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The Mortal God Of Olympus Ch.31
🕑 Added 2022-04-24 20:24:31 +0000 UTCDisclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 31- Chaos approaches
AN: Discord version available!
Massive chapter. I'm dead. Pray for my soul.
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The darkness in her heart was not the truly frightening thing. Neither was it her newfound streak for cruel brutality. Nor the urge for domination, or the need for power.
It was her spiraling vortex of thoughts that always ended up in lust…when it concerned her son.
'The Higher one is, the harder they fall.' The mortal saying cannot be truer for Gabriel presently.
Fallen-angels were creatures of darkness and impurity, perfect antithesis of Angels. Fallens were beings who'd let themselves be corrupted, and turned away from the blessings of God.
And once they fall, once they let just one trickle of darkness inside….things only get worse.
For they have now opened themselves to the seven sins, and the corruption only just starts taking place then.
Their entire being starts shifting as impurities begin corrupting their minds. The anger turns to hatred, righteousness to arrogance, fairness to cruelty....love to lust.
And Gabriel knew this. Knew it explicitly, knew it intimately. Knew it not from some second-hand recounting…but from her own bitter war against her heart.
A war she knew she’d lost.
The urges, the darkness...even the full strength of her Will was not enough to keep herself within her self-imposed limits.
And that was what Gabriel feared the most now.
Things hadn't been this bad for the first 8 years of her falling. But then, Mikael had been there as an anchor for her, to hold her in place and ground her to reality. Now, all alone as the bishop of Ajuka Beelzebub, her urges pressured her with an intensity she had never felt before.
Becoming a devil had done nothing to suppress them either. If anything, she felt it was partly its fault for her current position. And so, these maddening urges continued to tempt her, even as she did her best to ignore them.
Lust was the easiest—and the hardest—to ignore. Just the thought of her son looking at her in disgust completely erased any such urges from most of her day-to-day life.
There was also the fact that no one could truly arouse her interest. In recent days, she’d found herself losing respect for those weaker than her. And considering she was at the very peak of the power-chain, there were few who received even a speckle of her regard.
And out of all those that held her attention…only one had ever managed to shake her interest; burning a deep fury of arousal within her.
But while lust might not be hounding her life yet, her newly born coldness, cunning, and sheer ambition surely was. She found herself manipulating the people around her with the ease of breathing, her morality having been shredded quite a while ago.
Perhaps she might’ve been able to fight it off once, but the problem was....she’d never felt the need to. And so she’d let it fester and grow, twisting her goals into something more…worthy of her current nature.
Five years ago, she'd sworn to unite her pantheon. It had always been her dream ever since the split first happened. A goal that she took to be improbable for most of her life, only to then be presented with a chance. And she had taken it with pure intentions. Five years ago, she had—quite optimistically—accepted the role of peacemaker, intending to do this one last task with a pure heart.
Unfortunately, it was not to be.
Now, she found her thoughts to be...less than pure. Well, her goal was still the same, but she no longer did it with the same intentions as before. And it had all begun changing on that fateful day.
Ever since her...son's departure—he’s going to come back, he’s going to come back—things have been a constant struggle for Gabriel. Every passing day was a chore to her, and every night a time for her demons to let loose.
She would try to end her day with the sweet thoughts of her child. The time when they'd spend together, the joy that he'd brought in her life....
And she failed to hold onto them every time.
Far too soon, the sweetness would turn. It would warp, convolute, transform into something less innocent.
The memories of his small delicate body wrapped under her arms would change on their own accord…and far too soon she would find herself dreaming of being wrapped underneath her son’s arms; their roles changed.
And then the dreams would take a step even further into darkness. Her son would be a strong young god now, completely unclothed—his muscled arms and chiseled chest would cup her just as naked body with tender love….and lust.
Lust and passion.
His fingers would dig into her hips and heavy breasts, his perfect body rubbing against her own, his breath on her neck as he whispered her name and drove inside her…again and again…
The dream—nightmare—was always the same. Beginning with innocent memories, and ending with guilty pleasure and false hope.
The disgust would come of course. Each night it would assault her entire being; for daring to dream such ridiculousness. Yet, even that was born not from the semblance of morality she hoped she still possessed, but from imagining her son’s disappointment at his whorish mother.
And yet, she couldn’t stop. She couldn’t stop the lust, and she couldn’t control her flaws…not when the subject was her son.
But while her abhorrent dreams wouldn’t ever come true—she ignored the despairing part of her heart—her dark ambition was free to run wild.
Thus she lived; bartering for lives, manipulating the people around her, threatening those she disliked...even killed.
All for her selfish ambition. An ambition born out of a simple realization.
Once Mikael reaches his 16th name-day, he will surely return. And it would be her duty to welcome him with a present as grand as his stature demands.
