Hades is a dick as well!
THE GAME OF DIVINITY
CHAPTER 14: I make a fireworks exhibition!
I wasn't even halfway to their position before they started running towards me. Annabeth reached me first and hugged me telling me how worried she was, a thing that was reciprocated by the other two and also asking me details about what happened after I entered the Gate.
So as we started heading to our destination I regaled them about my latest adventure and the gift from my Father. Predictably they whined about how lucky I was to be given such a badass gift and they started pestering me about summoning my horse for them to see. I had no problem with that. Truthfully I wanted to observe my new steed, with the whole excitement I forgot to do it and I want to see what special abilities he has.
After I told everyone to stand behind me, I focused some of my mana to my summoning sigil and after glowing a deep red for a moment, my horse emerged from a fire portal right in front of me in all his glory.
New Skill: Summon Familiar Lv MAX: Your ability to summon your contracted familiars to your position. WARNING: Warded areas exist that can block your ability to summon. Cost 200 MP.
Observe!
Ruin
Race: Areistion Horse
Gender: Male
Level 17
HP: 8864
MP: 6614
STR: 306
DEX: 1000 (Base: 250 + 250 every 5 Levels)
INT: 23
WIS: 22
Info: A warhorse from Ares exclusive breed gifted to his daughter Alexandra Bellum. He is bound to his summoner for life and his lifespan is as long as hers. The stronger his rider becomes, the more abilities and power he awakens.
Steed Abilities
Familiar Bond (MAX): Through your bond with ruin you gain a mental connection that allows you to communicate through feelings and images. Also, your Strength and Vitality enhances him adding to his power ( Ruin HP= Alex*2, MP= Alex*2, STR= Alex*2)
Omni-Runner(MAX): Ruin has the ability to run through all domains of the planet. He can run on the sky and on top of the seas as easily as he can on solid ground. (Max speed = 550 km/h)
Wind-Chaser (Lv1): Ruin through the use of his magic can increase his speed tremendously (Max speed= 1650 km/h). Cost 50 Mp/min
Power Wave (Lv1): Ruin can, through the use of his magic and your flames to summon a circle of flames around him that can be sent like a wave at all direction, burning everything they touch. Cost 300 MP
Portal Jumping (Lv1): Ruin is capable of traveling through space a limited amount of times per day (Current number: 3). Cost: 1500 MP for Ruin. WARNING: It is recommended to travel only to places that the rider has been through, random travels without a clear target or unknown destinations can bring disastrous results (Tartarus, Niflheim etc.)
Yep, it is clear. My horse is a badass. The sheer versatility these skills are going to give me is phenomenal. No more trains for this gal. With this bad boy I can easily cross the whole country in a few days and that is without taking the portal creation into consideration. Though that warning at the end I am going to try to heed religiously. I don't fancy in paying a visit to Tartarus spa and resort (shudders).
"Well guys" I said, clapping my hands and gaining their attention from my badass horse."We no longer need to head to Seattle".
"What, but why? I know your horse in awesome and could probably carry us all considering his size, but the fastest way from here is through Seattle. We are literally 2 miles away from there." said Thalia in confusion, the other two nodding along.
After I explained the portal ability though, she sung a very different tune. She was about to speak again, probably to tell me to get going but Luke interrupted her.
"The teleportation thingy is going to cut us some serious time, but I still think that we should go to Seattle first. We are too close to not at least pay a visit and you gaining another place you can teleport to, and we need to get some rest. We are on the road for too much time as it is, and this city is as good as any other at this point." he said making a good point, three months on the road has taken a toll on us all and a good bed for the night wouldn't hurt anyone.
After we agreed on that course of action, they all got on Ruin. Annie was in the front with me behind her and after me were Thalia and Luke. When we were all sufficiently comfortable I gave a mental command and Ruin started and medium gallop towards the city.
It took us only 2 minutes to reach the city. I send away Ruin when we reached the borders and we started walking the rest of the way. I even upgraded a skill that I had truthfully forgotten about.
*Riding skill(Lv1-Lv2): Your ability to ride a mount either a vehicle or living creature. +5% possibility of staying astride while in battle.
It didn't give much, but it was only level 2. Maybe in the future it will grant me more.
We reached the commercial part of the city only 10 minutes, we were quite eager for some R&R so we used a fast pace. Once there we went for some steak in a restaurant and after that Luke used his bad boy charm (his words not mine) to persuade the receptionist in a decent but not expensive hotel to give us two rooms for the night. He gave her some bull about taking his younger cousins on vacation around the state and forgetting to take his ID with him. Thank God to ditzy teenage receptionists or I would have to pull an Empoussa lair raid again.
