Hey, guys! I'm sorry for the late-ish update but I had a shitty week and, yeah. The chapters a bit meh mainly 'cause of the aforementioned reason, but I hope y'all enjoy it nonetheless.

Todays recs are, What The Hight Tides May Bring by myshipsaresunk (this is an amazing percabeth pirate au. A must read tbh) and possibly the most underrated Roman!Percy fic series of all time, the wonderful works of TimesNew (the author) Please check them out, I promise you won't regret it. They've completed three of the five books, and they're criminally underrated. Go show both of 'em some love.

Please join my discord server, the link is on my profile. (you can even find me on the Emerald Library on discord)

I hope y'all enjoy!

"So, let me get this straight," I said, dazed. "There's a primordial having an unknown agenda, possibly world domination or destruction, who might be associated with Gaea, and you don't know who is it?"

"Yes," Nyx said simply.

I squinted her. "Right," I muttered, "Just checking."

Nyx hummed, seeming uncaring about the situation.

"Do you any clue over who it could be?" I questioned, "I mean aren't you the most powerful primordial there is? Can't you just find out by sensing their aura or something?"

Nyx sighed. "It's not that simple, Perce. Look at it this way, Zeus is the ruler of all gods, correct?"

I nodded, and she continued, "In the last timeline, several minor gods had rebelled and joined Kronos, yet, Zeus had remained in the dark until the attack already happened. Zeus is the ruler of all gods, yet he presides only over the Olympian Council. He has the power to command only the council members. The minor gods have no obligation to truly follow him. In the past, they had done so because they were scared of him, and not because they were bound to."

"Yeah," I said, frowning. "But Zeus hadn't acted on the matter because he thought the threat was a false one. I mean, he had pretty much declared the case close until Artemis was kidnapped, and even then, he had reluctantly allowed the hunt for the monsters and rogue gods. I mean, surely he would've sensed the gods going behind his back, not regarding the fact he didn't do anything about it."

Nyx shook her head, "You misunderstand me, Percy. Let me give you an example. During the first Titanomachy, minor titans like Selene and Helios were actively spying on the Titans for the gods. Kronos was the ruler of the council at the time, and yet he had no inkling about their transgressions. Similarly, we are the Protogenoi of the council. We can sense when a primordial of the council is going rogue, and even then, we were too late to sense Gaea's treachery. This seems to be the work of a minor primordial. One whose motives are unknown, but a minor one nonetheless."

"How can't Chaos know who it is? Isn't she all-knowing?"

Nyx raised her eyebrow. "In the time you've talked with her, has she been proven all-knowing?"

I stared at her. "Yes!" I said disbelievingly. "Very clearly, yes!"

"Maybe," Nyx conceded. "But I can confirm that even if she knew, she probably wouldn't help us. My mother is the creator of, well, everything, and that it in itself comes with a whole lot of responsibilities. The first of which is to never show favoritism to any single one of her creations. There are laws older than her that forbid her from interfering in divine conflicts. I know it's an oxymoron in itself, but this was the first time she's interfered in divine against a fellow primordial because Gaea broke one of those divine laws herself. If I were you, I wouldn't expect any more aid from my mother. She's done all she can in bringing you to the past."

I sulked. "Okay," I said reluctantly. "So, it's just up to me to find who the mystery primordial is, figure out his motives, and then finally try to defeat him myself, correct?"

I knew I was being whiny, but the thought of facing another primordial was enough to discourage any positive thoughts from forming in my brain. Nyx giggled and booped my nose. I blinked in surprise.

"Of course not!" she chirped, wrapping her arm around my neck. "Don't even think you can get rid of me that easy. I'll be alongside you all the time, Perce!"

I would not smile, I told myself, I would not!

"Aww, is that a smile on your pretty little face, Percy?"

"No," I denied stubbornly. "It's not. I just remembered a joke that Annabeth-"

Oh shit.

My head shot up like I was electrocuted. "Annabeth!"

"Ow," Nyx rubbed her ears, pulling away from me. "Keep it down, will you?"

"No! I forgot about Annabeth and Grover!" I started panicking. "Oh gods, I'm such a horrible friend, I left them all alone with Ares, and they don't even have the bolt! How long has it been? I've been here for so long- wait, where's my backpack?"

