Ok, another chapter of this, writing a chapter for a story per day makes me feel extra productive. If only I could apply the same amount of energy and dedication to my studies. Then again, I do this as an escape. Is it really an escape if it becomes part of your life? Anyway, no time for questioning my life choices. Let's begin.
There was something very unsettling about seeing Kaneki Ken angry. If one could harness his rage and convert it to the electricity mortals enjoyed using to power their cities, he would probably produce enough power for a country. Even so, his rage seemed to make him reckless. For one, he had just tanked so many lightning bolts that his magically repairing clothing was struggling to keep up and his briefcase was dented. And to further stack the odds against him, he was attempting to fight the King of the Gods with nothing but his bare hands, god-killer still left in the middle of a cratar. Artemis ensured that Zoe wasn't about to die, handing her over to her brother(all of the twelve Olympians had teleported soon after their king had decided to take the not-human up on his challenge) and telling him(read:threatening him) to keep an eye on her in case her condition got worse before returning her eyes to the brewing fight.
Zeus was staring down at the mortal intimidatingly, towering over him at his full height and crackling with restrained electricity. Yet, it was the irate monster, dwarfed by the sheer size of his opponent that struck the more imposing figure. He was practically vibrating in place with how much his body was trembling, still without his weapon. A glance to the side showed Artemis that Athena had begun sneaking towards the briefcase, curiosity in her eyes. And as the god and mortal continued to silently stare each other down, her hand made contact with the briefcase and Kaneki Ken jerked. Turning around, he blurred, reappearing just to smash a fist into Athena's face before she could react and followed through, slamming her into the ground, which shuddered in response. Picking up his weapon case, Kaneki gave the stunned goddess a savage kick in the ribs that made her slide across the dirt, coming to a stop when Artemis caught her, the only other member of the divine beings watching that had reacted as Kaneki began to move. Checking to make sure that she was fine(although fine was relative, because the man had given the goddess a concussion and several broken ribs), Artemis deposited her second patient by Apollo's side and her brother gave her a look of growing horror as he took in the injuries their target had dished out within five seconds. The other Olympians remained still, for the divine laws ensured that they could not act out against mortals(although that was slowly becoming debatable), and the only ones that Kaneki had attacked were Athena and Artemis. She chose to remain out of the fight, however, because a part of her wanted to see how the monster fared against a god in a true fight, and another part of her wanted her father to pay for how he had almost vapourized her Lieutenant.
"Here's what's going to happen," Kaneki's voice had taken on a demonic edge, and his words were more growled than spoken, "I'm going to beat you within an inch of your life. And then you're going to leave me alone." Zeus laughed, almost arrogantly and a ripple of confusion made its way through the gods and goddesses. Artemis swallowed, wondering what Kaneki held secret from them that made him so confident about his victory. Despite how short a period of time she had been acquainted with the man, something that had become crystal clear was that he never lied. His next action was something that didn't help her rising stress levels and caused the hunter's instincts she lived and fought by, for Kaneki Ken tossed his god-killer over his shoulder, the briefcase curving through the air and landing with a resounding crash beside Artemis(narrowly missing both her and Hermes, who had been standing beside her). They shared a look of confusion before Hermes attempted to pick the case up, staggering at its weight. Kaneki snapped a knuckle before speaking again. This time, his tone wavered between "demonic entity" and "polite gentleman".
"I will fight you without a weapon, because you are not even worth the bloodstains on my sword, and also because I will enjoy this fight a lot more." he shed the remnants of his cloak, tying the sleeves around his waist and shifting into a stance. Zeus watched this spectacle with so much puzzlement that Artemis could see error signs flashing in his brain at the lack of fear in the individual that had chosen to fight against the gods.
"Very well, mortal. Because I am a fair and benevolent god," Artemis snorted under her breath and prayed that her father hadn't been able to hear it(Hermes almost fell over with repressed laughter, dropping the case on his foot and crying out), "I will give you one free hit." The hint of a smile crossed Kaneki's face before he donned his mask, adjusting the eyepatch and cocking his head.
"One free hit you say?" Zeus nodded, folding his arms over his chest and watching dismissively, having already written off his opponent in his head. In a move that screamed of stupidity, the Lord of the Sky shrunk to the size of a human, but still towering over his opponent. Artemis shook her head, sighing at Zeus' mistake. She spoke out loud, drawing the attention of the gods and goddesses near her.