So here we are now in our room with Thalia and Annie (Luke was on the other one because boy duh!). I let Annie take a shower first and now its my time to have one since LA, and Gods did it feel heavenly right now.
Of course nothing could go right because halfway through I heard an explosion from outside that caused all lights to go out and the screams of people everywhere. Quickly getting dressed I run in our rooms and I found only Annabeth there. She told me that Thalia went to speak to Luke for a moment but she hasn't come back yet. I immediately told her to get dressed and after she was done I took all of our possessions in my inventory and run with her outside to see what kind of trouble the others had gotten into.
Outside of the hotel it looked like a battlefield. There was no artificial light and all glass from windows, shops and cars had been shattered. People were running away screaming about gank fights and I quickly focused on the cause of the commotion.
Thalia was on the ground, a big Golden shield with a Medusa head on it keeping a couple of Laistrygonias at bay, while Luke was trying to fight another one on the other side. The most telling though was the golden dust that was covering a darkened spot on the ground.
It seems Thalia had used her lightning powers, something she had never been able to do until now. Normally I would be happy with this, but at our current situation she might as well have sent a letter to every supernatural entity in USA proclaiming her parentage in big neon letters. There is no way we can cover this up.
'Hades is going to have a conniption with this' I thought. I immediately summoned my axe and threw it to one of them while I shot the other in the head killing them both. With Thalia now safe, I sent Annie to guard her in her exhausted state and was about to go help Luke but it seems he didn't need me. He was walking my way golden dust covering the ground behind him.
"We need to leave now!" I said preventing anyone from speaking.
"What why? It was some monsters Alex, they appear all the time, there is no need to worry." said Luke completely missing the problem here.
"Thalia summoned lightning Luke!" I almost shouted at him "Now every monster in 300 miles radius are going to come for her blood, we need to run from here and fast"
"Because my scent has gotten stronger?" asked Thalia with a serious face and I hesitated for a moment before I told her the whole sordid truth about the oath. I left out everything about the prophecy though, there was no need to open that can of worms at this point.
After Thalia ended her brief cursing spree, I summoned Ruin and I teleported us to Missouri, just outside of the grove. I hoped that the potent energies of the place will hide us from the sight of the Lord of the Dead.
After I sent my horse away we started walking to the path towards Wisteria's tree, the others were gawking at the beauty of the grove but I was immersed in my thoughts. I hoped that Wisteria will not be angry with me for not contacting her in my time with Hades, I was forbidden to talk to anyone and with good reason but she didn't know that and I am afraid that she will be angry with me.
When we reached the 'tree amphitheater' we saw all the nymphs of the forest congregated there and I was surprised. What reason would they have to hold a council at this time of the year? After all it was October now and the Winter Solstice isn't for another 2 months. I didn't have time to think about it further because a lavender missile run toward me and squeezed me in her bosom.
"Alex it's you oh my Gods, I was so worried" She started bubbling and continued without even letting me get a word in
"Why do you look so young still? You haven't contacted me in three years and now you appear here almost at the same age as you left. I thought you died you foolish girl!" she shouted and then with a stern face she finished
"What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Em, hello I am back?" I replied hesitantly, causing the idiot trio behind me to start snickering and Wisteria's lips to twitch upwards a bit.
"Welcome home!" she said with a pretty smile, this time hugging me gently.
I was about to start speaking again when someone interrupted us.
"It seems your grove is full of guests today Wisteria, would you introduce me?" a regal voice said from behind her.
I disengaged from my friends hug and I observed the newcomer.
Phoebus Artemis "Agrotaira"
Race: Goddess
Gender: Female
Affiliation: Olympus
Level: ?
HP: ?
MP: ?
STR: ?
VIT: ?
DEX: ?
INT: ?
WIS: ?
CHA: ?
LUC: ?
Info: Artemis is the Greek Goddess of the HUNT, MOON, WILDERNESS, CHASTITY and CHILDBIRTH. You are not strong enough to know more.
Whelp, it seems today is meet your immortal family day. Who would have thought?
"Lady Artemis, it is a honor to meet you" I said bowing, prompting the others to do the same.
"I am very glad to meet you as well Alexandra Bellum" I barely stopped my flinch when she called me by my full name, "I was very eager to meet you since I saw your accomplishments in that Deer headed morons challenge." she said with a very happy grin that made me think that she really enjoyed proving to the Celt that a little girl could win his challenge, even if it wasn't one of her hunters doing it.
