The Cradle of Olympus

by Rohan Rodrigues

Taking place for a brief period in Ancient Greece and beyond, at a time when the Olympian council of Gods haven't reached their full potential yet, an unknown entity has made it's presence known. What will it's connection be to Olympus, and the greater Greek pantheon as well? (Arc I is complete, continuing on with Arc II)

43. Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Forbidden Resurgence

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"Lykofós…"

---

"My son…he is returning, isn't he Poseidon?!"

"…"

---

"N-No regeneration pods to be seen containing Perseus. I hate to say this, but perhaps we should check-

"We will continue to find him Hades. Even if it means scavenging the ends of the pit, and incurring Tartarus's wrath as well."

---

"You have failed me Gello. The angel was as incompetent as you. I believed you were ready."

"Please, spare me! You knew they were unreliable as well. Give me another chance, one last chance to prove my loyalty!"

"I shouldn't…but perhaps there is another way I could dispose you and have what I want simultaneously. Do this for me, or risk not just having my essence, but yours as well ripped from your soul."

---

"The eclipse…it hasn't shown its shadow this entire year. Could that actually be possible?"

"The people's faith is slowly waning. It's mostly the annexed and foreign regions though, none from the mainland. Though no shadow…can't be the gods fault right?"

---

"Artemis, please just trust me on this. You can't keep him around, have you not seen his behavior to the wild? Or even heard the rumors?"

"And that's what they are Zoe, rumors. Unless I see the flaws with my own eyes, I'm afraid I can't take mortal gossip as factual statements. Can you understand that lieutenant?"

"...Yes My Lady."

---

"…Percy would have understood…"

"You were right…he would have. I'm so sorry-"

---

"Father…I would like you to hold an oath for me."

---

"Troy has fallen. Survivors of the city are obviously blaming Lord Perseus. Not that he would have supported them, nor is even available to any less."

"They might come here for revenge. We're already in dispute with Athens, I'm not sure if we can handle another attack, especially now that we have the camp…"

"Patience Arius, we will prevail. Even with Perseus's state unknown, he is with us…"

---

"He's not coming back…isn't he Apollo?"

"I am so sorry sister…but it's been far too long to even consider regeneration at this point. And with the state of us gods, and Greece currently…"

"This is the last monument under his name. everything else…has been destroyed. By…them. All I…I just hope he is in peace. And happy. Who knows, if the realm of the faded is an actual place…maybe I will meet him someday. Soon…"

"Sister-"

"Farewell…for now, my love. For shall we, ever meet again?"

---

…Perseus.

---

"Ahhh…"

"The sweet scent of…air. How it soothes my weary soul. And, how the air and my mother, are being tainted by…mortals? Who would have thought."

"Why look at them, oh? The mortals…they look like they have been infused with the embers of Knowledge. Prometheus, you care too much."

"And what's this, my children and their kin? They have mingled with the mortals, and have borne children with them! What delicate beings…Demigods. Infused with Knowledge, and Life."

"But is that enough…enough to claim rule over this realm, which I once did. I see it is not, the Olympians, where have they ever ruled something with conviction, dedication. The mortals, they are a distraction. A liability. They have tied themselves to them, the flame of western civilization burns rampant in this world. And only I…can extinguish it."

"For I see…there is a prophecy. A great prophecy, how quaint."

"Rest easy mother, I wonder though why you won't wake. Though it maybe for the best. For fear not, for if you do wake, your beautiful first born children and those loyal to me, will be there to welcome you, our matriarch, with open arms. Arms that are dying to hold you."

"Mortals, and Olympians. Regale in this newly formed era of peace, for I see that the mortals have endured a war of grand…mundane scale. Because once I reform, and rise from the eternal depths of damnation, my time, will come. And yours, will be razed. For there is a new golden age approaching, and I doubt any of you all will be a part of it."

---

"Look alive men! Look alive, I want to see some steady progress today, steady progress. The director is coming from town with the family, so chop chop!"

"Damn right you are. We have been in this site for six months, and only yesterday have managed to make actual progress. Stupid terrain messed with us big time." A man muttered wiping his brow.

"Not just that terrain Jeff." Another man mumbled. "That tree, I'm telling ya. Ever since we set up the site and dug it up, that tree has been giving me the creeps."