...And what could be more suitable for him than the kingdom of God?
No, he wouldn’t want your body, you ditzy old fool.’
Of course, she didn't expect him to be impressed by this mere crumbling little pantheon; divided and weak. So she must do her best to unite it under one name....under the name of their new king.
Who could possibly be a better ruler than a god with the blood of a devil, Angel, and a fallen? No one.
Mikael was fated to be their one and only god, and she must do her best to build up his kingdom as soon as she can.
Before his 16th birthday.
Even if she needed to kill for that to happen.
And so she embraced that part of her being; using her knowledge and cunning for a task most noble.
Her plans had seemed unrealistic when the ambition had first taken hold of her mind. But she’d just been a mid-class devil back then, no one respected her position as being incharge of Internal affairs.
She’d grown since then. A lot. Not only was she being considered for the position of foreign affair’s office, her mastery of demonic power had grown such that not even her harshest critics could hope to badmouth her.
Her power and might could be rivaled only by the Satans now. Even then, she no longer considered Serafall Leviathan her rival. No, she’d already surpassed the devil.
She may have only just achieved the Ultimate-Class status in the devil’s hierarchy, but she had no doubts that there were just two beings who could hope to defeat her in this corner of the hell.
More than that…she was no longer alone. She had a peerage of her own to help her in this endeavor now.
Sure, a single Nekotama with a horrible past and an abandoned Belial weren’t much to brag about, but she could recognize the potential within, and that’s what counted.
…Yep, they completely aren’t to present Mikael with some more gifts to choose from.
Five years ago, she'd sworn to unite the Kingdom of God.
Her goal was still the same....just the God that she wished to unite it under has changed.
Mikael will replace her father as their ruler, and she will stand alongside him, ready to tear apart anything that may wish him harm.
Only three more years remained till that day…and Gabriel was now more motivated than ever.
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When we arrived back down, the kids made a beeline straight for the gaming section, leaving me behind to search for the buxom figure that I'd marked earlier.
My eyes soon pinned down the woman, finding her on the same exact spot she’d been the last time, her fingers wrapped around the same pool stick as she took aim. A little weird but my attention was more on her tight tush as she bent over the table, her thick thighs flexing against her dress.
The dress she wore was also a little old fashioned, a twinkling dark green flapper that was more famous in the early 1900s than now. Still, its skin tight feature—and the deep cut that left her taut thighs naked—did its job perfectly in raising my interest...and something else too.
Though that could've also been due to the woman's other bombshell features. Her thick round rear curved out, stretching her dress to their limits. Her deliciously deep cleavage peaked at him from her low neck dress, getting pushed up as she leaned upon the table. She was older than I would’ve liked—around mid-forties—and her face had some heavy makeup on, but I could easily ignore it for the beauty she managed to sport.
I had to smother the urge to just go and start grinding into those delicious buns. Honestly, I probably would have, had I not seen the ring on her finger.
She was married. This forced me to go slower.
‘...or not.’ I smirked. This was just the perfect chance for me to play around with my newly gained domain.
Thus, I closed my eyes, easily feeling the desire in the air; stark and clear. My senses ignored the rest, focusing on the buxom wench that was bent over in front of me, my recently enhanced Authority caressing her mind, feeling for her desire….
I frowned, eyes snapping open. The sexual desire was there, I could feel it. But it was muted…just like all her emotions.
The only desire that did stick out seemed to dominate her entire world, filling her mind with a sole purpose; to keep playing the damned game forever.
‘What, some professional player maybe?’ I shook my head, disbelieving. Only then did I let my attention wander to the rest of the area; finally taking in the layer of Mystiokinesis that infected the air. ‘That just won’t do.’
Willing my Authority upon her, I started to manipulate her desire; pushing down the unnatural—magic influenced—urge to play Billiards, while shooting up her need for a good fuck.
It was made easier from her own natural desires; to feel young again, to leave her monotonous sex life and try something new, to find comfort in young and strong arms….
My authority ripped apart the layer of magic around her, and I could feel the effect taking place immediately; both physical and mental. As if coming out of a trance, the woman slowly pushed herself straight, misty eyes sharpening up to stare at the stick in her hands.
Confused, she slowly dropped it on the pool table, her droopy eyes flickering around the room as if the world was just coming alive to her senses again. Frowning brown eyes finally fell upon my figure, and my tongue could taste her sweet desire spiking up within her instantly.
Her widened eyes—large as saucers—flickered up and down my body, blinking rapidly.
Only then did she realize how closely I was staring at her. Whirling around quickly, she retook her position on the pool table, her cheeks red and burning.
A few seconds passed as she seemed to control herself. Then, with a hesitant smirk that tried to look confident, she half-faced me. "Well, young man? Are you just going to stand there and watch? Or will you actually do something?"