"Now, I would like for the three of you girls to come with me, I have a few things to talk about with you. Wisteria make sure the boy is accommodated." she continued before she started walking away, prompting us to start following her while we silently traded glances trying to figure out what a Goddess could possibly want with us. Though, I had a very good idea.
She led us to a clearing a few dozen meters from Wisteria's tree that was filled with tents. The whole area was patrolled by wolves and there were girls in silver parkas talking and laughing around a campfire in the middle.
The moment we reached the campfire, one of the girls stood up and run towards the Goddess.
She looked around 15 years old and had an olive complexion. Both her hair and eyes were black as coals and on her head was a silver tiara that symbolized her position of lieutenant in the Hunt. She was also very beautiful and Percy's comment about her looking like a Persian princess was very accurate indeed. I am talking of course about Zoe Nightshade.
Zoe Nightshade "Ex-Hesperide"
Race: Nymph
Gender: Female
Level: 35
MP: 1660
STR: 60
VIT: 200
DEX: 220
INT: 30
WIS: 82 (-20)
LUC: 5
Info: Zoe Nightshade is an ex-Hesperide daughter of Atlas and Pleione. After Herakles abandoned her and her father exiled her from the Garden, Artemis found her and welcomed her in her Hunt. She is absolutely loyal to her Mistress and strives to be the best lieutenant she could be. Though, her short temper and prejudices can cause her to make mistakes in judgement at times and act rushly.
Looking at her stats, if I had doubts before, then now I am completely sure that the Hunt just isn't for me. A 4000 plus years old daughter of Atlas and she is barely a challenge to me. I am sure her experience is vast but her stagnation is apparent power wise.
"Milady, are these new recruits?" she said with a curious but slightly cold tone.
"Recruits?" asked Annabeth, always eager to know everything as soon as possible.
"Zoe, we should talk further inside my tent. Please follow me girls." she ordered us and headed for the bigger tent in the camp.
The inside of the tent was way bigger than the outside. It was as big as an apartment and there were furs and other trophies from hunted animals. Artemis sat behind a great wooden desk and Zoe took position behind her at her right side.
She beckoned us to sit in a trio of chairs that she conjured with a wave of her hand, amazing Annie and Thalia with that little trick. I on the other hand had lived with Hades for three months so these little tricks no longer fazed me.
"Are you surprised by my age?" asked the twelve year old looking Goddess.
"Just a little" said Annie, Thalia nodding along.
"Not really" I said, surprising her.
"Oh, and why is that?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Wisteria has taught me a lot about the Divine world and the Gods as a whole, so I know the reason why you look like that. But even if I didn't, the myths are full of Gods shape shifting for one reason or the other so it isn't really a big leap of logic." I replied, surprising her by my little monologue.
"You truly are an exceptional maiden it seems Alexandra. Not only are you very capable in battle but your wit is very sharp indeed." praised the Goddess which admittedly was a nice ego booster and then she continued.
"But to relieve your friends of their puzzlement, I can appear in any shape I wish but this is the form I prefer. This is the average age of my Hunters, and all young maidens for whom I am a patron, before they go astray.
"Go astray?" asked Thalia
"Grow up. Become infatuated with boys. Become insecure and forget themselves." answered the Artemis with Zoe nodding along behind her.
"So, the reason you wanted to talk to us in private?" I interrupted their conversation. I was in no mood to hear the whole girls rule, boys are fools spiel they had going there.
"Straight to the point then. I can respect that." she nodded, "I want you to join the Hunt."
"The hunt?" asked Annie with an adorable tilt of her head. Even Zoe smiled at her cuteness.
"My Hunters are my sisters-in-arms, my priestesses. They follow me in my adventures, hunting monsters and travelling the world." she said with a small smile.
"And what is so great about the Hunt?" asked the ever blunt Thalia.
"Immortality for one." answered the Goddess making Thalia widen her eyes in disbelief and Annie to gasp in surprise.
"Agelessness." I interrupted once again, making the goddess raise an eyebrow at my direction and my friends to look at me in confusion.
"It is not true immortality. They become frozen in time and as long as they don't fall in battle or break their oath of chastity they get to keep it, as well as a boost in their strength and speed, archery aptitude as well."
"You are very well informed about my Hunt. Were you thinking of joining?" asked Artemis.
"Well I was thinking about it when I stayed here the last time. But the no love thing and the stasis was a deal-breaker for me, so no" I answered, surprising everyone with my denial of 'immortality'.
"Thou would give up so many good things for men? They will only disappoint you in the end girl, they are not worth it." piped in Zoe with some vigor, Artemis continued to look at me silently but not disagreeing with her.
