Disclaimer: I don't own anything
A What?
Perseus POV
I walked through the forest with a spring in my step. Whistling and looking around taking in the sounds of birds singing, rodents rustling the grass, and curious deer of all sorts also approached periodically throughout my walk. On my shoulders were Myalo and Skepsi chattering along about what the best tasting bug is. Which I decided not to get involved in because was quite an important topic for them. I followed a small footpath that winded through the forest I was currently in until I was hit with the sound of the ocean and the forest began to open up to reveal a gorgeous white sanded beach and sparkling blue-green water. I smelled in the refreshing smells of the ocean and took a step forward in appreciation of the natural beauty only to get hit by the white liquidy shit of a seagull. I froze in horror feeling it slide down from my hair down towards the breezy tunic I was wearing. A few moments later I turn around and send a small spear of divine energy and smite the damn bird making an explosion of feathers appear above me.
I snap my fingers and the white seagull dropping vanish without a trace and I try to continue my walk down to the waterfront only to be confronted with the sight of my brother and a... is that a dolphin? A dolphin-looking deity snickering in obvious amusement at the unfortunate event that preceded this meeting. I stared them down in a deadly fashion thankfully making the dolphin man stop but only making my brother snicker harder. "It isn't funny brother, you just caught me at an unfortunate moment so shut up!" I said indignantly. "Of course brother I will make this unfortunate event impossible to replicate by killing every seabird just for you" I began to smile in agreement before I saw the amused glint in his eyes and replied irritably "I was supposed to be shown something weren't I?" Poseidon nodded "Well actually I don't believe you two have met before, Perseus this is Delphin, and Delphin this is my majestic younger brother and King Perseus. Well with those done let us get a move on!"
I sent a small nod as a greeting to Delphin before following my annoyingly cheerful brother into the water. Before I became submerged I decided to let my frustration out and smote yet another seagull. We walked out of the surf and shallow until we reached the end of the shallows and were met by a seahorse? Or something along those lines at least. I mounted the sea horse seeing my brother and his.. advisor? bodyguard? friend? Lover? weren't going to. They shot off into the distance and my mount followed closely after. While sitting on the admittedly giant seahorse, I decided to take in my brother's kingdom sights.
The coral reefs we passed were quite beautiful for sure, even if they had nothing on the real forests of my kingdom they were at least better than the depressing sight of our eldest brother's kingdom I seriously feel sorry for him but he seems quite... well not happy but content maybe if a little lonely. I saw some funny-looking fish swimming under us and decided that my brother was quite the appropriate king for them with how not stupid exactly just constantly confused they looked. Jokes aside I knew that my elder brother enjoyed his kingdom immensely and was already very in tune with it, so much so that it actually reacted to his subconscious will and mood. While Zeus managed to make a few lightning strikes when he was fuming or mildly annoyed he is a deity with anger issues stretching from the summit of Mount Olympos to the core of Gaia so he may not be the best example but to finish my observation, Poseidon holds complete control of his domain in contrast to Zeus and his control or maybe a better example Hades who can only make a few small holes leading to Tartarus appear when he is angry.
Anyways we made it out of the small strait in the middle of the two continents being separated by our ocean and we were soon met by the majestic sight of Atlantis...
Unfortunately, which was unfinished, so it wasn't too majestic yet with only the palace that I had helped Poseidon with a few years ago. Even that wasn't finished with walls being deconstructed in front of our eyes. "Poseidon! What is happening? Why are they taking down the palace, I thought you were building a city not destroying it!?" The King of the Northern Seas blushed in embarrassment and answered unhappily "Well as you know after Amphitrite and I married she would move in with me right, well she did come here but she refused to move into such a 'hideous and ghastly home' her words I assure you and a happy wife is a happy life so with help from her representatives because she couldn't bear to look upon the hideous structure again" I grimaced "Ahh well that stinks any idea when it's finished?" A tired shake off the head was my only reply and before I could say anything we were interrupted by our only shared younger brother.
