Hey, y'all.

So… about the name. After a week of constant inner battling within my mind, I could only come to only one real conclusion.

The decision I came to was to stick with Perseus/ Percy.

Now, first of all, I really just want to say thank you for everyone's responses and support, you don't know how much I appreciate it. But because of this, I feel really bad about not changing the name but let me explain.

Looking through your reviews and my own ideas made me go back and look back at all the myths I love. Heracles myth, while I love it and it is truly a great Disney movie, it just wouldn't fit my story. Heracles/ Alclides is a name that revolves around one who is truly strong, one who does little to no wrong and encapsulates everything masculine, along with being an excessively big, muscley man. My mc ain't like that. He is Bell's twin, have you seen that boy? But jokes aside, while I understand the request, It just doesn't sit right with me. Thank you to Fulmedames and the guests who suggested it, I do also love that myth.

The other that I mentioned was Zagreus but the longer I thought about it, I just preferred the other two as, while I don't want to focus solely on their myths, the name I Pick will have significance because of the myth I picked from and the other two just felt better to me. Though he could for a future story, who knows?

Now, Runelt99, you came the closest to changing the fabric of this story. I really liked the name Theseus. Shortened name Theo, fights off Minotaur like Bell. I really liked it but then I thought of how I'd portray the fight and I thought I can still do that without the name being so important while the Perseus' myth, the one with Medusa, holds more weight in my opinion with his name.

I chose to stay with Perseus for a few reasons. The first that I should mention, I might have already gotten attached. You know how you shouldn't name an animal if you don't intend to keep it, well this kind of happened to me. The other two reasons revolve around his myths.

When going back, re-watching, and reading all those myths I loved, I just found myself enjoying Perseus the most and saw all the resemblances I saw the first time I came up with this idea. In the myth, Perseus, even though being born a royal, was raised in poverty as a simple fisherman who had to work his way up. While he got help from Gods it was his wit and cunning that allowed him to beat Medusa, a skillset I want to focus on with Percy. The final one is that I've got an entire Arc/plot that revolves around Medusa and Oh boy does it have some cool moments. While I said you could do the minotaur fight without Theseus' name, which I'll still write don't you worry, I feel like the way I want the arc for Medusa to play out takes heavy inspiration from the Perseus myth while also being its own story.

The main issue that deterred me from the name was the Asfi issue but with a bit of cheering from Roland Tepes, I agree that the interaction could bring out some funny moments that I'm interested in exploring.

And also I think Perseus is a cooler name than Theseus, bite me.

So there we are. I had come to the conclusion that I would never be able to please everyone, that's just how things are. If some of you feel like you can't continue reading because of this, fair enough. Smaller things have stopped me from enjoying things before so I can't complain. I would just like to thank you once again for any suggestions you gave as I felt like I've grown and gained more confidence as a writer, my next Shonen power-up shall be that of friendship I find along the way.

For those that are still sticking around, great! Hope you enjoy the chapter… it's the first dungeon dive for Perseus as he has a deadline to meet.

*splash, splash*

The rain fell to the ground. It was neither thundering down as if the Heavens themselves were weeping nor was it shallow enough to be just brushed aside as if it was nothing.

*splash splash, splash!*

It was just raining, that was all it could be described as. This was usual for an autumn night in Orario. Being in the centre of the world had many benefits, that being it was graced with all types of weather that came around reasonable times of the year.

'where…?'

No freezing winds that rattle your very bones and turn your blood blue in summer.

'maybe this way…?

No scorching sun that makes you die of heat stroke just from stepping outside.

'Should be…'

Orario really was the centre of the world. It had everything. From amazing cuisines that were a mixture of all those around the world. A melting pot of every race of people from the smallest prum to the mightiest of Gods. Walls that scoured the outside landscape, a fortification so strong that it had never been penetrated. Though their job wasn't to keep people out but to keep things in.

'Just up here…'

Monsters that had once infested the mortal world, the greatest enemy to all mortal kind. Once allowed to freely roam were now constrained and held prisoner within the confines of those gigantic walls.

'The rain makes it hard to see even though my eyes can see a lot better now.'