"You jump to conclusions miss. I never said anything about men. I only talked about love and also the agelessness as well is something I can't really abide no matter what." I said making her eyes widen, finally getting it.
"Preferences aside. Why would agelessness as you say is something that you don't like. I would have thought that all would dream to able to live forever, being forever young and able." she inquired the Goddess, curious about my answer.
"It's the stasis in the blessing my lady, it prevents from furthering your body or your magical potential aside from finesse or accuracy. The power up it gives you is nice I guess, but the stagnation that follows is something that me that prides in my personal ability is something I would never accept."
Before she could reply Zoe jumped in once again, this time furious.
"How dare you. We are the strongest warriors in the Greek pantheon. Do you think you can be stronger by training with the little upstarts that get continuously humiliated by us every time we battle in their silly camp?" Almost shouted Zoe, her face going a little red and I couldn't help it. I laughed.
"The demigods at camp are inexperienced miss Nightshade, it is obvious that a well trained and experienced team like the hunters would manage to easily beat down their roughshod attempts at defeating you. In camp they are taught how to survive and that's that, but I am not like them. I plan to thrive." I said confusing her.
"We passed by the rest of the hunt before we entered the tent and I can say with absolute confidence, that aside from you none of them will be able to scratch me before I obliterate them should we fight seriously." I answered her, my tone containing no boasting or mockery in it. I was stating a fact after all.
"Thou are arrogant and impulsive. Do you think a little girl not even passed her first decade will be able to defeat us in battle? The centuries of experience warriors of the hunt?" she asked with a slight sneer.
"Yes" was the answer she got but it was not for me. It was surprisingly enough from Artemis herself.
"Milady, what are you saying?" asked Zoe completely shocked at her Mistress.
"Alexandra Bellum is probably the strongest demigod currently in the whole Olympian pantheon. Her fighting prowess far surpasses any other mortal currently in allegiance of Olympus." continued Artemis shocking both Zoe and my friends as well. Annie looked at me with no small amount of hero worship at this point and Thalia had a impressed raised eyebrow, though there was a hint of jealousy in her eyes.
Zoe looked shell shocked at this little bit of information and to be truthful I was surprised as well. I knew that I was stronger than the average demigod, but to be considered this strong and by a Goddess no less, it was a fucking trip I won't deny it.
After that, the rest of the discussion ended with neither of the others accepting her offer, something that I could see that it disappointed her but accepted it easily enough. She bid us goodbye then and led us out of her hunt and back to the grove, but not before giving me a flask of nectar and a small box of ambrosia to help us in our journey. Something I was really grateful about.
Box of Ambrosia
+100% health per piece (every piece eaten in the next 24 hours from the first one gives -25% effectiveness. If after the fourth piece you eat more, then you instantly combust.)
Info: A box containing Ambrosia the food of the Gods. It has 20 pieces of it inside the box than can help a lot in case of injury. Beware though, too much and the consequences can be dire.
Flask of Nectar
+100% mana per piece (every sip drunk in the next 24 hours from the first one gives -25% effectiveness. If after the fourth sip you drink more, then you instantly combust.)
Info: A flask containing Nectar the drink of the Gods. It has 1 litre of it inside the flask than can help a lot in case of exhaustion. Beware though, too much and the consequences can be dire.
Upon our return in the grove Luke quickly approached us and started asking questions. After satisfying his curiosity we all went to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be our final run for camp. I planned to give it my all and reach there as fast as possible. I could no longer afford to dally. Hades by now would have been informed about his hated brothers little indiscretion and I would bet 10 Drachmas that an army of monsters currently awaits us somewhere around New York.
The next day came far too soon in my opinion and me and my 3 friends were currently having breakfast with Wisteria.
"So what's the plan boss?" Luke asked me with a playful grin, making Annie giggle and Thalia to gain an amused smile.
"Well, my wimpy minion" I said imperiously, causing the girls to laugh and him to shout "Hey" in fake indignation.
"We have to contact Chiron and inform him that we will be heading to camp so he can send us a guide.
"And how are you going to do that, do you have his number?" asked Thalia
"Nope, through IM" I replied
"Instant- messaging?" Annie piped in.
"Iris - messaging. The goddess of the rainbows Iris enables the Gods to send messages to each other through her rainbows and if she has time and you ask the right way she helps demigods as well." I said, educating them in another little thing about the divine.
Before they started throwing questions I started walking towards a small waterfall that was in the grove and I handed Luke my flashlight instructing him to make a rainbow. After it was done I pulled out a Drachma and chanted the magic words.
