Setting: Percy Jackson.

This story uses the Essence CYOA and a Bonus CYOA


Adam Creed and the American Gods (Essence Cyoa)

Chapter 01


It's a veil… maybe a mantle? It was covering the entire world, like an ever-present yet invisible smoke scream made of magic. I had gained the ability to feel it a week ago, together with all my other perks and powers. But now, outside my house, it felt thicker than usual.

It was actually very distracting.

"Hey kiddo, are you there?"

I heard my dad asking and turned my attention back to him.

"Yeah." I croaked out, trying to remember what the conversation was about, "I'm fine, everything is fine, I'm not distracted at all."

He stared blankly at me, "That might as well be a confession."

I shrugged, feeling a little guilty for not being all there for our hang up. Dad's works long hours, so it's actually quite rare for us to go out to dinner like that.

"You've been like that all week…" He commented, "Anything troubling you? Schoolwork? Friends?... Girls?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Dad, come on!" I shouted embarrassed. Thankfully, ever since my changes, I don't blush as easily anymore.

"Hey, I'm only asking." He said, raising his hands. "You know you can tell me anything right?"

"… Yeah dad, I know."

But not about this… never about this…

How could I begin to tell him I have the memories of a grown ass man inside my head and that they had messed with my sense of self enough that I'm still having trouble figuring out who am I, even if I'm very good at faking it? How can I tell him that I'm not human anymore, that this body is just a shell to house something so profane and unholy and would make Satan tremble? How can I tell him that his love and faith in me are now sustaining and empowering me like some kind of metaphysical super snack?

These aren't something you bring up in polite conversations. So I kept my mouth shut.

Something seems to cross dad's mind, he became a little more serious and started to lean forward.

But he got interrupted before he could say anything.

"Good evening, sorry for the delay. My name is Cindy. I'm here to take your orders." Said the waitress, cheerfully.

I noticed the reason for the 'delay', immediately. I had seen this girl when we arrived at the restaurant, but now her face was marked by a flesh layer of makeup, her apron, that before had a ketchup mark on it, now was clean, and the chest area of her uniform now was one button lower.

Looking back on my life with my new perspective, this was actually a pretty common sight. You see, my dad was actually a pretty attractive guy; standing 6,2 feet tall, with a well built body and a masculine face, he look like someone who could have the leading role in a superhero movie if he wanted to, so it was pretty common for him to get hit on by multiple women when we go out.

Another thing was also pretty common…

"Yeah, I'll have this Shrimp Napoli of number 13 with extra tomato," Dad said, pointing to the menu and completely ignoring the cleavage practically being shoved on his face. "Annnd, how about you kiddo? Pepperoni pizza?"

I'd like to say that I chuckled at dad's dense anime protagonist display, but my cracking voice made it sound more like a giggle. "Pepperoni sounds good."

The girl took our orders and left a little dejected. I silently sent her a mental cheer.

"Adam," Dad called me after a few seconds in a quiet tone; he leaned forward a bit with a serious look in his eyes, and spoke even quieter. "Is it them?"

… I heard that question before; he had asked me a number of times… when I didn't have the courage to talk to him like I usually did. I knew that if I answered with a 'yes' we would be in a moving truck next week, fast on our way to the next small town, and ready to rebuild our lives once again.

It's a little irresponsible for a parent to believe in their child so unconditionally, but dad never once doubted me about the things I see, and always treat them with the utmost seriousness. Him asking that question still made me want to hug him.

But things are different now… And we lived here for almost two years; dad has friends here, and a job that he likes. Hell, even I got people to talk to in the school this time around.

I'm done running.

"No, dad," I said with a smile… My eyes flickering to the side for just a moment, to the window behind my dad; where a dark figure was standing in the rain, looking fixedly at me. "It's not them."

His shoulders skunked in relief, and he relaxed back on the chair.

"So…" He nodded sagely. "It is girls after all."

"Dad!"

We laughed and talked until the waitress came back with our food, I giggled again as her redouble efforts failed to do anything against the brick wall of denseness that was my dad. She'd have to be fully naked and twerking on his lap for him to notice anything.

And the figure wasn't in the window anymore.

"I have to go to the restroom," I said suddenly.

