny tiny bit.
"Fine, I will figure it out myself", Annabeth huffed as she crossed her arms.
It was now dinner time and campers had started filing out of their cabins to head to the dining pavilion Percy had seen earlier. To say Percy was starving would be an understatement as he realised he hadn't eaten anything since the time he had left Yancy Academy.
As if reading his thoughts, rather, his stomach's thoughts, Annabeth said, "Come on, let's eat" as she guided him to the area. By now, all the campers had gathered along with Chiron and Dionysus.
Just as they entered the dining pavilion, the late evening sky was suddenly replaced by dark storm clouds as thunder cracked loudly. Most of the campers looked around in alarm, even the collected Annabeth. Percy shot her a questioning glance which she answered.
"The camp is protected by magical borders so it never rains or snows and the weather is always perfect regardless of the season in the outside world. This has never happened before", she explained. Percy could see the fear in her eyes as her grey eyes dulled.
Before he could say anything, thunder cracked louder than before as rain started pouring, drenching everyone while the earth itself trembled a little in ecstasy. Suddenly, a bright eternal sea-green light blinded everyone as it emerged out of nowhere, surrounding Percy. As the light died down, everyone gasped when they saw Percy or rather what was above his head. Percy looked confused as to what was happening when he too looked up and saw gold trident surrounded by sea-green light floating above his head as it spun lazily. Almost immediately, the whole camp started kneeling except for Dionysus and Chiron.
"It is determined", Chiron's voice rang out for all to hear.
'What is?' Percy thought. He was still put off by the way everyone was kneeling on the ground in front of him as though he was a god.
"Poseidon," said Chiron. "Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. Hail Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God" he announced as lightning cracked, the earth shook and water dropped all around them as nature itself shook with excitement as the son of the sea god had returned and claimed by their ruler for all to bear witness.
Finally, the rain died and the clouds parted, showing the night sky blanketed with stars all across and the moon rose as Artemis started her journey across the skies.
The campers then stood up as they were miraculously dried up and the water vanished. They were still shocked by the way nature itself reacted to Percy's presence on being claimed. Earlier, most didn't think much of him due to his stature and persona. However, now they were forced to look at him in a new light. Annabeth on the other hand, was shell shocked. She didn't know anything about Percy so she assumed he was the son of Demeter - going by his sea green eyes since she did not have much to work on and it was highly unlikely for one of the big three to have children due to their oath. But this, this changed everything!
Percy just stood beside Annabeth awkwardly as he glanced at the campers. He wasn't used to this sort of attention in the least so all he could do was take interest in the ground and wished for it to open up and swallow him whole. He had wanted to keep this a secret for as long as he could since he thought it would be kind of a big deal for him to be the son of Poseidon but it seemed his father had other plans. Finally, his savior came in the form of Chiron.
"Campers, you may get back to your dinner and evening routine", Chiron bellowed as he stamped his hoof a few times to have their attention. Slowly but surely they started disbursing, some still whispering about the events that had just transpired amongst themselves. Annabeth squeezed his shoulder reassuringly to which he gave her a weak smile. She then walked off to a table with kids who had eyes the same colours as hers which he assumed were all the children of Athena. As Percy looked around, he realised that all the campers were sitting with their siblings. Chiron then walked up to Percy and guided him to a table which he said was the 'Poseidon table'. Percy was then served food by a nymph who smiled shyly at him. Percy returned her smile while muttering a 'thanks' much to her delight. Dinner was a quiet affair for Percy; not counting the stares and whispers directed at him.
As soon as he was done, Percy got up to leave but was caught by Chiron who informed him about the sing-along post dinner around the camp-fire where he had met Hestia. People were still milling around as he was the first one to finish his dinner. Percy quickly put his plate and walked to the campfire, slipping away before anyone could notice him. Sure enough, as he reached the pit, he saw Hestia tending to the flames as per usual. He quietly walked towards her and sat beside her the same way as he had earlier during the day.
"Hello nephew", Hestia greeted without turning around as her flaming eyes were focused on the hearth in front of them.
"Aunt Hestia", Percy greeted with a small bow of his head.
"You really don't have to bow Percy", she said.
Percy merely nodded as they both sat in a comfortable silence.
"It has been a long time since I met one of my younger brother's children", Hestia started, "maybe more than a millenia."
"Why so long? I am sure father must've had more kids during that time".
"A majority of them have been arrogant; blinded by the power and treating those weaker than them with disrespect," Hestia said as she turned to face Percy. "However, you have such a gentle and beautiful heart for those you love and care for whilst being down to earth. You truly are different for a son of Poseidon, I do hope you never forget who you are in your life wherever you may be."
"I promise aunt."
"Also, do not worry about being alone, there are lots of people who will be there for you regardless of how the time turns out. If not, I will always be there for my family", Hestia replied as she smiled fondly at her new nephew. He truly was special.
"Thank you, aunty"
"Just call me Hestia, Percy. I will see you soon. Remember, the hearth always welcomes family", she said cryptically as she disappeared in a burst of flames just as the first of the campers were walking towards the campfire.
After the talk with Hestia, Percy did feel better as he joined the rest of the campers at the sing-along around the campfire. Soon, they were done as Chiron guided Percy to cabin three which Percy had seen earlier. He was given a few pairs of clothes from the camp store since he didn't have any. It had been a long day as Percy finally settled in his bed to drift into blissful sleep. Even though he didn't need it thanks to his gamer's abilities, he wanted some normalcy and he was tired with that, Percy's world went black.
You have slept in your own bed! HP and MP restored!
Percy dismissed the notification with a wave of his hand instinctively. He rolled out of his bed and got ready for the first day in his new life at Camp Half-Blood.
It was still early morning when Percy walked out of his cabin; very few campers were out at that time. He walked to the dining pavilion to grab some early breakfast. He was planning on training in the sword fighting arena which he had seen the previous day. He wanted to get stronger and what better way than to train in a camp meant for this? Moreover, even though he had become intelligent compared to before, he still needed to become smarter and which place had the children of the goddess of wisdom herself? You guessed it. Speaking of which, Annabeth was sitting at one of the tables as she had her face buried in a book.
"Hey Annabeth", Percy greeted.
"Hey", she said. It was clear she was engaged with the book and wasn't going to pay attention anytime soon.
"I need help with becoming intelligent", Percy said. He assumed that a thirst for knowledge would be welcome by a child of Athena and lo and behold, it worked.
"What?" Annabeth said as she slowly put her book down as she looked at him as though he had grown a second head.
"I need help with studies", he repeated.
"Yes, I heard you the first time but it's surprising that you came to me for help."
"Why? Is that a bad thing?"
"Aren't you aware of the rivalry between the children of Poseidon and Athena?"
"I am but I figured that that's between our parents so why should we let it affect our friendship?"
Annabeth smiled at that. He was being surprisingly a bit mature. She never expected that from him since he looked like a troublemaker more than anything.
"Alright, grab something to eat and then we will start studying. Brace yourself, it isn't going to be easy", she warned.
It was early evening when Percy stumbled out of the Athena cabin with a few books in his hands. His hair was dishevelled even more than it usually was and he looked ready to die. The athenian kids had been relentless and had taken it up as their life's mission when Percy had asked them to teach him. Percy guessed him being the son of Poseidon only sweetened the deal marginally.
...
INT : 11 + 2 = 13
WIS : 9 + 1 = 10
(+10% MP regenerate / min)
MP : 20 + 2 = 22 / min
...
He had levelled up in a few hours with the Athenians more than he did in two to three days of school. Percy was stunned. He still had a few hours before nightfall where he planned to read more so he decided to head to the sword fighting arena. Once he reached there, he saw a tall and muscular boy with short-cropped sandy hair practicing with the dummies. He wore an orange tank top, cutoffs, sandals and a leather necklace with five different-coloured clay beads. The only thing unsettling about his appearance was a thick white scar that ran from just beneath his right eye to his jaw, like an old knife slash. He cleaved through the dummies easily with flawless swordplay. Whilst he was waiting, Percy decided to use Observe.
...
Luke Castellan
Title : Son of Hermes
HP : 2500 / 2500
MP : 1200 / 1200
Luke is a son of Hermes who hates his father due to his past. He wants to take revenge on the gods for not being there for their children when they needed them the most. He wants them to learn their lesson by waging war on them.
Luke hasn't meant Percy but thinks he is interesting.
...
Once the now named Luke was done, Percy walked up to him.
"Hey, I am Percy", he introduced himself.
"Luke, son of Hermes", Luke returned.
"Your sword fighting skills are amazing!" Percy exclaimed. He was fascinated by it.
"Want to go a few rounds?" Luke offered.
Percy gladly accepted. A few hours later, Percy lay on the ground panting, covered in sweat. He had his ass handed to him thoroughly by Luke. The man was simply difficult to beat. However, he did level up twice in sword fighting though so that was a plus.
...
Sword Fighting (Level 4)
7% more damage with swords.
...
Once they had caught their breath, they walked for dinner which had just started. Once Percy took his plate, he saw a lot of campers lining up near the middle where they scraped a bit of their food into the fire.
"What are they doing?", Percy wondered aloud. Fortunately for him, Annabeth, who was standing nearby answered.
"Burnt offerings for the gods", she explained simply.
Percy nodded as he too walked into the line. Soon, it was his turn and he scraped a part of his food and dedicated each to different gods. First came his father, 'thanks for claiming me dad though we are still so not even for everything mom and I had to go through because of you'. Then the final one went to Hestia, 'thank you Hestia for being there for me. You are the best aunt and friend someone could ever ask for.' Just when he did, he swore he felt the fire burn a bit more brighter as its warmth seeped into his bones as though it appreciated his gesture.
Dinner and the sing-along went as normally as they did. All in all, it was a good day for Percy as he finally settled into his bed for a night of reading. He didn't need much sleep unless he was absolutely exhausted which he wasn't at the moment.
As Apollo rose from the sky in all his blazing glory, Percy walked out of his cabin. He had managed to level up his stats during the night and he was pleased with himself.
...
INT : 13 + 1 = 14
WIS : 10 + 1 = 11
Modern English
Level 16 + 2 = 18 (-10% to all forms of English, +5% for every level gained)
...
His dyslexia had almost been cured now and he was able to read books above his grade level and was starting to understand some of its content. Percy then brought up his screen as he went through his main stats.
...
Level - 11
Exp - 511 / 2160
HP : 550 / 550 (+ 2000)
MP : 600 / 600 (+ 2000)
STR : 14 (+ 2 + 20)
(Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 7 (+ 20)
DEX : 7 (+2 + 20)
INT : 14 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 11 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 10 (Bonus : +10% chance of better loot)
Points : 10
...
He did not want to waste his points right now since these would be helpful later. For now, Percy decided that he needed to increase his DEX which would automatically increase his VIT considering how closely related they were. Percy planned on morning runs for them as well as sword fighting with Luke or alone followed by studying with the Athena cabin. This would surely help him a lot.
As he was walking, he failed to pay attention to his surroundings as he bumped into the same girl who had smeared at him from the ugly looking cabin which he remembered was that of Ares' children.
"Watch it punk", she called.
Percy used Observe on her.
...
Clarisse La Rue
Title : Daughter of Ares
HP : 1800 / 1800
MP : 800 / 800
Clarisse is a daughter of Ares who thinks Percy is a brat who had everything handed to him on a silver platter with no accomplishments to speak of. She doesn't think Percy deserves the credit and/or respect unless he proves himself.
...
Since Percy had been silent and reading up on his screen, he nearly missed the punch aimed at his face. At the last moment, he was able to duck out of it as he glared at her.
"What's the matter? Is the little prince of the ocean annoyed that someone attacked him? Is he going to go complain to his daddy?", Clarisse mocked.
"What the Hades is your problem Clarisse?"
"Little brats like you who feel everyone is beneath them since his father is a big shot god and start taking everything for granted whilst hiding behind daddy."
"I have hardly had any interaction with anyone at camp save for a few people. Who are you to judge me on that?"
"Please, as if I need to talk to a scum like you."
"Why don't you come at me and find out?" Percy challenged her finally.
In response, Clarisse just drew her spear which she had been carrying as it cackled with electricity. Percy analysed her; she clearly had more experience than him and was physically more capable. He on the other hand, had the advantage of speed and being shorter compared to her. He decided to end this as soon as possible since he would be overwhelmed if he drawed this out. Percy then summoned a bottle of water and poured it over himself, relishing in the boost in his powers as he drew Riptide from its pen form.
...
HP : 2550 / 2550
MP : 2600 / 2600
STR : 36 (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 27
DEX : 29
INT : 14 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 11 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 10 (Bonus : +10% chance of better loot)
...
By now, quite a few campers had gathered around them; most of them were children of Ares. He spotted a familiar blonde in the crowd as she looked at him with worry. He quickly flashed her a little smile as he turned back to his opponent.
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Defeat Clarisse.
Rewards -
Respect of Ares cabin
Practice sessions with Ares cabin
Failure -
Bullied by entire Ares Cabin making life miserable at CHB
Accept / Decline?
...
Percy accepted the quest as he stood ready. Clarisse surged forward as she thrust her spear forward to impale him in the gut but Percy simply moved out of the way due to his enhanced stats. She withdrew her spear as she then charged at him with quick jabs multiple times. Percy was able to deflect a few with his sword while he tried avoiding as many as he could but a few of those managed to graze him. He needed to end this soon before he was left bleeding on the ground. Percy dodged a wild thrust which Clarisse had over extended and managed to get into her guard. Her spear was virtually useless now and he had the upper hand. He hit her arm holding the spear with all his strength with the hilt of his blade which forced her to loosen her grip which he immediately capitalised on by grabbing the spear from one hand and yanking it. Clarisse was shocked by this which led her to wasting a few precious seconds in which Percy threw the spear and brought the tip of his sword at her throat.
"I win."
...
Ping!
Quest Completed!
Rewards added.
You will now be able to practice combat and do other training with the Ares cabin.
...
Percy dismissed the notification as he looked around. People were staring at him in shock and awe. Here he was, a newcomer who had been able to beat one of the best combatants in the Ares cabin and possibly the camp itself. Suddenly, people started howling and congratulating Percy on his victory. Percy looked at Clarisse who was smiling at him as she gave him a thumbs-up. No words were needed. Amongst the people cheering were some of Clarrise's siblings too. It seems that they had been impressed by Percy's display and he now had their approval. With that done, Percy now focused on his week ahead.
~1 week later~
Percy huffed as he finished his training regimen for the day. It had been a week since he had had his duel with Clarisse. Since then, he had spent most of his day sparring and training with the Ares cabin and a few other cabins. He had managed to make quite a few friends during their interactions. The rest of the time was spent either in the Athena cabin or in his where he absorbed knowledge like a sponge. Needless to say, the Athenians were having a blast torturing him but it seemed as though they had started respecting him as well due to his attitude of never backing down from a challenge. Percy's main stats now read as :
...
Level - 11
Exp - 511 / 2160
HP : 600 / 600 (+ 2000)
MP : 600 / 600 (+ 2000)
STR : 16 (+ 2 + 20)
(Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 10 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 11 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
HP : 20 + 2 = 22 / min
INT : 17 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 13 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 10 (Bonus : +10% chance of better loot)
Points : 10
Sword Fighting (Level 6)
11% more damage with swords.
Modern English (Level 20)
Dyslexia cured, you can now read English properly without the dancing letters and understand college level books.
Swimming (Level 3 - 5 km/hr)
Running (Level 5 - 30 km/hr)
...
He had clearly improved and he was happy. He was currently in the forest as he was walking towards his cabin. He passed the Fist of Zeus, which really didn't look like one, when he suddenly saw a similar clearing as he had at Yancy Academy. He tried using Observe and was surprised to see as yet another blue glowing delta sign appeared near it.
...
Ping!
You have spotted another entrance to the Labyrinth!
Available -
Dungeon (Level 8)
Fast Travel -
Yancy Academy
Camp Half Blood
Do you wish to enter?
Yes / No?
...
Percy pressed no. He would come back the next day and deal with this as he skipped to his cabin happily. Here was another chance to gain some more loot and experience points if this dungeon was the same or similar as before.
The next day, Percy stood in front of the open staircase as he was filled with adrenaline. He had remembered to restock some water bottles and was carrying the bare essentials. Worst come to worst, he would summon the Death Knight or Alecto to help him during the fight. With that, Percy walked inside; ready for another fight.
...
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod (gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. He has ADHD and Dyslexia which helps in combat and reading Ancient Greek respectively. He has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes.
...
Level - 11
Exp - 511 / 2160
...
HP : 600 / 600 (+ 2000)
MP : 600 / 600 (+ 2000)
...
STR : 16 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 10 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 11 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 17 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 13 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 10 (Bonus : +10% chance of better loot)
Points : 10
Money : $3360 / D0
...
Status : Demigod
...
Skills
...
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 6)
...
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Modern English (Level 20)
Swimming (Level 3 - 5 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Running (Level 5 - 30 km / hr)
Storms (Level 1)
...
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 2)
Critical Strike (Level 1)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 1)
...
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max level)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
...
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 11)
Water Spikes (Level 2)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 1)
x.x
A/N
With that, we're done with this chapter. I know things are a bit slow at the moment since we still need Percy to settle into the camp and train. The next chapter would build on this and mark the beginning of the quest.
I will follow most of the canon with some changes to accommodate Percy's new powers as of now but I will be diverging from it moving forward. It'll be a slow build up but definitely worth it.
Do drop in a review and like!
Until next time.
Chapter 7: Preparations
Chapter Text
Disclaimer : I do not own PJO or any of its characters.
x.x
Chapter 7: Preparations
~Dungeon Skip~
Percy had just about wrapped up the dungeon when he stepped into the final chamber. He looked around cautiously trying to figure out where the boss would be but he came up blank. All he could see was the glowing delta signaling its end. Percy just shrugged and pressed it. He had gotten quite a bit of loot and he was excited to see the notifications as he climbed up the stairs which had materlaised as per custom.
...
Ping!
Dungeon Complete!
Rewards added (surprise!)
Mage Armour skill book (tap more information)
Dimension Create (tap for more information)
...
Percy tapped the first item and read the new pane that opened up.
...
Mage Armor (Level 1 : 100 HP | Limit : 1 hour)
Envelop your body in a layer of pure magic to protect yourself from damage.
Do you want to learn this skill?
Yes / No?
...
Percy's jaw dropped. This would be extremely useful and help him not get killed every time even though it was at a low level, it had potential to become powerful enough to withstand heavy attacks later. Immediately he pressed 'yes.'
...
Skill learned, Mage Armor!
...
Percy felt the knowledge rush to his mind on how to do it and was shocked to find that it was actually a pretty easy process but difficult to execute if he had to say something about it. He decided to practice it later. He then turned his attention to the other reward and tapped the screen once again.
...
Dimension Create
Create an alternate version of your reality devoid of all life.
...
Percy blinked once. Then again to make sure what he was reading was right. This was a game changer. There were so many uses for it as his newfound intelligence picked up new ideas. He was so going to have fun with this. He then turned to the other notifications that he had ignored in the dungeon. In summary he got :
...
Skeletons killed - 20
XP : 30 x 40 = 1,200 + 511 = 1711 / 2160
$ : 30 x 10 = 300 + 3360 = 3660
D : 10
Sword Fighting (Level 7)
13% more damage with swords.
Critical Strike (Level 2 : 310% damage)
Deal extra damage from hitting vital points of your enemies.
...
Percy had left all the other weapons in the dungeon opting not to pick them up since he already had an enchanted sword with him and a couple of other iron swords in his inventory. He really didn't see the point of lugging so much with him even though it didn't bother him but still.
It was evening by the time Percy was done. He had taken his time in killing those skeletons so he took a while. He still had a little time before dinner so he decided to test out the Mage Armor. He climbed to the top of Zeus' Fist and sat cross legged as he recalled the process which had been imprinted in his brain. It was simple enough in theory - he had to call upon his magical powers and instead of using them as fuel for hydrokinesis, he had to focus on bringing it out and coating his entire body with it, forming a sort of armour field around himself. Percy then got to work and sure enough, after a few tries, he was able to maintain the armor for a few minutes as it still needed his attention for now. He knew that once he got it down, he wouldn't have to bother with giving it his attention as it would be second nature for him. He watched his HP increase temporarily.
...
HP : 600 + 100 = 700
...
Soon enough, it was time for dinner and Percy had made quite a bit of improvements to his ability with the Mage Armor. He still needed to try and use Dimension Create which he would tomorrow. It was already late so it didn't make sense even though he was far too excited to try it. Maybe in his cabin post dinner?
As he walked into the dining pavilion, lots of campers greeted him, especially the Ares Cabin who had taken a liking to him due to his combat potential. They respected strength more than anything and Percy had lots and lots of it to spare. He grabbed his food and went to the campfire in the middle for his customary sacrifice. This time round, he went ahead and gave his first sacrifice to Hestia instead of his dad since she had done more for him than the latter did. As he sacrificed his food, the fire got a bit bigger as it touched Percy for the briefest moments, enveloping his body with warmth before it receded. Percy didn't recoil because he knew that his aunt was someone who was far from hurting anyone and she did say that she would keep an eye on him so it really wasn't a surprise.
Dinner was a quiet affair since he was the only son of Poseidon and as such, had to sit on his own table alone due to the rules. He finished his dinner quickly and proceeded to walk to the sing-along amphitheatre where he knew his favourite goddess would be tending to the hearth. As he reached her, he was surprised to find her as a 12 year old instead of the 9 year old figure he was used to. She seemed to be about his height as her brown hair cascaded down, almost reaching the middle of her back and her eyes glowed with flames dancing in them which was a beautiful sight in itself. He shook his head as he got rid of his straying thoughts and sat beside her.
"Thank you", she said with a smile as she continued poking the fire.
"For what?" Percy asked cheekily.
"For the first sacrifice before your father. It has been long since someone sacrificed to me but ever since you came, I have been receiving them daily. But today was far more special as you placed me before your father."
"I did what was right Hestia. You deserve far more than people give you credit for Hestia. This was nothing, I just hope I can do something for you someday just the way you've been there for me all this time", Percy replied sincerely. She deserved so much more, he could not bear to see her ignored like this. He would make it upto her someday for sure.
A small tear escaped Hestia's eye as she wiped it quickly. Ever since Percy had come to the camp and had approached her, she had started looking forward to their evening conversations since it was a fresh experience to talk normally instead of all the reverence that came at Olympus. Moreover, she enjoyed his company as he was among the few people who had been able to see her which meant that he had treasured family which she too did. They both had a lot in common the more she thought about it which led to her changing her form to that of a twelve year old in order to match him and make him feel comfortable as though he was speaking to a friend. She did see him as a friend now more than her nephew since their talks were devoid of all formality or resistance on either part.
They sat in a blissful silence then until it was time for Hestia to go. She bid him farewell as she disappeared once again. The rest of the evening was spent with the other campers as they sang along together while roasting marshmallows over the fire. By the time they were done, Percy had all but forgotten about the Dimension Create since he was too tired from the day as he had overexerted himself thoroughly.
...
You have slept in your own bed, HP and MP restored!
...
Percy swiped the notification away as he got out of bed and quickly dressed as he ran for the woods. He was excited to try Dimension Create and didn't stop anywhere. Soon, he reached Zeus' Fist where he usually trained on his own. If this was going to help him focus on his training, he was going to become stronger sooner since he could focus without any interruptions whatsoever.
"Dimension Create", Percy muttered.
Suddenly, all the sound in the forest disappeared. Everything in sight was exactly the same except for the sky itself which had turned into a beautiful pink-purplish hue (I am horrible with colors, it's simple purple or pink for me, I cannot for the life of me identify any shades like sky blue etc. so forgive me if I don't know the names). Percy stared at the sky and couldn't help but be enthralled by its beauty. Percy then decided to run to camp and see whether he was actually alone. His theory proved to be correct when all he could see was a desolate camp - everything was in place as it had been when he had created the dimension save for its occupants. He then headed to the training arena and slashed a dummy. He then quickly dismissed the dimension as he returned to his own reality where he found himself in front of the dummy he had slashed except it had no signs of it being attacked on. This meant that whatever happened in the alternate dimension wouldn't happen here which was just what he needed to find out since he did not want to accidentally cause a widespread panic in the camp. Just as he returned to the alternate dimension, the dummy remained in pristine condition which Percy realised was reset. Percy smirked, this was going to be a breeze. He just needed to come up with a good training regimen and he was golden.
He returned to his reality and began to plan out the next two weeks. He pulled up his main stats first as he looked at them.
...
STR : 16 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 10 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 11 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 17 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 13 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 10 (Bonus : +10% chance of better loot)
Points : 10
...
He was somewhat level across all his stats save for LUC. He had no idea how to increase that perhaps he could use the points at a later date in case he was in a dire situation?
He needed to increase all his base levels. An increase in STR and DEX would increase his VIT as well so he could settle for physical exercises like swimming, sword fighting, running etc. to increase those. INT and WIS could be increased by spending time studying with the children of Athena. He was now half as smart as the lowest of the rung if there was something like that in a cabin filled with geniuses. Annabeth was still leagues ahead of him and he was determined to become as smart as her so that she could also have some support outside her siblings in case things ever went awry. He then pulled up his abilities and skills. He needed to work on those as well. His water control was pitiful for a son of Poseidon to say the least.
,,,
Skills
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 7)
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Modern English (Level 20)
Swimming (Level 3 - 5 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Running (Level 5 - 30 km / hr)
Control over Storms (Level 1)
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 2)
Critical Strike (Level 2)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 1)
Mage Armor (Level 1)
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 11)
Water Spikes (Level 2)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 1)
...
Out of the present abilities, he needed to work on a select few. He dismissed the ones he didn't need so his list now read as :
...
Skills
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 7)
Inherited :
Control over Storms (Level 1)
General :
Sneaking (Level 2)
Critical Strike (Level 2)
Mage Armor (Level 1)
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 11)
Water Spikes (Level 2)
Water Spear (Level 1)
...
Since Percy did not really want to practice on someone else for Blood Control, he decided to drop it. Some of the abilities would level up on their own due to his repeated actions so he didn't have to make any conscious effort in training them like swimming. With a firm plan now set, he decided to start working on it.
~Timeskip : 5 days~
"No no no Percy, this is not the correct way to do it", Annabeth exclaimed. She had spent the last few hours studying with him and was currently helping him out with a few mathematical problems. Despite being in grade six, his level was that of a child in grade two; three at best.
"Why can't I simply do it my way instead of going through a set method?", Percy whined. He was really annoyed by the immense steps needed to solve a problem. If only he had a time machine he sighed. Percy then caught Annabeth's eye and squirmed under her glare which promised suffering if he didn't do as told. Resigning himself to his fate, he continued with his studies.
"Annabeth, can we please take a break?" Percy whined yet again after a few minutes.
"No".
"Please?"
"Absolutely not."
"But we have been studying since the past four hours without any breaks."
"So?"
Desperate times call for desperate measures Percy thought as he fixed her with her signature baby face which he had mastered. It never worked on his mom, she seemed to have developed a resistance to it much to his annoyance. Speaking of which, he still missed her dearly and had no signs of her whatsoever. There was never a day when he didn't think about her. He was considering going to the Underworld and just stealing her soul back at this point of time. Before his emotions could run amok, Gamer's MInd activated and calmed him instantly.
Annabeth on her part made the mistake of looking at Percy's face as she lifted her head from the book she was reading. Her face immediately turned red as she blushed hard. Percy with his beautiful sea-green eyes looked like an extremely cute baby seal who she wanted to just run up to, hug tightly, pet and never let go. She resisted the urge to do just that as she tried to look away but miserably failed. If someone were to ask her about her blushing in the presence of the son of Poseidon, she would vehemently reject such an instance ever happening and the person would be the subject of a beating from her.
Percy on the other hand was confused as to why Annabeth's face suddenly turned red like a tomato as she stared at him.
"Is there something on my face?", he asked as he tilted his face a little in confusion.
Annabeth just squealed loudly inside her head uncharacteristically at how cute he was.
"N-N-Nothing. Fine, we can take a break, I need some fresh air anyway", she finally said as she all but ran out of her cabin where they had been studying with some of her siblings doing their own work. Percy smiled as he finally got his break.
~Timeskip : 9 days~
Percy ducked under an arrow as it whizzed past his head as he charged at Alecto who was flying in the alternate dimension. After their initial shock of learning his new ability, Alecto and the Death Knight had started spending more time with him. He had taken to training with both of them, often sparring with them or learning new things from their millenia of experience.
Alecto was out of Percy's reach as he tried to think of a way to reach her. He quickly summoned water and used it to splash it over her as she lost her momentum due to the unexpected attack and fell down. He quickly brought his blade near her throat, "I win". Alecto acknowledged it as he dismissed the blade and sat down near her.
"Do you have any idea what happened to my mom?", Percy asked suddenly. He hadn't spoken about this with anyone since it was still a sore subject for him.
"What happened to her?", Alecto asked. Right, he had never told her about that night. He quickly described that fateful night to her and waited for her take.
"A golden light you say?", Alecto asked. She was familiar with it but she needed the confirmation and was hoping it was not who she thought it was because it would make things extremely difficult.
"Yes".
"I can hazard a guess as to what may have happened to Sally but you have to promise me you won't react at once and do something stupid."
"I promise".
"Swear it on the Styx".
Percy gulped. He knew about oaths made on the river and if Alecto had asked him to do it, it must truly be something serious. Seeing her expression, he knew he wouldn't get any information until he did as he was told.
"I swear on the Styx", Percy said reluctantly as thunder boomed loudly in the backdrop. Percy winced at that.
"The events pertain to one person who is capable of unleashing monsters from the Underworld and who holds a grudge against his brother. As far as the facts say, this is the work of the Lord of the Underworld, my former master."
"Hades?!", Percy hissed.
"Quiet boy. Names are powerful, why do you think I didn't say it?"
Percy wisely kept shut as he let her talk.
"He holds a grudge against his brothers and would stop at nothing to get rid of their children. Moreover, I think he has done it to get something that rumours say you possess. It was why I was assigned to watch you in the first place."
"What are you talking about? Have what?" Percy was visibly confused now as he tried to keep his emotions in check as much as he could. It seemed Gamer's Mind too was working overtime as it calmed him before he could react.
"The Lightning Bolt of the lord of the Skies"
"Lightning Bolt?", Percy asked as a particular image flashed through his mind.
Alecto glared at him.
"Do not take it lightly. It is not a tinfoil-covered zigzag mortals use in plays. It's a two-foot-long cylinder of high-grade celestial bronze, capped on both ends with god-level explosives."
"But why on earth would I have it?" Percy cried indignantly, "I haven't even seen Olympus or know its location, how can I just go there and steal his main weapon?"
"That I do not know why he suspects you or the others as a matter of fact but I do believe you when you say you don't have it. All you can do is train and become stronger."
"I want to get my mother from the Underworld", Percy said with determination, "I will go there no matter what."
"As you are now, you are nothing but a speck of dirt. Train, get stronger until you're at least able to survive being in the Underworld itself. I will guide you through it myself."
"Why are you helping me?"
"Initially, I had nothing but resentment towards you but after spending time with you and the iron idiot, I saw how you are as a person and I'm also bound to you. So I might as well help you out as much as I can", Alecto shrugged.
With newfound determination, Percy started his training once again. Never again would he let a loved one be taken from him. He won't stand it. Not one bit.
Finally at the end of the training regimen, Percy looked at his stats.
...
MP : 650 / 650
STR : 20 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 14 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 14 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 20 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 15 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 10 (Bonus : +10% chance of better loot)
Skills
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 8)
Inherited :
Modern English (Level 22)
Swimming (Level 5 - 7 km/hr)
Running (Level 6 - 32 km / hr)
Storms (Level 2)
General :
Sneaking (Level 3)
Critical Strike (Level 2)
Mage Armor (Level 3)
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 13)
Water Spikes (Level 3)
Water Spear (Level 2)
...
He had grown quite a bit in the last two weeks; exerting himself to inhumane levels. He had also fully utilized the Dimension Create, sparring with Alecto and the Death Knight lots of times and trying out new moves and improving himself in general. He had heard from Annabeth that there was an oracle in the top floor of the big house where prophecies were issued if there was a quest. He knew that he had no basis to approach Chiron and tell him that his mother was supposedly held in the Underworld by its ruling god without revealing anything. So he would make up some excuse to get out of the situation when it called for it.
Percy headed inside and climbed the four flights as the stairs ended under a green trapdoor. Percy pulled the cord as the door swung down, and a wooden ladder clattered into place. The warm air from above smelled like mildew and rotten wood and something else he remembered from biology class. Reptiles. The smell of snakes. He held his breath as he climbed.
The attic was filled with Greek hero junk : armor stands covered in cobwebs; once bright shields pitted with rust; old leather steamer trunks plastered with stickers saying Ithaka, Circe's Isle and Land of the Amazons. One long table was stacked with glass jars filled with pickled things - severed hairy claws, huge yellow eyes, various other parts of monsters, A dusty mounted trophy on the wall looked like a giant snake's head, but with horns and a full set of shark's teeth. The plague read : Hydra Head No. I, Woodstock, NY, 1969.
By the window, sitting on a wooden tripod stool, was the most gruesome memento of all : a mummy. Not the wrapped-in-cloth kind, but a human female body shrivelled to a husk. She wore a tie-dyed sundress, lots of beaded necklaces, and a headband over long black hair. The skin of her face was thin and leathery over her skull, and her eyes were glassy white slits, as if the real eyes had been replaced by marbles; she'd been dead a long, long time.
Looking at her sent chills up Percy's back. And that was before she sat up on her stool and opened her mouth. A green mist poured from the mummy's mouth, coiling over the floor in thick tendrils, hissing like twenty thousand snakes. Inside his head, he heard a voice, slithering into one ear and coiling around his brain : I am the spirit of Delphi, speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach, seeker, and ask.
The mummy wasn't alive. She was some kind of gruesome receptacle for something else, the power that was swirling around him in the green mist. But its presence didn't feel evil, like Alecto or the Minotaur. It felt ancient, powerful and definitely not human.
Percy asked, "What is my destiny?"
The mist swirled more thickly, collecting right in front of him and around the table with the pickled monster-part jars. Suddenly, there were four men sitting around the table, playing cards. Their faces became clearer. It was Gabe and his poker buddies.
Gabe turned towards him and spoke in the rasping voice of the Oracle : You shall go west, and face the god who has turned.
His buddy on the right looked up and said in the same voice : You shall find what was stolen and see it safely returned.
The guy on the left then said : You shall be betrayed by the one who calls you a friend.
Finally, the last and the worst line was delivered : And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end.
The figures then dissolved as the mist retreated, coiling into a huge green serpent and slithering back into the mouth of the mummy. The tale of the mist snake disappeared into the mummy's mouth as she reclined back against the wall. Her mouth closed tight, as if it hadn't been open in a hundred years. The attic was silent again, abandoned, nothing but a room full of mementos.
Percy finally walked out of the house as his head felt dizzy from the experience. He was so not prepared for it. Just then, Chiron materialised in front of him seemingly out of nowhere as he looked at Percy with concern.
"Percy, were you with the Oracle?"
"Yes, I was curious about the top floor so I went and explored it but the moment I came face to face with the Oracle, the door shut, smoke started to pour and a prophecy was issued to me. I don't know why I was given it but it must be related to my mother because that was the only thought going in my head since the past few days and even right now."
Chiron looked at Percy until he just nodded at him.
"Very well, we will discuss this later at a meeting but for now, keep this a secret. We do not want someone else to know about this or worry the campers," with that Chiron left Percy to his own devices.
It was still after lunch so Percy decided to walk around the camp for a while until he came face to face with a familiar brunette with her blazing eyes staring into his.
"What do you think you were doing Perseus Jackson?", Hestia all but demanded. He had never heard her use his full name and usually whenever someone did, it meant that he was in trouble. Big time. Percy knew full well not to play dumb since she had been nothing short of supportive and open with him and he needed to return that too. It was what friends did - always be honest with each other.
"I knew my mother was being held in the Underworld and I wanted to go there in order to rescue her but I needed a valid reason for it. The only way I could do was through a quest issued by the Oracle. I - I can't leave her alone like that. I have to go and save her", Percy all but cried as he was finally breaking down from all the time he suppressed his emotions or Gamer's Mind kept him in check. It seemed that the ability didn't activate this time as though reading his thoughts in this matter and let Percy finally break the dam.
Hestia for her part did something that almost broke Percy from his stupor. Almost. She hugged him. Hestia couldn't bear the sight of Percy breaking down like this with no one but her acting as his support ever since he entered this new world with no one stopping for him or asking after him. He simply cried on her shoulder for a while until his crying died down to sniffles as he finally let out everything. Percy moved to indicate that he was okay but Hestia just tightened her hug.
"I am here for you Percy, I always will be", she whispered into his ear, "I - I know it is all of a sudden but I want to ask you a question."
Realising that Hestia was nervous for some reason Percy hugged her too indicating that it was okay. She separated from him as she looked at him with a nervous sight but steeled herself before she continued.
"I have never once had a champion because no one has been able to understand truly what family means and what the hearth represents until now. You are someone who embodies the very nature of the goddess I am of and I can feel it in my domains that you are the only one to have ever come to the level where no one ever could. So Percy, will you do me the honour of becoming my Champion?"
Percy for his part was confused. What was a champion in the first place?
Seeing his confused face, Hestia explained, "We gods offer people to become our champions who embody our domains or we feel is worthy to represent us. A champion once blessed gains some powers of his/her patron god"
"Are you sure about this Hestia? I do not feel that I am worthy enough for such a huge honour", he replied.
"Yes, I am. You being humble and doubting yourself are clear signs that you're down to earth and won't use my powers for something wrong. I have watched you and spent time with you for a while now and I can safely say, I am more than happy with my choice."
"Then I accept to be your champion, Lady Hestia."
Hearing those words, Hestia was filled with excitement and happiness to finally have her first champion after millenia. She had always wanted one but could never find someone but now, she relished in this feeling as she brought Percy to another tight hug and was delighted when he hugged her back with equal fervour.
Just as Percy hugged her back, Hestia suddenly glowed a warm orange as he too started to glow in a sea-green light. He felt warmth emit from Hestia as he felt a surge in power. He felt something inside him light. Just as he was about to let go, Hestia hugged him tighter as he suddenly gasped in pain. He felt something searing on his skin on his right arm until the pain died down. She then let go of him and gave him a once over.
Suddenly, Hestia gasped as she felt her cheeks heat up. It was nothing of the sort she felt when she summoned fire so she was visibly confused. However, she put that thought aside as she looked at Percy's face and arm. His usual sea-green eyes were now alight with a sea-green flame just like her eyes as they danced with excitement and warmth. They looked so beautiful that Hestia could not help but be mesmerized with those flames. She wrenched her gaze from his eyes to his arm where she could see the distinct underline of the brand / tattoo under his T-shirt that indicated to the world that he was her champion.
"Hestia, are you okay? Your cheeks are red", Percy's voice rang out in concern. He still had no idea but it was just like what happened with Annabeth when he was studying with her all those days back.
Hestia simply summoned a mirror and handed it to him. He looked at his reflection, nothing seemed different. His hair was still a mess, his mouth and nose were the same so were his flaming eyes. Wait. Flaming eyes? Percy blinked as he got the mirror closer expecting the mirror's image to change but it was adamant.
"My eyes are on fire!", Percy yelped as the fact finally registered in his brain and he nearly dropped the mirror in his shock. He looked at it again and sure enough they were still there blazing happily. Percy had to admit they looked good. He then remembered the burning sensation on his right arm and pulled his sleeve to reveal what was underneath. It was an intricate tattoo which depicted a donkey as well as a fire along with ancient Greek written all around in lines which formed part of its design. Percy could only gaze it at in wonder and admiration. Hestia on her part watched him with amusement as he proceeded to look at her like an over excited child who just got new clothes.
He then looked at her with his breathtaking eyes with the largest smile he could muster.
"Thank you thank you thank you," he exclaimed as he hugged her yet again. He had been ignoring the notifications which kept popping up for a while now.
She then pulled back and said, "Percy, try summoning fire".
Percy obeyed her as he closed his eyes and felt for the familiar sensation of the chords connecting inside him as he imagined his hand bursting into flames and sure enough he felt a burning sensation in his hands. He opened his eyes and was greeted to the sight of orange flames flickering in his hand as it danced in mirth, waiting to be used for the first time by its master. He couldn't help but stare at it in wonder. Hestia, on the other hand, was beaming seeing how quickly he was able to adapt to his new powers however, controlling and manipulating fire was another issue altogether. Percy let the fire extinguish as he was starting to sweat from the strain it took him to summon and maintain one.
"You will require lots of practice in order to master fire since it is the exact opposite of water", Hestia explained, "however, if you ever need help or some tricks, you know I'm always watching. As for your eyes, just imagine them to be normal and they will return to their former look and vice versa."
With that done, Hestia gave him a final hug as she disappeared in a burst of flames.
He then opened his notifications which were running wild and started swiping through them, reading the most important ones.
...
Ping!
You have received the blessings of Hestia due to being her champion!
Following are now available -
Summon Meals (tap for more information)
Fire Control (tap for more information)
...
Percy tapped the first option.
...
Summon Meals
Using the power of Home and Hearth, summon food and drinks.
...
Percy whistled. This was certainly helpful and now, he didn't have to store food since he could summon it as and when he wished. He then tapped the second option.
...
Fire Control
(Level 1 - Cost 100 MP / Min)
The blessings of Hestia grants you control over fire.
...
Just then Chiron came galloping towards him.
"Come Percy, let's talk with Mr. D before you can leave for the quest since technically he is the head of the camp even though he doesn't care about most of them, he somehow asked for you."
Percy followed Chiron to the front porch of the Big House where Dionysus sat at the pinochle table in his tiger-striped Hawaiin shirt with his Diet Coke.
"Sit Percy", surprisingly it was Dionysus who said that.
"I understand you have been issued a quest and from what Chiron told me, it is something to do with saving your mother. Correct?"
Percy nodded.
""Are you sure about it?"
Again, Percy nodded with a determined look.
"Then I will let Chiron handle the rest. I have an emergency meeting at Olympus." with that Dionysus rose. He then snapped his fingers. The air seemed to fold and bend around him. He became a holograph, then a wind, then he was gone, leaving only the smell of fresh-pressed grapes lingering behind.
Chiron then smiled at Percy as he asked him the million-dollar question, "Do you know what is going on?"
Percy nodded, "I know that something important has been stolen from either Zeus or Poseidon since the weather has not been normal since the winters. It seems as though the sky and the sea itself are fighting each other." Percy didn't want to divulge the main reason as to how he knew but he wouldn't let Chiron in on that. No way.
"Even the Oracle has deemed it important enough to issue a quest which comes directly from glances at the possible future which the Fates themselves weave at the behest of their mother. We cannot ignore this.
Moreover, you are correct. Your father and Zeus are having their worst quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something valuable that was stolen. To be precise : a lightning bolt."
Percy just tilted his head for further explanation. He just knew the basics from Alecto, nothing else.
"Zeus' master bolt, the symbol of his power, from which all other lightning bolts are patterned. The first weapon made by the Cyclopes for the war against the Titans, the bolt that sheered the top off Mount Etna and hurled Kronos from his throne; the master bolt which packs enough power to make mortal hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers."
"And it's stolen?"
"Yes"
"By who?"
"By you. At least that's what Zeus thinks. During the winter solstice, at the last council of the gods, Zeus and Poseidon had an argument. The usual banter. Afterwards, Zeus realised his master bolt was missing, taken from the throne room under his very nose. He immediately blamed Poseidon. Now a god cannot usurp another god's symbol of power directly - that is forbidden by the most ancient of divine laws. But Zeus believes your father convinced a human hero to take it. Moreover, Zeus has good reason to be suspicious. The forges of the Cyclopes are under the ocean, which gives Poseidon some influence over the makers of his brother's lightning. Zeus believes Poseidon has taken the master bolt, and is now secretly having the Cyclopes build an arsenal of illegal copies, which might be used to topple Zeus from his throne. The only thing Zeus wasn't sure about was which hero Poseidon used to steal the bolt. Now Poseidon has openly claimed you as his son. You were in New York over the winter holidays which is the current location of Mount Olympus right above the Empire State Building. You could have easily snuck into Olympus. Zeus believes he has found his thief. Of course, Poseidon denied stealing the master bolt. The two have been arguing back and forth for months, threatening war. And now, you've come along - the proverbial last straw."
"But I didn't do anything. My dad, he didn't really have this master bolt stolen, did he?"
"Most thinking observers would agree that thievery isn't Poseidon's style. But the sea god is too proud to try convincing Zeus of that. Zeus has demanded that Poseidon return the bolt by summer solstice. That's June twenty-first, almost a month from now. Poseidon wants an apology for being called a thief by the same date. I had hoped diplomacy might prevail but your arrival has inflamed Zeus' temper. Now, neither god will back down. Unless someone intervenes, unless the master bolt is found and returned to Zeus before the solstice, there will be war."
"Right."
"What was the prophecy?"
Percy then told him exactly what the Oracle had said but held back about a friend betraying him as he had an inkling as to whom it may be but did not act on it until he had sufficient proof. Chiron on his part, knew that Percy was holding back something so he moved to placate Percy's fears.
"Percy, don't dwell too much on them. The words of a prophecy often have more meanings to them than one and it is not a definite future that will happen but one of the most likely scenarios. The truth is not always clear until events come to pass."
That seemed to help as Percy visibly relaxed. Even though it was a possibility, he was banking on the odds of it not coming to pass. Then Percy remembered something important he needed to ask.
"Who's this god in the west?"
"Think Percy. If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other in a war, who stands to gain?"
Percy with his newfound intelligence quickly deduced that only one individual has that kind of power - "Hades".
"The Minotaur can only be summoned by someone who has control over the Underworld. It may not be a stretch to assume that he would have been behind the abdication of your mother."
At that Percy's eyes widened. How did he know? He knew he had not shared it with Chiron until he saw Grover walk up to them. That's when it clicked. Grover had not been knocked out and would've seen what had transpired.
"There may be more to this than we know" , Chiron continued, "he may have a play in this by taking the Lightning Bolt from you and holding it over his brothers as they weaken each other. I cannot speak about Hades' plans so the only option left is to do as the Oracle prophesied. As much as I hate this and would be reluctant to let you go, there's far more at stake than one can imagine."
However, after listening to Chiron's reasoning about his mother, he was now convinced he needed to go to the Underworld, not for the stupid over-powered toy of a god but for his mother. The world be damned. If he had to choose between either of them, he knew what choice he would take in a heartbeat.
Grover had just heard the last bits of the conversation but was able to comprehend that a quest had been issued and Percy was supposed to go to the Underworld in search of possibly one of the most powerful weapons in existence. To say he was scared shitless would be an understatement. Percy too was trying to wrap his head around something else it seemed judging from the blank look he now had.
"If we know it is some kind of play from Hades, why can't we just tell the other gods? Zeus or Poseidon could go down and take care of it. Why involve me?" he finally asked.
"Even if some gods suspect Hades, they cannot do anything about it. Gods cannot cross each other's territories except by invitation. That is another ancient rule. Heroes, on the other hand, have certain privileges. They can go anywhere, challenge anyone, as long as they're bold enough and strong enough to do it. No god can be held responsible for a hero's actions. Why do you think the gods always operate through humans? It's not an accident that Poseidon claimed you as soon as you arrived at camp in front of everyone to see. It is a big gamble but he's in a desperate situation and he needs you."
"Right. So let me get this straight. First, I have to go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of the Dead who may also be holding my mother prisoner as leverage for the Lightning Bolt since I am accused of stealing it. Second, I need to find one of the most powerful weapons to exist and get it back to Olympus before the summer solstice in about a month and finally, I do not have to die doing any of these since the fate of the world rests on me finding a powerful firecracker to return to its rightful owner to avoid what may amount to a total eradication of humanity if a war waged between possibly the two most powerful figures in the age of the gods. Perfect, just another walk in the park"
Chiron sweat dropped at that. The boy sure had a mouth on him and was far too laid back to even care about a god's symbol of power opting to call it names no one would ever dare to.
"I will go with you Perce", Grover suddenly said bravely though his body betrayed his words.
"You don't have to go with me G-man, I can do it alone."
Grover took a deep breath, then said, "You saved my life, Percy. Besides, I am your protector and your best friend, I cannot just leave you to go on this dangerous quest alone."
Percy felt relieved that he had someone. Inwardly, he was trying not to panic since he had no idea what he would encounter. Even his new powers would barely hold up against a god in his own domain. He was glad for the backup.
"Do you know the location of the Underworld?" Percy asked Chiron.
"The entrance to the Underworld is always in the west and moves just like Olymous. Right now, it is in Los Angeles.
"For a quest, you have to choose three members to go with you and luckily for you, someone knew what exactly you were up to when you visited the Oracle and since then, has volunteered to go with you", Chiron said.
Percy looked at him incredulously. Who in their right mind would want to go on a deadly quest like this?
His question was answered as the air shimmered behind Chiron and Annabeth became visible as she stuffed a Yankees cap into her back pocket.
"I've been waiting a long time for a quest, Seaweed Brain," she said. "While Athena and Poseidon may not get along, we need to since we have to save the world and who better to help than the daughter of wisdom and strategy herself?"
Percy couldn't argue with that logic. There were no cons that he could see and it would be extremely helpful with Annabeth with them.
"I hope you have a plan Wise Girl", he said as he watched her cheeks color yet again.
"What do you think of me? Do I look like an idiot who would just barge into the entrance of the Underworld and demand to see its ruler?"
In truth, Percy was actually thinking of doing just that. If she had a better plan which led them to stay alive, he was game.
"Excellent", Chiron said. "I can give you 10 days at most to train Percy since we need you alive and kicking. I know you have been training lately but use the rest of the time wisely. It may use up our time but we have no other option, if we send you now, you will be walking into certain death."
Percy agreed with the plan. He needed all the training he could get especially with his new powers as Hestia's champion if he needed to have a chance at saving his mother.
'I will come for you mom. I will have you back,' Percy vowed in his mind as he got ready for a gruelling ten days of continuous training of the mind and body.
x.x
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod (gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. He has ADHD and Dyslexia which helps in combat and reading Ancient Greek respectively. He has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes. He is also Hestia's champion which grants him control over fire and lets him summon meals and drinks.
...
Level - 11
Exp - 1711 / 2160
...
HP : 600 / 600 (+ 2000)
MP : 650 / 650 (+ 2000)
...
STR : 20 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 14 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 14 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 20 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 15 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 10 (Bonus : +10% chance of better loot)
Points : 10
Money : $3660 / D0
...
Status : Demigod
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Skills
...
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 8)
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Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Modern English (Level 22)
Swimming (Level 5 - 7 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Running (Level 6 - 32 km / hr)
Storms (Level 2)
...
