The Troublesome Trio

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" Normal Text"

~Thoughts~ [System]

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Disclaimer- I own nothing here but my character really.

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Camp Half-Blood 10 Months later April 15th,2000

~Well, they should be coming here soon. Maybe I can be there when Grover calls Chiron about them.~ King was deep in thought at the prospect of the impending conflict that awaited him. He had thought about the different ways he could stop Thaila from being turned into a tree. The first thing he needed to get done was get a suitable sword to dual wield and he had just the one in mind. In all honesty King took after his namesake and was lazy; he felt he was strong enough to take on the army of Hades. Well, at least hold them off for the group of Demigods got into camp then he could just speed away to safety. After all, he did not want to get too strong and draw attention to himself. King opened his stats looking for one certain skill.

[Blacksmithing Level 6/30 (0%)]

King walked to Hephaestus Cabin and knocked. He was greeted with Cole, who he learned was the Counselor before Charles. "Hello, Cole, I was wondering if I can use the forge sometime? I have a weapon I want to work on." King said, showing a rolled-up blueprint. Cole looked at King " Hmm I don't see why not. In return can I get a look at Chastiefol?" King nodded and gestured to his pillow and transformed it to the sword, he handed it to Cole and said "No problem, Do I have to use my own material, or do you all provide it?" Cole stopped looking at the sword and looked at King, "Well you can use some of the scrap swords and metal them down and turn them into ingots." Cole left after that, and King headed to a station in the forge and opened his inventory and when no one was around he pulled out some skill disc.

[Skill Disc Level 10 A player item that can level up any skill based on the level written on the disc.]

King put the level 10 disc away and kept out the level 5 disc.

[Would you like to use this item? Accept/Decline]

King hits accept 5 times pouring all 25 levels into Blacksmithing.

[Blacksmithing Level 30/30 (0%)

Random bonus effects can be added when Blacksmithing comes in different forms.]

King looked around in the forge and picked up some scrap swords of Celestial Bronze and melted them down into ingots he ended up with a total of ten. He took two ingots and pulled out the blueprint and was prompted by a screen.

[Would you like to make this weapon with this material? Accept/ Decline]

King tapped on accept and then his body went into auto pilot crafted an Elucidator. In an hour, he was done.

[Elucidator- Celestial Bronze

Damage x 80

A one-handed long sword that is great for slaying monsters.

Bonus Affect from Self Forging: Paralysis- strikes from this sword has a slight chance to paralyze the target it hits.]

~Well, it's not the sleek black sword that I loved. I can probably fix it once I make a stronger sword. There are a lot of materials out there I can use also with the system I am definitely not limited to.~ King thought as he looked at his sword. King sorted the leftover ingots he had into his inventory and then went to Cole who was sketching Chastiefol in detail. "Hey Cole I'm done in the forge today." King announced. Cole looked like a kid who just had his favorite toy taken away. "I guess that means you want Chastiefol back." King nodded and snapped his fingers turning Chastiefol back to a pillow. King started floating away then Cole called out to him. "Don't be a stranger King stop by the forge again sometime it would be great to have ya." King waved him off going towards the Hearth. He had decided not to store away the Elucidator until he could get a sheath for it so it sat on his pillow. "Hello Harlequin." He turned to the voice and saw it was Chiron. "Hey Chiron what's up?" "Oh nothing special I just saw you over here by the hearth and decided to see what you were up to." Chiron said. They sat there for a while taking in the warmth of the flames and a shimmering caught both their attention. "Chiron! Chiron thank gods I got ahold of you." King and Chiron looked and saw Grover on the other end of the Iris message. ~Already if Grover is calling that means he has found the group.~ King thought, turning his attention to Grover. "Ah Grover how goes the searching if you are calling me that means you must have found something important." Chiron told Grover. "I have 3 demigods with me and one of them are powerful they give off aura similar to King." King took this opportunity to express how important that was, "That's not good, my father always compared my aura to a child of the big 3. If what you saying is true you have some prime monster nip on your hands Grover." Chiron and Grover Paled at the implementation. "Chiron, I do not think I can get them to camp on my own; they aren't trained in the slightest like King was when I brought him." "I'll go." King jumped off Chastiefol and announced. "King, you know we can't just let you leave camp, it's too dangerous." Chiron said with a frown. "Chiron if what Grover is saying is true they will have a ton of monsters trying to kill them so I will be going. Inform Lord Dionysus for me. Grover, where are you." Grover looked around and then spoke, "We are just outside of Richmond, Virginia." ~Looks like Grover found them before they met Artemis.~ King told himself. " I am on my way. Chastiefol!" King jumped on to his pillow and at top speed.