"How many times to tell you Ernie, it ain't a tree. Look." The man, Jeff, said, banging his fist on a metallic surface. "No tree is made out of metal, certainly no metal found in the bloody periodic table."

"Hey, hey!" the man prepping everyone from before rushed forward, an angry look on his face. "What did I tell you and the boys before huh?! 'No touching the alien tree'! We need the curator/directors insight on this, and I would not have anything damaged before he arrives."

"What if it's already damaged manager." Ernie mumbles.

Jeff chuckled loudly. "We'll pin the blame on his little grandson then."

The manager narrowed his eyes. "Not a word from you two. Tell Ibaad to check the pulley and lever systems for safe travel, and go fetch some weights and shotguns."

"Huh?" Jeff and Ernie said together.

"Raiders of the Lost Ark, hello?" the manager said, shaking his head as he jogged up a hill on hearing the sound of an engine drawing near. On reaching the top, he spied a tarped jeep pull over just a few feet away, it's occupants gradually coming out of the vehicle. The occupant from the passenger seat door opened quickly, revealing a lanky old man with full white hair that was neatly trimmed, and was wearing a two-piece suit, khaki shorts and sandals. Behind him was a redheaded man in his late twenties, and in his arms, a three year old boy with wheat colored hair and brown eyes, looking quite sleepy. They seemed to be in suitable attire.

"Director Monet! I thought your son wasn't much for archaeology, but he seems more dressed for the job than you are." The manager joked, shaking the old man's hand.

"Well Damian, I was going to head for an important meeting regarding this." Director Monet said with a grin, gesturing to the site. "And I got the call when I was about to pull up my pants! Jake and the little one were supposed to have an off day, but knowing that both wouldn't want to miss this, I dragged them out the bed! Or rather, my butler did. Oh, and speaking of that important meeting, I coincidentally met the person I was supposed to see and convinced him to come with us. Seemed reluctant at first, but after he heard we uncovered those stone slabs…"

"The sponsor is here?" The manager, Damian, asked curiously, his eyes glancing at the jeep again. The only unopened door opened, and out came a large burly man, wearing a three-piece suit, a wool coat slung over his shoulder.

"Mr. Brow." The little kid whispered to his father, giggling while his father shushed him, though there was a smile on his face.

The burly man momentarily stopped, his thick unibrow rippling as he took in his surroundings with a grunt. He moved across the terrain uncomfortably in his three piece suit, eyes boring down on the people in front of him.

Damian cleared his throat. "Mr. Tartar, it is truly a pleasure to meet the humble man who was able to make most of this possible. Rest assured, your generous donation was well spent on this excavation, dare I say, you might even get to return home with a little souvenir if all goes well."

Mr. Tartar grunted. "Is that all I'm going to be getting, site manger?"

Director Monet laughed good heartedly. "He only jests Eustace, not to worry. But, even a small fragment from this historic, and ancient site may be worth more than a thousand dollars, more than that! American, of course, or am I thinking Canadian?" he said, patting his chest.

"I don't care about the money Monet. It's the site, and now, we shall see what it really has to offer." Mr. Tartar grumbled, walking away briskly. Director Monet shrugged when he saw Damian give him a dirty look, the two following Mr. Tartar to the newly uncovered site. Monet's son and grandson lingered behind, the former pointing out various things that may be interesting to a three year old.

"These are digging tools Adrian. You can dig up cool stuff from the ground like pots, coins-"

"Bones!" Little Adrian shouted, pointing at a bunch of uncovered and half buried browned bones.

The father, Jake, gulped, a nervous chuckle escaping him. "Yeah, and bones too. Come, let's see what grandpa is up to hmm?"

Damian was explaining to Director Monet and Mr. Tartar the process of how the excavation went, while Monet was busy scribbling something on a notebook, and Tartar was gingerly rubbing the surface of the tree like structure.

"Have you found out at least what this is even supposed to be?" Tartar asked gruffly.

Damian narrowed his eyes. "Not exactly. The men over here like to call it the fossil tree, because it was found underground first. And because of what it's made of."

"And that is?" Director Monet asked excitedly.

Damian blinked. "Metal?"