"Hum," Dad mumbled, taking his eyes from the dish. "Oh, don't take to long, they'll grow cold."

I rolled my eyes "You can start without me if you want." I saw his shoulder drop in relief once again.

Shaking my head in amusement, I went to the restroom.

It was a simple mid-class restaurant restroom; there was a row of blue stalls to the side, two urinals beside it, and a row of sinks facing a long mirror.

I made sure to check every stall to see the place was deserted first. Then, I raided my hand.

The Book was already on my palm; a non-descriptive, middle-size book with a leather cover, looking as normal as a book can be as if it wasn't suddenly appeared in my hand from nowhere.

I opened randomly in the exact page I wanted, and once again read the words. To my persistent amazement, they stayed in a perfectly straight and wonderfully comprehensive line, instead of dancing all across the paper like the usual.

This was the only book where this phenomenon happens, the novelty of reading something unaffected by my pesky dyslexia still fascinates me, I must have read this book from front to cover a dozen times now, the sentences were all but memorized, but I knew from experience that holding the book in my hand, and having the words flesh in my mind would increase the efficiency of what I was about to do.

My finger rose and circled in the air like a magical wand. On my new senses, I felt the touch leaving traces on the surface of the magical veil that covers the world.

"Yfilamron" I chanted in a clear and firm voice, the word and my gestures suddenly caused a pulse to traverse around the veil. To the 'normal' senses it felt like a brief current of air has passed across the room.

To the other senses… It was difficult to describe; it was like the area of the veil that encompassed this room, suddenly gained a yellowish tinge.

The spell is complete; I didn't skip any step on the progress to make sure the end result would be the strongest iteration of it as possible, I never used this spell in such crowded place, after all. I need to make it would do its job.

Hopefully, it'd keep the people outside of this room from noticing anything weird happing inside. The spell won't muffle any sound, but it will make anything that happens inside sound perfectly normal to the outside, no matter if it were a mad scream or a cry for help, nothing that happens in this room would appear to be out of ordinary until tomorrow morning.

Sighing, I lay the book beside one of the sinks, and soon after, I placed my jacket over it.

Finally, my eye met the ones of the boy in the mirror.

Pretty, that's the word I'd used to describe myself. Perhaps 'gorgeous' or devilish handsome' would fit in a few years, but for now, I was a very pretty thirteen years old boy, who is entering manhood in the best way possible.

I had some of my dad on me; my vibrant red hair and entrancing forest green eyes were the same as his. There were fewer trances of him on my face, but they were there; a little bit on the jaw, and the shape of the eyebrows… these are actually my less attractive features, and that's saying something considering how handsome he is.

Dad once said I looked a lot like my mother... I don't know much about her besides the fact she left us when I was very young, so I can only imagine how gorgeous she must have been to improve my dad's genes.

Turning the sink on, I gathered some water on my hands and leaned down to clean my face.

When I rose, the figure was standing right behind me in the mirror.

I calmly shook the water from my hands and turned to face it.

The figure was wearing a long trench coat that covered its entire body, I had to strain my neck to see its face, but I could barely make any detail under the shadows cast by its long hat.

I have been terrified of things like him for as long as I could remember… Now though.

"You look human-ish enough, unlike the other two," I commented, thinking about the giant dog and the scorpion-like thing I found prowling around my neighborhood. "Can you speak-"

A big, paw-like hand covered my face before I could finish, sausage size fingers curled around my head in a crushing grip. I felt my body being suspended in the air and shoved against the wall, my back shattering the glass mirror in the process.

*CRACK!*

The monster let out a loud roar that twisted into a curse before stumbling three steps backward. His left hand went to hold the right one, which now had three fingers twisted in the wrong direction.

"Oh, is that a curse I heard?" I said mockingly, feeling the pain and hatred he was feeling empowering me, it made me smile even more. "It means you can talk."

The thing swung its powerful arm with a roar; I quickly ducked under it and dug my foot into its knee.

With a distinct snapping sound, the joint bent backward. The bones popped from the skin and clothes in a shower of blood, and the monster fell to the side with a pained wail.

