Chapter 1
A groan escaped my lips as I fell to the floor, slightly clutching my chest.
I was dead.
"14 minutes, boy. You are slacking.
Perhaps Lord Hades has been too lenient on you."
I opened my eyes to find myself suspended in the air.
I glanced down, eyeing my lifeless corpse.
"You told me today was a light day." I growled out at the annoying man that had somehow snaked his way into being my teacher.
Honestly, besides strength, what did this brute have to offer?
The man I was referring to was none other than Milon, an "ancient hero", Thanatos had called him, who had sacrificed his time in Elysium to instead come and train me.
"My legs had gone too stiff" was all he would say when I asked him the real reason he had opted to train me.
I watched as he strolled towards my detached body across the rocky battle field personally renovated for me to train at Hades's request.
I had spent much of my time on this circular battlefield, training to face whatever challenges Hades had in store.
And even though I had fallen into a routine over the last few months living here, I had to admit this place had taken some time getting used to.
Even by the underworlds standards, the rules of this circular "war zone", as Milon had called it were strange.
Said rules were the only reason I was floating here in a spiritual form, watching my teacher revive my dead body.
This place had been created to make death a simple fix, allowing Milon to not worry about holding back during training or sparing.
And he made sure to make use of this unique feature.
I had to admit, the man was impressive.
He hadn't been my first teacher, however. In fact, there we're six before him, making him the seventh.
But the rest had all been removed from there position, either because Thanatos believed them to not be competent enough, or simply because they couldn't keep up with me as I was.
Thanatos needed someone to push me, forcing me to get stronger.
And Milon fit the job perfectly.
As I said, I had no idea who he really was, but he showed me quickly after meeting him that he was a force to be acknowledged.
After being challenged by myself, the man had went on to kill me three times consecutively in only two minutes, all while using his bare hands.
He was a beast, nothing else to be said.
I took a deep breath as my soul returned to my body, finally allowing me to feel the physical realm around me.
I grabbed the man's hand as he helped me to my feet.
I scanned him up and down.
No scratches were visible on the man's hulking build.
He stood at a wide 6'7, but looked even bigger due to his broad shoulders. I had once wondered if he was part giant, but had been assured he was human. Human enough, at least.
I wasn't short by any means, but next to Milon? I looked like a child.
"Your performance has decreased in efficiency, Percy. Only weeks ago, a mere jab would've been repelled and quickly punished.
Now it results in your death.
You lack discipline."
I grunted in response.
Milon was a relatively laid back man, but when he spoke seriously, he meant it.
Honestly, as a man he was respectable enough, and if I was interested I believed we could've been something close to acquaintances.
However, friends were last on the list of my priorities. And though he was chill enough, Milon respected that fact and never tried to be more than a teacher.
I could appreciate that, at least.
"Your looking too deep into it.
I just came back from the other side of the continent. I need rest."
"Hmph. So much for a demigod prodigy. The boy can't even function without his weekly break." He said, making me slightly annoyed.
Even if I had limited interactions down here, most of the talk I heard was praise.
I was Hades's personal sword.
I handled what Thanatos couldn't due to his godly restrictions.
I was respected.
But Milon didn't care about any of that.
"It hardly matters, I suppose. That sparring session was only the first part of todays regimen.
Did you forget already?
I found you a new opponent."
I perked up.
Every couple weeks or so, either Thanatos or Hades himself would demand Milon to find someone to test my strength, in a way.
You'd think they'd commission me the best of the best to challenge me, maybe like Theseus or Achilles, but the most notable person that had came to challenge me wasn't even acknowledged in the history books.
But I had remembered Milon's promise.
The next one would be the strongest one yet. A beast.
I scoffed.
I'd have to see for myself.
"I assume your ready? Then I won't waste your time."
He turned his back to me.
"He is ready, warrior!" He called out.
I glanced towards the other side of the barren war zone.
A man had emerged from the fog surrounding the area.
A man clad in Greek armor, some impressive stuff too.
Milon snapped his fingers and a moment later, he re-appeared standing above a hill in the distance that overlooked the training grounds.
"Brace yourself, Perseus.
I watched as the faceless warrior made his way towards me, his Greco styled helmet reflecting the little light available in the underworld.
I warily eyed the sword on his hip.
"You know the routine boy.
Introduce yourself to the spirit, and only then can he reveal his true identity."
I said nothing in response as I knew he was right.
Even if the man in front of me wanted to introduce himself first, he physically could not as even he didn't know who he was.