The most attractive part of the city, the thing that hosted the title of the tallest. What drove so many to its alluring temptations.

'Finally…'

Just up ahead of the boy soaked in the midnight sky, showered by the autumn rain that stuck his thin clothes to his small frame. This figure now stood in front of it. The Tower of Babel.

Though it wasn't the building that pierced the heavens that brought the black-haired boy to this place. As he stood just off from the deserted main square his eyes only looked down.

'It's there.'

With a quick look both ways, the boy dashed across the courtyard after making sure the coast was clear. He had had enough of adults trying to stop him today so he was going to make sure that the chase didn't continue.

'I still can't get over how quick I am. It really is a blessing.'

While the boy's mind was elsewhere, he continued making his way to the giant doorway. Even though it was his first time here, he envisioned what it must look like in the day. Bustling with life as adventurers swarm in and out. The noise would be immense.

Perseus shuddered at the thought of dealing with that much noise, Jacob's crying was enough.

'Jacob… I wonder how Marie is?'

Perseus' mind wandered again, not for the first time this night, back to his adoptive mother. Every time he thought of her and his two siblings he could only think of how they must be. He attempted to quieten those thoughts by telling himself they would already be asleep by now. Ignoring his own dreariness and fatigue from lack of food and constantly being chased around all day, he pushed on.

Perseus immediately made his way to the dungeon after receiving Goddess Penia's Blessing. Penia had no paper to write down his falna but it wasn't like he had anything for her to give him. Of course, all his base stats were 0 and he had not had the fortune to be blessed with any skill or magic straight away. When she saw him dash off to start working away at his debt to the deity of poverty, she had thought of saying something.

Something along the lines of "Maybe you should rest for a bit," or "Wait till morning, that'd be a good idea."

But Penia realised she didn't care enough to say this, instead thinking of how her bottle was empty and she needed some more to keep her warm tonight. Though she surprised herself when she gave one last turn to look at the disappearing boy as he rounded a corner.

'what ya thinking, don't go an ge' attached.'

Back to the boy currently making his way to the door. He is currently trying to shake off the water that had gotten in his hair.

'Need to be able to see.'

Carefully swatting his hair from side to side, he failed to notice something. Something approximately triple his size and wielding something sharp.

*grunt*

Perseus jumped back in fright. He got down low, doing his best to make as little as himself visible but his mind was not so calm.

'OH no no no no. There's someone there! I don't see them!'

Then he spotted it. The glint of the spear. For the first time, Perseus felt some form of fear. That was a weapon. A proper one that could take his life away in a flash. If it was wielded with even a small bit of practice by an adventurer with even a day of experience, Perseus wouldn't stand a chance. However…

*hooooooooooouuuuughhhhhhhhhhh*

With a large grunt, snoring through his nose, the adventurer shifted a small bit in his sleeping position, even though he remained standing.

Perseus might've been mildly impressed if he wasn't doing his best to stop his heart from beating out of his chest.

'He's… asleep.'

Perseus fell to the ground, doing his best to control his breathing from waking up the guard. The boy hadn't known there would be someone guarding the entrance to the dungeon. Why would there be? Surely people should be allowed to go into the dungeon and risk their lives if they want to. And why would they stop people from coming out of the dungeon, what'd be the point of that?

These thoughts raced through the 5-year-old's mind as he had somewhat calmed down. He went to stand up after gathering his composure and began making his way past the terrible guard. He did spare one last glance towards the pointy weapon as a thought crossed his mind. That thought would soon be interrupted by the second noise he had heard tonight that wasn't the falling rain or his small brown boots splashing on the puddle-filled cobbled streets and back alleys.

The clanking of armour and heavy breathing was the first thing that resounded in the boy's ear. The next was the quiet chatter of adventurers. A small laugh and another chuckle alongside a heavy sigh followed after that.

"Oi, what's that up ahead?" A gruff male voice spoke.

They'd spotted him.

"Is it a monster, I'd thought we'd lef' the dungeon now."

"We have Dylan you idiot!" A woman scolded the young male voice.