My heart dropped. I had lost the backpack which contained the bolt. My eyes frantically swept across the throne room, desperately searching for it, in hopes that it may have fallen off whilst I was fighting. Yet, no sea-green piece of fabric caught my eye. I floundered pathetically.

"Whoa, Percy," Nyx said, supporting me as I shakily tried to get up. A sharp pain erupted in my leg as I gasped.

"Easy there. Don't over-exert yourself. You're still pretty weak from the battering Hades gave you."

I snapped my head towards her, which may have given me a ten-second bout of dizziness. My head throbbed, adding to my growing annoyance against...well, everything.

"What do you mean don't over-exert yourself?" I demanded once the pain subsided. "I've lost Zeus' master-bolt for Hera's sake! The weapon which was responsible for this whole shebang, in the first place! My health is the least of my concerns, right now. Just the first quest and I've already turned it into a clusterfuck!" I cried, throwing my hands up in despair. I knew I was being extremely dramatic but I was too exhausted to care. "At this rate, I'm never gonna be able to defeat Gaea!"

Nyx raised an eyebrow. "Are you done?"

I scowled. "What do you mean am I-"

"I have the bolt, Percy," Nyx said, annoyed. "I was going to say that but you were too busy wallowing in your misery."

I blinked, "Oh."

She rolled her eyes and held out her palm. I saw as dark shadows knit themselves around her hand, weaving, and twisting until they took upon the form of the familiar sea-green bag. I wouldn't admit it, but I could probably stare at her magic and craft over the shadows for hours on end. The way she controlled them was just mesmerizing.

"Quit staring," she said, pushing the heavy bag into me. I stumbled under the weight of the bolt inside. "Now shoo, you have to go to the beach quickly. Your friends are in danger."

I stared at her, thinking I'd misheard her.

She waved a hand and shadows began collecting at my feet. I yelped in surprise when a vine slithered around my foot. "Wait! What do you mean my friends are in danger? And what about Hades?" I asked frantically, pointing to the sprawled-out god on the floor as I began levitating under the shadows. "Nyx!"

Nyx giggled and flicked her hand. New vines of shadows tore themselves off the wall and crept towards the god, wrapping around his limbs. The umbrae propped Hades up as Nyx cracked her knuckles exaggeratedly. "You don't need to worry, Percy. I'll take care of Hades."

The look on her face was enough to make me feel sorry for my uncle.

I jerked as I felt a new vine enter the pocket of my trousers. The shadow-y hand grabbed the Pearls in my pocket and brought them out. I watched as the vine smashed the pearl on the ground. A green glow surrounded me and the dome of water washed around me, lifting me towards the ceiling and to my destination.

I found the god right where he expected him to be.

The crowded streets of the Santa-Monica pier bustled behind the nearly empty beach, where the Ares stood swinging his broadsword, smirking cruelly. My heart hammered in his chest, his eyes flitting along the length of the beach as he searched for his friends.

"Punk," Ares said, looking surprised, as I wadded onto the shore. "Didn't expect to see you. When your lackeys said you stayed behind to protect them, I thought you were pretty much ash. Surprised to see you still alive. So, how did you brat manage to convince Corpse-breath to let you live?"

"Funny you should ask," I narrowed his eyes. "We bonded over our mutual dislike for you."

Ares threw his head back and laughed. "Still got the spunk, I see?"

I glanced across the beach again, hoping to find my friends. My worry grew when I saw nothing but abandoned beach carpets and sand. I gripped his backpack a little tighter.

"You have the Helm," I said, "You gave me the bolt. You set us up."

"Nothing personal, kid," Ares shrugged. "I did what I had to."

"What you had to?" I asked, my anger growing. "This war is between your family, you jerk! Millions of mortals would die if this war broke out. Your own children would die!"

I don't know what I had expected Ares' reaction to being, but it was certainly not this. Maybe, I had hoped that the war god had some sort of humanity and compassion in his heart, and he wasn't the heartless, cruel warmonger that everyone made him out to be. That maybe he'd give up his lust for war if he remembered that his children were being killed. However, I knew in the back of my mind that I would be disappointed.

Ares shrugged. He fucking shrugged on the notion of his own children being killed.