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 2)
Critical Strike (Level 1)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 1)
Mage Armor (Level 3)
Summon Meals (Max)
...
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max level)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
...
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 13)
Water Spikes (Level 3)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 2)
Dimension Create (Max)
Fire Control (Level 1)
x.x
A/N
I know the last part of the conversation is from the book but what better way to describe the situation than from the one who wrote it in the first place? Percy is rather still unaware of what exactly transpired and Alecto too wouldn't know everything. So yeah.
Yes, Percy has received Hestia's blessings earlier than anything and it might be OOC however, I am using this for a specific purpose which you'll find out later once Percy progresses through the quest. This one is different and I really hope it works out as well as I think it should!
With that, please do drop a review to help improve the fic.
Until next time.
Chapter 8: Ice and Fire
Chapter Text
Disclaimer : I do not own PJO or any of its characters.
x.x
Chapter 8: Ice and Fire
Post talking to Chiron, Percy decided to go to sleep. He would have a gruelling routine ahead and he needed to utilise it fully. He had also figured out that he needed sleep every five days if he was operating with his general routine and not over-exerting himself however, if he upped his training, he would need to sleep every three days in order to regain his strength from the much-needed rest. With that in mind, just as he was about to head to bed, a notification popped up on its own accord.
Go to Zeus' Fist.
This was the first time this had happened and Percy was apprehensive. However, his curiosity won out as he walked out of his cabin and into the woods, heading towards Zeus' Fist. Once he reached it, he saw three old ladies sitting at its base. If he was in any other place, he wouldn't have really questioned it however, this was no ordinary place and what the three ladies were doing was not ordinary either. One spun a thread while another worked a loom and the last one cut the thread in different sizes. Intrigued and skeptical at the same time, Percy used Observe.
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The Three Fates
*^*(!* )_& %#%^$ (!? !*!?"::":{}~(* ~
...
After reading it, Percy was shocked to the core. He could not believe his eyes as to what he was reading and despite blinking repeatedly, the box was still there. Just before he could react further, one of the ladies waved a hand and suddenly Gamer's Mind kicked in out of nowhere and stabilized him. Percy's face was replaced from surprise to slight fear as these were entities not even the system could tell him anything about which meant it was beyond him for all intents and purposes. He would've never thought this was possible and yet, here they were. Again, Gamer's Mind kicked in and got him level. He recognised who was who based on what they were doing. Percy then steeled himself as he smiled at them.
"Lady Clotho, Lady Lachesis and Lady Atropos", Percy said as he bowed his head slightly in respect at each of the three Moirai - the incarnations of Destiny.
"Respectful yet sarcastic. You truly are unpredictable Perseus", Clotho said as she scrutinised the boy in front of him.
"Thanks?", Percy said though it came out more as a question. He was hardly expecting this.
"Bold as well. Not many in their right mind would approach us, most turn tail and run for the hills the moment they realise who we are", Atropos said as she cut another thread.
"I am not everybody and please call me Percy. Perseus sounds too formal", Percy said. He was never one for formalities, he preferred simplicity more than anything.
"So how is your progress going from the powers we gave you Percy?", this time Lachesis said as she waved a hand and his stats screen popped open and turned towards the Fates.
Percy gaped. "You gave me these powers?! Why?"
"You don't need to know about it yet", Clotho replied with a hint of finality in her tone which Percy managed to pick out. He did not want to antagonize them. He was not particularly fond of the supernatural world at the moment but he too had enough sense now not to pick a fight with someone who could kill him as easily as one would kill an ant.
"So how can I help you? Surely, you're not here on a social visit to see me", Percy replied.
"You are getting smarter", Lachesis said as she inspected his stats screen. "You have been working hard it seems and you have already managed to get a power boost with the blessings of Hestia. I never imagined you'd be her first champion, something no one has managed to do in millennia. Make sure you train in these powers, I suspect these may come in use for what is to come", she hinted. "Unfortunately we cannot say more for there are lots of possible futures out there and all we can do is try and guide you to the best one there is but the choices are yours to make. Now, coming back to the question, what makes you think that you can help us?"
"Why did you give me these powers in the first place if not to help you?" Percy answered the question with a question cheekily.
"Smart", Clotho replied as she matched his grin with her own. This was turning out to be quite a fresh conversation for the three sisters and they were starting to enjoy it. Most would drop on their knees or treat them with reverence which was good but after a while became stifling. "Are you aware of the first Titanomachy?"
"I know that the gods waged war against the Titans with Zeus leading them after he freed his siblings from Kronos when he ate them. Just the basic stuff."
"Good enough but we need you to know everything there is to know about it", Lachesis replied as she snapped her finger and a seemingly old book appeared out of thin air written in Ancient Greek. "This is a first-hand account of what exactly transpired. Make sure to brush up on your knowledge".
"But why do you need me to do it?"
"A prophecy was issued. Kronos rises again. War is going to come soon and you must be ready", Atropos said.
"Okay why must I be ready? And why are you telling me this? Why don't you go to the gods?", Percy was absolutely confused. Why should he be part of a war and why did it involve him in the first place?
"The reason will be revealed to you once you're back from the quest. Heed our words for now and believe in them. That's all we can say for now. As for informing the gods, they have grown complacent and arrogant. They won't believe that Kronos rises again until it's too late and nothing can be done. He will look to use the god's weapons against them along with other measures."
"You mean their symbols of power or something?"
"No, think Percy. Who has access to every place in the Greek world, can go without any restrictions whatsoever and challenge anyone?", Clotho supplied.
"Demigods", Percy realised as his eyes widened to the size of saucers.
"Correct. He plans on using those who feel abandoned by their parents or unclaimed even after so long to wage war on Olympus."
The more Percy thought about it, the more sense it made. There were lots of unclaimed campers in the Hermes cabin. He himself had been frustrated when he didn't know who his father was and no one told him. He could relate to the feeling. He vowed to help them with his powers maybe just maybe, this would change things a little bit.
As if reading his thoughts, Lachesis said, "You can use them but make sure no one discovers your powers."
Percy nodded his head gratefully. He would feel horrible if he couldn't help them even though he had the powers for it.
"We must leave; we have been shrouding this location for a while and it seems Hestia is worried as she couldn't sense you through your link. Moreover, we know that both Poseidon and Hestia can now sense the change in your powers and as such, know something is amiss. So, we grant you liberty to disclose this information to both of them and an extremely small group of people who you would trust in order to keep your relations secure without needing to lie about things. Don't forget to make them swear on the Styx though. Finally, remember Percy, your actions have a far bigger impact than you can comprehend so make sure you think about it before doing something reckless. All the best, young hero, don't disappoint us."
With that, the three vanished with no display that usually accompanied when a god teleported. The Fates simply blinked out of existence. One moment they were there, the next they were gone as though they had never been here. Percy realised that the forest had been awfully quiet during their conversation since the usual noises started making their way towards his ears.
Just as Percy was about to walk back to the cabin, Hestia appeared in front of him suddenly still in her twelve-year form.
"Hestia", Percy said with a warm smile. However, she didn't seem to mirror his emotion if her blazing eyes were anything to go by.
"Perseus Jackson, where were you? I could sense you for a while but then you suddenly disappeared without any traces and regardless of how much I tried, I could not find you."
"I was right here", Percy replied innocently.
"My first champion, it hasn't even been a day and he disappears! No matter how much I searched, I cannot sense him or find him. Do you know how worried I was?"
"I understand but I won't leave just like this Hestia", Percy said as he gave her a smile.
"Don't do that ever again Perseus Jackson. As your patron god, this is an order"
"Of course my lady", Percy said as he mock bowed.
"Idiot", Hestia said uncharacteristically. "Also, what happened to your powers? I sense there's something different about it. There seems to be more than just water and fire from what I can tell. I only noticed this after you became my champion. Is everything alright?"
"About that, there's something that I needed to tell you which is actually related to what happened right now", Percy said nervously as he looked around. Sensing his trouble, Hestia gently cupped his face and turned it towards her whilst radiating warmth to make him at ease which worked.
"I don't know how to say this exactly but I just met Moirai right now", Percy started.
Hestia gasped. That was not good, not good at all. However, Percy continued before she could say anything.
"The difference you feel in my power is because they blessed me."
"WHAT?!", Hestia all but screamed. Percy winced. This wasn't going well.
"Apparently, I am important for some prophecy which is going to come soon which would result in a war. They wanted me to be better prepared hence, they granted me some powers", he explained.
Hestia knew what prophecy he was mentioning. She was there after all when it all happened. Thankfully, he did not know about it and she did not want him to worry about it. However, if the Fates themselves had intervened, it had to be serious and much bigger than she initially thought. Right now, she could not even inform her younger brothers about it since the family was already in a state of war with Zeus' lightning bolt stolen and her champion blamed for it. She decided to keep it to herself for the moment and only reveal information once things had relatively settled; if they found the damned thing in the first place.
"I hope you do know that not everything comes from free and there's a catch. I'm sure they have their own agenda", Hestia said finally.
"I know but what else can I do? If it is as important as they say, I will be needing it."
Hestia relented. He had a point plus if the extra power insured his survival, she wouldn't have any qualms whatsoever about it so she decided to go with it.
"What powers did they grant you if you don't mind me asking?"
"I know it is pointless to ask you but I promised the Fates. Can you swear on the Styx not to reveal this to anyone?"
Hestia did as he asked with the familiar thunderclap in the background.
"So are you aware of the gaming system which is found in well, games?"
"No"
"So basically in video games, the main character usually has a lot of power and abilities. The player can check his/her HP/MP, stats, unlock new abilities etc. That's what I have. I don't require much sleep now unless I am exhausted, unlock new abilities and skills and see how far I have mastered them too. "
Hestia oohed at that. This was certainly interesting.
"How's your control over the powers I granted you?"
"Fire Control is still at level 1 and costs double the amount of HP compared to water."
"It must be since water is fire's opposite."
"Hestia, I know it is a big ask but can you train me and help improve my fire control? It will be extremely helpful -"
"Of course", Hestia replied instantly as she interrupted him mid-sentence. Percy smiled as he whooped with excitement.
"But we will need a private place since I do not want anyone to know about this yet, especially my youngest brother, for your safety. You are nowhere near powerful enough to defend yourself against a god right now", Hestia said.
"I have got the perfect place", Percy said as his sea-green eyes suddenly burst into fire and danced with mirth. "In fact, let me show you right now".
Percy then touched her arm as he whispered, "Dimension Create".
All of a sudden, the voices in the forest died down yet again and the sky's colour changed as per custom. Hestia looked around confused at first then realised Percy's words. He had created a whole dimension where they were the only ones.
"This is an alternate dimension. It runs at the same time as that of earth but there's no one here except for us and it doesn't affect the real world so if we destroy anything, nothing will happen out there", Percy explained.
'This is certainly helpful and quite a power', Hestia thought.
"Very well, we should start training tomorrow when you don't have to follow the camp schedule so that no one suspects what you're doing and goes looking after you. It will raise quite a few questions", Hestia said.
Percy merely nodded as he dismissed the dimension.
"Thank you, Hestia", he said earnestly as he gave her a grateful hug. He had wanted to share this with someone since he had been bearing this burden alone and now that she was with him, it made things easier.
"No need Percy, I will always be here", she said as she smiled. "I will see you tomorrow" with that, she teleported back to Olympus Percy assumed. He too returned to his bed as he got ready for the training sessions which would begin the next day.
You have slept in your own bed! All HP and MP restored.
Percy dismissed the notification as he got out of bed. He got ready and walked to the dining pavilion where he would start his day with the Athena cabin or more specifically - Annabeth. She had been a huge help lately and had readily volunteered for the quest further cementing how much she had done for him. He was eternally grateful to her and would do anything to keep her safe.
"Annabeth!", Percy exclaimed when he saw the familiar blonde-haired girl with her siblings. He walked to their table and greeted the others. He had become friends with the entire cabin in the wake of his friendship with their head counselor.
"Hey Percy", she replied with a smile. "Ready for your studies today?" Truthfully, she had started enjoying spending time with the son of Poseidon even more lately and oftentimes would try to prolong his studies as much as she could so that she could be with him longer.
"As always, we also need to talk about the quest. How about studying at the beach today? It will be a nice change from the cabin."
"Sounds good", she said. Percy bid his farewell and proceeded to his table to have breakfast. Annabeth then looked around at her siblings who were sporting knowing smirks on their faces.
"What?"
"Nothing, just that a daughter of Athena and a son of Poseidon are getting along a bit too well", teased Malcolm.
Annabeth felt her cheeks redden at that. "It is nothing like that, we need to plan things out. That idiot can hardly do anything, I bet he planned on entering the Underworld and confronting its ruler straight away with no tact whatsoever. Someone needs to be there to watch over him before he ends up blowing up the world."
"Someone seems concerned".
"I am not", she said a little too quickly.
"Relax Annabeth. All of us are with you in case something does happen and we will even try speaking to mom if things come to that".
Annabeth merely nodded. She was not in a position to say anything without it being used against her since they were right in whatever they said till now even though she had a hard time accepting it herself.
Post breakfast, Annabeth found herself sitting at the beach with a bunch of books surrounding her, waiting for the idiot to show up. Even though he had become intelligent, it seemed that it only extended to his brain and not common sense since he was making a girl wait.
Said idiot soon turned up and plopped down beside her. Fortunately for him, post breakfast, Chiron had spoken to Percy and excused him from the schedule. He gave Percy liberty to train as he wished but he had to report to Chiron on what all he had done so that Chiron could give him advice as and when needed.
With that, their studies started or more specifically, Annabeth tutoring Percy. If someone looked from afar, they would be treated to the scene of Percy being scolded by Annabeth almost every other minute for something or the other whilst he doused her in water every now and then. It was quite the scene to see a daughter of Athena and a son of Poseidon get along so well as several campers, most notably the children of Aphrodite, Hermes and Athena, were seen clicking photos with their cameras.
This soon came to an end as lunch time approached. Percy thanked her with another of his lopsided grins which didn't help things for Annabeth who wanted him to stay for longer.
Post lunch, Percy headed to Zeus' Fist where he was supposed to meet Hestia for his first day of fire training. He found the goddess sitting at the top, patiently waiting for him in her now default twelve year old form. They headed to the alternate dimension where his training officially started.
Turns out, the gentle goddess could be quite the slave driver as at the end of the session Percy lay on the ground breathing hard. She had not pulled her punches when it came to it and was constantly on him to give his best regardless of how battered he was. She wanted him to get stronger and she would see to it one way or the other. This did have unexpected results though.
...
Due to continuous use, Fire Control has levelled up!
Fire Control
(Level 3 - Cost 94 MP / Min)
...
"So did the training pay off?", Hestia asked as they sat together.
"I levelled up twice just from this one session", Percy replied with a smile, "It seems that the MP cost reduces by 2 every time I level up whilst it reduces by 1 when it comes to water control."
"Perhaps it's because I'm the eldest daughter and hence my blessings would be stronger compared to that of my younger brother", Hestia joked.
"It might just be that case", Percy replied seriously.
Once Percy had recovered his breath, they travelled back and soon bid goodbye.
He had decided to focus on several skills for the first five days which were:
...
WIS
INT
VIT
DEX
Fire Control
...
~Time Skip : 5 days~
At the end of the first five days, Percy had grown by leaps and bounds. He did not have to look at his stats to know that. However, a quick look greeted him with the following results :
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Modern English (Level 25)
Bonus : +5% reading speed
INT : 20 + 2 = 22
WIS : 15 + 1 = 16
VIT : 14 + 2 = 16
DEX : 14 + 2 = 16
MP : 650 + 50 = 700 / 700
Fire Control
(Level 6 - 88 MP / min)
...
Hestia's training had been extremely useful even though it was tiring to say the least. Percy had been spending quite a bit of time with her as well as Annabeth and had grown close to both of them, especially the former.
Right now, he was with Hestia in the alternate dimension; experimenting with his fire powers. Ever since his control had grown, he had started trying new things which may help in combat or get him out of tough situations. So far, he had found a way or two but he still needed to work on them before he could utilise them in active combat.
He had been putting special emphasis on science lately to see what could work in his favour since he now had control over fire and water - both had their own uses. Suddenly, Percy had a crazy idea. What if he combined water and fire to create steam?
Acting on impulse, he summoned some water from his inventory and ignited his hand.
"Percy, what are you doing?" Hestia asked.
Percy ignored her as he willed the water to fall on his hand and it all vaporised. The general area around him was now bathed in steam. He let his instincts loose as he felt everything around him and to his surprise, he could easily detect Hestia who was sitting atop the rock trying to see him. He knew she could sense his presence since she was a goddess but looking for him was another matter altogether.
He realised that technically, steam was still water but in gaseous form. Since he could detect everything in water, he could do the same on land. This would be extremely useful if he wanted to sneak up on someone while concealing himself or during a fight when he needed to assess the situation, his ADHD could work to an extent.
Two notifications then popped up.
...
By combining scientific knowledge and common sense, you were able to create a new use for your water abilities.
WIS : 16 + 1 = 17
New skill unlocked!
Steam Control
(Level 1 - 75 MP / min)
Superheat water to create a cloud of steam for multiple purposes.
...
"Percy, you alright? What were you trying?", Hestia asked again. She was confused as to why he would suddenly create steam.
"Give me a moment".
He was now on a roll. Since he used fire on water to make steam, what if he took the warmth from the water and use it to create ice? He closed his eyes and let his senses drift out. He felt the water in the steam as he connected to them. Percy then proceeded to use his fire abilities to take away all the heat from it as the temperature rapidly fell until he heard a gasp from Hestia. He opened his eyes to see if she was fine only to be amused by her expression. She was looking around him with wide eyes and Percy followed her gaze only to see that he had successfully created ice.
...
New skill unlocked!
Ice Control
(Level 1 - 100 MP / min)
Freeze water and use it for deadly attacks.
Bonus : WIS : 17 + 1 = 18
Water Control
(Level 14 - 37 MP / min)
...
Percy then dismissed the water as he then explained what he had been trying to do to Hestia. She was pretty impressed with his application and happy that he had found two more things that could help him moving forward. Eventually, they returned since Hestia had other duties to take care of whilst Percy headed to the bonfire. He had completely forgotten about something imperative that he had to do.
Percy sat near the Hermes cabin as he looked at the status bars of all the campers. About three-fourth of the children were unclaimed. This was going to change tonight.
"Hey", Percy greeted a kid named Ethan. They hadn't met officially so Percy thought he'd start afresh. He was an Asian boy who was around the same age as him give or take two years maybe. He had a slim, wiry build, glossy black hair and a son of Nemesis, the goddess of balance, retribution and vengeance.
"Hey Percy", Ethan replied.
"Wait. How did you know my name? We haven't even met", Percy replied, surprised.
Ethan scoffed, "Who doesn't? You're the first son of Poseidon in decades not to mention the big ass show that your dad put on when he was claiming you. Sort of makes it impossible to forget."
Percy frowned, "Fair enough. So how about we start introductions?" he ended with a genuine smile.
"Ethan Nakamura but I don't know who my mother is."
"Wait, you don't? I thought you were a son of Athena. You seem to look like a person who is well balanced I guess and has a sense of justice if I'm right?" Percy was completely bullshiting by now since he did not exactly know how to reveal this to Ethan so he went along with what came to mind. He figured that everyone would be happier being claimed and hence, won't ask too many questions. He'd cross that bridge later.
Ethan blinked, "Well you are half correct when you say this. I indeed try to balance out things however, I won't use justice as part of my character. I prefer being petty."
"Huh. You're right, so that's what I must be feeling."
"What do you mean?" Ethan was now curious and some of the campers who had overheard the brief exchange between the two.
"Your aura. I can somewhat sense it and from what I can gather and after speaking to you, I would guess that your mother is Nemesis, goddess of balance, retribution and vengeance."
"As if you could - ", Ethan began but was interrupted when a loud gasp was heard from the campers around them. They were suddenly looking at him no, rather above him. Ethan then looked up and to his surprise, saw the glowing symbol of his mother : a set of scales. It seems as though Percy was right.
There was a hush silence all over the place as everyone stared at Percy for doing something that had never been done before. It was further cemented when Chiron exclaimed, "Percy, you did that again? You were able to figure out who's who just like before?"
To many of the campers, those words were nothing short of ridiculous as they couldn't believe what Chiron had just said. While many looked at Percy with sheer ridiculousness written on their face, many others looked at him with hope that they'd finally get to know who their parents were. So they all turned to Chiron first, demanding an explanation.
"When Percy was an unclaimed demigod and had virtually no knowledge of the supernatural, somehow, he was able to identify me and Grover even though we were in disguise and hardly recognisable. Even we do not know how this came to occur but Percy has been right till now it seems."
With that said, the floodgates opened and the unclaimed campers soon crowded Percy trying to get his attention from all sides, demanding to be the first one for the most valuable information a person could get in their lives.
That night turned out to be one of the most memorable ones as it was practically a light show as campers were claimed left and right. Percy had been able to correctly identify every single camper's parent whilst making up the most ridiculous explanations he could think of. Mostly, he tried tying a person's behaviour or some other trait that was somehow related to the domain of the god's child in question. Nobody interrupted him until the final one was done. As soon as the child was claimed, everyone erupted into a huge shout of exuberance. They cheered Percy for what he had done for them as the fire roared, reaching the heavens. Things were looking up for them now.
You have slept in your own bed! All HP and MP restored.
The following day, Percy woke up and sighed. Last night whilst magical was tiring. He was practically deaf. He had a shower wherein he was easily healed and felt full of energy. However, before Percy stepped out, he pulled up his stats that he needed to train for the next five days before he left for the quest. They now read as :
...
STR : 20 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 16 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 16 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 22 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 18 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 10 (Bonus : +10% chance of better loot)
Sword Fighting (Level 8)
Ancient Greek (Max)
Modern English (Level 25)
Swimming (Level 5 - 7 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Running (Level 6 - 32 km / hr)
Storms (Level 2)
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 3)
Critical Strike (Level 2)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 1)
Mage Armor (Level 3)
Summon Meals (Max)
Water Control (Level 14)
Water Spikes (Level 3)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 2)
Dimension Create (Max)
Ice Control (Level 1)
Steam Control (Level 1)
Fire Control (Level 6)
...
Percy hummed as he gave them a once over. He first decided to eliminate those that he could not improve or would increase as a by-product of his training so he didn't have to put special consideration into it.
...
STR : 20 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
Sword Fighting (Level 8)
Swimming (Level 5 - 7 km/hr)
Storms (Level 2)
Sneaking (Level 3)
Critical Strike (Level 2)
Mage Armor (Level 3)
Water Control (Level 14)
Water Spikes (Level 3)
Water Spear (Level 2)
Ice Control (Level 1)
Steam Control (Level 1)
Fire Control (Level 6)
...
Out of all these, he needed to increase his base strength along with sword fighting for sure. Whilst he was at it, he could start swimming and use the water around him to boost his speed as well as perform intricate maneuvers that would increase swimming, strength and water control.
When it came to ice, steam and fire control, he would need to practice those independently or try using both elements together. It would undoubtedly be a hassle but the pay off would be sweet.
With that in mind, Percy headed out, ready to start his day.
~Timeskip : 4 days, one day before the quest~
Percy was lounging near the beach as he chewed on some brownies that he had summoned using Hestia's blessings. He had worked himself to the bone during the last four days with hardly any breaks and no sleep. However, today he was resting since he had to go on the quest tomorrow to save his mom and to find the tinfoil which was capable of mass destruction. To be honest, he did not really care about it. His mom's safety and well-being took precedence over everything else so if that could be achieved by finding the bolt, he'd do that.
His stats also had seen quite the jump during this time. Chiron too had been happy when he had seen how seriously Percy had been training. Of course, Chiron wasn't aware of Hestia's blessings Percy had, something he'd use only if the situation called for it. Coming back to the point, Percy popped up his stats:
...
STR : 23 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 18 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 18 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
Sword Fighting (Level 10)
Swimming (Level 7 - 9 km/hr)
Running (Level 7 - 34 km / hr)
Storms (Level 3)
Sneaking (Level 4)
Critical Strike (Level 4)
Mage Armor (Level 5)
Water Control (Level 16)
Water Spikes (Level 4)
Water Spear (Level 3)
Ice Control (Level 3)
Steam Control (Level 3)
Fire Control (Level 8)
...
As Percy finished and got up to leave, he saw Luke walk towards him.
"Hey Percy, ready for tomorrow?"
"I don't know what I'll face but I've trained as much as I can so let's see how it goes."
"Wanna head over to the arena for one last training session before you leave?"
"Sure".
The two didn't exchange any other words as they reached the arena and got their swords ready.
Luke came after him first. Percy opened up his senses as he saw the attacks coming and countered them with his own. He had practiced quite a bit however, it seemed that Luke was still better than him. Just as he stepped forward and tried to thrust his sword, Luke suddenly sidestepped as he twisted his blade with the flat of his own sword so that he had no choice but to drop his weapon.
Just as Luke disarmed him, Percy caught a cold look on Luke's face which was unlike what he had seen. This was quickly replaced by Luke's usual smile but Percy couldn't ignore it. He could have chalked it up as his imagination however, he couldn't since he felt dread wash over him in troves. It just felt like it was something / someone else entirely. Taking caution, Percy reused Observe on Luke just to be sure. However, what he saw was entirely off the charts and topped the 'screwed up stuff happening around me' list he had been maintaining in his head.
...
Luke Castellan
Luke is a son of Hermes who hates his father due to his past. He wants to take revenge on the gods for not being there for their children when they needed them the most. He wants them to learn their lesson by usurping them from their thrones.
Luke stole Zeus' Lightning Bolt and Hades' Helm of Darkness so that they are weakened from a war amongst themselves.
Luke believes he can recruit Percy to his cause by using underhanded means.
...
Before he could react, Gamer's Mind forced Percy to relax. Luke was the instigator of the upcoming war. Because of him, everyone was in danger and quite possibly his mother too. He had to go search for something that this man in front of him had hidden somewhere so safe that not even most talented gods could find it. Percy had lots of emotions running inside of him however, he needed to keep up appearances for now since he needed to find the bolt and Luke might shift its location if it wasn't at Camp. He vowed to confront Luke once he was back from the quest.
He had been staring at the screen for a minute now and it looked as though he was staring at Luke.
"You good Percy?"
"Yeah, I was just surprised by the move you just used. Can you teach that to me?" Percy asked; quickly thinking of a reason so that Luke doesn't suspect anything. Luckily for him, any further questions were staved off as Luke started teaching him.
An hour later, Percy had been able to successfully learn the skill and use it on Luke a couple of times though he suspected that Luke had been a little serious at most.
"Thanks for the help", Percy said.
"Anytime. I may have something for you tomorrow for your quest, just meet me once before you leave. Okay?"
Percy hardly trusted Luke now but he nodded and flashed a grateful smile (not) as they separated ways.
Percy headed to the Athena cabin where he had to finalise everything that was needed with Annabeth. He walked up to the door and knocked. The owl at the front still creeped him out, it felt as though it had its eyes on him and only him.
"Annabeth!", Percy exclaimed with a genuine smile as he saw the blonde in question wearing her usual outfit with her hair tied in a ponytail.
"Come in Percy", she replied as she moved to let him in. Most of her siblings were out for camp activities, only a handful remained and they were all busy with their studies. Typical.
"The camp is going to provide us with a few essential supplies and will drop us off at New York after which we are on our own", Annabeth began, "we cannot travel by air of course since you're the son of Poseidon so we'll have to make our way across the country."
"It'll be a nice road trip", Percy quipped.
"Except it'll be filled with monsters and an extremely high chance to die before we even reach the Underworld", Annabeth deadpanned.
"Still"
"Moving on, I suggest we take a bus. They usually travel a fair distance overnight and we have a good chance of making it to Los Angeles on time with a few days as a buffer just in case things go awry which I suspect they will", Annabeth continued, completely ignoring him. Leave it to her to finish the planning down to the smallest detail.
"Anything else?"
"Hmm not really. Just make it back out alive and reach Olympus on time to prevent a massive war from breaking out."
"Sounds about right. Well, since you have everything planned out, let's leave post breakfast."
"Sure, see you tomorrow Seaweed Brain. Don't get us killed."
"No pressure. Later, Wise Girl", Percy replied as he smiled at her and saw her face redden once again. He still wasn't entirely sure as to why it happened but he knew that it would be detrimental to his health if he tried asking her or Hestia. So he decided not to poke the bear and walked out of the cabin as he made his last and most special visit of the day.
Percy reached the hearth to find a familiar goddess poking at the fire. He let his eyes catch fire as it was now a custom between them. Hestia, on the other hand, liked seeing him like that since he was her first champion and she liked to be reminded of that, not that she ever forgot in the first place since she kept an eye on him. She had always been protective when it came to family but she had a special place for her champion and as such, had become over protective.
"Hestia", he greeted as he sat beside her.
"Ready for tomorrow?", Hestia asked with worry evident in her voice.
"I am and with your blessings, things will be easier", Percy smiled as he tried to reassure the goddess.
"Promise me you'll come back in one piece. I don't want anything to happen to my first champion."
"I promise Hestia."
No other words were needed. Both knew how the other felt. They sat in comfortable silence until Artemis started to rise and it was almost time for Percy to sleep since he had to be well rested and up early the next day.
"Goodnight Hestia, I hope I'll see you soon", Percy said. He was extremely anxious now which Hestia didn't fail to pick up.
She gave him a hug as she sent warm flashes of hope through his body.
"Don't worry Percy. When all seems to go wrong, when it seems the whole world is against you, remember that Hope will be with you regardless, all the way. I will be by your side."
Percy was moved by her words and hugged her tighter as the smell of wood smoke drifted towards him. He took in a deep breath as he relished in the familiarity of it as it filled him with hope for a better day and a better future.
"You're the best", Percy finally said with a lopsided grain.
Again, Hestia felt her cheeks heaten up at that. She vowed to read and find out what is it that caused this to happen. She could obviously not get sick since she was a goddess so what caused it? It had to do something with Percy since it only happened when she was around him. With a final goodbye, she vanished.
The next day, Percy sacrificed more food than usual during breakfast most of which went to Hestia. He was grateful to her since she had given him courage and confidence for the quest. Once he was done, Percy headed to the hill where he was supposed to meet the others. He was ready.
x.x
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod (gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. He has ADHD and Dyslexia which helps in combat and reading Ancient Greek respectively. He has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes. He is also Hestia's champion which grants him control over fire and lets him summon meals and drinks.
...
Level - 11
Exp - 1711 / 2160
...
HP : 600 / 600 (+ 2000)
MP : 700 / 700 (+ 2000)
...
STR : 23 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 18 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 18 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 22 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 18 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 10 (Bonus : +10% chance of better loot)
Points : 10
Money : $3660 / D0
...
Status : Demigod
...
Skills
...
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 10)
...
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Modern English (Level 25)
Swimming (Level 7 - 9 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Running (Level 7 - 34 km / hr)
Storms (Level 3)
...
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 4)
Critical Strike (Level 4)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 1)
Mage Armor (Level 5)
Summon Meals (Max)
...
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max level)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
...
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 16)
Water Spikes (Level 4)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 3)
Dimension Create (Max)
Ice Control (Level 3)
Steam Control (Level 3)
Fire Control (Level 8)
x.x
A/N
Yes, I am aware that the aura sensing thing was similar to the OG fic however, I would do it all over again since that scene was beautiful and the campers deserve better than not knowing who their parents are. Sue me.
So this chapter was fairly slow but things will get interesting once Percy leaves for the quest and what will follow.
Do review and follow!
Until next time.
Chapter 9: Interactions and Blessings
Chapter Text
A/N
Should I include other mythologies as well as snapshots of other mythologies in between the canon something like fillers? If so, which ones would you like to see?
Disclaimer : I do not own PJO or any of its characters.
x.x
Chapter 9
Just as Percy started to walk towards the hill, a notification popped up.
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Save Sally, find the Lightning Bolt and Helm of Darkness
Rewards -
5,000 XP
Your mother back and safer than ever
?
?
Failure -
Death
Sally's Death
Mass Destruction
End of the age of the gods
This quest has been auto accepted. Do you really need a reason to save the world and/or the gods?
...
Percy's eye twitched. He was so going to have a few words with the Fates when he met them next. If they were the ones giving him the quests, they really had a lot of free time in hand since they could be smart asses about things like this. What was this nonsense about the 'end of the age of gods'? He thought about it. What had the Fates told him? Kronos was rising. Did these events have something to do with the Titan Lord?
He sighed as he dismissed the notification and walked up to the small party that had assembled on the hill. He decided that he won't dwell too much on things or try to since it did nothing but raise more questions. Apparently, this change was brought about as his intelligence started to increase. He found himself more curious and questioned things much more than he would initially. Is this how Annabeth felt when she couldn't find answers or was curious? Something to ask her he mused.
He reached the hill to find Chiron, Grover, Luke and Annabeth waiting for him. Grover was chewing on a diet coke can as he stood nervously whilst the other three seemed to talk about quest or the news in general since their faces were serious.
"Hey guys, sorry to keep you waiting", Percy said.
"Seaweed brain, didn't anyone ever teach you not to keep people waiting, especially a girl?", Annabeth replied. Ah wasn't she just lovely? However, she sounded more annoyed than before for some reason. Percy didn't think about it as Luke walked up to him with a box in hand.
"Open it", Luke said.
Percy complied as he saw a pair of sneakers that looked nothing out of the ordinary. Seeing his confused look, Luke took one out and said, "Maia!".
Suddenly, white bird's wings sprouted out of the heels, startling him. Just then, Gamer's Mind came to the rescue and saved him before he could drop the shoes. The wings flapped a bit before they folded and disappeared.
"Awesome!" Grover said.
Luke smiled. "Those served me well when I was on my quest. Gift from dad. Of course, I don't use them much these days so you can have these."
Percy just thanked him but before he put them on, he decided to use Observe just to be on the safe side.
...
Talaria of Mercury
Obviously a cheaper imitation of the Talaria of Mercury. These are still effective, able to increase the speed of the user as well as gives the ability to fly. This pair has been cursed to drag the user to the depths of Tartarus itself once near its entrance.
...
'Great' Percy thought, 'just my luck'. He didn't have a bag since Annabeth had told him that the camp would be providing them with supplies and sure enough there was a backpack lying on the ground for him. Annabeth and Grover carried similar ones. He opened the bag and discreetly put the shoes in his inventory as he pretended to store them inside said bag. The camp had loaned them about twenty golden drachmas. These coins were as big as Girl Scout cookies and had images of various Greek gods stamped on one side and the Empire State Building on the other. They had also been provided with a flask of nectar and an airtight bag full of ambrosia squares. Percy used Observe and sure enough the results were enough to make him want to raid the store wherever they stashed both items.
...
Nectar - drink of the gods
Nectar restores MP fully with no risk of burning up.
Ambrosia - food of the gods
Ambrosia restores HP fully with no risk of burning up.
...
This was gold right there. This practically guaranteed him having unlimited HP and MP. Percy made a mental note to raid Olympus once he delivered the bolt if he was able to in the first case. Moving on, Annabeth was bringing her magic Yankees cap, which turned her invisible. She carried a book on famous classical architecture, written in Ancient Greek to read when she got bored, and a long bronze knife, hidden in her shirt sleeve.
Grover, on the other hand, wore his fake feet and his trousers to pass as human. He wore a green rasta-style cap, because when it rained, his curly hair flattened and you could just see the tips of his horns. His bright orange backpack was full of scrap metal and apples to snack on. In his pocket was a set of reed pipes his daddy goat had carved for him, even though he only knew two songs both of which sounded pretty bad on reed pipes.
Before they left, Chiron called Percy to have a private word with him.
"Quite the trouble you caused Percy", Chiron began.
"What?", Percy asked. He wasn't sure what Chiron was talking about since he had quite a history of being a troublemaker.
"Gabe", he said simply.
Percy froze. He did not expect anyone to know about this so soon. He knew people would be after him eventually but this, this was too soon. However, seeing the look of panic about to set on Percy's face, Chiron moved to quickly placate his fears.
"Don't worry, I have taken care of it. The mortals believe what I led them to believe."
"How?" Percy sputtered. He was just about to freak out even more but Gamer's Mind kicked in again as he calmed down.
"Trade secrets", Chiron said as he winked at Percy.
At his questioning look, Chiron decided to explain.
"The Mist. Read the Iliad, it's full of references. In short, whenever the divine or monsters mix with the mortal world, Mist is generated, which obscures the vision of humans. You will see things just as they are, being a half-god, but humans will interpret things differently. I used it to change things at your apartment so people don't suspect either you or your mom. Everything is alright and you can visit it too if you want. Don't worry about it."
"Can I learn how to control the Mist?"
"Yes, but I will teach you once you're back. Take care and good luck Percy."
The three then walked down the hill, past the camp boundaries. They were going to be escorted till New York by the camp's head of security - Argus. He supposedly had eyes all over his body so he could never be surprised. They made their way to the white SUV where Percy sat in the middle while Annabeth and Grover flanked him.
The drive passed peacefully as everyone was occupied with their thoughts. It was sunset by the time they reached Manhattan. Argus dropped them off at the Greyhound Station on the Upper East Side, not far from his previous apartment. It was getting late; Percy turned to Annabeth and met her gaze. It seemed that they were thinking of the same thing as she nodded at his mental question.
"Percy lives in New York right? So why don't we settle in at his apartment for the night before we head to the bus station in the morning? This way, we can be alert during the day for possible attacks without straining ourselves too much", Annabeth explained. It was a logical plan and everyone agreed to it.
Soon, Percy made his way into the apartment with Grover and Annabeth in tow. The apartment was now clean of all the trash as well as Gabe's smell which Percy was glad of.
"Why don't you guys freshen up while I cook dinner?" Percy asked. In reality, he was just going to summon some food using his new powers but he didn't want them to know since he had promised Hestia not to tell anyone.
"Annabeth, you can use the room down the hall on the right. It's my mom's room. Grover, you can use mine, you know where it is", Percy continued. They both nodded and walked off thinking that he needed time since this was the very place which brought back bad memories. Percy had managed to keep a hold of himself as the memories of his last visit flashed in his mind – the way his mother smiled at him and hugged him, her smell and everything about her. He vowed that he would get his mother back regardless of the cost.
Putting those thoughts aside, he waved a hand and imagined a few dishes. They appeared before him in a flash of flames; ready to be devoured. They hadn't eaten anything since breakfast and all of them were famished. Percy's appetite had grown since he had discovered his gamer powers. He couldn't quite explain why this happened but as long as he didn't become unhealthy, he was fine. He couldn't get unhealthy too – perks of being a half-god. He then went ahead and set-up the table as he waited for the other two.
While Percy was in the kitchen, Annabeth walked into the room which Percy had told her was his mother's. It was extremely tidy and the bed was made. A wall was decorated with some pictures. She walked to one of them and saw that it was of a gorgeous woman who could give many people in the supernatural world a run for their money and the object of her interest - a certain sea-green eyed son of Poseidon. He was about seven years old in the picture as he had his arms around his mother from behind with his head poking out as he looked at her in an adorable manner. The backdrop was of the beach which Annabeth assumed was taken during one of their vacations. She moved and saw various pictures of the two of them. It seemed that they were extremely close which caused a pang of sadness in her heart as she remembered her own past. She clamped down on that feeling as she turned towards the shower and freshened up.
Soon, Annabeth found herself in front of a whole meal cooked by Percy. There were a few dishes and they looked mouth-watering. She felt bad that she couldn't help out Percy and that he had been practically looking after them even though they should be helping him out seeing that it is his house. It was just basic courtesy.
Annabeth took a bite out of the food and her eyes lit up. This was one of the best dishes she had ever had and that was saying something since the food at camp was delightful to say the least.
"This is delicious Percy", she commented.
Percy looked at her and gave her a smile.
Just a simple smile and she was already putty. Annabeth groaned inside her head. Why was she getting affected by him? If this was Aphrodite's doing, she was going to have a word with her – goddess or not.
Once they were done with the meal, Annabeth tried to help Percy clean the dishes but he waved her off. He wanted to try something so he just let her watch as she stood nearby. Grover had hopped off to bed as he was pretty tired. Poor Satyr was still trying to come to terms with the fact that they were going to the Underworld which wasn't exactly on the list of 'top places to visit' in general.
Percy soaked the dishes a bit in water as he willed one plate to rise and used the water on it to scrub it clean with the necessary fluids Annabeth had taken out. He didn't know the first thing about dish washing however, Annabeth was the smart one (for now) so he followed whatever she said.
Soon, he was able to clean all the dishes properly as Annabeth looked at him with a smile. She was certainly impressed with his power and control over water.
"Why don't you head off to sleep? I'll just stack the plates properly and sleep then", Percy said.
Annabeth agreed as she disappeared from view
Percy then picked up one plate and lit his hand on fire as he dried it thoroughly, killing all the bacteria and germs on it. He repeated the process until all the dishes were almost shining.
Just then, a notification popped up.
...
New skill unlocked!
Cleaning dishes (Level – Max)
Due to your control over water and fire, you're able to clean and dry plates properly.
...
This was an extremely useless skill! How was this even supposed to help him?! His real life had really turned into a game. Percy just sighed as he called it a night and went to bed. Tomorrow was going to be a crazy day.
~Next Morning~
Morning was definitely not a quiet affair as the demigods bustled to get ready and scarf down breakfast, courtesy of Percy. They needed to leave for the terminal since the bus for Los Angeles would be leaving soon.
Somehow, they were able to make it in time as they stepped into the bus and headed towards the back seats. The bus was relatively empty save for a few people which was odd since morning busses usually ran filled to the brim. They would have left the bus and tried to board another one however, just before they could move, the doors shut and the bus lurched forward almost throwing the trio off balance. Seeing no other choice, they decided to sit near the emergency exit door at the back since that would be helpful in case they needed to make a quick escape without being noticed.
"Be on your guard, something is amiss", Annabeth whispered.
They huddled near the emergency exit and kept watch over the rest of the passengers. It seemed as though all of them were sleeping for some reason except for the bus driver and two old ladies. Just as Percy looked at them, both turned simultaneously and glared at him at the same time. Their seemingly normal eyes suddenly started to glow like barbeque charcoals. Percy didn't need to use Observe to know who they were. One was Megaera and the other was Tisiphone, the other two Kindly Ones. They got up from their seat near the front of the bus as Megaera waved a hand and made their way towards the three of them.
"Umm guys, I think we have some company", Percy began. Just then, a notification popped up.
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Kill the Furies.
Rewards –
1000 XP
?
Failure –
Death
Accept / Decline?
...
Percy quickly accepted the quest as he turned his attention back to the subject at hand.
Annabeth looked alarmed as she followed his gaze and locked on to the two old ladies who were just a few rows ahead of them now.
"Here's the plan. I will turn invisible and go behind their back whilst you two distract them okay?" Annabeth said quickly. Leave it up to her to come up with strategies on the fly. Both of them nodded as Annabeth quickly wore her cap and vanished from sight.
Just as the Furies passed a row, they suddenly stopped and looked around as though they were looking for something rather, someone. Before they could do anything about it, Percy decided to intervene.
"Hey ugly"
They turned towards him and hissed as they bared their fangs, slowly morphing into the familiar shape of a Fury. The bus driver though was still driving with no apparent care in the world. He didn't seem to notice the two monsters behind him in plain view. Must be the Mist Percy realised.
"Where is she?", Tisiphone asked.
"Who?" Percy knew who they were talking about but decided to grate them as much as he could.
"You know who son of the sea. Ever since she was sent to spy on you, she hasn't come back nor can we sense her. What did you do to her?"
Welp. Percy needed to do something fast before they spilled the beans. This was bound to raise some questions from Annabeth if it went too far.
"I killed Alecto. I think you're getting too old to sense her or something", Percy joked. He couldn't stop himself from blurting out whatever came to mind. Grover just looked at him in exasperation as he momentarily forgot the situation they were in currently.
This seemed to work since they hissed as Tisiphone lurched at him. However, before Megaera could also do the same, her face concerted from rage to confusion to finally pain as she vanished into thin air; leaving behind monster dust.
Tisiphone didn't notice this as she was focused on Percy at the moment. She brought her claws down, trying to rake Percy across his chest but Percy was quicker than before as he ducked down immediately with his enhanced speed. The seat took the brunt of it as three jagged claw marks appeared behind him with the stuffing spilling out.
Just as he ducked, Percy summoned Riptide and stabbed her in the abdomen.
Damage : 200 + 25 = 225
Anaklusmos Monster Bonus : 225 x 2 = 450
Sword Bonus : 450 + (450 x 19%) = 535.5
Critical Strike : 535.5 x 330% = 1767.15
She was far from dead as she bent over, crying out in pain.
"This isn't over Perseus Jackson", she said as she spread open her wings; ready to fly out.
"Percy! Stop her, she may have some information about the location of the Underworld!" Annabeth exclaimed from somewhere around him. Percy already had Alecto to give him the information however, if he suddenly knew about it well, you get the idea. It would be a cluster fuck. Seriously, he was basically treading on egg shells at every other moment. This power was giving him more problems than advantages. Was it seriously a blessing?
Before she could jump up, Percy swung his sword again and managed to sever one of her wings which affected her momentum as she crashed into one of the seats.
"My master will send more monsters after you once he gets to know about your puny little group all alone out of the camp borders especially you son of Poseidon", she said venomously even though she was still gasping for breath.
"Where is the location of the entrance to the Underworld?" Annabeth demanded as she materalised in front of Percy.
"As if I will tell you about it", Tisiphone spat.
"Perhaps this will help", Percy said as he took out some water from a bottle and directed it towards Tisiphone. He formed something like a big bracelet around her forearm and then commanded the water to start shrinking thereby applying pressure to the flesh and bone beneath. The effect was instantaneous as she started howling.
"DOA... DOA Recording S-S-Studios ahhhh... L-L-Los Angeles", she managed to say as Percy receded the water. By now, she was lying on the seat as she groaned in pain. Before they killed her, Annabeth spoke up.
"Swear on the Styx that you won't tell anyone about us or our quest", she said.
"I swear".
"Good", Annabeth said as she finally stabbed Tisiphone; letting her out of her misery as she was transported back to the Underworld.
She then turned to Percy, "You and I are going to have a talk later." Her eyes were swirling and became dark, promising pain as she looked at Percy.
Percy gulped and nodded his head frantically, wanting to be out of her ire as soon as possible.
Just then, a notification popped up.
...
Ping!
Quest Complete!
Kill the Furies.
Rewards –
XP : 1,711 + 1,000 = 551 / 2746
Level Up!
Level 12
Ability Points : 10 + 2 = 12
Mark of the Furies
Level 1 + 2 = 3
...
Percy skimmed through the information and dismissed the screen. He did not have much use of the Mark of the Furies at the moment so he didn't dwell on it.
They then turned to look at Grover only to find him unconscious from the whole ordeal. That explained the lack of noise and chiding from the Satyr's part. Percy hoped Grover hadn't seen him go crazy otherwise he would be in for a bad time though he felt that it would be easier with him than Annabeth. She still gave Percy an evil eye and he was scared of what was to come.
"We need to get out of here first. I doubt this bus or route is safe anymore", Annabeth said.
Grover was still knocked out so jumping out of the bus wasn't an option. Percy spotted an emergency stop switch and pressed it. Almost immediately the bus screeched to a halt as Annabeth opened the emergency exit door and they were out in a flash with Percy carrying Grover over his shoulder. His enhanced strength worked wonders.
They ran in no particular direction for a while until they saw a two-lane road through the trees. On the other side was a closed-down gas station, a tattered billboard for a 1990s movie and one open business. It wasn't a fast food restaurant but it worked since they needed some place to rest and fill their stomachs before getting a move on. The building read 'Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium'. If he was his old self, he wouldn't have been able to read it due to his dyslexia. Thank the Fates.
Flanking the entrance, as advertised, were two cement garden gnomes, ugly bearded little runts, smiling and waving, as if they were about to get their picture taken.
"I smell monsters", Grover said even though all Percy and Annabeth could smell were hamburgers and fried food.
"Doesn't seem so plus I think your sense of smell is still not fine since you were knocked out", Annabeth reminded Grover.
"But out of all of us, only Grover can smell monsters. He might be right Wise Girl, let me go in and check first. Meanwhile, I have some food which I had packed. You can have that meanwhile. If I don't come out in 15-20 minutes, then start worrying. Percy then quickly summoned two tiffin's filled to the brim with mouth-watering food that would keep Grover and Annabeth occupied for a while.
He then walked inside. As he looked around, a door opened and a tall Middle-Eastern woman walked out – at least, he assumed she was Middle Eastern, because she wore a long black gown that covered everything but her hands, and her head was completely veiled. Her eyes glinted behind a pair of sunglasses, but that was about all he could make out. Her coffee-coloured hands looked old, but well-manicured and elegant, so he imagined she was a grandmother who had once been a beautiful lady.
"And what are you doing here young man?" she asked as she looked at Percy. It felt as though she was scrutinising him, trying to figure out who he was. Remembering Grover's words, Percy didn't want to take any chances as he used Observe on her.
...
Medusa
HP : 10,000 / 10,000
MP : 5,000 / 5,000
One of the three gorgons, Medusa used to be a beautiful mortal until she was cursed by Athena for something that wasn't her fault. Her gaze turned anyone she saw into stone. But due to you being blessed by the awesome Fates, you are invulnerable to it.
...
Percy felt bad for her. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. It was so unfair.
"Hello? Are you alright here?" she asked again. There was a hint of concern in her voice as she looked at him. It seemed that there was a gentle person behind the tough exterior.
"Oh yeah hi, I'm fine."
"What are you doing here alone?" she asked.
"Well, I was travelling cross country, the bus sort of got messed up and I got lost"
"What's your name? Are you hungry?"
"I'm Percy. What about you?"
"You can call me Aunt Em."
"Can't I call you by your real name?", Percy asked innocently, "why don't we drop the act since we know who the other is?"
"And pray tell who am I?"
"Medusa."
"How did you know?", Medusa hissed as she got ready to attack him or take off her sunglasses.
"The very life-like stone statues, the sunglasses and your clothes were quite the giveaway. Not many people wear sunglasses at night and considering the world that we're part of, it was easy to deduce."
"So you know who I am and still approach me. Do you have a death wish demigod? I also smell the sea on you. This is not helping your case. You do know my story, don't you?"
"Umm, no not really. I am new to this world so yeah."
"Well perhaps I can tell you that before I kill you then."
Percy shrugged as he sat on one of the seats nearby as she took one in front of him.
"I used to be one of Athena's priests. I devoted my entire life in worship of her during the ancient times. But, one day, that horrible god caught sight of me", she basically spat the last words.
