7 Chapter 7: Preparations
A/N
Surprise! Here's another chapter for y'all!
Edit: 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)
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
...
Skills
...
Combat :
Sword Fighting (Level 8)
...
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)
