DEATH

Vajraha.

The Slayer of Lightning.

If that wasn't foreshadowing, Athos didn't know what was. He traced the golden word on his forearm before looking up at Shiva.

"How does it work?", he asked.

"Merely will it and it shall appear, but I'd advise against summoning it now. It would incinerate you if you aren't powerful enough", Shiva answered.

"Uh-huh. I guess using ordinary arrows would just make it mad"

Shiva snorted, "Do you really believe a bow I personally crafted would require arrows? It would obliterate any object unfortunate enough to be in its line of trajectory."

Athos raised an eyebrow, "So I just pull back and release?"

"Yes. That's it. It works on the concept of vibrations", Shiva scooped up a handful of cold snow. "Tell me, what is the fundamental difference between you and this?"

"I'm...err...hotter?", Athos said tentatively, slightly confused.

Shiva chuckled, "Everything is energy, Athos. Be it you, this lump of snow or the Himalayas themselves. The only difference is the frequency at which you are vibrating. If I supply that very same frequency but with the same amplitude in opposite directions, it brings about...", Shiva's hand gave out a slight hum and the snow vanished, "Annihilation."

Athos grinned in excitement, his heart beating in anticipation. Vajraha was this powerful?! Didn't this mean he could just delete Zeus?

"But...", Shiva continued and Athos' heart dropped. "Beings with divinity shall be somewhat resistant to it. Ascension fundamentally changes their very existence thus their natural frequency isn't all that easy to interfere with."

"Dammit", Athos muttered.

"Things are never so easy", Shiva smiled.

"Yeah, I guess so", Athos nodded. It did sound too good to be true.

"Well, this has been a productive discussion", Shiva said, stroking Vasuki. "You'd best be on your way lest your father accidentally blows up his island in worry."

"Yeah, he can do that sometimes", Athos grinned and brought out the golden coin with a Nemean Lion carved into its side. The moment he did, he was reminded of Gaea and he clenched his teeth in anger but he calmed himself down soon enough. Gaea was a Primordial after all, and he couldn't take her lightly.

He took a deep breath and prodded the coin which began to glow bright gold.

"Farewell, Athos, and remember, there is more to the Fates than meets the eye", Shiva smiled and with a flash of golden light, Athos was gone.

***

Athos reappeared on a familiar sandy beach, but before he could regain his bearings something slammed into his side.

"Aaah! Dad....Ribs.....Ouch!!!Oww!", Athos squeaked as he was squeezed by two large muscular arms.

Herakles grunted and released Athos who plopped onto the sand.

"Ow...Good...to see...you too", Athos gasped and looked up, finding two electric-blue eyes boring into his soul.

"What. Did. You. Do?", Herakles intoned his arms folded across his chest.

"What do you mean?", Athos said sheepishly.

"What?! What do you mean by what do you mean? Do you have any idea how much chaos you've caused?!"

"Hey! Why do you assume it's all me?"

"Is it not?"

"It is...partly, but that isn't the point. I-"

"San Fransisco is gone and so is San Jose! Camp Jupiter is in SHAMBLES! Terminus is half-dead and Neptu-Poseidon had to take the brunt of the blast! Millions dead! The Elder Olympians are all out of commission!"

Athos got to his feet and dusted himself off, "I can explain"

"You'd better", Herakles practically growled.

***

"You're telling me that you are tainted by Khaos? THE Khaos?', Herakles said, sitting on a log in front of a large campfire. He was leaning forward and his elbows rested on his thighs.

"Yeah. The large nothingness and all", Athos nodded, sitting across from his father. The dancing flames cast shadows on Herakles' bewildered face.

"And you killed the Nemean Lion?"

"Yup, I have its coat right here."

"And you killed Ladon to steal the Apples of Immortality?"

"Mhm...yeah, that too."

"And you slayed Thoon and ripped out Atlas' heart?"

"He had thick skin."

"And Gaea made Mount Othrys collapse to kill you?"

"She did. She's a bitch."

"And you met a foreign Primordial who saved you?"

"He has the best abode ever."

"All this to become a God?"

"Mhm. Hopefully, it's worth it."

Herakles got up and began pacing back and forth. He ran his fingers through his hair and muttered, almost deliriously, to himself while Athos sat back, watching the show unfold. He gave his father a few minutes to take it all in before speaking.

"Proud of me yet?"

"Proud?!", Herakles whirled around. "You managed to slay that overgrown lizard which even I could not best. How could I not be? And what's this about a partial ascension?"

"Nereus told me I'd become stronger if I formed a Divine Body before ascending. Something about the combination of the immortal and immortal being better than the mortal and mortal", Athos said, grinning at his father's praise.

"That old bastard and his theories", Herakles harumphed before furrowing his brow. "But it's not like the theory is without substance. It could indeed work, but doing so would be a Herculean task. The World does not look favourably upon those who gain power via unorthodox methods."

"Dad, can you stop it with the puns?", Athos sighed.

"Hmph! Philistine! Fine, but my point still stands. Such methods are not easy, Athos"

"Yeah, I figured", Athos said and brought out an empty flask. "I need some Ichor too dad. Ichor of a God and all that"

Herakles' eyebrow twitched, "You do know that if you weren't my son, you'd be meat paste by now? Right?"

"I'm glad you took a liking to mom", Athos shrugged.