"He chased me throughout the area until he caught me in Athena's temple as he proceeded to have his way with me", by now a few tears were starting to roll down her cheeks. Percy tentatively reached a bit forward and swiped a few of them with his thumb. However, she flinched at his touch at first but then let him continue as millennia of pain started coming out.
"I prayed to Athena again and again to save me but, what did she do? She turned a blind eye as she cursed me. No one could ever look upon me without turning into stone. What did I do wrong except pray to her? Was it my fault that a god took an interest in me? Was it my fault that he was more powerful than me such that he had his way with me?" Medusa was now openly crying as she was able to strangely talk to someone properly in an extremely long time.
"Who was this god?" Percy asked as his eyes blazed with fury.
"Poseidon"
"WHAT?!" Percy exclaimed loudly as even Medusa was surprised from his sudden outburst.
"How could he do this to you? Does he have no shame?" Percy was seething now but before he could lose a gasket, Gamer's Mind kicked in as it brought him back on track.
"Why are you being so dramatic?", Medusa asked. Percy didn't know whether to tell her the truth or not however, he decided to go with the former if it could make things better between them with the honesty.
"I am his son", he finally said.
Medusa sat up as her eyes glowed with rage.
"How dare you enter this place and talk to me as though nothing happened son of Poseidon? Do you know how it felt suffering for something that was out of your hands? I had decided long ago that if I can't kill the god, I will kill every child of his that walks this planet. But, since I am reasonable, I will let you have this. Any last words?"
"I am sorry for what happened to you."
With that done, Medusa removed her glasses and looked at Percy. However, instead of turning to stone, Percy just stared back at her right into her eyes.
For the first time in a long while, Medusa gasped in utter shock and disbelief.
"What is this sorcery? How is my curse not working on you?" she said as she held him by his collar and brought him closer; staring into his sea-green eyes but nothing changed.
"I don't know" Percy shrugged, "but come on, can't we just talk for a while? We were getting along so well" he insisted.
"How?"
"Again, I don't know. Can't we just talk?" Percy said as he gave her the baby seal look. It seemed to work as she had a hard time glaring at him until she finally huffed and let go of his collar.
"As much as I would love to kill a son of Poseidon, you seem to be truly different and interesting from those pompous brats who dared to cross my path before. Sit Percy. I sense your friends are getting agitated outside so we have to make this quick. I don't want any troubles here."
"Well Medusa, I'm sorry for what happened to you. I know the past can't be changed but, I swear on the Styx that I will find a way to cure you from your curse" Percy said as thunder boomed in the background as the oath was sealed.
"Are you stupid? Do you know of any artefact or god who is strong enough to undo a curse made by an Olympian?"
"No, I don't but I will do whatever it takes to right this wrong. I will find a way to heal you from this misery so that you can live a normal life as you deserve", Percy replied as his eyes swirled with his emotions.
Medusa stared into his eyes as she looked for any deceit in his words however, all she could find was pure determination.
"Very well Percy, you will find me here if you ever find a cure for my curse", she said as a smile graced her face for the first time in years. In Percy's opinion, she looked prettier with it.
Just then, a notification popped up.
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Cure Medusa from her curse.
Rewards –
A new friend / ally
Failure –
Lifelong guilt
Repercussions for broken oath on the Styx
Accept / Decline?
...
Percy accepted the quest without any hesitation whatsoever.
"I will be back" Percy said as he got up to go.
Medusa suddenly grabbed his hand and turned him around as she gave him a hug. It had been a long time since she had any physical contact with another person, looked at someone or had a conversation. She would be thankful to Percy even if he was unable to find a cure for her. She was eternally grateful to him for all that he had done.
Percy hugged her back and promised to visit her as soon as he found the cure. Before he left, he asked her for the directions to the nearest hotel which was relatively safe from monsters. Turns out, the nearest one was nearly an hour away via foot so that was good.
He bid her farewell and walked out of the gate only to find Annabeth and Grover right in front of it as soon as he opened it.
"Perseus Jackson", Annabeth growled.
Oops.
"Umm sorry?" Percy asked sheepishly whilst rubbing the back of his head.
"You are digging a bigger hole for yourself. We ARE so going to have a word once we're settled somewhere for the night."
Grover looked at the two, utterly confused. However, he just ignored it since he knew Annabeth's temper and did not want to come in between. He just mentally prayed for his best friend's safety.
The trio soon started walking towards the hotel, all conversations were put on hold since they just needed some rest first and were too far out in the open to talk about monsters and the like.
Meanwhile on Olympus
Hestia smiled as she saw the exchange between Medusa and her champion. She was proud of the way Percy handled things with her even though she was ticked off for the way he swore an oath on the Styx, for something that was considered practically impossible, not to mention the blatant display in the bus with the Fury. Initially, she had been worried about Percy's safety but that soon changed to worry for his well-being. She had not expected him to snap like this even though she knew his reasons. He was still young but he needed to be strong. She decided against visiting him since he needed some time alone and rest.
Coming back to the topic, she was glad that she chose Percy as her first and probably only champion. He represented everything that was a part of her domains to the highest degree possible. Even fire, which was the direct opposite of his nature as a son of Poseidon, had become a part of him. Her younger brother was yet to find out about this information. She decided she would hold on to it until the time was right. She watched Percy make his way across the country towards the hotel. She wished she could spend some time in his company however, the quest and the safety of the world was more important than her wants as she settled back and kept a watch on her champion.
With Percy, Annabeth and Grover
They had checked into a hotel and were resting after a long bath and scrumptious food. Percy had told them not to worry about the bill since he had about $3500 with him.
After Grover had drifted off to sleep, Annabeth turned towards him.
"Don't think I have forgotten about our talk", she began. "First thing's first. Mind explaining me what came over you when you suddenly started torturing a Kindly One in the bus?"
"I-I really don't know. I just wanted to know the location of the Underworld as soon as possible so that we could get there to save my mom faster. It's been nearly a month and I haven't done anything to save her. Now that I am finally on the move, I did not want to waste any time with the stupid games so I guess I just snapped", Percy said as he tried to explain his feelings.
Annabeth's hard gaze softened at that. She reached out and held one of his hands.
"Don't worry Percy, we will find your mother and get her back. Just don't scare me like this again alright? If there's something bothering you, remember, all of us have your back through everything."
"Thanks Annabeth."
"Now, what was the business at the building? What took you so long?"
"I met Medusa."
Annabeth's eyes widened as her mouth opened in shock. Medusa was right there behind the doors and this idiot had walked in, met her and came back out – alive. What the Hades was going on?
"Explain", she said as she found her voice finally.
Percy then proceeded to recount his conversation with Medusa as he left out some important parts like him not being affected by her gaze. The oath on the Styx though he did mention.
Just as he told her about it, Annabeth whacked him on the head as her grey eyes swirled with fury.
"Are you utterly stupid Perseus Jackson?! How could you make such an oath? Do you even have any idea how to reverse a curse let alone one that was placed by an Olympian god more so, my mother who is the goddess of wisdom?"
"Umm no?"
This seemed to piss her off even more as she proceeded to slap him.
"When will you start thinking things through? Here I thought that spending time with my siblings would help you but no, you just HAD to make this impossible oath. Couldn't you have at least not sworn on the Styx? Gods I can't even leave you alone for a few minutes without you going off and doing something utterly stupid. This is your final warning – do something like this again and you will not be allowed to loiter around on your own during the rest of this quest without me accompanying you. I can't trust Grover too because he is an idiot like you."
"Annabeth, how could I let her suffer like this?"
That one statement conveyed with so much sincerity broke Annabeth's rage as she looked into his eyes and saw nothing but the desire to right a wrong especially one which was caused because of his father.
"Just please think about it before you do anything. And I mean it when I say you won't be allowed on your own if this happens again."
"Yes ma'am", Percy said as he flashed Annabeth a lopsided smile. His head and cheek were still hurting. This girl could surely hit. He'd rather take his chances with a monster than risk Annabeth's rage. With the talk done, they went to their rooms with Annabeth sleeping whilst Percy pulled out a book from his inventory and started reading.
Next morning, the three checked out of the hotel after a quick breakfast as they made their way towards a train station nearby.
They had decided that they won't be travelling in busses anytime soon. Annabeth to her credit had found an Amtrack station half a mile away. The westbound train was going to leave at noon so they had to hurry.
They had spent two days on the train, heading west through hills, over rivers, past amber waves of grain. To Percy's relief they hadn't been attacked. One evening, he saw something huge move through the woods. He could've sworn it was a lion, except that lions don't live in America, and this thing was the size of a tank. Its fur glinted gold in the evening light. Then it leaped through the trees and was gone. Percy decided to memorise this location. He was so going to come here and have a look at what exactly this was.
Towards the end of the second day as Grover was sleeping, Annabeth turned to him.
"What is it like having a loving mother Percy?" she suddenly asked which caught Percy off-guard. He had never heard her sound so vulnerable. It was a far cry from the strong and independent girl he had seen so far.
"It's the best thing. Even though I never had my dad around, she was always there for me. She was always there to pick me up when I fell down and encouraged me to do better. Even though I had ADHD and Dyslexia, she never minded. She gave up everything for me just so that she could raise me properly when dad left suddenly. I don't think words would ever be enough to describe how much mom means to me. The moment she was taken away, it felt like I too had died. There's no way that I can continue living without her. She's the one that matters far more than anyone else ever could", Percy said as a few tears fell from his face, which he quickly wiped, as he recalled a few memories he had with his mom along with the moment he saw her disappear. She was truly special and no one could ever match her and her importance in Percy's life. For him, she would always be first.
"That sounds so good", Annabeth said with a faraway look in her eyes.
"What happened Wise Girl? Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really."
"Sharing is caring. Besides didn't you tell me that you had my back? This goes both ways."
At that, Annabeth laughed. Only this moron could pull something goofy and unrelated in situations like these.
"I never knew how it felt to have a family. My dad's resented me since the day I was born. He never wanted a baby. When he got me, he asked Athena to take me back and raise me on Olympus because he was too busy with his work. She wasn't happy about that. She told him heroes had to be raised by their mortal parent."
"I don't suppose you were born in a hospital", Percy said as he remembered how Athena was born from Zeus' head. Annabeth shook her head as she continued.
"I appeared on my father's doorstep, in a golden cradle, carried down from Olympus by Zephyr the West Wind. You'd think my dad would remember that as a miracle, right? Wrong, he always talked about my arrival as if it were the most inconvenient thing that had ever happened to him. When I was five he got married and totally forgot about Athena. He got a 'regular' mortal wife, and had two 'regular' mortal kids, and tried to pretend that I didn't exist."
Percy was now beyond furious. Who would treat someone like this? The world was so unfair and mean. He resolved that he would try to change things for the better however he could. He did not want others to suffer like this. However, his full attention was on Annabeth. She was now trembling slightly as a few tears started making their way down her face. He wiped them off and held her hand to express his support.
"He doesn't care about me. His wife – my stepmom – treated me like a freak. She wouldn't let me play with her children. My dad went along with her. Whenever something dangerous happened – you know, something with monsters – they would both look at me resentfully. Finally, I took the hint. I wasn't wanted. I ran away when I was seven."
"The same age as when you arrived at camp", Percy said. Annabeth nodded.
"Of course I couldn't make it alone all the way from the west coast. Athena watched over me, guided me towards help. I made a couple of unexpected friends who took care of me, for a short time anyway."
She now seemed lost in sad memories. Percy decided to snap her out of it as he surprised her by enveloping her in a hug as he warmed his body slightly. He could not bear the anguish in her eyes as her body shook with grief. Her suppressed emotions had finally come out and Percy was there for her when she needed someone the most. Percy, on the other hand, wanted to give her hope. Hope for a better future filled with happiness and joy, without suffering. He was so caught up in wanting to make her feel better that he didn't realise his body glow slightly as an orange aura enveloped him. Annabeth too didn't notice this since she had her head buried in Percy's chest. However, she felt hope coarse through her body as her thoughts cleared and became positive. She knew that the worst was finally over and a bright future lay ahead for her.
On Olympus
Hestia gasped as she felt the changes in Percy's being. The spirit of Elpis had always been around to give hope to those who needed it the most. She never gave her power to anyone other than Hestia herself save for today. She had, on her own accord, bestowed Percy with her blessings thereby granting him some of her power. She knew he was special but this? This just cemented the fact that she had chosen well. Hestia clapped to herself with joy.
Would Percy's system inform him of this? She had no idea but she wanted to tell this herself so she decided to write a note and send it his way.
With Percy and Annabeth
Annabeth felt herself drift into the realm of Morpheus as she hugged Percy. The warmth from his body combined with the hope flowing through her being was the perfect combination as she fell asleep. Percy slowly pulled away from her and lay her on the bed as she sighed in content.
He did not pay attention to the notification as he absent-mindedly dismissed it. He then looked around to find a note on the table beside him. He picked it up. flipped it around and smiled when he saw who it was from.
"Dear Percy,
I can see that your quest is going well. There is lots that I would like to discuss with you especially the stunt you pulled with Medusa. Don't think you're going to get a free pass for that.
Anyway, I don't know whether your system has informed you or not but I'd like to tell you this myself. It seems that the spirit of Hope, which I am the guardian of, has blessed you. She has never given her blessings to anyone save for me but it seems that you're special since she went out of her way to bless you.
About her blessings, it's extremely powerful since Lady Elpis is the personification of the concept of Hope itself - a Primordial. The blessings lets you give and take away hope from another person but it does have its limitations set by her. I know you will use this wisely.
I am so glad that you were chosen by her. I will see you soon!
Love,
Hestia"
Percy was gobsmacked. What the Hades had just happened? Was it really true? He brought up the notification that he had ignored and there it was.
...
Ping!
You have received the blessings of Elpis, the primordial god and spirit of Hope.
Makarios tis Elpis
The blessings of Elpis lets you give or take hope from someone.
Level 1 - Range : All levels below, 20 levels above.
...
After reading the notification, Percy's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. This was so not happening. Just as he was about to dismiss the notification, his eyes suddenly started feeling heavy as he was knocked out and lay unconscious.
In a remote place unknown to all
Percy glared at the Fates as they looked at him with blank expressions.
"Was this really necessary? You did not need to drag me here to tell me not to misuse the power", Percy said.
The Fates suddenly broke into wide grins as Clotho handed Lachesis a small bag of Drachmae.
"Told you that was the first thing he'd say", said a smug looking Lachesis.
"How was I supposed to know he had become even more intelligent compared to the last time?" Clotho replied.
"You hardly keep track of him. There are lots of people watching the young hero you know."
"Guys, you do know I am here right?" Percy asked.
"Quiet sisters", Atropos finally said. "You know why you're here Percy but we needed to explain you exactly what a blessing from a Primordial of all people entails."
"It must be serious if you guys had to call me for this", Percy said as he straightened up.
"Indeed and you must remember, what we are about to tell you must not be shared by anyone under no circumstances. Hestia too has sworn an oath not to tell anyone about Lady Elpis' blessings.
The protogenoi were the first beings in this universe created by Lady Chaos herself as personifications of their domains. We were created by our mother, Ananke, who is the personification of inevitability, compulsion and necessity. As such a Primordial is above us too, we cannot control their actions or fate. Moreover, almost no one has ever been blessed by a Primordial. The instances can be counted on one hand. Needless to say, a blessing given by a Primordial is extremely strong. Lady Elpis has somewhat limited your power greatly but, she will gradually increase it until the blessings would be able to affect a minor god easily.
You must realise the gravity of this situation. Do not use these powers in front of others unless its required and do not misuse it. I fear what mother would do to you if you abused it", the three completed as they took turns speaking.
Percy was still trying to absorb the information. This was enough to make his head explode due to the source of the blessing. He had definitely NOT planned on this happening ever but here he was.
"I promise I will handle this as you say", Percy said as he bowed his head a little.
At this, the Fates smiled.
'Lady Chaos truly chose the best option. I bet she herself didn't imagine a Primordial blessing her chosen one', Clotho told the other two mentally. They agreed in response.
"Farewell Percy. Your journey has just begun but we know that you will not disappoint us."
With that, Percy found himself waking up to the early morning sun.
"Finally awake Seaweed Brain", Annabeth said. "We are about to reach Missouri. Let's get off for a while, I cannot bear to sit still anymore"
Oh right they had ADHD.
Soon, they reached the next stop as they deboarded the train. The city was famous due to the St. Louis Arch which Annabeth wanted to check out because of her love for architecture. Even though Percy wasn't remotely interested in it, he agreed to it for her sake as the three made their way towards their next destination.
x.x
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod
(gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. He has ADHD which helps in combat. Blessed by Elpis, the spirit of hope, he has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes. He is also Hestia's champion which grants him control over fire and lets him summon meals.
...
Level - 12
Exp – 551 / 2746
...
HP : 600 / 600 (+ 2000)
MP : 700 / 700 (+ 2000)
...
STR : 23 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 18 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 18 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 22 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 18 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 10 (Bonus : +10% chance of better loot)
Points : 12
Money : $3400 / D30
...
Status : Demigod
...
Skills
...
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 10)
...
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Modern English (Level 25)
Swimming (Level 7 - 9 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Running (Level 7 - 34 km / hr)
Storms (Level 3)
...
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 4)
Critical Strike (Level 4)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 3)
Mage Armor (Level 5)
Summon Meals (Max)
Makarios tis Elpis (Level 1)
...
Chores :
Cleaning Dishes (Max)
...
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max level)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
...
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 16)
Water Spikes (Level 4)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 3)
Dimension Create (Max)
Ice Control (Level 3)
Steam Control (Level 3)
Fire Control (Level 8)
A/N
So here we are at the end of this chapter. I focused more on dialogue and a bit of progress rather than combat. Moving the story too quickly isn't worth it.
Also, do have a look at the A/N at the top and let me know your thoughts!
Until next time.
Chapter 10: Roast or Get Roasted
Chapter Text
A/N
I really need to start updating on this website.
Also, I won't be giving Percy too many abilities since it'll be a drag to actually go through so many of them. There are more ways than one to make him OP later ;)
Disclaimer : I do not own PJO or any of its characters.
Chapter 10 : Roast or Get Roasted
The arch was about a mile from the train station. They threaded their way through the underground museum, looking at covered wagons and other junk from the 1800s. It wasn't all that thrilling, but Annabeth kept telling them interesting facts about how the Arch was built. She seemed to be in a much better mood so Percy was alright with the torture.
"My nose is messed up. I cannot smell anything since we are underground", Grover whispered.
"I just hope things go fine", Percy whispered.
"And you had to say it", Annabeth deadpanned.
They had reached the place where they were supposed to board the tiny little elevator car to reach to the top of the Arch. They got shoehorned into the car with a big fat lady and her dog, a Chihuahua with a rhinestone collar.
However, something about her felt off as though she was far more than a normal human. Moreover, dogs weren't allowed at the Arch but she was clearly carrying one but no one even noticed. Before Percy could use Observe, he was pushed into one of the cars with the lady, Grover and Annabeth. Just as they got inside, Percy quickly used Observe before he forgot.
...
Echidna – Mother of Monsters
HP : ?
MP : ?
Echidna is the mother of monsters and the wife of Typhon. Some of her children include Cerberus, the Nemean Lion and the Chimera. She is sometimes tasked by Zeus to test the children of his elder brothers to determine their worth.
...
Chimera
HP : ?
MP : ?
Known as one of the most fearsome monsters in the Greek world with an extremely hard hide, the Chimera is one of Echidna's children. It's venomous tail and ability to breathe fire makes it a true horror and nigh unbeatable.
...
Percy paled when he read who he was with at the moment. How the Hades did this happen? They were so screwed. Just when he was about to break down, Gamer's Mind came to the rescue and straightened him. He had to approach this carefully as he began forming plans in his head. He could now come up with fairly good plans, if he had to say so himself, ever since he had become increasingly intelligent.
For now, their first priority was to escape. If they could escape quickly, they won't have to worry about the mortals. But how could they escape without drawing any attention from either of the two monsters present in front of him? They could cause a distraction and use that moment to run out. And who could provide a distraction without getting caught? The one and only – Annabeth Chase. Percy mentally patted himself on the back for coming with a good plan.
A ding was heard just as the group finally reached the top of the Arch.
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Survive against Echidna and the Chimera.
Rewards –
$4,000
2,000 XP
+2 LUC
Failure –
Death
Grover and Annabeth die
Accept / Decline?
...
Percy pressed accept as he followed Annabeth around the place with Grover on their heels. Just when they were fairly away from the two monsters, Percy grabbed Annabeth and brought her closer. Annabeth on her part blushed by the sudden contact and closeness.
'Damn it seaweed brain', she cursed inside his head. However, his next words wiped her blush clean off her face as a sense of dread filled her.
"I think the lady and the dog who were with us in the elevator are monsters", Percy whispered.
"What do you mean?", Annabeth hissed. She was so not ready to deal with more of them.
"Grover, can you try smelling them?"
The satyr nodded as he slowly took a whiff a few times before his eyes widened.
"Whatever this monster is, it seems extremely powerful. I don't think we can take it on", he said.
Welp.
"I have a plan", Percy said. Annabeth just looked at him as though he had grown a second head.
"You. And. A. Plan? You're far from it", she asked as she emphasised each word.
"Hey, I have my moments of brilliance"
"Can you stop arguing like a couple and start thinking about our lives?" Grover hissed.
Both teens blushed at that.
"So I was thinking that Annabeth could use her invisibility cap to cause some sort of distraction here while I cut the glass and we jump down from here. This way the mortals will be fine and we will be alive", Percy said proudly.
Again, Annabeth looked at him like he was an idiot.
"The plan degraded regressively as you kept blabbering", she said. "How are we supposed to survive a jump from nearly 200m above …" she stopped as the final part of it registered in her brain. There was water down. Percy was a son of Poseidon. He could control water and cushion their fall. Annabeth smacked her head. Was she getting rusty or was Percy actually getting smarter? What had the world come down to?
Percy gave her a sickeningly sweet smile as he lauded his victory over the daughter of wisdom and battle strategy. Annabeth just huffed. They looked around, only to find the two monsters glaring at them from across the place.
"Annabeth, head to the washroom. Come out from there and create a distraction. Meanwhile, if things go south here, Grover and I will handle them", Percy said. Grover had no choice but to nod since well, he did not have a choice.
Annabeth walked to the washroom and disappeared from view. Echidna made to follow her, hoping to catch the demigod but before she could do anything, a small wave of water hit her flat on her face as she was instantly drenched. Who dared to hit her, the mother of monsters? She turned only to find that the other two had vanished as well.
"Sonny, can you smell them?", she asked her child as it started sniffing the air. It then growled as it looked in a particular place.
"Go", she said as she dropped the chihuahua who transformed into its true form. It then let out a roar as mortals started screaming in fear. Just then, the fire alarm rang as the chaos worsened. People were running in all directions as they tried to find the exit and also avoid whatever it was that they were seeing due to the Mist.
In the panic, Annabeth slipped through the crowds and rendezvoused with Percy and Grover. Percy had somehow managed to cut a hole in the toughened glass with Riptide in hand. Just when they were about to jump through it, a stream of fire burst towards them. They jumped to the side to avoid being burnt to a crisp, even Percy for the sake of appearances.
"Now, it is rude to not greet people when they came specially to meet you", Echidna said. She had transformed and was now in her true form.
The Chimera then leapt at Annabeth and Grover, intending to swallow both of them. They jumped out of the way and landed beside Percy.
"Guys, try to keep Echidna busy while I go after the Chimera, we will have to knock them back and jump together. The fall alone will kill you and I can't go alone" Percy said.
He then summoned some water from a bottle and threw it at the Chimera's face, successfully gaining its attention. It roared and spewed more fire into the air. Just then the fire sprinklers activated and water started falling, completely drenching everyone.
...
You are in contact with water!
Son of the sea god perk activated!
HP : 600 + 2,000 = 2,600
MP : 700 + 2,000 = 2,700
STR : 23 + 2 + 20 = 45
VIT : 18 + 20 = 38
DEX : 18 + 2 + 20 = 40
...
Percy felt the power course through his body as water fell all around them. He knew that they had little chance of killing the Chimera as of now but he would hold it off until Grover and Annabeth retreated near the hole that he had cut.
"Annabeth, I will create a wall of water, it won't last long. Just when I say go, grab Grover and jump. I will be right behind you", he said.
"Are you sure?" Annabeth replied as she ducked under a swipe aimed for head. Grover was playing his reed pipes as he danced around Echidna and grew random roots. It served only to annoy her since she ripped them out just as fast they grew.
"YES", Percy yelled. He ducked under another fire breath and reached the Chimera's mouth and swung his sword.
Clang!
It felt as though Riptide had hit a metal shield as the blade bounced back harmlessly without so much as a scratch on the monsters hide. Percy looked at his sword and then at the monster who seemed to find his confusion humorous. Even Echidna had stopped her assault to regard Percy.
"My child's hide is almost as strong as that of my other child – the Nemean lion. It would be foolish to even try and injure it", Echidna explained before she turned and started attacking Annabeth and Grover again. Her combat potential seemed relatively less than what Percy had expected.
There was just a brief respite before the Chimera started its onslaught again. It whipped its tail at Percy with the snake's fangs ready to poison him. Acting on instinct, Percy ducked and rolled away. This was honestly becoming difficult to deal with.
The Chimera again leapt at Percy but this time, he was ready. Percy willed some water spears to form beside the Chimera and mid-air impaled it or tried to. On a happy note, the force was enough to blow it aside.
...
Spears : 10
MP used : 48 x 10 = 480
MP : 2,700 – 480 = 2,220
Damage : 110
Bonus STR damage = 110 + 45 = 155
Total Damage = 155 x 10 = 1,550
...
Not wanting to leave an opportunity aside, Percy willed the water around him to form a cocoon around the monster and hardened it into a dome so that it could be occupied for a few precious seconds. He saw Annabeth dodging a knife slash. Seeing an opportunity, Percy sent a small focused stream of water at high speeds towards Echidna. She too was knocked back.
"Annabeth NOW!" Percy yelled. He grabbed Grover and hauled the satyr behind him. Annabeth was after him in a flash and the three jumped through the window as they plunged from two hundred metres towards the Mississippi river below.
Percy connected to the river and willed it to rise and form a cocoon again just like he had earlier and slowed their momentum. Eventually, they reached Terra and quickly disappeared into the crowds; eager to get away from the crazy place.
...
Ping!
Quest Complete!
Survive against Echidna and the Chimera.
XP : 551 + 2,000 = 2,551 / 2,746
$ : 3,400 + 4,000 = 7,400
LUC : 10 + 2 = 12
...
Percy waved his hand and dismissed the screen. Right now, they had to get back on the train and be on their way to the Underworld. Who knew visiting a monument could be so stressful? Thankfully, the train was still at the platform by the time they arrived. They had just made it to their seats when the train lurched ahead and was on its way to Denver.
"Percy, how did you manage to repel the Chimera?" the ever inquisitive Annabeth asked. Echidna's level of fighting was low however, she did not need to fight since she had all the monsters to do her bidding.
"When it leapt at me, I created water spears and hit it on its side. Since it can't change directions mid-air, I waited for this moment so it wouldn't be able to dodge my attack. I then encased it in a hardened water dome like I did with you guys when we jumped from the Arch", Percy explained.
"Damn Perce, that's amazing! You somehow were able to fight it at the age of twelve and managed to live to tell the tale. Not many can claim that", Grover said. Annabeth nodded her head in agreement. Since they were in their own sleeping cabin and had their privacy, Grover had kicked off his shoes and was in bed whilst he chewed on apples and cans.
Annabeth was impressed with Percy's control over water. He had been able to somehow contain one of the most feared monsters to exist inside a water dome and then plunge into the Mississippi, saving them by constructing the same dome again for protection and decelerating their momentum.
"Let's get some sleep, we shall be reaching Denver tomorrow. If you want, we guys can deboard there for a while, stretch our legs and look around or get some good food", Annabeth suggested.
"If there's a diner near the station, I want to go there", Percy said. It has been a long time since he had visited one and had frankly missed the greasy and fatty food.
"Sounds good"
Soon, Grover and Annabeth drifted off to sleep while Percy lay awake. He wasn't tired in the least so he decided to head to the alternate dimension and get some training in while he was at it. He still needed to work harder, the fight with the Chimera just emphasised the fact. As a side thought, what if he was disarmed and it took a while for Riptide to return to him? He needed to learn how to use another weapon rather, he needed a bigger array. He could ask Annabeth for dagger training in Denver and Chiron for archery back at camp.
Before he left, Percy did a quick swipe of the train cart they were in to make sure that there were no other monsters on board. Finding none, he decided to go.
'Dimension Create' Percy whispered as he seemingly blurred from existence; leaving behind the two demi-gods fast asleep.
Ping!
Water Control (Level 17 – 34 MP / Min)
Ice Control (Level 4 – 97 MP / Min)
By the time morning came, Percy had thoroughly exhausted his MP and was drenched in sweat. He had stretched his limits when it came to water control since he would be using his water powers primarily until the situation was desperate enough for him to use fire. A son of Poseidon wielding fire? Yeah, not something you see every day and a few heads would turn (insert Zeus) for his sudden powers.
They shortly reached a diner that was near the station. The trio slipped into a booth and ordered their food as they chatted idly. The food was soon ready and just as Percy was about to dig into his burger, he felt an overwhelming aura of death and bloodlust around him. His primal instincts of hunt or be hunted were coming out but Gamer's Mind clamped him down before it could get any worse. It seemed that only he was affected since everyone else, including Grover and Annabeth, were behaving normally save for the latter as they looked at him with concern evident in their eyes. He flashed them a quick smile before he looked over Annabeth's shoulder and sure enough standing there was a guy who was nothing short of intimidating. He wore sunglasses and was dressed in all black save for the blood red muscle shirt. Strapped to his thigh was an oversized hunting knife.
The person walked into the diner and everyone started rising as though a god was walking amongst them which Percy suspected wasn't far from the truth. Even though he had an inkling to who this individual was, he decided to recheck once again using Observe and sure enough, turns out, he was right.
...
Ares – god of war
HP : ?
MP : ?
...
That explained his sudden desire to kill. He knew he wasn't invincible, not by a long shot, but he didn't expect a god's aura or presence could affect him. Maybe it had always but he didn't notice it. With Hestia, he always felt at home with no worries and a joyous atmosphere all around. Dionysus, he suspected, had to restrain or hide his aura since he didn't feel anything when he was close to the wine god.
The god waved a hand and gestured everyone to sit. He then walked over to them and slid into the booth next to Grover whose eyes bulged as he ate his enchiladas whole with the wrappings. Ares ignored the satyr and looked at Percy. Said demigod, on the other hand, simply returned an indifferent look. Suddenly, Ares' eyes glowed a little behind the sunglasses. Percy felt the similar bloodlust around him just as his desire to kill started to rise. Again, Gamer's Mind came to the rescue and clamped down that feeling.
Finally, Ares said, "Oh". He had a deep, gruff voice and spoke as though he was doing them a favor which Percy assumed came with the whole 'I am a god' package.
"Yeah, that's so helpful", Percy said before he could shut up.
"Percy do you know who –", Annabeth started but she was interrupted by Percy.
"Yeah, I know who he is"
"Oh, interesting. When Dionysus mentioned his interaction with you, I was quite surprised and didn't want to believe him. Seems that he was correct though", Ares said.
"Didn't know I was a source of gossip on Olympus", Percy sassed.
"Why wouldn't you be? You're the first son of barnacle beard in nearly five to six decades, you're bound to attract attention whether you want it or not. I'm surprised Zeus didn't blow a gasket at the revelation. Then again, there was this whole situation with his daughter about four-five years back."
"Wait. There was another child of the big three? I thought I was the only one recently". Percy was no stranger when it came to people looking at him and gossiping about him. He knew the way people looked at him in camp. There were a plethora of emotions evident which he didn't want to dwell into at the moment. However, he knew, him being a son of Poseidon was a huge thing and not many thought that that would happen. He was snapped out of his thoughts when Ares replied.
"Oh yes, there was one. Your two friends were there when it all happened after all", he said as he smiled like a maniac.
He felt Annabeth stiffen beside him and looked at Grover who had become pale and the tell-tale sign of tears had started forming in his eyes. This pissed off Percy, how dare Ares make his friends feel so bad? Gamer's Mind again activated and calmed him down.
"Ares, thanks for this but why are you here?
"Can't I come to see my new little cousin?"
"Cut it out."
"Bah. Kids these days. Fine, here's a quest for you – go to the water park, fetch my shield and give it to me."
"You're a god, get it yourself."
Ares' eyes glowed a harsher shade of red. "Do you really want to test a god boy?"
"Not if he's being an ass about it."
"Percy", Annabeth said. "Shut up."
"Fine", Percy said as he huffed like a child.
"Oh? This day keeps getting interesting. A son of Poseidon actually listening to a daughter of Athena. What's next? One of the virgin goddesses finally losing their v-card?", Ares said as he smiled creepily yet again.
"Lord Ares, we have already been issued a quest by the oracle. We would appreciate it if you could give someone else this opportunity", Annabeth requested. This was honestly an unnecessary waste of time.
"So you dare to refuse a god's request? I have given you an opportunity to prove yourself yet you spit on it as though it means nothing. Do you really want to go down that line?" Ares threatened. Annabeth immediately paled.
"Lord Ares, we will find your shield and return it to you. May we know its location please?"
"Now that's the proper way to speak to a god. Boy, you should learn from her."
Percy knew that Ares was now goading him on purpose so he decided to keep shut for the moment.
Ares was disappointed that he didn't get a response from the brat so he continued, "I was on a date with my girlfriend before we were – interrupted. I left my shield on one of the rides at this water park called Waterland."
"Is there any way to search for the shield since a water park is massive and make a take a long time?" Annabeth asked. She too wanted to get away from the god's presence as soon as possible.
"I wouldn't do this normally but fine, take this", Ares said and tossed them a keychain. "This will glow depending on how far you are from the shield. The park is a mile west on Delancy."
The keychain was that of a black yankees baseball cap which was nothing extraordinary. However, Percy doubted that a god would help him out just out of goodness. There was bound to be some strings attached to this. He pocketed the keychain and vowed to use observe on it as soon as he was out of sight to check for any deceptions.
"Thank you Lord Ares", Annabeth said as she bowed.
Ares acknowledged Annabeth but then turned to Percy, expecting him to bow to him.
"Yeah, not happening", Percy said as he just turned and walked out of the diner, dumping a wad of cash on the waitress' hand.
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Find Ares's shield and give it to him.
Rewards –
+2 LUC
?
?
Failure –
Death
Grover and Annabeth die
Accept / Decline?
...
Percy just accepted the quest.
Meanwhile, Annabeth and Grover were almost hyperventilating now. They were concerned for Percy after his blatant mockery of a god, an Olympian no less. Ares glared at them with his eyes glowing ominously. They duo quickly muttered their thanks and goodbyes and ran out of the diner, following their friend.
They shortly caught up with the wayward son of Poseidon who was heading towards the water park. Annabeth was surprised to see that he found the way so quickly but dismissed it since he had become far more intelligent than he was initially.
"Percy, what was that?" Annabeth demanded just as they caught up to him.
"If he expects me to bow to him just because he was 'helping' us, I don't want his help. Not to mention the way you guys felt because of what he said. I will not bear it."
A smile graced the lips of the daughter of Athena. Here was a boy who was ready to fight a god just because said god had hurt her. Who would do something like that for someone who they had just met? Percy was truly an interesting person, she was glad that she had decided to build a friendship with him.
"Perce, relax. I know you would fight him if it came down to it but you really need to control your mouth. One day a god might just decide to smite you out of anger", Grover said.
"What did he mean by there being another child of the big three?", Percy asked suddenly.
"Umm… can we talk about this later?" Grover asked.
"Sure G-man. I didn't want to force it on you guys. Just curious. If you guys want to talk about it or anything, I'm here. Remember, we are a team."
Perc then took out the keychain out of his inventory and used Observe. The result he saw wasn't something he'd ever expect.
...
Helm of Darkness
The Helm allows Hades to melt into shadows and pass through walls. While wearing it he cannot be touched, seen, or heard, and he can radiate fear so intense that it can easily drive a person insane or stop their heart.
...
Wasn't the Helm of Darkness supposed to be more… intimidating? And not a yankees baseball cap keychain? Was this the symbol of power that wreaked havoc during the Titan War? Question marks appeared on Percy's head and around him as he tried to decipher this joke.
"Percy, are you alright? You've been staring at the keychain for a few minutes now", Annabeth said.
"Oh, nothing. Just trying to see what it is and if it does anything special", Percy half-lied. He really did not want to worry his friends with the fact that a twelve-year old teenager was currently carrying a god's symbol of power – capable of killing millions – as a keychain. However, this would be of immense help in bargaining for his mother since he knew that the helm would be precious to Hades. The most concerning question was – how did the Helm of Darkness end up with Ares? His Observe had told him that Luke was the one who stole the bolt as well as the helmet. So did this mean that Ares was somehow working with Luke? Or was he secretly supporting Percy? Yeah as if they would happen. The only viable explanation seemed to be that somehow Luke had stolen both symbols of power and Ares was involved in all this. Not to mention, the shoes given to him by Luke which were cursed to drag him to Tartarus. So maybe were Luke and Ares working for someone who was in Tartarus? Only the worst of the worst monsters and divine beings were imprisoned in Tartarus. There were too many questions and far less answers. Percy did not like this. Not at all. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he did not realise that he was just following Grover and Annabeth. He was reminded of that only when his head banged into a gate.
"Ow!" Percy exclaimed.
"Finally, he's back in the world of the living", Annabeth deadpanned. "We have been guiding you and trying to talk to you since the past few minutes but you have just been unresponsive. What the Hades were you even thinking?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking about my mom, the prophecy and what fate has in store for us", Percy said quickly.
Annabeth's eyes softened. "You must be going through a lot, don't worry. We will found your mother."
Percy flashed her a grateful smile.
The doors to the park were locked but Annabeth just cut them apart with her knife. It was far too easy. Inside, huge dry waterslides and tubes and pipes curled everywhere, leading to empty pools. Old tickets and advertisements fluttered around the tarmac. It just looked so creepy. Percy reframed from commenting and settled to look around idly.
"Percy, point the keychain in all the directions. Wherever the shield is, it should automatically start blipping", Annabeth said.
Percy waved the keychain around until it started pointing in a particular direction. They started walking towards it while waving around several other rides. Soon, they reached their destination.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me", Grover said.
The ride was named – Thrill Ride O' Love. There was an empty pool that was at least fifty metres across and shaped like a bowl. Around the rim, a dozen bronze statues of Cupid stood guard with wings spread and bows ready to fire. Marooned at the bottom of the lake was a pink-and-white two-seater boat with a canopy over the top. In the left seat, glinting in the light, was a shield, a polished circle of bronze.
"This seems too easy. Are you sure he hasn't lost his mind completely?" Percy asked.
"Yeah, but I think there's more to it than meets the eye. Have a look around before we go and fetch that stupid thing. I don't know what's with gods losing their weapons all over the mortal realm", Annabeth said in a rare display of frustration against the beings.
Instead of going through the trouble of finding any signs for traps, Percy simply activated Observe and found the source. It seemed that Annabeth was right after all.
"Annabeth, I think there's some sort of switch here for a trap", Percy called out.
The blonde walked over to him and looked at it. It was truly a trap and one of Hephaestus' at that.
"This was put by Hephaestus for Ares and his girlfriend", she said.
"Oh that's Aphrodite right?"
"Yes, he must've wanted to catch and embarrass the two of them."
"Let's just get this over with and return Ares the stupid shield of his."
"How do you plan on getting it without triggering the trap?"
Percy simply closed his eyes and focused on the water around him. He called for it and floated it towards the shield. He wrapped the water around it and brought the shield towards him. He then turned to Annabeth with a huge grin, expecting to be patted on the head and told that he did a good job.
Annabeth just smacked her head. Of course he would find an extremely convenient manner to get out of trouble or finish a task.
"That was it?" Grover asked. He had been tuning out as well like Percy ever since they had entered the waterpark.
"Did you listen to anything that we had discussed?" Annabeth asked.
"Umm no?" Grover replied sheepishly. Annabeth just rolled her eyes.
"Grover, we are here for you. Don't you worry. Share whatever it is you want man", Percy said.
Annabeth voiced her agreement.
"Come on, let's go back to the diner", Percy said.
They soon reached the diner to find the war god sitting where they had been earlier.
"You brats already done with it?" Ares asked.
"No, we're here to dance", Percy replied sarcastically.
Before Percy could make it any worse, Annabeth shot him a death glare to shut up.
"Of course, Lord Ares. We got it as soon as we could", Annabeth said. She then handed him the shield. Ares inspected it before he handed it to Percy, surprising the demigod.
"Take this as a reward for finding it. I have no use for it anymore", Ares said.
"No thanks" Percy said.
"Percy", Annabeth warned. Percy just huffed.
"Fine, thanks Lord Ares", he said with sarcasm dripping in every syllable.
He ignored the notification that popped up. He first needed the god out of his hair before he did anything else.
"Feel lucky brat. Not every person has been blessed enough to receive a gift from an Olympian. Cherish this till the end of your days", he said cockily. He then walked out of the diner and vanished into thin air as though he was never there which Percy wished was the case.
"Come on, let's go back to the train. We'll board the next one to Los Angeles", Annabeth said as she grabbed Percy's hand and forcefully dragged him away.
Soon, they were on the train, on their way to Los Angeles. They had decided that they won't be making any stops and would head to their intended destination now.
Grover and Annabeth were asleep almost as soon as they entered the train. Meanwhile, Percy willed the screen into existence. The familiar sea-green screen with the Greek runes running along its edges appeared. He brought up the notification and he nearly, very nearly, yelled in surprise and astonishment. If not for Gamer's Mind he suspected that everyone on Olympus would've heard it.
...
Quest Complete!
Find Ares's shield and give it to him.
Rewards –
LUC : 12 + 2 = 14
Master Bolt (tap for more information)
Song of Swords (tap for more information)
...
Percy immediately tapped Master Bolt and the information popped up.
...
Master Bolt
The Master Bolt is the symbol of Zeus' power, which all other lightning bolts are patterned after. It is the first and most powerful weapon that the Elder Cyclopes made for the Olympian gods.
Currently, it is stored in the handle of the shield given to Percy by Ares.
...
What. The. Hades.
This essentially completed his quest. Ares was gallivanting the country with the symbols of power of the two of the big three and had, for some reason, given it to Percy wherein he would be dragged to Tartarus to deliver these to the one they were both working under. Could this day get any worse? He really wasn't in the right mindset to think more about the bolt. He decided he would do it later in the morning. He then remembered the other quest reward and pulled up the information for it.
...
Song of Swords
This skill book grants the user knowledge to effectively wield any class of swords at the same level of mastery as the user's primary sword.
Bonus : +5 levels sword fighting.
Learn / No?
...
Percy whistled. This was impressive and extremely helpful. He immediately confirmed his choice and gasped as the knowledge flew into his mind. Suddenly, he knew when to use what sword and the most effective way to wield it.
...
Ping!
Sword Fighting
Level 10 + 5 = 15
29% extra damage with swords.
...
With that done, Percy settled in for the night, wanting to get away from everything briefly. This was too much to bear and he just needed a break. Of course, it wouldn't come to pass.
Percy found himself falling into a void with darkness all around. Suddenly, the darkness vanished, replaced with the galaxy. Millions of stars and planets blanketed the night or galaxy? He blinked once or twice to confirm that this wasn't an illusion.
"The past is where all things began. It is how the present came to be and it is how the future will change. To make a better future is to know the past", a sweet and the most melodious voice Percy had ever heard rang out all around him.
"The people involved in changing the future know what the past was like which influenced their behaviour. Everything in this universe is inter-related. You just need to connect the dots. Looking back and knowing the shortfalls is a great teacher. Learning from the mistakes of others so that you don't make them is even greater. Experience the past young hero. Experience the lost tales of Greece. See how events shaped your present reality. Don't make the same mistakes as others. I truly hope I made the right choice", the voice said as it faded.
Before Percy could say / think anything, he was again whisked from the place and found himself falling in an endless void. The scenery changed as he found himself in another place. He was sure it was not New York or any other place that he had been to though it was admittedly limited. What had the voice said? Experience the past? Wait. Did that mean he was somehow transported to the past? Surely it must be a joke? Percy tried to call for the screen and sure enough it was there. His powers were all there. He then looked down and found himself wearing a Greek chiton.
He looked around once again and tried to get his bearings. The air was fresher, the grass lusher and the sky clearer than he had ever seen. What was this place? He walked about for a few minutes until he saw a few people.
"Hi, what is this place?" Percy asked but unknowingly, he had switched to Ancient Greek.
"Magnesia my friend. Are you new around here?" asked the stranger.
It was then Percy realised that they were conversing in Ancient Greek.
"What year is it?"
"The golden age. Are you sure you're alright? Do you need anything to eat or drink young one?"
What. The. Hades? He was in Ancient Greece? That too during the age of the Titans? Was that person so strong that he had been transported to the past? This revelation was too much for Percy as he conveniently blacked out and fell on the ground.
The Void
The entity smirked to herself. Out of all the people in all the universes and dimensions she had created, this demigod was far more interesting and amusing than she had ever seen. Maybe this time she wouldn't be disappointed. The time wasn't right for him to meet her. However, soon he would be in her presence. Chaos smiled to herself as she continued watching the adventures of the young demigod.
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod
(gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. He has ADHD which helps in combat. Blessed by Elpis, the spirit of hope, he has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes. He is also Hestia's champion which grants him control over fire and lets him summon meals.
...
Level - 12
Exp – 2,551 / 2,746
...
HP : 600 / 600 (+ 2000)
MP : 700 / 700 (+ 2000)
...
STR : 23 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 18 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 18 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 22 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 18 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 14 (Bonus : +14% chance of better loot)
Points : 12
Money : $7,200 / D30
...
Status : Demigod
...
Skills
...
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 15)
...
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Modern English (Level 25)
Swimming (Level 7 - 9 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Running (Level 7 - 34 km / hr)
Storms (Level 3)
...
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 4)
Critical Strike (Level 4)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 3)
Mage Armor (Level 5)
Summon Meals (Max)
Makarios tis Elpis (Level 1)
...
Chores :
Cleaning Dishes (Max)
...
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max level)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
...
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 17)
Water Spikes (Level 4)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 3)
Dimension Create (Max)
Ice Control (Level 4)
Steam Control (Level 3)
Fire Control (Level 8)
A/N
I hope this chapter was good. There are a few things that I want to play around with, hopefully they'll fit in well.
Do review and follow!
Until next time.
Chapter 11: Meeting Grandpa
Chapter Text
A/N
Oh well, hope you all enjoy this.
Disclaimer : I do not own PJO or any of its characters.
Chapter 11 : Meeting Grandpa
Percy woke up with his head spinning. He thought that him being in Ancient Greece was just a dream. However, when he opened his eyes and saw his surroundings, he knew he was so wrong. There were vases around him with intricate designs embellished on them. There was no concept of doors in the place which he was in. It was entirely open with different rooms connected to the one he was in. Further, there were several shelves with different household items stacked on them. As Percy looked around, he realised this was nothing that he was accustomed to. Just then, a person walked in.
"So you are awake young one. How are you feeling?" the man asked, again in Ancient Greek.
"Fine, thanks. But, where am I?", Percy asked.
"As I said earlier, Magnesia."
"Uh, is this someplace important?"
The man looked at Percy as if he was an idiot before he finally replied, "If by important you mean Mt. Othyrs then yes, this is an important place."
Percy just looked at him and contemplated. He had surely heard this name somewhere but the question was where? He kept racking his brain until he got the answer. Of course, it was the base of the Titan's during the birth of the elder gods and during the Titan war. What was he doing here? Why had the unknown person sent him to the past? His brain filled with hundreds of questions until it could not take it any longer and decided to pass out again. The other man merely chuckled.
'This one sure is unique', he thought before he placed Percy back on the floor and covered him with a cloth. 'Sleep well young one, there's a lot that you need to see and learn'. He then walked out.
Present Time (On the train)
It was still night as the train made its way through the American States. It passed through fields and fields of crops through silently. If one looked inside a particular cabin, he/she would be greeted to the sight of three teenagers passed out on the bed, sleeping soundly with the most innocent and carefree expressions on their young faces. Little did he/she know that they had far more pressing issues to take care of than a normal teenager ever would.
Ancient Greece
...
Ping!
You have slept in a bed! All HP and MP restored.
...
Percy swiped the notification away as per habit and groaned. He sat up and looked around. Sure enough, he was still in the place where he had passed out. It was night time right now and he could see torches lit just outside the place where he was sleeping. It casted an eerie glow in the darkness. Percy slowly got up and made his way to what he assumed was the balcony. He did not know how long would he be in this place or what he was supposed to do. He sighed. He looked up at the night sky and his breath hitched. There were millions of stars that blanketed the night sky while the moon glowed in all its glory, making it the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. This was something that he could not see in New York or Long Island. Millennia of pollution really screwed up the environment. He was snapped out of his musings when he heard a voice behind him.
"A beautiful sight isn't it?" asked the same man from before.
"Truly", Percy replied with a smile on his face as he kept looking up.
"Lord Krios really looks after his domain".
Percy thought for a moment. Krios was one of the Titans who ruled over the stars and constellations as far as he could remember. Since this was the Golden Age, the Titans were the rulers.
"So what are you doing here, young one?" the man asked curiously.
"I lost my way. I do not know how I ended up here", Percy replied. Technically, he wasn't lying since he did get lost and had no clue as to how or why he was here in the first place.
"It must be fate that you came here then. Nothing else can ever describe such actions", he said. For a moment, Percy really thought the Fates were playing a joke on him but dismissed the thought. Surely, they won't do something like that. Right?
"Oh, where are my manners. I am Minoclas, what's your name?"
"Perseus". Since he was in Ancient Greece, Percy decided to use his given name instead of the one he asked everyone to call him.
"Quite a name. Do you know the meaning behind it?"
"Not really, I never thought about it."
"It means – to destroy. Surely, there must be something about you that made your parents give you such a name. Who knows?", he asked no-one in particular.
Percy was shocked. Why on earth would his mom name him 'the destroyer'? He sighed and let it slide. There were lots of mysteries that he didn't want to uncover. For now, he needed to find a way to get back to his time so that he could go on and save his mother from her terrible fate. Who knows how the god of the Underworld was treating her? He just knew that she deserved the best and not be in a place such as the realm of the dead.
"Well, if you're hungry, let me know. I caught some fresh meat today so it would be delicious", Minoclas said as he walked inside the house. Percy thanked him and remained standing outside, contemplating his next action.
