Alright, back to Matt's POV, this is a good one, especially the fight in the second half, I enjoyed writing it.

Review and Response time! You know you love this part.

Shadowhunter2077: "Ok The Big Four signed their death warrant, because after this the Olympians are going to hunt they down to hell itself to kill them, and Will is right they are Animals, and I'm feeling bad about Harper even after everything she still believed that he had some good on him and that he could be saved, only to Levi to show that he is the real monster on the same level of Hitler and Voldemort

And Levi is really a as*****e, because while he likes to speak that he don't want to harm the demigods his actions shows the opposite, he clearly likes to kill demigods and he enjoy the feeling of killing another demigod and the basterd don't even try to hide, he also wants to be worshipped by the demigods as their new master even though he don't deserve, and he also a coward the moment he sees a powerful demigod he starts to feel afraid and starts ordering others to deal with them, I just hope he and the others members of the Big Four die very horrible deaths.

Also I really impressed about this story, not many people in the fandom explore Hercules real flaw that is wrath not arrogance, hell even in the canon when Hercules finally appears he only gets angry when they metion that they were in a quest by Hera, otherwise he was actually nice to them.

And if you want me to research any pantheon you can leave at the end of the next chapter, I already made some research on the Babylonian pantheon and they are at least as powerful as the Norse pantheon are in the canon with them possibly being around Moon Level to their major gods and the most powerful being around Planet Level"

Response: Thanks man, you're actually my 100th review! I appreciate the constant support and help on foreign pantheons, especially in the near future. Yeah, the Big Four are very hateable, and that was fully intentional on my part. They basically represent Ouranos's ability to manipulate, and how the gods neglecting their children can prove to backfire. They aren't meant to be sympathetic, just a sign of something gone too far, especially Levi. He's very unlikable, and I plan on capitalizing that even more, as he spirals further into darkness. In fact, I think the saying "You brood in darkness so long that you let it control you" applies to him. He was isolated from the thing he cared for most, and his own anger and hate got to him, just causing him to go completely extreme. About Hercules, thank you, he is portrayed pretty bad in most fanfics, and even Rick got him not the best in my opinion. He's a great writer, better than me, but I always considered his Hercules in Mark of Athena to be flawed. Thanks for the info on that pantheon, PM me on that snowy region pantheon too, when you get time.

NiHaR OP: "Oh no poor Nico, maybe next chapter you can add

some OP nico to avenge will, Harper should kill that fucking bastard Levi and torture him slowly till his blood pours out, Percy and Annabeth getting captured is kinda questionable maybe Annabeth but Percy? Matt is gonna be pissed when he hears about camp and will"

Response: Nihar, I promise you that in Book three, you will get a powerful Percy. Thanks for reviewing though man, yeah, Levi needs to die, but he's a main antagonist, so I gotta keep him around for a bit. And yeah, Matt will be very mad.

And dude, I like your stories, Never Bow Down and Fallen King are good reads, I hope things get better in your country so you can update them soon. Always good to know your still reading man, stay safe.

thesuperone342: "Bro you can't be doing this cliffhanger shit. Lol jk it's fine it keeps people wanting more. Alright, to start, the sons of Thor fight was really fucking good. Like the fight with Bo felt like a boss fight with no health bar and then it transitioned into a horror game like boss in the second half. Also Talon coming in clutch and beating this shit out of Bo was awesome lol. And the camp scene. Holy shit that was as dope as you hyped it up man. Fuck Levi and Fuck the Big Four. I can't wait until Harper makes Levi's death the most painful thing to ever be written on FanFiction. And damn, the scene with Will actually made me a little emotional. I personally don't really care much about him, so making me actually feel awful while reading him getting killed is amazing. Damn, poor Nico. In this story he loses his boyfriend and in my story he's about to lose his sister. He can't catch a fucking break. Anyway, amazing chapter as always and I can't wait for the next one.

PS: Zane vs Sons of Thor, who wins?"

Response: Thanks man as always, glad you enjoyed the Sons of Thor fight, I kinda based the office fight part from the Last of Us gameplay, glad it worked lol. And yeah, the Big Four are very unlikeable, but you gotta admit, they're good villains, if you hate them this much, you know they are. Just like Luke in your story. About your story, can't wait for the next chapter and emo Nico, will be interesting to read how you portray that.

Zane vs Sons of Thor? I'd say Zane, he has more feats. He might have a little trouble if they tag team him though, but he'd probably kill them.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters (except the OC's) Percy Jackson & The Olympians, Heroes Of Olympus, or Trials Of Apollo. All of that belongs to Rick Riordan.

Now then, on with the ninth chapter. Father-son bonding, such a beautiful thing.

9. We Fight A Cyclops...And A Dragon

Matt

Right when we landed, I nearly threw up.

Being teleported makes your stomach queasy, what a surprise. Coupled with my mind going in circles trying to figure out that crazy vision...and the guilt of what I did to Hephaestus, I wasn't feeling so great.

Hercules clapped my back, "Let it out if you have to, they won't give a shit."

I reared my head back, "What the hell? Of course they would!"

He groaned, "Whatever. Are you gonna barf or not?"

I swallowed hard, any sign of nausea fading, I blinked a few times, my vision returning to normal.

"Yeah, I'll be alright."

"Good." He patted Kyros on the head, the eagle was still perched on his shoulder, piercing eyes darting around the new territory. Well, he had been here once when he was created, but that was centuries ago, I imagined he didn't remember it.

Hercules motioned to the giant golden doors, "Let's go in, He needs to see Hera immediately." Hephaestus was flung over his shoulder, the other shoulder I mean, the one that I held onto. The blacksmith god really didn't look good, his arm a wide stump, oozing ichor all over the place, and the rest of his body looked like it had been dented by a thousand of his own hammers.

I hated losing control like that. It was something I had practiced for so long, so much over the year of training, only to lose it at such an important time. I had failed, and I felt like crap.

Olympus looked just as good as I remember. Picture your most extravagant imagination of an ancient Greek village, then multiply that by fifty in size, and add Grand Central Station to it, there you go, that's Olympus. Residents walked the streets by the hundreds, doing various things. I had always heard they were minor gods, but I never believed it, because there were literally so many, I couldn't imagine that there were this many minor gods.

"Yeah, they are." My father said absentmindedly.

I registered he was speaking to me, reading my mind no doubt.

"Minor gods? All of them?"

"Well, not all of them. The Muses live here, and some other spirits, but the majority of the residents are minor gods."

I looked back at the city, in absolute awe. I couldn't imagine this place at night, it was probably more beautiful than New York from the view of the Empire State Building. How did a minor god go about living here anyway? Did Zeus have to approve it? Or do they just get a pass? If that was true, then why do some minor gods have to stay out in the world, like Harper's mom, Nemesis, or the others like Morpheus, or Janus?

Hercules grunted, "It's cause their duties are more important. Like the god of sleep, yeah, sleep is pretty important."

I turned to him, "Do you read my mind all the time or something?"

He winced, "I can turn it off. Which is what I do anyway. I've seen too many of your thoughts to risk it again."

"Thanks." I said sarcastically. Am I that dumb or something that my thoughts are too stupid to even read?

He shook his head, "Uh no, I'm talking about your more...romantic thoughts."