"My entire life you've staked me," I said, shivering in pleasure by the sight of blood and circling the downed form. "No matter where I went, no matter where I ran, you and your ugly friends were always there, always pursuing, always lurking…" The thing attempted to grab me. I dug my foot on its elbow this time, giving it the same treatment of its knee. "Now, its time for answers!" I crouched down and grabbed the monster by its fat throat, my hand was too small to grasp the entire front, but my grip was firm enough.

"What are you?" I asked in a steel tone.

The thing's single eye look at me with burning hatred, noticing how its mouth moved, I lay down a brutal slap on his cheek that broke most of its front teeth before he could spit.

"What. Are. You?" I demanded once again.

"Go suck Arges' balls." He grunted I didn't even notice that he had spoken in a different language, before years of fears and frustrations explode outwards.

His face was thrown to the side by the strength of my punch; I could feel his flesh straining under my grip, "TELL." Another punch, this time his face went to the other side. "ME." Another, blood spilled forward, coating my fist with a layer of red, "WHAT." Bone cracked under my fingers. "YOU." I was raining punches now, letting out all that was in my chest, damned the consequences. "ARE!?" I finished my sentence in a tone so commanding that I swear it even made the magical veil shake.

"I'm a cyclops." The bloody piece of boated meat answered immediately, almost too fast for something with most of its face crushed.

Its answer made me see red.

"OF FUCKING COURSE YOU ARE A CYCLOPS!" I shouted, throwing his body to the side, utterly destroying the stalls in the process.

"Do you think I'm stupid or something!?" I stomped over his prone form, "Big, ugly, single eye. I figured you were a cyclops on the moment I saw you." I grabbed the back of his coat and pulled. "I'm asking what you and your monster friends are! Why are you chasing me!? What the hell do you want!?"

His head… just dangled downward, with blood and crushed eye fluid dripping from it.

"Hey, are you listening?" I shook him once again. "Hey!"

His head fell from his neck, it hit the wooden splinters below and seems to mold around it for a moment before busting in a cloud on golden dust.

"Ah fuck." I cursed, seeing the rest of the body doing the same thing, leaving only the oversize clothes behind.

I was too rough with him.

"Goddamn it, I thought Cyclopes were supposed to be super tough or something," I grumbled, kicking some broken wood in frustration.

There it goes the best chance of knowing what the fuck is going on with my life. Besides the whole "get adult memories, overpowered powers, and spell book" thing, I always knew I wasn't normal, the incident from a week ago only proved it. I thought I could use my new power to unveil the deeper mysteries about myself.

Whatever, it's not like this fucker was the only human-like monster that I ever saw. There will be other; there are always others. They will come, I'll make them squeal, it's only a matter of time.

Sighing, I made my way to the sinks, trying to avoid the growing puddle on the floor. Grabbing my jacket, I pulled it over my form to hide the cuts the broken glass has made on the back of my shirt; dad would freak out if he sees those.

Then, I slid The Book into the way too small pocket of my jeans. It didn't really matter if I leave it here or take it with me, as The Book will materialize on my hand whenever I need it.

Is that everything? Oh! Blood on my fist- No, no that already slide off long ago. Nothing that I considered dirt cling on my body or my clothes for too long if I don't want to…

I guess I'm good to go.

"Ah hell!" I said as I raised my eyes to the shattered mirror for one last checkup. "Almost fuck up."

There was a pair of long, black horns sprouting from my forehead; I guess I got a little too emotional there.

"Dad would go mental…" I commented, closing my eyes and flexing muscles no human should have. When I opened them again, the horns were nowhere to be seen. "There we go."

Perfect, not a sight of struggle on me, just a boy going back from a trip to the restroom.

I rest my forehead against the shattered glass and thought about what had just happened for one last time.

I haven't been able to figure out anything from the monster… But I killed it; I killed it easily.

A small smile formed on my lips.

No more running.

For now… Pepperoni pizza.


CYOA Build:

Essence of the Blank

By taking this essence, you gain but one benefit:
Your potential becomes limitless. You can learn any discipline or skillset, even if you shouldn't be capable of it, without forgetting it and practice them into mastery, no matter how many you learn. Any abilities you have from other Essences will increase where possible and develop in ways beyond their initial purposes.

Essence of the Demon Emperor

You gain the form of a demon emperor, ruler of Hell with a design generally up to you. This form is supernaturally powerful and outstrips almost any mortal or immortal for that matter in raw attributes and a host of other abilities up to you based on the form you take. Regardless you could beat gods to a bloody pulp as you are now.