Now that he was alone, his thoughts returned to him and he was scared. He did not know what he needed to do or how to get back. He was stuck in an ancient time with the Titans in power with no way back to his time. He had to go and save his mother. He needed some help. In his desperation, he did something that he had never done before – he prayed. He prayed to the Fates and whatever deity was higher than them for some help or guidance for his next step. Even if he was intelligent now, nothing could ever prepare him for the situation in which he was stuck right now.
The Void
"Grandmother, don't you think he needs a bit of help?"
"Nonsense, he will be fine."
"He is praying. For. The. First. Time. Ever", Clotho said whilst emphasising each word. She too was shocked and could only imagine what Percy was going through. A 12 year old, dumped into the past with no clue what to do? That was bound to happen.
Chaos pouted. For the creator, she was jolly and not stuck-up or pompous in any manner whatsoever (*coughs* Zeus *coughs*).
"Fine", she huffed and waved her hand. "This will help him."
"Grandmother", Lachesis said in a warning tone.
Chaos rolled her eyes, "fine, I will give him a reward as well for it. Happy?"
The three sisters nodded happily. They sometimes had to take care that their grandmother didn't go overboard when it came to things like this. Sure, she was serious and every bit regal when it came to meeting the other entities in the multi-verses but when it came to her immediate family, she always looked for opportunities to pull their leg; Percy being the point in case.
Magnesia, Golden Age
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Experience the beginning of the fall of the Titan King without your identity being discovered.
Rewards –
$20,000
XP : 5,000
?
Failure –
Death
Accept / Decline?
...
Percy was ecstatic and quickly accepted the quest. Finally, he knew what he had to do before he could go back to save his mom, that's what he assumed. Since the unknown female did say that he had to experience the past. Hopefully, this would be the only one.
Now, he first had to come up with a plan and find a way to enter the stronghold of the Titans. It was surely not a cakewalk given the fact that the so called 'Golden Age' was due to the unavailability of knowledge to the masses courtesy of the Titans. They would surely want others staying away from the divine. Percy was still standing outside in the night sky, lost in contemplation. He was still thinking of ways to infiltrate the palace until he had in idea. He smacked his head at his forgetfulness and stupidity at times. He looked around to make sure that he was alone and then vanished from sight.
Alternate Dimension
Even though he was in the alternate dimension, everything was the same as per norm. He pulled out the Resurrection Stone from his inventory and put the ring on his finger. He then proceeded to put his power into it and summoned Alecto.
Alecto looked around her and sighed before turning to Percy, "what did you do now? Why are we in Magnesia?"
Percy smiled sheepishly and proceeded to inform her of the events that transpired which led him to his current predicament.
Alecto looked at him, took a deep breath and then said, "let me get this straight. You went to sleep, some unknown entity spoke to you, dumped you here – in the past – and now, wants you to infiltrate the palace of the Titans? Remind me again, why did I end up serving you?"
Percy winced. Alecto really didn't hold back when it came to things like these. On the bright side, she was now used to him and weird things happening around him so it was fine, he assumed. Hopefully.
"So now, we need to come up with a plan to get inside the palace. Thankfully for you, I have a rough idea of its layout. Don't ask how, I just know. Now, do you know how to use the Mark? Don't look so surprised, it is our power after all that you possess, if we can't detect it, who can?"
Percy nodded dumbly.
"I don't know how to use it", he said.
Alecto rolled her eyes, "of course you don't. One of the most versatile powers with myriad uses and yet you don't know how to use it. Incredible. Now, we are going to train in this so that you can disguise yourself once we get there. We do not know whether anyone will remember either of us in the off-chance we are detected. I do not want someone running after me millennia later and I am sure, you don't want that either."
She was really on a roll today.
"Come on, let's start your training. No one is bound to come here. I want to be out of this period as soon as possible. The Golden Age wasn't really my taste even though there were lots of deaths and souls to punish. The old boss wasn't as considerate as the new one; not that the new one is any better but eh, we got our share of worship."
With her tirade finally over, the duo got to work on Percy's powers.
A few hours later, Percy was panting. Alecto was a slave driver. She thoroughly enjoyed training Percy and depriving him of all his MP. Further, the moment she found out that Percy's MP was restored when he was drenched, she didn't waste a moment in upping the training regimen. To be honest, it was quite a weird one now that Percy thought about it. He was given the most awkward instructions like 'think about your nose getting pudgy' or 'ears pointed' or 'become shorter' etc etc. At one point, he had messed up things so bad that even the ever serious Alecto had burst out laughing by how ridiculous he looked. That was one can of worms that he wasn't going to open at all.
...
Ping!
Mark of the Furies
Level 3 + 3 = 6 (24% proficiency)
...
Even though it was not much, given the amount of time Percy had spent, it was quite good. He was now able to shift a relative portion of his facial features and very little of his physique. If someone new met him before and after, that person would recognise him but with a bit difficulty which was fine with Percy. However, he needed a better control if he had to not be recognised at all but alas, he did not have much time. He needed to finish the quest and get out of here as soon as possible. This was still workable so he would do his best.
Soon, Percy was out of the alternate dimension. He had dismissed Alecto since he did not want to attract any attention whatsoever and headed back to the place where he was staying. He had summoned some fresh meat and other delicacies using Hestia's blessings and was taking it to Minoclas as a small thank-you gift.
The night passed blissfully with the pair talking about Greece and each other's life. Percy had to lie for the most part since he wasn't from that time and hence, had to come up with things on the fly.
The next morning, Percy thanked Minoclas for his hospitality and was on his way to Mt. Othyrs. He had taken the general directions from Alecto so he didn't have to walk around like a headless chicken. His trip was quite interesting to say the least. On his way, he came across several breath-taking places. The flora and fauna was rich with birds chirping everywhere. He was mesmerised. He even came across a waterfall surrounded by lush green gas and beautiful flowers all around. Several deer were drinking from it whilst some horses grazed on the meadow. Percy wasted no time in running and jumping into the waterfall. He was a little tired and the water worked wonders in taking it all away and injecting him with a fresh dose of energy.
He continued his journey until night came. Percy had built a campfire a bit far off from the main travel paths since he needed to speak to Alecto. He had covered quite a bit of distance during the day but nothing was in sight till now. He summoned her from the ring and beckoned her to sit nearby whilst he summoned some food for the two of them.
"Hey, how far are we from Mt. Othyrs?", Percy asked.
Alecto drummed her fingers in thought before she answered, "we should be there by late afternoon tomorrow. You can rest up and then head inside during the night. However, I have got to ask – what are we even going to do there in the first place?"
Percy shrugged.
Alecto looked at him and blinked. She then wacked him on his head before screeching, "you idiot! Why didn't I ask you this before?! The entity asked you to sneak in but what are we even supposed to do after that? Did you even ask her this? Are you stupid?"
Percy laughed nervously, "umm…"
"Knew it", Alecto deadpanned, "out of billions of people and so many deities and others, I had to get stuck with the biggest idiot of them all. Honestly, I feel I have the worst luck in the Greek world."
"Am I that bad?"
"You got ready to infiltrate the stronghold of the most powerful people in all of Greece where, I might add, the King lives as well who has divine authority over one of the strongest domains known to the supernatural. To make matters worse, you have no idea how to get inside or what to do there. Your only explanation is that you were told by some unknown, powerful deity that you need to go there. How naïve or stupid can one be?"
Percy pouted, "fine, I get your point. But we'll figure things out when we get there."
Alecto just smacked her hand on her head as she cursed her luck, or rather, lack thereof.
"Let's just train with the Mark for now. You need all the practice you can get."
The demigod agreed reluctantly and headed to the Alternate Dimension.
~Next Morning~
...
Mark of the Furies
Level 6 + 2 = 8 (32% proficiency)
...
'I swear she just wants to get rid of me as soon as she can so that she can be free', Percy thought. Alecto had exhausted his MP so many times that he lost count. He had to keep drenching himself time and time again just so that he could keep up with her training regimen. Moreover, his progress had slowed down now since he had reached a higher level so getting to the next one required more time and practice.
Around midday, his destination finally came into view. He could just see long towers if he squinted hard, otherwise, nothing else was visible. Alecto was so wrong when she told him that he'd reach by late afternoon.
*huff* 'Never should have doubted her', Percy thought as he fell unceremoniously near a tree. He had been walking and walking and walking but the tower was still there and the base was still nowhere in sight. It was late afternoon now and it still looked like it was miles away from him. Did this damned thing keep moving? He decided to summon Alecto to ask for further instructions since he was out of ideas on what to do next.
"Ah so we are here, you made it in good time Percy", Alecto said with a ghost of a smile on her face. She ruined it with her next sentence, "looks like you really had a death wish."
"Are you really looking out for me?"
"Well, I did bring you here out of consideration and tell you the location of the Underworld in the modern age."
"But the stupid building is so far off", Percy pointed in the distance.
Alecto chuckled and said, "a common mistake. Why do you think this place is so empty for miles out?"
Now that Percy looked around, he realised that it was completely silent. There were no birds chirping or animals in sight. It was as though he was in the other dimension.
"We have reached. You just need to know the location, that's the secret. Everything else is merely an illusion of the Mist. It is highly concentrated due to the beings present here and thus acts like a veil to deter people and animals from coming anywhere close to this place. The Titans aren't exactly fond of others in general, well most of them. The tower lies just beyond this point. You have stopped just at the edge. Let's rest for now before going in. You will need all the strength you have as well as refill your water in case things go south and you need the extra help. Though the chances for you surviving at the moment are in the lower single digits."
"Thanks for the support", Percy said. He summoned a meal for the two of them as they rested and waited for Selene to start her journey across the skies.
Soon, just as it was about to get dark, Alecto ushered him to get a move on. They slowly made their way through the trees the Fury had pointed out and suddenly, the scenery changed all around Percy. He looked ahead of him and his jaw dropped. Alecto too was not faring any better.
The place was huge and terrifying. The palace itself, reminded Percy of a very oversized mausoleum, was made completely from black marble, which, according to Percy, made it both terrible and beautiful, made of fear and shadow. The palace's glimmering black towers reached the clouds, like greedy fingers, reaching out for the stars. This was Mt. Othyrs in all its glory.
"Ahh no matter how many times I look at this, the affect will never get old", Alecto said.
Percy didn't have any words. None were needed. This 'palace' screamed power and wealth all over.
"Come on, let's go", Alecto said. She had already started walking towards the castle and it seemed as though she would leave him alone if he did not hurry up. He quickly followed her. They walked to one of the sides of the castle after which, Alecto turned towards him.
"Change your appearance as we had discussed earlier", she commanded. Alecto too had changed her appearance and looked almost like Ms. Dodds albeit with a few differences here and there. Percy too focused on his appearance and one by one changed his body into whatever random thing he could think of. The end result elicited another bark of laughter from Alecto who did her best to quieten.
"Sometimes, I feel insulted that you have this power whilst the other times, I am glad since I get to have such an entertainment", she idly said. She then released her wings.
"Thanks, I guess?", Percy replied.
"Come on, grab on to me. We will fly over these gates. There is a blind spot which I used to use when I had to travel and since its night, I will be able to blend in well without alerting any of the deities. They are already used to me visiting every now and then since Iapetus too lives here."
"If you're sure", Percy said and raised his hands to be carried inside. Alecto got the message as she flapped her wings, got hold of him and flew inside. True to her word, Alecto had stuck close to the shadows and whizzed past the sentries that were patrolling the place. There weren't many since no one would be stupid enough to try and break into the house of the strongest beings on the planet except for him of course.
After a few minutes of flying and navigating through endless towers, the duo finally reached what seemed like the main building. They gently landed nearby and hid behind some pillars. They quietly made their way inside and again, Percy's breath hitched. The main pavilion was ringed with Greek columns, the floor was polished black marble, and a cold wind blew down the hallway. Green Fire burnt in braziers along the walls, which glowed against the marble floor. In-between the braziers were black marble statues of different Titans, Percy assumed.
From there, Alecto moved him through the place under the cover of darkness; making sure not to alert anyone. They soon reached the main hall if the twelve thrones gave any indication. Percy scanned the place but it was empty save for an individual sitting on a throne and another person who was standing in front of him. They seemed to be engaged in a conversation. Percy squinted his eyes and looked at the throne. The throne looked as though it was cut out of a gigantic piece of pure black obsidian, and encrusted with gold and diamonds. It was magnificent to say the least.
...
Ping!
Sneaking
Level 4 + 2 = 6
15% chance of not getting caught
15% chance of critical strike
...
Percy dismissed the notification and looked ahead and decided to use Observe.
...
Kronos – titan of time
HP - ?
MP : ?
Atlas – titan of endurance, general of Kronos
HP - ?
MP - ?
...
Percy gaped. He thought he had seen it all but apparently he hadn't. As he looked closely at Kronos, he could describe the titan lord as evil in all aspects. He had brutal golden eyes, black curly hair and a long, pointy beard. Beside him lay a six foot long scythe. Just by looking at it made Percy's blood turn to ice. He guessed it was the very weapon forged by Gaea, used to cut Ouranos and later Kronos. He shivered subconsciously. He did not want to fight the Titan Lord or his general. He was sure he'd die. Percy strained to hear what they were talking about, luckily for him their voices started rising. Now lay the next problem, he could not understand what they were talking about.
He turned to Alecto and said, "Do you understand what they're saying?"
"A little bit, they hardly spoke to me in that language. It was mostly Greek for me. This was reserved just for the Titan Council and their most important children like Atlas."
Percy was in a bind. How would he be able to eavesdrop if he didn't know the language only?
The Void
"Grandmother", Atropos said in a warning tone, "how could you forget the most important thing?!" Chaos was forgetful sometimes when it came to family since she messed around quite a bit. It was surprising that the universe managed to survive till now.
"He he he", Chaos laughed nervously. She then waved a hand and chirped, "Done!"
Atropos just sighed. The three sisters had been almost babysitting their grandmother to ensure everything went smoothly with Percy because knowing Chaos, she would endanger him for her own amusement. Atropos wasn't ready to take any risks even though Chaos herself had selected Percy for what was to come in the future.
Mt. Othyrs
...
Ping!
New skill unlocked!
Tongue of the Old Times (tap for more information)
...
Percy was surprised. He quickly tapped it and sure enough, what he needed was there.
...
Tongue of the Old Times (Level – Max)
The ancient language that Gaea spoke to the Titans, Elder Cyclops, and Hekatonkheires before the birth of the Olympian gods.
...
He quickly sent a thank you prayer to the Fates since he needed this desperately to finish his quest. He then turned his attention to the conversation.
"….. time approaches", Kronos was saying. His voice was unspeakably old, cold, and powerful, like knives scraping against stone.
"What do you desire my lord?" Atlas replied. His voice was very intimidating as well: though it was not as creepy as Kronos', it was deeper, lower, and stronger, like the earth itself was talking.
"The prophecy issued by father and mother. We need to avert it. None of my kin can be born."
"But isn't Lady Rhea already with your child?"
"Sadly but there is nothing that I can do. It will be immortal like us but it is prophesised that one of them would topple me. I cannot have that happen. Even marrying Rhea was not a part of the plans but alas, aunt really has a way around things it seems."
"So what do you suggest my lord?"
"The only option left is to devour them…. Who's there?" Kronos suddenly asked as he looked at the direction Alecto and Percy were hiding. Atlas immediately turned and Percy gulped when he saw him. Atlas looked like a living statue, with dark slicked-back hair, grey eyes like stone, light brown skin, and a very muscular build. He was very tall and extremely muscular with a brutal face, and huge shoulders. Atlas had a regal expression, a cold proud look in his eyes which looked evil.
"I think it's time we took off", Alecto said to Percy.
Percy nodded immediately as the duo started running towards the exit. Alecto could not open her wings right now since it was unique to the Furies and it would put them in danger. The Mist was out of the option since the Titans had far greater control over it than she did.
"Hurry up, what's taking you so long?" she yelled. Both of them were running at their top speed but it didn't seem to be of much use since Atlas had almost caught up with them in a few bounds.
"Now now, it is rude to visit the king, not greet him and instead spy on him. I feel some divine energy from you boy while the other feels like a monster. Such puny people. I do not want my king to waste his energy on such frivolous things. Further, I will enjoy extracting the information from you", he said in Ancient Greek. It seemed that he was being considerate by speaking to the duo in a language that they would understand according to him but the truth was that the old tongue was extremely limited to a select few individuals and no one else possessed its knowledge.
Atlas was upon them and swung his fist at the ground, hoping to crush Alecto and Percy in a single blow. They quickly dived to the side to avoid it.
"You have some good reflexes but I wonder, would that be enough?" Atlas taunted Percy.
The demigod knew that he didn't stand a chance against a Titan of Atlas' calibre. Suddenly, he had an epiphany. The Helm of Darkness of course! He could blend with the shadows and pass through quickly without being detected. Why had he not thought about this before? He really was an idiot. He had two top tier weapons with him and yet it didn't strike him earlier. Percy quickly reached into his inventory and pulled out the key-chain. It glowed an eerie black. He did not know how to expand it but Alecto would know surely. At the same time, the person in question spared a glance at Percy. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she immediately realised what he was holding. It was the very bane of her trouble. She decided against questioning him about it for now since there were more pressing matters to attend to.
"Alecto, how do you use this?", Percy yelled as he dodged another blow that cracked the marble beneath him.
"Pour your energy into it. It will expand. Put it on your head and jump into the shadow", she replied urgently.
Percy did as she asked and immediately, the keychain expanded and grew until it was the size of a bike helmet. He put it on and it reduced in size to accommodate his head. It fit him perfectly. However, the moment it was on him, Percy froze up momentarily in terror. The Helm was attacking the darkest parts of his mind and he wanted to throw it away but he had to bear it. Percy ran towards Alecto, grabbed a hold of her hand and jumped into a shadow. They were consumed by it and he started running towards the exit. It seemed that the Helm was working since Atlas was now looking around, trying to find both of them while Kronos watched with interest. Soon, they were out of the main building and Percy dismissed the helm back to his inventory. Alecto released her wings, grabbed Percy and flew off into the night, putting as much distance as she could between them and Mt. Othyrs. As soon as they cleared the walls, Percy's surroundings were replaced with the similar void where he first met the unknown person.
"You have done well, demigod", the voice said from all around him once again. Alecto was there too this time and she looked alarmed.
"Don't fear me Alecto. I am with Perseus. I simply wish for him to be stronger and wiser for what is to come. This was but merely a glance at the past. He will need more experience and lessons like this moving forward. You feel it, don't you? The inevitable change, the war and the prophecy. You were there after all. It is beginning. Train the demigod, be with him and offer him counsel. He will need it. Do not disappoint me", the voice said until it disappeared as quickly as it first appeared.
Again, Percy felt himself falling until he woke up with a start in the train where he had last gone to sleep. Alecto was nowhere to be seen. He assumed she was back in the ring and it was all a dream. However the notification that popped up removed all traces of doubt from his mind.
...
Quest Complete!
Experience the beginning of the fall of the Titan King without your identity being discovered.
$ : 7,200 + 20,000 = 27,200
XP : 2,551 + 5,000 = 1,375 / 4,218
..
Level Up!
Level 14
HP : 600 + 150 = 750 / 750
MP : 700 + 150 = 850 / 850
Ability Points : 12 + 4 = 16
..
New skill unlocked!
Battle Instincts (Tap for more information)
...
Intrigued, Percy tapped it.
...
Your ADHD is replaced with Battle Instincts. You will now have enhanced senses, increased prowess in battle and strategy. You will also be able to make more effective plans.
New skill unlocked!
Battle Strategy
Effectively make and change plans during one-on-one combat or while leading your troops.
Level 4 – 12% chance of success
...
Woah! Percy was truly impressed. Seems like this outing yielded quite favourable results for him. He was happy and satisfied. Not to mention the $20,000 reward but then again, he was up against the strongest Titans with minimal chances of survival so it was fair. He dismissed the screen and looked at the time. It was still 3am which meant that there was time dilation involved since he had spent close to two days in Magnesia. Percy then got up and vanished into the Alternate Dimension. He knew he needed to have a chat with the Fury about the recent events.
"Perseus Jackson, how the Hades did you have the Helm of Darkness?! I had trusted you when you said you didn't have it. What's next? Do you have Zeus' Master Bolt also?", Alecto screeched the moment she appeared from the ring.
"Relax! Let me explain what happened. I didn't exactly have the time to speak to you about things", Percy said as he tried to placate the Kindly One.
Alecto nodded as Percy launched into his tale about the recent events that led up to him travelling back in time. Alecto kept quiet for the most part except when she had a question or needed some clarification. Soon, he was done and looked at Alecto, waiting for her to say something.
"You really have some rotten luck", she finally said.
Just then, Percy recalled the last bit of the conversation they had with the unknown entity.
"What was she saying about prophecy, war etc?", he asked.
Alecto closed her mouth and looked everywhere but at him. She was lost in thought before she answered, "it is not my place to tell you this. You should ask Chiron or your father."
"But why?" Percy insisted.
"It just isn't."
"Fine. By the way, how was I able to use the Helm despite being a son of Poseidon?"
Alecto smiled, "Now, that's a good question. I was waiting for you to ask it. You see, the elder Olympians were born from Kronos and Rhea and weren't Titans though they should have been. They had a unique composition. The weapons of the big three were built in-tune with that and could be used by those with the same signature. Since they were siblings, their signature was identical in some aspects. You being their child, also carried the signature but less of it since you're half-god. Therefore, you were able to wield the helm though it was not as effective as it would be if used by a son of Hades."
Percy 'oohed' at that. He hadn't ever read about this or knew about this. Any new knowledge was always welcome though.
"So now, what do we do with the Helm?", Percy asked the million-dollar question.
"I propose we go to the Underworld where you try and bargain with Hades. I am sure he kidnapped your mother as a bargaining chip. You might just be able to negotiate her release."
Percy nodded. It was viable. The faster they went, the better it was anyways. They were still a few hours out of Los Angeles. Percy then dismissed Alecto and returned to his dimension. First things first, he needed a break.
A/N
A relatively short chapter but I didn't want to put too many things into it at once. We'll be back to canon in the next update!
Do let me know your thoughts for this chapter!
Until next time!
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod
(gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. Blessed by Elpis, the spirit of hope, he has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes. He is also Hestia's champion which grants him control over fire and lets him summon meals.
...
Level - 14
Exp – 1,375 / 4,218
...
HP : 750 / 750 (+ 2000)
MP : 850 / 850 (+ 2000)
...
STR : 23 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 18 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 18 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 22 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 18 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 14 (Bonus : +14% chance of better loot)
Points : 16
Money : $27,200 / D30
...
Status : Demigod
...
Skills
...
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 15)
...
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Tongue of the Old Times (Max)
Modern English (Level 25)
Swimming (Level 7 - 9 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Running (Level 7 - 34 km / hr)
Storms (Level 3)
...
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 6)
Critical Strike (Level 4)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 8)
Mage Armor (Level 5)
Summon Meals (Max)
Makarios tis Elpis (Level 1)
Battle Strategy (Level 4)
...
Chores :
Cleaning Dishes (Max)
...
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
Battle Instincts (Max)
...
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 17)
Water Spikes (Level 4)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 3)
Dimension Create (Max)
Ice Control (Level 4)
Steam Control (Level 3)
Fire Control (Level 8)
Chapter 12: Ready for Death
Chapter Text
A/N
I always forget to update here. Sigh.
Can someone remind me weekly already?
Disclaimer : I do not own PJO or any of its characters.
Chapter 12 – Ready for Death
*Poke*
No response.
*Poke*
No response yet again.
*Slap*
"Wha?" Percy asked still half-asleep while he held his cheek.
"About time you woke up", Annabeth huffed. This boy sure could sleep like the dead. She had been trying to wake him up for the past five minutes but to no avail. She then turned around, only to find him asleep once again.
"Perseus", she growled as she lifted her fist in righteous anger.
*Whack*
"Sorry", Percy apologised while he massaged the bump on his head. Annabeth sure could hit. He vowed never to get on her bad side. He could only imagine what would happen to the poor soul who ever did.
"We've almost reached Los Angeles. From the station, we will head over to DOA Recording Studios and make our way to the Underworld. I haven't had much time to research on it so I just have a vague idea. We will just have to make the best of the situation we find ourselves in", Annabeth said.
"Are you sure?" Grover asked nervously.
"We don't have any other option. It's just us unless you find someone who is willing to guide us through the Underworld", Percy replied dejectedly. Just then a metaphorical bulb went off on Percy's head. Someone who could guide them! Of course! He had Alecto who lived there! He just needed to speak to her now in the Alternate Dimension. Calling her here would be a huge risk that he was not willing to take.
"Percy, go and grab a few snacks in case we need it. We just have nectar and ambrosia with us", Annabeth said.
Percy nodded happily and skipped off to find an empty cart where he could meet Alecto. As he walked, his thoughts drifted to the time he had spent in Magnesia. He still didn't know what to make of it. The people were good but his experience at Mt. Othyrs was something else altogether. Percy shivered unconsciously when he recalled Kronos' appearance and the potent aura he radiated. He was lucky that the Titan King had decided not to use his powers over time otherwise Percy doubted he would be back here. He then recalled the conversation Kronos was having with Atlas. They spoke of a prophecy about how Kronos' rule would end the same way as Ouranos' did – by one of his own children. Moreover, Rhea was pregnant with Hestia at that time.
Percy's eyes widened as he realised what the Titans were going to discuss next. Kronos would start eating his children just to avoid the prophecy altogether. Immediately, Percy's anger flared momentarily as his eyes burnt with sea-green flames but Gamer's Mind clamped it down and his eyes returned to their normal state. How dare Kronos swallow his patron – Hestia?! He would get stronger and have some 'kind words' with 'grandpa dearest' whenever he got to meet him next. The Fates had already told him that Kronos was rising again during one of their talks. While he didn't want that to happen, a part of him was okay with it since it would be a good opportunity for some revenge.
Speaking of which, he first needed to come out alive from the Underworld. He was nervous and scared, rightfully so. Earlier, the fact didn't hit him hard but now that he was nearby, he knew that his chances of survival were small. However, he was going to come back. He had a lot of people to return to especially a certain brunette with flaming eyes who had been his source of comfort and support ever since he stepped into this crazy world. With eyes full of determination, Percy blinked from existence.
~Artificial Dimension~
Percy summoned his Resurrection Ring and called Alecto.
"Ahh, we must be reaching the entrance to the Underworld. I can feel the path of the dead", Alecto said as she looked outside the train.
"I need help with navigating the Underworld and how to get out of it – alive", Percy said.
"Of course. I just hope you are mentally prepared for it because it is not a place a 12 year old should visit. Even grown adults loose it as soon as they enter the realm."
"I have no other choice. Its ruler has my mother and I intend to get her back, no matter what the cost."
"Well then, let's start. Shall we?"
~A few minutes later~ (A/N : Not adding the description since everyone knows about the Underworld)
"Thanks Alecto, I don't know what I would do without you", Percy said sincerely. She had already done so much for him, Percy could hardly think of a way to repay her but he vowed that he would.
"Probably died in Magnesia. But don't worry about it. You're my master after all", she said as she disappeared in a poof of smoke.
Percy smiled as he left the alternate dimension. He then purchased some snacks and returned to Grover and Annabeth.
"Took you quite a while, we were about to come and find you", Annabeth said.
"There was a bit of rush, couldn't do much about it", Percy lied.
"We have almost reached Los Angeles. Let's ask around once we get off the station and head to the Underworld straight away. We are fairly rested so it should be fine."
Percy nodded and turned to Grover who was sitting quietly. Nervousness oozed out of him as the Satyr devoured apple after apple. Sensing his friend's unease, Percy moved to ease Grover.
"Hey G-man, if you want, you can stay up and wait for me and Annabeth. We will handle things down there."
Grover looked at Percy and flashed a smile albeit, a forced one.
"It's just that Satyrs and underground don't exactly mix. Moreover, the Underworld is not particularly lively. However, I am your protector and best friend Perce, I can't let you do this alone."
"Thanks G-man", Percy said with a small smile on his face. He was truly grateful to have Grover and Annabeth with him. Even though the quest had been smooth sailing so far, one could never know. Moreover, something told him that he would be needing all the help he could get in the Underworld.
The train soon pulled up in Los Angeles as the trio disembarked with their camp issued bags.
"Let's head to the main strip. We can ask around for locations there, someone is bound to know the way", Annabeth suggested though she sounded unsure herself. Percy, on the other hand, already knew the directions to DOA Recording Studios since he had spoken to Alecto about it. However, he did not want to raise any suspicion so he followed along.
Soon, the trio were walking along the strip, trying to find a way to get to DOA Recording Studios but to no avail. No one had heard of the place and some mortals even used their phones to check the directions but it didn't show up. To say Annabeth was annoyed would be an understatement. She didn't like not being able to solve things and so far, the measly entrance to the realm of the dead was nowhere in sight.
As they walked around, they soon found themselves at a dead-end with the entrance to a hotel in front of them. It read 'The Lotus Hotel and Casino'. It was just like any other hotel but there seemed to be something different about it. It was as though the hotel was pulling them towards itself. Annabeth and Grover had already taken a step or two. Percy quickly decided to use Observe before things went out of hand.
The Lotus Hotel and Casino
The Lotus Hotel and Casino was created by the Lotus Eaters. The addictive food and atmosphere makes the person never want to leave. Time dilution is used in this hotel so that the occupants age slowly. Avoid at all costs.
Percy gasped. This was not looking good. Grover and Annabeth were already halfway through. He immediately ran after them, grabbed their hands and started tugging. However, both were adamant on walking regardless of how much Percy tried. So, he did the only logical thing he could think of – he summoned some water and dumped it over their heads. This caused them to snap out of their stupor momentarily which was what Percy needed. He got a hold of them and raced back to the direction that they came from.
~Inside the Casino~
A person clad in darkness sat on an ostentatiously decorated throne. The person was looking at the events outside with interest with a faint smile forming on his/her lips.
"Oh? This was interesting. I hope we meet soon Perseus Jackson", he/she said.
~With Percy~
Percy sneezed. Did he catch a cold? As far as he knew, demigods couldn't fall sick since they had godly immunity due to their heritage. He shrugged and ignored it. He then turned his attention to Annabeth who was glaring murderously at him.
"I still haven't forgiven you for drenching me in water", she said.
"I told you Wise Girl – it was either that or you spending time with the Lotus Eaters", Percy replied. He had been having the same conversation since the past fifteen minutes already.
"There are more ways than one Perseus Jackson", Annabeth said in a demonic voice.
Percy squeaked and unconsciously gave her his signature baby seal look. Annabeth, on the other hand, tried her best to ignore it by turning her face around but in the end, she lost. A light blush adorned her face as she scowled at the green-eyed demigod in front of her.
"F-F-Fine, I forgive you this time. Don't you dare repeat this", Annabeth managed to say and turned around to avoid looking at the son of Poseidon again.
Percy whooped when he suddenly noticed a notification pop up.
...
New skill unlocked!
Akachan shiru no me (Level – Max) (A/N I used google translate here so in case there's a fault, hmu)
One of the deadliest skills developed by Percy. The target's anger immediately decimates and is replaced by absolute adoration by just a look from Percy. However, the range is limited only to allies.
...
Percy sat silently whilst he regarded the screen in front of him. Was his life that big of a joke to the Fates now? He simply did not know how to react so he just ignored the window and looked at his two friends.
"I managed to find a way to DOA Recording Studios", Percy said.
This caused Annabeth and Grover to perk up and look at him expectantly.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Go on", Annabeth urged. She wanted to know how exactly Percy was able to find the way before she did.
"I asked someone", Percy quipped.
Annabeth, who had been staring at him intensely, immediately fell on the ground at the answer. She then proceeded to whack Percy on his head for pulling this off in the first place.
"Idiot", she said. At least Percy had the brains to look apologetic for it otherwise gods knew what she'd do to him. He was truly annoying. At one point, he could be downright charming and on the other, she wanted to strangle the life out of him. To say Annabeth was confused about her feelings towards him would be an understatement. She shook her head and looked at him.
"Let's go", Annabeth finally said.
Percy took the exact directions that Alecto had given him. As they walked, the lively sounds of chatter and music that filled the streets, slowly started dying down until it was silent all around. A mist had also fallen in the area and the sun blocked out. It was as though they had been transported to a dark world. They were still surrounded by buildings but not a person was in sight. Percy tried using Observe but nothing came up.
Suddenly, the darkness in front of them swirled and turned into a vortex which soon disappeared, revealing a figure clad in dark robes.
"Greetings demigods", she said. She had a sensual and silky smooth voice that could leave men in a daze.
This set the trio on the edge. This stranger was no ordinary person since she was able to decipher who they were so quickly. Percy used Observe yet again only to be disappointed.
...
Hecate – goddess of magic, mist, ghosts and night
HP : ?
MP : ?
...
Before anyone could say or do anything, Percy gently bowed his head a little in respect and said, "Hecate".
Annabeth and Grover widened their eyes in surprise and first turned to Percy to make sure he wasn't joking. They then looked at the goddess before bowing their heads in respect too.
The now named goddess looked at Percy intently for a minute before she finally said, "I am not here to cause any harm. I just wish to speak to you – Perseus Jackson."
"Percy", Annabeth growled, "what have you done now?"
"I swear I didn't do anything!", Percy replied as he waved his hands in front of him.
Before their bickering could start, a light laughter filled the silence. The duo turned to the source only to find Hecate laughing.
"You sure are an interesting one, son of Poseidon. Come, we don't have much time before others notice", Hecate said with a hint of urgency in her tone.
Percy was filled with questions but decided to go ahead and listen to what the goddess had to say.
"I'll be back guys", Percy said and walked towards the goddess.
"Yes, I know you have questions Perseus but there's something more important that I need to talk to you about. It's about your trip in the Underworld".
This set-off Percy as he disregarded all other thoughts and gave his undivided attention to the Queen of the Witches.
"Hades knows you're coming to him. Don't look surprised, we gods have our ways of tracking others. Anyway, he won't be making your journey easy for, he wishes to test you. If you're able to meet his expectations, he'll grant you an audience if not, well", Hecate left the ending for Percy's interpretation.
"But why does he want to test me? And why did you come here personally to tell me about it? Surely, you could've sent someone."
Hecate smiled before she said, "the reasons for testing you cannot be revealed by anyone save for the elder gods or Olympians if they deem fit. As for your second question, I just wished to see the son of Poseidon who has caused such an upheaval in Olympus."
Percy narrowed his eyes. He did not believe the second part at all. However, he was smart enough to not call out the goddess on it. His first priority was his mother so he had to stay alive. Instead, he opted the easy approach he had seen Annabeth use against Ares.
"Thank you Lady Hecate for this. Is there anything else you wish to speak to me about?"
"Keep your guard up in the Underworld. We will speak again if you're able to make it out and finish your quest", she said.
With the conversation done, Hecate snapped her finger and everything dissolved. Percy found himself standing beside Annabeth and Grover right in front of DOA Recording Studios.
~With Hecate~
Hecate stared at the boy from a rooftop. At first glance, he was scrawny and didn't seem to be a threat. However, that wasn't what she was looking for. No, what was underneath was far more potent than she had ever felt. He was kind, caring and humble – a trait not found in children of Poseidon or the big three. He had a good heart. Moreover, there seemed to be a massive reservoir in his body capable of holding power equivalent to that of an Olympian maybe the big three as well. He was going to be perfect for her plans. Of course, he needed to prove himself first before she would do anything.
With that done, before she teleported, she felt a brief surge in her power. She looked at the boy yet again and smiled. He was already impressing her and things seemed lively with him. She hoped he would not disappoint she thought as she disappeared.
~Percy's Group~
The moment Percy saw the board in front of him, he knew it was Hecate who teleported them there. He quickly sent a quick prayer and a small offering to show his appreciation.
"What did she want with you?", Annabeth asked right off the bat. She was as curious as ever.
"Nothing really. She just warned me about our journey to the Underworld. Apparently there's going to be some kind of test for me if I am to meet my 'uncle'."
"It can't be as simple as that", Annabeth said as he grey eyes bore into his own sea green ones.
"She also said that she wanted to meet me."
Annabeth narrowed her eyes and looked at Percy. It looked like she didn't believe him for a second but then she nodded her head and accepted his word.
"Nothing is ever as easy as that when it comes to the divine Percy. I'm sure she must've something else in her mind. Why would she bother teleporting us here as well?"
"I know but all we can do is go ahead. It's not like we have any other choice", Percy pointed out.
Annabeth nodded and the trio walked inside. The doors in the lobby said 'NO SOLICITORS. NO LOITERING. NO LIVING.'
"Peachy", Percy said.
"Just keep walking", Annabeth growled from behind him.
"Yes ma'am", Percy replied as he marched forward. As of now, he would rather face Hades himself than an angry Annabeth.
Inside, muzak music played and the carpet and walls were steel grey. There was black leather furniture and an elevator. However, what stood out the most was the person sitting atop a raised podium.
The man was tall, elegant, and handsome, with chocolate-colored skin and bleached-blond hair, shaved military style. His eyes were empty, full of death and despair. He wore tortoise-shell shades and a silk Italian suit that matched his hair. A black rose was pinned to his lapel under a silver name tag.
Percy didn't have to use Observe to find out who this person was since he had already been briefed by Alecto for this.
"Let me handle this", Percy whispered to Annabeth. She looked like she wanted to protest but seeing the look on his face, she complied.
"Charon", Percy greeted.
The man in question put down the magazine that he was reading and looked at Percy.
"First time in a while since someone was able to recognise me perfectly instead of confusing me with that Centaur", he said.
"I know right? It is easy to distinguish between the two of you", Percy replied cheerfully.
"Yes, but people don't understand only. I miss the old days when we were feared and worshipped amongst the mortals. So many offerings for safe passages across the Styx. Alas, people have forgotten now. Earnings have also gone down because of that. I have to resort to cheap suits now."
"Didn't you used to wear robes?"
"Times change boy. I've been alive for more than two thousand years, do you expect me to keep wearing the same clothes? Give me a break."
Annabeth and Grover shared a glance. Out of all the things, they had never expected such a casual conversation develop between Percy and Charon. Times were truly strange.
"Why don't you get yourself a new suit?" Percy asked.
"If only it was that simple. Hades pays me so less, it's not even funny", Charon whined.
"How much?"
"1 drachma a week. Can you believe that? I mean the mortals have also got laws for minimum wages and here I am stuck with the same amount for the past thousand years or so."
"It must be quite troublesome", Percy said. He knew where this conversation was now going and was ready to deal with what was going to come next.
"You have no idea."
"So why don't we make a deal?"
"What can a demigod offer an immortal?"
"You ferry us to the Underworld and in return, we can pay you for the trouble. I will even put in a word with uncle about your pay", Percy replied slyly.
This got the Ferryman thinking. Whilst the living weren't allowed as a rule, this was quite an opportunity. Moreover, Hades had already informed him about the three brats and asked him to let them enter. This was going to be icing on the cake.
"You've got a deal. You'd better put in a good word."
"Of course", Percy replied. He then magically summoned 10 drachmas from his inventory and handed it to Charon.
Charon inspected the coins and then pocketed them.
"Right this way", he said as he led the trio to the elevator.
Several ghosts rose and started crowding around the elevator as soon as Charon rose from his podium. The ghosts then started blocking the group's path to the elevator but Charon just shoved all of them aside.
"Make way, VIP guests coming in. No tours for today. Wait for another year or so before asking", he shouted.
Immediately, the ghosts scattered in fright and made way for the group.
Charon pressed the button of the elevator and beckoned his passengers to come in. He then pressed another button and the lift started descending. Soon, before the trio knew it, the lift had turned into a boat and they were surrounded by darkness.
"Welcome to the Underworld."
A/N
Yep, I have been watching anime lately so a few references here and there :p
I'm secretly glad Percy x Hestia is leading! It'll be fun to write.
Keep voting and do drop a review for this chapter!
Until next time!
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod
(gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. Blessed by Elpis, the spirit of hope, he has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes. He is also Hestia's champion which grants him control over fire and lets him summon meals.
...
Level - 14
Exp – 1,375 / 4,218
...
HP : 750 / 750 (+ 2,000)
MP : 850 / 850 (+ 2,000)
...
STR : 23 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 18 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 18 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 22 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 18 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 14 (Bonus : +14% chance of better loot)
Points : 16
Money : $27,200 / D20
...
Status : Demigod
...
Skills
...
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 15)
...
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Tongue of the Old Times (Max)
Modern English (Level 25)
Swimming (Level 7 - 9 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Running (Level 7 - 34 km / hr)
Storms (Level 3)
...
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 6)
Critical Strike (Level 4)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 8)
Mage Armor (Level 5)
Summon Meals (Max)
Makarios tis Elpis (Level 1)
Battle Strategy (Level 4)
...
Chores :
Cleaning Dishes (Max)
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
Battle Instincts (Max)
...
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 17)
Water Spikes (Level 4)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 3)
Dimension Create (Max)
Ice Control (Level 4)
Steam Control (Level 3)
Fire Control (Level 8)
Chapter 13: All goes to Hades
Chapter Text
Disclaimer : I do not own PJO or any of its characters.
Chapter 13 - All goes to Hades
To say Percy was intimidated would be an understatement. It was as though they had been transported to another world altogether which was true. The entire place was as dark as the night sky but without the stars. The burning torches casted an eerie glow all around as the soft sound of the paddle against the water was heard. Percy then shifted his attention to Charon only to find out that the immortal had a complete makeover. The Italian suit he wore earlier was replaced by a flowing black robe that was draped across his frame. His sunglasses were replaced by the hood of his robe that casted a shadow over his eyes, making it look completely hollow. The pad was long and dark with thorns or needless running along its length. This was the true image of the Ferryman of the Underworld meant to strike fear in the hearts of those unfortunate enough to die. Percy gulped and looked over his shoulder to check up on Grover and Annabeth. Grover was as white as a sheet as his teeth chattered in fear. He was holding onto the boat tightly to avoid falling down. Annabeth, on the other hand, wasn't faring any better. Though she tried to hide it, her eyes showed the emotions she felt. Percy gave her a small reassuring smile trying to convey that everything would be alright. Even though he was not sure himself, he knew one thing – if he had to leave someone behind, it would be him, no questions asked.
He then snapped out of his thoughts when the silence was replaced by what seemed to be howls? It kept growing as they kept sailing towards the shore at the far side.
"Ahh the Fields of Punishment, how I missed the sweet, melodious voices of the damned", Charon suddenly said with his face turned towards a particular direction. "Say kid, do you want a tour of the place? Quite a few interesting experiments going on lately. It ought to make your day", he added.
Percy looked horrified by the suggestion as did Grover and Annabeth. Before Percy could say anything, Annabeth beat him to it.
"Absolutely NOT. We are children, what do you expect us to do there? Secondly, we are here to meet Lord Hades. Please just take us there", she requested at the end.
Charon huffed, "such a disappointment. I would've personally taught the kid a few things, it would be a great learning experience. You're a good and interesting chap, be honoured that I offered to teach you. Not many get this offer."
"We're good, thanks Charon", Annabeth replied again, not letting Percy voice his thoughts.
In reality, even though it was gruesome and the screams a huge deterrent, Percy was naturally curious to explore the Underworld not to mention, he'd get to learn something new. Who knew it may come in handy someday. He knew it was dangerous but his sense of adventure quashed all qualms.
"Please? I want to teach him", Charon begged now whilst trying to give them the puppy dog eyes. Instead of being adorable, it made him look even more deadly.
"How about next time? Show me around and teach me what you want", Percy offered quickly. He was not letting a chance like this slip away. It wasn't every day that someone taught you something new especially a millennia old immortal. Also, it looked like some immortals had eccentric personalities not that he had met many but it just seemed like that. Who knew? Something to know later, Percy mused.
"Atta boy! You'll be in for one Hades of a time", Charon said as he clapped Percy's shoulder.
Grover was now laughing at their antics whilst an aura of death now surrounded Annabeth. She really didn't like the way Percy was behaving at the moment. Why would he accept something as horrific as that?
Percy was now a little upbeat after Charon's antics but his nerves didn't calm down. The warning given by Hecate kept playing in his head. What would Hades have in store for him? Would his friends be safe? These questions kept playing in his head until he suddenly found himself at the shores of the Underworld.
"Visit soon young demigod, there's a lot I want to show you. Don't die or not. You'd come here regardless so until then", with that happy thought, Charon pushed off the shore, back to DOA Recording Studios.
"You certainly made an impression on him Perce", Grover said.
"With the very person who ferries the dead across the Styx. Quite the fanfare he's gathering", Annabeth snapped.
Percy scowled but didn't say anything. What was up with her all of a sudden? He didn't want to deal with any more issues right now, now that he had finally reached the Underworld and ever so close to getting his mother back.
"Where to now?" Grover wondered.
"There!" Percy pointed. Sure enough, there was a path in the distance which led somewhere. Not that they had many choices anyway. It was either that or a swim in the Styx. Percy knew what he'd choose without any hesitation whatsoever.
"Well, better than nothing", Grover said as the trio took off.
Soon, they reached what looked like a queue except there were three lines with two crawling slowly whilst the last one kept moving at a steady rate. There were also quite a few skeletons wearing uniforms of different ages gathered around, keeping the queue and spirits in check.
"What are those?" Annabeth asked herself. Now, Percy very well knew what each queue was for since he had spent quite a while being lectured by Alecto. She had grilled each and every fact about the Underworld into his head which included bribing Charon and mentioning the pay raise. Coming back to the point, he decided to keep quiet since he did not want Annabeth suspecting him of something. He had already revealed a lot of information that not even she knew about or was widely available like the Lotus Hotel and the Lotus Eaters. Whilst the old texts did mention them, very few knew of its location throughout the ages and even fewer of its current location in the current generation. That had been hard explaining to her. He was basically talking out of his ass at one point.
"No idea", Percy shrugged, "Why don't we just go in the fast lane? Looks much easier."
They got in the line and just as they were nearing the skeleton guards, Annabeth urgently whispered to the other two, "don't look at them. Just act like the others and keep walking ahead. Hopefully we won't get caught. If they raise any alarms, we just run. Got it?"
Again, Percy knew that they'd be discovered due to the Underworld having a natural barrier that easily differentiated the dead from the living. He summoned Riptide and kept it in his pocket, ready to leap as soon as the alarms would blare. However, he was surprised that instead of an alarm going off, quite a few poppers blasted with confetti thrown in the air as the skeletons let out a huge shout of excitement.
"Congratulations, you're our special guests today!" a skeleton started who was wearing a uniform befitting a general. "We have such special events planned for you."
"I think you're mistaken. We're here to meet Lord Hades", Annabeth said.
"Of course not, a satyr, a daughter of Athena and finally, a son of Poseidon were supposed to come. We were informed of your arrival."
"I think you have the wrong people. We're just dead humans", Percy said. He then pointed his finger in a random direction where some ghosts were gathered. "I'm fairly certain I heard someone mention being a child of a god over there. Also, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this one weird person with hooves instead of normal feet."
For a second all the skeletons were confused and looked at each other awkwardly, trying to decide whether they actually got the wrong people until finally the first skeleton spoke again.
"My apologies sirs and ma'am. You may proceed to Asphodel as you desired. We apologise for the inconvenience."
"Don't sweat it", Percy replied. He then grabbed Annabeth and Grover and started walking across the gates, towards the trifurcation guarded by Cerberus which led to Elysium, Hades' Palace and the Fields of Punishment. The next step was to bribe Cerberus with food which would fetch him brownie points as well as entrance to Hades' castle. Everything had been smooth sailing so far except for the close call they just had. He hoped that it would continue like this until he got his mom and returned the bolt. Of course, Fate had other plans as alarms started blaring behind them.
"Get them!", the skeleton general shouted, "how dare they fool us?"
The skeletons with him roared(?) or whatever skeletons did In approval and charged at the trio. They mostly wielded swords and spears, nothing too special. However, their superior numbers more than made for that disadvantage. Percy was stuck on what to do until he suddenly gained clarity as a few plans formed in his head and a notification popped up.
...
Skill Activated!
Battle Strategy (Level 4 – 12%)
...
Percy swiped the notification away and took the most efficient strategy. They would run from here. He could stay back and fight but that would mean they'd be split up which wasn't advisable at all here. He had several other reasons but he'd end up wasting precious time if he ended up going through them again.
"Run", Percy yelled as he took off in the direction of Cerberus and Hades' Palace. Grover and Annabeth followed after him, without a second's thought.
They kept running after Percy until he came to a sudden halt. Annabeth and Grover, who were behind him, ran right into him.
"Why did you stop suddenly?" Grover asked.
In response Percy pointed at something right in front of him. Grover followed his line of sight and paled at what lay rather, stood in front of them. It didn't take a genius to figure out that the huge gigantic black and mahogany three-headed Rottweiler dog was Cerberus, the Guardian of the Underworld.
The moment it saw the trio, it started growling fiercely as all three of its heads focused on them and its tale with the snake hissed at them.
Before Annabeth could do anything, Percy suddenly got out some boxes of food which he must've packed beforehand. There were quite a few boxes which he was somehow able to fit into his bag. She watched as he took them out and walked towards the dog without a care in the world, ignoring the screams of torture coming from the Fields of Punishment or the fact that the huge dog could eat him without a second's thought.
Percy, on the other hand, was completely nervous inside but Gamer's Mind steeled his nerves and kept him going. He did not know whether this plan would work but Alecto had told him that some food and a bit of care for the dog would be enough for it to let Percy pass. So here he was, approaching one of the most feared monsters in mythology with lots of meat and other savoury dishes that he had secretly summoned in his bag using Hestia's blessings. On a side note, it looked like that the blessings worked everywhere so that was a huge plus point. At least he won't have to worry about starving or feeling thirsty.
He stopped a few feet near the humongous dog and started unpacking the food. He then held out one box for the dog. Cerberus regarded Percy as he approached and then looked at him quizzically with all three of its heads when he held out the box. It then bent down and sniffed the box cautiously with one head.
Annabeth and Grover looked at Percy with bated breath, ready to leap towards him at a moment's notice in case things went awry.
The aroma from the food made Cerberus lick its lips and it devoured the whole thing at once. It then started wagging its tail slowly in happiness. Its other two faces then looked at Percy, begging for the same food. Percy took out more food and offered it to the other two heads. Both of them snapped it up quickly and licked their lips. Percy then offered the rest of the food and it was snapped up within a moment. Cerberus then looked at Percy, waiting for more but Percy raised his hand to show that it was all over. It then whined a little in sadness.
At the same time, Annabeth and Grover stood shell shocked trying to decipher that what they were seeing was actually the truth. Here was Percy, happily feeding one of the most feared monsters in Ancient Greece as though it was nothing more than a pet dog. Annabeth was amazed with the simplicity and effectiveness of the plan. She truly underestimated this boy.