"Collateral damage," he waved dismissively. "Demigods are expendable to us gods. This typa war wouldn't occur by itself, without my intervention. You say the Olympians are my family?" he asked rhetorically. "Even better. I love those wars. They're always the bloodiest."

"You-you're sick," I said. "You're a pathetic fucking excuse for an Olympian."

His eyes hardened as he leveled his sword at me. "I don't care what you think, brat. War is the best thing to ever happen to mortals. It immortalized the great warriors and terminated the weak. War serves for balance. You're a snowflake if you think otherwise."

My skin crawled with disgust. I took a deep breath, knowing it was his aura affecting me, trying to make me react rashly.

"Cut the crap, Ares," I said, "Where are Annabeth and Grover?"

"Oh, yes!" Ares grinned, snapping his fingers. "I knew I forgot about something. Your little lackeys. Well, if you want me to be honest, they're in my custody," he smiled amicably, and my blood ran cold. "I'm sorry but it's nothing personal. You see, all of you might just able to get those hard-headed idiots on Olympus to believe you. And that'd be bad for me. So, I'm going to use your friends as leverage until you will give me the Bolt," he stated, spreading his arms.

"You're delusional if you think I'm going to just give it to you."

Ares's smile faded a little before a cruel grin overtook his features. "Bold words from a brat whose friends are in the danger of being toast."

He snapped his fingers and an image shimmered in front of me. I watched with bated breath as a room tinted with red came into view. Annabeth and Grover were placed in the middle of the chamber. Neither seemed to be conscious, their bodies sprawled on the ground and their eyes closed. A red fire hovered over them, its flames coloring the room an ugly orange.

I inhaled sharply.

"That is my sacred flame, punk," Ares said gruffly. "Preserved from my sacred temple in Sparta before the city's seige. Burns brighter than your mother's flame in Olympus. It'll annihilate anything it comes in contact with, just like greek fire. Even celestial bronze is nothing against this flame, so do you think your friends will survive?"

My blood ran cold. I stared in horror at the image as the flame started descending slowly. Looking at my friends' sleeping silhouettes, my throat closed up, as their faces were illuminated by the red fire.

"You see how hopeless it is, punk?" Ares asked smugly. "Unless you surrender the bolt," he flicked his hands, and the fire lowered some more. "They die a gruesome death."

My eyes flickered between the flames and my friends. I knew I had to goad Ares into a fight without my friends getting harmed. I glanced skyward for a fleeting second before frowning internally. I knew the Olympians had watched me throughout my journey. So, I was under the assumption they'd want to keep a close eye on me, especially since I was so close to completing the quest. But there was no indication of their viewing.

There seemed to be no anomaly in the water vapor concentration anywhere, nor were Ares' and my comments followed by untimely dramatic thunders. Moreover, I was sure they'd have intervened after listening to Ares's comments about them and their children. Annabeth was Athena's favorite daughter, and there was no way she would allow Ares to harm her. Nor would Artemis stand for a maiden's life to be taken.

With a chill, I realized that whoever the mystery primordial was, they were probably responsible for Olympus' silence. They'd somehow sabotaged the communications and isolated me and Ares from the rest of the gods. Which meant the primordial was much more influential than I'd previously assumed.

"Well?"

I turned towards the god. He looked leisurely at me before gesturing to my friends. The flames flashed in warning. My hand snaked to my pocket as I fingered Riptide.

I narrowed my eyes. "How about we make a deal, Ares."

"Not interested, punk," he grinned, "Already have you pinned down. Everything is going in my favor. You can twist your words however you like, they'll be going on deaf ears. There's nothing you can say that will make me change my mind. Now," he said, his voice turning serious. "You're testing my patience. There's no way you can stall further, kid. Unless you hand over the bolt now, they die."

My eyes widened as the fire sputtered and began to spit embers out. The flame turned larger and brighter as it lowered, little by little, towards my friends. I inhaled sharply and blurted out my thoughts, desperate to distract Ares.

"Fight me!"

Ares paused, looking taken aback.

For a few seconds, the only sounds audible were the sea churning behind me and the thump of my heartbeat. Ares stared at me for a few seconds before throwing his head back in laughter. The flame in the image dimmed slightly as I sighed in relief. Ares laughed uproariously, and my eye twitched in annoyance.