Perseus froze. He didn't know what to do now. There was nowhere to hide. Things then got bad to worse.

"Huh? Who's there?"

The guard that was only 5 metres away from Perseus had now woken up and was looking straight at him.

Perseus couldn't even hear the party of adventurers making their way up the stairs as he could only stare at the guard. He could barely make him out but he definitely knew he was there; he could clearly make out the spear. It was what gave his presence away.

'Wait! I don't have a spear!'

Betting on a final hope, the boy slowly fell to the ground, hoping that the shroud of the night would hide him.

The guard took a step forward. Perseus could see it. The sharp metal blade was attached at the peak of the silver pole. Even with his experience level, which was nothing, he could tell he was within striking distance.

"Oh, Gary! Ya been put on guard duty again?"

"-Hmmm?"

The adventurer with the gruff voice reached out to the guard. Perseus saw the guard turn away from him though he didn't dare take a breath of relief. Even with the little time he's had his falna, he's already realised how much it increases not only your strength and speed but also your senses and awareness.

"Oh… *Yawn* hey Walt, how'd your dungeon dive go?" Gary said as he stretched while he yawned his tiredness away, though he still had to rub the remaining parts from his eyes.

"Not too bad. Managed to get a good grasp of the 15th floor now."

"Oh, getting' close to the safe zone then?"

"Yeah, I can't wait!" The younger man almost shouted, causing the just-awoken guard to cover his ears.

'It seems they know each other. Wait, they are distracted.'

"Hey, did you see anyone up here just a moment ago?" The woman asked cautiously. Perseus didn't dare look her way but he saw the common weapon of adventurers strapped to her side. The sword once again brought a thought to his mind.

"No… why?"

"Cause we did mate, though 'sppose you wouldn't, bein' asleep on the job, hahaha."

"Oi, night shifts are the worst. Can't help it, besides, not like I'm missin' much."

"Except for the person we saw," The woman astutely said, giving Gary a look of disappointment.

"That couldn't have been a person, way too short for it."

"What ya suggesting, I let a goblin get past me. Just cause I was asleep doesn't mean I ain't aware of my surroundings." The guard retorted, defending his earlier position.

"What if it did sneak past ya?"

"Listen lad, I'd know if a monster was up here, trust me."

"Fine, Fine. Don't matter now, must've just been nothin'" The older man, Walt, said.

"But…" The woman tried to interject.

"Look, we're all tired from bein' in the dungeon that long. Let's just get home. See ya in a bit Gary, remember it's half-price drinks at the Golden 'ornet tomorrow."

Perseus lost contact with the conversation after that, having used the talking as the distraction he needed. He started making his way down the stair, now keeping his eyes solely focused on the mouth of the dungeon. He would make sure he wouldn't be stopped, not now he was this close.

Finally, after an entire year of planning. Of suffering the cold nights alone. The days without food and the lack of clean drinking water. The only thing he was able to afford was basic firewood and window shopping. It was worth it. He was going to make sure it was worth it.

Hardening his resolve and determination, Perseus brushed his black hair out of his green eyes and took his first step into the dungeon, the place that holds the key to unlocking his future. The future of loss, sadness, despair but also happiness, warmth and family. Everything begins with a single step forward and now it was his turn.

Pressure. That was what I felt as I entered. One that held intimidation, coldness and malice. I could only shudder as I froze at the pressure. My throat dried up as I quickly tried to swallow the saliva that had built up in my mouth. My hands became sweaty as I quickly clenched them as I stared down the seemingly endless dark corridor.

Barely illuminated by small blue crystals sticking out the walls, it was a feeling of dread but for some twisted way, it was alluring. I could feel it pulling me in. That was the worst part. The fact that I couldn't turn around and walk away. The pressure gave no other option and that was the deadliest part of the dungeon, the allure of fame and wealth.

I wasn't here for that; no I had a proper goal. A course I have to take. But still, I didn't move. I felt like I could relate for the first time and truly understand what all those Heroes felt when they faced off against their enemy. But, as one story said, the first step is always the hardest. The rest just simply follow after.