Percy was having the time of his life even though his heart rate was certainly elevated. After feeding the dog, as if on a whim, he raised his hand up and forward. He waited for a moment for Cerberus to understand the gesture. It then brought its head forward and nuzzled against Percy's outstretched hand. Instead of a hard fur that he expected, Cerberus' fur was soft and its hair flowed like silk in his hands. Percy just marvelled at its texture. Just then the other two heads surrounded Percy, begging for his attention as well. Percy just laughed and patted their heads as the third one barked happily.
"Mind if we pass to meet your master?" Percy asked.
The dog seemed to understand him and barked happily and nodded its head. Percy patted its head one last time and beckoned Grover and Annabeth to follow him. They just nodded their heads dumbly and did as told.
"What was that Percy?", Grover asked.
"What?", Percy asked.
"How did you manage to tame Cerberus out of all the monsters and animals to ever exist?", Annabeth all but shouted. She was truly impressed by his show of wisdom but at the same time she was put off that he had been able to come up with this plan and not her.
"Cerberus, at the end of the day is a dog. As long as you feed it and play with it, it would be friendly. I don't think they do much of either down here. I just felt it would be good to show some affection to it and it would be reciprocated", Percy shrugged.
Annabeth smacked her head with her hand. Leave it to Percy to come up with the most brilliant strategies only to find out that most of them were just dumb luck or good reasoning more than thoughtful consideration of the consequences of each plan.
Soon, a huge castle came into view. It was so big that calling it a castle also would be an understatement.
"Hades' palace", Annabeth whispered in awe. Her eyes were shining as they darted all across the place, analysing whatever she could about the architecture and planning behind the behemoth.
Just when they were about to continue, they heard the beat of wings and turned to see two of the Furies right behind them. Percy hadn't been able to detect their presence yet here they were.
"Perseus Jackson", Tisiphone growled.
"Hey", Percy replied casually.
"You have some nerve showing up in the Underworld after all that happened in the mortal realm. Did you really think you'd be able to get out of here alive after all that you did?"
"Yes?", Percy asked more so than answered. In fact, he too had doubts whether he'd be able to make it out alive but right now, he had other matters to attend to.
Tisiphone just glared at Percy with eyes full of hate.
"Can we just get this over with? You guys attack and try to beat us, we kill you and then be on our way to meet Hades", Percy asked. He was honestly already getting tired of this drill.
Megaera started cackling loudly, "did you really think this was going to be that easy son of Poseidon? Look around you."
Just then Percy's head snapped and he looked around to find that they were surrounded on all sides by skeletons. There were at least twenty of them. Among them, he recognised the skeleton general he had tricked near the entrance.
"Did you think you could get away from me after that treachery? You will pay for this", the skeleton growled.
"You really do attract all the trouble Percy", Annabeth said. She had taken out her dagger and was now holding it in the classic pick style grip. Grover too had taken out his reed pipes and was ready to play it.
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Defeat the skeletons and the Furies (again).
Rewards –
3000 XP
+2 LUC
500D
Failure –
Death
Accept / Decline?
...
It had been a while since Percy last had a quest and he certainly needed the XP to level up and become stronger. He quickly tapped accept.
He then looked at Annabeth and Grover only to find that they were both nervous and for good reason too. Just then, another notification went off.
...
Skill Activated!
Battle Strategy (Level 4 – 12%)
...
Again, Percy had another idea. He remembered one of the blessings that he had received. He hadn't tried using it but now felt like a good time.
Percy closed his eyes and felt for the hope he had in his heart. Old memories and feelings started seeping through his mind as his body started feeling warm. He could feel the embers of hope in his heart steadily glow brighter. He remembered who he had to survive for, who all depended on him and who all he was responsible for, these emotions fuelled the embers which suddenly turned into an inferno as it roared with life and boosted his very being.
...
Skill Activated!
Makarios tis Elpis
...
He then opened his eyes and turned his attention to Grover and Annabeth. He reached out to the warmth in his heart and willed it to seep into the bodies of his fellow campers. The effect was instantaneous as Annabeth's grey eyes swirled with newfound intensity and a smile adorned her face. Grover also looked like he was ready to take on the skeletons.
"You'd better not die here Seaweed Brain otherwise I'll drag your soul and seal it back inside your body and kill you myself. We're right in the land of the dead as it is so it'll be easy to get your soul", Annabeth said with a smirk. Percy smirked at her and simply uncapped Riptide.
Percy gave a small smile after he read the notification. He didn't think he'd be able to do it in the first try but he was happy he was able to. He then activated his next skill which he had been itching to try since a long time but never had the chance to.
...
Skill Activated!
Mage Armor
HP : 750 + 250 = 1,000
...
Percy smiled. Just for an added measure, he took out a water bottle from his bag and poured it over himself and felt the additional power wash over him.
...
Ping!
Son of the Sea god perk activated!
HP : 1,000 + 2,000 = 3,000
MP : 850 + 2,000 = 2,850
STR : 23 + 2 + 20 = 45
VIT : 18 + 20 = 38
DEX : 18 + 2 + 20 = 40
...
This was a bit of an overkill but he really didn't want to take any chances here, now that he was so close to his mother. Percy had always been one to do first and think later but the time spent with the children of Athena and his own development had had a profound impact on him. He was still quite rusty but he knew that heedlessly charging into a battle would bring his death and endanger those around him.
Grover and Annabeth had also moved and now had their backs against his.
"Ready when you are Perce", Grover called.
Percy waited for the right time and when he saw that the skeletons were at the right range, he said, "now!"
Percy leapt at the first three skeletons who had ventured in too close and decapitated their heads on the spot.
...
Sword Damage : 200 + 45 = 245
Anaklusmos Bonus : 245 x 2 = 490
Sword Bonus : 490 + (490 x 29%) = 632
Critical Strike : 632 x 330% = 2,086
Skeletons killed – 3
...
Percy swiped away the notification and got in a battle stance. Now that they had seen his skill, the skeletons approached Percy wearily.
On the other hand, Grover and Annabeth had started working in tandem. The first skeleton or two who had come close had been swiftly dealt with by Annabeth. The next pair to approach them came from opposite ends so whilst Annabeth dealt with one, Grover made some roots grow or whatever he could and stopped it dead on its tracks. Annabeth quickly dispatched that one as well. They had things somewhat figured out so Percy was not concerned. Worst case scenario, he would create water spears or something or if the situation called for it, summon fire to get them out of a pinch.
Percy winced when he suddenly felt a blow on his hand and saw a little bit of blood trickle down.
HP : 3,000 – 150 = 2,850
He had made the most rookie mistake of taking his eyes off the opponent and had paid for it. He was not going to make it again now.
Percy then quickly charged at the skeleton who had attacked him. The skeleton tried to bring his sword down on Percy but Percy used his increased speed to quickly dodge the incoming strike and swung his sword in a horizontal manner and cut the skeleton at its waist. The skeleton immediately crumpled into a heap of bones and then vanished.
Seeing their comrade executed, the other skeletons who had been standing around them then charged at Percy all at once. Percy smirked. This was going to be fun.
The first one to come almost immediately got its arm cut off from a well delivered strike from Percy as he side-stepped a thrust and brought his sword down on it. Immediately two more skeletons were on him and brought their swords down in tandem only for Percy to roll back and avoid the oncoming attacks. He was about to attack when suddenly both the skeletons exploded into dust only to find Annabeth behind them with a smirk on her face.
"Need some help?"
"That's not fair. I had them!" Percy complained.
"Maybe. But what would you do without me?", Annabeth asked teasingly.
"Probably die or do something extremely stupid", was Percy's immediate answer.
"If you guys are done flirting, we have a lot more pissed off skeletons to take care of", Grover yelled as he bashed a skeleton's head with his set of reed pipes and delivered a devastating kick to another skeleton's stomach.
Both of them immediately straightened up and got back to work.
Soon, all the skeletons were killed except for the general. The other two furies however, were nowhere in sight. They must've escaped during the battle, Percy thought.
...
Ping!
Quest Complete! (somewhat)
Rewards Added –
LUC : 14 + 2 = 16
D : 20 + 500 = 520
XP : 1,375 + 3,000 = 157 / 5,120
Level Up!
Level 15
HP : 750 + 50 = 800 / 800
MP : 850 + 50 = 900 / 900
Ability Points : 16 + 2 = 18
...
Ping!
Skeletons Killed : 10
XP per Kill : 70
XP gained : 10 x 70 = 700
XP : 157 + 700 = 857 / 5,120
...
Ping!
Sword Fighting : Level 15 + 2 = 17
...
Ping!
Critical Strike : Level 4 + 1 = 5
...
Ping!
Makarios tis Elpis : Level 1 + 1 = 2
...
Ping!
Battle Strategy : Level 4 + 1 = 5
...
Percy dismissed the screen and turned his attention to the general skeleton who now had a look of panic on its face.
"You were saying something?" Percy asked mockingly.
"Something about paying for some treachery", Annabeth answered.
"Oh yeah, apparently he was too stupid to realise some things."
"Pot calling the kettle black."
"Hey!"
"Are you guys done?", Grover interjected. "Let's just kill it and get this over with. I do not want to spend more time in this place."
The skeleton now had a look of horror on its face by how casually these three people were taking his life, not that he had one anyway but that was beside the point.
"Wait wait wait", it started nervously, "what if I trade you some information in exchange for my life?"
"What have you possibly got that would be beneficial for us?" Annabeth asked.
"Not for you, daughter of wisdom but for the son of the sea."
Percy perked up at hearing this. He knew he may not like the news but if it was there, he could possibly make something out of it.
"What have you got?", Percy asked curiously.
"It's for your ears only."
Grover and Annabeth were about to protest but Percy stopped them.
"Relax guys, I will handle it. If there is any trouble, I will count on you two", Percy said. He then turned to the skeleton, "you'd better make it worth my time and no tricks. If I see anything, you're dead."
The skeleton gave him a devilish smile, "it will be. Of this, I have no doubt."
Percy then walked a little away from the group with the skeleton while Grover and Annabeth watched them like a hawk though they were anxious for their friend. As they watched the two talk, a myriad of emotions started crossing Percy's face. It ranged from disbelief to anxiousness to anger and finally settled on sadness. Annabeth went wide eyed as a solemn tear fell from Percy's face. She immediately rushed to his side with Grover on her heels and embraced him tightly. She turned her head towards the skeleton who looked guilty.
"What did you say to Percy", Annabeth growled.
"Something no one would tell him. He needed to know this", the skeleton replied.
"What do you mean?"
"It's not my place to say. The question is, what will you do now Perseus?", it asked as it turned its head towards Percy.
Percy who was still crying managed to wipe a few tears from his face before he replied, "if what you say is to true, then no one and I mean no one can change what will happen next when it's my chance. Mark my words", he all but growled. His eyes were slowly starting to glow with power and anger. The normal sea-green had started turning into a darker shade. The air around them started growing heavy and the temperate suddenly fluctuated between being icy cold and seething hot. Just before anything else could happen, the feeling disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
The skeleton had fallen to its knees from the small display of power. It knew it shouldn't have been told but it was something that had to be told. It did not regret it one bit.
Percy had managed to straighten himself up and wore a blank face. No one knew what the skeleton had told Percy but apparently it was enough to put Percy under a lot of emotional trauma. Annabeth and Grover too were astonished by the sheer amount of power Percy radiated. Never had they thought that a demigod was capable of this, not to mention a twelve year old who had just discovered about this side of the world. It was unreal. They made a silent agreement never to tell someone about it and always have Percy's back because if someone ever got to know about this, things would turn bad. Not to mention the ominous statement made by Percy. It wasn't exactly encouraging.
"Come on guys, let's go and get my mom now", Percy said as he walked towards the palace ahead.
Annabeth saw how sad Percy was and was about to go and speak to him but Grover held her back.
"Give him some time Annabeth. I can sense his emotions. He needs some space to process whatever the Hades that damned skeleton told Percy."
Annabeth knew better than to protest and simply followed after the son of Poseidon.
~Elsewhere in the Underworld~
A poof of smoke took away the disguise the figure had worn and was replaced by dark clothes which covered the entirety of its stature. It looked on towards the direction Percy was headed.
'You took it better than I had expected. That amount of power. This is not something that any ordinary demigod could ever wield. Then again, you're special. I hope to see how things go after all this is over', it thought to itself.
It then vanished from sight as though it had never been there.
~With Percy~
Percy still couldn't believe what he had heard. Never in a thousand years could he imagine that something like this could happen. How? Why? Was he just a plaything in the grand scheme of things? These questions kept repeating in his head until he just gave up. He had something more important to look after right now. His immediate concern was his mother, he could come back to this later. He then remembered the way he acted and looked at Grover and Annabeth who were walking silently on either side of him.
"I am sorry guys. It's just that I couldn't control myself after all that", Percy said.
"Don't worry about it Perce, we're with you. If you need to talk about it, we're here for you. Take your time", Grover said encouragingly and flashed a smile.
"He's right Percy. We will do whatever it takes to help you through it if you need it. Just say it and we will be there", Annabeth added.
"Thanks guys, really. You're the best", Percy said gratefully. He really was blessed to have such understanding friends.
They continued walking in peace until they finally reached the open gates to the palace. They were at least two stories high and ostentatiously decorated. Annabeth had literal stars in her eyes as she took in her surroundings. Just as Percy was about to take his first step inside the palace, the scenery around him suddenly dissolved and it felt as though he was falling until it disappeared and he found himself in a separate area altogether. However, Grover and Annabeth were nowhere to be seen.
"Your friends are perfectly safe", a voice suddenly said.
Percy snapped his face towards the source. The moment he laid his eyes on the figure who said it, his eyes widened in surprise.
In front of him stood a very tall, imposing and very muscular man with albino white skin, intense black eyes that "glittered like frozen tar", and shoulder-length black hair, with bangs covering most of his forehead.
Percy didn't need to use Observe to know this man's identity.
"Uncle", Percy said as he bowed his head in respect.
A/N
As always, let me know your thoughts!
Until next time.
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod
(gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. Blessed by Elpis, the spirit of hope, he has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes. He is also Hestia's champion which grants him control over fire and lets him summon meals.
…
Level - 15
Exp – 857 / 5,120
…
HP : 800 / 800 (+ 2,000)
MP : 900 / 900 (+ 2,000)
…
STR : 23 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 18 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 18 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 22 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 18 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 16 (Bonus : +14% chance of better loot)
Points : 18
Money : $27,200 / D520
…
Status : Demigod
…
Skills
…
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 17)
…
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Tongue of the Old Times (Max)
Modern English (Level 25)
Swimming (Level 7 - 9 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Running (Level 7 - 34 km / hr)
Storms (Level 3)
…
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 6)
Critical Strike (Level 5)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 8)
Mage Armor (Level 5)
Summon Meals (Max)
Makarios tis Elpis (Level 2)
Battle Strategy (Level 5)
…
Chores :
Cleaning Dishes (Max)
…
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
Battle Instincts (Max)
…
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 17)
Water Spikes (Level 4)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 3)
Dimension Create (Max)
Ice Control (Level 4)
Steam Control (Level 3)
Fire Control (Level 8)
Chapter 14: Reunited
Chapter Text
A/N
*sigh*
Disclaimer : I do not own PJO or any of its characters.
Chapter 14: Reunited
"Uncle", Percy said as he bowed his head in respect.
"Ho. First time in a while since a son of Poseidon showed respect to someone. They usually run their mouth which more often than not lead to their untimely death", Hades mused as he regarded Percy.
Percy simply smiled since he didn't know what to converse about with a more than 3000 year old god who happened to be your absent father's elder brother.
"Eh forget about it. Now, I'm sure you must have a lot of questions, yes?" Hades asked.
"Yes uncle, I do", Percy finally said.
"Sit", Hades simply said and waved his hand. Just then, a chair spawned out of nowhere. The god sat atop a throne and looked at Percy, waiting for his first question.
Percy had a lot of questions and emotions running through his head but he kept it in check with Gamer's Mind also helping him out. He needed to keep a cool head otherwise things could go south very easily.
"Where's my mother?", that was the first and the most important question that he knew he had to ask. Damn the other things, well except the whereabouts of his friends of course.
Hades smiled, that's what Percy thought since it was pretty creepy in its own regard. Also, didn't it spell trouble when the lord of the dead smiled? I mean, why else would he smile? Percy kept building on his own line of reasoning. Very quickly, panic for his mother and anger for kidnapping her started swelling in his heart and his body outwardly reacted. Gamer's Mind activated quickly again and calmed him down before he messed things up.
"Don't worry nephew, I will send you to her in a while", Hades said ominously.
Percy started freaking out even more at that and growled in anger at Hades. Gamer's Mind was trying to keep his emotions in check but it was having a difficult time trying to placate the son of Poseidon who was as unpredictable as the sea and had such strong feelings for his mother.
"What have you done to her?" Percy growled in anger. Slowly and steadily, a sea-green aura of energy had started forming around him. It blinked in and out of existence but it was there, greatly scaring and surprising Hades. This had never happened when it came to demigods, not once had he ever seen or heard of such a thing. This was only attributable to gods and that too ranging from the more powerful minor gods all the way to the big three. This snapped Hades out of his joking mood as he immediately turned serious.
"She's perfectly fine. She's with Persephone at the moment, my wife really hit it off with her", Hades quickly said. This seemed to work on Percy since the aura disappeared from around him.
'What's the proof?"
Hades rolled his eyes but still complied. There wasn't an ounce of trust in kids these days. Nevertheless, he waved his hand again and sure enough, an image came to life that showed Sally and Persephone walking around the gardens that they had seen outside the palace gates with Grover and Annabeth standing beside the mortal protectively. Percy wasn't one to discourage others but he felt that it was unnecessary since those two didn't exactly have a chance against a goddess but the sentiment was there.
"Now that, we're done with that, can we move forward?"
"Why did you kidnap her?" Percy immediately asked.
"Humph. Can't we make this quick? Despite popular notion, I am quite certainly busy with managing this realm. You know how troublesome it is, dealing with some spirits?"
Percy didn't say anything but kept looking at Hades.
"Bah. Fine. Look kid, one of my symbols of power was stolen and so was Zeus'. Poseidon was the only one who had his. Then, we find out that Poseidon has had a kid who's grown up now and the Ancient Laws too are another thing. All the evidence pointed to you having the bolt and helm. I just wanted my stuff back and before you go yapping, this too is precious to me like your mother is to you. I just offered a trade. I did not plan on killing her or anything", Hades finally said.
"So if I return your helm to you, will you let my friends, mom and me leave alive?"
"Yes."
Just when Percy was about to reach into his inventory, a notification popped up on Percy's screen.
...
Ping!
Reminder!
Make Hades swear upon the Styx.
...
Percy didn't question this command since the Fates themselves had sent this message to Percy though he did make a mental note of asking them about this.
"Swear it on the Styx", Percy simply said.
Hades' expression changed from indifference to surprise before it was replaced by a mask of indifference once again.
"I swear on the Styx."
Percy winced when thunder boomed loudly overhead even though he was sure that there were no clouds in the Underworld to begin with.
"Any other questions?"
"None that I can think of", Percy replied.
"Fine. Now, my helm?"
Percy nodded and opened his bag, pretending to take the helm out of it. In reality, he was summoning it from inventory since he had kept it there for safekeeping. The moment Percy took out the keychain, it started glowing and pulsating. Hades reached his hand forward and the keychain immediately floated towards him and burst into light. Just as the light died down, Percy eyed the helm which was now in its original form and hummed with power as though it was content to be back with its master.
"Now, mind explaining how exactly were you able to steal this from the throne room of Olympus itself?"
"It would be hard to believe, but I didn't steal it."
"Then who did?"
"Luke Castellan, son of Hermes."
"Was that the brat who had a scar somewhere on his face?"
Percy nodded.
"Anyone else?"
"Ares is also involved."
At that, Hades eyes widened in shock.
"Do you have any proof?"
Percy nodded.
"It isn't much except for the fact that he handed me your helm in its keychain form as a pretext to finding his shield", Percy said. Percy again reached into his bag as he summoned the shield from his inventory and showed it to Hades. The lord of the dead took it from Percy's hand and inspected it closely.
"You're right, this is his shield. But that still doesn't prove anything. You could've stolen this also whilst you had taken my helm", Hades said.
Percy rolled his eyes. Seriously, was there no trust in this family?
"You can ask my friends. They were there with me when Ares handed us the keychain to find the shield. If you don't believe them, then that's your fault."
"Boy", Hades said in a warning tone, "don't you go about running your mouth in my domain. You'd be dead even before you blink your eye."
"Then why are you being such a jerk about this? What would I get from lying about another god being involved in a thing like this? Also, didn't you just care about your helm being returned? Why would you want to know all this?"
Hades regarded Percy quietly for a minute. Even though Percy was annoyed, he was still fearful about what might happen and for good reason. Imagine his surprise when Hades burst into laughter, greatly confusing the demigod.
"I like how you think Perseus. You clearly didn't get barnacle beard's brain. His only response would've been to spout nonsense or declare war."
"Umm thanks?"
"Don't thank me yet demigod. I'm assuming you have Zeus' bolt in your possession as well since both our weapons got stolen at the same time."
Percy could've lied but something told him that it was fine to trust the god with this so he simply nodded in the affirmative.
"Don't worry, I'm not power hungry like that idiot brother of mine. In fact, I'm glad you were honest with me about this."
This surprised Percy once again. What was going on? Was he dreaming? Wasn't Hades supposed to be evil and cruel? Why was he being so friendly and ... understanding?
Hades saw the look of disbelief on Percy's face and smiled inwardly.
"Go and take your mother with you. I don't hold any qualms with you anymore", Hades said and waved his hand.
'He is going to become strong in the future. He may just surpass a few of the Olympians themselves', Hades thought, 'He is a good lad. He has been respectful, honest and returned my helm without demanding anything else in return except for his mother. Almost no one would've let such a huge opportunity pass by but he did. I will keep a lookout for him in the future. He is easily my favourite nephew. Not that I have many to choose from", Hades chuckled.
Percy suddenly felt himself thrown upside down until he was back at the palace gates with his mother right in front of him with another lady standing beside her. Immediately, he ran towards his mother and engulfed her in an incredibly tight hug
"Mom, I'm so sorry", Percy started as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. It had been far too long since he had seen her and the emotions he had kept bottled up ever since that fateful day came pouring out.
"It's alright sweety, you did your best", the sweet voice of Sally rang out as she too hugged Percy tightly.
However, Percy kept repeating the same thing over and over whilst he cried. Sally simply held her son and kept rubbing his back until the son of Poseidon calmed down.
"It should've been me instead of you mom", Percy said as he wiped his eyes.
"No sweetheart, you're so precious, you have no idea. If I had to do this again in exchange for your safety, I wouldn't think about it twice. As long as you're fine, I don't care about anything else."
"I won't let this happen now. No one will dare to hurt you ever again. "
Sally simply smiled and engulfed her son in another hug.
"I'm sure you won't honey."
"My, what a touching scene. If only all men could learn something like this from their mothers, the world would be a better place", a voice suddenly rang out.
Percy turned around to look at the speaker. She was the one who was walking beside his mother. Percy recalled what Hades had told him and again, bowed his head in acknowledgement.
"Aunt Persephone", Percy said.
"My, your son is quite respectful Sally", the now named Persephone commented.
"I did my best to raise him to be a gentleman, I do hope I did a good job", Sally said.
"Of course you did. On top of that, he even made my husband laugh which is something that I never thought would happen in a long time. That is no easy task", Persephone said, "Moreover, he seems to be in a good mood now. I think I will go and extract some promises from him. Gods know when was the last time I got something I wanted without any argument. It was nice spending time with you Sally, keep visiting from time to time, just Iris message me and I'll drop by or have someone get you. I could use the company and I have a feeling, so could you. Later", Persephone said as she teleported away.
Percy immediately turned to his mother and started looking her over.
"Are you fine? Did anyone do anything to you? Did they treat you well", Percy rapidly fired.
Sally held Percy's face between her hands and turned him towards herself.
"Sweety, I am perfectly fine. Persephone made sure to look after me throughout my time here so you don't have to worry so much. Everything is alright. Now my question is, how do we get out of here?"
"With my help of course", a familiar voice called out from beside the duo.
Percy and the others turned their heads to look at the familiar face of Hecate in all her glory. She was dressed the same way as Percy had last seen her.
"Lady Hecate!", Annabeth exclaimed, "it is a surprise to see you here."
Hecate ignored her and turned her attention to Percy.
"Looks like you made it out alive. Well, since I'm feeling generous, I will help you out of here", she said.
"But how are you allowed in the Underworld? Doesn't a god need another god's permission to enter their territory?", Annabeth asked.
"Girl, I guided Demeter through the darkest night with my torches, helping her search for Persephone when she was kidnapped by Hades. It was because of me Demeter could find her way if not, Persephone would be lost to her so don't you dare keep asking me stupid questions daughter of Athena", Hecate said coldly as she glared at Annabeth.
Annabeth flinched under her gaze and turned deathly pale. Seeing her state, Grover quickly tried to change the topic.
"We will be grateful for your help Lady Hecate", he said even though he was shivering in fear.
Hecate just hmphed and nodded her head. She then snapped her fingers and suddenly the surroundings blurred and it felt as though the world had turned upside down. However, the feeling vanished as soon as it appeared.
Percy looked around only to find himself in a peaceful and dark world yet again. He knew the goddess wanted to talk to him about something otherwise he wouldn't be the only one but first he needed to make sure of one thing.
"Lady Hecate, I hope my mother and friends are fine", he said.
"Of course Perseus, don't worry", Hecate replied.
"So what can I do for you?"
"Remember my warning?"
"Yes, you had told me that Hades would test me."
"Well, I am quite surprised that Hades gave you an easy way through for proving yourself."
"What do you mean? I didn't find anything out of the ordinary even though I made sure to stay on guard."
Hecate smirked at that.
"We're gods and goddesses, boy. We've lived for thousands of years and we know how to get things done without the other noticing. Even though Hades has gained a reputation of being ruthless and cold, he is quite calculating and practical as compared to the others. Why don't you recall what you've done?"
Percy was taken aback for a moment before he gathered himself and thought about his time in the Underworld. First there was Charon, then the battle with the skeletons, meeting Cerberus and finally Hades himself. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary to him.
"I don't understand. Everything seemed normal", Percy finally said.
Hecate just smiled inwardly at that. Each moment with the demigod kept proving that her choice was indeed correct. While most would be boasting about their feats in the Underworld, Percy was simply clueless about it and didn't even acknowledge anything.
"The test with Charon was simply to see your wits as to how you apply yourself to certain conditions. The battle with the skeletons was to test your combat prowess, strategic thinking and your loyalty towards your friends. Finally, the incident with Cerberus was to see how well you can understand others and your compassion. Even though these were simple, these had a much deeper meaning that one could reckon. Truly, as expected of one of the big three."
"But isn't he supposed to be, I don't know, cruel?"
"He's practical. If you had given him a reason to be angry with you, well you can imagine what would happen next."
Percy just nodded dumbly. It was true because he did indeed almost piss off his uncle.
"Is there anything else, Lady Hecate?"
"Don't forget to give Zeus the Master Bolt."
Percy widened his eyes but Gamer's Mind calmed him down.
"What do you mean?" Percy asked. He tried to play dumb but alas, that won't work against someone who's thousands of years old.
"I looked at your destiny. At first it was normal but upon closer examination on one of them, I could see a touch of Fate to it. Now, in some circumstances it would've been normal but seeing how things are progressing at the moment, it was easy to deduct the path that was taken. So I know you have the Master Bolt Perseus and don't worry, I also know who's to blame."
Percy was out of words so all he could do was nod dumbly. The goddess in front of him was indeed more dangerous than some of the gods that he had met. He couldn't sense this kind of danger from Dionysus also even though he was an Olympian. He knew that the gods and goddesses couldn't be trusted but so far, except for Hestia, she was one who had given him some confidence. Percy did not easily trust people but he knew that even though she may have some agenda of her own, she was looking out for him as well since she did warn him about Hades beforehand even though he didn't realise it and got them to DOA Recording Studios. Now, she had also got them out of the Underworld. Based on all this, Percy decided to tell her the truth.
"You're right, Lady Hecate. I was blessed by the Fates with some powers."
Hecate smiled inwardly. Looks like he was truthful after all and was ready to face things head on. He just kept giving her more reasons to select him for what was to come soon.
"It's good. Use these powers to become stronger Perseus. I want you at your best and far better than what you are right now. Anyway, it's time for you to finish your quest. I'll take you to Olympus and help verify your story. Zeus doesn't trust people easily, not even his own family but he knows not to doubt my word. As for your friends and mother, they'll be at camp and a hotel respectively."
"Why's my mom in a hotel?"
"Do you want her back at the crime scene?" Hecate asked as she smirked at Percy.
Percy was taken aback momentarily but he shrugged it off. There was simply no point in being surprised anymore when it came to this goddess. She just somehow knew everything. So Percy just decided to drop the matter.
"Thank you Lady Hecate", he said as he bowed his head a little.
"Don't thank me yet demigod. You've got a long journey ahead, I'm merely helping you for now. You'd better not disappoint me", Hecate said.
Percy nodded his head in acknowledgement. He wanted to ask her more questions, but right now he needed to end this quest and spend time with his mom. The past few days had been troublesome to say the least, he just needed a little time off from things now. Moreover, he could always IM the goddess or pray to her. Who knows?
Hecate then snapped her fingers and once again, the world turned upside down. Percy closed his eyes since he was getting used to the feeling. Only when it went away, he reopened them. He gasped once he saw what was in front of him.
The place in front of him was, in short, a paradise, with golden palaces, parks, and bustling streets.
"Welcome to Olympus", Hecate said, "Come on, we don't have all day. We can go sightseeing later."
At that, Percy snapped from his gawking and nodded.
He followed Hecate as she started walking in a particular direction.
Percy kept looking all around him to see the city of gods. It was breathtaking to say the least. Words failed to describe how beautiful it looked. There were quite a few people around Percy which made him curious. He used Observe and was blown away by the different species present. He was surrounded by minor gods, nature spirits and others. He could never imagine something like this could ever exist.
They kept walking for a while until the crowd started thinning out. Soon, they reached another area which was even more beautiful than the area they passed. This had wider streets and humongous palaces made of varying materials. Each palace was different than the one next to it but they all radiated power and royalty.
Seeing the look on Percy's face, Hecate explained, "This is the area where the Olympians live. Naturally, they're the only ones here. Further up ahead, you will see the throne room where the council gathers for its meetings."
She pointed to a building in front and if possible, Percy was even more gobsmacked from its structure. In short, the throne room made the Grand Central Station look like a broom closet.
~Somewhere on Olympus~
A girl was walking through the streets of Olympus as she gazed at the different items being sold and the throng of people walking until she felt a familiar presence suddenly materialise. There was no mistaking it. The girl's face then broke into a huge and gorgeous smile.
She locked on to the aura and felt it move gradually. As soon as she deemed it was fairly alone, she disappeared from sight.
~With Percy and Hecate~
Hecate laughed at his reaction and was about to beckon him forward before she sensed a familiar aura nearby. She then turned towards it and sure enough, flames erupted randomly and out stepped a twelve year old girl with flaming eyes.
On the other hand, Percy saw the direction in which Hecate had turned suddenly so he too looked at the same place only to find a familiar figure walking towards him. The moment he saw her, Percy bowed his head completely and said, "Hestia."
"What did I say about all this Percy?", Hestia chided him.
Percy grinned sheepishly before he enveloped her in a tight hug making Hestia squeak in surprise.
"I missed you", Percy said as he hugged her. It was true, he missed the familiar warm embrace of one of the people who he treasured dearly.
Hestia, after the initial shock, recovered and hugged him tightly as well.
"I'm glad that you're safe", she said.
She disengaged from their hug and smiled once again as she saw Percy's eyes flash with their green flames briefly before they returned to normal.
"It looks like your quest was a success if you're here", Hestia said.
"Yes, it was. Lady Hecate also helped me a lot!", Percy said happily.
'Thanks for looking after him", Hestia said to Hecate mentally.
Hecate in turn nodded her head.
Hestia then turned towards Percy and said, "Tell me about your quest once you're done. I would love to hear about it."
"Yes!" Percy replied excitedly. Even though it had its complications, Percy still wanted to share everything with someone and naturally, the first person he thought about was Hestia.
"Come Perseus, let's go and wrap things up", Hecate said.
The trio then started walking towards the throne room.
As soon as they reached it, Hestia turned to Percy and said, "Percy remember to speak to them politely. Zeus has a temper and is easily offended. Just speak when necessary. I don't want anything to happen to you. Okay?"
"I won't", Percy replied.
Hestia smiled and then disappeared in a flash of flames which saddened Percy a bit. Hecate saw this and said, "this is just for appearances Perseus. You will understand this soon."
"As you say, Lady Hecate."
Hecate then snapped her fingers and the doors to the throne room started opening slowly. The moment Percy walked inside, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
Twelve thrones built for massive beings were arranged in an inverted U, just like the cabins at camp. An enormous fire crackled in the central hearth pit. The thrones were empty except for two at the end: the head throne on the right, and the one to its immediate left. Percy didn't have to be told who the two gods were since he had a good idea about them.
The gods were in giant human form which was easily more than ten feet. Zeus, the king of the gods, sat on a simple throne of solid platinum while the one sitting beside him was Poseidon who sat on a deep sea fisherman's chair. But what was prominent about it was the bronze glowing trident sticking from the holster nearby. Its aura seemed to draw Percy towards it until he snapped from his stupor. He then approached the two and bowed to Zeus and then Poseidon.
Percy's audience with the king of the gods had begun.
A/N
So things are a little peaceful for our favourite protagonist right now but they'll soon turn upside down. I wanted to get these meetings out of the way before we get on to the main course!
Do keep reviewing and following, it really helps!
Until next time.
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod
(gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. Blessed by Elpis, the spirit of hope, he has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes. He is also Hestia's champion which grants him control over fire and lets him summon meals.
...
Level - 15
Exp – 857 / 5,120
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HP : 800 / 800 (+ 2,000)
MP : 900 / 900 (+ 2,000)
...
STR : 23 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 18 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 18 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 22 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 18 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 16 (Bonus : +14% chance of better loot)
Points : 18
Money : $27,200 / D520
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Status : Demigod
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Skills
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Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 17)
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Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Tongue of the Old Times (Max)
Modern English (Level 25)
Swimming (Level 7 - 9 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Running (Level 7 - 34 km / hr)
Storms (Level 3)
...
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 6)
Critical Strike (Level 5)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 8)
Mage Armor (Level 5)
Summon Meals (Max)
Makarios tis Elpis (Level 2)
Battle Strategy (Level 5)
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Chores :
Cleaning Dishes (Max)
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Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
Battle Instincts (Max)
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Abilities :
Water Control (Level 17)
Water Spikes (Level 4)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 3)
Dimension Create (Max)
Ice Control (Level 4)
Steam Control (Level 3)
Fire Control (Level 8)
Chapter 15: Family Politics
Chapter Text
A/N
I honestly forgot to post in here. Will post weekly moving forward.
Disclaimer : I do not own PJO or any of its characters.
Chapter 15: Family Politics
"Lord Zeus", Percy said as he bowed. Zeus merely nodded his head in acknowledgement.
Percy then turned to Poseidon.
"Father", Percy said as he bowed again.
"Perseus, my son", Poseidon replied as he flashed a smile. This reassured the son of Sally Jackson as he too returned the smile. He wasn't nervous since Gamer's Mind ensured to keep his emotions under control but he still had several thoughts regarding his first meeting with his father. Even though he had held it inside, there were several scenarios ranging in his head from the most brutal ones to the most tender moments. Who could fault him? He was all but a kid whose father left shortly after he was born so naturally his imagination ran amok when he thought or dreamed about this. However, it looked like most of these were unfounded.
The brief father-son moment was interrupted by Zeus as his voice boomed through the empty room.
"Hecate, what are you doing here?" Zeus demanded.
Poseidon just rolled his eyes at that which made Percy snicker a little bit though he did hide it.
Instead of flinching like Percy expected, Hecate just gave Zeus a bored look while she kept her gaze locked onto the king of the gods.
"Lord Zeus", Hecate started as the first words dripped with sarcasm, "I am merely here to accompany and support Perseus in what's to come next. Nothing more, nothing less."
Instead of responding, Zeus simply hmphed and gestured to Percy to continue.
"You'd better have my bolt with you especially since you had the gall to walk into my throne room with a goddess with you. The only thing stopping me from smiting you from where you stand is your father at the moment so you'd better choose your next words wisely son of Poseidon", Zeus growled.
Just as he said that, the air around Percy started changing rapidly and he soon found it increasingly difficult to breathe. A notification too popped up which Percy hurriedly read and paled slightly before Gamer's Mind calmed him down.
...
Warning!
You're exposed to ozone. Consider shifting position quickly!
...
"Zeus", Poseidon warned.
Just as Poseidon said that, the air changed yet again and Percy was able to breathe properly.
Poseidon then turned to Percy with concern evident on his face, "Are you fine son?"
Percy smiled seeing the concern on his father's face. He nodded indicating that he was fine.
"Lord Zeus, I've come to give you your master bolt", Percy said as he reached into his backpack once again and summoned the bolt from his inventory. Thankfully, the bag was big enough to make it look like it was indeed inside and not in another dimension altogether, otherwise it would have spelled some major trouble for the demigod. Percy then took the bolt out which started cackling and vibrating more with each passing second.
On the other hand, the moment Zeus saw the bolt, he stuck his hand out and willed the weapon to return to him. The bolt immediately left Percy's hand and travelled to his. As soon as it made contact with his hand, it extended even further to Percy's amazement and easily accommodated Zeus' giant hand. It let out a few lightning bolts all around Zeus; the noise of which could be heard all over New York itself. Percy's ears ended up popping due to this whilst the other two gods remained unfazed. Apparently, they were quite used to this by now.
Hecate saw that Percy was in discomfort so she waved her hand a little and fixed his ears. Percy noticed the difference and immediately thanked Hecate mentally for it.
As soon as Zeus was done inspecting it, he turned his gaze towards Percy and pointed the bolt at him and charged it with his energy. Poseidon's eyes widened the moment he saw Zeus' action and teleported in front of Percy with his trident in hand.
"Zeus", Poseidon said with a dangerous edge to his voice, "Drop that bolt right now. Don't you dare try to harm my son."
At this proclamation, Zeus' eyes narrowed but he then relented as he put the bolt down, "You have caused countless arguments and discord in this council demigod. However, since you have returned this bolt to me, I will give you one chance to speak. If your reasoning is not up to par, I will smite you where you stand."
Poseidon didn't quite look satisfied with Zeus' explanation so he lifted his Trident and embedded the rear of it into the beautiful marble of the throne room, creating a huge crack. The trident then glowed and a light sea-green dome started constructing around Percy. Once it was done to Poseidon's satisfaction, the god walked back to his seat.
"Athena is so going to be after him now", Hecate commented off handily from Percy's side which made the latter's mouth twitch a little.
Percy then turned his attention back to Zeus and took a deep breath in before he recounted everything that had transpired ever since he started the quest. Throughout the instance, both brothers remained quiet except for asking one or two questions here and there. Percy had left out the part where he found the bolt and helm in Ares' shield since he thought he'd keep it for the end. Soon Percy reached the final part about Ares and Luke being the thieves. As soon as he said it, Zeus' aura flared.
"Son of Poseidon", Zeus growled in anger, "You'd better have some proof to support those accusations otherwise."
Percy gulped at the threat but steeled himself. Thankfully for him, Hecate decided to intervene at that moment.
"What he says is true Lord Zeus. I have been able to see his immediate past which showed me the events that transpired. I have also verified this information with his other quest members who told me the same thing about the shield and the keychain. There is no denying it", Hecate said.
"Boy, if you were saying this alone, I would hardly believe you. But with Hecate here, as much as it grates me to say this, I am inclined to believe you. She is someone who I have learned not to doubt too much in the past. Now, as for that traitorous son of mine, Hecate, call him and that son of Hermes right now. I will have them punished for their transgression", Zeus said menacingly at the end. His blue eyes started turning a darker shade and Percy could make out small lightning streaks dancing across them.
"Calm down brother, this is no time to act rashly", Poseidon interjected.
"So you will have them walk free with no repercussions Poseidon?" Zeus replied.
"Lord Zeus, why don't you call Lady Athena for this? She is most apt to deal with such things", Hecate suggested.
Zeus pondered this for a moment. Percy could see the virtual gears in his head click as the king realised the suggestion's worth.
"You make a good point Hecate. I will call her and have her plan for this", Zeus said. He then turned his attention to Percy and said, "You are absolved of this blame son of Poseidon. Further, you shall not speak of this incident with anyone, even your close friends until Athena comes with a plan and the situation is dealt with. I do not need to warn you of the consequences if you fail to do this."
"Watch your tone brother. He is my son", Poseidon said in a warning tone.
Zeus didn't say anything and simply vanished in a loud boom of electricity.
"Show off", Hecate sighed.
Percy, however, was not listening to her. He was in his own state of bliss to see the way his father stood up for him and the way he cared for him. Things couldn't get any better for him.
"Hecate, thank you for helping my son. You have my gratitude. Now, I'd like to have a moment with Perseus", Poseidon said.
Hecate understood his meaning and nodded her head. She then walked outside the throne room and waited for Percy only to find a pair of flaming eyes looking at her.
~Poseidon and Percy~
Poseidon got off his throne, shrunk his height and started walking towards Percy.
"My son", Poseidon said as he reached Percy and looked down on him with the most tender eyes.
"Why?" Percy whispered, "Why did you leave us?"
Poseidon's bright sea-green eyes started losing their color as it dulled.
"There are some laws even for us gods which we have to abide by Perseus. Your mother is a queen among women, leaving her and our son was probably the hardest thing that I have ever done. But I have watched over you all your life."
"Where were you when Gabe used to abuse mother or me huh? Where was that love and protectiveness?"
"..... ", Poseidon didn't have any words at that.
"Thought so", Percy said as he stared at his father. He could see the sadness in Poseidon's eyes since they too had changed colour depending on his mood; a trait Percy shared with his father. So it was easy for him to know. He then sighed.
~Camp~
As soon as the world stopped spinning, Annabeth and Grover opened their eyes only to find themselves in a familiar surrounding. They were back at Camp Half Blood and more specifically, the dining pavilion. It was lunch time and everyone had gathered around. However, the sight of the two demigods popping out of nowhere shocked everyone to their core. As soon as the campers recovered, they immediately left their food and started crowding around the duo and kept asking question after question until Chiron finally had enough.
"Enough", Chiron bellowed as he stomped his foot to bring some order, "I will speak to Annabeth and Grover in the big house, rest of you are dismissed." At that, the crowd started dispersing but there were still lots of curious eyes looking at the duo.
Annabeth flashed Chiron a grateful smile and then whispered to him, "where's Percy?"
"All in due time", Chiron simply said as he started walking away.
~Hecate~
Hecate walked out of the throne room and was immediately greeted by Hestia who seemed to have been waiting for her.
"How did things go?", Hestia asked worriedly, "Is Percy fine?"
"Things are fine. Zeus has cleared Percy's name, don't worry", Hecate replied calmly.
"That's great news!" Hestia exclaimed with a huge smile on her face.
"How come the sudden concern for him?" Hecate asked with a knowing smile.
"W-w-what do you mean? I have always been concerned for my family", Hestia replied with a growing red face.
"Percy seems to be receiving some special concern it seems."
"He's Poseidon's son. I don't have many nephews so of course I will be concerned for him!"
"So why does your 'nephew' have your aura mixed with his own so suddenly, patron?", Hecate asked slyly.
At that moment, Hestia knew that Hecate knew.
She sighed before she finally said, "I made him my champion because of how he is and what he stands for. I couldn't possibly find someone who's in sync with my domain as perfectly as he is."
"I understand what you mean. The boy clearly has what it takes. I just hope he is ready when the time comes."
"Now, tell me about Percy's quest. I would love to hear it from him but there are some things that I am sure he must've missed but you didn't Hecate. After all, you were watching over him throughout the time with the pretence that you needed to make sure that the Mist was working perfectly."
Now, it was Hecate's turn to be surprised.
"Just because I am not an Olympian doesn't mean that I am not in the know-how of things Hecate. I am the eldest of them all and know each and every one of them like the back of my hand. Now, start talking", Hestia said while smiling playfully.
Hecate could only nod before she recounted the events of the quest.
~Poseidon and Percy~
"Dad, thanks for today. Also, I want you in my life and mom also misses you a lot. I can't forgive you for not being there for us but we can start somewhere", Percy said.
This caused Poseidon's head to jerk up in surprise. He looked at Percy with widened eyes before he started smiling like a maniac. His sea-green eyes also started sparkling brightly. He then proceeded to engulf Percy in a tight hug.
Percy would've been surprised but Gamer's Mind kept him calm but it still didn't stop his brain from going blank from what was happening at the time. He had dreamt of this moment so many times since the past few years that he couldn't believe this was happening. Even though Percy had still not forgiven Poseidon, it did not stop him from hugging his father. The duo then shared a moment together before both pulled off of each other.
"Even though I wasn't there before, I intend to make up for it. Thank you for this Perseus", Poseidon said.
"Just call me Percy."
"Come on, it's time for you to go back to camp. I will visit you and Sally soon."
Just then Percy remembered something and told Poseidon about Gabe and what had transpired. He had also shown Poseidon Gabe's body. Predictably, Poseidon's aura flared with anger the moment he got to know about it and he vowed to speak to Hades about it. Poseidon also promised to get Sally a new place to stay. He knew that she would not accept a lavish place regardless of how much he would try so he'd get her a cozy place. With that done, both bid their farewell. Poseidon teleported back to Atlantis. He had even offered to drop Percy back to camp but the latter refused. He wanted to meet Hestia first after all.
As Percy was walking out, he opened the notifications that he had been ignoring all the time.
...
Ping!
Quest Completed!
Save Sally, find the Lightning Bolt and Helm of Darkness.
Rewards added.
Your mother is back and safer than ever.
Rule Breaker (tap for more information)
LUC: 16 + 10 = 26
XP: 857 + 5,000 = 737 / 6,141
Level Up!
HP: 800 + 50 = 850 / 850
MP: 900 + 50 = 950 / 950
Points 18 + 2 = 20
...
Percy looked at the rewards and was quite satisfied with them. He then tapped on Rule Breaker. He had never heard of such a weapon before.
...
Rule Breaker (Link: evil . fandom wiki /Rule _ Breaker)
A weapon that materializes the divinity of the witch of betrayal herself. It has the combat efficiency of a regular dagger, but it would not be suitable for killing a single person. However, its unique ability is that it is an anti-magic weapon capable of dispelling and destroying any kind of thaumaturgy. It is a blade of betrayal that will sever all connections between two people, as its name implies, breaking and therefore destroying every single rule that controls them.
Damage: 50
Bonus: Ability to dispel magic when in contact with it.
...
Percy was gobsmacked at that. This could work on Medusa! He could finally cure her and fulfil his promise to her! He quickly summoned the blade from his inventory and out came a beautiful dagger with the most unusual design Percy had ever seen. Its blade was made up of some kind of metal that Percy had never seen. It was purple in color with different colors going through it. It looked as though it was a galaxy in itself. The blade itself was in the shape of the letter z from the hilt with it pointing forward from the top. The handle too was ostentatiously decorated.
Percy had not realised that he had walked out of the throne room. He was only brought back when he heard a gasp. He turned towards the source, only to find Hestia and Hecate waiting for him. Hecate's eyes were glued to the blade in his hand whilst her mouth was open in abject shock.
"P-p-perseus, where did you get that weapon from?" Hecate stuttered.
Percy started dreading what he'd get to know next since apparently the dagger in his hand was enough to shock a goddess of all people. Not to mention that said goddess was one of the most calm and composed ones that he had come across. He then turned towards Hestia who had a look of horror on her face as well.
"Perseus, answer me", Hecate commanded in a startling cold voice which was a far cry from the way she talked to him.
Percy decided to answer honestly since she already knew about the blessing and if he didn't tell her, things won't turn out well for him.
"I got it as a reward for completing a quest", Percy said.
"Did the Fates give this to you?", Hecate hissed.
"Yes?" Percy said but it came more of a question since he wanted to know what exactly he was holding.
"Do you have any idea what that weapon is and its history?"
"No, all I know is that it is an anti-magic dagger which can sever connections between two people."
"Before I tell you its history, it's best you hide it and we talk someplace else. Olympus has many prying eyes and ears after all", Hecate said. Percy nodded and chucked it into his inventory, wanting to be as far away as possible from it.
Hecate then snapped her fingers and teleported them back to the familiar dark place.
"That dagger", Hecate started, "belonged to Medea. In a nutshell, she used to be the princess of Colchis who possessed the Golden Fleece. Jason, as you know, needed the Golden Fleece at that time. So, he decided to approach King Aeëtes of Colchis to ask for it. However, the king refused. Aphrodite, who was supporting Jason, decided to control Medea's mind to help him. Medea was made to blindly love Jason, which resulted in her betraying her father and her country for a foreigner she had never seen. Her abilities allowed her to nullify her father's magic and the enchanted fire-breathing oxen, which gave Jason the chance to obtain the Golden Fleece. This led to several more events which led Medea to betray one person after another right up until her death. This led to the dagger being called 'Rule Breaker'. Moreover, the weapon was imbued with a charm on it. The more it was used to sever connections, the more powerful it would become by using those very broken threads as its source. Due to this, the dagger's power kept on building up until the Olympians deemed it nearly a low class divine weapon and confiscated it from mankind in fear of what may transpire if it landed in the wrong hands. No one alive has seen that dagger since then except for Athena who was entrusted with it. Now, the Fates themselves have given you the very same dagger for some reason. Regardless of how much I want to take it back, I can't since this is the will of the Fates. No one, not even Zeus or Kronos could go against them."
She then looked Percy in the eye and said, "but you'd better make a promise to me Perseus Jackson and don't swear this on the Styx, I will tell you later. You will never use this weapon unless absolutely necessary and you won't tell anyone of its existence. There was a reason that it was wiped from history itself. If you betray my trust, death would be a sweet dream for you."
Before Percy could answer, the temperature around him suddenly spiked significantly. He knew the source of it. He turned to Hestia only to see her eyes full of flames change to a swirling inferno and boy did she look absolutely pissed.
"Hecate", Hestia started whilst trying to control her rage, "This is the first and the last time you will threaten my champion. Should I ever know of any such occurrence repeating, I will personally send you to the depths of Tartarus itself."
Hecate for her part was perfectly calm. She turned her attention back to Percy and said, "Well Perseus? What is your answer?"
