Sorry to keep you all waiting, but medical stuff kills your time faster than cancer. PLS STOP telling me to update more frequently with longer chapters. Just...life doesn't give a damn.
Anyway, enough negativity! Thank you all for your reviews, love, and support! Much appreciated.
Here we go.
Debut on Olympus
I couldn't help but gasp in awe as I looked out into the sea of clouds.
The great walls loomed from the steep mountain slopes like a row of giant's teeth. However, despite their massive height, I could still easily see the massive half-transparent tube connecting the earth and the heavenly construct above. An entire temple stood on the flat platform that was hovering inside the tube, and I instinctively knew that it was an 'elevator'.
"Terminal Hades Scanning Process Complete. Access granted."
As we drew nearer, a monotone voice spoke out. Our mecha ship came to a soundless halt in front of the towering iron doors as they swung open with a resounding boom. At that point, I would like to say I was done being awed. I wasn't.
One would expect the mountain top to be covered in snow since the strong sunlight was decreased by the floating castle above our heads. Instead, once we stepped inside the gates, we were welcomed by a sight that rivaled the fields of Elysian.
The cold, harsh breeze was swept away by the gust of warm wind that smelt of flowers, milk, and honey. A young lady stood in the middle of the garden-like plains, her brown hair and green dress bathed in the soft rays of Apollo. She had a motherly warmth in her purple eyes as they set sight on our ship, her gaze trailing across Hades, Persephone, and finally lingering on me.
Her smile was like the blossom of a million flowers that conveyed endless love and affection. She raised her left arm with a slim scythe gripped in it, and waved it up and down in excitement.
"Grandma!", I waved back with my own scythe. Her smile grew even more radiant.
"My, my! Just look at you! Come here, my handsome prince.", she cooed. She opened her arms wide in an inviting hug. I jumped off the deck and right into her arms. If she was any normal lady, my tackle would have resulted in several cracked ribs and a concussion. However, grandma simply caught me in her hug and spun me around with a gleeful giggle.
"Who's the best boy? You are!"
"Am I?"
"Yes!"
"I am!"
"Yes!"
I know I sound very stupid, but my grandma had this kind of...infectious giddiness that I couldn't resist. With that, she conjures up this atmosphere that makes even the most ferocious of warriors into tame kittens. A mother's unending and unconditional love. Talking about mothers...
"Mother. It's a pleasure to see you so well-"
"Ah, my dearest Persephone! Come here! Let mommy hug you!"
"M-mother!"
Persephone coughed, her cheeks a bright red. This wasn't the first time she was embarrassed by her mother's antics. From the minute she was born as a goddess, her mother had always been somewhat overprotective. Even after she matured, her mother would still make her sit on her lap and try to spoon-feed her. She hated it.
"Greetings, Demeter. Thank you kindly for volunteering as Korecres' patron."
"Hello to you too, Hades. My, you really should get a tan! Spending all of your time down in the depths is not good for your health!"
Hades' pale white skin, stygian armor decorated with gold and silver skulls, smoke-like cloak, and curly black hair were menacing for most, but my grandma Demeter seemed that she couldn't care less. Father stood still while grandma fussed over him like a mother hen, his faraway gaze indicating that his mind was in a happier place.
Considering their history, one might think that Demeter and Hades didn't get along. Strangely enough, after her daughter's wedding, Demeter somehow made it her personal mission to 'reform' her son-in-law into a 'proper' king, unlike his two inhuman brothers. Her mission extended to his son. which also happened to be her most beloved daughter's adopted son.
While grandma first seemed a little hesitant at accepting me as her grandson (another reason why I suspected Persephone wasn't my biological mother), she soon came to dote on me once she realized how utterly obsessed her daughter was with me. Not one of the healthiest familial relationships, but beggars couldn't be choosers. At least I wasn't cursed to a horrific death.
...Did I just jinx myself?
Anyway, with a goddess and two Olympians as my escort, I set foot into the transparent pillar. The inside of the elevator was one entire floor of a temple. Twelve statues of the Olympians stood guard in a large circle surrounding the platform. I noticed that the 'Olympians' were somewhat different from the knowledge in my head.
Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Ares, Athena, Hephaistus, Apollo, Athena, Aphrodite, Demeter, Hestia...those were the members I recognized as the Olympians. However, instead of Hermes, there was the statue of my father, Hades. There were several legends that indicated Dionysus took Hestia's throne, but that didn't seem the case if the statues meant anything. ...A guardian, perhaps?