Once you became a spirit of the world, you lost your identity.
It had taken Hades changing up a few rules in order for me to gain experience against fighter long since passed in order for this to even be possible.
I bowed my head slightly, not because of respect, but instead custom.
"My name is Perseus Jackson. I challenge you to a duel."
The spirit seemed to stiffen up before it raised a hand to its helmet, rubbing it slightly.
"My name is…" the man trailed off as he seemed to forget.
I watched in anticipation as he used both hands to remove his helmet.
He cast it to side as he drew his sword.
A squarish face with a short crew cut on top. A soldier.
I could confidently say I didn't recognize the man off his looks, but couldn't deny the aura he gave off was that of a person with some sort of capability.
"My name is Hector, of Troy.
And I accept your duel."
I let out a low breath.
Hector? As in the Hector who fought against Achilles himself.
Milon was right when he said that the next challenger would be unlike the rest.
I raised my blade confidently.
Despite how powerful I knew this man was, I wasn't worried in the slightest.
I hadn't made it this far for no reason, after all.
And with that in mind, I charged forward with my scythe prepared to strike.
I hadn't even made it halfway before the man too made his move, closing the distance in an instant and planting his sword through my chest, the hilt making contact with my rib cage.
I couldn't help but groan in annoyance, ignoring the laughs of mockery coming from Milon as I plummeted to the grown, dying for the second time today.
-Line Break-
I woke up with a gasp, the familiar feeling of water splashing my face.
I used my hands to force myself up, but didn't rise to my feet just yet.
I scanned the room that I knew very well already.
A cold stone cave with only a single pool of water in the middle, one I had woken up in.
The only source of light where the torches alit with purple flames, leading to the only exit at the end of the room.
The Recovery Room, I had dubbed the place.
Not only for my physical needs, but also the spiritual.
The clear water I now lied in was perfect for r calming my mind and soul, allowing me to not go insane from dying so many times.
The body was meant to die once, so that's why Elaine had taken it upon herself to create this place.
I glanced to my side to see the only thing present in this room, a rack of new clothes, the clothes I had just been wearing, and a towel.
I reluctantly removed myself from the pool and put clothes on, only on my bottom half however.
With the towel wrapped around my shoulders and my hair dripping, I headed to the only exit.
I scanned the door engraved with various cryptic markings as I always did, and even though I had seen it so many times, I had yet to decipher anything.
I pushed it inwards and stepped through, immediately being met with two pairs of eyes staring back at me.
I raised a brow.
In the room were two familiar beings, Plutus and Elaine.
This was expected of course as I was currently inside the stone of souls.
What I didn't expected though was to see Elaine sitting in her throne as Plutus standing guard to her side.
"Why so formal?" I asked, lazily waving at the theatrics of the throne room.
Elaine let out a small laugh as she waved her hand.
"My apologies." She said, and I watched as the room shifted, replacing her throne with a king sized bed that she comfortably sat up in.
A chair was also summoned for Plutus, but he remained standing with his weapon ready at Elaine's side.
He paid me no mind.
I scoffed slightly.
Since the spirits weren't allowed into the training zone with me, I found myself talking to Plutus less and less. The man apparently thought we could only talk mid-battle, and though I wouldn't mind it at face value, it slightly annoyed me.
He thought he was the one ignoring me? It was something I'd do.
With a sigh a laid myself out at the foot of the woman's bed, still keeping my distance.
I was comfortable enough with the spirits, but still, I wasn't one to be too open. Even if they lived inside of me.
"The man you fought today, Hector of Troy,
He was quite the opponent." Said Elaine. I could hear the smile in her voice.
"Hmph. I was hardly a fight for him.
One swing" I said, mimicking the jab the man had thrown that finished me off. "And I was dead." I said as my hand dropped back to the bed.
Before Elaine could talk, Plutus interrupted.
"Your teacher is right. You've been off lately, boy.
Perhaps you've grown content with your current strength, but it won't do.
If my lady is to serve someone, I will at least make sure they aren't weak.
I swear, ever since you received that damned package-"
"Quiet." I demanded the man, summoning my scythe as I rose.
"Oh."
He hefted up the spear to his side.
"You wish to step to me?"
I said nothing, but let out something close to a snarl.
Elaine eyed me with a worried look, but she still seemed like she was studying me. She was confused, and I couldn't blame her.
It had been a week ago since a certain package had been delivered to me, and as soon as I had received it I had made sure to keep it a secret from these two.
Though it may have been petty to keep to myself, I still wasn't going to let them, especially Plutus, question my actions.