"Of course Lady Hecate, I will never do such a thing. I promise", Percy replied quickly to avoid any unforeseen circumstances. He was never going to use the dagger as it is except for curing Medusa. Even though he was a kid, he knew that he could not be seen waving around a divine weapon like a toy or risk stabbing one of his friends with it. Knowing himself, he knew that he might just end up doing that, heck he could even end up stabbing himself with it by mistakenly.
Hestia was still seething in rage so Percy did the first thing that came to his mind. He engulfed her in a tight hug yet again and let his true eyes show; immediately, the sea-green flames in his eyes leapt to life and danced with mirth. He looked at Hestia and smiled at her and said, "It's alright Hestia, she was doing her duty. Don't worry too much."
At that, Hestia's expression started softening until the temperature dropped and returned to normal. Even her eyes returned to their original state.
"Sorry Percy, I just somehow got angry when she said that she will hurt my champion", Hestia apologised.
"it's alright Hestia, as long as you're with me, everything will be fine. I am sure of that", Percy replied happily, "Now come on, I want to tell you all about my quest."
Hestia nodded and flashed Hecate an apologetic look for her outburst. She knew that Hecate was doing it to make a point and ensure Percy's safety but truthfully, the mere thought of someone trying to hurt Percy was unbearable for her. Little did she know that she had started wanting and caring for the young godling more and more as time went by.
With that, Hecate snapped her fingers and teleported the duo out of the place.
'She cares for him more than she has for any other demigod. To think that one of the maiden goddesses herself would go so far for you Perseus. Logic really does go out of the window when you are involved. I think I have finally found a worthy disciple to train. Magic's only limitation is logic and imagination. Who else better to practice it than someone who defies the very concept itself?' Hecate thought. A rare smile graced her lips. She was looking forward to the future even more now.
~Camp~
Currently, Chiron, Annabeth and Grover were gathered in the big house. Annabeth was visibly annoyed whilst Grover was chewing on tin cans nervously as they gazed at their trainer who was calmly sitting in his chair. Annabeth had kept pestering Chiron about Percy's whereabouts only to receive the standard reply 'all in due time'. She had contemplated Iris Messaging Percy but Chiron had shot down the idea immediately without divulging any information yet again.
"Annabeth, Grover, tell me what all happened during the quest", Chiron finally said.
"First tell me where Percy is", Annabeth said as she glared at her mentor. Whilst this would intimidate most people, Chiron remained completely unfazed.
"He will be here in a while", Chiron finally said. He knew Percy was in Olympus since Hecate had told him that and asked him not to tell anyone about it. Except for that, he did not know anything else. He would have been worried but Hecate had reassured him that everything was fine. In most cases, he would not believe it but she was one of the few dependable gods out there so he believed her. Besides that, he knew that Annabeth could be headstrong about certain things when she was dead-set on it. So he gave the bare minimum to placate her but it didn't seem to work.
"But where is he Chiron?" Annabeth asked again.
"He is fine, Annabeth. Now, don't ask me the same question repeatedly because my answer is going to be the same", Chiron said with a tone of finality.
"Fine", Annabeth snapped. She then walked out of the big house leaving Grover and Chiron alone.
"C-c-chiron I am sure she did not mean any disrespect", Grover said. This was the first time he had seen her behave in this manner with Chiron which honestly shocked him. But he could understand her point of view also. She was worried about Percy so naturally having someone who knew the answers and not getting them frustrated her to no end. Moreover, he could perceive her emotions when it came to Percy, and all he could find was trust and care for the demigod. He had known her since she was 7 and never had he sensed this from her. This was the first time she had opened up to anyone after that disaster all those years ago. This made Grover want to do all he could for her. He owed her that.
"I know Grover but I have my reasons as to why I can't tell her", Chiron replied sadly.
"Now, mind telling me about the quest", Chiron asked.
"Sure", Grover replied as he launched into the tale.
~Hestia and Percy~
".... then we ended up jumping from the arc", Percy continued excitedly.
He was in the middle of telling Hestia all about his quest. Even though Hestia had taken detailed information about it from Hecate, it did not stop her from asking Percy about it as well. This would also let her spend some more time with him. It had only been a few days but it felt like months for Hestia. During the short time he had spent at camp before the quest, the pair used to spend a lot of time together and as such, it was Hestia's favourite part of the day. She used to look forward to it every day and since it had stopped due to Percy's quest, her evenings had gotten lonely. Hestia then shook her head and cleared those thoughts. It did not matter to dwell on it anymore since Percy was back safe and that was all that mattered to her at the moment.
They were currently sitting in the gardens of Hestia's palace on Olympus. Her palace was like an oversized home if Percy had to describe it aptly. The gates were always open and the path to the main door was covered in beautiful arches of grass with a plethora of flowers blooming. On either side of the path were lush green fields occupied by quite a few animals. Some were lazing around while some played and others grazed. The sun shone brightly but it was warm, not scorching; it was the perfect weather to laze around or have a picnic so that was what they were doing at the moment. Percy had not yet entered Hestia's palace but he was sure that it would exude a homely feeling regardless of how it was decorated.
Percy then suddenly stopped as he realised something that he had forgotten about.
"Hestia, can you please take me to Medusa? I have to keep my promise to her!" he excitedly said with a huge smile on his face. This made Hestia smile warmly. He really had not forgotten his promise after all.
"Of course Percy", she replied.
Hestia then touched his shoulder and teleported right in front of Aunt Em's.
"Thank you Hestia!" Percy exclaimed. He gave her another hug and rushed inside the door without a second's thought. This made Hestia sweat drop a bit. Even though he was intelligent and had good instincts, he was far too reckless at times. Point in case, him rushing inside the lair of one of the most feared monsters in Ancient Greece.
In his excitement, Percy slammed open the door with a loud thump. Immediately, a voice shouted from somewhere, "Who dares to enter this place?"
"Medusa!" Percy shouted back with eagerness.
There was a short pause before the voice replied back a little unsure, "Percy?"
"Yes! I finally found something that can work on your curse!", Percy replied. He was visibly running around the place trying to find her.
"WHAT?!" Medusa screamed. She all but teleported right in front of the son of Sally Jackson.
"That can't be possible. How were you able to find a cure in a few days? I have searched for thousands of years but I couldn't find anything. You'd better not be lying about something like this Percy", Medusa said as a few tears started making their way down her eyes which were still covered with shades.
Hestia had shortly followed inside and stood undetected nearby; keeping watch over Percy in case something went awry. She also wanted to see how things would pan out since she was curious to see the dagger in work. It had been a while since she saw it after all.
"Do you remember I swore an oath for this? So why would I joke or lie about it?" Percy said seriously.
This left Medusa dumbfounded for a moment. She knew Percy was different from the rest but thousands of years of betrayal couldn't possibly be wiped out in a few days. Could it?
"You're right, forgive me for doubting you Percy", Medusa replied earnestly with an apologetic smile.
"That's alright!" Percy grinned.
"Now, why don't you show me what you've got?"
Percy then opened his bag and pretended to search for the dagger inside. In reality, he was just summoning it from his inventory since it was basically one of the most secure places considering the fact that the Fates themselves had given it to him.
"Aha!" Percy exclaimed. He then brought out the dagger to show to Medusa.
The moment Medusa's eyes landed on the dagger, there was a brief period of confusion before realisation dawned in. Her eyes widened to the size of saucers and her jaw dropped in shock. She shakily raised a hand and with trembling fingers pointed at the dagger.
"W-w-w-where d-d-did you get th-that?" she managed to stutter.
"Is that important?" Percy asked.
"Of course it is. If the gods find out that you have it, you'll be in huge trouble. Are you stupid Percy?" Medusa screamed.
Hestia was briefly taken aback from the care she just displayed for him. This was something new. She had never seen Medusa or any other monster ever care for someone else so seeing this really made her heart swell with pride after all, he was her champion.
Hestia decided to intervene then since Percy might just need the support.
"It is quite alright that he has it Medusa", Hestia announced as she stepped out of the shadows.
Medusa's head snapped towards Hestia's direction. The moment her eyes landed on Hestia's form, a frown appeared on her face. But it disappeared the next moment as soon as she noticed the flaming eyes. Medusa then quickly knelt on the floor to pay respect to the goddess. She knew that there was no point in trying to fight or do anything since it would end badly for her. Also, if there was a small chance, a tiny speck of it, that the curse could be lifted, she would take it without a moment's hesitation.
"Lady Hestia", Medusa said in a flat tone.
"Rise", Hestia said.
Medusa stood up and then asked, "What do you mean Lady Hestia? Was Percy given this dagger by the gods?"
"Something like that. However, very few know about it and as such, you need to promise not to reveal it to anyone. I hope you won't betray my trust", Hestia said. She didn't give out all the information but only enough that would help Percy's case.
"I promise, Lady Hestia."
"Hestia, why not swear on the Styx?" Percy asked. Back with Hecate also, she had asked him not to do that and didn't explain it later.
"Because once you make an oath on that river, the deity gets to know about it since its domain is for oaths. So if you swear not to reveal about the dagger, Styx will know about it and might just end up informing someone about it which in turn would cause huge troubles for you. Whilst the former is a better way, the current one is based on mutual trust only", Hestia explained.
Meanwhile, Medusa was staring at Percy in shock. First, he had somehow been able to withstand her gaze. Next, he was able to get one of the very few weapons capable of releasing her from this curse, not to mention said weapon was at a divine level. To top the cherry on the cake, he was now calling the eldest of the children of Kronos by her name as though she was his friend. What was even going on in this world? After whacking her brains for a few seconds she just decided to give up. There was no logical explanation for these things so it was best to just take it in stride and not worry about the how.
"Huh, I see. I will definitely remember this", Percy said.
He then turned to Medusa and asked her the one question that she had been dying to hear ever since that gods forsaken day. The most painful day of her life.
"Do you want me to lift the curse?"
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod
(gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. Blessed by Elpis, the spirit of hope, he has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes. He is also Hestia's champion which grants him control over fire and lets him summon meals.
...
Level - 16
Exp – 737 / 6,141
...
HP : 850 / 850 (+ 2,000)
MP : 950 / 950 (+ 2,000)
...
STR : 23 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 18 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 18 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 22 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 18 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 26 (Bonus : +14% chance of better loot)
Points : 20
Money : $27,200 / D520
...
Status : Demigod
...
Skills
...
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 17)
...
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Tongue of the Old Times (Max)
Modern English (Level 25)
Swimming (Level 7 - 9 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Akachan Shiru no Me (Max)
Running (Level 7 - 34 km / hr)
Storms (Level 3)
...
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 6)
Critical Strike (Level 5)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 8)
Mage Armor (Level 5)
Summon Meals (Max)
Makarios tis Elpis (Level 2)
Battle Strategy (Level 5)
...
Chores :
Cleaning Dishes (Max)
...
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
Battle Instincts (Max)
...
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 17)
Water Spikes (Level 4)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 3)
Dimension Create (Max)
Ice Control (Level 4)
Steam Control (Level 3)
Fire Control (Level 8)
Chapter 16: Friends and Foes
Chapter Text
A/N
Sorry?
Disclaimer : I do not own PJO or any of its characters.
Chapter 16: Friends and Foes
Medusa nodded her head vigorously with tears in her eyes. She could not open her mouth in fear that she would break down if she dared to utter a word or the dream would go away. If this was a dream, she never wanted to step out of it.
Percy smiled brightly at that before his face took on a look of seriousness.
Seeing his expression change suddenly, Hestia asked quickly, "What happened Percy?"
Percy turned to Hestia and replied, "I don't know how to use this."
At that, Hestia's face showed a myriad of emotions from confusion to realisation to acceptance and finally laughter. She burst into a fit of laughter since she couldn't believe that this was actually happening. She hadn't laughed this hard since a long while so it was quite refreshing for her. Even Medusa banged her head on the wall; silently cursing her luck and her saviour.
Percy was extremely confused when he saw Hestia laughing. He tilted his head slightly only for Hestia to squeal a little internally due to how cute he looked.
She then recomposed herself before she replied, "You just need to connect with the dagger first. Once you do that, will it to use its special powers and you'll know what to do next."
Percy nodded at that. He closed his eyes and felt the dagger in his hand. Initially, there was nothing until he felt an aura starting to generate from it. It was small and easy to miss but Percy sensed it and held on to it. Slowly and surely, the aura started to grow then until he felt the strings of the rope of connection starting to move towards him. There were quite a few of them but he only felt two or three strands attach to his being, the rest had surrounded him but didn't make any move. He tried to connect with them but whenever he did, they simply moved away. This happened for a few times until Percy gave up. He'd speak to Hestia about it later. He then used the strings attached to him to call for its powers. However, the input he got was something that he was not simply prepared for. He would've stood shocked if not for Gamer's Mind. The amount of power flowing through the weapon was far beyond what he felt from Riptide currently. Percy's body slowly started tiring and the dagger getting heavy.
"Percy do it quickly, your body won't be able to handle the dagger much longer. Medusa, get down on your knees so that it will be easy for Percy", Hestia's voice suddenly called out.
Medusa did as she was told. Percy too immediately snapped his eyes open and looked at Medusa or more specifically the place above her head. There were a cluster of strings which were connected to her and extended upwards with no end in sight. He then walked up to her and slashed at one of the strings but the blade bounced back simply. To someone else, it would look like he had hit an invisible wall which wasn't exactly far from the truth. Percy then had an idea and found the thinnest string from the cluster and started to cut it. It was slow but it was getting the job done. He stopped suddenly when he heard Medusa cry out in pain.
Hestia was beside her in a flash. She then said, "Cutting strings that tie two people together is a painful process for the one who wants it done. Don't worry Percy, keep going. You need to finish this process." Hestia's hands then glowed as she started using her powers to make Medusa feel better.
Percy too started cutting the strings as fast as he could. He went from the thinnest to the thickest. With every string he cut, the dagger glowed a little until he reached the thickest string yet which was the first one he tried. He moved to cut it only to find the dagger cut through it like a hot knife through butter. As soon as It was done, Percy willed the dagger to stop using its powers and collapsed on the ground. He was sweating profusely and tired out to another extent. He then turned to Medusa whose screams had subsided. She was drenched in sweat and tears from the excruciating pain.
"Did… did.. it work?", Medusa asked slowly.
"Give it a moment, the effect should start taking place any time now", Hestia said as she stepped away from Medusa. She then summoned some water and handed it to Percy who nodded gratefully. He gulped the whole thing down and sighed in content. He already started feeling a little better.
"It's starting", a familiar voice rang out from behind Percy.
"Lady Hecate, what are you doing here?", Percy enquired. He did not expect to see the goddess so soon.
"I felt the dagger being used since I am connected to it in a way. And of course, we have to shroud this fact from Athena lest she gets to know about this. As it turns out, this is up my alley."
"Thanks, Lady Hecate."
Hecate nodded and then snapped her fingers. Immediately a translucent barrier surrounded the four of them. She then waved her hand until the area above the barrier was shrouded in complete darkness.
"The barrier is for cancelling out any noises and above it is an illusion in case Athena feels something is amiss", Hecate explained.
Just then Medusa who had been silent, started screaming in pain. Tears fell from her eyes uncontrollably as she thrashed around, grabbing her head. Percy went to console her but Hecate held him back.
"This is the most important part of the process. The curse has been for millennia and thus became a bit powerful. It will be painful but if she can withstand it, the curse will disburse but not entirely", Hecate explained.
Percy could only nod in sadness as he saw Medusa crying in pain. Hestia was doing her best to make things easier but there was nothing that could be done about the pain.
After a few minutes, Medusa's screams died down and was replaced with whimpers. Just then, a bright light originated from her and kept increasing in intensity until it died down. When Percy looked at Medusa, he was awestruck. The reptilian hair was now silky black and reached till her waist, her dead eyes gained a light to them. The previous aged skin was now smooth and looked like that of a young adult in her early 20s rather than an old woman's. Her gown was gone and was replaced with a Greek chiton. Her figure was curvaceous with a large chest and slender waist. She practically radiated beauty.
Medusa wiped her tears and looked at the three who were regarding her.
"What happened?", she asked, completely oblivious to her new appearance.
Instead of answering, Hecate just summoned a mirror. When Medusa's eyes landed her own appearance, she was confused for a moment before she yelped in surprise and happiness. She started touching her hair and face and inspected herself thoroughly from each angle in the mirror all the while sporting a huge smile on her face. When she was satisfied, she turned to Percy and engulfed him in a tight hug.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for this Percy", Medusa said with tears of happiness flowing down her face, "No one has ever done as much as you have done for me today. I cannot ever begin to tell you how thankful and grateful I am to you. This is the best thing that has ever happened to me."
"I am glad", Percy replied happily.
"Medusa, let me warn you about something", Hecate interrupted.
Seeing that Hecate was serious, Medusa turned towards the goddesses to listen to what she had to say.
"The curse hasn't gone completely since it has been with you for hundreds of years but don't worry. There is no drawback, you can use the powers to petrify people as per your own wish and you are essentially immortal."
"Thank you Lady Hecate", Medusa replied as she bowed her head. She knew deep down that the curse would truly not go but this was also a good thing since she could defend herself if needed. She would not be at another person's mercy entirely and could live a better life from now on.
"You should thank Perseus for this, not me. Let's talk later Perseus", Hecate said before she vanished as soon as she had appeared. The barriers too disappeared now that the job was done.
"Medusa, are you fine living over here?", Hestia asked. Even though she was a familial goddess, she didn't go out of her way for everyone but since Medusa had taken a liking to her champion and vice versa, she would help out.
"Yes Lady Hestia, I am perfectly safe in this place. Thank you for your consideration", Medusa replied happily.
"Percy, let's go back to camp if you don't have anything else left to do. You still need to take care of things there, Annabeth and Grover might be worried out of their minds", Hestia said.
"Yes!", Percy exclaimed. He then turned to Medusa and said, "I will keep visiting you whenever I can!"
"You better", Medusa said as she gave her saviour one final hug. The duo then bid their farewell and vanished, leaving the place empty again.
Medusa looked at herself in the mirror as a smile graced her lips, 'I've already started liking the kid more. He has returned to me the most important thing without any ulterior motives and achieved the impossible. I might just go after him once he has grown up", she thought.
~Percy and Hestia~
Percy and Hestia reappeared in front of the Fist of Zeus. It was almost time for dinner now. Percy could hardly believe so much time had passed so quickly. He then noticed the notification that had popped up.
...
Ping!
Quest Complete!
Cure Medusa from her curse.
Rewards –
A new friend / ally.
...
Percy smiled at that and swiped the screen away. A bit of XP would've been great but since it was for a good cause, he didn't mind this.
"Percy, did you have any trouble using the dagger?", Hestia asked suddenly.
"Yes, is it normal?", Percy asked.
"For normal weapons, you don't need such an intricate process. However, since the dagger is a divine weapon, you cannot connect to it immediately. The dagger itself has to accept you before you can use it to its full potential. It might have seen something in you hence you were able to use it otherwise no one can even wield it."
Percy nodded at that. He remembered the strings that kept avoiding him. It made sense now. He hoped he would be able to use it later if the occasion called for it. He was not going to waive this dagger around and end up cutting connections between people by mistakenly. As of now, it was safely stored in his inventory. Percy then had another thought, he should start learning how to use daggers since it might come in handy in the off chance he didn't have his sword and who better than the children of the god of war? Even though their father was a textbook jerk, it did not mean his children would be the same. Correction, some of them were but once he beat them in training, most of them fell into line.
Hestia then hugged Percy and breathed a sigh of relief, "I'm so glad that you came back safe and sound Percy. I missed spending time with my champion."
"I'll always come back to you Hestia", Percy replied. The fire in his eyes was dancing with mirth and exuded a warmth that couldn't be explained; only felt. Hestia had never felt this sort of comfort before so she just basked in it and enjoyed this feeling.
"Go back to camp now Percy, your friends and Chiron would be waiting for you", Hestia said as she reluctantly disengaged from the hug.
"I'll see you tomorrow!", Percy exclaimed as he ran back to camp.
Hestia was a bit sad to see him go but he was back and she would get to meet him tomorrow. With that happy thought in mind, she vanished with a burst of flames.
~Camp~
Dinner was being served by the time the son of Poseidon entered camp proper. The pavilion was crowded with the usual hustle bustle and chatter going on all around the place. As soon as Percy entered the pavilion, a hush fell all over the place. Everyone stared at Percy and suddenly hushed conversations started breaking out all around him. Percy didn't really mind since he was used to it. He quickly walked to his table where he was served dinner. He proceeded to the hearth for the customary ritual. The first offering went to Hestia, followed by Poseidon and finally Hecate. He was extremely grateful to all three of them for being there for him especially Hestia and Hecate. Just as he was done, he noticed Chiron walk up to him along with Annabeth and Grover.
"Hey", Percy said with a smile.
"And he says hey. Is that all seaweed brain?! Do you have any idea how worried all of us were? Where the Hades were you? Imagine our surprise when we land at camp only to find out that a goddess has kidnapped you. Chiron won't give me any answers and wouldn't allow us to leave. Just.. just who do you think you are?", Annabeth yelled whilst stuttering a little at the end. Percy knew that voice very well when someone was about to break down. He was at that place with Gabe after all when he tried to be strong in front of his mom.
So Percy did what he would've needed the most in such a situation. He simply hugged her and sent waves of hope and warmth using his new found powers. He was still rusty but it did get the job done for now.
...
Skill activated!
Makarios tis Elpis
...
Annabeth was surprised initially but she ended up hugging Percy back and sighed in content. The familiar smell of the ocean and the warmth he exuded calmed her nerves. What Percy said next sent her over the cliff though.
"I won't leave you alone wise girl. I'll always have your back."
Even though his words were nothing but sincere, Annabeth's heart leapt out of her body and she started blushing madly. Thankfully, she was still in his embrace otherwise she'd have to take some drastic measures to make everyone forget about this.
"Don't ever do that again", she whispered. Percy didn't say anything but she felt him smile in response which answered her question. Only after this happened did she realise that the entire camp was silent and staring at the two of them.
That was until Connor had to open his mouth, "Yeah Annabeth, way to go! Going after one of the biggest taboos in the Greek world! A son of Poseidon and a daughter of Athena!"
Immediately the atmosphere changed to that of laughter and happiness. A few Athenian kids had taken up a personal mission to beat the daylights out of Connor for the comment. Even though they had started respecting Percy a bit, they still had an image to uphold.
Things returned to normal after that, no one asked Percy about his disappearance and even Annabeth was content for now though that didn't stop her from threatening him to spill the beans the next day at the head councillor's meeting.
Once dinner was over, Percy quietly slipped from sight and walked back towards the Fist of Zeus in the woods. It was possibly his favourite spot by now since he and Hestia had spent quite a bit of time there training, talking or just sitting together.
Just as he entered the woods, Percy felt something was off. It wasn't something bad but the forest seemed different than how they were when he was with Hestia before. Somehow, it felt as though the forest had come alive now. Percy closed his eyes and truly felt his surroundings. The sounds seemed to be coming from a particular direction. This piqued Percy's curiosity so he headed towards the source.
Percy eventually reached a part of the forest and the sight made his breath hitch. A figure clad in dark clothes was sitting in the middle of a clearing surrounded by various animals. It held a doe in its arms as it petted it. The figure's features weren't visible due to its clothes. Meanwhile, the moonlight shone brightly as though it was specially concentrated at that area. It was truly a peaceful sight but there seemed to be a sense of melancholy in the air. Upon closer inspection, Percy could see that the animals were sitting in a protective circle around the figure whilst their off-spring cuddled against the figure. Percy wanted to know who it was but it felt it would be wrong to encroach upon such a place.
Percy stood for a moment before he turned around and walked off towards his original destination. Once again, as he walked, his path was cut off by another figure clad in darkness. It wasn't the previous one since something felt off about this one.
"Perseus", the figure said.
Percy's eyes widened in realisation and his eyes burst into flames but Gamer's Mind clamped down the anger immediately.
"You", Percy growled with venom seething in his words.
The figure took off its hood to reveal the head of the skeleton Percy had encountered in the Underworld.
"Yes Perseus, it's me. How was that little quest of yours? I heard you were able to return the bolt. It makes me so proud and happy to know how capable you are though you still have to grow stronger. This won't work at all."
"Your happiness doesn't mean anything to me. Why are you here? Was the Underworld not enough for you?"
"To congratulate you of course. I want to make you grow stronger. My offer still stands you know?"
"Never. I will never join you", Percy growled.
"Tsk. Such a shame. Want to see how weak you really are?", just as the skeleton asked that, it leapt at Percy as a sword materialised in its hands.
Percy was able to keep calm thanks to Gamer's Mind and rolled out of the way. He pulled out Anaklusmos from his inventory and charged at the skeleton.
...
Skill Activated!
Battle Strategy (Level 4 – 12%)
...
They exchanged some blows with Percy giving it his all whilst the skeleton hardly broke a sweat.
"Is this how you are going to make your moves son of Poseidon?", it mocked.
"Shut up", Percy growled.
He summoned water from the nearest source of water and dumped a little of it on top of him, turned the rest into spears and hurled them at the skeleton. He also activated Mage Armor just in case.
...
Skill Activated!
Mage Armor
HP : 850 + 250 = 1,100
..
Ping!
Son of the Sea god perk activated!
HP : 1,100 + 2,000 = 3,100
MP : 950 + 2,000 = 2,950
STR : 23 + 2 + 20 = 45
VIT : 18 + 20 = 38
DEX : 18 + 2 + 20 = 40
..
Ping!
Water Spears : 10
MP used : 49 x 10 = 490
MP : 2,950 – 490 = 2,460
...
The skeleton just deflected the oncoming spears with pinpoint accuracy and spectacular form.
Damage : 0
Percy gritted his teeth in annoyance. He could not find any openings nor did any of his attacks seem to work.
"What happened Perseus? Giving up already?", it mocked. Unbeknownst to Percy, the skeleton had actually cast a strong spell that amplified the emotions of the target by a hundred fold at the start of the fight and erected a barrier to delay the figure that had heard the commotion. This also affected the Gaming System since it was not programmed to deal with such a high influx of emotions. Even though Gamer's Mind was working overtime to calm down Percy, it was a losing battle.
Percy didn't reply and kept attacking. His swordplay got sluggish until he overstepped a thrust which the skeleton conveniently used to stab Percy. It wasn't a fatal blow but it hurt nonetheless.
HP : 3,100 – 3,000 = 100
Percy cried out in pain. He glanced at the box and looked at it in fear. One strike and he had practically lost all of his health! Just who was this person?
"Perhaps I was wrong about you. Perhaps you don't have what it takes. Why don't I take away something precious from you so that you fall into the bliss of revenge Perseus huh? That should provide enough motivation for you to get stronger in order to kill me. Yes, that is it", the skeleton said as it started laughing maniacally.
At that, Percy finally snapped and let out a howl of anger. His eyes turned into pits of flames which blazed like an inferno and a familiar sea-green aura surrounded him.
"DON'T YOU DARE", Percy screamed as he leapt at the skeleton again despite bleeding. The water he had dumped over himself had started healing him little by little but the quantity wasn't enough to close the wound.
This made the skeleton laugh even harder, "Yes, yes son of Poseidon, show me that anger. Show me that power and aura lying dormant within you. Use it. Use it to defeat me. Show me that vow that you had taken when we met in the Underworld."
Percy's attacks had started becoming more ferocious and his speed faster. The entire area's temperature had risen significantly. Even Anaklusmos had caught fire and looked like a beautiful blade of death as it cut through the air at breakneck speeds.
However, all of this was for naught since the skeleton was able to keep on defending until it suddenly broke away from Percy.
"Oops, looks like my time here is up. I wish we could have more fun but alas, I do hope to meet you soon Perseus", it said with honesty before it vanished from sight.
As soon as it disappeared, Percy yelled in frustration and anger and stomped his foot on the ground, causing it to shake.
...
Ping!
Inherited skill unlocked!
Earth Shaker (Level 1: Magnitude 1)
As the son of the Earth Shaker, you have the ability to cause large scale earthquakes. Magnitude depends on the power used.
...
Percy paid no heed to it and dismissed it. Just then he started feeling heavy as the adrenaline coursing through his body left him. He was down on his knees by now and the last thing he heard was glass shattering and two people running up to him before his vision turned dark.
~Dreamscape~
Percy found himself in the familiar void filled with stars. He was still amazed by the view no matter how many times he saw this space. He instinctively looked over his body to check for the stab wound but found none, even the pain was gone.
"Welcome back, demigod", the sweet voice rang out once more from all around Percy, "I congratulate you for finishing the quest, quite nicely done as well."
"Why can't people stop congratulating me about it? I just returned that dumb bolt to Zeus which I got by luck. I don't think I would've found it otherwise", Percy replied while sighing. This was seriously getting on his nerves now.
The voice laughed a little at that, "Many would be singing this tale from the top of palaces but not you. You are an interesting one son of Poseidon. Now, how about a second dive to the past? It's been a while and you still need to learn."
"Do I have any choice?"
"Not really, no. Well, have fun!", the voice said before Percy felt himself falling once again.
'Give me a break', was all that Percy thought before he was blinded by the light yet again.
~Woods near Camp Half Blood~
Hestia was holding an unconscious Percy with his head on her lap and body on the forest floor. She was lightly dripping some nectar in his mouth from time to time whilst feeding warmth and hope into his very being. The wound had almost healed now but a scar would be left behind which saddened Hestia. Only if she was there earlier.
Due to their connection as patron and champion, she had felt a sudden spike in Percy's emotions and knew when he got wounded too. That's when she teleported to his location only to find out that she could not go near him due to a barrier being erected around him. It would've taken her a longer time if she did not have help from the figure Percy saw in the forest.
Hestia was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard her niece speak.
"Aunt Hestia, mind explaining why a son of Poseidon has eyes of fire like yours, is able to wield fire and has your symbol tattooed on his arm (Ch 7)?", a female draped in dark clothes asked as her silver eyes narrowed in suspicion.
A/N
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter!
Review & Follow!
Until next time.
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod
(gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. Blessed by Elpis, the spirit of hope, he has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes. He is also Hestia's champion which grants him control over fire and lets him summon meals.
…
Level - 16
Exp – 737 / 6,141
…
HP : 850 / 850 (+ 2,000)
MP : 950 / 950 (+ 2,000)
…
STR : 23 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 18 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 18 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 22 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 18 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 26 (Bonus : +14% chance of better loot)
Points : 20
Money : $27,200 / D520
…
Status : Demigod
…
Skills
…
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 17)
…
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Tongue of the Old Times (Max)
Modern English (Level 25)
Swimming (Level 7 - 9 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Akachan Shiru no Me (Max)
Running (Level 7 - 34 km / hr)
Storms (Level 3)
Earth Shaker (Level 1)
…
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 6)
Critical Strike (Level 5)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 8)
Mage Armor (Level 5)
Summon Meals (Max)
Makarios tis Elpis (Level 2)
Battle Strategy (Level 5)
…
Chores :
Cleaning Dishes (Max)
…
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
Battle Instincts (Max)
…
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 17)
Water Spikes (Level 4)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 3)
Dimension Create (Max)
Ice Control (Level 4)
Steam Control (Level 3)
Fire Control (Level 8)
Chapter 17: The Owl, the Deer & the Donkey
Chapter Text
Disclaimer : I do not own PJO or any of its characters.
Chapter 17: The Owl, the Deer and the Donkey
Hestia laughed nervously as she was still being glared by a pair of silver eyes. She didn't see a reason to lie since she was rather proud of her champion and would be happy to tell the rest of the world about it. She just didn't tell anyone for Percy's safety.
"Swear on the Styx that you won't tell anyone unless I say so", Hestia said. She knew she could trust her niece but she needed the assurance.
"I swear on the Styx", said niece replied as thunder boomed in the background.
"He's my champion", Hestia then said simply.
Artemis blinked once. Then twice. She was trying to process what she heard was right.
"WHAT?!", Artemis exclaimed, "Did you just say that this boy is your champion?!"
"Yes, what's wrong with that?"
"You have never had a champion in all these years. NEVER. But now you suddenly have one. Forgive me for being surprised and cautious. Are you sure he is not holding anything over you aunt? If so, tell me and I will slaughter him for you."
"You will do no such thing Artemis", Hestia said as her eyes blazed; surprising her niece. Artemis had hardly ever seen Hestia like this. Sure, she was protective of her family but she had seldom seen this side of her. For her to actually lash out meant that the boy meant a great deal to her.
"What is so special about this boy aunty? He's just another male and add on the fact that he is the son of Poseidon will just make him more cocky almost like all his sons before", Artemis spat in disgust particularly towards the end of the sentence as an image of a particular boy crossed her mind momentarily.
"He noticed and spoke to me at the campfire on the first day he came to camp."
That shut Artemis for a moment. No demigod had ever been able to sense or see Hestia due to her requirements. Only those who had a great sense of loyalty for family and a pure heart could ever meet the goddess at the camp. Hestia had set this up herself ever since the Olympians came to power and the gods started birthing demigods. To add fuel to the fire, she was the eldest child of Kronos making her much more powerful than most Olympians. If this boy was able to meet her meant that he passed her test without even realising it. Artemis also knew that Hestia wouldn't lie about something this big. Despite how much she wanted to deny this fact, the truth was, Artemis couldn't.
Finally Artemis said, "But that doesn't mean he has the right to be your champion." She wanted to know what caused Hestia to make him her first champion ever. Artemis loved her aunt dearly and so she always looked out for her. This was one of those times.
"I spent a lot of time with him", Hestia said as she brushed Percy's hair, "I observed everything about him from the way he was alone to the way he interacted with others. There was never any ulterior motive for anything he did. He just did what was right and cared for those around him. He thought he 'lost' his mother but when he got to know she was alive, he went to the Underworld itself just to get her back. Where do you see this kind of loyalty and love Artemis? Have you ever seen any 12 year old go to such lengths for those that he/she loves?"
Artemis was silent for a moment as she weighed what Hestia had just said. She couldn't deny what Hestia said since there were very few in history who did something so bold for those they loved. However, this one thing wouldn't change her view of Percy immediately. Decades of seeing men act the way they did towards women ingrained lots of suspicions in her mind when it came to the opposite gender.
Seeing the thoughtful look on Artemis' face, Hestia said, "Give him a chance Artemis and get to know him. You will see that I am not wrong."
Normally, Artemis wouldn't listen to anyone or place trust in any male but since this was Hestia, she decided to give the son of Poseidon very little leeway, nothing more than that. If he betrayed Hestia even once, she would not think twice before sticking an arrow in him. Sure Hestia would be mad but it would be for her betterment.
"I want to see how he interacts with you so I will be here to observe him. If I think it is fine, I will give him the benefit of the doubt only upon your insistence, nothing more than that but he better not betray it. Also, ask him to cover his tattoo if you don't want others to know about it. With the way his clothes are, it's a miracle no one has noticed your mark till now", Artemis said.
Hestia just smiled in response. She also summoned some clothes for Percy and covered up her mark. She hoped that he would be able to show it the world soon.
Artemis then realised something that she had forgotten to ask Hestia, "Do you know who erected a barrier around him or stabbed him?"
"No, I do not. I only felt he was in trouble when I sensed his emotions go awry."
"The barrier was powerful in its own right. Normally, it would be easy to break one but this time, it took a little more strength than usual to break it. This is not the work of some random person. Whoever it is must be more powerful than the minor gods easily to be able to erect a barrier like that", Artemis analysed. She was the goddess of the hunt so for her to be able to analyse situations was second nature to her, she just lagged behind Athena since the latter had wisdom and battle strategy as her very domain.
"Don't do anything rash", Hestia advised, "Let me speak to Percy first and ask him what happened and accordingly we will do something about it. No point creating a panic about things like these until we're sure what or who we're dealing with."
"You're right. On a side note, I am still staying here to see his behaviour towards you", Artemis said with finality. She then walked away from Hestia and hopped onto a tree which hid her from view and at the same time was close enough for her to observe Percy's behaviour and interaction with Hestia whenever he woke up. Normally, she wouldn't be one to stay especially for a male but since her aunt was involved, she had decided to make an exception.
~Big House, Camp Half Blood~
Chiron sighed tiredly. He had been searching the whole camp since the past two days but there was no sign of Luke still. Most of his belongings were still in the Hermes cabin. It seemed that the letter Luke had left for him was indeed true and that Luke was abandoning his life at camp for something else. Chiron wished that he had seen the signs before. He would've at least tried to talk to Luke about it, if not persuade him to stay. On the other hand, there was still the matter of what exactly happened on Olympus. He assumed that Percy's quest was a success since Percy had come back with his body intact which he doubted would happen if he was in Zeus' presence without the god's symbol of power.
Chiron briefly contemplated visiting Percy to know about what transpired but eventually shot it down. 'The boy had a long day. I knew that he was in the Underworld earlier for his quest and then was whisked to Olympus. Frankly, what he must've experienced in the past few hours would be more than what most heroes did throughout the ages. It isn't easy handling any of the children of the big three', Chiron thought.
~Olympus~
"So that was what happened", Hecate finished. She was currently in the throne room with Zeus, Poseidon, Hades and Athena. Normally, Zeus would immediately shoot down the idea of calling Hades to Olympus but under Athena's piercing gaze, he eventually complied and reluctantly invited his eldest brother. On a side note, before Hecate had started recounting the events, Athena had chewed out Poseidon thoroughly for ruining the marble in the throne room which was quite entertaining in its own right.
"Hades, were you able to detect any foreign traces of power in your helm?" Athena asked. A god's symbol of power could only be compressed to its other form only when a great deal of power was put into it by another god. The symbol of power could be easily shifted to any form based on its owner's will but would be extremely difficult to do if someone else tried it and would only revert to its other most commonly used form. However, this knowledge was not widely known since gods were forbidden from stealing or using another god's weapon without their consent. The big three knew about this since they had their weapons built together and each had tried the other's weapon to satiate their curiosity. The only other person who knew about this was Athena since she was practically born from Zeus' head and thus possessed a major part of his memories; most of which she sealed away for obvious reasons.
"Yes, I can recognise Ares' energy anywhere", Hades said. He had felt traces of two energies in his helm – one of which belonged to Percy. He had not brought this up since there were no disasters and honestly, didn't care. Even though Percy was powerful, he would not be able to use even 1% of the helm's capabilities since he was a demigod and not one of his children.
"Same for my bolt", Zeus commented.
"And what of your son, barnacle beard? Has he gone and run his mouth in camp or to someone else? I wouldn't be too surprised since he is your son after all", Athena said off-handily. She really did not expect much when it came to Poseidon or his children. All of them were stupid and had no sense of tactics. Their only plan was to charge into things head on and worry about everything else later. The time at Athens was a prime example of it. How did it even get into the dumb god's head that a measly pond of water would be enough to win him the patronage of the people?
"I'd watch my mouth if I were you Athena. My son is smart and has a lot of sense when it comes to these things and needless to say, he has lived up to his promise and not told anyone about this incident", Poseidon said proudly. This was not a case of favouritism, not in the least. It was just his son doing the impossible and making him proud, yes, that was it.
"Hard to believe it when you're the one appraising others."
"Don't you dare test my patience Athena."
"ENOUGH!", Zeus yelled finally as he shot a bolt of lightning.
'He has been doing that a lot lately over the most frivolous things. Must be him being happy from getting it back', Hecate thought. She just sighed inwardly. Even after millennia, the gods didn't change. On the other hand, humanity had gone from one revolution to another and was still changing. Progress currently was... well she didn't want to comment on it.
Finally, Athena and Poseidon stopped their bickering and instead settled to glare at each other from across the throne room.
Zeus sighed. These two really needed to tone it down at times.
"Anything else Athena?, Zeus finally asked.
"No father, that's all."
"What are your thoughts on this?"
"It is pre-emptive to reach any conclusion but I'm thinking it is related to the prophecy."
That statement caused the big three to snap their heads in alarm. They were the ones who took the oath after all. Two of the brothers turned to a certain sea-green eyed god who glared right back at them.
"You were the first one Zeus", Poseidon pointed out.
"But it is yours who is causing this trouble now, I should have him killed before he goes against Olympus", Zeus shot back.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on my boy Zeus", Poseidon growled with his eyes glowing ominously.
"SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU", Athena screamed at them.
Zeus and Poseidon fell silent but still kept glaring at each other.
"As I said, it is too soon to decide whether it was actually due to the prophecy but we shouldn't dismiss it completely. So I propose we keep the retrieval of Zeus' lightning bolt and Hades' helm a secret and certainly not inform Ares about it. If he's working for someone, he might go and spill the beans. Right now, we hold the cards and I want to squeeze every bit of advantage I can out of it. If someone asks about the bolt, the three of you can pretend to fight which is not that hard given how much you argue. In the meantime, I will have someone spy on Ares and report to me about his days on a regular basis to see any irregularities. As for the son of Hermes, I want the Greek demigods to consult the oracle and see if they get a prophecy to search for his whereabouts. If not, I will speak to Artemis and have her mobilise her hunt. They are the best when it comes down to things like this. Out of the others on the council, I trust her to stay loyal. She cannot be swayed."
The three sons of Kronos kept silent as they contemplated Athena's plan of actions. Each had varying thoughts about this but in the end, they all agreed since said goddess' domain was battle strategy so who better than the goddess for it?
"Needless to say, no one breathes a word of what transpired in this room. Is that clear?", Zeus threatened, "Athena, inform Poseidon's son about this plan since he's the cause for this. If he fails to carry out his duties, we will be forced to vote for his existence. I cannot stake the very future of Olympus and our survival on a kid who has failed this comparatively simple task."
"Father, again, this is all but a theory but yes, we need to be ready in case the prophecy comes to pass", Athena added.
Whilst Poseidon was angered by this, he knew that Zeus and Athena had a point. Thus, there were two sides of him battling each other for an opinion. The fatherly side would be depressed to have his favourite son killed while the godly side could understand Zeus' trepidation. Thus, he decided on a suitable plan of action.
"Zeus, if Perseus proves himself worthy, I want to personally train him in his powers. Whilst this is unprecedented, the situation calls for it. In the very least, if it is not related to the prophecy, at least my son will grow powerful enough to handle the prophecy should it come to pass. I would rather not leave things to chance", Poseidon said.
Zeus wanted to immediately deny Poseidon's suggestion but before he could say anything, Athena said, "It pains me to say this but barnacle beard used his brain for the first time ever and actually suggested a sound strategy. Father, you HAVE TO accept it."
Most days, the kind of the gods had his way with things. Turns out, today wasn't one of those days since he was practically driven into a corner by his favourite daughter and her making sense of things didn't help matters in the least.
"Fine", Zeus huffed, "You'd better live up to your word Poseidon and make a warrior of that brat. But make sure he doesn't go against Olympus or he will be the first one to face my wrath." With that warning, Zeus disappeared in a clap of lightning.
Hecate smiled inwardly since things were progressing quite well for her as well. Percy growing stronger would help her quite a bit since she too had plans for him.
"Anything you want to say to your son, Poseidon?" Athena asked with sudden gentleness for she too had borne the loss of many of her children in trying to fulfil a fate. She didn't like him but losing one's children was painful and she could guess what was going on in the sea god's head.
"I'll meet him soon", was all that Poseidon said before he vanished in a gentle breeze leaving the lingering scent of the sea in the air.
Before Athena could also leave, Hecate interrupted her by saying, "He's a good kid Athena, unlike any other son of Poseidon. Give him a chance and you won't regret it. The seeds have already been planted, it is up to us now how we water and take care of them."
"You have hardly been wrong about things so I will take this into consideration. But I will not believe it until I see it. You saying that has already set the bar high, let's see if he can reach it", Athena said before she teleported out.
~Magnesia, Ancient Greece – Golden Age~
Percy found himself in a familiar place once again; to be precise, he was in the very same throne room where he had met Kronos earlier. As soon as he realised that and began panicking, Gamer's Mind clamped it down and a notification popped up.
...
Ping!
Quest Alert!
Understand and experience Rhea's situation during the birth of Zeus.
Conditions –
No participation in real world events.
Rewards –
$10,000
XP : 10,000
?
?
Failure –
Disappoint the one who sent you here.
Accept / Decline?
...
Just by seeing the rewards Percy was about to accept and get ready when he reread the quest. This was new, he had never gotten something like that. Seeing that he didn't need to face the Titan King or Atlas was enough of an incentive for Percy to quickly accept the quest. He didn't have any choice anyway. If he declined, he would have a chance to die since he was right in the middle of the Titan stronghold and well, he needed to go home so he just accepted it.
Just as Percy pressed accept, he felt something change around him as his senses seemed to dull. He looked around him, not finding anything unusual until he caught sight of his arm – it was completely transparent. He proceeded to look at his whole 'body' but to the same result. This wasn't what he expected but then again, the quest said that he won't be participating.
His attention was drawn from his musings when he heard a door being opened and soft footsteps echo throughout the place. Percy remembered that he was invisible so he walked to the main area where he saw the figure of Kronos sitting on his throne with lots of tablets around him. He then noticed a woman stood in front of him with dark curly hair that swept past her shoulders, eyes as green as meadows, and a smile that was brighter than the sun. Her stomach was swollen indicating that she was pregnant but she still retained an air of grace around her and didn't seem dependent on anyone to help her around.
"Rhea, what are you doing here?", Kronos asked whilst not looking up from his work.
"Husband, I come to ask something of you. Brother Koios, who's ever so clairvoyant, has advised that I give birth to our next child on the Island of Krete (A/N – Using old spelling) stating that it would be far easier for me compared to the previous births I have given. He says that the island's magical properties will help me in more ways than one", Rhea's sweet voice replied.
"Hmm? Is that so? Fine, go", was all that Kronos said before he lost interest and went back to his work. He completely missed the smile that Rhea sported as soon as he agreed to her wishes.
She then started walking towards the exit when Percy remembered that he had to follow and experience the Titaness' situation. He quickly ran after her, his footsteps not making even a single noise in the vast room.
As soon as Rhea stepped outside, she snapped her fingers and disappeared. This left Percy in a dilemma. How could he follow her now? The only way was through running all the way to Crete with Alecto's help. Just as he was about to summon the Resurrection Stone, his world blurred suddenly and turned upside down before he found himself in a new surroundings.
Percy looked all around until he saw Rhea standing in front of a cave at the base of a mountain. He quickly sent a quick thank you to whatever deity had teleported him because it would be a huge pain to run across Greece. The only motivation for him to do such a thing was to return home otherwise he wouldn't really bother. If he had to guess, it was the same person who sent him back in time. For someone that powerful, teleporting him would be quite easy.
He then walked towards Rhea when he heard her sigh.
"This will be a big step. On one hand I will be betraying my husband but on the other, the very same person devoured all my children. I cannot forgive someone so evil", Rhea thought out loud, "However, I just don't know whether I can do it. Will my child suffer the same fate as its other siblings?", she wondered as she rubbed her stomach sadly.
The sight made Percy sad. He couldn't even imagine how much Rhea had to go through. To see her own children devoured right before her eyes, no mother should ever go through it. He shuddered thinking what would happen if it was his mom in her place. She would be absolutely broken. Percy got dejected just by having the thought. Gamer's Mind didn't activate since it knew that sometimes it was good to ride out feelings rather than keep bottling them up. However, what came next was something that not even the Fates themselves had predicted.
Suddenly, Percy felt something bubbling inside of him. It was as though something which was locked inside had started shaking in order to get out. The feeling kept building until it went away as soon as it started. Even though Percy didn't see any physical changes, he felt that his senses had been heightened a bit. He was about to inspect himself more when he heard a heavy sniff from Rhea. She was now on the ground, holding her stomach whilst a few tears trickled down her face. Percy could sense that she still had a little hope which she was holding onto tightly. He could sense that she was not going to let go of it regardless of what happened. So on a whim, Percy closed his eyes and called for the blessings of Elpis which resided deep within himself and directed it towards Rhea.
~The Void~
A woman sat near a small pit of fire as she looked at the events transpiring in Krete. Initially her mother had forbidden her to interfere in the events going on in that particular planet but upon her insistence, her mother had finally relented.
She could sense what her chosen one's intentions were and despite knowing that his actions wouldn't change the future, she still decided to help him out. She proceeded to scoop a little fire from the pit and blew it towards the image. Upon seeing him glow a little, Elpis smiled satisfactorily.
~Krete, Ancient Greece~
...
Ping!
As an exception, skill has been allowed to be used on someone at a higher level than you.
Skill Activated!
Makarios tis Elpis!
Ping!
Due to continuous use, skill has levelled up.
Level 2 + 1 = 3
Range: All levels below, 26 levels above.
...
Percy ignored the notifications and kept his focus on the task at hand. He continued infusing Rhea with hope until he felt it rising quickly. After a few moments, Percy dropped down in exhaustion since he had used every ounce of strength he possessed. However, the effects were quite profound because when he turned to look at the Titaness, she was a different person altogether.
Rhea was now up, had dusted her clothes and wiped her face. She was now back in her visage as the Queen of the Titans. She then whistled loudly and waited for a moment before nine people suddenly materialised in front of the Titaness and kneeled in front of her. They were all garbed in armor and wielded a shield and spear. Curious, Percy used Observe to find out who they were.
...
Kouretes
The Kouretes are gods of the wild mountainside, inventors of the rustic arts of metalworking, shepherding, hunting and beekeeping. They are also the armed and crested dancers who worship Rhea with drumming and dancing. (A/N – This is as per google and several websites that I referenced, I don't know if its 100% accurate)
...
Percy had never heard of them but he was quite amazed with the description provided.
One of the warriors stood up with his head still bowed and said, "My lady, it is an honor for us to be summoned by you. We are blessed to be in your presence. Is there anything you require of us?"
"You're well aware of the fate that befell my other children", Rhea started with a sad face as she recalled their fate at the hands of her 'husband' and 'brother'. The Kouretes immediately raised their spears and clashed it onto their shields, creating a loud sound that reverberated throughout the world. They were angry. Someone caused grief to the deity who they pledged their very beings to. If she ordered, they'd go to war for her regardless of whether they stood a chance or not.
"Calm down all of you", Rhea said with a smile, "Your concern is more than enough for me."
The Kouretes were reluctant but they nodded nonetheless.
"My next child is about to be born and I need your help to shroud his/her existence from my husband. I will provide my husband with a stone to swallow to replace my child once I return home. However, until I come back, I want you to look after my child and teach him/her everything. Can you do that for me?"
"It is the greatest gift you can bestow us, my lady. For you to trust us with your child, we will protect him/her with our lives and make him/her a warrior worthy to be called your child", the same warrior spoke with his head bowed in deep gratitude. He then said, "My lady, forgive me for asking, but how will you be giving birth? Don't you need handmaidens to assist you during this time? I don't see anyone with you."
Rhea just smiled and said, "I can do it myself. Don't worry about it."
"This is not done, my lady. We will have the best and most trustworthy handmaidens to assist you. With your permission, let this one do something which will make it worthy of deserving your benevolence of helping raise your child."