"Are you serious?" Ares said humorously, wiping a tear from his eye. "You, a pathetic little demigod, want to fight me, the God of War? Good try, kid, but I'm not going to fight you. You're beneath my level."

"Scared?"

Ares snorted. "In your adolescent dreams, punk."

"Seems you're scared, to me," I shrugged, grinning internally when he tensed. "I mean, aren't you supposed to be the god of war? This battle should be pretty easy for you, right? Then, fight me. If you win, I'll hand over the bolt to you, and you can do whatever you want to me and my friends. War will continue as you planned to. But if I win-"

"If you win?" Ares barked out a laugh. "There's no way-"

"If I win," I continued as if he never interrupted me, "You swear on the Styx to hand us the Helm and let my friends go without any harm."

Ares folded his arms and took off his sunglasses. His eyes looked the same as the last time I'd seen him. Miniature nuclear explosions greeted me as the air around me felt hotter.

"You still haven't given me a reason to fight, punk," He smirked. "What makes you think I'd waste my time, fighting someone against whom I'm bound to win."

"Your pride," I replied smugly. "I've challenged you to a fight, Ares. If you decline, you'll be ridiculed for decades for denying a fight against a twelve-year-old even after my disrespect towards you. No one will ever take you seriously or respect you if you turn away from this battle."

Ares raised his eyebrow. "And who is it that'll spread this incident? The Olympians can't see or hear us, punk."

I narrowed my eyes. So, Ares was somehow aware of the primordial's plan and was in on it. Or he was manipulated by the protogenos to be used as a scapegoat if I succeeded in my quest.

"Look around you, Ares," I stated. "We are on a beach on a cloudy day with trees around us. Do you really think the Dryads and Nymphs, who heard everything, would keep quiet about such a thing? You may threaten them to keep this to themselves, but I'd honestly be surprised if they haven't already begun spreading rumors."

Ares's eyes flitted around. His jaw tensed as he surveyed the surroundings. For a frightening second, I thought I'd doomed the dryads when he gripped his sword harder, glaring murderously at the trees. His eye twitched before the miniature suns landed on me.

I tensed, glancing at the image of my friends.

He flicked his hand. I watched as the flames above Annabeth and Grover receded in the image before they vanished. I could see Grover's lips mumbling something, and I nearly collapsed in relief. The image shimmered and vanished into thin air.

"You make a fair point, punk. I'll make it quick," Ares decided, twirling his sword in his hands. "So, modern or classic?"

A grin threatened to split my face as my hand snaked into my pocket and gripped the two pens. The weapons hummed, both wanting me to choose them from the other. However, my decision was pretty obvious.

The bronze form of Riptide elongated as I gestured to my sword.

"That's cool, dead-boy," Ares said. "Classic it is."

"Swear the oath first, Ares," I reminded him. "This fight is off if you don't swear it."

"Won't make a difference, punk," Ares grunted. "The endgame will be your head separated from your body anyway. But I'll humor you. I swear on the Styx to give you the Helm and let you, and your friends go unharmed if you beat me in a fight. Happy?"

Thunder boomed overhead. The oath was sealed.

I nodded satisfactorily and leveled into stance as Ares paced leisurely in front of me. "I've got unlimited strength, stamina, and millennia of practice, kid," Ares grinned. "What have you got?"

"A smaller ego."

I had to hold back a smile after saying the words I'd never thought I'd utter again. I won't lie, those words had kept me awake for nights on end, and all I'd think about in bed was how I should've said them when I had the chance. But alas, I was a dumb twelve-year-old then.

Unfortunately, Ares didn't see the humorous side of things, instead, snarling in rage. He readied his sword and lunged towards me.

I raised Riptide, and our swords met in a shower of sparks.

Ares went into the offensive from the get-go. What he didn't have in speed, he certainly made up for in brute strength. His sword swung in wide, powerful arcs striking Riptide as I parried his violent blows. My hand rattled each time a heavy swing connected with my sword. A powerful overhead swing nearly popped my arm out of its socket, and I grunted in exertion.