I had a feeling that there was a story behind it. A story that differed from the myths in my head.
With a rather artificial sound of bells ringing, we reached the top of the pillar, and the doors seemingly melted apart, granting me the full view of Olympus' great halls. I noticed with a jolt that the halls were not transparent as I expected them to be.
As if sensing my confusion, Demeter winked at me and flicked the green melon-shaped globe hovering in her hand. The scenery blurred for a split second, revealing the hills and rivers stretching to the horizon. I gasped, startled at the revelation that the 'transparency' I saw from below was nothing more than a camouflage that hid Olympus' true interior.
"Ah, arrived have we? And on time."
A blonde man with winged sandals and an iron staff with two silver snakes greeted us with a pleasant voice. My father nodded back in acknowledgment.
"Hermes. It has been a long time since we last met. I've heard that Thanatos praises your quick delivery of heroic souls."
The man, Hermes, bowed deeply towards my parents in one sweeping movement.
"Always an honor to serve you, Lord Hades. Ah, I see that lady Persephone is also most beautiful...no, more beautiful than before. Happiness is the best treatment, I suppose."
Then, his sky-blue eyes twinkled with mirth as he met my mismatched ones, and bowed once again, albeit a lot more lightly.
"Greetings and salutations, young lord. I've heard much about you. Now, if you all would kindly follow me..."
Still a little cautious that this amicable man was the messenger god Hermes, I returned his bow with a formal bow of my own and followed him as he lead the way.
After several turns around intertwined corridors, we arrived before a giant gold door with intricate patterns weaved into its surface. Hermes turned and looked me straight in the eye. This time, there was a serious glint in his eyes.
'The queen has set a trap for you, and the king would not step in. Be careful, young Korecres.'
The voice was gone as abruptly as it rang in my head. I blinked once, seeing how Hermes subtly tapped his finger against his lips. I nodded. I glanced up to see my parents nod slightly. With a deep breath, I put my hand on the center of the gold door.
"Identification Code: Korecres. Administration Process Complete."
With a hissing sound, the doors melted away into thin air, revealing the sight it hid behind.
Before my eyes, there was a gorgeous hall fit for several hundred men. All kinds of exotic foods were served on silver dishes and countless orbs of floating orange light lit the space in a fiery glow.
The chatter stopped once they saw me, their eyes shining with a myriad of emotions. The air was thick with so many intentions that it almost made me seasick. I rubbed my right eye with a sigh, trying to get rid of the headache. Focus, I urged myself. After all, this is the worst possible timing to get enochlophobia.
...How did I even come up with that term? Wierd.
"Welcome, young hero, to the banquet of Olympus."
My head snapped up with so much force I feared my cervical spine got a whiplash. From the moment the voice reached my ears, I knew who...or what, the speaker was. It was as if molten iron was injected into my veins. My father put a hand on my shoulder and the sensation passed.
"Lord Zeus. I'm most honored."
I bowed at the muscular man with chalk-white skin and electric blue eyes seated on a golden throne.
The other gods raised their chalice in approval, though I noticed from the corner of my eye that quite a few just sat there in their seats, unimpressed. While most of them were supposedly minor gods, one stood apart from their group. A man with tanned skin, white hair, and bloody red eyes. He was clad in crimson armor from head to toe despite the fact that he was currently attending a banquet.
He raised one thin eyebrow as if to say 'What, kid?'. I nodded back respectively. The message he was conveying was blatantly clear. Respect is earned, not given.
"Oh? It seems like our little Persephone has taken on a new...hobby, parading a swindle around like some prized dog."
The voice was soft and feminine, though it contained more venom than a Hydra's fang. It carried through the large hall, immediately dampening the excited chatter.
"Though I would advise against getting acquainted with...strays. After all, you wouldn't know what sort of filth they might contain in their blood. Wouldn't you agree, half-blooded mongrel?"
Hades grimaced while Demeter and Persephone looked positively pissed. Both women looked like they had something to say, but Hades put a hand on each of their shoulders and shook his head. My father looked me straight in the eye.
An insult issued under your name is a challenge you must accept if you are to be welcomed inside Olympus' halls, for only the heroes are befitting of such honor.
I nodded back at my father and stepped forward.
The sound of heels clanking against stone echoed in the silence as a woman introduced herself from a door behind Zeus' throne.
I clenched my jaw. I had a good idea of who she is, and I'm also aware that I'm stuck in a tight spot. The queen-the partner of our host had insulted us, the guests, and our host was doing nothing to stop her. If it was any other host, he or she would have been furious that their partner has embarrassed them by going against the code of hospitality.
