"Not bad. Not bad at all. I saw that fight."
"You should've just taught me that move from the start," I complained to him weakly, every breath hurting.
"Still, though. I kicked his ass." Hades laughed at me, ruffling my hair like I was a kid who'd just won his first Little League game. "I know, kiddo. I'm proud. You did a great job. Now, just sit back and enjoy the show."
I was gently placed on the ground. Even though I was teetering in and out of consciousness, I kept my eyes trained on Hades. I wanted to see this. Hades started toward Ares, his pace slow and deliberate, his boots crunching on the sand. He clicked his tongue disapprovingly as if scolding a misbehaving child. With each step, his leather jacket began to dissolve into his skin, melting away like smoke.
Two massive, skeletal wings erupted from his back, stretching wide and casting jagged shadows across the beach. The helm from Ares' motorcycle ripped free, flying through the air and landing on Hades' head with a resounding clang. He adjusted it casually, the polished surface catching the light from the wall of fire, and a smirk curled his lips.
"Well, then," Hades said smoothly. The beach changed. No, it didn't just change—it transformed. A dense, suffocating blanket of mana formed, far heavier and darker than anything I'd seen Ares summon. This wasn't just power—it was pure dominance, and it radiated from Hades like a living thing. The mana coalesced into liquid form, swirling and rushing around him like a sentient tide, thicker and blacker than anything I could imagine. Then, with a deep breath, Hades let it go. The mana exploded outward in a blinding shockwave, an eruption of darkness that swept across the beach.
Everything it touched changed—the sand, the sky, even the ocean. Where there had been soft blues and oranges of early morning, now there was only black. The horizon disappeared into an abyss. It felt like a dream. No—a nightmare. I knew it was supposed to be dawn, but to my eyes, it looked like midnight. And the whispers—I swear by Zeus, I could hear them. Feminine, teasing, tantalizing whispers, drifting up from the ground. They tickled at the edges of my mind, pulling at me, coaxing me to sink beneath the sand. Just for a moment. Just to see… I forced myself to snap out of it. Hades had changed.
A shadowy aura pulsed around him, towering and monstrous. The darkness swallowed him whole, leaving only his helm visible—a faint glimmer of death in a sea of black. It was like he was absorbing all the light in the world, dragging it into himself and leaving nothing behind. He slowly squatted down next to Ares, who was now whimpering and trying to get away from him.
"Hello, Ares." I shuddered. You know that sound in horror movies? The one where the killer's voice is distorted, like ten people speaking at once in this low, guttural growl? Yeah, Hades made that sound like a lullaby. The voice that came out of him wasn't just terrifying—it was wrong. Inhuman. Macabre. It scraped against my nerves like nails on a chalkboard, and for a split second, I wanted to close my eyes, curl into a ball, and pretend I was anywhere but here. The worst part was—this was nothing. I knew it was nothing. If Hades really wanted to, he could show me things that would leave me somewhere in a mental ward for the rest of my life, shrieking about things that would make absolutely no sense to anyone.
This was the power of an Elder God. Gigantic, shadowy arms of pure mana erupted from Hades' body, pinning Ares in place. A deep, rattling laugh came from the shadowy specter that was my uncle. "Going somewhere?"
"Please, uncle," Ares said, all of his bravado gone in the blink of an eye. His entire being was trembling. The gold patches on his body were completely gone. Ares was scared shitless. "It wasn't my doing! I was being controlled!"
"Not good enough," Hades replied, a dark smile crossing his face. It looked like the smile on a scarecrow, nails crisscrossing in a shape barely reminiscent of a smile. The only way I knew he was smiling was the amused chuckles that were coming from him. He turned back and looked at me. "Perce, can you walk over here?"
I shakily stood up and hobbled over to my uncle. Another arm exploded from his back and helped to stabilize me. "What's up, uncle?" Hades grinned at me. Honestly, it was kind of disconcerting to look at. "Look at his pocket."
I did. Sure enough, in his attempt to hurry away, a little bronze cylinder had started poking out of his pocket.
"Grab it," Hades instructed. His arms pressed down on Ares. "Ares won't move, will you, Ares?" Ares whimpered.
"Please…make it stop…"
"No can do," Hades said, and I noticed that his eyes were glowing a crimson red beneath the helm. I must've been staring pretty hard, because he nudged me. It felt like getting dunked in an ice bath. "Perce, the bolt."
"Oh, right, sorry," I apologized, trying to put a little distance between myself and Hades. I gently removed the tiny bronze cylinder from his pocket. As it touched my hands, it transformed into a two-foot-long metal cylinder, spiked on both ends, humming with energy. Hades laughed behind the helm. It was pretty fucking terrifying. I'm not sure what it sounded like to Ares, but he started wailing the moment he heard it. "Now, then. Weren't there some things you wanted to ask Ares?"