Rhea knew that once they set their mind to something, even she would not be able to change it. They were just too overprotective for her. So she just gave them the permission.
Immediately the warrior whooped in joy and disappeared from the spot. A few minutes later, he appeared once again but this time, he was not alone. No, this time he had nine women with him who were more beautiful than any woman person Percy had ever seen. Though they were no match to Rhea, each one of them radiated beauty and elegance in their own right. Out of them, one woman stepped forward and kneeled in front of the Titaness. She wore a shimmering blue gown with glossy black curls pinned up with silver and gold brooches. Her eyes were gentle shades of blue and green.
"My lady, it is an honour to be in your presence. It has been a long while since I met your excellency", the woman said.
"Rise, Hagno. It is I who should be thanking you for coming here. I hope I did not cause inconvenience for you?", Rhea asked.
"Of course not, my lady. As our queen, it is our duty to assist you and fulfil your wishes in any manner we can."
"In that case, I do have one request from all of you."
"My queen."
"You see, I am due to give birth very soon. For that, I will be needing some help with it as well as taking care of my baby and ensuring his/her safety since I cannot stay here all the time. You know my reasons for this after all."
Hagno nodded sadly, "Yes my lady, we are aware of it. Rest assured, we are eternally grateful to have this opportunity to be able to assist you during the birth of one of your children. We will do all we can to take care of your child and raise him/her as our own."
"I am counting on all of you", Rhea said with a smile as she entered the cave.
Seeing that their conversation was over, Percy decided to use Observe ideally. He knew who these women were but still.
...
The Nine Nymphs
The Nine Nymphs helped bring up Zeus after his birth by Rhea, in order to hide him from his brutal father Kronos. They are loyal to both mother and son and are treated with a high degree of respect in the Greek world.
...
'Seems like I was right', Percy thought, 'now what do I do? Do I wait here or what?'
Percy's answer came in the form of another distortion which turned his world upside down yet again. He was pretty much used to it now. However, as soon as the feeling subsided and Percy opened his eyes, he was greeted to a lot of commotion. The Kouretes were running about and fetching weapons one after another from a neatly piled stack whilst some Nymphs could be heard screaming at the warriors from inside the cave and some scampering outside as they gathered different ingredients. It took a few seconds for Percy to realise that he had actually travelled forward in time and was now witnessing the birth of Zeus. He had enough sense to not go inside the cave so he opted to stay outside to look at the Kouretes. After all, it wasn't every day that one got to experience an era defining moment like this.
Just as the Kouretes had gathered in formation, a small cry erupted from within the cave. As soon as they heard it, the Kouretes started banging their spears against their shields. In fact, banging would be an understatement. The noise they made was enough to shake the sky and ground itself. Whilst some opted to stand and create a cacophony, several warriors started dancing with various instruments in their hands and created a huge spectacle out of it.
Eventually, one Nymph came out of the cave and whispered something in a warrior's ear. Upon hearing it, he started whooping in joy and passed on the message before running into the cave. Intrigued, Percy also went close by and heard the message.
"It's a boy. Her highness has named him Zeus."
Percy smiled at that and then followed the warriors excitedly. Who wouldn't want to see the king of the gods as a baby? Percy wished he had a camera though, the stuff would've made for some good blackmailing material. As if hearing his thoughts, a camera materialised in his hand. He assumed it was the same woman who sent him here and silently thanked her for it.
Percy then entered the cave and stood a little far off to first let the others look at baby Zeus. He needed the best points to click the pictures after all.
~A few minutes and hundred pictures later~
'That should be enough', Percy thought happily. Whilst this didn't come anywhere close to what Zeus said about killing him, this would come in handy down the line. He could always think of some ways to make do with it. As soon as he walked out of the cave, his world turned upside down once more before he found himself in a familiar space.
~The Void~
"So how was your time in Krete, Perseus?", the voice asked Percy.
"Thanks for the camera, the pictures turned out great", Percy replied cheekily. He knew what the voice was talking about but still decided to play around a bit. He knew that whoever it was didn't mean any harm since the deity was looking after him throughout the while so he trusted her a little.
"Oh? Do show", the voice replied unexpectedly. Percy raised an eyebrow at that. He would've been surprised but Gamer's Mind had clamped it down.
"So umm, should I just leave it here or what?"
The answer to his question came in the form of the camera disappearing. After a minute, the voice started laughing a little.
"Those are some good pictures, I am sure you could make several uses off of it. Also, you can keep the camera, I have enchanted it so you can use it without worrying about anything."
"What do you mean by worrying about anything?"
"Just ask Chiron later. We have something more important to talk about", the voice said as it suddenly turned serious, "Do you know why I sent you back in time?"
At the same time, Chaos had discreetly switched off Gamer's Mind so that Percy could feel his emotions properly and understand what she was going to teach him.
"To learn?"
"Correct. But why did I send you to this specific time?"
Percy thought for a moment. At first glance, there was nothing too profound about the things that he had experienced except for witnessing Zeus' birth. He surely must be missing something deep because this scenario was far too simple. He kept racking his brain until he drew blanks.
"I cannot think of anything", Percy finally said.
"Did you notice the amount of hope Rhea had when she was alone?"
Percy nodded.
"Taking your interference out of the equation, what do you think happened originally?", the voice asked.
"Rhea gave birth to Zeus, replaced him with a stone and gave to Kronos to eat. Later –"
"That's enough", the voice interrupted Percy, "now you see, she still gave birth to Zeus and rebelled against Kronos despite the amount of hope she held. How do you think she still had the courage despite her other 5 children being eaten in front of her eyes?"
"She wanted revenge?"
"Yes, that was one part of it but what's important is the fact that she still went on despite how much she suffered. Would you like to feel what she felt each time one of her children was eaten?"
"No no no no no", Percy said quickly. He knew he wouldn't be able to handle the feeling at all.
"But the point remains, despite suffering so much, she still persisted. She did what she could with whatever she had and look how history took a turn. Now, think about the spar you had right now with that skeleton. What did you feel after you lost?"
"Upset and angry with myself for being able to get defeated so quickly and not being able to harm it."
"So will you give up?", the voice asked with even more seriousness than Percy thought was possible.
It was true, Percy wouldn't deny that the thought did cross his mind multiple times and he was tempted to act on it and just give up.
Percy then said, "But what if I lose again? What if my mom or someone close to me gets hurt because of it? I don't want them to suffer."
"Don't want them to suffer or don't want yourself to suffer?", the voice asked in return.
Percy stiffened at that. He knew he did not want to face off the skeleton once again or anyone in fear that he'd lose. He did not even want to comprehend the effects that would resonate if he died.
"So you understand now, don't you? You have to keep going just as Rhea did and she went through much worse than you did. It's true you have had experiences no 12 year old should experience but you must understand, there's a lot more at stake than meets the eye Perseus", the voice continued albeit gently now.
"I... I don't know whether I can do it", Percy stammered. His confidence had taken a massive hit after the 'duel' he had.
"Let me tell you something Perseus. You have just entered the Greek world and have virtually next to no training. How do you expect to win if you don't get better huh? Train more, become stronger and use the Gaming System to your advantage. There's a lot more to it than meets the eye. Use your brain, I'm sure when it comes to you, you'd figure something out one way or another", the voice said amusedly towards the end.
"Are you sure?", Percy asked hopefully.
"Yes, Perseus. Do you realise how powerful the Fates are? If not, read a book. Learn how not even the Titans or gods could go against Fate itself. And now, you have been given a gift by the Fates themselves. Combine that with being the son of Poseidon and a champion of Hestia and think how powerful you can be. And don't be so shocked, I know everything", the voice said as Chaos saw Percy's stupefied face. She then continued, "You could be given the best sword in the world but with no training, it would just remain a lump of steel. That's how power works young one. If you train, even the most common sword can become a sword of legend due to your abilities. Show the Fates that they were not wrong", the voice said.
'And me', Chaos thought to herself, 'Prove to me that I was not wrong when I chose you.'
These words and explanations seemed to have an effect on Percy as he realised how lucky he actually was to have this power. He could become strong and be there for the ones he loved, especially his mom who he had promised to keep safe and Hestia who he wanted to make proud as her first champion. Emotions flared up within him and his eyes started glowing with power as his determination which earlier used to waver was now set in stone that not even the sharpest sword could cut through. This was the building point for Perseus Jackson, the foundation for which was established by Chaos herself.
"I will never give up. I will train and become stronger. No one and nothing can ever stand in my way now. I will defy destiny itself if it means to keep my loved ones safe", Percy said with seriousness. The children of the sea were always driven by emotions and as such, now that Chaos had temporarily blocked Gamer's Mind, Percy's emotions became his driving point. Chaos also decided to make a few tweaks in the Gaming System such that it would suit him and added a stronger emotion handling so that previous mistakes would not be repeated. She also added a small gift from her that would help Percy.
"Good answer Perseus. I have given a small gift to you, I hope you like it. Now go, Hestia has been taking care of you for an hour now and is getting worried", the voice said.
"Thank you", Percy said gratefully with a smile on his face and closed his eyes as he was enveloped in the familiar feeling of falling.
~Zeus' Fist, Camp Half Blood~
Sea-green flaming eyes started fluttering slowly before they opened fully to reveal themselves in all their glory. Percy was finally awake. Since Percy had been unconscious, his eyes had reverted to their natural state; the one filled with flames instead of the irises he usually kept.
"Percy!", Hestia exclaimed as soon as she saw that her champion was up again.
"Hey Hestia", Percy replied with a small smile adorning his face.
"Are you alright? Does anything still hurt? What happened?", Hestia asked in quick succession. She was extremely worried for him and for good reason. It had hardly been a month since he had entered the Greek world and he kept attracting trouble one after another.
~Artemis~
Artemis snorted in disgust. Despite Hestia vouching for that boy, she still did not believe him. Even though the facts were straight, she knew it was only a matter of time before he showed his true colors as was the nature of men and she would be there to kill him for leading Hestia astray and getting her power. He was just like them all, Artemis thought in anger. The flaming eyes didn't go unnoticed by her which served to piss her off even more.
~Zeus' Fist, Camp Half Blood~
"Just give me a sec", Percy said as he tried to lift himself up. He was still yet to realise that he was asleep on Hestia's lap – something that no one had ever done or think of doing. If Zeus was here, he'd surely blow a gasket. Even though the big three were younger to Hestia, they were overprotective for her, even more than Hera and Demeter.
Percy groaned a little until he felt Hestia's hands helping him to sit in an upright position. He flashed her a grateful smile and was about to ask her for some water to drink when she just summoned a few glasses for him. Immediately, he downed all of them until he felt his power and senses return to him slowly. He had exhausted himself to the brink so it was taking a little time for him to regenerate the lost power. Percy then touched his stomach to look for the stab wound only to find a white scar where the sword had entered and exited cleanly.
This action didn't go unnoticed by Hestia as she explained, "The bleeding had stopped when I arrived here so you were lucky. I used nectar to heal the rest of it."
"Thank you for everything Hestia", Percy said.
Just then, he felt his head tingle a bit before he heard Hestia's voice, "Perseus, you'd better tell me what exactly happened and how you ended up getting stabbed later. Don't answer because you have no choice."
Percy just smiled wryly since he knew there was no way out of this. He didn't want Hestia to worry too much about him but he knew it wasn't possible since she was the goddess of hearth after all.
Meanwhile, Hestia had decided to send him a mental message because she did not want Artemis to know what transpired and be alarmed. Knowing Percy, there was going to be some big trouble on the horizon soon.
Suddenly, Hestia and Artemis felt a familiar presence approaching the location and in a burst of light another woman materialised in front of the duo who were sitting in the clearing.
The woman in front of Percy had a beautiful and regal but also somewhat scary face. She had stormy grey eyes which were bright and full of fierce energy. Her dark hair cascaded down her back and reached till her waist. She also wore a golden armor over white robes. Percy realized through her startlingly, cold grey stare that she would make a terrible enemy. He quickly used Observe to confirm his suspicions since those eyes reminded him of a certain blonde and her entire cabin at camp.
...
Athena – goddess of wisdom, reason, strategy, warfare, crafts and arts.
HP : ?
MP : ?
...
"Lady Athena", Percy said as he bowed his head a little in respect now that his guess was confirmed. He really did not want to make out an enemy out of the goddess in front of him.
The goddess in question didn't acknowledge his greeting and instead settled on scrutinising the demigod in front of her. She had detected Artemis and Hestia as soon as she appeared in the clearing. For some reason, the former was hiding on a tree so she sent Artemis a mental message to stay and listen and that she'd speak to her later.
"Looks like that the two fools weren't lying when they said that you could recognise a deity almost immediately", Athena said. (A/N - Three guesses who the two fools are and the first one doesn't count.)
Percy knew that he could not lie his way through Athena so he just settled on staying quiet.
"What are you doing here Athena?", Hestia asked, taking the goddess' focus off her champion.
"I needed to speak to him about something important, aunt Hestia."
"What would be so important that you of all people would willingly come to speak to a son of Poseidon?", Hestia enquired. She did not like where this was going.
"I had been told by Zeus not to tell anyone about it save for two other people but there can be no hiding things from you. Moreover, your inputs have always been valuable so it should be fine", Athena said. As soon as she finished her sentence, thunder suddenly boomed loudly overhead. However, Athena remained calm and instead raised her head towards the sky and glared at it, daring it to boom again. She was met with silence.
~Olympus~
Normally Zeus won't bother about others but since Athena had used his name, his attention had been drawn towards the conversation and had reacted to it. It was short-lived since he then made as much distance as he could between the conversation and himself when he noticed Athena's glare.
~Zeus' Fist, Camp Half Blood~
"Go on", Hestia urged.
"Hecate and I were summoned for a meeting with the three brothers at Olympus a while back", Athena started.
"I expected them to have a meeting but not so soon. But given how Zeus is, I'm not even surprised", Hestia said. However, what surprised her was that Hades had been called too since Zeus rarely took his counsel. He was never invited to Olympus except during the winter solstice ever since the three had assumed divine control over the heavens, seas and dead.
On the other hand, Artemis was gobsmacked by this information. What would've prompted them to actually get together? Since she was unaware about the things that had transpired, she was quite shocked.
"On the success of Percy's quest and his story, we verified the facts and it was indeed true that Ares had assisted the son of Hermes in stealing Zeus and Hades' symbol of power since traces of his energy were still lingering within the weapons. As such, it has been decided that we are going to consult the oracle for a quest to find the son of Hermes since he has escaped camp. If none is issued, we will be relying on Artemis and her hunters to hunt him down. Any questions?", Athena asked before she continued with the rest of the information.
Artemis wanted to speak to Athena about this but she received a mental message that she'd explain things later so Artemis could only grit her teeth and listen in to the conversation.
"Lady Athena, will I be going to the oracle immediately or a little later? You see, I still need to train and improve if I am to go against Luke. As I am now, I don't think I will be able to beat him", Percy said.
This made Athena pause momentarily as she inspected Poseidon's spawn a little more closely. She could see that his physical condition was nowhere near idle and the boy desperately needed to train. However, she was surprised that he actually thought about the situation before asking for another quest. Barnacle Beard's children weren't exactly known to be the sharpest tools in the shed after all.
"Are you sure you're Poseidon's son?", Athena asked rhetorically.
"Yes, despite my errant father not being there my whole life. Any reason?", Percy replied with a knowing smile. He had caught on to Athena's underlying words.
Athena smirked at that. Looks like Hecate's diagnosis was spot on as usual. Even her initial assessment was looking good but that could all change. The truth was, she didn't hate Poseidon's kids. She was always practical and placed value on those who were capable and had good character which was sadly not the case for most of the kids of the big three.
"Very well. I will give you some time before you can go and consult the oracle. But you must update me with your progress every week via Iris Message. On the off chance a quest isn't issued, you will remain in camp and train. Any further instructions will be given to you then. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Lady Athena."
"By the way, I hope you have not mentioned anything about your conversation with Zeus and Poseidon to anybody."
"Of course not. The only other person who knows is aunt Hestia."
"Good, now isn't it time for you to sleep? It is quite late already", Athena suggested.
"Perseus, I need to have a word with you as well. Let's walk back to camp whilst we speak", Hestia said. She was aware that Percy had a long day and needed some time off but she needed to know who would dare to stab her champion.
Percy nodded his head and the duo soon disappeared from view.
Now that Athena and Artemis were alone, the latter jumped down from the tree and approached her sister.
"What is going on Athena, you'd better tell me everything", Artemis said with narrowed eyes.
Athena was not one to back down from things so she too matched Artemis' cold glare with her own and replied, "That son of Poseidon managed to retrieve the bolt, the helm and found out who was responsible for their theft. We had a meeting on Olympus and decided that no one must know about the quest's success until we find out who was behind this since Ares is too much of a bullhead to design intricate plans. At the same time, we will hunt down the son of Hermes who was the one who stole both weapons. If no quest is issued, you must track him down and bring him to Olympus for further questioning."
"Is that boy capable enough to lead a quest should one be issued?"
"He may not look like it but from my initial assessment and Hecate's words, he is capable. With the correct guidance, he has the potential to become powerful and intelligent whilst remaining grounded and loyal. It is too early but I'd like to see where this goes and aid him in his training initially. If he manages to even satisfy me, I will personally teach him to prepare him for the prophecy. He may not look like it but he is the sort of person who comes once in a lifetime and forges his own legend for the whole world to remember. But as I said, it is still far too early to say anything or reach any conclusions", Athena said with a ghost of a smile appearing on her face.
Artemis was stunned. What had this boy done to make Athena, of all people, have such high expectations from him? Not only that, even the errant Hecate had vouched for him not to mention the high praise Hestia held for him. This just kept making Artemis even more suspicious of him. No one, not even a single person in all these centuries had been able to do what he had done and he had just entered this side of the world. She needed some time to think.
"Very well Athena. But I will personally look into this boy before I can place a miniscule amount of trust in him", Artemis said.
With the conversation done, Athena nodded and flashed away; leaving Artemis alone in her domain.
~Percy and Hestia~
As they were walking back to camp, Percy brought up the boxes that he had been ignoring for the past few minutes.
...
Ping!
Quest Complete!
Understand and experience Rhea's situation during the birth of Zeus.
Rewards added.
$: 27,200 + 10,000 = 37,200
..
XP: 737 + 10,000 = 4,596 / 7,290
Level Up!
HP: 850 + 50 = 900 / 900
MP: 950 + 50 = 1,000 / 1,000
Points 20 + 2 = 22
..
Passive Skill Unlocked!
Champion of Hestia (Tap for more information)
..
Skill Unlocked!
Bond Manipulation (Level 1)
Manipulate the bonds connecting people in any way you desire. (Tap for more information)
...
Percy's eyes widened the moment he read the last message. What. The. Hades?
Hestia too sensed a sudden change in Percy's body so she stopped him making Percy visibly confused.
"Wait", was all that Hestia said as she closed her eyes and started using her divine energy and their shared connection to assess Percy. This went on for a few minutes until her eyes suddenly snapped open in shock.
"Percy, did you receive any other power recently?", she asked, almost dreading the answer.
"Yes, what happened?", Percy asked as his concern for Hestia rose seeing the look on her face.
"What did you get?"
"I got a passive skill as your champion and bond manipulation just now", Percy replied cluelessly. He still hadn't connected the dots.
Hestia's face turned into one of sheer surprise and a little horror.
"Hestia, are you alright?", Percy asked with concern evident in his voice.
"Percy, me being a goddess of family means more than people think. Now, think about this – people have bonds within a family. Correct?"
"Yes."
"Now, as a goddess of family, one of my abilities is to manipulate bonds. I can change the bond between people in any manner that I want, the only exception being those who are above my power. It is different than the dagger you wield. Rule Breaker's only ability is to destroy bonds whilst mine is to change those to my liking. Moreover, the Greek world is one big family and people are related to each other in one way or another as much as we try to deny it, thus, creating a bond. As such, I can influence everyone albeit with some difficulty due to the scale but it can be done. Here comes the problem now. When I made you my champion and gave you my blessing, I thought that you would only receive fire manipulation and summoning food as a power up but it seems that I was wrong. I never thought that the Fates would grant you this as well. This power of bond manipulation makes you even more powerful than I thought was possible. Do you realise the implications Percy?"
As soon as Percy heard Hestia's explanation, he immediately connected the dots. Before he could say anything, Gamer's Mind had taken control of Percy's emotions and was regulating it so that he could not go into an outburst and forced him to remain calm.
"How is this possible Hestia? Shouldn't it have been unlocked earlier?"
"I don't know. We can worry about that later. Right now, our priority is to regulate this power. I know you will not misuse it but I still need to train you properly so that you don't subconsciously alter bonds between people. And don't even think you're getting any rest right now Perseus. You still have to tell me what exactly happened earlier, I haven't forgotten. You're coming with me to Olympus. I will inform Chiron and ask him to handle things", Hestia said with a tone of finality in her voice. Percy could only nod at this. Looks like it was going to be a long night.
With that, the two flashed away.
~Artemis~
Artemis was still trying to come to terms with what transpired just now. Firstly, Hestia somehow ended up with a champion after millennia. Then, said champion found the thief who stole the god's symbol of power and returned it. Next, he also somehow managed to garner a high opinion in the eyes of Hecate and Athena – one she think wasn't possible and that too by a son of Poseidon. To her, it all looked like the escapades of Hercules or Jason all over again. The hero rises, only to fall spectacularly in one way or another.
Artemis couldn't help but think that there was more to the boy than met the eye. There was simply no way that a boy like that could exist. Males were nothing but scum who deceived and took advantage of women. She was going to find out more about the boy. Since Hestia, Athena and Hecate were involved, especially Hestia, she did not want anything bad to happen and thus was ready to take this task upon herself. One way or another, she was going to get to the bottom of it.
With that in mind, she disappeared in a flash of silver, leaving the forest behind.
A/N
A short explanation: Athena has been depicted as I felt was right. She is practical and calculating. For me, she won't just go out and about asking the Olympians to get rid of Percy for a personal vendetta. I know she is depicted otherwise in the canon but I'm doing this one differently.
As always, review and follow!
Until next time.
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod
(gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. Blessed by Elpis, the spirit of hope, he has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes. He is also Hestia's champion which grants him control over fire and lets him summon meals.
...
Level - 17
Exp – 4,596 / 7,290
...
HP : 900 / 900 (+ 2,000)
MP : 1,000 / 1,000 (+ 2,000)
...
STR : 23 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 18 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 18 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 22 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 18 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 26 (Bonus : +14% chance of better loot)
Points : 22
Money : $37,200 / D520
...
Status : Demigod
...
Skills
...
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 17)
...
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Tongue of the Old Times (Max)
Modern English (Level 25)
Swimming (Level 7 - 9 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Akachan Shiru no Me (Max)
Running (Level 7 - 34 km / hr)
Storms (Level 3)
Earth Shaker (Level 1)
...
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 6)
Critical Strike (Level 5)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 8)
Mage Armor (Level 5)
Summon Meals (Max)
Makarios tis Elpis (Level 3)
Battle Strategy (Level 5)
Bond Manipulation (Level 1)
...
Chores :
Cleaning Dishes (Max)
...
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
Battle Instincts (Max)
Champion of Hestia (power ups to be declared)
...
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 17)
Water Spikes (Level 4)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 3)
Dimension Create (Max)
Ice Control (Level 4)
Steam Control (Level 3)
Fire Control (Level 8)
Chapter 18: How to Weave a Thread
Chapter Text
Disclaimer : I do not own PJO or any of its characters.
Chapter 18: How to Weave a Thread
~Hestia's Palace, Olympus~
Percy found himself outside a familiar palace/temple as soon as his vision cleared. He turned to look at Hestia, only to see that she had already started walking towards the door.
"Come on, Perseus", Hestia called over her shoulder without turning to look at him.
Percy knew that he was in trouble since Hestia only used his actual name when he had messed up things or somehow they did on their own accord with him being completely innocent as was the case currently. It wasn't his fault that the damned skeleton decided to pay him a visit and subsequently stab him in the gut. It wasn't like he went out of his way to ask people to stab him for the heck of it. But alas, Percy was slowly coming to terms with the fact that his life was one huge joke to the Fates and things like these were bound to happen as much as he wanted to avoid them in the first place. So with a heavy sigh he followed Hestia inside her home.
When Percy came upon the doors, he was blown away by its sheer simplicity. The doors were made of celestial bronze with her symbol carved into it on either side. The symbol itself was the same as the one on Percy's arm. Percy, on his part, had expected something more intricate but now that he thought about it, it was Hestia he was talking about. She was the most down to earth goddess so he couldn't see her as an ostentatious person.
Back to the topic in hand, the doors started opening automatically as though the house felt its master return. Percy walked in behind Hestia and entered the lobby. It was a bit wide, short and decorated with various paintings which eventually then opened up to the hall. He wanted to admire the interior a bit more but decided against it since he had something more important to attend to. So Percy kept following Hestia as she took a series of turns before they finally reached their destination.
The room in front of Percy had huge glass windows which provided a view of Hestia's gardens and the beautiful night sky above.
"Come and sit, Perseus. I will summon some food for you whilst you tell me what exactly happened after I dropped you at camp", Hestia said, leaving no room for any argument. She then proceeded to summon a pizza and a magical glass for her champion.
Percy wasted no time in devouring the pizza as he started recounting his tale. He omitted the bit related to his time travel since he did not want to alarm Hestia even further. Plus, he had a feeling that the deity would not appreciate it if he told this part to anyone.
After a short while once he was done, Hestia could hardly hold herself back. Her fiery eyes gained a harsher shade to them and parts of her hair even caught fire. She was pissed! How dare someone hurt Percy just to show how weak he was right now? The boy had just entered this side of the world, who in their right mind would expect someone to become powerful so quickly? Only a mad person would.
"Perseus Jackson", Hestia started, "If you ever come across such situations again, you'd better inform me about it instantly if not, pray to the gods for help because it will be nothing compared to what I'd do to you if I find out that you jumped into an extremely dangerous situation like that once again. Is. That. Understood?", Hestia growled as she emphasised each word at the end.
Percy quickly nodded, not wanting to further aggravate the already furious goddess in front of him. He knew she was always protective of him but he never imagined that she'd be this furious and concerned. To avoid any more trouble and placate the goddess, his mind was running through countless ways to make things better but unfortunately he had never read a guide for 'how to handle an angry goddess'. So he did what came to him naturally – he simply hugged her whilst letting his eyes burst into their true form. However, Hestia was still angry with Percy and refused to hug him back which made the demigod hug her even tighter and apologise for his actions. Eventually, she relented as her eyes returned to their normal shade and hugged him back with equal fervour.
"Do you have any idea how worried I was when I found you on the ground, stabbed and bleeding to death?", Hestia asked in a sad tone, "You are my first champion ever. I have waited for millennia to find someone worthy enough and when I do, he almost goes and dies on me, not to mention, he is only twelve years old. How do you expect me to not be worried?"
"I'm sorry Hestia. It's just that things just keep happening on their own and I too try my best to stay out of trouble but I can hardly help it. Guess the gift by the fates came with their own set of problems."
Hestia tightened her grip around Percy upon hearing that. The Fates were truly horrible to have this boy a hard life right from the start.
"Don't worry Percy, I will always be there with you. I will always be there to help you when you need it, lift you up when you're down and be by your side. Regardless of what the Fates have in store for you, I will brave it with you. This, I promise as a friend and as your patron", Hestia said.
Percy couldn't help but tear up a bit. All his life, except for his mom, there was no one who cared for him as much as Hestia did. He could not help but be thankful for what he had. Besides, he too had a promise to uphold for which he would train and become strong.
"Hestia, can we start with the training for Bond Manipulation like you said? I really don't want to accidentally mess things up between other people", Percy said as soon as he realised that he was on Olympus for another reason.
"Oh yes, I almost forgot about it. Come, let's go outside, the fresh air will do you some good as well", Hestia said as she just flashed the two of them to the garden outside. What? She was a goddess and she could do that so why bother taking the long route unnecessarily?
...
~Midnight: Cabin 3, Camp Half Blood~
Chiron had tick marks on his head as he clutched the note that he held in his hands. Hestia had told him that she was taking Percy to Olympus and that everything was fine. Nothing more, nothing less. He believed the goddess but still he came to recheck once whether it was true and sure enough, he was greeted to an empty cabin.
All he could do was sometimes lament his luck when it came to the children of the big three. Why oh, why did they have to be troublesome at times? Don't take it wrongly, he loved his job. It's just that, sometimes it was hard to control campers but it came nowhere close to what it was when it came to the children of the big three.
Chiron let out a sigh as he closed the door and trotted back to the big house wondering how was he going to explain this one to the cabin councillors during the meeting tomorrow especially a certain daughter of Athena.
...
~Somewhere in a forest~
Artemis sat on a tree branch, overlooking the celestial body which she had divine control over. Her mind was still wondering about the boy. Her thoughts were in utter conflict at the moment.
All her life, she had seen men deceive and mistreat women. It did not matter how old they were, even kids the same age as that boy were capable of things like that as she had seen in several instances in the past few years. Millennia of believing and seeing these events transpire had led her to cement the belief that men were scum regardless of who they were – whether a son of a god or a mortal, they were all the same in their nature. Not to forget, the events with Orion, a son of Poseidon, didn't sit well for her in the least. She already disliked children of Poseidon since most of them were power hungry or nutjobs in their own right but Orion was the final nail in the coffin. After that day, she held a special dislike towards the children of the god of the seas.
But on the other hand, she knew Hestia, Athena as well as Hecate. All 3 goddesses were extremely intelligent and knew how to look after themselves not to mention that two of them were virgins like her and knew the indicators to look out for if someone was trying to deceive them. She knew that none of them had a misguided sense of judgement. Even if she could come up with reasons for Athena and Hecate, what of Hestia? Hestia had been around far longer than her and had come across far more people than her since she spent most of her time in the forests with her hunters. So it was difficult to fault the goddess of the hearth as well.
Thus, she sat in the forest looking at the moon whilst her hunters slept below her, unaware of the raging thoughts going on in their mistress' head.
...
~Hestia's Palace, Olympus~
Percy and Hestia were standing in the garden of her palace. Before starting with Percy's training, Hestia had decided to tell Percy the basics of her powers so that he could understand what he would be doing and if in case he did anything unintentionally, he would know how to stop or revert things immediately.
"Percy, every living thing – be it animals, mortal, demigod or god – have a bond or connection with someone in some manner. If two people are in love, there's a bond between them, if two people hate each other, there's still a connection between them and so on. My point is that as long as there's a connection between people, my powers can influence them and change them as I desire. Moreover, the hearth or home, is something that is inherent to every living being out there of which they are a part of. Since I am the goddess of the hearth, I have control over every single person out there", Hestia said as she stopped momentarily to ensure that Percy understood what she was saying.
Percy, on the other hand, was shocked. He never thought that the seemingly common domain that Hestia had was one of such power and importance!
On a side note, Gamer's Mind had become more adaptive thanks to Chaos' fine tuning. It wouldn't suppress every emotion Percy had, but would instead utilise it in a manner that would benefit Percy the most. Since the children of the sea always had strong emotions and found strength in family, Chaos opted for this option knowing full well how advantageous it would be for the young demigod; not that he was aware of it.
"Did you understand what I just said, Percy?", Hestia asked.
"Yes, I did. Basically there's always a connection between people regardless of the way one sees it. Love or hate, as long as there's some emotion to it between two people, there's a connection which can be manipulated."
"Quite right. Now that you have understood the basics of it, there's another one important aspect that I wanted you to know. Connections or bonds don't always have to be from both sides. Sometimes, these can be one sided as well. For example, you may meet some stranger for the first time on the streets and have an opinion about him/her. The opinion is driven by your own emotion of how you feel about that person. Now connect that with the basics that I taught you. There is an emotion coming from you so naturally there's a connection from you to that stranger. You can manipulate that as well or in simpler words, manipulate the perception of one person for someone else. This is a far more delicate process since you have to have meticulous control over the power and be extremely careful with the strand that you select to change. Were you able to follow what I said?"
"Yes, I got that Hestia."
"Now you understand why I was shocked when I got to know that you have this power? This is something that I did not wish anyone would ever inherit since this power is dangerous in its own way. But if it had to be passed, I am glad that you got it Percy. I know this will make you stronger, you won't ever misuse it and would only use it when necessary so I am fine with this as well. Now that you have understood the basics, let's start with your training."
"Sure but how exactly will I be able to train? I don't think you'd want me to practice on the bond between other people or animals."
"Correct. We will be practicing on the bond between us."
"What?! But what if I messed up and changed things, what would happen then?", Percy asked worriedly.
Hestia laughed a little at that as she said, "Percy, aren't you forgetting something important? I am the GODDESS of the hearth. If you make any mistakes, I would be there to rectify them or prevent any mishaps from happening. Don't worry."
"Oh", was all that Percy could say just as the realisation dawned upon him.
"Now, let's start. First, focus on your power and feel it in yourself. That's the first step for using it."
Percy stayed quiet now and listened to Hestia's interactions and did as she instructed. He started focusing within himself and dived deep in his being. There were quite a few threads which were connected across in his body in different hues. Most were sea-green whilst two to three of them were orange in colour which Percy realised were his powers from Poseidon and Hestia respectively. He kept on searching within himself until he found an orange thread which wasn't glowing like the others. It was connected but not reinforced which Percy thought was the recently unlocked Bond Manipulation skill.
...
~Hestia~
Outwardly, Hestia could feel Percy's power flare as he started glowing a little which meant that he had completed the first stage.
"Now, call for it to come to the surface and make it rise slowly. If you make it jerk up all of a sudden, you will lose control of it and might end up disrupting the bonds of people around you. Since this is your first time, you must be absolutely careful", Hestia said. She was happy to see that Percy was utterly focused on his task and was obeying her.
...
~Percy~
Percy heard Hestia's voice in his mind as he did as she instructed him. He held on to the string and slowly started calling for it towards the surface. It was somewhat at the bottom so it took awhile for it to rise. He made sure not to call for it too quickly and kept it at a decent pace.
...
~Hestia~
Hestia felt Percy's power rise steadily which meant that he had a good grip on the initial phase and was soon going to be ready to use the power.
"Call for it to burst forth outside your body and follow your instincts", Hestia instructed once again.
...
~Percy~
Percy then let it rise until it was ready to burst forth and with a final grunt, he connected the string to his body more securely and let out the power building within him.
Percy then opened his eyes and looked at Hestia who was looking at him with pride in her eyes.
"You have done the first step properly Percy! Controlling a power is difficult in its own right especially when using it for the first time but it seems that you have a knack for it. Now, since these are bonds that we are talking about and manipulating, open your feelings to everything around you and truly feel your surroundings."
The demigod complied as he closed his eyes and became more aware of his feelings and sensations around himself. As soon as he opened his fiery eyes, unbeknownst to him, they started glowing as they revealed something that no one, save for a few individuals could ever see. The entire sky above Olympus was criss-crossed with threads of different colours and complexities as some glowed whilst some were dull. The colours banded beautifully and ran in all directions. Some seemed to start in Olympus and travel endlessly whilst some passed over the city of the gods. Combine it with the night sky with the moon and stars blanketing the dark canvas above, and it was truly a sight to behold. Percy couldn't help but gaze at it in wonder and admiration. He then turned to Hestia to see that her orange flames were glowing beautifully as she too was staring at the sky just as he was.
"As many times as I see this, this sight never gets old, not in the least. If anything, it becomes even more breath-taking every time I see it", she said. She then shifted her attention to Percy and was immediately mesmerised with his eyes. They always looked dazzling in their fiery form but right now, they had gained an ethereal glow to it, making them even more profound which made Hestia lost in them.
Unbeknownst to Hestia, Percy was entranced in the same manner as her and was gazing into her eyes with equal fervour. Time seemed to slow down and it looked as though only the two of them were there in the world and that's all that mattered. They subconsciously moved closer to gaze deeper into each other's eyes until they were just a breath away from each other. Their close proximity eventually snapped both of them out of their stupor as they realised their current position. They quickly took a step back to create a bit of distance.
Hestia felt her cheeks heat up a little as a slight blush dusted her face. While Hestia was aware of such things, she had never felt this emotion before and it was all foreign to her. She didn't know why this was happening after all this time but she let it be. She needed to train Percy first. She would deal with this later.
The same could be said for Percy as well. He felt his cheeks heat up and felt a little more warm than usual when he was in the presence of the goddess. He felt warm with his mother as well but this felt different for some reason. He just could not understand it for some reason.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Hestia talk again, "You see the amount of lines going through the sky? This is but a small glimpse of the bonds between different people. As my champion, you have complete control over all of them with restrictions of course. You won't be able to change bonds of gods of course and other stronger divine beings. Except for that, I don't see you having any other trouble."
"I understand. But do these different colours mean anything Hestia?" Percy asked as he kept his eyes peeled on the sky.
"They do. Each colour represents something about a bond. There will always be two colours to a bond – one for each person. Think of it as this way, if you look at someone as your friend, you would emit a particular colour. On the other hand, if that person hates you, that person would emit a different colour. These two then blend to show the relationship status between two different people. Got that?"
"Yes. So, what do the different colours represent?"
"There are 5 major colours that you will look out for. Purple represents romantic feelings for someone. Brown represents familial feelings. Red represents dislike / hatred. Blue represents friendship and finally, grey represents a neutral feeling. Commit these two memory Percy because if you forget this whilst manipulating the bond, it can have horrible repercussions since it would go against your intended goal. Are you following me till now?"
"Yes. Basically, there are 5 major colours that represent different feelings of bonds between people. Bonds between two people will have two sides to it. The feelings between the two people can or cannot be the same. And this will work on everybody except for gods and those who are stronger than me by a large margin. Correct?"
"Quite right. Now, try to focus on all the bonds that you have and let it float out from yourself. It will take a lot more practice for you to focus on one bond so we are going to start with seeing all your bonds first", Hestia advised.
Percy nodded and repeated the same process as last time and focused on his gut instincts. Instead of feeling his surroundings, Percy kept his senses restricted to himself and soon felt something in him expand. He slowly opened his eyes to see the results and was rewarded with the sight of his bonds. Intrigued, he looked at each one of them. Most of them were brown and blue whilst a few rare grey ones could be seen. However, that was not what caught his attention. No, what caught his attention was a sea-green thread going from him towards Hestia. He turned to Hestia to ask her about it but was surprised to see her mouth open in shock.
Hestia kept blinking her eyes to make sure that what she was seeing was indeed true. Never in all this time had she ever seen something like this happen. Not even the gods or the Olympians themselves, herself included, exuded this type of thread. She was truly at a loss of words. Just what was Percy? He was something extraordinary indeed. Her mind kept drifting to different conclusions that could come up for this but she could not find an answer at all until she entertained a thought that was prodding in her mind. Hestia then closed her eyes and brought out her bonds as well to have a look at them. Like Percy, most of her were the same but what caught her eye was an orange thread heading towards Percy which met his sea-green thread in the middle and went on to weave with each other in intricate patterns, mixing together in a way that she had never seen. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she brought her hand to her mouth in shock. Just what was happening?
Percy was observing Hestia when he felt her power rise a little as well as her bonds were made available for him to see as well. As soon as his eyes fell on the orange thread connecting with his, he was quite confused. Didn't Hestia tell him there were 5 types of colours? Then what did these two represent? He dismissed these thoughts as soon as he looked at Hestia and the expression on her face. The normally composed goddess had her eyes transfixed on the bond between the two of them and it worried Percy greatly. Was it something bad that made her lose her calm?
"Hestia, are you alright? What happened? Why are there two different colours for the both of us but everything else is the same?", Percy asked.
"I-I-I have never seen this happen. This is the first time ever that I have seen a colour other than the ones that I had listed to you. I am not sure myself. The only reason that seems most plausible at this point of time is the fact that you're my champion and I, your patron and since I have this domain under my control and you have access to my powers, this has been created. Again, this is but a thought. I would need to come up with something more concrete before I can say anything", Hestia said.
"Alright. Can we start with the training now?", Percy asked. He knew not to prod too much into the matter since the goddess clearly needed some time on her own to comprehend what exactly happened so he changed the topic to get her mind off it for a while.
"Of course", Hestia said.
And so Hestia began training her champion in one of the most dangerous powers known in the Greek world.
A/N
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I wanted to explain how Bond Manipulation works properly so that you have an idea about it.
As always, do review and follow!
Until next time.
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod
(gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. Blessed by Elpis, the spirit of hope, he has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes. He is also Hestia's champion which grants him control over fire and lets him summon meals.
...
Level - 17
Exp – 4,596 / 7,290
...
HP : 900 / 900 (+ 2,000)
MP : 1,000 / 1,000 (+ 2,000)
...
STR : 23 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 18 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 18 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 22 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 18 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 26 (Bonus : +14% chance of better loot)
Points : 22
Money : $37,200 / D520
...
Status : Demigod
...
Skills
...
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 17)
...
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Tongue of the Old Times (Max)
Modern English (Level 25)
Swimming (Level 7 - 9 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Akachan Shiru no Me (Max)
Running (Level 7 - 34 km / hr)
Storms (Level 3)
Earth Shaker (Level 1)
...
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 6)
Critical Strike (Level 5)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 8)
Mage Armor (Level 5)
Summon Meals (Max)
Makarios tis Elpis (Level 3)
Battle Strategy (Level 5)
Bond Manipulation (Level 1)
...
Chores :
Cleaning Dishes (Max)
...
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
Battle Instincts (Max)
Champion of Hestia (to be declared)
...
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 17)
Water Spikes (Level 4)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 3)
Dimension Create (Max)
Ice Control (Level 4)
Steam Control (Level 3)
Fire Control (Level 8)
Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Twisted Bonds
Chapter Text
Honestly, I had written more and updated on FFN but I keep forgetting to upload it here. I apologise for that. Further, updates will be weekly now, getting back to writing further now.
Chapter 19: Twisted Bonds
Beads of sweat trickled down Percy's face as he tried to focus on the task in hand. The precious few hours were spent getting a hang of using Bond Manipulation but so far, all he had done was manage to disrupt the bond between him and Hestia to something else altogether rather than his intended intention. If not for the goddess, he couldn't begin to imagine how things would be between the two of them.
Hestia had taken the special bond between the two of them in stride and deduced that if Percy was able to manipulate that perfectly, he would have no problem with anything else. Moreover, her calm and homely demeanour was completely gone and replaced with a different side of her he only saw when she was training him. For every mistake he made, Hestia made him think and answer as to what he did wrong and if he couldn't answer, he would be scorched with a fireball. Being Hestia's champion made him fire resistant but for some reason, her fireballs still hurt and his clothes were singed. Upon asking her what would she do if he was burnt, she just summoned nectar and ambrosia and waved it in front of him as though it was the most obvious answer in the world, not that he could fault her logic. Hestia really was fully prepared.
"Percy, focus on understanding and gauging the underlying reasons behind the bond. That is how to manipulate a bond. Humans are beings of emotion, each feeling that they emit has some hidden meaning. If you're able to understand that, you will have full control over that particular instance or instances which you can then change. This will change the way they feel about the other person which in turn would change the bond between them. I do not expect you to fully comprehend this on the first try but I expect you to get a gauge on how this is done. You will have to practice this until the effort itself becomes effortless and second nature to you," Hestia explained.
"But where will I be able to use it?," Percy asked. He was grateful for the brief break Hestia had given him when she started this conversation.
"You have no idea how versatile this strength is and where all you can use it. It is up to you to see what you can come up with. However, I will give you one example. Say you're locked in a battle along with some demigods against monsters. Here, you can use bond manipulation to strengthen the familial bonds between the demigods thereby increasing the trust between each other and make working together and executing plans more efficient. You can also use this to sow discord amongst the monster ranks by increasing mistrust among some of the things."
"Woah!" Percy exclaimed. This would be extremely useful for him, but, he still needed to learn more about the power before he could come up with something more innovative and helpful.
"While we're on this topic, I know it is far too early but I expect you to start reading up on human psychology in order to become more proficient with this power. By learning about it, you'll be able to understand the human mind better and the way people function. This will aid your power greatly, I am sure of it."
"I will start reading Hestia but can you recommend some easy books which I can start with? I'm still 12 and don't know much about science and all that," Percy said. Even though this was something out of his depth currently, Percy vowed to start increasing his intelligence which would enable him to comprehend the subject better. This would not only help him become stronger but also make Hestia prouder of him.
"I will ask Athena for some books and send them your way. Now, let's start again. Begin by bringing up the threads and feeling the bond between us. After that, once you start getting the emotional input, let it flow until you begin to understand the basis. Once you do that, start overwriting the key emotion and instance related to that and the whole bond will change slowly until eventually the previous bond will no longer exist and be completely replaced with what you want. Understood?"
Percy nodded and began the process once again. His power started rising steadily until the special bond between both of them became visible to him once again. Percy then closed his eyes and proceeded to understand all the feelings in it until he was hit with the emotional input from the bond. Feelings of warmth, happiness and love were amongst the most prominent ones that he felt. He let these keep flowing and tried to dive deeper only to be met with resistance. However, he knew that this was the point where he kept getting stuck so he pushed through and exerted all his power into it.
~Hestia~
Outwardly, Hestia smiled as she felt Percy's power rising at a rapid rate. She waved a hand to contain it in their area since she did not want anyone else to feel the sudden spike in godly energy, especially her youngest brother.
~Percy~
Percy kept pushing till he felt his power exhausting and the fatigue starting to take over. Just as he was on his last leg, he felt a rip in the resistance until a small portion of it was exposed to him. Immediately, he connected to what lay behind the resistance and was exposed to a feeling of sadness and want. Images of mortals and demigods being claimed as champions by other gods flashed through his mind briefly before it ended as swiftly as it began.
~Hestia~
The normally calm Hestia stiffened when she realised what Percy was exposed to from the bond. This feeling of wanting a champion had been kept buried within her for millennia as she saw the other Olympians claim one after another. She had never had that feeling of happiness to be able to share her powers and train another one in its ways. But it all changed when Percy came. He managed to do what countless others before him could never do, not to mention it was all unintentional. What made it better was that somehow he had access to her main powers and not just pyrokinesis which was weak when compared to her power over the hearth. She was snapped out of her thoughts when she felt Percy disconnect from the bond and turned her attention to her champion.
~Percy~
Before Percy could see more, the last reserves of his power ran out as he felt himself get ejected out of the space and his knees started to crumple as exhaustion crept in. However, he never fell. Slender arms were wrapped around him in a hug and helped him to stay upright as a feeling of warmth and happiness invaded his being once again. He knew it was Hestia since she was the only one who could make him feel this way, with the exception of his mother.
"You did very well, Percy," Hestia praised, "It is never easy to get into the bonds of a god, especially an elder one. However, you were able to access mine, brief as it may be. I wonder how proficient you will be when you practice more and get a good grip on this. Here, have some water and replenish your energy. Once you feel better, let me know. I will demonstrate how to manipulate the bond properly."
After a few minutes, Percy had recovered his strength thanks to drinking water, which immediately restored his MP. He then signalled to Hestia that he was ready.
The goddess momentarily closed her eyes, channelled her powers, then called them forth. Her eyes snapped open with the embers, gaining an ethereal glow. To her, the bonds became visible once again, especially the sea-green and orange colored one connecting between the two of them which made her smile inwardly. She had been thinking hard, whilst Percy was taking a breath. Another conclusion that she had drawn was that the bond between them could indeed be a special one. Hestia was never one for wishful thinking but for some reason, she liked this thought and didn't mind entertaining it. She then shook those thoughts away and concentrated on the task at hand.
Percy, on the other hand, had also activated his powers and was keenly observing the elder goddess in front of him. It was not every day that a deity displayed and taught their skills to someone else, so Percy's gaze never wavered even once as he tried to soak in everything.
Hestia focused on their shared bond and easily ripped through the barrier that surrounded it. She felt all of Percy's emotions that immediately hit her. As she expected, there was nothing but love, care and gratefulness that emitted from his being. Everything about it was pure, something that she thought that she would never find in anyone be it god, demigod or mortal. She couldn't help but sport a huge grin on her face as she basked in the emotions that were only meant for her. She soon identified the overlying reasons that made up his emotions for her and exited the bond quickly to explain to the demigod what she was about to do.
"Percy, I will now start changing the bonds between us temporarily so that you can experience what it's like. Don't worry, it will just be momentary," Hestia explained quickly before she closed her eyes and dived into the bond yet again.
She found the place quickly, channelled her energy into it and quickly went to work. She altered a few instances that were meaningful to him and opened her eyes to see the demigod's reaction with half of her attention still on the bond to change it at a moment's notice.
Percy had been observing the goddess carefully until he felt something twisting and turning within him. It was barely noticeable and Hestia had already told him what she was going to do so he assumed it was her. However, that soon changed when he suddenly felt a pang of sadness hit him out of nowhere. His smiling face soon turned remorseful. The flames in his eyes also dimmed. The longer he looked at Hestia, the sadder he felt.
"Why Hestia?," Percy began, "Why did you leave me? D-did I do something wrong? P-p-please tell me." At this point, he barely had any control anymore as a lone tear made its way down his eye. Gamer's Mind had deactivated automatically sensing that its host was undergoing some training so it didn't need to intervene.
Seeing the look on Percy's face made Hestia forget everything momentarily. Those dimming flames, the tears making their way down his cheeks, those downturned lips and slumped shoulders made her feel sad herself. She felt something within her ache suddenly seeing him so downtrodden. All she wanted to do was take away all the pain and sadness and replace it with as much happiness as she could. Maybe it was her care for him, maybe it was her bond with him or maybe it was her being his patron that caused this, she wasn't sure. But she was sure of one thing – she would never want to see that face again.
"Why are you ignoring me Hestia? Am-am-am I not good enough to talk to you now?," Percy's words interrupted her from her thoughts and just hearing those words sent needles through her heart. She was about to tell him that everything was alright, he meant a lot to her, and this was all a facade but was forced out of her thoughts quickly from the voice screaming in her head telling her to shut up already and turn their champion back to normal. Her eyes then widened in realisation as she quickly dived into the bond and changed it to as it was earlier.
The effect was almost instantaneous. The feeling of grief within Percy subsided and was immediately filled with love and happiness that could easily rival his mom's which was something significant in its own right. He didn't know why he was feeling this suddenly since he was a little distorted and couldn't think properly. The moment his eyes landed on the goddess in front of him, he immediately engulfed her in a hug with intense fervour.
"Thank you for everything Hestia. I'm so happy that you're my friend and patron. I-I couldn't have asked for anyone better," Percy whispered. He could've said more but right now, he was far too overwhelmed to form any coherent sentences.
~Hestia~
"You idiot. Did you have to alter his memory to such an extreme extent? I thought we agreed to give it a little twist, not twist the entire thing," a voice screamed inside Hestia's head.