"Oh Iris Goddess of the rainbow please connect me with Chiron, trainer of Heroes"
After a few moments the rainbow changed in a screen that showed an older man with salt and pepper hair sitting on a wheelchair while doing some paperwork. The moment, the message appeared he raised his head and looked at me with way too old eyes.
"Yes child, who might you be?" he asked in a gentle voice, probably trained to put young excitable teenagers at ease.
"Hello Chiron, my name is Alex and these are my friends Thalia, Annabeth and Luke. We wanted to ask for your assistance in reaching the camp."
"I see, then can you tell me where you are right now? I will send one of the satyrs to come and get you to camp as soon as possible."
"Oh there is no need for that. I can reach New York in 8 hours tops. What I don't know is the location of the camp. I know it is in Long Island but not the exact position."
"Is that so? Well in this case I will send a satyr to await you outside the City Hall. I gather you know where it is? He asked.
"Yes don't worry I will find it, though I have a request." I prodded
"And what would this request be?" he prodded
"Please send an experienced satyr to meet us and not a young one. We are four demigods here, our scent is quite potent and my friend Thalia here is quite thunderstruck with the whole situation, so an experienced hand would be appreciated." I said making sure to put emphasis on thunderstruck, which by the widening of his eyes and the sudden tension in his body language it seems he got it.
"You are quite right child, yes quite right indeed. Have no fear I will make sure the satyr I send will be equipped to deal with your situation." he reassured us.
"Thank you Chiron, see you in a while" I said and I closed the message.
After that I said my goodbye to Wisteria and summoned Ruin once more. This time though we didn't hit the road but I ordered him to start running in the sky. Thalia didn't particularly like that, if the vice grip she had on my torso was anything to go by, though Annie's excited squeals were amusing.
It took us 6 and a half hours for us to reach the City Hall in New York City. I admittedly had abused the Wind Chaser skill trying to buy as much time as possible and by the time we touched ground, it was already starting to get dark, which was not good.
Wind-Chaser (Lv1- Lv4): Ruin through the use of his magic to increase his speed tremendously (Max speed= 1725 km/h). Cost 50 Mp/min
Thankfully the guy they send us wasn't Grover. Yes in the books he was a good comic relief and you sympathized with him at a point, but I had a responsibility here and I couldn't trust a baby satyr to guide us away from Hades monster army that was probably waiting for us around the corner. His replacement at least was competent.
Gleeson Hedge "Slave driver"
Race: Satyr
Gender: Male
Level: 21
HP: 3434
MP: 1030
STR: 40
VIT: 110
DEX: 182
INT: 25
WIS: 50 (-10)
LUC: 15
Info: Gleeson Hedge is an experienced satyr that has helped many demigods reach the safety of Camp in the past. He is generally a very mature guy but his battle maniac tendencies get him in trouble sometimes. He is anxious to get going because he noticed a lot of monsters on his way here.
"So you are the cupcakes that I was assigned to guide to camp huh? Well whatever, let's get going people, there is danger all around and I don't fancy fighting my way to camp." he said in a loud voice and after sharing a look between us, we shrugged and we started following him.
For the first 2 hours everything was going alright. We managed to avoid any monsters chasing us and my ring that really impressed Hedge by the way, helped a lot with that.
After we reached Westbury monsters started to appear. We were cornered by a pack of hellhounds and while not really difficult to defeat with so many of us together, they would delay us enough for others to reach us and if they do I am not sure if I can get us all out, which was unacceptable. It seems some collateral damage is unavoidable.
And with that thought I pulled out my axe, surprising Hedge and swung a horizontal Warlord's Fang at the pack. They didn't even have time to blink before they were cut apart. Unfortunately my slash also cut a mechanic shop in twain as well. I was only thankful that it was closed because I didn't know how I would have reacted if I killed an innocent man.
The others started gawking at my skill. In all of our time together I had never used anything serious in front of them aside from the occasional imbuement, I never really needed to. Now though the situation forced me to and it seems the others understood Artemis words back in the grove.
Warlord's Fang(Lv11-Lv12): A long raged slash used by focusing your mana into a fine blade around your weapon, aim and swing. Legend says that true Master's of this skill could cut armies in twain with a single slash of their blades. + 360 dmg/per slash, cost: 52 mp. WARNING: When combining it with Warfyre this skills pulls out the whole destructive powers of the flame. Cost: 69mp
The great crash of a building falling apart rid them of their shocked expressions and immediately we started running again, increasing our pace as much as we could.