"Never underestimate Kaneki Ken…" he stepped forward, bringing his arm back for a punch and abruptly, what looked like red tentacles sprouted from his back.
"Because that's how he levels the playing field." the monster punched as his additional appendages simultaneously whipped through the air. In the blink of an eye, Zeus had developed a deep gash in his chest that spurted ichor, clutching an arm that was hanging on by a thread and falling forward, balance lost along with one of his feet. The punch collided with the still falling god, launching him into the air. As he fell back to the ground, the four tentacles merged into a giant claw and caught the god, holding him suspended in the air and squeezing till Artemis could hear bones snapping under the pressure. Zeus roared in anger and in agony, another bolt of lightning striking the duo and causing her to shield her eyes from the blinding glare. When she managed to blink the spots out of her eyes, Artemis saw Zeus hanging limp in his adversary's grasp, who was twitching and convulsing due to the shock to his system, but with more than enough control over his motor system to gradually force himself to grow motionless(minus the occasional twitch). Raising a hand as the claw brought the defeated god closer to its owner, he lifted Zeus' chin and shook his head at the dazed look in the god's eyes.
"I expected more from the King of Gods. Let this be a lesson to those who underestimate me." he flung his hand to the side and the claw slammed the individual in its grasp into the ground before splitting back into the four original limbs. Each one stabbed into one of Zeus' four limbs and pinned him to the ground like a butterfly on a wall. Kaneki walked over, before kneeling down, a knee on each of Zeus' forearms. Artemis resisted the urge to save her father, knowing that the monster who had beaten her without revealing those extra limbs would most likely wipe the floor with her and then there would be two members of the Council that would be in trouble. The remaining Olympians were forced to watch as he began to throw a flurry of punches, each with enough force to drive a cloud of dirt into the air. Thirty seconds passed before the victorious mortal stood back up, the additional limbs sliding back into his back and vanishing. Flicking the ichor from his hands(not that it helped, they were positively drenched), he turned to the remaining divine beings, a splash of golden blood across his mask only hammering home the fact that he had defeated the King of the Gods with barely a scratch in return for his efforts. He walked, tall and proud, and reflexively, Artemis took a step back. He holds out a hand, silently, and the gods and goddesses exchange looks before he gestures to the case lying discarded on the floor. Hesitantly, Hermes begins to lift it up a second time, wincing at the weight and his own aching foot. Before it was lifted above waist level, Kaneki had already stepped forward to snatch his case back and turned away to kick the groaning body on the floor. He paused, taking off the mask and glanced back(long enough for Artemis to see how his eyes had instinctively sought out Zoe Nightshade before softening, the blazing fire in them put out). He looked to Artemis, ensuring that her attention was fully on him before mouthing the words "take care of her for me." She nodded and was rewarded with a smile of relief. The shadows crept towards the monster again as he melted, disappearing into the shadows. Only then did the Olympians rush forward to check on their king.
Artemis watched them, wondering, not for the first time, why they followed a god who had allowed his arrogance to get the better of him once again.
"So, that went well." everyone gave Hermes a look for his quip and Artemis rolled her eyes, resisting the urge to fire an arrow at his throne just for the wisecrack. They were having yet another meeting about Kaneki Ken, and their failures in capturing him. This time Artemis was part of it, but they were two Olympians short instead of one now, with Zeus still in the equivelent of an infirmary for gods and with Apollo frantically attempting to keep him alive(well, not alive because gods couldn't die so easily, but her brother was keeping him from constantly screaming in pain). Athena had recovered well enough for someone who had been decked in the face with a punch strong enough to send someone airborne and then kicked in the ribs so hard that her ribs had instantly fractured, even with the reinforced bodies that all gods and goddesses had. For someone that was supposedly human, minus his obvious abilities, to do so much to the King of Gods just because he decided to hurt his friend(Zoe was miraculously untouched, but still unconscious), it was a wake-up call to the gods that their troubles were not over just yet. Not by a long shot. Just great, we receive a child that may be able to fulfill the Great Prophecy just in time for a man who can kill gods to show up. The Olympians were still attempting to absorb the fact that one of their own had been so gravely wounded by a random stranger who hadn't even been on their radar when he had shown up, unnanounced and dangerous. It was most likely the worst possible time for someone to be cracking jokes. Hermes shrank under the burning gazes of his fellow gods and goddesses, apologizing softly and looking down at his legs. Hera was the next to speak up.