We traded blows for a while with Ares on the front foot because of his offensive style. I managed to evade every one of his strikes without trying to be offensive deliberately. I could sense his growing irritation because of it.

"Not bad, not bad," he muttered roughly when I gracefully dodged another one of his jabs.

It was in moments like this that I was thankful for my ADHD.

I was aware of everything that was happening around me. Even whilst fighting, my attention drifted to mundane things. I could see the sea churn, a few feet beside me, and I noticed the elvish faces of women underwater peering at us. Nereids, I thought, Welp, better give 'em a good show.

My eyes caught a blue and red flash at the corner of my eyes and I almost cursed aloud. I had completely forgotten about the cops.

Several police cars were parked at the edge of the beach, their sirens wailing loudly as their occupants clambered outside and aimed their guns at us.

"We can see the suspects!" A cop yelled in his comm. "They're..." he trailed off in bewilderment. "What the hell? They have guns and...swords?" He reported, his tone laced with incredulity.

Ares growled as he flicked his sword and brought it over to his side and I caught my breath. "This doesn't concern you, mortals," he snarled, waving his arm. An explosion ripped through the air as a car flipped on its end, falling in a shower of sparks. People screamed and ran.

"Oi!" I shouted, dodging a piece of shrapnel from the car. "People will get hurt, you jerk!"

Ares scowled deeply before a smirk erupted on his cruel face. "I don't care about mortals, punk. But since we've got this lovely fire," he said, jutting his chin towards the burning cars, "Why don't we add you to the barbecue."

I barely had the time to block his sword when he barrelled at me like a freight train. A series of vicious swings violently came upon me as I tried to parry them. Like I had imagined, his attacks became more and more powerful and haphazard in hopes of ending this battle early. He attempted a feint, aiming to strike at my neck before dropping abruptly to swipe at my stomach.

I won't lie; it was an extremely complicated move executed with perfection, and had I not seen it coming, I would've surely been gutted. I told myself to thank Artemis once this was over so I could thank her for all the gruelly hours of sparring that made me dodge Ares's strike in the nick of time.

Ares looked surprised when he saw me standing, his eyes glancing to the tip of his blade where he was sure he'd see my body impaled. I just stared at him flatly, panting and twirling Riptide.

He growled and shot towards me. "Why won't you die, brat?!"

I blocked another one of his strikes as he snarled. "Coward! Fight me back, Son of Poseidon!"

I didn't reply, which only furthered his rage.

And then came the opening.

In blind anger, the god of war overstepped his strike, hoping to put all his weight on his swing. My eyes narrowed as I nimbly ducked under his elbow and got into his guard. He inhaled sharply as his swing missed me by an inch, and I raised Riptide towards his face.

"Ack!" he cried as Riptide's hilt struck his gut, and he jerked forwards.

I twisted, putting my whole body weight on my fist, watching it connect with Ares's jaw with a sickening crack.

Ares screamed.

"Fuck!" I swore, pain shooting through my arm (and also because of the scream which had surely damaged my eardrums). No doubt, my knuckles, now coated in Ichor and blood, were broken.

A shockwave radiated outwards as I was blasted ten feet into a sand mound, the very sea ripping away from the wounded god.

I groaned in the soft granules beneath me.

Ares stood up shakily, his face comically golden with Ichor, looking every bit shocked that he'd been wounded. With a fist, no less.

"You-you," he spluttered in rage, his face twisting into a snarl. "You're gonna pay for this!"

He stood up and glowed brightly for a moment. I averted my eyes at the levels of luminescence emanating from him.

The light subsided, and I gasped. Ares' eyes turned were red as he shook in silent fury. However, this wasn't what shocked me. A spear had morphed into his hand, its wickedly sharp edge glinting in the air. My eyes widened in shock as I recognized the god's sacred weapon. The same weapon he had used to slay countless Greeks during the Trojan War.

The god of war crouched, eyes full of unbridled fury as the air compressed around him.

I inhaled sharply.

Red eyes.

Fuck.

He roared, an inhumane noise reverberating through the air. His spear, a seven-meter long sharp-as-fuck piece of weaponry, burst into noxious red-green flames as he aimed it at me.