The rest of the trip continued like this. Monsters would appear in our way every few minutes trying to delay us and I would make sure they regretted it as fast as possible. By the time we were near camp I must have killed more than 500 of them,' Hades must be really pissed off' I thought. Another amusing thought as we were running was how the mortals will explain the fine great cuts that appeared all around the city.
Another 3 hours after our first monster encounter we were completely exhausted. Thankfully Camp was only half a mile away according to our guide and we would hopefully reach it before the monster army finds us.
That happy thought died a vicious death when we saw a literal army of hellhounds and Cyclopes led by the three Furies blocking our way though. 'It seems Poseidon is not as chill as he was portrayed in the books after all' I thought while me and the others were hiding behind a small corpse of trees.
Alecto "Head- Fury"
Race: Monster
Gender: Female
Level: ?
Stats: ?
Info: Alecto is the leader of the Furies, the triplet daughters of Nyx. She and her sisters are the most loyal minions of their Lord Hades and they are itching for the daughter of Zeus to reach their position so she can enjoy her look of despair before she drags her soul to the Underworld.
Hedge cursed and Thalia and Luke became white in fear. The one that broke my heart though was Annabeth. She started crying and hugged me for comfort. Before I could react Thalia stepped forward a determined look on her face.
"Run guys, it is me they want. I will make my stand here, if I distract them, then they will ignore you and you will reach safety with no problems, it is my responsibility. I caused all these problems after all, it is my job to fix it." she said her posture a mixture of steadfastness and anger with only her eyes betraying her grief.
Immediately the others started protesting that we could never abandon her but I had a responsibility and I decided at my course of action.
"You are right Thalia, we will do as you desire." I said above the horrified looks of the others.
Ignoring the shouting of Luke I started walking towards Thalia who had a grateful look at her eyes for me not making a fuss about her decision and she opened her hands expecting a hug.
What she didn't expect, was the punch in her gut, making her bend over and start to lose consciousness. The others were looking at me with fear for the first time, though Hedge had a shrewd look in his eyes.
I didn't let them speak though, I quickly explained my actions.
"I am the stronger of us here, and I have the biggest chances to survive this. I don't have the time to deal with Thalia's stubbornness so you will have to carry her to safety while I deal with the army." I said causing the men to widen their eyes in surprise and Annie to start crying more refusing to let me go.
I held my charge in my arms as she desperately pleaded me to come with them but I couldn't do it. There was not enough space for more than 4 people to ride Ruin and I couldn't bring myself to sacrifice someone else. Especially the children. So there was only one course of action I could take.
I pulled my necklace from my neck and put it around her neck.
"Here take this necklace. It is blessed by the Goddess Hera to protect the wearer and I want you to keep hold of it until I return ok Annie-love?" I said to the crying child and handing her to Luke.
I quickly summoned Ruin and bid them to get on. Before they left I gave Hedge my pistol, making him almost drop it in surprise.
"The gun has 16 bullets, make them count and when you reach safety throw it away and it will return to me." I warned him and he nodded at me, a look of respect in his eyes. Luke was looking at me in sorrow all the while trying to keep ahold of the hysterical seven year old in his arms and without further adieu they galloped away and after a few meters took to the skies.
Meanwhile I pulled out my axe and used 5 points on my INT and 20 on DEX in order to gain two new perks and my last 5 on VIT.
Name: Alexandra Bellum
Race: Demigod
Gender: Female
Title: Daughter of Ares
Level: 17 (393.000/859.500)
HP: 4670 HPReg= 10 % /h
MP: 4633 MPReg= 15mp/min
STR: 153
VIT: 75
DEX: 100(110)
INT:50(60) (your ability to absorb and retain information as well as your Mana
12 mp per 5 in * level)
WIS: 43(53)
CHA: 31
LUC: 12(17)
For reaching 50 points in INT you gain a new perk:
Reserves of the Archmage (I): You unlocked a part of the hidden power of the Archmage inside you. With this perk you gain +6 in your mana gains for every 5 INT.
For reaching 100 points in DEX you gain a new perk:
Bullet Time: When using this perk your perception of the world become 20% faster, making everything around you look like it is moving in a slight slow motion, giving you more time to react and plan your moves in battle.
PING*
Mythical Quest: Hades Divine Wrath
Main Objective: Survive
Bonus Objective: Shatter the army of Hades and show the Gods that you are not to be trifled with.
Rewards:
300.000 xp, 400 Drachmas.