I immediately blushed. Oh...

Look, back on the Island, I missed Harper. Okay, I still missed her, but lately I've tried to get over it, because she obviously has. I remembered what Krios showed me, her getting comfortable with some guy named Logan. And I couldn't blame her, it had been a year after all, but before, when I thought it was only going to be two months, I often dreamt of her. Hey, I couldn't control it, I missed her, and the age of sixteen brings very strong feelings, different feelings than just fluffy cuddling and smooching.

My father shoved me, "Come on, we gotta get inside, they're waiting."

"They're already in there?" I asked as we walked to the doors.

He nodded, "I told father it was important, he must have alerted them."

I said nothing as we walked through the giant gates, entering a room ten times as big and high as a Catholic Cathedral. I had been here once before, when asking my grandfather, Zeus, to aid us in freeing Malachi. But being here again after a whole year, it just hits you how royal it is, how insanely powerful and ancient it is.

The path towards the semi circle of thrones was long. I took this time to continue my conversation with my father.

"So the minor gods, why are they minor? I mean, Morpheus, the god of sleep, like you said, sleep is pretty much universal. So why is he minor?" He started to respond, but I was on a roll, "And you, you became the god of strength. That's pretty important, so why are you minor? What makes Dionysus, the god of something like wine, an Olympian over you? Like, why aren't you an Olympian?"

He waved his hand dismissively, "Yeah that's a good question, and there's a single word to answer it. Time. I became a god after those guys, and the twelve seats were already taken up, so I couldn't join. Not that I wanted to be an Olympian anyway..."

"Then why aren't there thirteen seats? Or fourteen?"

"Ask me why there's only one President, and I'll tell you, I don't know. It's a way to divide power. If there are too many seats, things'll get chaotic. I mean, it's already crazy with twelve seats, imagine fifteen or twenty."

"Yeah, but...Dionysus?"

He shrugged, "Not many people know this, but he was a hero back in the day, almost as good as me and the other guys like Achilles, Perseus, Jason, the rest. So take that into account. Also take into account that he's my brother, Zeus's son."

"Ah, I see." It made sense, being a Son of Zeus definitely mattered. But Dionysus, a hero? I would have never guessed. Hearing the way Percy described him, it just sounded like he was a drunk poker player that somehow became a god.

"Wouldn't say that in front of him." Father said, a hint of a smile on his face. Oh come on, even he thought it was funny.

"I'm not, I was just curious."

"Shut up, we're here." He was right, we had come upon the Olympians in all their gigantic glory. Twelve thrones, all with different designs. Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Ares, Hermes, and all the rest were lined up, talking amongst themselves in a hushed manner.

They were each twelve feet tall or so, dwarfing my father, who in his own right, is a giant guy. I recognized a few from last time, and even if I didn't, their thrones and appearances gave it away. Zeus was easy, I knew him, Hera was right next to him, also easy, considering the entire quest last year was centered around rescuing her. Poseidon was a dead giveaway, his trident sat right next to him, and he looked like a middle aged Percy, Athena too, she looked just like Annabeth, only older and even more intimidating. Ares, Hermes, Aphrodite, Demeter, blah blah, you get the point.

We were standing right below them, Zeus took notice of Hercules first, then me. He shushed the other gods.

"Ah, Heracles. My son, it is good to see- WHAT IN HADES?!"

Every god gasped at Hephaestus's bloody form, especially Aphrodite, since that was technically her husband. Which I always found ironic. No offense to the guy, but he wasn't exactly beautiful.

Shut up Matt, you shouldn't think like that, you nearly killed him.

Aphrodite's eyes were wide, "What happened?!"

Hercules/Heracles threw the blacksmith god's body on the floor in front of him, "Apollo, do your magic, and do it fast."

The blonde one Apollo jumped off his throne and quickly came over to where Hephaestus lay, placing his hands on him. A light glow emerged from both of their forms, and eventually, his wounds began to heal, a bit slow, but definitely getting the job done. Within a minute or two, Hephaestus was basically back to normal.

"Wh-Where am I?" He asked groggily.

Hercules patted him on the shoulder, "Just take it easy for a minute."

"You may sit back down, Apollo." Zeus said, and Apollo did, not before sending a blinding smile my way.

Zeus raised an eyebrow, "You call all of us here to heal Hephaestus? That's a strange idea of a prank, Heracles."

I held a hand up, "Okay, is it Hercules or Heracles?"

My father groaned, "It's basically the same thing, no difference."

"So which are you right now?"

"Shh!" Then he turned to Zeus, "This is more important than that, father. Hephaestus was-"

Aphrodite chimed in, "Can someone please tell me what happened first?"

Hera nodded, "Yes, I think we're all curious. Was it you, Heracles? Did you go into a fit of rage and beat him to near death?"

My father's aura spiked for some reason, his rage hidden well, but I could tell just by looking at his face, his lips were tight, a vein popped on his forehead. He and Hera had a history, a bad one obviously.

"No. I did not beat him. Uh..." He motioned to me, "My son did."

Hera raised an eyebrow, "Your son?"

"Yes, but for good reason."

"And that is?" Aphrodite said, slightly glaring at me.

My father nudged me, I guess it was time for me to talk now. Just great, I hated public speaking. But since I lost control, it was only right that I try to explain what happened.

"Look, It's obvious that Ouranos is back, and that Zeus didn't fully kill him on the Cursed Island. He's been building his strength, and gaining allies. Those allies...included Hephaestus."

They started muttering in shock, like Hephaestus did it of his own free will.

The blacksmith god started to speak, but I said it first.

"Not what you think! He was influenced. Ouranos is using all of his energy to influence people, he did it to Hephaestus, and the three original Cyclops."

Hermes now looked shocked, "Those guys? I thought they were dead!"

I nodded, "They were, but somehow they reformed, and Ouranos got in their heads. Both them and Hephaestus, he used them and made them do things against their will."

It was Athena's turn to question, "And what is their goal?"

"To build a new body. For Ouranos."

There were a few gasps around the room, some stunned expressions, and grim expressions. The tension became too much, and Zeus had to mediate.

"Calm yourselves!" He looked down at me, "How did you know Hephaestus was corrupted?"

"A vision, sir. I saw him whispering to the figures. And I saw the body Hephaestus was building back at his workshop."

"Is this true, Hephaestus?" Poseidon said to him.

He nodded shamefully, "Yes. That bastard took me over one day, when I least expected it. It was like I could see what I was doin' outside of my body, but I had no control over it. He was using my experience and skill to build the body, but it wasn't me doing it, I guess."

"That's not all." I said grimly, "He's enlisted...Norse demigods."

The air in the room immediately grew tighter, every god's face unreadable, well, they weren't pleasant, I can tell you that. The mere mention of the word Norse got everyone's attention.

Ares held his hands up in a time out manner, "Whoa, whoa. You mean like, Thor and those guys?"

"Yeah uh, specifically two Sons of Thor." I added.

Athena scoffed, "Please, the boy lies! He's proven his mental state by nearly killing Hephaestus, and now he wants to cause chaos among the gods!"

My father stepped forward. "He had to harm Hephaestus to snap him out of it. Did he go overboard, yes. But he's not lying about the Norse part."