"Ares," I said, awkwardly pointing the bolt at him. Little arcs of lightning sparked off of the end. "Do you swear on the River Styx to never touch or try to cause harm, in any way shape, or form to Aphrodite—or any woman—ever again?" I don't even think he was looking at me. His face kept moving left and right, his eyes darting back and forth incessantly.
"Yes! Yes! Just make it stop!"
"Yes to what?" Hades urged, his eyes glowing brighter behind the helm. I didn't even think it was possible, but his voice dropped even lower. "Say it out."
"I swear on the River Styx to never touch or try to cause harm, in any way shape, or form to Aphrodite—or any woman—ever again!" Ares sobbed, tears running down his face. Thunder rumbled somewhere, off in the distance.
"That's just pathetic," I said, frowning at the sight in front of me. I looked at my uncle. "What's he even seeing right now?"
"Beats me. Go get your friend, we're going straight to Olympus," Hades informed me. I nodded and started walking over. I stopped halfway, tossing Hades my sword, which had been embedded into the sand a few feet away. "For you."
"Ah, nephew," Hades said brightly as he stabbed Ares through the arm. "A man after my own heart. Thank you."
"No problem." I walked towards Piper with a spring in my step as Ares' pained screams rang out over the beach.
— - —
Quest Complete! [SIDE QUEST]
{Love's Arrow!}
[Quest Prompt]: For centuries, the goddess of love, Aphrodite, has been caught in the crossfire of Olympus's endless rivalries, her heart shackled by divine politics. Embark on a perilous quest to break the ancient binds holding her captive, traversing mythical landscapes, deciphering cryptic prophecies, and standing toe-to-toe with powerful
Olympian guardians bent on preserving the status quo. Only by uniting your courage, wits, and belief in love can you restore Aphrodite's freedom and guide her to the destiny she's been denied for so long.
[Hidden Objectives]:
Successfully use the bond! [X]
Have Aphrodite take a romantic interest in you! [X]
Kiss Aphrodite! [ ]
Take Aphrodite on a date! [ ]
[Total Rewards Earned]:
[+][4000][REP] with [Aphrodite]!
[+][50,000][EXP]!
[+][Title][Always Sunny]!
— - — — - —
Quest Complete!
[STORY QUEST] {All's Well…}
[Quest Prompt]:
The gods are at odds over a stolen relic— Zeus's lightning bolt—and Poseidon is caught in the middle. To make matters worse, Zeus has wrongly accused you of being the thief. Hades has come to Poseidon with a proposal: a quest that could uncover the true thief and restore balance between the gods. The thief, or thieves, aren't working alone, and Hades believes the same person or group has also stolen his symbol of power.
Poseidon has no doubt the criminal is hiding among the gods themselves, and for your mother's safety, Hades has taken her into the Underworld. Now, it's up to you to clear your name, find the real thief, and bring justice to the gods.
[Hidden Objectives]:
Activate the Limit Break by speaking to Nemesis! [X]
Draw blood in your battle with Ares! [X]
Force Luke to show himself and fight! [ ] [Total Rewards Earned]:
[+][1000] boost in reputation with multiple Olympians!
[+][100,000][EXP]!
[+][Godhunter]!
[+][Skill][Fool's Gold]!
[+][Special Perk coupon]!
— - — — - —
{Perseus Jackson} [Son of Poseidon] [Hestia's Favored] [Echidna's Bane] [Always Sunny] [Godhunter]
[LVL]: 29 [6900/16,000]
[STR]: 35 [+20]
[DEX]: 45 [+20]
[CHA]: 12 [+5]
[$]: 46USD, 53D
[Info]: Son of the legendary lord of all seas, Poseidon, and Sally Jackson, Percy is the current [Child of Prophecy] and bearer of Olympus' flame. Despite his murky past, Percy is ready to take on his future with determination.
{Titles} [Son of Poseidon]
Permanently grants [+]1000 and increases [Mana Regeneration] rate by [1%] per five seconds.
[Hestia's Favored]
Permanently grants [+]750 and [+]750.
[Echidna's Bane]
Grants immunity to all poison-based status effects and toxins, and reduces incoming damage from monstrous creatures by [10%].
[Always Sunny]
This title makes your natural charisma shine even brighter, making you a beacon of positivity and influence and boosting your [CHA] by [2] every level-up.
[Godhunter]
Grants [+][20%] damage to divine or godly beings (including minor gods and divine constructs). Increases critical hit chance against godly enemies by [+][10%].
— - —