And so, catching my breath and unclenching my sweaty palms, I took another step. Then another, and another. Just like the story said, my feet just kept going as I left behind the comforting glow of the man-made torch just above the dungeon entrance.

As I start making my way down the first cavern, I quickly come to the first of many choices that lay ahead of me. A fork in the road.

'Left… or right?'

I had no map on me nor any prior knowledge. If I had been part of some large familiar and they knew how unprepared I had come, they would've tied me upside down from a tree or thrown me into a lake with a bit of metal strapped to my feet for such stupidity.

But I didn't have that. No Familia to help to prepare, no friends to accompany me on my first dungeon dive. I was alone… all alone. I anticipated this but I had never felt so lonely than I am faced with this choice. However, I wasn't completely stupid.

Reaching into my pocket, I pull out some scrap paper and a lead pencil. I quickly draw a small V at the bottom of the paper before making the left side of the V a bit bigger. And with that decision made, I shoved my makeshift map into my pocket and stifled the small grumble of hunger before I started walking down the left road of the fork.

As I start making my way down the dimly lit corridor, I reach into my other pocket, the right one this time. As I feel the item inside, I think back to what I saw earlier.

A spear.

A sword.

A shield and armour.

What I held was nothing compared to that. Is that what is needed to fight in the dungeon? I pull out my pocket knife from my pocket, surprisingly enough, and examine it again for the 8th time this night.

I flip it open. The blade is about the size of my finger, so barely an inch long. The handle is only slightly bigger, it being wrapped in thin brown leather.

'It's a blade, any should do. Albert fought off a dragon with only a sword. I can fight a floor 1 monster with this.' I naively thought to myself, soon I'd get my answer for my arrogance.

A low growl got my attention. Up ahead a monster. It was my very first encounter with one. I had always thought about what my first one would be. The childish part of me wanted to face off against a Minotaur or a dragon, like those in the Dungeon Oratorio. I'd even take a hellhound or maybe an Ogre. But then I'd realise they are a long way off as I realise I wasn't actually sure what kind of monsters spawn on the first floor. Well, here was my answer.

An ugly, pudgy, green form waddled forward into the light. No clothes blocked the horrid view of its cracked, wrinkled skin. I had gotten into what I thought would be a fighting position, get low with a knife and swing upwards was my plan. But this… monster? Can it even be called that, was barely as tall as me. Now I thought I wasn't that small, Jacob was tiny, though he was a Prum, but I was still a child and this thing my height is meant to fight adults.

I lost any form of anxiety or caution after seeing this as a smile formed on my face.

'For my first kill it isn't anything special but it's still my first, I want to try and enjoy it. I hope my falna doesn't make it too easy for me.'

As I watch the green monster stick one of its plump fingers into its nose as its other hand scratches, I think back to when Goddess Penia gave me my falna.

That feeling of power. Was it when I first began to run or even when Penia said she had finished? No, it was when I felt that drop of blood fall on my bare back.

It made my body heat up everywhere. I instantly felt some power flow through me. I felt my fatigue from that day almost vanish and my hunger which had been becoming almost unbearable become more than manageable.

Then it was over. It felt like it lasted less than a second but also hours. I barely heard what Goddess Penia had said, only that she was done. My body was vibrating all over. I couldn't hold myself back. I began to run towards the dungeon.

Even before my foot fell to the ground, I knew I was stronger, faster. I could hear things like the pebbles beneath my feet and I could see the detail on the bricks of the houses next to me. I felt almost invincible at that moment.

As I started running due west, towards the exit of Daedalus, I smiled. I had never run so fast. Instead of running around a crate of boxes, I jumped them. I even managed to vault over a set of railings that I normally have to duck under.

With this much strength and speed, how could I be beaten? I knew that others had blessings like me, ones that were a lot stronger than mine. But as I walk up to my first monster, my first kill, I can only think of one thing.

'How could this thing beat me?'

Badly.

As soon as it spotted me, it bared its sharp fangs and claws as it gurgled a fairly pathetic roar at me. Though that was the last time I ever underestimated a monster. I thought with the way its body was, it would be slow. I was wrong.