Well, we weren't interrupted by him personally but rather his lighting strike hitting the surface above us in a thunderous bang. I sighed matching Poseidon before flashing up to Olympos with Poseidon following me.
I appeared on my throne and saw my family kneeling and three glorious grandmas standing in front of Hestia's hearth. I quickly jumped out of my seat to my knees which was quite painful but I successfully ignored it and noticed that Poseidon and I were the last to arrive. The three Moirai began without prompt leaving me to pine in silence on my knee "Our mother has decided that the flame that you are guarding needs an inevitable foe and a thing that can theoretically blow it out so she has created a monster that if its intestines are sacrificed on a hearth will spell the fall of Olympos and more specifically you the Olympians. This creature has just been captured by the Titans who have been given the same information by our mother, so you can probably see where this is going or what?" They asked rhetorically "You have three days before they sacrifice it" They finished ominously before disappearing into a dark mist that appeared as suddenly as it disappeared.
I sighed gratefully and flashed up to my throne again. I opened my eyes to 28 worried eyes watching me in turmoil at my relaxed and grateful expression. I reddened and coughed awkwardly "Well we know what we have to do" I tried confidently. "Crash the sacrificial ceremony and either kill or capture this beast off course!" I was met with a wall of cheers.
"Well, who will do it then?" Athena asked once the cheers died down. I smiled thankfully at her "Well I think we should only have volunteers because this will undoubtedly be our most dangerous mission yet! But if he agrees I would like to ask my son Prokopios to come with us as a medic considering his usefulness in previous missions" I proclaim proudly. Zeus smiles probably thinking of when Prokopios healed him after Typhon. "Very well brother, any other volunteers?" Demeter, Poseidon, Hades, and Athena raised their hands and Zeus nodded proudly. "Well, it looks like we have a team I will, of course, come" I raised my hand too and Zeus sent me a thankful smile. "Alright We'll see with our allies and you Perseus will ask your son before we readjourn here in two hours" I flashed out to where I knew where I could find my dear son.
I arrived at the little cottage where Hecate had been living for about a decade. I knocked on the shoddy wooden door and waited patiently. The door opened quickly and a scream that could maybe be understood as MY LOVE emerged before a black-haired woman rushed into my arms.
I of course knew who this was and carefully extracted her arms from her death grip around my waist and said kindly "Hecate, you know that I'm married and we never had any relationship except for our shared parentship of Prokopios so please call him out here" She nodded sadly before probably calling our son mentally to us. Prokopios came out and gave me an awkward hug. I refuse to let all my interactions with my children be so dysfunctional, and I strongly grab him into a hug, making Prokopios squeak. I release him and with a content smile, he says "So father why are you here? Not that I think you have to have a reason to visit but you don't really do that, you know?" My son finishes awkwardly. I give him a sad smile "I wanted to have you with us on a critical mission for our cause, we are on the verge of being defeated"
Prokopios eyes shot open in shock "How!? I thought the war was going fine, how are we suddenly losing?" I sighed tiredly "Well they aren't winning the war in a traditional way but rather with a prophetic creature that if sacrificed would mean the end of Olympos and the Olympians" A sharp breath is drawn from our side and I suddenly remember that Hecate still is here "You may die, as fade die?" I nod solemnly. She gasps again before her expression hardens then I will come with and fight these horrible creatures or whatever it is that's endangering you" I just nod hopelessly and agree seeing that she is set on that before turning my attention back to Prokopios who was wearing an amused and happy grin at his mother and father's interaction before wiping it and nodding seriously.
I roll my eyes before saying "One hour and thirty minutes on Olympos understood?" I shift my attention from my son to his mother. "Good until we meet again" I conclude before flashing away.