"Hey, I completely forgot about it okay? The emotions were far too intense. I've never felt something this pure before and you're not one to talk since you too felt them as clearly as I did Vesta," Hestia berated her Roman counterpart.
"W-well at least I did not screw up things so badly that you made our champion cry," Vesta retorted, making Hestia silence her protest.
That's right, the moment Hestia had decided to make Percy her champion, Vesta too had done the same. The two didn't need to argue since they had been looking for their first champion and the moment they saw Percy, they had made up their minds. This essentially made the demigod 3/4th Greek and 1/4th Roman. One half was Poseidon while the other half was Hestia and Vesta. That half was essentially divided between the two goddesses. So now, due to Vesta's influence, Percy could read Latin as well and was technically Roman too; not that the demigod knew in the first place.
"But still, I can't believe how that one sight was enough to make both of us that sad. I don't recall either of us being affected so much before," Vesta commented inside Hestia's head.
"True, but first, let me take care of him. We can discuss this later," Hestia said as she returned outwards only to have a moment to react before she was engulfed in a hug by Percy as he whispered those words.
This made Hestia blush a little for some reason. She had already experienced the full depth of Percy's emotions towards her so why did this feel good still?
"Always Percy," she then replied quickly.
After a moment, Gamer's Mind kicked into action and immediately straightened Percy up.
"That was amazing Hestia!" Percy exclaimed, "One moment I was happy and in the next, all my memories changed somehow, as though they had been fake and new ones showed up, making me sad."
"I am sorry Percy, I didn't mean to make it that extreme. I lost focus for a moment, which altered things for you to such an extent," Hestia said. She was still sad about her slip up.
"Don't worry, I trust you. I know you'd make things fine quickly," Percy said with a large smile on his face, successfully brightening the goddess' mood.
"So now you know how this power works and have felt its effects first hand. You now know how dangerous it is, Percy. Please be sure to use it very carefully. Do not let it get out of control and don't forget to read up on human psychology. Understood?"
"Yes Hestia, I will tell you my progress every day after dinner at camp, okay?"
"Good, now as much as I want you to stay around and relax with me, you still need to return to camp and explain yourself to Chiron and the others. Better get going," Hestia said as she snapped her fingers and sent the demigod on his merry way.
~Percy, Camp Half Blood~
Percy opened his eyes to find himself back in his own cabin. It hadn't been a long while since he left but it sure felt as though it had been months since he was last here. He turned to look at the clock which read 5 am. He still had 2-3 hours before breakfast so he locked the cabin door and settled in his bed for a well-earned rest. However, that was very short-lived since not even a minute later, he heard knocks on his door which made Percy sigh deeply. Who in their right mind would wake someone up at 5 in the morning? He reluctantly got up and opened the door only to be greeted by Annabeth.
"What happened?" Percy asked with exhaustion evident in his features. He had an extremely long day and was not ready to do anything yet.
"I should be the one asking you. What happened after Hecate kidnapped you? You still have to tell me," Annabeth exclaimed. She was too full of energy for Percy right now.
"Can't we do it later during the meeting? I want to sleep," Percy whined.
"You want everyone to know about what happened with Hecate?"
At that, Percy's eyes widened in realisation. He still needed to inform everyone about what had happened during the quest and Zeus himself had forbidden him from revealing any details about it. Moreover, he was sure that Hecate would not be too thrilled for others to find out about their interaction.
"Thought so," Annabeth said, smirking.
"Fine, come in," Percy grumbled as he made way for the blonde to enter which she did with a smile on her face.
"Now, first things first. No one knows about our quest except for Chiron so we need to figure out what to tell them. We can't just tell them about what we experienced right off the bat plus it would be hard to believe. If anything, it would raise even more questions. And secondly, we need to tell them why a goddess 'kidnapped' you and sent Grover and me alone to the camp."
"So we just have to make a fake quest right?"
"Pretty much."
Both demigods then fell into silence for a few minutes to think of an excuse until a light went off in Percy's head.
"How about a monster slaying quest?"
"Explain."
"Since I'm the first son of Poseidon in a while, we could make it look like the gods gave me a quest to slay some monsters to prove my worth and I chose both of you to help me."
"That could work but we already have a goddess of hunt whose job is precisely this."
"Umm… what about something related to water then? That could work being the son of Poseidon and all that."
Annabeth fell silent at that and contemplated the suggestion. Percy could almost see the virtual gears turning and clicking in her brain as she analysed each and every scenario.
"That can work actually. We could say that some water nymphs needed some help from the gods because of monster attacks. Since you're the son of Poseidon, they decided to send you to test your abilities along with 2 other members. You chose me because of my knowledge and Grover since he's a satyr. Further, we could say that we went to California or some place near the west coast to make the timing more plausible. And that you were then called to Olympus to give a full report about it since it was your quest. How does that sound?"
"That actually sounds good and believable."
"Of course it does. Who do you think I am? Also, while we are on this, I will explain this to Chiron as well before the meeting so that he doesn't call us out on it"
"Fine."
"Now, that that's done, why don't you tell me why you disappeared for such a long time?"
"Can't we do it later?"
"No."
"I want to sleep."
"I just reminded you about something important and helped you with it. You should return the favour."
"Hmph, alright. Remember when Hecate warned us about the test in the Underworld?"
Annabeth nodded.
"She just wanted to see whether I noticed what it was or not and whether I learned anything from it."
"That's it?"
"Pretty much."
"So why did you take so long to come back to camp?"
And there it was, the question Percy had been hoping to avoid for as long as he could. He did not want to lie to her nor could he tell the whole truth, so he decided on another course of action.
"Turns out my dad wanted to meet me after this whole thing was over. He wanted to talk about some stuff."
"What did he want to talk about?"
"That's between him and me. Why should I tell you?"
Seeing the expression on Percy's face made Annabeth realise that she might've crossed the line a bit. It was not her place to know what the father-son duo spoke about and yet she was bugging him to tell her. All to satiate her curiosity.
"Sorry Percy, I shouldn't have asked that," Annabeth apologised quickly.
"Eh, it's alright. Anyway, is there anything else? Now let me sleep for an hour or so."
"No, that's all I guess. Get some rest. See you later," Annabeth said. With that, she got up and left the cabin, giving Percy some much needed sleep.
Soon, breakfast was over and the demigod found himself in the big house where the counsellors meeting was taking place. There were 12 seats in total. Each seat represented a god from the Olympian council and thus, Percy was sitting towards the head of the arrangement since Poseidon's throne was right beside Zeus'. This was definitely not an idle place since he wanted to be as inconspicuous as possible. Then again, this meeting was for him so it wouldn't have mattered either way.
Slowly but surely, the head counsellors started trickling in and started taking their places. Finally, once everyone had settled in, Chiron started the meeting.
"Demigods, there are two things that we have gathered to discuss today. The first is Percy's quest, so Percy, if you may?" Chiron asked as he gave Percy the floor.
"You guys are already aware that me, Annabeth and Grover had gone on a quest. It was nothing special to be honest. There were some water nymphs on the west coast who needed some help with monster attacks. They prayed to Poseidon who in turn spoke to the others and the gods deemed it fit for me to go on a quest to take care of that problem as well as prove my worth. And before you ask, Lady Artemis was busy hunting far more dangerous monsters and this problem was related to dad's domain so he gave me the quest," Percy explained briefly.
"That sounded cool for a minute until we heard the rest of it," Connor commented.
"I expected something better Jackson, this is just… sad," Clarisse commented.
"What did you expect?" Annabeth asked.
"Some great battles and epic adventures. Which monsters did you face anyway?"
"The usual – hellhounds, cyclopes and empousai, nothing too special."
"So it was like a clean-up job disguised as a quest," Travis said.
"Now that you put it that way, it does sound like one," Lee commented.
And with that, the bickering, questions and laughter started until Charles Beckendorf, the head counsellor for the Hephaestus cabin spoke up.
"So why did Annabeth scream at Percy for being kidnapped by a goddess?"
That effectively managed to shut up everyone and all eyes to turn towards Percy.
"It wasn't a kidnapping really. I was just taken to Olympus to give an update about my quest and my dad wanted to meet me. That's all really," Percy replied.
"Poseidon wanted to meet you?" asked a surprised Lee.
"Yeah?"
"Lucky you. Our parents have never met with us," Lee continued effectively bringing down the mood in the room.
"You just can't stop running your mouth, can you?" Connor berated Lee.
"Hey, it's my nature to be honest and blunt."
"Blunt my ass. That's on you. You just can't lie because of your dad," Travis said.
And with that, the bickering started yet again. Anyone else observing the scene would've become confused seeing how the Greeks interacted. Nothing seemed to affect them as they just took everything in stride regardless of how bizarre things looked or sounded.
Chiron who had been silent all the while finally stomped his hoof on the ground, silencing everyone.
"I know everyone was expecting something more unique from Percy's quest, but it is as he stated. Now that all the questions seemed to have been answered, we must move on to the more important part of this meeting," Chiron said. Seeing his serious face, all signs of goofiness were gone from everyone's faces and an air of tension fell in the room.
"As you all may have observed by now – Luke is not at camp anymore. Let me finish first," Chiron said just as someone started speaking.
"A few days ago, I came across a letter in the morning from Luke. He did not say anything except for the fact that he was abandoning his life here at camp for something else. His belongings are still here except for a few things that he must have taken with him. I had tried searching for him but had come up short. I have informed the gods about this as well, I expect to hear from them very soon. Now, do you have any questions?"
There were a few questions from some counsellors but most had realised the disappearance of their friend/cousin and had even tried to find him but to no avail. The Stoll brothers as well as Annabeth seemed to be affected the most. The former had lost their half-brother but why was Annabeth upset? He knew they were good friends but it seemed there was more to it than he initially thought. If Annabeth didn't share it with him yet meant that she didn't want to talk to him about it so Percy didn't push matters in that regard.
The discussions continued for a few minutes until there wasn't much left to talk about. However, one question was still on the minds of the demigods.
"What do we do now Chiron?"
"There isn't much that we can do for now except go about our daily business. I suggest we train and get ready for whatever the gods decide to do," Chiron said.
It looked like Annabeth wanted to object but then she shut her mouth. She too must've realised that it was a sound suggestion. There were no leads for Luke's whereabouts currently so it would just be a waste of time and effort.
With that, Percy's first counsellor meeting was over, everyone slowly walked out of the big house and went about their daily activities. Chiron, too, decided not to ask Percy much more about his quest, since he knew that the boy must've succeeded otherwise he wouldn't have been here. Moreover, Chiron had given Percy free reign to do his training since he knew that Percy was the sort of person who could do his training on his own and wouldn't want to be hampered by a set schedule. The results were quite evident when Chiron had given Percy free reign before the demigod went on the quest. As long as Percy's training didn't lag, Chiron was happy.
Now that Percy was alone, he knew he had to start increasing his stats to become stronger. He pulled up his stats menu to give a glance through his stats. If he had a quest to find Luke soon, he needed to up his sword fighting skills since Luke was an expert swordsman. Moreover, he needed to learn how to use a dagger as well so he could use Rule Breaker in case he didn't have Riptide. If he trained in either weapons, his STR and VIT would increase as well due to the extensive routine. Other than those, he needed to develop Mage Armor so that he could withstand more attacks. Water Control and Fire Control were another vital ability that he needed to master. And of course, he had to develop Bond Manipulation but that could only be done once he raised his INT and WIS stats so there was also that he needed to work on.
With the plan in mind, Percy walked towards the arena to begin his training.
~Hestia, Olympus~
'Now, what have you been saying all this time Vesta?' Hestia asked inside her head.
'You do realise how affected we were earlier. Further, we both know that this isn't ordinary and what it could be,' Vesta replied. Apparently her Roman counterpart hadn't forgotten about the conversation Hestia was trying to avoid. Hestia just sighed.
'But I still feel that it is far too early to make any assumptions, especially about that. I don't think we'd take a liking to someone so quickly even if he's our champion.'
'Yeah but then again, he has a knack for changing everything. What's to say that we may end up changing as well?'
At that, Hestia fell silent. She did not have any words since what Vesta had pointed out was actually true.
'Well, we can wait and see how things pan out. There isn't much that we can do for now. I don't want to distance myself from Percy because of this and neither do you. By the way, did you notice the other thing?' Vesta said.
'Yes, it has become even more fragile now. I think it is time we finally had a talk with our dearest brother.'
'No need to hold back. You know who it concerns. I'd rather do this than experience that again. If you can't, I'll do it.'
'No, I will do this Vesta.'
'Fine but if I find you lacking, I am switching over forcefully.'
'Fine.'
With the conversation finally over with her Roman counterpart, Hestia sent an urgent message to her younger brother and called him to her palace. She waited for a moment before the air shimmered and in a burst, another person appeared in front of her.
"Poseidon," Hestia said with her eyes blazing with anger.
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod (gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. Blessed by Elpis, the spirit of hope, he has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes. He is also Hestia's champion which grants him control over fire and lets him summon meals.
…
Level - 17
Exp – 4,596 / 7,290
…
HP : 900 / 900 (+ 2,000)
MP : 1,000 / 1,000 (+ 2,000)
…
STR : 23 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 18 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 18 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 22 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 18 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 26 (Bonus : +14% chance of better loot)
Points : 22
Money : $37,200 / D520
…
Status : Demigod
…
Skills
…
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 17)
…
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Tongue of the Old Times (Max)
Modern English (Level 25)
Swimming (Level 7 - 9 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Akachan Shiru no Me (Max)
Running (Level 7 - 34 km / hr)
Storms (Level 3)
Earth Shaker (Level 1)
…
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 6)
Critical Strike (Level 5)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 8)
Mage Armor (Level 5)
Summon Meals (Max)
Makarios tis Elpis (Level 3)
Battle Strategy (Level 5)
Bond Manipulation (Level 1) (Purple: Romance, Brown: Family, Red: Dislike/Hatred, Blue: Friends, Grey: Neutral)
…
Chores :
Cleaning Dishes (Max)
…
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
Battle Instincts (Max)
Champion of Hestia (to be declared)
…
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 17)
Water Spikes (Level 4)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 3)
Dimension Create (Max)
Ice Control (Level 4)
Steam Control (Level 3)
Fire Control (Level 8)
Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Discipline and Guidance
Chapter Text
Me sorry UwU
Disclaimer: I do not own PJO or any of its characters.
Chapter 20: Discipline and Guidance
~Hestia~
"What's wrong sister? Is everything alright? It has been a long time since I got an emergency message from you," Poseidon said with concern evident in his voice as he brandished his trident. However, he completely missed Hestia's fiery eyes full of anger. How he was able to miss something like that was beyond her.
"Yes, everything will be once I am done with you. Follow me inside. Now," Hestia said in a commanding voice which finally made Poseidon realise that he was in trouble.
Normally, the goddess never scolded anyone or interfered in matters unless it was important. This made Poseidon wary and concerned since her ire seemed to be directed towards him at this point of time. The six siblings bickered quite a bit but mostly got along with each other. However, when Hestia took matters into her hands, the other five would have to obey in one way or another. Even though Zeus, Poseidon and Hades were far stronger than their eldest sister, they loved her dearly and had a soft spot for her. Thus, they were rendered powerless in front of her as was the case currently. So all Poseidon could do was accept his fate and follow his sister inside her home.
~Percy, Camp Half Blood~
Another dummy was slashed in half as it met its end only to be replaced by another almost instantly, but it was all for nothing as Percy continued cutting them down one after another with Riptide. Soon, the entire area was cleared out with all the dummies in a heap on the ground. Percy frowned. He had been at it for the past two hours or so with the occasional break, but things just seemed to stagnate. The dummies didn't attack, which didn't give Percy the experience that he needed.
Percy required something more. He had thought that practicing here would help, but it seems like he was wrong. Maybe he could visit the dungeon near Zeus' fist to get some practice there. He could also speak to the Hephaestus cabin to see if they could come up with something more useful. He ultimately decided to do the former, since he still had quite a bit of time before lunch.
Once Percy reached the entrance to the Dungeon, a screen appeared as per custom.
...
Dungeon Available!
Zeus' Fist (Level 8)
Great Orcus Labyrinth – Locked (tap for details)
...
Curious, Percy tapped on it. He did not remember seeing this option before.
...
Great Orcus Labyrinth
The origins of this dungeon are unknown. It Is rumoured to host beings with various powers from a different world and is incredibly difficult to complete. There are an estimated 150 floors. Extreme caution advised.
Note: Dungeon only available at night.
...
Percy could only look at it with a stupefied expression. What the Hades? How in the world did such a thing exist in the first place? Not even the Fates knew everything about it.
~Void~
"Grandmother, is it really okay for him to go into that dungeon?" Clotho asked.
"Of course. You wanted him to get stronger and find some dungeons, right? I just gave him one for a small boost," Chaos replied.
"But to summon one from another world?"
"I just made a copy of it that only Perseus can access, unless he decides to bring someone with him. I do hope that he heeds the warning that I put in though."
"I understand, but what if he dies? Won't your plans be disrupted?" Lachesis questioned.
"]Death cannot interfere with what I want to do," Chaos said with power seeping into her words as the aura around her intensified a little. "It knows that I am the one who created it and it won't do it any good if it went against my wishes."
The Moirai started trembling as soon as they felt the sudden spike in power. For them, this power was far beyond what they could ever comprehend. There were times like this that reminded them how insignificant they were in front of the Creator and what it would mean if someone managed to upset her.
On the other hand, Chaos was oblivious to their plight since the amount she leaked was barely even 1% of her power.
Thus, a grandmother and three of her shivering granddaughters stood in the vast emptiness, waiting to see the events unfold.
~Percy, Camp Half Blood~
Percy looked at the screen floating in front of him and opened another screen to check his stats. He desperately wanted to go in but he knew he wasn't ready yet. He glanced at his stats once again and with a sad expression dismissed the screen. He still needed to train but he had now found something more to work towards. He could only imagine what sort of things he'd experience and if he could learn something new.
He then turned around and returned to camp to speak to the Hephaestus cabin for better dummies since his first option was now out. Maybe Charles could help with something.
Upon reaching the forge, Percy opened the door only to be blasted by some air. To a normal camper, it would have been extremely hot but Percy felt nothing. It was just… air. He then walked inside to find lots of campers hard at work. The sound of fire crackling, metal clanging and tired grunts could be heard from all around him as a metallic smell invaded his nose. The air inside the forge was dense, making it hard to breathe but it didn't seem to be a problem for the others. Percy wandered around a little until he found Charles in the back. The son of Hephaestus was wearing a thin tee and sweating buckets as he worked on a lump of metal. Percy decided not to disturb Charles and observed the process with interest.
After a few minutes of working, Charles looked up to find Percy sitting patiently across from him.
"Hey Percy, didn't see you there. What brings you here today?" He asked with a bright smile which Percy returned.
"Hey! I needed some help with the training dummies but then I saw you forging. It looks pretty interesting," Percy replied.
"It is! You can literally make anything as long as you have something in your head and the process is always fun. You should give it a try!"
"I will drop by some time for sure."
"Good! Now, what did you say about the training dummies?"
"Do you have anything more challenging than the ones in the arena currently? They aren't of much use."
"Did you try adjusting the levels?"
"Huh?"
"So you didn't. Figures. There's a knob near each circle in the arena to change their level. They're all set to stay still currently. You can change them based on your preferences. It's sort of hard to miss," Charles said with a chuckle.
"Huh," was Percy's intelligent reply. He had not… considered checking said panel. He was far too excited to start his training to bother with that.
"Well, I gotta get back to forging this sword. Feel free to stay and watch if you want some indicators."
"I'll drop by again. Thanks Charles," Percy said with a smile. He waved the demigod goodbye and made his way back to the arena to start his training once again.
Upon reaching the arena, Percy looked around to see that it was empty which was good since he wanted to be away from all the gossip and attention that would ensue. He then made his way to one of the training circles and located the panel. Sure enough, it was on the lowest level possible which made Percy feel stupid. He could've progressed much faster if he had found it earlier. The levels indicated on the panel were: beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert with five sub-levels to each level which would make training easier since it was controlled, something that Percy appreciated. Thus, Percy moved the knob to beginner level 3 to begin with. He would gauge his performance and accordingly plan for the future. With the plan set, Percy was ready for an afternoon of training.
It was early evening when a haggard looking Percy walked out of the arena. His camp tee was torn in various places and his hair somehow in a bigger mess than it usually is. It made some people stop and wonder what exactly happened that would make the son of Poseidon look this way. On his way to cabin 3, Percy caught up with Annabeth who was heading in the same direction.
"Percy, what the hades happened to you?"
~A few hours ago~
Percy had just brushed through basic level five with ease and was feeling over the world and confident that he decided to head straight over to intermediate level 5 to try it out. The moment he stepped in the arena, the dummies became a blur, his body moved on its own accord and the next thing he felt was stinging pain on his side only to look down and see the crimson droplets falling on the ground where he was just cut.
~Present~
"Training?" Percy said but it came out more as a question which made Annabeth glare at him.
"What level did you try out without thinking things through?" Annabeth asked with a cold glare.
"Intermediate level 5."
"Did we not teach you to think things through before doing anything? Looks like we overestimated your abilities."
"Hey, that's rude!"
"Better that than seeing my friend die and by a dummy no less."
"I concede. Anyways, I was looking for you. Can we start our studies once again? I want to learn more."
"Thought you'd never ask. But first go shower and change. You stink."
"Fine."
Thus began Percy's journey to become stronger.
~Olympus~
Poseidon inwardly gulped as he sat across from Hestia who was now in her adult form. It had been a long time since he last saw her use that form and usually, nothing good came of it for her victim, which he was currently.
"Brother, you do know what domains I control, right?" Hestia started. Her eyes were still blazing which indicated that she was far from being calm.
"Of course, I do. What kind of a question is that?" Poseidon replied. He still did not know where this was going.
"So I hope you remember that one of my domains is that of the hearth," she suggested.
"Did something happen in it? Tell me and I will slaughter the one who dared to cause you any inconvenience!"
"Poseidon," Hestia said in a warning tone, "Shut up and listen before I do something that could affect your health severely in the short term."
This made the sea god shut his mouth immediately and cut back a retort that had made its way to his tongue.
"You are well aware that I can tell the state of anyone's relationship by looking at the bonds connecting them and as such, I happened to glance at the one between you and Percy. To say I am disappointed and angry with you would be an understatement."
Poseidon's eyes widened in alarm as he immediately grabbed his sister's shoulders and said, "Please tell me what happened, I cannot have my own son hate me."
"I am very much inclined to leave it and let you figure it out all on your own but, knowing you, the bond will be long broken until realisation finally dawns."
Poseidon's eyes further widened hearing those words. He had never expected this to happen. He liked to think that he maintained a better relation with his children than most gods, but it looked like that wasn't the case after all.
"How is the bond between me and my son?"
"What would you do if I told you?" the goddess asked with her eyes squinted in anger.
"I would go and talk to him of course," Poseidon said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. His sister was really losing her edge.
"And force Percy to stop hating you? Or suddenly shower him with love, making him suspicious of you? Do you really think it is as easy as you make it out to be?"
"I-I-I"
"No, Poseidon. If you think you can make someone love you by force, you're sorely mistaken. Do you realise how much you have neglected your own son?"
"But-but the Ancient Laws -"
"Can be circumvented with a little leeway provided the god has some incentive which doesn't look like the case."
"Don't you dare–," Poseidon started before he was cut off once again.
"Dare what? State facts? The truth is right in front of my eyes. I can see Percy's bonds waning each day. How do you think he would be feeling?" Hestia asked harshly as the flames in her eyes started having flicks of green here and there. She was quite aware of her rising temper but knew that this needed to be done. To make matters worse, even Vesta was brimming with anger inside her head if her indignant shouts of switching out were anything to go by.
~Night time, 1 week later~
Percy stood in the clearing near Zeus' fist where he met Athena the previous week. He was supposed to give her an update on his progress on a weekly basis and as such, he had sent the goddess a silent prayer and sacrifice during dinner to remind her about it. He had now been waiting for the past two hours but there was still no sign of her until he saw an owl fly by and hoot. His eyes narrowed in suspicion so he used Observe only to recognise said goddess.
"Lady Athena," Percy called out to the owl with a respectful bow of his head. To an outsider, it would've been rather amusing to watch a boy bow his head to a bird and call it a goddess but little would they know that said bird could crush them as easily as humans crushed ants.
"Quite observant of your surroundings, I see." Athena said as she transformed into her usual form, "Now, how has your training been in the past week? I have noticed your frequent visits to my cabin so I know that you've been spending a lot of time with my children."
Percy gulped. So the rumours were true. Athena was really one difficult deity to appease and she was just as sharp as the myths had described her.
"You're right, Lady Athena. I have been spending time with your children to learn more. I realised that in order to become powerful, it is important to be strong physically as well as mentally. As the saying goes, 'Knowing the enemy is half the battle.' Thus, I have started studying my school curriculum as well as Greek history to increase my knowledge about this world."
"A worthy conclusion. Go on," Athena said as she nodded her head.
"So for this week, I tested my abilities and stretched myself to see my limits to give me an idea about my current strength and which areas to work on. It would help to focus on the more important aspects."
"Optimising your time and focusing on what's important. That's good and all but are you forgetting something?"
"What?"
"We don't have much time. The further you delay, the slimmer our chances get for catching the traitor. Under other circumstances your training regimen would be idle and noteworthy but you have not learned to consider all circumstances before reaching a decision. You forgot to account for the quest that you may end up going on should the Oracle declare one. Am I wrong?"
"No, Lady Athena."
"So instead of wasting your time doing all these things, think about the traitor's strengths and where you can gain an advantage. For example, he may be better than you with a sword but he doesn't have power over water which gives you a definitive advantage. Your smaller stature would help in being more nimble and thus deliver quick attacks before retreating which would help in getting around him. You see where I'm going with this?"
Percy nodded his head.
"Knowledge is always important but for you right now, it is important to brush up your physical stature. Anyways, back to the topic in hand, I suggest you start working on the more important skills such as sword fighting, your speed as well as your control over water. Who knows, it could be the deciding factor in your battle."
"Understood."
"You have done okay so far, nothing too noteworthy. It still doesn't justify the high praise you seem to be getting. Show me that I wasn't wrong to give you this chance and didn't waste my time on you. Show me the results. You wouldn't want to disappoint me now would you, Perseus Jackson?"
Percy gulped at the thinly veiled threat and quickly answered, "Of course not, Lady Athena. I will keep these points in mind and start training."
"Good, I will meet you next week now for the update," Athena said after which she disappeared in a poof of grey.
Percy sighed. Whilst the pointers she had given were extremely useful and would make a difference in his training, he wasn't sure how he felt about the goddess. Things were definitely going to get harder under her tutelage since nothing seemed to appease her. For now, he was going to keep his head down and focus on his training. He had to become stronger.
~3 weeks later~
"…. so that's about it," Percy said as he concluded his final report with the goddess of war strategy. It had been more than a month now since his first meeting with the goddess and the fourth weekly update with her.
Athena meanwhile was sitting on a tree trunk with a notebook in hand as she jolted down a few things which Percy guessed was his progress. The goddess didn't answer immediately as her intelligent grey eyes scanned over the pages rapidly.
She then finally looked up and said, "Your sword fighting seems to have improved quite a bit over these few weeks. You have gone up from intermediate level one to intermediate level 4 which is a 3 sub-level increase. I am slightly astonished with your progress. No one has ever been able to improve this quickly and as such, I'd be calling your bluff but ever since I saw your practice, I have to admit it is a little impressive in its own right."
"Wait. When did you watch me practice?" Percy asked.
~10 days ago~
It was night time and Percy was in the arena; practicing. Since he had Gamer's Body, sleep had become a secondary requirement for him. He was now able to go for a few days before exhaustion finally took over.
He was currently at intermediate level 3. His form and awareness had improved quite a bit ever since Athena had started giving out little pointers here and there which let him be more efficient. One of the pointers was to not waste his sword strikes and go for lethal points if it could be done. Again, it was all situational but it was best to not draw out most fights.
Out of the corner of his eye, a dummy came at him with a powerful overhead sweep, intending to impale him, but Percy quickly stepped to the side and stabbed it in its gut. His senses tingled as he rolled back immediately, just to see another sword go through the place where he previously stood. The moving patterns of the dummies were erratic and would throw him for a loop every now and then. The dummy then turned towards Percy and started a reckless barrage of attacks which put him on the defensive end. Percy kept defending, waiting for a moment where the dummy would slip up, and sure enough, it took a little longer to prepare for the next strike, Percy lunged in and with a quick stab to its throat, ending the barrage.
He turned around to see that there were several other dummies left and let out a blood thirsty grin. This was going to be fun. However, he completely missed the owl that was perched on one of the stands in the arena as its intelligent grey eyes bore into his very soul.
~Present~
"A surprise check to see how serious you are," Athena said, "Moving on, were you able to incorporate your water powers into your sword play? As I suggested earlier, you could disorient your enemies or even use it as a weapon in some situations. I have seen Poseidon use his power of water many times."
"Not yet, Lady Athena. I still lose focus whenever I try to combine them. Clearing out beginner level one is also difficult at this point of time."
"Understandable. It seems that your power over water needs to grow before you can perform these feats. And what about your body composition? Did you follow the diet that I had given? You need to be physically strong in order to handle the pressure of your powers and the upcoming quest."
That's right, Athena had designed a whole nutritional plan for Percy that he had to follow diligently. Thoughts of eating anything else were quickly given up as soon as her piercing eyes met his and promised unimaginable pain. However, Percy could not deny the results. His previously scrawny figure had now started filling and his muscles had become a lot more pronounced.
"Yes, I have, as I promised."
"Studies. What's going on in that front?"
"One year ahead of school curriculum."
"History?"
"Read the Iliad and the Odyssey."
"Other texts in the Athena cabin?"
"Starting soon."
"Okay, good. It seems that we have covered some of the important points. While your progress has been good, there's still room for some more improvement. Zeus grows impatient. I doubt we have much more time left now that we have extended things for a month. At most, I can give you another 2 weeks before you will have to visit the Oracle."
"Understood, Lady Athena."
With that, the goddess disappeared in a poof of grey once again.
Percy then looked around for a bit before he brought up his stats.
...
STR: 23 + 3 = 26 (+2 + 20)
VIT: 18 + 2 = 20 (+ 20)
..
HP Boost: 900 + 50 = 950/950
..
DEX: 18 + 2 = 20 (+2 + 20)
INT: 22 + 8 = 30
..
MP Boost: 1,000 + 50 = 1,050/1,050
..
WIS: 18 + 3 = 21
...
His main stats had gone up a bit especially his INT thanks to spending time with Athena and her children. They really grilled him a lot. He then moved on to look at his other abilities.
...
Skills
…
Combat :
Sword Fighting: 17 + 3 = Level 20
…
Inherited :
Modern English: 25 + 10 = Level 35
Swimming: 7 + 4 = Level 11 - 13 km/hr
Running: 7 + 3 = Level 10 - 40 km / hr)
Storm Bringer: 3 + 1 = Level 4
Earth Shaker: 1 + 2 = Level 3
…
General :
Critical Strike: 5 + 2 = Level 7
Mage Armor: 5 + 1 = Level 6
Battle Strategy: 5 + 2 = Level 7
…
Abilities :
Water Control: 17 + 3 = Level 20
Ice Control: 4 +2 = Level 6
Steam Control: 3 + 2 = Level 5
Fire Control: 8 + 5 = Level 13
…
His routine had been far more demanding than he let on in front of Athena. Truthfully, once he was in his cabin at night, he'd go to the Alternate Dimension and then walk out of his cabin to practice more with his powers. Out of everything, his most notable growth was in Fire Control which Hestia had helped him in. Of course, a goddess training another person in her powers was bound to yield some favourable results. Due to this, the goddess' visits had become more frequent and sometimes she'd just sit and watch him train. Moreover, her demeanour seemed to be the same in most cases except for when, every once in a while, she seemed to appear different and talk differently. He had tried asking her about her visits and behaviour but she just waved it off and said something about spending time with her champion which he accepted since he loved spending time with her as well. In that time, they had grown ever closer as he found himself talking to her about all sorts of things from his general thoughts to his life and what may come in the future. She too opened up a little and talked about her millennia as a goddess for which he was thankful. All in all, things were going well with his relationship with Hestia at this point of time. Despite all this, he couldn't help but wonder what happened that made the goddess decide to spend more time with him.
~Poseidon and Hestia's conversation from before~
"Dare what? State facts? The truth is right in front of my eyes. I can see Percy's bonds waning each day. How do you think he would be feeling?" Hestia asked harshly as the flames in her eyes started having flicks of green here and there. She was quite aware of her rising temper but knew that this needed to be done. To make matters worse, even Vesta was brimming with anger inside her head if her indignant shouts of switching out were anything to go by.
At this point, Poseidon could barely control himself.
"Why do you care so much about him, Hestia? Since when did you actively engage with demigods rather than just observing them from afar?" Poseidon seethed.
"Since he became OUR CHAMPION," Hestia and Vesta shouted together.
Percy's Stats
Perseus Jackson
Species : Demigod (gives +2 STR and +2 DEX)
Title : Son of Poseidon
Perseus is the son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson. Blessed by Elpis, the spirit of hope, he has a natural affinity with water due to his heritage which grants him control over water, horses, storms and earthquakes. He is also Hestia's champion which grants him control over fire and lets him summon meals.
…
Level - 17
Exp – 4,596 / 7,290
…
HP : 950 / 950 (+ 2,000)
MP : 1,050 / 1,050 (+ 2,000)
…
STR : 26 (+ 2 + 20) (Bonus : Weapon damage - Damage + STR | Unarmed damage - STR * 2)
VIT : 20 (+ 20) (Bonus : 50 HP per 10 levels)
DEX : 20 (+2 + 20) (Bonus : +10% HP regenerated / min)
INT : 30 (Bonus : 50 MP per 10 levels)
WIS : 21 (Bonus : +10% MP regenerated / min)
LUC : 26 (Bonus : +14% chance of better loot)
Points : 22
Money : $37,200 / D520
…
Status : Demigod
…
Skills
…
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 20)
…
Inherited :
Ancient Greek (Max)
Tongue of the Old Times (Max)
Modern English (Level 35)
Swimming (Level 11 - 13 km/hr)
Breathe Underwater (Max)
Akachan Shiru no Me (Max)
Running (Level 10 - 40 km / hr)
Storms (Level 4)
Earth Shaker (Level 3)
…
General :
Observe (Level 4)
Sneaking (Level 6)
Critical Strike (Level 7)
Taunt (Level 1)
Mark of the Furies (Level 8)
Mage Armor (Level 6)
Summon Meals (Max)
Makarios tis Elpis (Level 3)
Battle Strategy (Level 7)
Bond Manipulation (Level 1) (Purple: Romance, Brown: Family, Red: Dislike/Hatred, Blue: Friends, Grey: Neutral)
…
Chores :
Cleaning Dishes (Max)
…
Passive :
Gamer's Mind (Max)
Son of the Sea God (Gives +20 STR, VIT & DEX as well as +2000 HP and +2000 MP when in water)
Battle Instincts (Max)
Champion of Hestia (to be declared)
…
Abilities :
Water Control (Level 20)
Water Spikes (Level 4)
Blood Control (Level 1)
Water Spear (Level 3)
Dimension Create (Max)
Ice Control (Level 6)
Steam Control (Level 5)
Fire Control (Level 13)
Chapter 21: Whims of Fate
Chapter Text
Yes, it has been a while but I am a bit more free from work and life so I will definitely try and update more frequently. No, this fic is not and won't be dropped.
Disclaimer : I do not own PJO or any of its characters.
Chapter 21: Whims of Fate
~Olympus~
"Wh-what did you just say?" Poseidon asked with a completely dumbfounded look on his face. His anger was long forgotten as soon as he heard those words.
"Exactly what you just heard. Percy is my champion," Hestia said slowly. She had managed to placate Vesta a little, but it didn't look like her roman counterpart was faring any better.
Poseidon remained quiet for a few minutes as he processed what he had just heard. His sea-green eyes were swirling with different emotions until they settled on one that would make most people run for the hills; a shade of green so dark that it could be mistaken as black.
"How dare you?! Who gave you the right? He is my son!" Poseidon screamed with rage building inside him steadily.
The hearth goddess didn't even flinch, her eyes narrowing dangerously as the flames in her eyes finally burst and turned green, surprising Poseidon. He had never seen this side of her, no one had but today, and today was the first and hopefully last time that she'd have to use this.
"You will keep your mouth shut, little brother, and listen to me. If you make the poor choice to not, well, I wouldn't hesitate to completely change or sever the bond between you and Percy," Hestia threatened. She would never do such a thing, but right now, she needed Poseidon to listen, and this was the most suitable way and it worked.
Poseidon grunted and nodded for Hestia to continue. He knew that Hestia usually would never follow through on a statement as grand as this, but seeing her current condition made him doubt that. He really did love Sally and leaving her and Percy behind was probably one of the hardest things that he had to do, but it had to be done, nonetheless.
The goddess of the hearth flared her power and brought her hand up, only for it to burst into Greek fire immediately. The flame cackled and moved in an erratic manner, wanting to spread as much chaos as it could and burn things until nothing was left but alas, Hestia had an iron grip on it that it could do nothing but be in one place. She put in some of her power into the fire, directed it towards Poseidon and enclosed his head with it. Poseidon, to his credit, didn't move one bit since he knew she wouldn't hurt him, yet.
The fire surrounded Poseidon until it soon covered his eyes as he felt his view change. He looked around to see that he was at the demigod's camp, or more specifically, at the hill that overlooked the camp. It was night time and rain was pouring down lightly. It was a serene scene until a roar he recognised cut through the night. The god of the seas whirled around to see his son and Sally with a satyr in tow running up the hill with the minotaur right on their heels. He watched with trembling hands and dark green eyes as his lover was caught and disappeared in a poof of yellow smoke right before his eyes. He felt the emotions of his son enter him. Grief. Dread. Anger. He watched as Percy's eyes turned a harsher shade of green just like his did whenever his emotions were in an upheaval. He felt power course through his son's veins as he formed a storm overhead. He watched as his son got beaten up. He felt that pain. He felt everything. The emotions overwhelmed him in such a manner that unparalleled rage and sadness coursed through every fibre of his being as he lifted his symbol of power and threw it at the minotaur with all his might; destroying the image altogether until it was replaced with yet another instance.
It was night time. Poseidon found himself in a clearing in the woods. This time, he saw Hestia and Percy sitting on the ground or more specifically, Percy's head buried in Hestia's embrace. Everything looked fine until he recognised the sounds. Sobs and a runny nose. His son was crying. Then the emotions hit him. Sadness. Loss. Pain. Hopelessness. Each and every emotion made Poseidon break down little by little. All emotions faded until only one was left. A lone tear made its way down the sea god's face and one thought remained, 'What have I done?'
Soon, Hestia decided that it was enough and willed the fire to dissipate and let Poseidon take a breath before she continued.
"Did you see what you have done to your son, Poseidon?" she asked with anger still laced in her voice. She was still not calm by any means.
He had no response but silence.
"Thought so. Just for your information, this is but just a part of what Percy went through ever since he was forcefully dragged into this world. Did you ever think about how he felt? The only time I saw you give any sort of attention was when you put on that spectacle when you quickly claimed him as your son. But what after that? The boy had been on the brink ever since he lost his mother. It was all I could do from letting him fall altogether."
By now, more tears made their way down Poseidon's face as he started realising the gravity of his mistakes.
"His smile, dreams, everything was gone for that brief period. All that remained was a small flicker of hope that continued dimming each day. Who could he turn to? The only family he had was his mother, who was 'killed' right before his eyes, and an errant father who never bothered to meet his son. A 12 year old, all alone, thrust into a world where gods and monsters are real with no one to support him. Still, he kept a smile in front of everyone, never letting anyone know how he felt. Do you think that this will be cured within a few days or weeks, Poseidon?"
"I never knew."
"And that's every single Olympian's problem. That's what all of you ever say until it's too late. When will any of you ever learn your lesson? Why birth children if you can't even do anything for them?"
"Watch your tone, sister!"
"Otherwise what, brother?" Hestia emphasised with her eyes glowing even more as the Greek fire intensified, "Will you hit me? Curse me? Or ignore me? Just as you solve all your problems? That's how you seem to be treating your 'favourite' son after all."
Poseidon's rising anger died down immediately as he was reminded yet again what the topic of the conversation was. He took a few moments to calm himself before he turned to Hestia.
"How did he become your champion?" the god of the seas asked.
"Remember the spell I had cast after the war?"
Poseidon nodded.
"He was able to see me," Hestia started, ignoring the look of shock on Poseidon's face, "He approached me on the first day at camp and we talked. Ever since then, he would greet me, send sacrifices or spend time with me every day. I, in turn was there to listen to him and eventually, I realised that he embodied everything that was required in my domain and fulfilled every criteria that I had set for someone to be my champion. That is when we offered him this and he accepted."
"We?" Poseidon didn't miss out on that small piece.
"Were you even listening to me before?"
The goddess then glowed brightly for a moment and in her place stood two goddesses who looked almost exactly the same. Almost all their features were the same except for the expression on their faces and the way they wore their hair. While Hestia had her hair open and sported a kind expression, Vesta wore her hair in a side French braid and sported a sterner expression.
"We," both goddesses replied simultaneously which made Poseidon even more gobsmacked.
"Wait. Did both of you make his champion?"
"What part of 'we' did you not understand?" Vesta asked with narrowed eyes. She was a little bummed that Hestia stole the show and that she was not able to say anything.
"Just making sure."
Vesta then turned to Hestia and asked, "Mind if I take over? You've had your chance."
"Go easy on him," Hestia sighed as she disappeared.
Vesta then turned towards Poseidon with a glint in her eyes that did not go unnoticed by the sea god this time as he inwardly gulped.
~A few minutes later~
"Sister, while I may not be happy that my son is your champion, I cannot deny the amount you have helped him. I will try to mend things with him but as you said, it will take time so for the meanwhile, keep looking after him," Poseidon said with a sad face.
After Hestia had merged back with Vesta, Vesta had thoroughly dressed down Poseidon for the way he had treated Percy. While it was true that the laws couldn't be broken, he could always send a gift or anything small for his 'favourite' son. There were many ways to make it up to him or show he cared if meeting Percy wasn't an option. Moreover, Sally living with Gabe didn't make things any easier for the demigod. Thus, by the end of it, Poseidon had somewhat realised his mistakes and accepted them which didn't really surprise Vesta. Even though Poseidon was a god, it was a known fact that he loved his children and was always up to care for them. Percy was even more special for the god since he was his and Sally's son.
"Of course I will. He's my champion," Vesta said with a grin.
Poseidon could only nod, bid his farewell and returned to Atlantis, leaving the goddess alone in her palace once again.
'Back to camp?' Vesta asked her counterpart.
'Back to camp.'
~Camp, Present Day~
Percy and Hestia were walking in the forest after the campfire as was their custom ever since the demigod came back from his quest.
"Percy, would you mind if I asked you something personal?" Hestia asked, albeit a little reluctantly. She did not want to bring up this touchy subject but it had to be done.
"Of course, you can ask me anything Hestia," Percy replied with a smile.
"How were things between you and Poseidon when you met on Olympus?"
Percy would've reacted immediately if not for Gamer's Mind. He thought about it for a moment and decided to tell her everything since if he could not talk to her, who could he talk to?
"I was a bit nervous maybe to meet him for the first time. He was a bit different from what I had imagined him to be I guess but then again, I had never seen him before. I was happy when I met him and the way he protected me from Zeus during the meeting just as a father would. He even created a defensive sphere around me with his Trident to ensure that Zeus didn't try to blast me," Percy started happily but then, his tone dropped, "Once the meeting was over, he wanted to talk to me alone and at that time, I remembered all the bad things, that he was never there for us, he wasn't there when mom had to work almost all the time just to make ends meet, he was never there when Gabe abused us. He was never there, b-but mom still always loved him. Why would he leave us? Were we a burden for him? Was it because of me?" Percy asked with tears now forming on his face as years of suppressed emotions came crashing to the surface.
Hestia immediately engulfed Percy in a hug and sent waves of hope.
"You were never a burden for him, Percy. He loves you and your mom a lot. The Ancient Laws always prevented gods from interacting much with their children which was why he couldn't stay, regardless of how much he wanted to. I'm not taking his side but giving you the reason as to why he couldn't stay. However, that doesn't excuse the fact that he should've done something for you when he left or after that. He had 12 years yet he didn't do anything. I'm holding him accountable for that. I know things are difficult right now for you Percy but remember that I'm here for you," Hestia said fondly.
Instead of answering, Percy nodded.
"I didn't want to forgive him for what he made mom go through. Despite what he has done, he is still my dad and mom loves him. So for her sake and mine, I gave him another chance to make it up to us."
"I'm so glad to hear that Percy. It takes a lot of maturity and strength to handle that sort of thing. But don't feel that you have an obligation of any sort. If it is hurting you, tell me about it and we'll talk it out, okay?"
"I will, thanks Hestia."
"How was the meeting with Athena? Is she any happy with your progress?" the goddess asked as she easily changed the topic.
"She told me that my progress with sword fighting in the arena was impressive in its own right. Except for that, I think she's content with my progress."
"Hmm could be. Well, I know how hard you work so I'm sure you're going to become stronger."
"Yes, I have to if I have to capture Luke, I should get a quest."
"Yeah," Hestia said idly as the thought of Percy leaving her and going on another quest saddened her. Things felt lonely without him. Even though she had spent a better part of her life looking at things from afar and caring for her family, Percy somehow dug a special place in her heart and it made it difficult for her not to want to spend time with him. Moreover, the previous talk with Vesta was also not making things any better. They both knew the tell-tale signs of an attraction though it was the first time they had felt it and no matter how much Hestia tried to deny it, the facts remained the same. Before she could dwell more on it, Percy's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"I'll be back before you know it," Percy said with a smile.
"And safe," Hestia added, "Don't you forget the promise you made to me."
"I won't."
"Good, now go get some sleep. We've got a demanding training tomorrow."
"Good night, Hestia," Percy said as he hugged her again.
"See you tomorrow Percy," she replied as she returned his hug one last time before she disappeared in a burst of flames.
~5 days later~
"Chiron, why aren't demigods allowed to use gadgets?" Percy asked as he suddenly remembered about the camera in his inventory that the unknown deity had gifted him.
"Haven't I told you?" Chiron asked with a hint of surprise in his voice.
"Nope."
"Well, somehow the monsters can track demigods from the rays an electronic device emits. Helps them pin point their location and hunt down the demigod. Hence, they are not allowed in the camp or allowed to use it in general."
"What about mobile phones for quick calls?"
"Even those can't be used, most of the time. I'd recommend you use Iris message in those cases. You'd be able to get in touch with anyone then."
"Iris message?"
"You still haven't used it?" Chiron asked.
Percy shook his head.
"Well, you just have to create an artificial rainbow, chant or think Oh Iris, goddess of the rainbow, please accept my offering and show me, followed by name of the person and his/her location. It's extremely useful, if you ask me."
"What do I give her as an offering though?"
"A drachmae of course!"
Percy nodded and remembered this information since he knew that this was bound to be helpful in the future. He thanked Chiron and then proceeded with his training.
~8 days later~
Percy had finished his training session for the day and was lying on his bed. Tomorrow would be the day that he would visit the Oracle for his next quest. Gamer's Mind ensured that he was relaxed but his thoughts still ran amok since he didn't know what to expect from the quest. Luke was way better than him in sword fighting plus he had years of experience under his belt whereas Percy had just entered the Greek world. He had barely trained for a month or two and the strength disparity was truly astounding.
Percy couldn't help but feel that his chances of capturing the son of Hermes was low taking into consideration all the other factors. He was backed by Ares and some unknown person who had somehow swayed the two to his/her cause. Percy suddenly recalled a particular piece of information that he had completely forgotten about. The Fates had warned him about Kronos rising. If that was true then.
*KNOCK*
Before he could think more about this, his thoughts were interrupted with a knocking on his door. The son of Poseidon was confused as to who would visit him at midnight since almost everyone was asleep at this time.
*KNOCK KNOCK*
Once again, it came, but louder. Percy silently summoned Riptide and kept the pen in his hand, to change its form at a moment's notice.
*BANG!*
Percy then moved to his door and cautiously opened it only to be greeted by a pair of grey eyes.
"Come Perseus, you have to visit the Oracle right now. Zeus wants to keep this under wraps, the fewer who know about it, the better. Moreover, Zeus doesn't want to cause any alarms in case the prophecy is foreboding even if a little," Athena said as she turned around and started walking towards the big house.
"Not like I have a choice anyway," Percy said as he walked with the goddess through the camp. Thankfully, it was night-time and no one was around, otherwise, the fact that Percy, a son of Poseidon, was seen roaming with Athena herself would have caused a huge racket not to forget a previous instance involving a certain blonde with grey eyes.
"You have improved quite a bit in the last 6 weeks and maintained your discipline Perseus. We have done all we can for now. Now, our next move is going to depend on what the Fates have in store for us. One way or another, we are going to capture that traitor and find out what is going on exactly."
"We will, Lady Athena."
They soon reached the big house where Chiron stood on the porch as his tail flicked nervously. He gave Percy a reassuring smile which didn't quite reach his eyes. Regardless of how long it had been and how many times it had happened, he could not come to terms with the fact that the children of the Big Three always lead extraordinary lives. They were always involved in the grand scheme of things be it good or bad. Percy was no exception. Even though he was twelve, he had already managed to do something that put him at par with many heroes of legend which was a big feat all on its own.
Chiron couldn't help but wonder what kind of destiny Percy was fated to have. If things progressed the way they were currently, he did not doubt that Percy would end up becoming the greatest hero the world had ever seen all before he became an adult. But for now, the boy had to put in his best efforts to survive and grow strong. He would ensure that Percy became a greater warrior than Achilles himself. Chiron knew Percy's potential and was determined to make him cross that mountain. But, for now, the boy needed to survive and train.
"Lady Athena," Chiron said with a bow. He then turned to Percy and said, "Regardless of what happens, remember that we're all here for you my boy. You will get all the help needed. Now go, don't keep Lady Athena waiting."
"Thank you Chiron," Percy said with a smile as he walked past him and up the stairs and entered a familiar looking place.
Percy walked forward towards the figure sitting at the back of the room. Just as he reached it, its eyes opened and a similar voice entered his mind.
"Sssson of Poseidon. What do you sssseek?"
Percy steeled himself before he asked, "Where can I find Luke, son of Hermes?"
A green mist started to pour out of its mouth and surrounded Percy as it entered his body. Its voice became even more pronounced than before as the first lines of the prophecy burst forth.
"The tides, the m…."
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