Athena wasn't convinced, "They aren't as powerful as us. So why would Ouranos recruit demigods? Why not recruit gods?"

"Hey may have." I said, "I don't know, the Sons of Thor are the only ones I've seen so far. And about the power thing, he's giving them his. That's why he doesn't directly fight himself, because he's using his energy to influence and boost others."

The wisdom goddess considered this, "That's a very dangerous game, if it's true. He must have devout followers that he can trust if he is willing to weaken himself to gain numbers."

Dionysus sighed indifferently on the end, "This is Ouranos we're talking about, father of the guy that nearly destroyed all of us a few years ago."

I ignored him, talking to Athena, "What I'm saying is true. Why would I lie? What do I have to gain by coming here and tricking you? Nothing. Look, I want this war to end more than anything, so I would never come here and instigate it. That's just not me." Then I breathed in, surprisingly running out of air quickly every time I talked, as I didn't do it very often these days. "And about trusted followers, he does. They're called the Big Four, a group of powerful demigods that he's tricked into doing his dirty work." I gulped, remembering Grayson, who was a child of the goddess I was talking to.

Of course, Hermes asked me, "Who are they? This Big Four, I mean."

"Well um, actually one of them is a...a child of yours, Lord Hermes. Her name is Cherry, I don't know her last name. But she seemed to gain your speed ability."

Hermes didn't look very shocked, more so disappointed, putting his hand over his forehead.

"Yet another one of my children. Making the wrong decisions..."

Oh...Luke. Yeah, forgot he was a Son of Hermes.

"I'm sorry, sir."

He raised his head up, "Speed, you say? That's...a very rare ability. Indeed, that would make one of my children powerful. I can't remember the last time that's happened now that I think of it..."

"Yeah, they all have unique abilities. Um, another is actually one of your children, Hephaestus. His name is Axel, and he can control lava. Is that...rare?"

Hephaestus nodded grimly, "Very. Only three children of mine have ever had such an ability."

"And...Athena." I cringed the moment I said it, I had no idea how to address her. Should I have said Lady? I'm not sure, but I'd already said it, so oh well.

"Another one of the Four is...a son of yours. His name is Grayson."

Athena looked enraged, "Him? He works for Ouranos?!"

"I've seen it, ma'am. I'm uh, sorry."

She looked genuinely hurt at this, "Such a fool. He was always the smartest of my children, perhaps other than Annabeth. But his insanity must have gotten to him."

"So you know about his ability?"

She nodded, "I do. It is rare indeed among my offspring, to view another's attacks and movements before they make them...that is very hard to control. I never thought he would make such a decision..."

I decided to change the subject, "And the last one, their leader I guess, is Levi Pierce, a Son of Nemesis. As far as rare abilities...I haven't seen him fight very much, but I'm pretty sure he can transform into crows, maybe control the mist, and he's good with a sword."

The gods didn't seem to care about this, since he wasn't one of their children, and his abilities didn't sound very intimidating. Really, they didn't. I mean, he taught Harper everything, and she was good at fighting, so I guessed he knew how to use that sword, and I had definitely saw him transform into a crow...but what else? He surely had to be the strongest one, given that the others listened to him and even seemed intimidated by him. Levi had a sinister aura to him, so I figured he was hiding some kind of power under that cloak.

"And Ouranos has them under his thumb, so he doesn't have to worry about betrayal." My father said.

The godly parents of the other three looked downright awful. I sensed their auras, they were genuinely dissapointed. I was kind of surprised, they actually cared about their children and their decisions, I guess.

Hephaestus spoke up, "He was very adamant about staying under the radar, to make everyone think he was dead. Right when ya struck him on the Island, father, that's when he entered my mind. The construction of his body began a year ago, or more by now."

A thought hit me, something that I couldn't believe I hadn't remembered until now.

Viribus.

I spoke frantically almost, "Um, Lord Zeus? There's another thing you should know, probably the worst part."

Zeus raised an eyebrow, "Worse than recruiting Norse demigods?"

I nodded, "The weapon that Hephaestus made me, he did...without your permission."

"What? No, I told him to make you a club of celestial bronze."

Hephaestus slumped, "Father...remember when I told you I would take care of it."

"Yes."

"Well...Ouranos was in my head then. He forced me to..." His aura was frightened, probably at how angry Zeus would be.

I spoke for him, "He forced Hephaestus to make a weapon made of material from...the Adam Tree."

Zeus's eyes widened angrily, "WHAT?!"

Hephaestus flinched, "I'm sorry! I tried to resist! It was too damn strong!"

The other gods aura's became uneasy as well, the room had a smell of ozone to it, from Zeus's aura.

His hair had turned a hint of white, almost revealing his prime form, the form that I saw on the Cursed Island, the most powerful aura I had ever felt in person. Even revealing a fraction of it right now, it was powerful.

"OURANOS TRICKED ME?! THE ADAM TREE?!"

I nodded, stepping in front of Hephaestus, "It was all Ouranos! And...partly me. I should have prayed to you about it, I was just...caught up in what it could do."

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Zeus roared, his hair turning more white, "OURANOS IS TO BLAME, NO ONE ELSE!"

"Oh, well then...that's good-"

He roared, a loud crash of thunder erupted outside shaking the entire palace.

"How dare he! I will track him down and personally eradicate him!"

"Grandfather! It's here! Look!" I quickly took off Viribus from my neck, and it transformed into the club, I held it up to Zeus, in an attempt to calm him down.

"The weapon's here!"

He calmed down, and shrunk to normal size, walking down to where I was, he studied Viribus.

"So this is it. How have they not taken it yet?"

I sighed, "The Sons of Thor tried, and Krios tried, but I managed to hold on to it."

He nodded grimly, reaching out to take it, "Well, it can no longer be in your hands. It is far too dangerous-"

I pulled it away, "Wait, grandfather. Didn't you hear me? I managed to hold on to it."

Zeus looked at me like I had three heads. I knew what I was doing was stupid, holding on to the very thing that Ouranos was after, and disobeying Zeus. But Viribus had saved my life, many times, and I had gotten very good with it. It was part of the reason I had lasted this long.

For some reason, Zeus didn't atomize me. He simply sighed, and turned to the other gods, who were watching on with uneasiness.

"You may go. We will discuss these matters later, and what actions we shall take."

They didn't move, they simply looked uneasy, the whole situation foreign.

"You are dismissed!" Zeus yelled, annoyed.

They all obeyed, not wanting to make him angry, they disappeared with a flash. Poseidon stayed back for a split second, and in that split second, he gave Zeus a concerned look, then he too, vanished with a CRACK!

Zeus pointed at my father, "Stay here, Heracles. I'm going to have a word with Matthias."

"Father, he didn't mean-" My father started.

Zeus held up a hand, "I'm not going to kill him if that's what you're wondering. I am simply going to show him something. Stay here."

Hercules didn't look happy about it, but he stayed put, giving me a reassuring forced smile.

Thanks, father. I thought sarcastically. Ah but really, what could you do? I was probably about to get tossed off the side of Olympus by Zeus for refusing to give up Viribus.

Zeus grabbed my shoulder, "Close your eyes, Matthias."

I did, and the same feeling as earlier passed over me, nausea, and an intense tightness in my gut. After a second of spinning around the world it seemed, we landed on solid ground.