Zeus got Pallas, Coeus, and Crius to join our mission too so the throne room was quite packed at least in front of the thrones. Zeus sent a lightning bolt at the until now flawless marble floor and as always Athena twitched in annoyance before snapping her fingers and cleaning it up. I observed our guests and saw them both fidget with nervousness and anticipation while others were stonecold and composed notably the elder Titans. Then you had Poseidon and Zeus who were fidgeting with excitement for the coming battle. Zeus coughed loudly before beginning "Well hello everybody, thank you all for coming here today" Zeus makes a show of welcoming everyone before continuing "You must be wondering what the mission is going to do?" A few deities nodded
"Well, you can all see the hearth in front of us". Zeus asks rhetorically. "Well if that hearth dies out Olympos would fall and with it we the Olympians. Well, the Protogenoi of Inevebility decided that it needed a foe so she created a creature that if sacrificed would somehow lead to our destruction!" Zeus finishes dramatically.
"So you see that this mission is a top priority and will take place as soon as possible. Perseus has sent out some scouts down to Mount Othrys to locate and identify the creature" I nod and continue "Indeed we are now only waiting for their report before we move out and eliminate this creature, prepare yourself and we will call upon you once we have the information" The room cleared until it was only a handful of the Olympian council including Me of course, Zeus, Poseidon, Athena, Aphrodite, and Hephaestus.
Everybody left sits silently just thinking before they get interrupted "So do you think he will be there?" Hephaestus asks nervously watching me and his uncles for a reaction. I breathe out knowing that this is the question everyone was thinking of. "We have to plan for it and he will probably be there to be completely honest, but we will hopefully be ready for him and more specifically it" I reassure them. The rest of the assembled don't look particularly convinced besides my wife and twin. Aphrodite because she for the most part trusts me when I say things like this and Zeus because he firstly knows to not show his anxiety in from of people who may very well die by his command at least indirectly and secondly he is made of boldness from the toes up to his head and doesn't let a potentially dangerous situation let him down.
I'm somewhere in the middle with an understanding that I have to keep calm, composed, and reassured for those under my command. But I am also assured enough of my experience to at least make half-decent plans with others managing to fill in the gaps I oversee. So I can't say that I'm totally calm and unbothered by the looming fight but I'm not a nervous wreck at least.
This time there is a comfortable silence with pre-battle rituals taking place and plans of how the ones actually going to battle are going to handle themselves in it. I just sit silently proudly observing my family preparing for what will be very dangerous in regards to previous engagements. Because this time we will probably not have the element of surprise and our foes will not be inebriated half to death. "We need to make a plan that can't get disrupted by one enemy spy right?" Hephestus yet again voices out. Both I and Zeus smile before I answer "Don't worry we have already come up with a plan that hopefully will be at least somewhat immune to any enemy spies that have slipped through the cracks" Athena huffs indignantly at the thought of anyone coming through her screaming. "Of course we don't think you in your diligent work have managed to let any spies in niece we are only cautious and planning for it" I reassure her damaged pride.
I hear a flap of wings and see Myalo flying down from a shower of raven feathers the antics of that damn bird I should have never made him and his brother minor deities. Anyway, Myalo comes swooping down before landing on my shoulder holding it in a sharp grip with his claws.
"Where is Skepsis?" I ask him quietly. I rolled my eyes once I heard his answer. "Well then we'll meet him there I guess" I turn my attention to my family once he is finished reporting the events to me. "Alright, we have confirmation that we have found the creature in a dungeon cell deep in the mountain which works perfectly for us considering my domain" I finish. Almost too perfect I think to myself before shaking my head of those dark thoughts. "The only thing that could really spell disaster for us on this mission is getting hit by his blade or capture after an either failed or successful mission"
"Anyway brother call them back we are ready". I say to Zeus. He nods and sends a lightning bolt to the sky. The throne room is quickly filled once again and Zeus begins once everybody is gathered. "We have our target!" He starts waiting until the resounding cheers die down. "We will accomplish this mission by splitting into two groups and they will be then given the information that is need-to-know for that part of the mission understood?" Everyone nods and we split the group in one five-man squad with the rest in the other one. I am leading the five-man squad while Zeus takes the rest as a diversionary force for the actual mission.