1.000.000 xp, 600 Drachmas, Necklace of Despair
Failure:
Death / Eternal torment
YES/NO
Happy at the useful perks I gained and chuckling a little at the Eternal torment of the quest, I took a deep breath and I started walking slowly towards the army of monsters weapon in hand doing my best Uchiha Madara impersonation . If I am going to die fighting an army of monsters then I at least I am going to look cool while doing it, because I had no illusion that Zeus would ever create a pine to save me, he is too much of a dick for it.
A couple of dozen meters from their position the Furies noticed me and stopped the monsters that were ready to attack. Bantering time.
"Alexandra Bellum, we were expecting you to have more company with you. You have no need to hide the child of Zeus. Give her to us and you have my promise that we will spare you, Lord Hades has decreed so." said the evil grandmother from hell, believing that I would hand over a child for them to kill just like that.
"You know, for all his accusations on his brother about the killing of innocent children I would think Hades would be better than that, but it seems he is a raging hypocrite after all and no better than the ones he accuses." I replied back, a cold expression to my face causing her to gain an enraged expression that was shared by her sisters and the ground to tremble a little.
"ATTAACK" she shouted, any chance of reason living her after I insulted her Lord. I was more than happy to reciprocate. There was a lot of pent up anger in my gut because of the whole situation that was itching to get out and I let it.
Rage Booster + 4
I took ahold the flames of my magic and I engulfed my weapon in them making it gain a great red aura, though I didn't stop there. I used my rage to make my whole body get consumed by them, making me a bonfire of destruction and with a hate filled cry and my Aura Dominance skill I charged at them.
A small part of my mind prayed to Odin to accept me in Valhalla after my death if I was worth it and declaring this fight in his name. I didn't want to go to Hades after this. Both because I didn't know if the hypocrite would throw me in the Fields of Punishment for defying him and even if I reached Elysium I was loathe to spend my afterlife wasting away in the Hero Junkyard of the Greek pantheon. At least in Valhalla I would be waiting for Ragnarok to come, giving my life meaning.
And with that happy thought I met the army in the middle of the field, my axe a flurry of strikes killing monster after monster without stop. There must have been thousands of them here. It seems Hades newfound strength has left him able to go all out without worrying and I made a mental note, that if I survive to never help a Greek God unless I had no other option.
'Bullet time is really useful' I thought as I dodged another strike from a Cyclops and beheaded him soon after. The furies thankfully were staying back for now, content to watch me fight the army of monsters that were everywhere around me.
'I had to get some space. I couldn't let them attack me from all directions like this'
I gripped my axe with both hands and I made a rotating pirouette with all my strength sending a flame encased Fang in an Omni- directional slash slaughtering scores of them and making the rest of the monsters look at me in fear.
I enjoyed their looks. That expression of terror on their face when they understood that the pray they were expecting to devour is instead a predator capable and very willing to tear them to shreds made me cackle in glee increasing their trepidation and making me laugh even harder.
"COME OON THEN COWARDS! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? DON'T TELL ME THAT YOU ARE AFRAID OF A LONE LITTLE GIRL!" I shouted in glee enraging them and causing them to attack once again, roars in their lips. Perfect
Rage Booster +3157
HP: 3150/4670
MP: 3500/4633
STR: 3110
The first monster that came near me exploded in a shower of gold dust only with a punch. Around a dozen of them disappeared in a wave of flames after I hit the earth with both my hands and the fissure that was created caused even more to die, leaving behind a crimson glowing scar on the earth, looking like a gate to hell had opened on the ground.
At this point I had completely lost myself in my bloodlust. Finally I had a chance to go all out. A fight that I had to use every single drop of my power in order to just survive. My father's blood was purring in my veins prodding me to fight harder, to kill more, to slaughter and bath in the blood of my enemies.
With these thoughts the flames of my soul obliged and a literal sea of flames started coming out of my blade with every swing burning the army away in seconds, setting the whole landscape around me in crimson flames all the while I cackled in glee at my power, uncaring about the damage I caused to the forest or the camp that was only half a mile away from my position.
I would have continued more with my wanton destruction but three orange whips of flames bound my hands and neck holding me in place.
The furies it seems decided to step in after their army was obliterated.
The skill Binding of the Warden has been used against you. All outward mana usage has been negated.
The sealing technique snapped me out of my funk, causing me to start struggling inside my bindings.
HP: 467/4670
MP: 180/4633
"This is quite enough" said Alecto, a serious look on her face replacing whatever glee or anger there was before that was shared by both her sisters as well. "You fought well child, better than any other Demigod before you but now it's time to end this. My Lord will have words with you about your actions. Let's go" she said and she summoned shadows from all around her that started to consume us all the while I desperately tried to break my bindings ineffectually.
I had resigned myself to my fate when a four legged miracle happened.