Behind the palace.

It was different from the other part of Olympus, the streets and beautiful houses, none of them were here. It was a simple clear backyard like place. Statues and rivers of clear blue water littered the place, white stone on the ground, but all of it led somewhere, a bridge of sorts, like a path...

"Grandfather, I'm sorry about-"

"Matthias, I am not angry. I just want to show you something. Hold on to Viribus for a minute."

I did, and followed him.

As we passed over the bridge, I got a better view of things. The bridge itself, was indeed, a bridge. It was made of every kind of metal imaginable. Diamond, Gold, Bronze, and everything else across time. It didn't look odd either, everything seemed to blend together in harmony, not blinding either. You would expect all of this to be blinding, but no, it was like the sun wasn't in the sky, you could see all of their unique colors and textures.

I looked past the edge of the bridge, down at the city below. Everything seemed small. People were nonexistent, the roads themselves looked like hairlines, and even the skyscrapers were ant like in size.

We continued to walk, the aura getting stronger and stronger, more malevolent and strange. The most bizarre thing was, there seemed to be two auras, swirling together like Yin and Yang, back and forth, pushing and pulling. What was going on?

"What...is this place?"

"Just a little further." Zeus replied, facing forward.

We walked another hundred feet, and in my line of sight, a colossal figure began to form. Every step I took, it became clearer and clearer, the outline of a tree.

We stopped at the edge of the bridge, everything now in full view.

The tree sat in the center of a very wide circular platform, hundreds of feet wide. Green grass covered it, mounds of rock and everything related as well. The wind seemed to be blowing stronger here, I could feel moisture enter my nostrils, like there were clouds flying in my face.

I looked at the extremely large tree, in awe at the sheer size.

My eyes widened, "Is this..."

Zeus nodded, "Yes. Matthias, this is the Adam Tree."

Words can't describe it, it was the largest and tallest thing I had ever seen, even more so than Typhon, who made skyscrapers and mountains look like nothing. I looked at Viribus and back, the wood color matched it. A dark ancient looking color, a whitish brownish pigment, that seemed to have been painted by the gods. It was hundreds of feet wide, branches as big as the tallest theme park ride swirled around the stump. It looked just like any other tree, only it looked and seemed...so ancient, so powerful, so...strange.

It was. I mean, this was the very first tree in existence, a mere toothpick of it could do insane things, like give me lightning manipulation, regeneration, wind manipulation, and apparently Earth as well.

It's aura could be felt for miles upon miles, reaching the sky, immense, constantly swirling, struggling with each other...but also not struggling with each other.

"H-How tall is it?" I barely said, still in awe.

"It reaches to the upper atmosphere, the edge of outer space. Where Ouranos and my domain ends."

I felt like my mind was going to explode. I could hardly fathom such a plant, reaching all the way up to outer space. That was insane to think about.

"Does the mist hide it?"

"Yes. That's why it can only be seen this close."

Again, I looked at Viribus. A small piece of that tree was in my hand, the tree with an insanely powerful aura, both of them, reaching higher than anything I had ever felt, a piece of that was in my hand.

Just what could this thing do?

"Matthias, do you know why Ouranos wants Viribus?"

I looked at him, "It can supposedly bring him back to his physical form. I mean, I think that's what they said."

Zeus nodded, "It can. And not only can it bring him back, it can make him more powerful than any other being."

I reared my head back, "What?"

He pointed at Viribus, "What have you been able to do with that weapon exactly? What does it allow you to do?"

I hesitated, but told him all of it's features. Lightning, Regeneration, Wind, and Earth.

Zeus motioned at the tree, "Do you know why it allows you to do those things? Why if Ouranos gets his hands on Viribus, that could mean the end of the world?"

"No...not really."

"This tree was formed when Ouranos and Gaea met, marking the parallel between the Earth and the Sky. This tree was the first, and it still is the source of all plant life. But it also contains energy. The energy of the ones that made it..."

The dots were connecting, and as soon as I figured it out, it all made sense.

"The tree, it's aura...It's Ouranos and Gaea's. That's why I can control lightning, wind, and earth with it."

Zeus nodded grimly, "This tree contains a large part of both of their life forces. You hold a portion of that as well with Viribus, giving you the ability to tap into some of their abilities. If Ouranos comes in contact with it, his life force in that club, will return to him, and bring him back to his physical form."

Viribus seemed to weigh a million tons in my hand, I felt like I was going to pass out at Zeus's revelation. It all made sense now, why I could control those elements, why it felt so strange, why Krios and the Sons of Thor tried to retrieve it. I had almost brought Ouranos back to life by nearly losing it.

"No, this...can't be true. I can't...this can't" I was spouting gibberish, trying to process the whole thing.

"Matthias, I know it's a lot to take in, but you needed to know. Ouranos has been fooling you this whole time. He used Hephaestus to get the weapon to you, and he sent those demigods to retrieve it. He couldn't come get it himself, because he knows he is not strong enough, so he played middle man." He shook his head, "A very smart strategy. He must have thought this out for centuries."

"What about regeneration?"

Zeus raised an eyebrow at me, "What?"

"It also heals me. When I battled Krios, I nearly died, but...Viribus saved me. It healed me."

Zeus tightened his lips, "It's no wonder you lost control and gave into your rage. Matthias, the reason you healed, is because part of their life force entered you, and added to your own."

If all the rest wasn't enough to make me pass out, that certainly might do it. A part of Ouranos and Gaea...inside of me? Oh gods...

"I-I had a vision. That's why I lost control. It seemed so...real, like it was happening right in front of me. I saw Ouranos."

"Yes. If a part of his life force is in you, he has better access to your mind, your emotions. He increased your rage, your instability, that's why you lost control, Matthias."

But that didn't make me feel better. I still lost control, I still failed, I still couldn't resist.

"Oh gods..." I said.

I stayed like that for a little while, just sitting there, thinking hard about it. It was all so crazy, this whole thing. I never expected this to happen.

"Now you understand." Zeus said.

"I won't let him get it." I declared, my anger at Ouranos higher than it has ever been.

"Matthias, that's not what I meant. You should give me the club-"

"Grandfather, I won't let him get it. As...bad as it sounds to say it...I need Viribus." I looked at it, "I mean, it saved me...whether for the right reasons or not, It did. And it gave me the ability to defeat powerful opponents."

"Matthias-"

"If I'm gonna stop Ouranos, I'm gonna need it."

I knew it sounded crazy, the literal source of potential destruction, and I wanted to keep it. But I believed with everything that I had, that I could protect this thing.

"I need to use it the right way, I need to use it to help me, not destroy me."

"Matthias, you need to think about what you are saying."

"I know it sounds dumb, grandfather. But...I won't let him get it, I won't."

Zeus studied me, maybe thinking about knocking me out and destroying Viribus. But finally, he sighed.

"I can't believe I'm allowing this. Matthias, you are indeed old enough to make your own decisions, but...if he gets that club, and if you cannot protect it..." He got closer to me, his aura raising dangerously, the hair on his face and head turned whiter.

"Then Ouranos's return is on you."

His words hit me like a lightning bolt. A warning, basically, I knew what it meant, and I knew the gravity of the situation.

I nodded, "I understand."