Once out of Chiron's sight he opened his inventory and used the skill 10 disc on [Chastiefol Flight] Maxing the skill out and tripling his speed. He was flying at 90mph all the way to Richmond Virginia. ~Lord Hermes please give me strength to reach these demigods in Virginia.~

[Ping! The God of Travelers and the God of the Skies have blessed your trip allowing you to move 10 times faster with no penalties. It also replaced your Mp. Blessing time left 12 hours.]

~Thank you.~ With newfound speed Harlequin made it to Richmond in no time.

Once he was on the outskirts of the city he picked out a drachma and made an Iris call. "Grover ! I'm outside the city on the north end, where are you?" "We are almost there. I haven't seen anything so you should be able to see u- I see you right there Harlequin look right." King waved the message away after a quick thanks to Lady Iris. " Grover, nice to see you in one piece. These are the kids?" King asked even though he knew the answer. "Yeah King they are. These two I know their parents they told me but the last girl won't say anything." Grover said as they walked up. King was greeted by the three still best friends Annabeth Chase with her dirty blond hair and stormy eyes, Luke Castellan in his 12 year old glory he looked like a miniature version of his father, and finally Thalia Grace the snowball that started it all. "Well, my name is Harlequin Liones Child of Demeter, Legacy to Apollo. It's a pleasure to meet you as well Children of Athena, Hermes and Lord Zeus." This made everyone's eyes get wide. Thaila wiped out her spear and attempted to place the tip under King's throat. Key word attempted. King parried with Elucidator and disarmed her. " Calm down. Even though you are older than me you won't be able to take me on." King said deadly calm Luke and Annabeth were surprised at the young boy's skill. Annabeth was the first to speak. "My name is Annabeth. How did you know who our parents are? How did you get here so fast? How did you disarm Thalia? How old are you?" King laughed at her behavior. "I know who your parents are because I have met them all and I'm an aura sensor kind of like how monsters can find demigods based on the scent of their godly blood. I can find people based on the godly aura they send out. I got here fast because I prayed to Lord Hermes for assistance so traveling over 300 miles was no issue for me. I train a lot. And finally I'm 7 just turned 7 in January." Luke spoke before Annabeth did. "You prayed to my father?" He asked as he said the word father with venom. "Yes I did and he was more than generous enough to provide me help to get here to assist Grover in getting you to camp." Thalia scowled at King and picked up her spear. "My name is Thalia Grace." "Okay now that we are all introduced let's get moving to camp." After a few days of walking they made it to the Maryland/ Pennsylvania border King, Thalia, and Luke all made quick work out of any monster that came their way. Over the trip the original trio warmed up to King asking him questions about his weapon and his pillow all he answered. "Guys stop, there is something coming ahead of you rather than someone. Grover and Luke I advise you to remain calm and do not do anything to piss these people off." Grover and Luke looked at King confused.

[Future Sight activated]

King's eyes turned green just in time to see an arrow hit him in the shoulder disabling his arm. His eyes turned back to normal as he plucked an arrow out of the sky aimed for his shoulder. The rest of the traveling group was shocked and confused at King's display. King coughed and spoke loudly. "Well Lady Artemis is an outstanding trainer you almost pierced my shoulder which would have been troublesome for us." Once again the traveling group was wide eyed at his proclamation. A few flashes of silver flooded their path. The Hunters of Artemis. King bowed to them out of respect. "The hunters of lady Artemis it is a pleasure to met you however since I am not wild game, nor am I impeding on your camping sight you cannot try to kill me."