Ruin portaled in my position and tackled one of the Furies causing her to skid away on the ground for a dozen meters, stopping their shadow teleportation and freeing me from my bindings.
I quickly got on my horse and used Power Wave and enhanced it with my own flames, causing a circle of flames to push the other two away in different directions, giving me breathing room. I quickly popped an Ambrosia cube in my mouth and drank from the Nectar Flask restoring my energy to the full.
Immediately after I used a portal once more and appeared in front of the Fury Ruin tackled before and beheaded her causing her to turn to dust and as a result turning the whole fight in my favor.
From what Hades had told me when I was in the Underworld the Furies are high class monsters on their own, but in one on one battle a sufficiently strong demigod with some luck could possibly win against them. Their true power comes forth when they are all three together, multiplying their power many fold and together with their perfect teamwork making them three of the most feared monsters to exist.
Considering what I see now he was absolutely correct.
Alecto "Head- Fury"
Race: Monster
Gender: Female
Level: 55
HP: 14.350/19.000
MP: 6897/19.800
STR: 200
VIT: 120
DEX: 350
INT: 150
WIS:100
LUC: 50
Info: Alecto is the leader of the Furies, the triplet daughters of Nyx. She and her sisters are the most loyal minions of their Lord Hades. Right now all she can think about is getting her revenge on the daughter of Ares for causing her to fail he mission and humiliating her.
They are no longer the insurmountable monsters that I had no hope against. Now the tables have turned and I plan to make them regret ever leaving the Underworld. I didn't want to just kill them, I wanted them to tremble in terror every time they hear my name, so I used two of my least used skills to make a fucking point.
The one was Aura Dominance. The other? Voice of the Eldar. I know what you will say, what does singing to them is gonna do? You are not gonna put them to sleep like the Dragon, it doesn't work on them like that. And you would be right if my goal was to make them sleep. The funny think about that particular perk is that except of pacifying beasts it can also transfer and amplify whatever emotion I want to my voice when I sing. And now with the rage I feel and by focusing all my killing intent through the Aura of Dominance. It's gonna be a fucking trip.
(This song belongs to Jen Titus)
O Death, O Death, O Death!
Won't you spare me over another year?
I started singing while I looked at them coldly, making a near freezing chill to surround the whole clearing.
But what is this, that I can't see?
With ice cold hands taking hold of me…
They didn't pause for long, they attacked me quickly using their bat like wings to flank me from both sides
When God is gone and the Devil takes hold,
Who will have mercy on your soul?
When they were about of two meters away from me I took out a goblin head and lit it in flames throwing it directly above me and after that I used portal once more to move 10 meters away.
O Death, O Death, O Death!
(O Death)
The explosion threw them both away and Megaera was lit on fire, her screams music to my ears.
No wealth, no ruin, no silver, no gold.
Nothing satisfies me but your soul.
Alecto was looking at me in fear now and was cringing at her sisters screams of agony
O Death!
*BANG* I shot Megaera turning her to dust and causing the last Fury to flinch back in terror.
Well I am Death, none can excel,
I'll open the door to heaven or hell.
I ordered Ruin to slowly trot towards my enemy, my eyes glowing a haunting red and my mouth was frozen in a mad full toothed grin.
O Death, O Death!
At this point my Aura was so potent that she was frozen on her knees and unable to take her eyes from me. I ordered Ruin to step on her with one of his legs and used our combined flames to burn her to death. Ending her.
My name is Death and the end is here…
After she scattered into dust I let out a breath of relief. I was ready to head to camp when powerful shadows were trying to swallow me and probably send me to Hades but I wasn't having it. I ordered Ruin to use his last teleport to send me away to the Missouri grove hoping the wards there would prevent him from getting me.
We were halfway through the portal when shadows griped the back legs of my horse stoping him in place. I didn't have any time to act before the space gate destabilized and an explosion deafened me.
Everything was black and I felt my whole body stretching on a million different directions.
When I could see again I found myself in what could only be space. Everywhere I looked there was stars and as I was flying away into nothingness. At my side I could see an enormously gigantic tree glowing white with it's branches spreading far and wide. I couldn't pay more attention to that though because I felt my whole body burn, the heat was intense and for a moment I thought that my body would turn to ashes and I started screaming.
I felt myself pass though a rainbow colored portal before I crashed to a hard surface creating a crater. When the black spots left my vision I could see a blurry silhouette kneeling beside me. The only thing I could make out about her was her long blonde hair, but I couldn't think about it anymore because I lost myself in the pain and everything went dark.
~ChildeOfWar