I scrambled to my feet, readying my sword before realizing there was no Riptide in my hand. My heart sunk for a second until I noticed a bronze glint from the corner of my eyes. Ares yelled a war cry before he barrelled towards me maniacally.

I leaped to my right, where Riptide lay buried under a thin coat of sand. Picking up the Xiphos in one smooth move, I turned to face my adversary. However, Ares was almost upon me, raising his spear to deliver a death blow.

I raised my hand, knowing it wouldn't make much of a difference, and prepared for the pain to arrive. What I hadn't prepared for, was hearing a thunk and the sound of a body dropping loudly on the sand.

I opened my eyes and looked to my left in bewilderment. I blinked, seeing the body of Ares sprawled out on the sand, groaning and twitching in agony. Ichor oozed from his side as he clutched his side in obvious pain.

"Not only breaking an oath on the Styx, but dishonorably attacking my brother after he beat you in a fair battle?" A voice I thought I'd never hear in the scenario spoke evenly from my right. I snapped my head towards the figure standing on the surf, wielding a trident, and my mouth dropped open in shock.

"You have insulted one of the Sea by your actions, cousin. And the Sea doesn't like to be disrespected."

"Invidia!"

The heavy copper doors flew open under the wrath of the furious goddess of the moon. The temple seemed to rattle under the palpable anger of the deity. A ferocious scowl was plastered on her face as she navigated through the dark corridors of the temple ignoring the awed gazes of the few minor gods present there.

The goddess knew exactly where to go; Nemesis's temple on Olympus was the only shrine of any minor god Artemis had visited in the past. Memories of her counterpart's last visit to the graecus brought a devilish smile to her face as she remembered how Artemis had punished the goddess of revenge for partaking in the Trojan War.

She couldn't lie; this particular temple brought both fond and odious memories for her. Thoughts of peeping into some of the more suspicious-looking rooms entered her mind, but she quickly dismissed them. The warm, musky smells of the dark rooms she passed by were enough to keep her exploring the place.

Familiar meanders and contours brought her to her destination.

She paused when she reached the main shrine, where she was sure the other goddess was present. Without any warning, she pushed open the door and entered the room. She knew it was hugely disrespectful to enter the temple of another deity unannounced, but given the predicament Invidia had put her into, she could not give less of a shit.

Her eyes impulsively scanned the room, already analyzing the structure and the vantage points. While she wasn't as proficient as her sister, the Agroterra side of hers was more than capable of the task.

Diana's eyes swept around the room, wanting to get any proof of Invidia's involvement with Saturn that she could. The room itself was dimly lit, with cold currents of air sweeping in random directions. She could vaguely make out the symbol of Invidia, a pair of balanced weights on a weighing scale embossed on one of the walls in the distance. No obvious memento of Saturn's allegiance caught her eyes.

"I was wondering when I'd get a visit from you, Diana," a voice spoke behind her.

Diana frigidly turned around to meet the dark eyes of the goddess of envy. "Invidia," she said flatly. "You know why I'm here."

The goddess looked the same since Diana had last seen her. Based on what she knew from Artemis, there wasn't much difference between Nemesis and her Roman counterpart. After all, jealousy, revenge, and balance didn't have many alternatives. Just like love, Nemesis's domains were one of the least altered ones after the fall of Greece.

If Diana was being truthful, she could hardly say with confidence that the deity in front of her was Invidia and not Nemesis.

"Oh, do I now?" Invidia (or was it Nemesis) set her hand to her mouth in faux surprise, "I never would have guessed."

Diana growled, her silver eyes flickering dangerously. "Don't play coy with me, Invidia. You know of the laws regarding the two sides. You are perfectly aware of the fact that Artemis' hunt is an all-greek group. The Romans have never had a place in her ranks. So, why is the name of Pluto have you sent your daughter to our hunt?"

"Is that so?" Invidia hummed, twirling a strand of ebony hair in her locks. "What about the daughter of Vulcan, hm? Is she not a Roman amongst your ranks?"

"Naomi," Diana stressed, "has been with us since the fall of Greece, before the battle of Corinth. She is well aware of the conflict between the two sides over the ages. Her loyalties lie with me and in neither Greece nor Rome. The majority of the hunt believe her as a daughter of Hephaestus and not Vulcun, and I would like to keep it that way."