He stepped back, and the tension faded, "Good. Now then, Heracles is waiting for you. If you are going to stop Ouranos, then you had better get to it."

"What about you guys?"

He looked off into the distance, "We will decide soon, and deal with any other forces he has allied with." He clenched his fists, "I do not like being fooled. If I can find Ouranos myself, I will send him back to Tartarus for good."

"These Norse demigods...do you think there could be more?" I asked.

"I wouldn't doubt it. Just stay on your guard, Matthias. And do not let them get that club."

"I won't." I waved at him, "Goodbye, Grandfather."

"Farewell." With that, my vision went white, and I felt the familiar tug again. Sure enough, reality warped around me, and within the span of half a second, I was back at the entrance of Olympus.

My father was waiting down the flight of stairs, Kyros still on his shoulder.

"So he didn't kill you?"

"Nah." I walked down to him, the closer I got, the wider his eyes grew.

"Wait, he actually let you keep that thing?"

"Yeah." I said, turning it back into a lion head necklace, "I promised that I wouldn't let Ouranos get it. He's gonna hold me to it."

Hercules shook his head, "You'd better guard that damn thing with your life."

"I will."

We stood in silence for a minute, before my father pulled me along the path.

"Look, I was talking to Hephaestus, and he talked about a base in Kansas. A base where one of the original Cyclops has been working on something."

"On what?"

"I don't know, but it's in Kansas. That sound like a place you and your gang are willing to go to?"

I thought about it. If there was another base out there, then we needed to go after it. But with the others? Would they be willing? I mean, it's been a year...

"Maybe. I'll have to ask them when I get to Camp."

Looking at my father, I suddenly remembered that this was where we were going to part ways. After Hephaestus, that was it. And now apparently, I was to take care of another original Cyclops in Kansas. The quest would continue, but my father wouldn't be a part of it.

I shrugged awkwardly, "I guess this is it."

He raised an eyebrow, "Huh?"

Playing dumb huh? Alright fine.

"Look, you don't have to say anything. I just want to let you know, that I'm grateful for the training, and I don't hold anything against-"

Hercules interrupted me, laughing nervously, "Oh, that's right. I forgot to tell you the other thing."

"What?"

He looked around, like he was checking for eavesdroppers.

He turned back to me, "Arges."

"Yeah, what about him? You beat him, remember?"

Hercules shook his head, "No, he escaped in the magma before I could kill him, he's still out there."

My jaw fell open, "What?! Why didn't you tell me?!"

"We kinda had to get a nearly dead god here, if you didn't notice!"

"But we can't leave him alive! He'll go back to Ouranos!"

He raised a finger, "Exactly! And that's why we're gonna go back and finish him off!"

I stepped back, and put my hands in a time out position, "Whoa, whoa, whoa. I thought I was going back to Camp?"

"You are! Uh...right after we kill Arges!"

I deadpanned at him, "Why can't you just go?"

"It has to be both of us. More eyes in the magma, it'll be quicker and easier."

I hesitated. I was so close to going back to Camp, to seeing my friends again, to seeing Harper...

But we needed to stop Arges, we needed to take out Ouranos's forces as quickly as possible.

"And it won't take long?" I asked.

He waved his hand in a no problem gesture, "Piece of Cake."

I thought about it. The feeling of wanting to go back home, it was strong, and honestly, I might have done it on a different day. But now...I knew what I needed to do.

"Alright, let's go." I said, smirking.

Hercules nodded, "Kyros, let's go!"

Kyros jumped off his shoulder and flew around in a circle, transforming into his true form, a giant eagle.

He landed on the ground, motioning his head for us to get on.

We did, me behind my father.

"Here we go!" He yelled, and we took off with a flash, flying above the clouds.

When we got there, I realized how much damage we had done.

Any tree that once stood was gone, leaving an open field of charred grass. The satyrs and dryads would kill me if they knew. I hated it myself to be honest, destroying everything around me. It only added to the guilt.

Mount St. Helens stood in the distance, fairly put together, all but the top. It basically looked like the place where the magma came out was wider, and more jagged.

Kyros flew right over it, the gaping hole dozens of meters wide, a lake of burning magma below, with only a ledge and a few large stones to step on. Not that I would die from magma, but it wouldn't feel too good.

"Are we going in?" I asked.

My father nodded, "We'll jump from here. Kyros can follow too, he doesn't mind hot temperatures. Do you buddy?"

Kyros cawed in response. I couldn't exactly focus at the moment, I just kept thinking about Viribus, if I made the wrong decision by keeping it. I mean, it was the very thing Ouranos wanted, and I refused to give it up. Viribus had saved me, whether or not some of Ouranos's life force is to thank, it still saved me. It allows me to do insane things, and...I have to admit, I'll probably need it to survive.

I made the right decision, I made the right decision.

Keep telling yourself that.

Another decision I may regret was Camp. I had the chance to go, but instead I came here.

That doesn't matter, it will only be a little delay.

But still, what if something happened? What if The Sons of Thor attacked or something?

My father was snapping his fingers in my face, apparently I hadn't heard something he'd been saying.

"You there, kid?"

I nodded, "Yeah."

"What did I just say then?"

I racked my brain, uh, something about...the magma?

"Something about...the magma."

He facepalmed, even Kyros cawed annoyingly at me, I read his emotions. Get your head in the game! He said.

Father gave me a sympathetic look, "I know you got a lot on your mind right now, but we need to focus. Once we take down this Cyclops, you can go back to that Camp of yours."

Camp. Home. Harper.

Three things that I...

Wait a second.

Was I about to say...

No, I mean, no.

Let's just do this.

I nodded at him, shaking the thoughts from my head, "I'm ready."

"I'll repeat then. We jump down, land on the ledge, and make our way down to the bottom. There, we'll try to locate Arges. Got it?"

"Got it."

He stood up on Kyros, looking down at the hole two hundred feet below, "After me, it's you, then Kyros. Got that buddy?"

"Me?"

"Kyros. Not you. You're not buddy."

Kyros cawed at him, signaling that he understood.

He smirked, "Alright then." And then he dived off of Kyros, plummeting towards the volcano.

I stood up, "Yeah, well you're not buddy either." I grumbled.

Kyros cawed in a short burst, it sounded like laughter.

"Oh shut up you big bird." I said, then jumped.

The wind whistled in my medium length hair as I soared down, some rogue strands getting in my eye and nose. I really needed a haircut.

Besides that, things were going well, I was aiming straight for the ledge, closing the distance fast.

That is, until the giant piece of molten rock hit me.

It came in my peripheral vision before I could react, slamming into me and shattering, but the damage had been done. It knocked me several feet to the side, off course, and stunned.

"What the hell?!" I yelled, bits of magma on my arms and sleeveless breastplate, I could barely see with all of the residue and black smoke in the air.

"MATT!" I heard my father yell in the distance, he had probably hit his mark, and was now holding on to the ledge. After he yelled, I heard another loud boom and grunt, an explosion like noise, and a giant splash, like a cannonball in a swimming pool.

"COME ON!" My father yelled, grunting and roaring. What the hell was going on?

I couldn't see, I was literally free falling back to the ground face to the sky, I was still stunned and didn't even think to thunderclap my way up.

Kyros luckily wasn't stupid, and cawed at me.

Hold on! He said.

