Chapter 173

I decided to heal Steve Rogers before dealing with everything else. He needed immediate attention.

With all eyes on me, I casually strolled over towards Steve. He needed immediate attention. His breathing sounded faint. I was surprised to see Percy Jackson, of all people, crying over the injured Captain America. I hadn't been aware the Greeks in this world were from the Percy Jackson universe. I hadn't seen any disguised monsters in New York, nor had I ever sensed anything resembling "The Mist." I'd have to ask the Ancient One about them later.

"Can you help him?" Percy asked me with tears in his eyes. "Ares hurt him badly." Percy was heartbroken at seeing his favorite hero almost die because of his stupid family drama.

I smiled at the boy gently. My Sacred Gear manifested around my wrists. "Of course, I can help him. He and I are friends—er—work acquaintances." I corrected myself. I realized that I hadn't spent much time with Steve actually. And yet he was nice enough to come out to try and help my niece…

Purple light enveloped his form. It took about 120 MP to completely heal him. Ares had severely damaged some of Steve's internal organs. If Steve wasn't enhanced, he would have died for sure.

Steve's eyes opened, and he shot upright in surprise! "What happened!?" He asked as he assumed a fighting stance. He quickly noticed someone he recognized was next to him and calmed down. "Uh…welcome back, Miss. Some crazy guy in armor attacking your niece and her friends." Steve recounted quickly.

I smiled, but it didn't reach my eyes. "Yes, I know. He and his sister are right over there." I turned back towards the two Greek Gods that hadn't moved much since I had arrived on the scene. Not that I had allowed them to. My aura had been blanketing the area and suppressing them the whole time. I didn't want them teleporting away when I was distracted.

"Who the hell are you, Mortal? How are you so powerful?" Ares shouted out angrily as I approached them. He was on his hands and knees kneeling in the dirt before me. Artemis wasn't much better off.

"Mortal?" I questioned. "Do I look like a mortal to you?" I said while gesturing to my 10 black wings.

"Of course you are! Before us eternal Gods, all beings are mere mortals!" He responded.

"Huh?" I said, almost stumped. For some reason, Ares could not recognize me as an Angel. Ancient Greece had been around for over 3000 years, so Ares should have been old enough to recognize an Angel when one stood before him. My kind had only been gone from Earth Marvel for around 1000 years.

[Clearly, some mind fuckery is once again at play.]

I agreed with the System. Odin had screwed with all of his people's minds. Who's to say that Zeus or someone else hadn't done the same to the Greeks?

Akeno walked over to me and gave me a quick hug. "Thanks for coming." She said.

"Are you alright, Akeno?" I asked. "Congratulations on reaching High Class…this time on your own." 

"Thank you." Akeno replied. "Although it wasn't exactly on my own. An artifact ended up fusing to me and boosting my power." she explained.

"Yes, we watched it happen. The Lightning Bolt faded into motes of Light as soon as she touched it." Ororo Munroe said as she also walked over accompanied by Jean Grey.

"They all shot into her chest, and then she grew another pair of beautiful wings!" The redhead said excitedly.

"Ara, to think you were both staring so intently at my chest earlier." Akeno said to both Jean and Ororo with a mischievous grin.

Was Akeno…flirting? With two beautiful women at once, even!? I was so proud of her! Jean Grey's face turned red at her niece's innuendo. Ororo merely gave Akeno a faint smile. I wasn't sure what had happened before I arrived, but clearly my niece wasn't doing half bad for herself.

"You stupid mutant freaks! That was Zeus's Master Bolt that the bitch took away! She's going to pay for that!" Ares shouted angrily. His muscles bulged to their maximum as he tried to stand despite the pressure I was focusing on him. His face was red as he glared at me with hatred in his eyes.

I narrowed my eyes on him. He'd just threatened Akeno in front of me…again.

[He's screwed…]