"So, why can't you do the same with my daughter?" Invidia asked uncaringly, sitting down on one of the couches. "Tell your little virgins that she's a daughter of Nemesis. There, problem solved."

Diana narrowed her eyes. "It doesn't matter if I take her under my wing, Invidia, what matters is what are you playing at? You have never sent your children to the hunt nor affiliated them with anything regarding Olympus as a whole. Neither you or Nemesis. Melanie is the first child of yours that I've ever seen in centuries, notwithstanding the fact she also seems to be the most powerful. Strange things have been stirring in the pit and I cannot help but wonder if you are...connected to them," she said, tilting her head.

Invidia raised her eyebrow but Diana could detect hints of uneasiness hidden in her dark eyes. She grinned internally.

"Are you accusing me of turning, Diana?" Invidia narrowed her eyes. "That's a bold accusation to make, particularly against me. Have you forgotten I am a Roman?"

"So was Arminius," Diana shot back. "His rank as a Roman official didn't stop him from betraying his country and causing the extinction of three legions. What makes you think you're any different? Did you really think we wouldn't know if you had crossed to the enemy's side?"

Diana was aware Invidia wasn't a prideful goddess in the slightest, yet she knew no deity could withstand an insult that compared them to an infamous mortal. Sure enough, the goddess's features hardened.

"Unless you have the proof of my crimes, I suggest you leave my temple, goddess. You're wasting both our times here," Invidia growled.

"Oh, but I do have the proof," Diana drawled, smirking when Invidia tensed. "See, you forget that I am, first and foremost, a hunter. So, observing my surroundings comes as a job description. Which even if I do say so myself, I excel at. As soon as-"

"I'm going to spare both our times and say that I swear on the Styx that neither I nor Nemesis have betrayed Olympus."

Thunder boomed overhead as Invidia intensely met the flabbergasted eyes of the goddess of the moon. Diana glanced between the skies and Invidia, expecting her to get blasted for her lie.

A minute passed. Invidia stared at her, unimpressed.

"Well, then," Diana spoke uncomfortably when nothing happened. "It seems I was mistaken."

"It does seem so, yes," Invidia said smugly, crossing her arms.

Diana couldn't lie, she was extremely surprised by the outcome of the confrontation. However, what made her uneasy was the lack of involvement of Invidia in the Titan Lord's ranks. She distinctly remembered Nemesis and Invidia joining Saturn's army in the last timeline. She knew that the timeline hadn't changed enough to prevent the minor gods from joining. According to Artemis, Percy still hadn't done anything of worth in this timeline that would bribe the minor gods into changing their minds.

Her uneasiness only grew when she ran the scenarios in her mind.

Diana was afraid this was a result of an external interference...by someone who knew what was going to happen in the future. She just didn't know who or what their motive could've been.

She turned sharply towards Invidia. "That still doesn't answer my question. Why have you sent your daughter to my Hunt, Invidia?"

Invidia blinked. "I thought I made it pretty clear that it wasn't malicious intent."

"Perhaps," Diana conceded. "But it doesn't explain your reasoning. What you've done is still against the ancient laws. Jupiter is well within his rights to cast you from Olympus for your crimes. The only thing preventing him to do so is my silence. So, unless you do not reveal your reasoning, I will have to report this to him."

Invidia paled. "You wouldn't."

Diana stared at her deadpan.

"Oh," Invidia muttered, "You would."

"Well, go on then," Diana pressed, "I don't have all day."

Invidia opened her mouth to speak when lightning boomed overhead. The temple rattled at the force of the thunder. Diana bit back a growl at her father's horrid timing.

"Looks like you have a council meeting, Diana," Invidia said smugly, crossing her arms. "You better leave right now."

Diana narrowed her eyes. As fast as a viper, she drew her bow and notched an arrow at full stretch, aiming it at Invidia. "Jupiter wouldn't mind if I was a minute late, Invidia. So, unless you want me to release my bowstring, I advise you to speak up," she stated cheerily.

Invidia gulped, nervously glancing at the tip of the silver arrow aimed at her. "Fine," she said reluctantly. "It was because I want Melanie to enter the legion."

Diana blinked. "That defeats the point of sending her to me. Why didn't you send her to Lupa, then?"