I remained in a fighting stance as Plutus's advanced forward, but he was stopped by Elaine raising her hand.
"Both of you, end this.
There is no need for a fight over this… package." She had said.
I watched Plutus reluctantly obey, and I followed suit.
Though I was technically Elaine's "master", I found myself listening whenever she told me to do something. Wether it was because of some intricate magic, or simply because I was wary of her strength, I didn't know.
"The boys a fool." Grumbled Plutus darkly as he say himself down in his chair, throwing on his hood in the process.
Elaine only shook her head.
"Though I wonder why you keep secrets from us Perseus-"
"Percy." I mumbled out to correct her.
"Yes, yes.
But as I was saying, I will still respect your wishes of privacy, though I hope you can learn to trust us.
However, I must say I didn't bring you here only to rest, but to talk to you in person.
I'd like to get back to that."
I raised a brow questioningly. Elaine could talk to me literally whenever she wanted, so whatever it was must've been important if she wished to see me personally.
The women stretched out vertically in her bed, getting closer to me.
"I've heard talks, Lord Perseus, and I have seen things.
Something is arising. Something powerful and evil.
I have no doubt conflict will arise, and I'm afraid to say I've seen you in the middle of it all.
Sharing the stage, so to speak."
She said with a dangerous smile as she got out of her sitting position, making her way over to me through the beds sheets.
"I can not tell you everything, my lord, as I do not know it all, but I wish to warn you at the very least.
Be careful, my sweet master. I worry for you."
Now the women was standing in front of me, our faces close to one another's.
I scowled mentally.
I still wasn't over my conflict with Da Vinci, as well as the Androktasiai, and now I had to hear this?
I pushed myself every day to not let something like that happen again.
I'd like to think I had gotten stronger, but I had no real way of testing that theory.
Maybe this would be it.
I tensed as Elaine's hands rose to cup my face.
She tan her thumb along my left cheek, tracing the long and deep scar that went from my cheekbone to above my lip in the shape of a smile.
Left there by Da Vinci.
I shuddered.
"What a beautiful face." She almost whispered.
"To see such a mark left behind…"
The women let out a soft giggle.
"On any other, it may have served as detriment. But on you, Perseus?
It suits you. The markings of a warrior.
However."
She took a deep breath to pause.
"I do not wish to see another like this. You are strong Perseus.
No one can stand to you.
Remember that. Let this scar serve as a reminder, as it will be your last. None will touch you moving forward.
A man who can keep his flesh clean of the enemy's blade, that is the type of master I serve."
I whipped my head to the side to avoid eye contact, and immediately felt my head clear up.
It was like she had me in a trance.
I could see her smile in her peripheral.
I also noticed that Plutus's had been watching her talk with obvious interest.
I felt her hand slip from my face.
"I have no doubt that Hades will call upon you in the near future."
I noticed Plutus tense.
I didn't know why, but he always seemed on edge when the lord of the dead was brought up.
They had a history for sure, but I had opted to respect his decision to keep it private.
"Regarding what I just told you, of course.
Be ready Perseus. I have no doubt you are prepared to handle what is coming.
I only need you to believe it, my master."
I shifted slightly from my spot in the room, thinking.
"I understand. Thank you, Elaine." I said stiffly.
She only nodded.
"Very well then Perseus. Though I wish to be able to continue speaking with you after you leave this place, I'm afraid I must meditate.
For now, goodbye, my master. I hope you keep me in your thoughts."
Wait what?
I turned to protest to the spirit, but couldn't as when I turned I found myself back in my room in the underworld.
Alone.
Well, partially at least.
I sighed as I laid back in my bed as my familiar feline friend crawled underneath my arms.
"I still do not think you are ready."
Plutus's voiced chimed in my head. I could tell it was just him, however, meaning Elaine had really gone, for now at least.
"For what, exactly?"
"Everything." He said bluntly.
I grumbled.
"I don't remember asking for your input."
The man sounded like he wanted to protest, but couldn't as my door was suddenly opened.
A girl covered in a white smoke hovered over towards my bed. Hovering of course because she was a ghost.
She reached my feet before bowing deeply.
"The lord Hades wishes for your presence."
She said.
I only waved my hand absentmindedly, I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone, especially Hades, but I knew better than to ignore a summon from the god himself.
Though I had earned his respect, he still wasn't one to annoy, especially while in his own domain.
I still hadn't gotten up from my bed when a thought hit me.
Could this be what Elaine was talking about? Already?