My group consisted of me obviously, Hades, Pallas, Athena, Astreus, and Eos. While Zeus had Poseidon, Crius, Coeus, Prokopios, Demeter, Hecate, and Aphrodite who had decided to join the mission last minute. I gathered my group and briefed them about what we were supposed to do before flashing out with the squad following.
The battle was imminent.
Third Person POV
While the Perseus little group flashed to the foot of Mount Othrys and silently dug into it an undesired ally was currently betraying them with a small crescent-shaped communication device. Before long Zeus's group moved out as well flashing to the same place as the other part of the mission had been only ten minutes ago. They in contrast to the other team went up instead of through the mountain. They made it up the mountainside completely unharmed and without problems. They even made it up to the summit of the mountain and to the gates of the mountain fortress. They killed the daemons guarding the gates before continuing through the mountain city fortress. They finally made it to the courtyard where Iapetus had been vanquished almost a decade ago. Though that's where their 'luck' ended while they cautiously made their way through the gates of the courtyard they were accosted from behind and like the experienced warriors that most of them were they quickly turned around to face the foe leaving their 'front' quite unprotected.
They were quickly encircled by daemons, Oceanids, minor deities, and Titans. Before long after a small struggle, they were rounded up and placed on their knees in the middle of the courtyard with the Titan King standing in front of them. "Disappointing, such a 'foolproof' plan being foiled by such an easy premise as information getting... misplaced". The Titan King says mockingly. And while he said that Crius gets up from his kneeling position giving a bow to the Titan Lord before walking to the side of Hyperion. Zeus growls like an animal at the betrayal playing out in front of him silently swearing upon something that will define his future rule. Kronos continues his monologue "Now we only have to find the other group you were using to... eliminate this creature" Kronos snaps his fingers and reveals the creature fated to destroy Olympos. Bu only a bull with the tail of a serpent.
He snaps his fingers yet again and his infamous scythe appears in his hand and he gestures something to Crius who steps forward moving through the kneeling deities that he was with only a few minutes ago until he stops in front of Prokopios who was stoically kneeling on the dusty ground of the courtyard. Crius takes hold of the young deity's arm before dragging him back to the Titan Lord. Prokopios's face is still emotionless but he has a few drops of sweat crawling down his forehead showing his stressed state. The courtyard is completely silent with tension thick enough to be cut by a knife, or maybe a scythe.
The pair finally make it in front of The Lord of Time and Crius leaves Prokopios in front of his paternal grandfather before stepping back to his brother's side. "So you are my... grandson, well I guess I can see the similarities. I have heard that you are somewhat of a favorite child of my second youngest son" Prokopios struggles even harder. "It is no use... grandson. You can't fight time! It is an inevitability" Kronos laughs at the ironic statement. "Anyway let's see how much your father and uncle are willing to sacrifice for their 'favorite' son/nephew" Kronos takes his scythe and brings it in front of his grandson's throat. Prokopios gasps at the sudden pain he is feeling even without it touching his skin. Kronos's golden eyes open up in shock before composing himself and narrowing them instead.
"As you can feel already this will make you fade if you touch it so don't think of any escape plans" The 'or else' was unsaid but wasn't missed by anyone in the courtyard or the five deities laying on the roof behind the Titan Lord. Perseus looked to be fuming at someone daring to hold his son hostage and was already thinking of plans on how to escape this with everyone relatively unharmed.
Kronos grunts at the number of deities of various strengths trying to break his hold over them and trapping them in time. He knows he can't hold it forever or even maybe a few minutes more so he decides that setting an example will break them of their will. "If you don't stop struggling there will be consequences" No one took this seriously as Kronos expected and he said two words that were probably some of the most fateful of the entire war. "Very well" Kronos draws the arm holding his scythe out before swinging it back towards the unprotected throat of his grandson.