It dashed at me quicker than I expected and I didn't have time to put up a guard or swing my knife in an attempt to defend myself. That wouldn't have mattered.

It leapt in the air with no muscles on its stubby legs and when it brought its fat chubby arms down on me, the pain was immense.

"AAAAAAAAGGGGGH!"

I could only scream as the monster tore into my flesh. Cutting straight through my damp top, it ripped my chest open.

The force shoved me to the ground. As my shoulder slammed onto the rock-hard floor, another wave of pain flooded through my body. I almost fainted at that point just from the pain but the warm liquid that started to cover my body kept me conscious.

I looked up just in time to see the monster jump for another attack. I manage to roll out of the way as it slammed into the ground where I just was.

I fight through the pain with what little strength I have as I try to stay focused. I see the ugly creature on the ground. It seems it isn't very smart as it hurt itself trying to attack me.

'I can… attack…'

I manage a thought through the pain but just before I go to attack my eyes widen in fear. I squeeze my right hand. Nothing.

I squeeze it again. The same outcome.

'My knife…'

I realise I had let go of my knife at some point. As I frantically begin looking around for it, believing it to be my only hope now, I spot the monster beginning to get up.

The sight made me want to throw up as my left eye winced from a light. In the monster's right hand, the thing that is shoving a light reflection into my eye is my pocket knife.

I tremble in fear. My only hope is now in my enemy's possession. I can only think of one thing.

'I'm dead… I … can't win.'

I didn't know what to do. What could I do? My only weapon, my only salvation. Gone!

But then I realised something. My memory, my main weapon, realised something.

'I can…'

There would be shame and hurt. But at least I'd be able to feel those things.

'I'm on the right side of it… I can run.'

I give one glance behind me to confirm my thought and before I know it, I was running.

The pain in my stomach was threatening to give my life up to the monster chasing me at any second. I kept running.

My shoulder was screaming in pain with each pump of my arm as I heard the thumps and smacks of the bare feet slapping on the ground behind me. I kept running.

Before I knew it, I had made it to the fork in the road from before. Without hesitation, I get back on the main road I was previously on, continuing to pump my legs, doing my best to forget the pain. My mind never forgets anything and remembers everything. I kept running.

"GRRRRGHHH!"

The monster's growl only pushes me further. Tears sting my face as I finally make out a light that isn't blue. This one is a warm orange. It was the entrance, no, the exit.

I ran harder than I have in my life, not for a second slowing down in relief knowing what was behind me.

The pain had slowed me down, I had no choice. The monster had closed the gap. I knew this without looking behind me as I feel a gush of sharp air on my back. Centimetres. The monster was centimetres from cutting my back with my own knife.

Only a couple more steps. I didn't take the final step out of the dungeon, instead, I leapt. As I crash into the opposite wall, I'm able to see the mouth of the dungeon.

The monster had stopped. Its haunting glazed-over eyes stared straight at mine that trembled in terror.

I'm breathing frantically, gulping in every ounce of air possible for my lungs to hold. I just sit there, not moving my eyes away from the monsters. The adrenaline in my body fighting every bit of pain.

Then I'm blinded. Hot liquid splats onto my face, covering my eyes.

'What happened… what's this?'

My thoughts are a mess as I begin blinking away whatever was in my eyes. As my vision comes back to me, I see it, or rather I don't.

The monster that was there, staring me down with such hatred and the desire to kill was no longer. Blood is splattered everywhere. Up the walls, along the floor of the dungeon entrance and… on me.

Where the monster's pudgy head had been was now a boot. I see it retract as the culprit begins to walk out.

"Pathetic thing!"

I hear a growl in the words as the adventurer walks out.

"What do ya think it was doing?" A girl's voice asks from behind.

All I could do was stare as out walked looked like a teenage boy and a young girl.

The girl had long, brown hair.

The boy had ashen grey hair, with two wolf ears on his head and a blue tattoo on his face.

"Don' matter, it's dead now!" The wolf spat.

"Aah, don't be like that Bete. Ain't you curious, just a bit?"

"What's there to think about Selene? Stupid Goblin being stupid. All there is to it.