The girls in front of him kept their bows at the ready. "Permission to Fire Zoe?" King looked at the voice and smirked a little. "Yes we shall wide that smile of thy boy's face." The girls fired their arrows, King slammed his hands on the ground ~Wood Style: Wood locking Wall!~ A massive wooden wall sprouted out of the ground blocking all the arrows and then went back down. "Stop this foolishness you are breaking the rules that are in place for your Hunt ladies you cannot just attack someone because you failed to kill them the first time I have done nothing to insult you or cause any issues!" King spoke. "He's right lower your weapons ladies." There walking in front of the group of girls stood Artemis. King bowed to her, lowering his head gesturing for the other two boys to do that same at the very least, "Lady Artemis it is a pleasure to see you again. If we are impeding on your camp we did not know. I am currently tasked in moving these demigods and goddesses to Camp." King spoke respectfully. Artemis waved her and gestured the males up. "Well young Harlequin you have certainly improved since the last time we met. However boy why are you out of camp Dionysus has a policy to not let campers out once they are in unless for a quest." King straightened out and spoke, " I was there when this satyr got a hold of Chiron about 3 demigods and one of them had an aura close to mine when Grover first met me..." King explained the situation in depth including everything. "Fine I will not kill you today boy it would cause me major troubles on Olympus for me. However I will be speaking with the girls alo-" to ask them to join your hunt." King finished for her. Artemis nodded at his statement. " I recommend that you only ask Thalia then as we both know Demigods and Demigoddesses mature faster that normal humans but young Annabeth is still to young to join also I don't think Lady Athena would like her favorite Child dying because she joined the hunt to young and couldn't keep up." Artemis frowned at King and walked away as she gestured to Thalia to follow her. "How did you catch my arrow boy?" King turned around and was met with another interesting character.

[Zoe Nightshade, Lieutenant of Artemis, Level 60]

~Hmm level 60 damn it's time for me to start grinding more then. By the time Percy shows up I want to be stronger than Zoe that's for sure.~ King said. "I just reached up and plucked it out of the air. I have very good reaction time." King said with a smile. "It was a really good shot. If I was any slower you would have hit me. So thanks." Zoe was confused. "Why do thy thank me boy?" She asked. "Well you gave me a reason to step up my training once I get these kids to the camp. So thanks. Your a really good arch-women." Zoe seemed conflicted at the Boy in front of her. She just walked away before he could be any more confusing for her. King sat on his pillow for a while until Annabeth walked up to him. "How do you know the Hunters?" "I don't know them . I just know Lady Artemis because she was there when I visited Olympus." Annabeth's eyes were sparkling at the thought of seeing Olympus and started asking him questions. King patted a spot on Chastiefol gesturing for her to get on it and he answered all of her questions. After a few hours of insensitive questioning from the daughter of Athena she stopped with her questions. Thalia finally stormed up to King and the rest of the group, "We are leaving!" Thalia harshly spoke. Luke and Grover nodded while King shrugged as he jumped off Chastiefol. He noticed Annabeth didn't jump off with him. She had fallen asleep on the pillow. King gave a small smile to him and told the group, "Looks like old wise girl is asleep. She can stay on Chastiefol and it will follow us. I shouldn't need Chastiefol for battle so it will be fine." Luke and Thalia were confused at what he met by using the pillow in battle. Before they left the camp they were stopped by the hunters again. King bowed his head and spoke, "It is time we be on our way to CHB." Artemis stopped them from leaving and spoke to King. "My lieutenant has challenged you to a spar to see if you are strong enough to protect these maidens." King was surprised at this and nodded. "What are the rules of engagement?" "She has chosen the weapon hunting knives the first to incapacitate the other wins." King took Elucidator and stabbed it into the ground . "Very well." King discreetly pulled out his set of Nemean Lion fang knives and clipped them to his hip. Artemis led King to where Zoe was. He used ~Observe~ his opponent.

[Zoe Nightshade

Level 60

Hp: 12,000/12,000

Mp:9000/9000

~Str: 57

~Dex:62

~Vit:48

~Int:60

~Wis:55

~Luck:30]

~She's going to be tough to beat. Maybe all I need to really do is just disarm her.~ King looked at his stats.

[~Str:39

~Dex:50

~Vit:44

~Int:32

~Wis:31

~Luck:33

Points:47]

King decided he wasn't going to hold back at all; he poured his points into different stats.

[~Dex:50>60

~Int:32>50

~Wis:31>50

Mp:3,150>4,950]

[Reaching Stat 50 in Int and Wis granted new skills!]

[Photographic Memory(Passive)

The player can easily recall things he has seen in the past with perfect results.]