Perseus sees it immediately and jumps off the rooftop with four of his companions joining him all being stopped midair being made spectators to the horrible event. Hecate in the moment of witnessing her only son in mortal danger manages to break the hold of Kronos for a few moments to let out a heartbreaking "Noo! Not my so..." before she is once again put under Kronos's spell.
They all hear the squelch and scream once the scythe breaking skin before the cry of pain is hauntingly cut and then the sound of a dismembered head hitting the dirty ground echos around the horrified courtyard.
Suddenly another thud emerges this made by the rage-filled father of the newly departed deity breaking away from his father's hold. Perseus then sends five obsidian spears at the Titan Lord with two monstrous earthen hands emerging from the ground and holding the elder Titan in place. The five squelching thuds of the spears and screams of pain are hauntingly similar to the event that only happened a few moments before. Though this time the scream didn't fade away and cried out before finally falling silent a few seconds later. Immediately after the five squelching thuds, the imprisoned deities broke free of their time freezes and they immediately turned the situation around by sending the smaller deities, spirits, Oceanids, and Daemons to the land down under. The high command and elder Titans were put in summoned blessed metal ropes and captured.
Suddenly a company of Telkhines rushed in screaming like maniacs, though they were, unfortunately, crushed under a pair of conjured boulders courtesy of the pissed Nature God. While Perseus was furiously screaming in his father's face about all the different things he would do to him an unsuspecting Telkhine sneaked away with some animal intestines towards a setup hearth for just that occasion.
He made it all the way to it before anyone noticed the dark creature shuffling in the distant corner of the courtyard. But it was quickly shouted out and the Olympians and their allies shifted their attention to it forgetting their prisoners. Some rebels tried to flash to it but it seemed the Titans had learned a thing or two from the rebels and a ward was set up around the courtyard. Some rushed forward at godly speeds but even they wouldn't make it. All hope seemed lost until Perseus made a couple of earthen hands under the Telkhine crushing his body in its rocklike fingers but a moment before the Telkhine had managed to throw the intestines out into the air on a trajectory to land in the bowl-shaped hearth.
But they suddenly stopped a few hair breadths away. Perseus immediately knew whoos doing this was and shifted his attention back to his now freed father who made a cheeky wave before flashing away.
A couple of seconds before the intestines hit the hearth a brown blur whooshed from the sky and grabbed the intestines midair before bringing them back to its master.
The captured loyalists seeing their opportunity attacked the ones metaphorically holding their leashes. This did not go well because Perseus fed up with his foes impaled them all on obsidian spears suddenly sticking up from the ground.
Perseus looked out in the distance with murder in his eyes before blasting apart the admittedly strong wards and flashing out.
End of Chapter
Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! We are almost finished with the first segment of this arc in the story so be prepared for a change of pace in a few chapters.
Darkest chapter yet with... can I call it a major character death? Because I don't really know if anyone of you cared for Prokopios because he is an OC so I guess ill just call it massive gore for now.
I hope the length of the chapters is adequate and the story is still interesting, I will, of course, take in suggestions and while I may not include them in this story I wouldn't be against doing something in the future, maybe.
I try to weave this story together with both well-known and unknown greek myths in a way that hopefully makes sense but a lot of myths and origin myths especially are quite difficult to adapt into this story, unfortunately. I mention this because I have seen comments mentioning the older names of Greek deities and saying that I should call them that until they were actually known as what we know them as now but I really can't be bothered, so live with it. I do think I have an alright way of explaining in the story though in a few chapters so you will hopefully accept the explanation.
Fun fact I listened to Sabaton's Great War album on repeat while writing this chapter so apologize if it's somewhat dramatic. 'The Red Baron' has to be my favorite.
Next: A Titanic Battle
Thank you for reading!