She winked saucily, though I could still see the red dusting on her cheeks to see how flustered she actually was.
It truly was a soothing balm to my ego, knowing even my masked self could now fluster a mature, and—if I had to make any guess—experienced wife.
Still, I wasn’t one to keep someone waiting.
With a growing smile that split my cheeks, I approached her from behind.
"I was just worried about that ring, you see?” I whispered close to her ears, coming to press up against her taut rear, feeling it being clenched against my hardened member. “What self-respecting man would neglect a woman like you?"
My hands trailed along her smooth hands, slowly taking a hold of the pool cue enclosed within her fist.
But the reaction I was waiting for did not arrive, my words causing her to blink in confusion, a frown spreading on her face as her eyes started becoming misty again.
Then, as if she remembered something, she snapped her head around to stare at the line of men playing along a trial of consoles....and presenting me with the luscious curve of her slender neck in the process.
"My husband has been..." Before she could go on, I leaned down and bit into her throat.
A gasp, followed by a deep moan, was released from the woman as my mouth suckled upon her soft flesh, tasting the sweetness and breathing in her fragrance.
Uncaring of the Casino crowd, I let my hands curve around her waist, slowly caressing her body through the frills of her flapper dress that left some of her skin bared to the touch.
My mouth slowly made its way from her throat to her delicate chin, kissing and suckling until they arrived upon her lips.
Our eyes met, deep lust staring back at me with need. The little bit of her resistance and guilt seemed to disappear after another absent glance to the side.
“…looks like my husband finds those games more interesting than me.” She whispered, turning back to me. Releasing a light giggle, she bit her lower lip hungrily. “It’s a good thing that you’re here to take care of my needs then.”
I turned to look, and found a wealthy looking man passionately shooting down illusionary figures on one of the VR booths. The focus in his eyes was so intense that I was almost weirded out for a second. But my business wasn't with him.
It was with his wife.
"Truly shameful behavior." I chuckled, turning to her; with our lips almost touching. "But you need not worry. Your prince is here to rescue you from this unfair boredom."
She wiggled beneath my arms, her bountiful rear grinding against my rock hard shaft.
“I don’t need a prince.” She growled like a nasty kitten, taking hold of my hands and placing them upon her large melons. “I need you to show me what a real man can do.”
I laughed delightfully, pressing my fingers deeper into her cleavage and pulling her body closer. Her massive tits were soft dough beneath my palms that changed shape as I massaged them deeply. I felt her hot breath on my neck as she gasped, her soft hands tugging at me for support.
"Gladly." I whispered, one hand coming to grip the back of her head to turn her lips at me.
Her mouth fully welcomed my intrusion as I slammed my lips upon her, engaging in a searing hot kiss in the middle of the casino. My tongue battled hers, sucking and pushing expertly, enjoying the taste of her strawberry shade lips. Her moans started getting louder and louder with each second until we were a pair of grunting, smooching, grinding, lovers that cared not for the world.
When we finally separated to take breaths—to not kill her of asphyxiation—I took a quick look around the Casino.
No one cared. I would’ve thought we might attract some sort of attention, but no. Not a single soul seemed to give a flying fuck that there was a steamy hot affair taking place on the spot.
‘Must be the Mystiokinesis.’ I concluded. ‘Or the people are extra uncaring in this Casino.’
Though I doubted that was the case, considering not even her husband cared to look at the side, just a dozen meters away to his left, and notice the doe-eyed, breathless figure of his wife who was being dry humped from behind by a stranger, a second away from being fucked to kingdom come.
The only being who even seemed aware of them was a passing waitress who shot me a wink and a flying kiss
Something was wrong here, I knew. The mist and magic was clearly affecting the people too much for this to be voluntary, and I definitely intended to find out about it quickly.
…But only after I've taken care of my raging boner.
Whirling the woman around, I wrapped a hand under her fat ass and lifted her up. Her legs automatically wrapped around my waist, hands coming to rest on my shoulders with a startled gasp.
"C'mon, let's find a better place for this." I muttered, enjoying the feeling of her soft breasts smashing against my face due to their sheer size.
The woman squealed in delight before turning to wave at her husband. "Bye honey!"
I glanced at the man, but he didn't even glance as we passed by.
Something was definitely fishy…but pleasure took a bigger priority right now.
Work can come later.
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Spine straight and hands folded, Euclid Lucifuge sat five seats away from the leader of Khaos Brigade, listening to the Olympian War God drone on and on about Gabriel's whelp.
The separate space that they'd been invited to was different this time. Dim light spread a dreary gleam over everyone present in the room, eliciting not just a single yawn as they all sat listening to Ares' report.