However, this is Zeus we're talking about. And Zeus is the absolute kingpin. I remembered Hermes' warning and steadied my resolve.
If I do not rise to Hera's bait, I would be labeled as an unfilial coward. Of course, my father would step in, but that wouldn't change the fact that I didn't defend my family honor against a taunt directed towards me.
On the other hand, if I do rise to the bait, Hera would most likely try to twist it into a way that would make my retort sound like an insult, and force a 'task' on me to 'redeem' or 'prove' myself.
In other words, I'm stuck in a place so tight I'm thoroughly fucked.
With a sigh, I opened my mouth, knowing already that I would come to regret my decision.
"Lady Hera, I'm honored to be blessed by your presence. As...incomplete and unsatisfactory I may be in your wise eyes, I must, as the son of Hades and Persephone, humbly ask you not to disgrace my blood's honor."
Hera smiled sweetly, a peacock feather fan covering the lower half of her face.
"Oh? And may I ask what honor would your blood truly carry? Perhaps, a stray in heat that caught Lord Hades' attention?"
So this is where she wants this to go. I knew it. She knows I know it, and she takes pleasure in knowing that I wouldn't back away, and my parents wouldn't step in for it'll prove my incompetence, namely: biting off more than I can chew. Being a child wouldn't be much of an excuse in god community. My mouth felt dry.
"My blood is more of Persephone than whatever biological kin I might have spawned from, for the bottomless love my mother, Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld and the Goddesses of Spring and everything that blooms has poured into me, so deep that it blinds, would remain in my soul and remain true, forevermore."
A bitter sneer full of dark hatred appeared on the queen's face for a split second before it was wiped away with a flutter of her fan. Hera's eyes gleamed with cruel pleasure, like a child about to crush an ant.
"If you say so, why not prove your claim?"
Here comes the hook. I bit my tongue.
"Prove to me, to Olympus, that you are more than a mere muddle blooded mortal. Prove to your 'mother' that you are worthy. Prove that you are befitting of your name...Glory for Persephone!"
The queen raised one finger and pointed directly at my face.
"Defeat Alcides of Mycenae, a demigod said to have incredible strength that rivals the mighty Atlas. Make him shout to the heavens that you are the one who bested him! Bring onto yourself this glory, and I shall deem you worthy!"
I sneaked a peek at Zeus, only to see him looking back at me, a strange, calculating glint in his eyes. It was almost as if this...farce was all according to his plan. Alcides...wait...wait a minute...that's...that's...!?
"Well?", Hera asked with a sadistic smile. "What says you, young champion?"
"I...humbly accept.", I growled through gritted teeth.
Alcides. A hero who shall be known in the future as one of Humanity's mightiest Heroes.
The Glory of Hera.
To think that Hera would force me to fight the strongest demigod at hand-to-hand combat...she had most likely figured out the Achilles' heel of my Blessing from Styx. Yes, very ironic considering in this world I was supposed to be the 'flawless' original, and I still ended up being somewhat vulnerable.
You see, while the Styx granted me immunity to 'All things that are mortal and divine' (emphasis on 'thing'), it didn't grant me immunity against existences that aren't 'things that harm me' aka weapons. And the definition of 'weapons' in ancient Greece does not apply to organic matters.
So my blessing, River Fortress: Iron of Styx only nullifies non-organic materials. Of course, as of now, my body is already far tougher and more resilient to all kinds of damage compared to mortals, not to mention most minor gods, and I've yet to hit puberty.
However, that's not complete immunity. Body like divine iron, yes, but it still has a lot of potential of getting fucked up. For example, I'm pretty sure a full-powered punch from that crimson armored god would give me serious intestine injuries. And speaking of getting fucked up...
I'm indeed, royally fucked. Way to go, lady Hera.
"My son shall be the victor!", Persephone seethed. Demeter looked at me, worry etched on her face. Hades was glaring at Zeus with murder in his eyes. Hera just chuckled.
I closed my eyes.
Somewhere nearby, the crimson armored man roared with laughter.
Next chap, Glory for the Goddesses; Glory of Hera VS Glory for Persephone.
Yep, Alcides (Heracles) is Korecres' natural enemy in combat. You didn't think our boi was one of those invincible OP guys that always get a happy ending, eh? Remember, this is Nasu Greece, and it spells tragedy.
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X-kalibuuuur, busy as Hades IRL!