"What do we know about this 'Kaneki Ken'? Artemis, you were the only one who managed to actually see him out of combat. What can we expect from him?" When all those eyes were turned on her, the goddess of the moon licked her lips, suddenly aware of how dry they were. She gathered her thoughts, then began speaking.
"Kaneki Ken claims that he is human, or at least mortal. He possesses superhuman strength, speed and regeneration capable of allowing him to regrow a hand that I cut off when fighting him. As you've seen from earlier, he also has the ability to sprout limbs from his back." Just as she finishes her sentence, a bemused voice corrects her.
"Kagune. They're called kagune." eyes darted towards the source of the voice, and found Kaneki sitting cross-legged on top of Zeus' throne. He held his mask in his hand, and instead of in its briefcase, the sword he carried was slung over his back. Cries of alarm sounded, but no one moved a muscle, for they still did not know if he was truly mortal, or a monster that they could kill without breaking the laws that had been imposed on them. Nevertheless, Artemis drew back an arrow, ready to fire at a moment's notice.
"Why are you here?" was the first question out of her mouth, even as she drew back the arrow even further and aimed for center mass, knowing that he would be able to dodge a shot to the head. Artemis was given a smile that didn't quite reach the eyes, and as a response to her question, a single red limb(kagune, she reminded herself) snaked out from his back and curled around his arm. Jumping off the throne, he landed without a sound, causing the gods and goddesses nearer to him to flinch. Kaneki bowed, a mocking edge to his smile.
"I have dealt with the threat to my friends. It is only polite that I offer my services to the Greek gods, is it not? After all," he lifted his head and the smile on his face revealed hidden steel, "it would be problematic for me to have to fight against the gods because they decide that I am a theat." Artemis winced at the matter-of-fact tone he had adopted. He wasn't wrong, by anyone's account, but it stung to have the person they had just been discussing bring up the subject.
"How can we trust that you won't betray us?" it was Athena this time who spoke warily, but her gaze was locked on the edge of the sword that was visible over his shoulder. Artemis sighed and relaxed the tension on the drawstring of her bow, fitting it back into the quiver on her shoulder that she had yet to remove. Instinctively, she knew that Kaneki was telling the truth when he stated that he wasn't here for trouble. After all, he had yet to threaten/challenge anyone to a fight, and he did not hold the air of menace around him that was present when he was preparing for one.
"I do not care about sides, Athena-san. All I fight for is myself, for I am a selfish man. As long as none of you try to harm those I care about, I will not do anything in retaliation. If anything else, I would prefer it if you gods and goddessees had never figured out I existed. But since it is too late for that, this is the next best thing that I could think of. In exchange for a few things, I will be your sword, in the events of a war." the Olympians exchanged looks of confusion and relief at the statement. Artemis herself had mixed feelings about the offer. For one, it meant that they would have a strong ally on their side that could probably count as a one man army. However, it meant that he might put down terms that were unreasonable and would probably lash out if they could not be met. It seemed that her thoughts were apparent on her face, for Kaneki shot her a smirk that did nothing to alleviate her fears.
"One, you leave me and whoever I deem it necessary be. My friends have no part in this. Two, I need some information. Three...actually I have nothing else to say. Just two things. That's all I ask for." another ripple of uncertainty and confusion. Why would someone so powerful ask for so little in return for what is essentially giving up his freedom? Artemis mulled over the question in her head, testing out several theories before coming up with a single one that made sense. He is planning something. Something that requires the Olympians to be on his side. And yet, without a proper reason, they would not be able to refute his offer. Accept it, and gain a sword that might stab them in the back. Refuse, and they would be met with the fury of a monster who seemed to have no limits to his power. He may be mortal(something that could still be argued over), but this "mere mortal" was one of the most dangerou foes that they ever had the misfortune of encountering. He hopped, boosting himself off the edge of Zeus' throne and perched on the seat of it, mask still in hand, that infuriating smile still on his face. From the silence of the other Olympians, they had probably followed similar lines of thought to end up in the same place that she had. He cocked his head tauntingly to one side.
"Come on then. I don't have all day."
An experimental chapter, largely similar to the original version of this story. This flows better than the first, but I'm not really satisfied. There's something missing. Eh. I'll figure it out eventually. I hope you enjoyed it. Sorry, this is a shorter chapter than usual.