It was surprising, really. Shocking even, to everyone save Euclid. Just weeks past they'd seen the God of Strength, Hercules, gain an entirely new degree of power, to the level that made even Euclid have doubts of surviving a doubt against the god. More shockingly, he'd even begun doubting the chances of Rizevim winning against the freak that had come out after the transformation.
That power, that might...it had lit the fire of greed within his chest unlike any.
Surely...if Hercules could go from an average god to almost matching the raw power of Ares... wouldn't it push Euclid closer to that infuriating bastard, Sirzech Lucifer's level?
'If only those scales would've been red instead of black...'
Yet, here he was—knowing exactly how powerful it had made Heracles—listening to the news of his death at an opponent who'd only been a minor curiosity in Eculid's eyes.
'Mikael Gabrielson....' The name sent a little shiver in Eculid's spine.
Though he couldn't decide if it was a shiver of excitement or fear. Wisdom beckoned those who knew when to select their enemies. And Euclid did not wish any who could defeat a god such as Infinity-blessed Heracles as his enemy.
Yet, the inventor part of him couldn't help but wonder...if he created a device that can grant him similar powers to the boy, he may be able to close the gap between him and the Satan Lucifer more easily. And while he might need to run some extensive experimentations on the boy, he at least wouldn't need to risk becoming an ugly disfigured entity like Heracles.
'Grayfia wouldn't like that...'
He suppressed a wave of rage and disgust that came with the thoughts, shaking his head to stare ahead.
"....So hear my bit of advice...either take the little runt out of the game or stay the fuck away from him." Ares finally finished his lecture.
It rankled Euclid to see the War God speak with such nonchalance when addressing the dragon goddess, yet he cannot do much for it. Ares was, without a doubt, the second strongest being in the room.
Though he suspected the Olympian had some advanced knowledge about Ophis that made him so fearless.
A shame Euclid was ignorant about it. But not for long, should he get his way.
He had plans of his own of course. Plans more real and with greater odds of success than a war against the Great Red.
….Plans to get Mikael Gabrielson in his clutches.
But for that, he would need to take Ophis’ permission.
Before he could open his mouth to plead his case however, another person seemed to have a similar idea as him.
“My lady, if I may?” Ever the charming bastard, Cao Cao opened his human beak to spew gallons of water all over his plans.
“Hmm?” The tiny dragon goddess tilted her head. “Very well. I, shall hear you speak.”
“My lady, it is clear by the Olympian’s words—though he may have failed to finish the plan—the boy will still be traversing through the Underworld.” Cao Cao started, giving a brief bow—which just screamed ‘fake’—to Ares before continuing.
“The plan does—“
Sadly for him, the War god wasn’t willing to take the blow to his pride.
“Mind your tongue, Mortal.” Ares growled, cutting him off. “You may sit beside me but never think us equal. It wouldn’t take me a second to turn you to ashes.”
The impenetrable calm of Euclid’s rival flickered for a second before he brought himself under control, giving a much deeper bow this time. “Apologies Lord Ares, but you did fail to deliver upon the planned proceedings.”
Ares tsked, leaning back. “I just told you the boy will see through it. He is no longer a child playing at divinity, but a god who can crush each of you little worthless worms with a hand tied behind his back. If I’d gone with your plan, he would’ve found the Bolt before long and simply taken it for himself. No, the moment he achieved his godhood, your plan turned worthless.”
Euclid frowned as the room turned silent, observing the War god with a critical eye. Gone was the boorish daft god who spoke with vanity and arrogance each time he opened his mouth.
Instead, in his place sat a god more worthy of being an Olympian. There was a certain gravity in his eyes now, as if for the first time he’d realized there was a risk of losing.
More alarming than that however, were his words. The caution that marred his tone was rarely ever heard by the ones gathered today.
It puzzled Euclid really. A single newly ascended god should not cause such a reaction in Ares.
Euclid turned his attention to the others sitting in the room then. Katarea seemed subdued, her eyes conflicted between anger and hunger.
‘Stupid whore.’
His eyes went to the demigod then; Luke Castellan. The boy held a grimace, shoulders slumped as if carrying a terrible burden; guilt and determination warring inside his eyes.
Euclid didn’t look down on him. The half-human may be the least powerful member currently present, but Euclid had no doubt he could go toe-to-toe with most of the High-class devils’ upper echelon.
Especially if he accepts the snake of Infinity, as Euclid knew he was close to doing.
‘That one could be a good pawn.’
“As I was saying, the plan isn’t completely ruined yet.” Cao Cao’s voice retook his focus. “We still have the Helm and the Bolt with us. We can yet parley with the Lord of the Underworld for his assistance. Failing that, we can at least create a diversion to shift his attention away from our true objective. I’m sure our devilish friends wouldn’t mind retrieving the Titan Lord’s sarcophagus from the depths of Tartarus, while I and my friends bargain with the Silent one.”