"This is no metal I have seen before." Tartar mumbled to himself, his gaze now on the wooden platform that was ready to descend down. "I see our transportation is ready manager. Director, shall we proceed?"

"Yes yes, of course. Jake, why don't you wait here with Adrian. Me, Damian and Eustace will head down and assess the monument."

"What?! Father, no, you know how much this meant to mother." Jake said with surprise. "I may not be interested in the field as much as you are, and while Adrian is only a toddler, mother would have wanted us to be together for this."

Monet pursued his lips while Tartar rolled his eyes. "Joshua, you can't be contemplating bringing-"

"I think I am Eustace." Monet replied, patting his chest. "You know; it still takes me by surprise that it was not only just me but my wife as well that were myth freaks in the household, but we failed to corrupt our boy over here." He said, squeezing Jake's hand. "Even the middle name Hermes wasn't enough for it."

"Father." Jake said with a sigh. "Kids used to tease me when I told them my middle name back in kindergarten."

"Still unbelievable." Monet mumbled. "Well, are we good to go?"

"We just need a final check director. Jeff! Ernie! Move your legs over here, we need muscle! You got what I asked, good good. Oi Alexander, distribute these. Ibaad, ready the system. Ernie, do a name check and head count, there should be seven including you who will go down today."

"Yes sir." Ernie muttered, straightening himself. "Director Joshua Monet. …Jake Monet. Adrian Monet. …Manager Damian D'Souza. Mister sponsor Eustace Tartar. …and me and Jeff. Aye sir, all done."

"Done? Good, very good. Now, set us down gently, we have a senior citizen onboard and a kid. Everyone hold the rails tightly, director junior, hold your kid tightly. We…are about to descend."

The men stayed silent as they began their descent, the only sound heard being the creaking of the wood. They then touched the bottom, and as they continued forward in foot, the light filtering in also became dimmer, until torches had to be lit. Underneath the light, all they could see was them being surrounded by both sides by a wall, that seemed to be newly made as well.

"This was man-made. Forgive me, I mean this was made by us, the team. The surface was threatening to cave in when we began exploring underneath, even though a number of speleologists told us that it shouldn't be possible with the terrain we were on. But, in the end we had to create something." Damian stated.

"Those days were rough." Jeff grumbled quietly.

"Now, a bit of caution." Damian said suddenly. "This, is mostly uncharted territory we are going to be entering. May I remind you that our diggers only managed to uncover this a few hours ago."

"Not just 'uncover' boss." Ernie said aloud, garnering everyone's attention. "I was up with some boys when it happened. The ground was vibrating you see, and I kid you not, it might not have been my drunken state, but that tree was shimmering. I think I saw some blue glow going around as well. And what we're going to see now? Was behind some damn wall that we have been trying to go through for months, but disappeared in a few minutes after the vibration stopped."

Damian just sighed heavily. "Quite a tall tale. But sadly, we can't go to the committee and the press and tell them what your drunken state witnessed."

"That does sound very intriguing though." Director Monet supplied.

"Yes…intriguing indeed." Mr. Tartar said, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Well then." Damian said, cracking his knuckles. "Hold on to your butts." He said, taking hold of a plastic cover.

"Language…" Jake replied, trailing off as the newly uncovered site was revealed to him and everyone else. It was a temple, a temple that still looked breathtaking even with the amount of aging and toll it had suffered. Its front reminisced the Parthenon but much smaller in size, and there were a few columns missing. But what caught everyone's eyes, was the symbol etched on the center of a series of figures, all depicting more or less the same person performing a diverse array of tasks.

"The eclipse." Monet breathed out, taking a shaky step forward. "He's actually real."

"Um…he and those dusty gods never were real." Jeff mumbled, but was immediately shushed by Damian.

"So…is that the god Perseus?" Ernie said, tilting his head to the side. "He killed that sea monster…Hydra?"

"Pretty sure it was Ceto." Jake mumbled.

"And was in love with the moon right? Her name…Selene?"

"Um, I thought it was Diana."

"Didn't he have some followers who were assassins."

"Some say he has no parents-"

"No, no, no, no!" Director Monet said hurriedly, looking aghast. "Really, none of you all at least thought to read up properly on the deity who was unknown for almost two millennia, and whose first recorded temple we were going to excavate?"