[Strategic Mind (Passive)

The player can survey the battlefield or blueprint and determine the best way to handle the problem. The best way can mean the least amount of casualties or quickest way to get it done.]

King stood across from Zoe and readied his knives in a reversed grip taking a defensive stance. "This bout will begin. To see if Harlequin is capable of protecting these maidens. Loser by submission no killing or maiming blows. Daggers or throwing knives only." Artemis stated a rapid list of rules.

[Defeat Nightshade.

Zoe Nightshade has challenged you to a duel. Defeat her and prove you can protect your group.

Rewards: 1500xp, 100 D, +Rep,?, ?

Failure: 50xp, knocked out effect, Thalia and Annabeth stay with the hunt.]

"Begin!" Zoe rushed King in a flurry of blows only for him to barely block them all. She came into another blow and King ducked under her hand and sliced her underarm. Zoe growled at the boy and started swinging faster. King, using his speed, just blocked and parried only being hit once or twice. "You are something Miss Nightshade, not many people can go toe to toe for me this spar is fun." King said with a wild smile on his face. "Let's pick up the pace shall we!" Zoe yelled. She seemed to move a little faster as if she held back before. Still King just parried and blocked; he got hits off when he could. King jumped up high in the air and threw his knives at her. She smirked at his tactics and dodged his knives. Zoe took this opportunity to get close and slash at him. At least she thought he was unarmed. King unclipped 2 more knives and reengaged the fight. "Hmm you know you're not bad for a girl that is." King said with a smirk. He planned to get under the skin and make her lose her cool. Zoe gritted her teeth. "Thou are not one to speak boy." "Well girl I think that hell hound I killed in one move actually has you beat." Zoe was furious at his mind games.

Meanwhile Artemis just frowned. She knew what King was doing, throwing her off by messing with her mind. King took it a step further with the mind games. "Fun fact about me Zoe, I am a bit of a sensor and can tell who people are based off auras." "What does that have to do with anything boy." King chuckled, dodging another blow. "I can also tell who peoples parents are." King laughed in his head at his mind games. "Surely you jest." She replied looking a little paler. "Oh my dear I never joke in a fight. You know you give off the aura of an Oceanid nymph. Could it be that your father was one." Zoe snarled at the mention of her father. "Shut Up!!" She yelled, striking out messily. "Okay so not the father maybe the Mother than." Her eyes softened at the mention of her mother. "Your Face betrays you Zoe your mother is a Nymph huh.. well that Narrows it down a bit about who you are." Zoe throws her knife at him and like with the arrow hours ago plucked it out of the air pocketing it. "Well one less knife to work with let's continue our deliberations. I heard a story about a water nymph from my father want to hear it?" He said blocking another blow. The hunters, Artemis and King's travel group all just sat there watching the spar most with confusion, others with rage. ~That boy is picking her mind apart. I did not know he could detect auras! He's going to tell everyone her heritage!~ Artemis screamed in her head. King noticed the rage in Artemis' face and then looked at Zoe blocking another blade. "Hmm maybe I'll just keep the story to myself then if it gets you all worked up, it is a good one it involves a Dragon, a massive tree, and Wonderboy Hercules." The next thing that happened no one expected. In a roar water from the river they came to life and slammed into the King. (A/n I know in Canon she can not do this but their magical abilities are tied to their emotions and King pissed her off) King stood up and checked Zoe's and his health points.

[Hp:6,000/12000

Hp 1,500/3,325]

Using the smoke cover the water provided when it kicked up the dirt King reached into his Inventory and Pulled out a skill Book consuming it. Zoe in her rage threw another massive amount of water at King. Everyone thought King was dead until they heard a voice. "Full Counter!!" All the water seemed to turn around and slammed into Zoe. There standing in the dirt cloud stood King with tattered, soaked clothes. "I guess magical abilities are free game now. Don't worry though I will only use defensive abilities." King spoke calmly. They looked at his face, his features had stoned and his eyes had turned cold. King activated Increased Tempo and then in a blink disappeared. Zoe by this time picked herself off and noticed the boy vanished before her eyes. The knife she was wielding was knocked out of her hand and then she found herself with her arms locked to her side and someone dipping her and the feeling of a knife at her throat.