Then, with a polite smile curving on his face, Cao Cao turned to Ares. “Your assistance would no doubt be welcome in Tartarus, Lord Ares. And as the one with Kronos’ favor, who better to retrieve him than you?”
“Gods don’t visit the pit, fool.” The War God sneered, but Euclid could see the nervous twinge hidden underneath. “Tartarus will not let me get out easily. My presence will attract monsters, Giants and Titans—who may not believe my tale—and our mission will grow more complicated than it ne—”
Suddenly the Olympian came to a full stop, cocking his head to stare at the corner of the room absently. Then his eyes cleared, landing upon Luke’s stiff figure like a cat that caught the canary. “No, I can’t enter the pits without getting special attention from Tartarus’…but we have just the person with us who can.”
As one, their eyes snapped towards the startled demigod. The boy made a valiant effort to not wilt under their combined gaze, straightening his spine as his eyes firmed…but it was clear for all to see how clammy his hands had gotten, and how the sweat trickled down his brows.
“Me?” His voice was hard, not giving an inch. “Surely you don’t thin—“
“Yep you, brat.” Ares purred “Tartarus won’t care about a measly little demigod. And as the son of Hermes, you can travel through its depths second only to Hades’ whelps. But considering we ain’t got any, you’ll do just fine.”
“Then it is decided.” The soft words of Ophis shut down any further arguments. “See it be done. I, will not be disappointed again.”
And that was that, Euclid knew. Everyone present knew there was no point arguing about it any further. While the dragon of infinity was usually absent-minded and mostly apathetic, she had a mean streak for stubbornness that no one wished to cross.
Especially not him.
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The moment we reached the bathroom—which looked new enough to never have been used—I dropped the woman on the marble counter, directly in front of a mirror. The next second we were back at each other again; tongues fighting a fierce war, lips hungrily sucking, hands pulling each other as close as we physically could, bodies grinding together in pure lust and need...
It was a good long hour later that I finally left the bathroom. I had to admit; mortal wives fucked like there was no tomorrow, and I rather preferred their dirty talks and kinkiness than the inexperienced brood of Aphrodite.
A shame I was never left satisfied.
Alas, my moment of pleasure was short lived, for just a foot out of the room, I was accosted by a panicking Percy.
"Oh thank god, you are alright!" The boy exclaimed, looking over his shoulder. "Kael, we need to leave. This place is a trap!"
"Woah there, boy!" I waved him down. "Calm down."
"We have to leave. Now." The boy declared urgently. "All the people are trapped in here by this hotel."
"Calm now." I ordered, my authority lapping up his urgent desire, extinguishing it to a thin wisp. "I already know all about it, Perce. The Mystiokinesis is thicker than water here.”
The boy blinked, his wild sea green eyes growing confused. “Mayonnaise what now?”
“…Magic, Perce.” I sighed. “Magic. Besides, I’ve been doing my own research, which has proved quite...hmm, gainful. Time moves differently from normal here, and we may have spent more than just the few hours our senses have registered.”
The conclusion was only reached after I’d calmed down, finally starting to investigate the magic in the air. There wasn’t a divine Authority for me to pin down, which had made the task much harder than it otherwise would’ve been.
The boy took a deep breath, finally growing calm. “Alright….alright. So, what do we do?”
I hummed, working through the implications for the first time that night. It was clear by now that this hotel wasn’t just some customer-friendly place for fellow supernatural beings to mingle. It was an incredibly subtle trap, though its purpose alluded me.
My mind went through all the possibilities, processing information almost faster than I could run, but I just didn't have anything substantial to go off on.
‘Lotus hotel, lotus hotel...nah.’
If there was some mythical hotel dubbed Lotus that trapped people and accelerated time, I didn't know about it.
‘But a time chamber in the middle of Las Vegas?’
Shaking my head, I focused back on the present. "Alright, Perce. Here’s what I want you to do; Go get Annabeth, leave the hotel, and start the car. I have some more work to take care of, so don’t wait up for me.”
The boy gave a hurried nod before sprinting down the casino—his steps disappearing into the Casino’s craziness.
Soon as the boy left my sight, I turned my attention to focus on the faint trace of divinity that my senses picked up on…
It wasn’t the first time I’d caught the whiff, but I’d simply assumed them to be just another pair of demigods taking shelter under the luxurious extravagance of the hotel.
The recent news put a new twist upon it however, and my renewed interest in the divinity was rewarded when I finally gauged their power.
‘Tier five, no doubt. Almost to the level of Percy, but woefully untrained.
So a couple of brats from the big three. Hopefully they won’t turn out to be my siblings that Zeus heard. Or else I’ll have to deliver a fierce grilling to my dear father.