Perfect memory with infinite storage as well as agelessness.

Gain dominion over the seven deadly sins, can use them in a variety of ways including conceptually.

You are a font of pure corruption, a walking source of impurity, disease, pain, misery, all the evils of the world are at your disposal. You are able to twist, corrupt, taint, and pervert anything you get your claws into to your hearts content. As a side effect you are immune to corrupting or purifying effects.

Able to create and summon all sorts of demons to serve you, whether they be Imps to the lords of hell themselves. These demons are oathbound to be loyal. You can corrupt others into demons and resurrect the dead into demons. Other demons and demon like creatures will see you as something of profane divinity on an instinctual level.

Essence of lewdness

+You may change your sexuality at will.
+You may change your gender at will. (Male, female, or futa if you want but you work out how that works exactly)
+Your body is changed into your ideal sexyness for when you're either gender.
+You operate under porn logic. (Things like instant thoroughly clean and lube assholes before anal sex, taking 20 inch dicks with no problem and shit like that.)
+You're always clean as if you just got out of a shower and B.O is eliminated with the mess slides right off you. (Individual parts may be toggled off, like for example you want some mess to stay on you. Also this works internally so you no longer need to brush your teeth or worry about bad breath.)
+Any hole you penetrate or are penetrated in always act as it's the perfect fit to give you maximum pleasure and no pain.
+STDs don't exist.(Porn logic covers this, but thought I'd double down.)
+You and your partners you're having sex with no longer have a refractory and can keep going and going and going in you want to or you get unconscious from pleasure overlord or something. *shrugs*
+If you happen to be able to travel worlds, you can toggle porn logic to work for everyone in the entire world. You know what that leads to. You can also decide the intensity of said porn logic, like pick something between it only working in the bedroom and sex or constant city wide orgy sex zombies. (Also works if you can't travel worlds)
+You always have knowledge how to create the best sex toys, and sexual enhancers in any technology level. So if you for example can go to different worlds, this scales with their technology level, even works if they use magitech too.
+You always know how to create the maximum pleasure for any sexual encounter you have for both parties or just yourself if you don't care for the other person.
+You can edge someone perfectly without worrying about them accidentally having an orgasm without your say so if you're into this.
+You control your own fertility.
+Your enjoyment of sex will never decrease.
+You can summon basic sex toys- ropes, handcuffs, dildos, gags, candles, clamps, clothespins, etc - that only exist as long as they are being used for sex. Meaning they disappear right after sex. No mess no fuss.
+You gain a presence that draws people who want to fuck you or you want to fuck to you(Can be explained away as ridiculous charisma, pheromones, ect) that you control the intensity of by will. Either turning it off to "oh god why does the entire city want to rape you".

Essence of Apotheosis

The ichor of the divine flows through your veins. By consuming this essence you have ascended to godhood.

You have the mind body and soul of divinity and exist beyond the frailties of mortals. Your memory is infinite with perfect recall. your body, skills, and abilities will never degrade even if you languish for eons. Even without using any of your powers your body is a weapon of mass destruction on its own, enough to slay lesser gods just using your raw strength. Your soul is eternal and will eventually reform you whole should you ever somehow be killed.

There are a number of domains that fall under your purview, these could be classic ones like the Sky, Earth, Death, or others. You can manipulate these domains as befitting one of your station bordering on the conceptual. Regardless you can perform miracles that have the themes of your domains, acts that defy convention and even fate, such as burning out the illness of the faithful or killing their fear in times of desperation.

Can hear the prayers of any of those who worship you or any calling out for intervention. Similarly you can empower mortals who worship you with abilities based on your own domains. These powers can be revoked or restored as you see fit.

You can create a personal afterlife for you worshipers any yourself to serve as a home it can be one realm or multiple depending on your tastes. Any faithful or those you claim that die will automatically have their soul sent to it.

By expending some of your might you can raise up mortals to divinity either as fully fledge gods or weaker but still mighty demigods.

Able to create servants whose form and function are up to you whether they be humanoid angels or terrifying chimera that punish sinners. These servants are utterly loyal to your will.

BONUS Cyoa:

The Eronomicon(Go google it)