King had put her in a bind. He spoke softly so only she could hear him. "I know he hurt you, he betrayed your trust and took advantage of you. That does not make you less. It only makes him less for acting like a pig. But do not be so quick to judge people including males. I know you can and will be more after all you got a goddess and a group full of scary and amazing hunters behind you." Zoe locked eyes with King studying them for lies. She found herself blushing at his words and the close contact. King, noticing her red cheeks gained the same color and let her go, he cleared his throat and stuck out his hand to her. "Good spar Miss Nightshade. If it was allowed to kill you would have won." Zoe shook his hand. "It was a good spar Harlequin. And you're right I give this match to you. Hopefully we can fight again in the future." As they shook hands King whispered "I will not reveal your heritage to anyone, that is your secret and I respect your privacy." She nodded her head in appreciation with a tone of pink on her cheeks and walked away. "Well boy I will mind you to keep your hands to yourself and not on my hunters in such a manner. Also I should skin you for how you treated her on the battlefield." King bowed his head and explained, " Lady Artemis it was just a spar, nothing should be taken with a grain of salt. Zoe was the superior fighter in all but speed and reaction time so I said some of those things to make her angry do not take it personally. She has already forgiven me." "Very well child. You leave at first light back to the camp. So rest up." King nodded to Artemis and then they parted their ways.

King was greeted by a wide eyed and slack jawed traveling group. "Enjoy the show guys ?" King asked with a smile. "That was amazing!!!" Annabeth said. "Can you teach me how to fight like that with a dagger? How did you move so fast? What was that Full Counter?" Once again King found himself chuckling at Annabeth's antics. "Instead of all that, how about we talk about you sleeping on my pillow?" King said teasingly. Turing fire engine red Annabeth stuttered and was visibly flustered. " It is a massive pillow, it's something you sleep on. Plus it was comfortable and it was nice to sleep next to someone so warm." She spoke the last part quietly but unfortunately for her Thalia heard her and gained a mischievous grin. "What was that last part? Annie want to share it with everyone. "Stop talking!!" Annabeth yelled pointing a finger at Thalia. A round of laughter was shared.

[Ping ! Quest Complete!

Defeat Zoe!

Rewards: 1,500xp, 100D, +1 Level 5 skill disc, Skill book stealth.

Rewards deposited to inventory.]

King walked away from the group and pulled two things out of his inventory: the 4 pillar house book and the level 5 skill book.

[Use this disc?]

King pressed except and added 5 skill levels to wood manipulation.

[Wood Manipulation 15/100(0%)]

He then learned the skill book.

[Wood Style: Four Pillar House 1/10(0%)

By sending chakra into the ground, the roots of the plants are converted into raw materials. This technique allows for a building to be constructed, by forcing accelerated growth. Just like with the Four Pillar Prison Technique, the size and shape of the building are taken from the user's imagination or memories.

Mp cost 100-1000 depends on size]

Grover, Thalia, Luke and Annabeth came up to King. "Why are you over here King?" Grover asked. "Well we aren't going to camp on the ground." "There is nowhere to sleep to we are in the middle of nowhere." Luke told King. King smirked and then slammed his hands onto the ground. ~Wood Style: Four Pillar House!~ A small cabin sprouted from the ground. Everyone minus King was amazed at what happened. He opened the door and looked at his handy work. ~Very nice!~ He pulled out some blankets and pillows before the rest of the crew got into the house. Eventually once everyone picked up their jaws they made it into the house. "Holy cow this place is amazing!" Thalia shouted. "Yeah honestly this was my first time doing it so I'm surprised it came out so well." King said, scratching the back of his head. "Okay the girls are in the room on the left and the boys are in the room on the right. I'll be sleeping on the floor in the main room so if something tries to attack us I can defend. The group parted ways and went to their rooms. Screams of excitement were heard every so often about a new feature one of them had found. King chuckled to himself, laid on Chastiefol and went to sleep.

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Okay that concludes this chapter. King has stepped up his mental manipulation using his past knowledge. This was mainly due to the increase of Wis stat that I made him go that route. Next chapter they will be in the home stretch for camp half blood and I already have a great idea but I don't think some people will like the stunt I am about to pull but trust me it kind of saves the timeline so they have to get the fleece and it makes him get more motivated. Thanks for the support. Don't be afraid to leave some ideas and tell me what you all think should happen! Until the next chapter!