I heard a loud piercing noise, likely from his speed, breaking the sound barrier. In an instant I felt a wall of feathers on my back, and my descent stopped, instead I was being lifted.

I got to one knee, now secure in the air, Kyros zooming back to the volcano.

"Thanks Kyros!" I said, smiling at the eagle.

No problem! NOW GET IN THERE! He yelled in my head, thrusting his back up, forcing me off of him. I was ready though, and jumped with him, propelling myself towards the hole.

I had a better view now, and I could see what all the commotion was. I saw in the magma, a...snake? What the hell was that?

Whatever it was, it was jabbing it's head at my father, spewing magma from it's mouth. My father had a thin line of a red glow around his body, blocking any from hitting him. The Red Aura.

Next to the snake like figure, stood a giant beefy man. It had to be Arges. He held a molten rock boulder the size of him on his shoulders, ready to throw it at me.

I brought my arms to my side, bringing my head down towards the hole, like a bullet, or Superman, I rocketed towards it at an insane speed, the air beating off of my body.

Arges roared below, and tossed the boulder at me, it came at me just as quick as I was going to it.

I reared my fist back, "NOTHING!" I yelled, and brought it down on it's hot texture, the boulder shattered in an instant, each remain spreading out far and wide, spinning in the air as they disappeared from sight. One nearly hit Kyros, until the eagle spun around in mid air like a tornado, his beak drilling right through the rock. That was one tough bird.

I brought my legs in front of me, pouring strength into my calves, I would nail him right in the chest, and go through his body.

But right as I got fifty feet from him, Arges jumped into the magma, disappearing from view, sinking lower and lower.

"SHIT!" I yelled, now I was about to destroy the mountain! I had to stop myself.

I let the strength fade from my legs, I let them go limp. To slow myself, I clapped in front of me, just enough to slow me, like a parachute.

I landed on the large platform that looked kind of like a lily pad on the fiery lake. I rolled as soon as I landed, coming up and facing the dark cavern, my father's side especially.

But that snake thing wasn't there.

My father caught my eye and shrugged.

"Where is it?!" I yelled over the distance.

He put a hand to his ear, I heard him yell, "WHAT?!"

I groaned, "Dammit." I motioned my hand frantically, "GET OVER HERE!"

He bent down and jumped over the orange canvas, landing hard next to me, the ground cracked at his impact.

"What the hell are you saying?"

I pointed at the magma annoyingly, "Did you see where Arges went?"

"Arges?! I was looking at the damn dragon!"

I reared my head back, "Dragon?!"

"Yeah, a fucking dragon, kid!"

"No way, it looked like a snake!"

"I'm telling you, it was a damn dragon! Don't ask me, because it may not be Greek."

I nodded knowingly, "Ahh, it may belong to our Norse friends, I see."

He looked intently at the magma, "Maybe. But we need to get rid of them, and close up this hole."

"Close it up? How?"

He pointed to the jagged rocks above, outlining the edge. "If we can bust that up, the rocks'll fall and cover the magma to the point where it'll act as a cork. So it doesn't erupt and cause another 1980 situation."

I agreed. I wasn't alive then, but we had studied about that eruption in school. Not good.

"Alright, why don't you throw me up there, and I'll clap at it."

"Clap at it? What the hell does that mean?"

I groaned, "Have you not been watching me at all? When I clap, it creates a-"

He waved his hand, "Oh yeah, I know what you're talking about now."

"You're annoying, you know that, right?"

"One of my better traits."

I chuckled, "So, sound good?"

He nodded, putting his hands out in a boosting position, "Yeah, sounds good. I'll send you up there."

I walked over, and stepped one boot on his hands, we got ready and counted to three in unison.

At three, he had just twitched to toss me, but at that moment, a giant hand burst from below our feet, shattering the platform below us.

"DAMMIT, WATCH OUT-" My father yelled, but it was too late, I didn't see the fist coming.

Arges swatted me out of the air, I crashed into the platform remains, they shattered around me, and I fell into the magma lake.

I heard another loud sound, but all I could think about was the extreme uncomfort I felt. Every pore in my body was on fire, I felt no real pain, but I felt all the heat of it. It felt like a one hundred and twenty degree summer day, and I hated that kind of heat. I was a cold natured person.

I grunted loudly in discomfort, and thrust my hands like a shark downward, forcing myself up. I burst from the magma, gasping for somewhat fresh air, I vaguely noticed my father interlocked with Arges, wrestling back and forth.

I landed on a tiny rock floating in the magma, barely big enough to hold me.

My father turned to look at me, "Matt! Get-"

But he was interrupted by Arges, who felt Hercules's grip loosen. He yanked his hands away from him and brought his hands together, slamming them into my father in an instant.

Hercules was knocked into the cavern wall, going through several feet.

"Father!" I called, but he had been hit good. I turned on the Original Cyclops, enraged.

I jumped at him, he went for a wide haymaker, but I forced myself down and slid beneath his legs, definitely not looking up. I did not want to see what was under that loincloth.

I turned and kicked the back of his leg, he crumpled and bellowed in pain. I jumped on his back and brought my arms around his beefy neck, but they wouldn't fit at first, so I had to squeeze and roar to get it around, forcing my arms to interlock. I finally did, and began to choke the monster.

He bucked wildly, bashing me into the cavern walls and spinning at Mach speed, but I felt nothing, I still held firm, only increasing my grip.

"AGGHHHHHHRRHHHH!" Arges yelled, jumping up and down, not doing a thing.

"Time to take a ride!" I said, and thrust my legs to the ground, planting them firmly on the molten rock, taking Arges with me. He was bent like a reverse scorpion now, right where I wanted him.

I let a loud grunt escape me as I forced both of our bodies in the air, leaping and taking him along with me. We flew in the air for a few seconds, both of us bellowing and yelling, plummeting towards the other platform on the opposite side.

But just as I had changed the course of the fight, Arges did the same. He finally forced his giant arm around to reach me, he grabbed my arm and yanked me from his back. Before I could attempt to break free, He connected his head with mine, smashing the two together. A sting shot up my head, rattling my brain, my vision turned blurry for a moment, and I felt myself being spun around like a hurricane.

"AGHHH!" I heard from the distance, not either me or Arges.

Arges stopped spinning me, my vision cleared a little, and I vaguely saw my father, ten feet above us, his fist coming down on the Cyclops.

This was all still happening in mid air, mind you, so the whole thing was chaotic right now. We were a few meters away from platform, but Hercules had other plans. He seemed to boost himself in the air, and punched Arges right in the jaw.

It was like he had been punched by Zeus. Arges's cheek crumpled in and he instantly flew to the cavern wall, smashing into it, the rocks flying everywhere, a loud shockwave making it's way to us.

My father grabbed me and tossed me against the shockwave. I got over the headbutt quick and landed on my feet firmly, my father next to me.

He put a hand to his head and pushed it to the side, popping a legion of air bubbles inside of his body, a cracking sound ensued.

"Damn, the bastard got me off guard."

"You good?" I asked, stalking slowly towards the Cyclops shaped hole in the wall.

He stuck with me, a few inches behind, scanning the rest of the cavern for the dragon, "Yeah I'm fine. Where's that damn dragon?"

"I don't know, maybe still in the magma."