The more important reason for my delay was cause it presented me with a fabulous opportunity to finally finish another one of my 'Demigod Collector’ quest. With these two rescued, I’ll jump a full 10 levels ahead. As long as I got to Lvl 650 by the time I unlocked my next pair of wings, I was bound to skyrocket straight into the next Tier.
‘…Calm now, Mikael. Don’t flap your wings before they’ve grown.’ I suppressed the excitement from spreading at the thought.
Tier 8 will finally put me to the same level as an Olympian. And an Olympian in their godly form, at that. But he needed to complete these quests, and unlock his wings to reach that.
‘So close yet so far away.’
I chatted with a few people to confirm what I’d just gleaned, and to my no surprise it was indeed as I’d feared. People from over a hundred years were trapped in here, thinking they just spent a month or two at the Casino. And they sure as hell didn't wish to leave. They were as bad as drug addicts, really.
‘The longer someone stays here, the more they’re likely to remain.’
Curiously, their status showed their age to be normal, not affected by the decades of time they spent in the casino. And as I went around observing the people in the gaming arena—getting closer and closer to my source—I finally landed upon my targets.
'Observe'
Nico De Angelo
Race: Demigod (Hades)
Level: 50
Tier: 5
Divine Power: 100,000/100,000
Stamina: 49,000/49,000
Health: 52,000/52,000
Stats
Strength: 45
Speed: 53
Dexterity: 51
Endurance: 49
Constitution: 52
Mental: 14
Spirit: 100
Bianca De Angelo
Race: Demigod (Hades)
Level: 65
Divine Power: 150,000/150,000
Stamina: 63,000/63,000
Health: 65,000/65,000
Stats
Strength: 64
Speed: 65
Dexterity: 68
Endurance: 63
Constitution: 65
Mental: 17
Spirit: 150
My eyebrows went up my forehead, surprise flickering within me as the two children of Hades played with one of the gaming consoles; nary a care for the world in their eyes.
I knew they’d be one of the big three’s brood, but I didn’t know even Hades would break his oath upon Styx. Considering how much the river must mean in his domain, it truly was a shameful sight.
I snorted. ‘What can you expect from a murderer and kidnapper?’
But the fact remained…two of Hades’ kids would now be joining the prophecy, dismissing Percy as the sole bearer of that fate.
‘Why are they here though?’ I frowned. ‘Surely Hades could hide them in a much more secure place…’
Though if this entire place belonged to him….
My frown deepened. ‘Why a time chamber though? Is he preserving them until all the other nominees are dead and he could control the entire prophecy?’
I snorted. ‘Well in that case…I would love nothing more than to drench his hard work with water.’
What to do though? Rescue them? Take them to the camp?
….Nah, not in a million years. They might be kids, and normally I would’ve helped them out, if nothing then solely for my quest...but they were Hades' kids. Not only must the bastard have filled their ears with bullshit, they will undoubtedly choose him over me when things go bad between us.
I didn't want to add another couple of names to my enemy list.
A different plan brewed in my mind; convoluted, dark, and not at all something I’d normally consider when looking at two helpless demigods…
My inventory opened up, and out flew two small bugs. I wasn't going to kill the kids as revenge, but if Hades tries to use them against me?
He will be in for a rude awakening.
....Plus, they can provide quite a delicious ammunition for threats and blackmail.
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I found Percy and Annabeth still inside the doors of the hotel, being offered a platinum status cards for their trouble. Percy's hand twitched forward, only to be slapped down by Annabeth. "No, thanks!"
Relief spread through the girl's face as she caught sight of me. Turning back to the bellhop—who looked supremely disappointed at our departure—she gave a brief nod. "We’re leaving now. Goodbye!"
She then dragged Percy out with her while I followed in a more sedate pace, senses still searching the place for any more demigods.
They soon burst out of the doors of Lotus casino, safe and sound, with me trailing behind. It was early morning outside, which lent credence to the fact that we'd been in some time shenanigans in the hotel.
I could still see Percy starting to get affected again, his green eyes flickering between clear focus and addled glassy looks. Making haste, we quickly approached our car, thankfully finding it just where we’d left it.
"Right." I addressed the two. "You guys go and check what date it is. And be quick.”
As the kids went searching for a nearby newspaper stand, I entered the vehicle, but only for a quick second before jerking out of it with a curse.
The inside was burning hot, and while it may not have any effect on me the stark contrast between the cool Casino and this hellhole was telling. It truly was a shame they had to leave its comforts so soon…well, soon for them at least.
The engine revved up easily enough though, and with the downed windows bringing in some cool air we were out of the Vegas strip as soon as my companions returned, bounding down for Los Angeles.
"We wasted five days in the casino." Percy stated, his voice numb and unbelieving. "Five days."
With a speed that never went below 100, we zoomed past the city of sins.
"Don't worry about it too much. We've got plenty of time to enter hell and back."
"What even was that place?" The boy asked.