'Go…goblin?'

"Hmmmmm, what's this?" The girl says as she looks down. Me and the wolf guy follow her gaze.

"It's a… knife, I think," She says confused as she bends down and picks up my pocket knife.

"Way too small to be a knife, what kind of idiot would take that into the dungeon!"

'Id… idiot?'

"Must be someone who can't afford a proper weapon," Selene says as she begins to examine it.

"Or they are just too stupid to know what they're doing!" Bete retorts with a snort.

"What you wanna do with it?" Selene asks.

"Why the hell should I care! Leave it!"

"Ooh, good idea. Maybe the person who it belongs to might come back for it."

"HA! Fat chance, an idiot who lets himself get disarmed by a goblin is probably dead. Weak people like that deserve it!"

"BETE! I thought I told you to stop saying such mean things!" Selene shouts back as she puts down the knife. She was too busy fighting with her friend, hopefully, boyfriend, to realise the stupidity of just leaving a weapon on the ground for its respective owner to come to pick it up.

"What! I'm right, aren't I? Weaklings shouldn't go into the dungeon!"

I sit there in silence as the two make their way up the stairs, back into the night. I don't know how they didn't see me. Maybe it was the blood combined with the darkness along with me being small, or they just didn't care. I know I don't.

'Stupid! Idiot! Weakling!'

Those words resound in my head as I feel my stomach burn with pain.

'He took out that monster, goblin, with such ease. I couldn't do anything.'

At that moment, I hated myself. I've never hated anything or anyone more than myself in that moment. Not the Goddess Hera or my old Familia. They didn't come close.

'He's… right.'

I wince as I begin to stand up, holding my gashed stomach, doing very little to stop the bleeding. As I walk over, I see the knife the woman left, my knife. Bending down was excruciating but I had to. I pick up the pocket knife, wiping off the blood with my tattered sleeve.

I slowly start making my way back up the stairs.

'I'm weak.'

The guard was still asleep. Judging from the moon not having even moved, I had barely been in there. I walk past the guard and make my way into the courtyard. I miss the two adventurers walking down a different road. The rain hits my head and begins its descent, trickling down my body.

'I'm weak.'

I walk into a back alley at some point. I don't really remember, one of the few things I'm not able to recollect in the morning. I'm not even thinking at this point. The pain is too severe, both in my stomach and shoulder, but mostly in my pride.

The rain was still coming down. I don't care. I slip down a random wall in some random back alley. As my blood starts merging into the pool of rainwater below me, I huddle into a ball, my body instinctively trying to stay warm.

'I'm weak… I need to be stronger.'

I come to my conclusion. As I struggle for warmth, I slowly pull off one of my sleeves, cutting it off with my pocket knife at the shoulder. It's agonising with my other shoulder still in pain but I fight through it. I wrap the cloth around my body, over the cut. I know it didn't do much but it was something. And that was enough.

As I let sleep take over, I can only think of one thing.

'I need to be stronger… stronger than them.'

I let sleep take me, not knowing if I'll even be alive the next day.

Bit of a shorter chapter but I know I needed to post a chapter soon. I hope you are ok with my decision and what I discussed earlier.

Again, thank you for the support. Over 50 follows in only 2 chapters, madness.

This chapter is shorter than usual. That's because, while I did want to post soon, the lenght works. I could maybe have extended the fight scene a bit, if you can call it a fight scene, but its meant to show how weak Percy is and I think it does that. If I added what I'm starting off with next chapter, I feel like it would take away from the first dungeon dive. This chapter is meant to soleyl focus on that and his arrogance. Even though he is 5, he needs to learn quick, or does he need to learn quick because he is 5.

You like the Bete and Selene cameo. Bete would an adventurer for about 2 years now, starting 12 years before the canon story. Another Parellel Percy has with his brother, keep an eye out for a lot more of them as that is what this story is about.

Anyway, I basically covered all the reviews in the update chapter and at the top of this one, so none on this but make sure to notify me if there is anything you think or are enjoying.

And with this a bit shorter but sweet post, I'll see ya next time, Peace!