"Probably. Just keep an eye out."

I nodded, just around the corner of the hole. I held a hand up for my father to stop, he did, and waited for my move.

I peeked around the corner of the rock, ready for Arges to come bursting out.

Finally, with a blur, his fist came out and hit my forearms.

I slid back on my heels, the Cyclops pressing me hard. His ugly face and body emerged from the crater, pushing his fists against my forearms.

He didn't stay that way forever, instead of using both arms, he reared the right one back and prepared to deck me with it.

I was prepared to use the other forearm, but with a loud burst, my father appeared beside me, and blocked the fist with his hand, a huge shockwave ensued, blowing my hair back wildly.

Arges pushed against both of us, clear strain on his face, with my father now, we both didn't budge a bit.

He smirked fiercely, "Time to end this bastard, on my lead."

I nodded, a smirk on my face as well, I knew what he meant just by the motion of his head.

In unison, we both grabbed each hand of the Cyclops and threw it to the side, making him stumble, his arms outstretched like he was welcoming us for a hug.

I jumped back a few feet, it was my father's turn, he would set it up for the finish.

He leapt at Arges's gut and bashed his shoulder into it, knocking the cyclops back into the cavern wall, cracking the rocks and shaking the area.

Hercules leapt into the air fifty feet, "Here!" He yelled, and I understood.

I put my foot against the rock wall and jumped up to him, his hand reaching out to me.

I grabbed it, our grip firm.

"Ready?"

"Ready!"

With a single spin, he slung me like a bullet at the Cyclops, causing me to instantly appear in front of him, like I was travelling through time. I connected my fist to the Cyclops's face, exploding his entire head, blood gushing everywhere.

I planted my boot to the wall and pushed off, forcing Arges's body to slump in the magma. I watched it sink lower, and lower, until finally not a sight could be seen.

Hercules landed next to me, chuckling.

"Nice one, kid."

I smirked, about to respond, but as soon as my mouth opened, a giant splash could be heard throughout the cavern, then a screeching roar.

We looked over to the source of the noise, a couple hundred feet away, sat neck up, a giant red dragon, millions of sharp scales all over it, it's eyes slitted and fierce.

"Is that...a dragon?!"

"Told you!" He yelled.

It was powerful, and apparently loved magma. It began to slither towards us through it, faster than a fish in the ocean.

"Guess we gotta deal with this thing too! You go-"

But yet again, we were interrupted by a loud BANG! Against the rocky platform beneath us. No way...

"Ah shit, you gotta be kidding me!" My father exclaimed.

Arges's body rose from the magma, his head...or where it once was, covered with the fiery liquid. It was literally like someone had made a magma sculpture of his head and placed it on his body. The magma must have done it, it must have healed him.

"Damn, I should have remembered. The three original Cyclops, they specialize in a certain thing, that's why they had nicknames."

"What were they?"

"Well, I think Arges was...the Bright One, he can control lava and magma, and the other two were Brontes the Thunderer and Steropes the Lightning Bringer."

"So...magma heals him? Okay, noted, do not throw him in there again." I said.

Arges was fully walking toward me now, his fists clenched. I got in a wide fighting stance, facing him while my father faced the dragon, slithering ever closer.

The dragon was quicker though, it splashed from the lake and swiped it's long scaly arm at us. Both my father and I jumped over it, Arges took this as an opening though, he kicked his giant foot at me, knocking me in the shoulder, I fell and rolled a few feet before kipping up.

My father blocked another hit from Arges and side kicked him back several feet, the place where he kicked was dented in, but slowly reforming now, magma seeping from the rock into his skin. This was not good...

The dragon didn't stop either, it's jaws were as wide as a bus, going right at my father. I jumped over and pushed him out of the way, reaching my hands as far as they would go, I felt my fingertips catch the monster's jaws, it's teeth right next to my skin, giving off a burning sensation.

It roared in my face, saliva and magma flying everywhere. I held on though, pushing it back into the magma, pushing my boots further into ground. Finally, I let out a yell, and pushed the dragon's head back, it flopped into the water, screeching and splashing.

I turned to see Arges being thrown across the ground by my father, the Cyclops rolled and rolled, until crashing into a pillar of rock.

I followed up by punting him in the face, causing the Cyclops to go through the rock and hit the cavern roof, bits of jagged rock fell on the ground in clumps, along with Arges, who hit it with a THUMP!

My father and I regrouped, standing back to back, scanning the area for any more assaults.

"Arges is close." I said, "I can go into Red Aura and bust his head open, maybe toss him outside."

"Think that'll finish him?"

I shrugged, staring at Arges's still body, "Maybe, wouldn't hurt to try."

I heard the fiery lake erupt, magma flying everywhere in truck loads, the dragon's upper half emerged, a loud roar echoing across the volcano, it's breath nearly blowing us into the wall.

"Damn reptiles. I gotta cut the head off this damn thing." He said, clenching his fists.

Arges pushed himself up, glaring daggers at me through his magma filled eyes.

"Damn, he's getting up." I said, and I jogged towards Arges, my hands tense and ready. But before I could jump, the dragon thrust it's head at me, I saw it through the corner of my eye, faster than I could react, it was about to send me from this mountain...

But a loud cry interrupted the dragons' attempt. It sounded like a monstrous beast, a screech that would cause any animal to fear. I felt a portion of Zeus's energy himself.

It was Kyros.

The giant eagle swooped over like a bullet and thrust his beak into the dragon's eye, knocking it's head aside, slamming it into the rock wall. Kyros began pecking madly at it, blood spewing everywhere.

Hercules pumped his fist, "YES! GO KYROS!" He turned to me, "Finish off Arges, I'll help Kyros." He strained his muscles and a thin red glow formed around him, the Red Aura returned, a lion's shape outlined him, in the middle of a roar.

He disappeared in a red blur and went at the dragon. He and Kyros battled it, shockwaves everywhere, primal roars and magma flying everywhere. My father had this.

My target came at me, running wildly and angrily.

"Let's finish this." I growled, my hand ready to nail him in the sternum.

But to my surprise, he quickly reached in the magma pool and brought out a beefy cupped hand, a bucket full of magma there.

He tossed it at my face, it hit home. The liquid blinded me for a moment, my eyes hot and uncomfortable, I slammed my hands over my eyes, trying to give some relief. That was my mistake.

Arges must have decked me or something, because an insane force hit me in the kidney and I felt myself go through the cavern wall, falling out in the open.

A throb pulsed in my side, the wind blew against my body. I rubbed my eyes wildly, managing to somewhat clear them out of magma.

I saw the sky above, the volcano, and my body, not three feet from it.

I turned my head and saw the charred ground below, a hundred feet or so, I was plummeting fast. The rushing wind became too much after a minute, shooting my eyes with pressure, causing them to water. I turned away, and faced the sky. I would need some godly eyedrops after this, magma and wind? Yeah, that couldn't' be healthy.

Those eyes widened though when they saw Arges right in front of them. He was gaining fast on me, his giant calloused arm outstretched, trying to grab me. His one eye was wild, still glowing and oozing magma, intent on murdering me.

I tried to clap my hands. Better to smash into the ground than to be grabbed by an insane cyclops, am I right?