"I don't know, Perce." I sighed. "There are some fairly fucked up things in this world. Can't know everything."
I stuck my hand out of the window, letting the wind caress my skin. It was a good thing there wasn't any traffic on the road, or with the speed we were moving, we’d have surely busted a couple of cars.
"Do you know something?" He asked Annabeth.
The girl kept quiet for a few seconds before giving a reluctant shrug. "I...don't know for sure. I've read about lotus-eaters that have plants with narcotic and addictive properties, causing people to slowly lose their will and memory. But they live on an island around North Africa."
Percy whistled. "That's a long way from here."
"That's why I said I don't know, seaweed brain." Anna snapped.
"I didn't say anything!" The boy protested.
"You were going to."
"I wasn't!"
"Sure were."
"But I–"
"Alright kids, that's enough." I cut them off. "As amusing as your squabbles are, I'm more interested in Percy's dreams."
"My dream? Well, my dream is to just survive until i–"
"Not that dream, seaweed brain." Anna snapped. "You were muttering about having another dream about...you know...that."
Amusingly, the boy's eyes lit up in realization at that as he seemed to finally get it. "Oooh! That..."
And thus, the rest of our journey to the beach passed with Percy regaling us with another episode of his prophetic dream.
Finally, we were now at the final lap to reach our destination. Then would come the fateful meeting with Hades…
‘Yep’ I snorted. ‘Can’t wait.’
------------------------------------
Lazily laid sprawling upon his giant throne of bones, with dark amusement welling up within him, was the Lord of Underworld and the God of the Dead, Hades.
It had been a mostly normal day in the life of the silent one. Just another day of hard work—a term quite foreign to the rest of his Greek compatriots. Unlike the rest of Olympians, he usually did not get the luxury of laying down uselessly and wasting time.
….Unless a rare piece of entertainment was about to take place in this barren hellhole that demanded his attention.
In this corner of the Underworld, Hades was capable of displaying true omnipotence. Hell was his domain, and while he was forced to share it with irritating beings who seemed not to value the quiet and calm, there were very few things in here that remained out of his sight.
…and those very few things mostly consisted of his wife’s bathroom and closet. Persephone did not enjoy his peeping. Not that he ever purposely did it of course…he just sometimes slipped up.
So when the space inside his domain was breached, the God of the Dead was very much aware of the intruders.
They came from the southern entrance, from the lands of rebelling devils, an interesting bunch of six. Curiouser was the fact that none in the group was a devil.
Humans all, with some half-formed traces of divinity in the mix—not even true demigods—the group looked wary but ready for a fight.
Which was simply absurd in the eyes of Hades. Absurd, amusing, insulting, and particularly impudent.
Was there any being in existence that could truly hope to challenge him in his own domain?...Perhaps.
…Well, alright. They did exist, yes. But those capable of such a feat were bound by laws most ancient. The only other being he could think of would be Typhon.
But the chances of that brute coming here were next to nil. So Hades remained unbothered by this precocious bunch who dared lay their feet in his domain; weapons bared and without his permission.
No Hades wasn’t bothered…for this presented excellent entertainment for the evening.
Thus, he helped them instead, clearing away all the defenses in their way and giving them a path straight to hell.
Hades suppressed his chuckles, watching in amusement as the overly-paranoid brats slowly made their way forward.
Wariness and paranoia seemed to be their constant companion, eating at their weak hearts as the dramatic scenes of Hell captured their attention.
It would’ve been all too easy to let one of the skeletons—that they crushed underneath their feet—grab at their legs and throw them in the boiling lava. But the entertainment value of that would be much less than their true potential.
And Hades was in the mood for some fun.
Something that was sorely lacking in these dark walls. Worse, his mood had remained rotten ever since his symbol of power, his precious helm of darkness was stolen.
Perhaps eternal torture upon some arrogant fools would do some good to his mood.
As they neared his throne room, he could feel the exact level of their power.
‘Weak.’
They truly were weak. Not even Minor gods. Some were barely above a normal demigods’ level, while the strongest could be taken as a cripple deity. A deity who’d lost his domain and authority, a living corpse just waiting to die; powerless and hopeless.
The only source of power that seemed even slightly impressive was the intricate spear that the boy—their leader, most likely—carried. He could feel the traces of an Elder god upon it; too weak and faint to be of any threat, but enough for Hades to recognize its worth.
‘The True Longinus.’ Hades snorted. ‘Said to be capable of killing a god…’
That is, if the god was weak enough, and stayed stuck to one place; unmoving and powerless.
Hades had been studying his neighbors for a long time now. It was one of the few hobbies he’d developed in this barren place. Devils, Angels, Fallen Angels…all curious creatures.