The thought alone was enough to make me shoot out of bed and swiftly make my way to the throne room, bumping into several servants and others of the sort in the way.
I only slowed down when I reached the door itself.
I took a deep breath and collected myself.
I couldn't just walk into the gods presence any type of way. I had to carry myself with a certain kind of energy. That's something I learned quickly while living in the underworld.
I pushed the doors inwards and took my time to walk into the presence of the three gods waiting before me.
Once I was in the middle of the room, I stopped.
I bowed deeply to the figure in the middle, Hades of course, and gave a shorter one to the being to the being to his right.
A woman, Persephone herself, the resonate queen of this place.
She seemed to pay me no attention. I didn't really mind.
Despite myself, she was still a women who rubbed me in the wrong way, making me want nothing to do with her.
My eyes glided to the third being.
The final god in the room got no bow from me. Thanatos of course, my father. Though I had learned to tolerate the man, we were by no means on good terms.
I'm sure everyone in the room knew I would kill the man if given the chance.
That fact alone made it clear why he got no show of respect from me.
"Perseus." Said Hades in his chilling voice.
"You reached my chambers faster than expected."
I didn't reply to the god, and wondered partially if he knew the reason already. Because Elaine had told me.
The man was aware of the spirits within me, or at least Elaine, no one in the underworld knew Plutus by name, but anyways the god had never interfered with me and hers relationship.
"No matter the reason, it is appreciated as the job I have for you today is especially important. It may end up being a longer one as well." He said with long exhale as he leaned back in his thrown, tilting his head to place it on hide raised fist.
He smirked dangerously.
"What do you say, Percy boy? You up for it?" He said, and it was almost cruel.
Me and Hades had a surprisingly positive relationship as he provided for me, and I did what ever he wanted in return, but the man was still a god.
And right now his twisted humor was showing.
Hades asking if I was up for a job or not was essentially a waste of breath. He knew his word was law. As soon as I was called into this throne room, I had essentially already began the mission itself.
So Hades asking that question was simply a way for him to get a laugh out of his absolute authority.
I merely shrugged, ignoring the god's attempt at being funny.
"I'm ready." I said dully.
He deflated slightly at my boring answer, but quickly grew more serious.
"As you are aware, the foul monsters that have escaped Tartarus as of recent are on somewhat of a spree, increasing in number." He said with slight distaste in his tone.
I nodded sightly. I knew how much the increase in monster activity was stressing the god as him and my father were held responsible for controlling their numbers by the Olympians.
Now was not the best of times for anyone, including myself. The fact that half of my recent missions had simply been me trying to maintain monster numbers wasn't too pleasant, specially with their increasing strengths.
Hades continued his talking. "And that is why I have came to a decision."
The man snapped his fingers and a image appeared on the screen. A snowy landscape with what seemed like a castle standing in the middle of a dense forest.
Persephone let out a groan before instantly vanishing in a whirl or vines and thorns. I didn't exactly know why, but noticed the upset and guilty look on Hades's face.
He cleared his throat.
"Westover Hall." He said, naming the mysterious building.
"A mortal school." I raised a brow as the place looked more like a dungeon than a school, but determined it was up north due to the weather, where secluded private schools were more common.
He snapped his fingers again, and this time two people, students apparently, appeared on the screen. A boy and a girl, both seemingly younger than me, the boy more so, lying on the bed and floor of a dorm room.
"Demigods." Hades clarified, but adding nothing else.
"So what? You want me to…"
The god interrupted. "Retrieve them, and bring them right here. Alive." He said the last part with a dark undertone in his voice.
"And what business exactly do you have with them, to bring them all the way here?" I asked as I was curious.
What the hell could two kids have done to make Hades demand their presence to his own throne room?
He raised a brow with a slightly angry look in his eye.
"Do you so easily categorize me in the same group of my deadbeat brothers even after knowing me, boy?
Unlike those other gods, I take care of my spawn.
Tell me, Percy, what reason does a man need to want to see his very own children?
Quick note.
I've officially paused updates on the rest of my stories, and don't plant on updating them for some time.
I had a original schedule, and I plan on following it strictly now, so those stories will be left alone for some time, sorry.
However, one day I may mass upload a couple chapters to each that I've already finished, but after that they will seriously be on hiatus.
However, I do have a story that is ready to be started soon that is actually apart of my schedule, meaning it will be a priority.
Besides that, I'll try my best to be consistent, no promises.
But if all goes well, I see this book being one of the favorites even down the road.
So enjoy.