But unfortunately, Arges's momentum was too much, he gripped my torso and squeezed as tight as he could. I felt the immense force behind it, not hurting too much, but if he threw me...that might.

I poured strength into my arms, and with a yell, I burst free from his grip, his fingers opening widely at my strength. He had thought this out though, and didn't let me make a move, he swung his other hand at me, tightening it into a fist, it connected with my chest, and I went flying at the ground.

Within a split second, I hit the ground, back first, a crater forming around me. I lay in the ten foot hole, groaning, my back and side sore.

"Damn it." I grumbled, getting up, "This is getting annoying."

I felt uneasy about using the red aura, due to losing control last time. But now...I had a better feeling about this.

"Come on, I'll end it with this." I muttered, and brought my fist all the way back, I focused only on Arges's approaching figure, rapidly coming at me, his fist too reared back, ready to deliver his final blow.

But he wouldn't get the chance, I was about the break him into a million pieces. There was nothing but open land around me anyway, I might as well.

I concentrated on my failure, letting the anger take over, I thought about the potential attack on Camp, those Sons of Thor standing above my friends dead bodies. I thought about that guy, Logan. I thought about him and Harper, together, any memory of me in her head long forgotten.

I could see it now. Matt who? Who's that? My boyfriend is Logan.

Rage filled me, even if she was justified, I was insanely jealous. That wouldn't fly, it wouldn't. I needed to regroup with them, all of them, I needed to go home.

All of these feelings mixed together in harmony, boiling and rising. The Red Aura engulfed my arm from shoulder down, a bloody glow spreading ten feet around me.

Arges was now close, his features visible.

"RAAAAAAAGHHHHHHH!" He roared, shaking the ground beneath me, but I held firm.

I timed it perfectly, as soon as his fist came in front of me, I let out a primitive scream, and brought my knuckles to his, the red aura exploding like an atom bomb.

A giant crater resulted, my fist going through his arm and body like a drill, cleaving through his muscles and everything else. A bloodbath burst everywhere, all over me and the ground, gore seeped into the Earth, tendons and organs lay on the hills and grass, decorating it red...or gold. Wait did all Immortals have golden blood.

It appeared red to me, but I couldn't tell, I was blinded by my red glow. Either way, within seconds, his remains faded away with dust, and just like that, it was over.

I fell to one knee, rubbing my eye again, an irritating itch in them now.

No, I wasn't' alone, I had to get back to the volcano.

I shook my head and stood up, the red aura faded from me, and I broke out into a run, sprinting casually at the speed of a muscle car, I passed the charred grass and open field, my head soon looking upward at the giant hole.

"Where is he?"

My question was answered when a roar echoed miles wide, I saw the dragon's neck peek out from here, above the hole three hundred feet above, on top of it, I saw two figures, one shaped like a triangle, and the other a humanoid. It was Hercules and Kyros.

My father rode the dragon's neck, squeezing it and throwing it every which way. Kyros kept stabbing the thing with his beak, blood covered the monster, holes all over it.

Finally, with a loud screech, my father brought his hand down on hit, and it's head came clean off, falling down towards the ground next to me. My head was facing directly up, the dragon's head got closer and closer, like a car about to meet you on the highway.

Soon enough, it's head crashed into the ground next to me, cracks formed, nearly making me trip. I didn't get to say comfortable for long, because shortly after, the rest of it's body tumbled down, and landed hard on top of it's head.

It lay there in a bloody pile, holes all over it, every liquid you can imagine oozing from them.

I heard a shout, and sensed my father's aura coming down the way the dragon came, along with Kyros.

Kyros swooped down with a wind surge, planting his feet in front of the dragon's head, cawing proudly.

Hercules turned toward me, wiping blood from his face, "Yo." He greeted.

I chuckled, throwing up a two finger salute, "Yo."

The blood and remains faded with a similar dust to Arges, leaving nothing but charred grass and a large asteroid shaped crater.

Kyros walked up to me like a horse, Hercules still on his back, "You finish off old one eye?"

I nodded, "Yeah, got him over there."

He smirked, "Nice going, kid."

I smiled, it felt good, to defeat monsters, to get one up on Ouranos, how little the victory may be, I felt that each one mattered. Besides, they were strong, I hadn't expected the dragon to last that long against my dad, and I never expected Arges to regenerate like that.

I looked off into the distance, it was over, for now. My solo quest was done, I could finally go home.

"What are you thinking about?"

I looked at him, "Nothing."

"Camp, isn't it?" He said slyly.

I nodded, smiling. I couldn't help myself, I missed it so much. I missed my cabin, I missed Percy, I missed Annabeth, I missed Talon, Malachi, Sera, and I missed her.

I closed my eyes for a second, I could still see that face, that perfect figure. Her hair, her lips, her skin, her white left eye, all of it I missed.

I let out a sigh, somewhat dreamy. I didn't care if she was with Logan or whatever, if she really wanted to be with him over me...then so be it. But that didn't mean we couldn't be friends. She was a great person, and we got along so good. It would suck if we just fell apart and never talked again.

Dating or not dating, I wouldn't let that happen.

Looking at the horizon, I responded to father, "Yeah...Camp."

"You'll get to see it soon, son. You'll finally be back."

"Yeah. I can't wait."

"They'll remember you, don't worry. You have friends there, Matt, and if what you told me is true...then they're loyal. They won't just write you off."

I turned to him, stunned. He spoke that sentence genuinely, like he had gone through something similar. Only...in a not good situation.

I smiled at him, "Father-no...Dad. Thank you, for everything. I...never could've gotten this far without you. And no matter what happens, I just want you to know...I don't regret any moment from this past year, and I...I don't hold anything against you about Mom's situation. I know if you could, you would've been there."

His mouth was slightly ajar, he looked shocked at my words, like he wasn't expecting such a declaration, ever.

He got off Kyros and walked over to me, "Damn it kid, why you gotta get all soft on me."

I waved my hand, "Oh right, I forgot, uh, gotta be manly, right?" I mock flexed my bicep, chuckling.

I was taken aback when he pulled me into a hug.

I never expected him to do this. The Hercules, my father, the toughest most badass hero ever, a man's man, just hugged me.

I brought an arm around his muscled back and patted it. If you would have told me last year that this would happen, I would have called you crazy, and called the thought of hugging my father disgusting.

But now, I realized it was what I wanted most. He was proud, and I was happy.

"That means a great deal, kid. What you just said." He muttered, pulling back, he kept a firm hand on my shoulder.

"Meant it all." I said.

He chuckled, "That's the first time you've called me Dad. I feel like a mortal again."

"I could call you pops, make you feel old too." I joked.

He shoved me lightly, "Shut up and get on the bird."

I laughed, we both hopped on Kyros, who cawed happily.

We took off into the sky, our next destination clear.

Father turned his head to face me, "Dads drop their kids off to summer camps, right?"

I laughed, patting him on the shoulder, "You're getting there."

He laughed too, and turned back to face forward.

With that, we soared into the horizon, our next stop...Camp Half-Blood.

Home.

(000)

And ninth chapter down, nice to see Matt and Hercules bonding a little, teaming up to slay some monsters. Does it get any better?

You won't have to wait too long for things to continue on Harper's end, the next chapter will be out soon!

Hope you all enjoyed!

Until Next Time.