Weak and pitiful yes, but quite curious. And with a daring potential. A potential that could be nurtured under right hands…
But no. These pathetic mortals—seriously, challenging the God of Dead in his own house?—were no devils and no angels. What could they possibly do?
Nothing.
Sure, not having his Helm of Darkness certainly put him in a great disadvantage against his brothers—if they chose to visit here—but these bunch of mortals were far from matching the might of Zeus and Poseidon.
He had nothing to worry about.
Willing Cerberus to move out of their path, Hades let the group enter the Throne room.
"Welcome." He intoned, making sure to sound extra oily.
Suppressing a snort as his voice managed to startle them all, Hades leaned back on his throne, shoulders straight and becoming of a supreme ruler.
The group soon came to stand underneath his throne, all the while contesting against the passive effects of his domain that demanded their supplication. A few dropped to their knees soon, their legs buckling underneath while their heads touching the ground. Three remained standing—though still giving a deep bow on their own accord.
‘Respectful, at least.’ Hades hummed.
Their leader—one of the few who’d remained standing—broke out of the group, walking forth in a deceptively confident gait. A shame Hades had already seen his shaky nerves, or else he might have even fooled him!
….Well, not likely, as the Death God could still smell the stark stench of fear within the boy. After all, fear was one of the many minor domains under his authority.
"Lord Hades." The boy greeted, giving another deep bow. "It is my deepest honor to meet you. My name is Cao Cao, and this is my group of heroes. We are here....to bargain."
Interesting.
He waved the boy to go on.
"Our leader requires your services, my lord." The boy announced. "For returning your Helm, we wish for an item to be retrieved. By your will."
What.
It took a moment for his words to settle in, but when they did, Hades barely stopped himself from incinerating the fool on the spot. Yet, his rising fury was felt by all as his power laid upon their shoulders.
The boy dropped to the ground with a yelp, digging his spear into the ground to remain on his knees. The rest simply melted down with gasps and groans, their bodies twisting upon the ground under the might of his divinity.
"P-please, My lord.” The boy, Cao Cao, hissed out from within clenched teeth. “S-should we die here, your helm will forever be lost."
Hades chuckled, a low laughter that spread through his halls. “And what, pray tell little mortal, will stop me from ripping your soul out of your empty husk and ravaging it for its worth?”
The boy groaned, his teeth grounding tightly as another bout of power pushed him down.
Taking a deep breath, Hades calmed himself. The least he could do for someone with such brevity—foolish or not—was give a chance to lay their case.
"Speak, boy." He commanded. "And make it quick, lest my patience run scarce and you find yourself joining my army of dead."
"Of course, my lord." The boy bowed again. "We are here on the orders of our leader. The leader of the Khaos brigade; Ophis."
For a second there was a still silence as the name hung in the air, stark and fearsome. Then, Hades sighed.
‘What did it want now?’
He detested the need to, but it would seem he must inform his daft brothers about the development. If that entity wanted to cause trouble for their pantheon, the Greeks must stand united. Even Hades, for he doubted that creature would leave him alone should he simply comply with its wishes and throw his infuriating little family under the bus.
‘Though they completely deserve it.’
Hades sighed again.
‘At least the sparky-brain was slightly more bearable the last time.,,’
His attention flickered for a brief second, sensing the entrance of another group. There were only three of them now, but the presence of a god was unmistakable.
‘What!?’ Hades scowled, confused. ‘How could any god enter my…’
Then he felt the divinity…too young and unique to be Greek…
‘Ah,’ He finally realized. ‘The wonder boy is here for revenge.’
This was too much excitement for one day.
But, that did not mean everything was ruined. As long as Hades played his cards right, he may get to see some actual entertainment within these dreary halls.
Turning to the group in front of him, he suppressed his wild power, letting them take a much needed breather. “I shall agree with your request.”
The boy jerked his head back, stunned. “Y-you do!? I mean, thank you my lord! Truly, you will not regret it.”
“Well, that depends.” Hades let a smile curve upon his face. “Defeat the intruders for me, and you may have your wish. Should you fail however…your corpses shall join my army. Forever.”
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AN: Done. 9.5k words. Should've taken another day but I didn't want to delay again. And now I'm hitting the bed and not getting up for the rest of the day.
Please let me know what you thought of the chapter! That's the only thing that can revive my mushy brain.
The chapter isn't edited well nor beta'd, so if you find any jarring errors do let me know. And again, if anyone wants to beta for this story, my arms are wide open in welcome.
Hope you all enjoyed the chap, I'll see you lot...the day after tomorrow I think. Will try to deliver the next chap in three days. Take care and peace!
Comments
Robs511
I'm glad!
Robs511
Hope you enjoyed :D
AvoidDeath
Thanks for the hard work.
Gilgamos
This chapter was amazing 🤩
Gilgamos
🙏
Gilgamos
Thanks for the chapter