Invidia's entire demeanor changed as she glared at Diana. "Because she's my child," she hissed, startling Diana. "She'll be ridiculed in the Legion just because she's a minor god's child, Diana. Rome has never respected us, neither have the greeks. Countless children of us, minor gods, have gone without recognition for their deeds because you mighty Olympians have never cared about us. You're lucky we haven't yet gone against Olympus, goddess, even after your abhorrent treatment of us. Melanie is my strongest child yet, and I'm not going to let her potential go to Tartarus. Rome respects strength below parentage. I want my daughter in your hunt so she can learn and finally bring glory in our name," she declared passionately.

Diana shuffled uncomfortably. She couldn't lie, she did agree with Invidia to some extent. The thing about the mistreatment of the minor gods was true, even if she didn't want to admit it. Moreover, she didn't want a maiden to be left unhelped. However, Jupiter's laws were no joke. She didn't know if her hunters would suffer the repercussions of her decision.

"Invidia," Diana said, "As much as I want to, I cannot. I can't risk the safety of my hunters if this caused Jupiter's wrath."

Invidia opened her mouth to speak when the temple shook harshly. A deafening thunderclap rumbled overhead as both the deities cringed. Zeus did not like to be kept waiting.

Invidia looked at her desperately.

Diana pursed her lips before shaking her head. "We'll talk later. Zeus grows impatient. Goodbye, Invidia," she said before turning around and vanishing in a blaze of silver.

Invidia looked at the spot which was vacated by the goddess before a slow smile overtook her face.

Her form shimmered, her hair growing longer and her height increased. A younger, more defined countenance took the place of the regal face. A smirk played at her lips as she turned towards the darkness.

The shadows shifted slightly.

"Well?" Nemesis asked, crossing her arms, looking intensely at the patch of umbrae in the corner of the room. "Are you satisfied, Milady?"

A chuckle resounded through the room before a feminine voice spoke, "Yes, my child. You have done well."

Yep, there's the chapter with the fight with Ares. I hope it was up to your standards. I'm sorry if it wasn't but I've been feeling a bit low this week, so this chapter might be sub-par.

I'm sorry if the chappie has mistakes but as I said, I've had a shitty week and I'm dead on my feet rn.

And before any of y'all comment that Percy is the chaddest chad with a magnum dong that never loses against anyone, please shut up. I know people like to portray him as OP, but I'm not into that. I do like when Percy is faced against odds that are against his favor. I would never write a story where he'd snap his fingers all the while defeating the enemy, getting the girl, overthrowing patriarchy, and re-establishing communism and saving everyone. He won against a fair fight with Ares, which is enough for now.

Please join the discord.

Please review.

Answering some reviews:

AshGMR7: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Mark Andrew: Oooh, I see you're onto something. I won't spoil anything but the Nyx-Hades interaction isn't happening in this chapter. Seems like you'll have to wait lol. Thanks for reviewing!

HellRaiderS: you got it.

Screamcounter: Maybe...or maybe not. You'll have to see who's the mystery person. Is it a she? Or not?

Rohan: Yep, wanted to do something different with a different deity. Since, there is a roman arc already coming, I thought why not start developing it from now. Hope you like it tho. And yes, the greeks will be...flummoxed t say the least.

JustLucky05: Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. And thanks for reviewing too!

CommanderDuck14: How about no? I'm sorry my guy, but history isn't my cup of tea. Also, thanks about the mature primordial compliment thingy. It just came to me 'cause I was a bit annoyed with them acting as annoying/immature little shits everywhere. Hence, the weird twist. And yep, Aurora is my OC in life and death.

Exodus12345: Why tho? The minor gods did the same with Zeus. Plus, I know this is an extremely unpopular opinion but aren't primordial just jacked up, glorified versions of gods? I hope this chapter clears things up. (if not...well just review ig?) Thanks for reviewing!

Anonymus: thanks mate!

Apollyondescent/LostHouse: alt account? really?...fine. You're mine. There is your cheesy joke. Happy, you sadistic twat?

Darkanaklusmos70: No spoilies! ;)

Theo: go fuck yourself, mate.

Death Fury: Thank you!

Please check out my other works and please review!

Byee