Herakles massaged his temples, "I can see why Gaea wants to kill you"

Athos brought out a large golden Apple of Immortality and its fragrance instantly exploded outwards.

"Perhaps this can change your mind?", he said with a grin.

"You're impossible", Herakles muttered, grabbing the apple and making the flask float towards him. He used his index finger to slice his wrist which he held over the flask. Ichor filled up the flask surprisingly fast and within a minute it was done.

"You better use that properly", Herakles grumbled, tossing Athos the now full flask.

"I will. I gotta drink it, I believe."

"WHAT!"

***

Athos sat in the middle of a large clearing, his former training ground, with a weighty, gold, beating heart and two flasks in front of him. Herakles stood next to him with a complicated light flashing through his eyes.

"Are you sure about this son?", Herakles said gently. "Power isn't everything, you know"

"I'll be fine, Dad. Nereus knows what he's doing", Athos replied, not taking his eyes off the three items. The lengths he had gone to to get these had to be worth it. It had to.

"Speaking of the old man, shouldn't you consult him before beginning the ritual?", Herakles suggested.

"Yeah, you're right. Better safe than sorry", Athos agreed and Herakles waved his hand. A thin cool mist descended, covering the clearing. Light reflected off the droplets of water, forming a vague rainbow.

Athos summoned a drachma and tossed it into the mist.

"Nereus, The Old man of the Sea", he said.

The mist shimmered and formed an image of a livid old man standing on a rock in the middle of the sea.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?", Nereus yelled.

"I got the things you told me to get", Athos replied calmly.

"ANSWER MY QUESTIO-, Oh, greetings Herakles, long time no see."

Herakles nodded in acknowledgement.

"Where was I?", Nereus scratched his beard, "Ah yes - WHAT DID YOU DO?! MY FAVOURITE PIER WAS DESTROYED!!!"

Athos brought out an Apple of Immortality, "The extra compensation you requested"

Nereus' angered facade crumbled quickly seeing the apple.

"An Apple of Immortality?! Hmmm, yes, that will do", Nereus grinned, scratching his yellowed beard. It seemed his love for the pier was temporarily pushed down.

"Nereus, is there any particular method to consume the items and achieve a Divine body?", Herakles interrupted the conversation.

"Hmmm? Not particularly, no. Consuming the items isn't the problem, it's the aftermath", Nereus looked at Atlas' heart with equal parts interest and surprise.

"Aftermath?", Athos frowned.

"You'd be leaking energy all over the place once you consume them and try your best to contain it lest you explode. Your robust body would help immensely here but it can still be fatal."

"Is there anything that can help?", Herakles asked worriedly.

"A few Mythical fruits come to mind, but nothing you can possibly attain", Nereus muttered, pulling out a chocolate chip biscuit from the cornucopia inside his robe. "Oh! There is another thing that can do the trick. Dragon Blood!"

"We have none of tho-"

"Dragon Blood!", Athos yelled jumping to his feet and cutting off his father.

He flicked his wrist and an enormous heart landed on the ground kicking up dust.

"If it isn't the Ladonslayer, himself!", Nereus chuckled, stuffing another biscuit in his mouth while Herakles stared at the heart with wonder.

"I knew this would come in handy", Athos mumbled.

"Well, I'm not needed here anymore, and don't forget to give me the Apple once you're done, Athos, that is...if you survive!", Nereus cackled and waved his hand, cutting off the connection.

Athos took a deep breath and looked at his father who nodded. With his newfound confidence, he walked over to the Titan's heart and picked it up. He then used the serrated dagger he used to slay his first monster to cut two long gashes in the large heart before picking up the flasks and emptying their contents in them. He'd rather eat them all at once.

He gave himself a quick pep talk before raising the fleshy mound and sinking his teeth into it.

"Urrrgh...", he mumbled in disgust as his mouth filled with blood and raw flesh. There was no taste, it was just a mouthful of food with a disgusting texture and an inordinate amount of blandness. He wanted to gag and throw up but he pushed it down, swallowing it. He opened his mouth and took another bite, a mixture of blood and Ichor spilling down his shirt.

He continued eating the heart, occasionally drinking the Ichor-blood mixture to wash it down, every bite kindling something in his chest. It was not unlike the sensation a demigod would get when they overdosed on Nectar or Ambrosia, the only difference being that this was ten times worse.

"Arrgh...", Athos groaned as he finished his last bite. His body was on fire and his skin was bright-red. Parts of it were beginning to peel off, as though he was beginning to shed his mortal shell.

"ATHOS! The heart!", Herakles yelled, which snapped Athos out of his trance.

He managed to get to his feet and trudge toward the giant heart. He undid his watch and climbed into it, using a vein hole to sink into the bronze liquid. Perastos retreated into his body and he curled up into a fetal position, his consciousness slowly waning.

He felt weightless, as though he'd returned to his mother's womb.

The heat in his chest was akin to a nuclear reactor being shoved into his stomach but the pain slowly faded.

It was as though his soul had left his body, a small, faint heartbeat - the only indication of him being alive, but a few seconds later, even that ceased to exist.

Athos Apsifoun, The Demigod, was dead.

END OF FIRST VOLUME - MORTAL

***

I can't BELIEVE I managed to get to the end of a Volume. I thank every single one of you who read the volume, regardless of whether you liked it or not. Your comments really helped, and yes, ATHOS SHALL GET A BREAK. He just gotta jump through some hurdles first!