"Look, if you want any clarification, I am happy to tell you. But I don't want to hear any of you going freely around spouting utter rubbish. And that goes for you too mister." Monet said, pinching Adrian's cheeks fondly. "Hopefully you take an interest in Greek mythology one day."

"Gweek my…myt…"

"Perhaps another time."

"I must say, this looks quite preserved." Damian muttered, letting out a cry as he lunged to grab director Monet. "Sir wait, there could be booby traps!"

"…I beg your pardon." Monet said shortly, but Damian didn't listen, and instead dragged his two subordinates forward, muttering something about weights and blowing dust off.

"Some of us saw this when we obviously went to uncover what happened yesterday, but no one has yet to step forward inside." Damian explained, dramatically gesturing at the entrance. "How about it director, want to be the first?"

"I- That sounds truly delightful." Monet whispered with awe.

"Boss, I'm telling you, there ain't going to be any traps." Jeff whined. "Why would the ancient people wanna fill a temple with dangerous stuff."

"That…does sound reasonable." Damian muttered.

"I can attest to that." Mr. Tartar replied curtly. "Not to mention, the Greeks weren't really known for ingenious taps hidden in places of worship. I find that strange to say though…"

"I second that." Monet said excitedly. "Jake, come on my boy."

"One second father, a lot of dust over here for Adrian." Jake called out, wrapping a handkerchief around his son. The two then ventured in slowly, amazed by the small but still grandiose feeling of the temple. Jeff and Ernie were excitedly going through ancient silver drachmas, and interestingly enough, golden drachmas the size of girl's scout cookies.

"I don't recall any reports of gold drachmas in ancient times." Damian muttered as he shifted through them. Mr. Tartar was staring blankly at a wall carving of a figure beneath a solar eclipse, with flame like wings on either side of it, while director Monet looked like a little child on Christmas morning, his hands hovering on a statue of a man.

"We only had him in written scripts and then paintings, but now look! An actual life sized statue folks! This is truly the biggest thing that's going to shake the mythology books and Greek history as a whole!"

"You did it father. You actually did it." Jake said with a smile, grasping Monet's shoulder tightly. "This…this is truly amazing."

"Mhmm, we did it my dear." Director Monet whispered, staring at a locket which he then tucked underneath his shirt, patting it. "Yes, we did it."

"I wonder if the origin of that fossil tree is here." Damian said aloud, poking around the back. "At least there are no decomposed humans lying around. What do you have there Ernie?"

"I see a corridor." Ernie said, dusting of a six foot tall stone block that was partially covering a narrow corridor. "I don't think we all could fit in." he said, subtly glancing at Mr. Tartar's big build.

"Did you get some levers for this." Jake asked, to which he was responded with a negative.

"We'll improvise son." Monet said cheerfully. "I think we can easily climb over this instead of removing it."

"Shall I go back and get some people down here boss?" Ernie asked Damian. He then lumbered back on receiving confirmation.

"And don't forget to tell Ibaad to keep the lift down after use." Damian hollered, pulling Jeff up to his feet from his gold rush. "Come on, help the director over there. You'll get your share later.

"Geronimo!" Monet said with a chuckle as he was hefted up the stone block. Mr. Tartar snorted when Jeff offered his help, and instead lifted himself up with ease. Jake and Adrian lingered back, which Monet immediately noticed.

"I'm not sure if Adrian will be able to handle that tight place. Besides, I'm already risking his safety by just being in here so." Jake replied on seeing his father's questioning gaze.

Director Monet smiled sadly. "I understand son. Don't worry, this won't be the end of your journey you know, there's still that more we could discover in here."

"Your son could hold the fort here if he wants to." Damian muttered, ushering Monet ahead. The four men continued through the corridor, until they turned up in another room, this one having a mysterious feel to it.

"This seems odd." Damian muttered, lighting a torch. He slowly swung it ahead to reveal looming columns, that surrounded a raised platform. Etchings of various unknown symbols on the columns and a 'V' shaped mark on the platform were prominent on the monument, and a first for the Greek historian and archaeologist who took a small step forward.

"Could this be…the final resting place of the god." Monet whispered, but loud enough to be heard.

"What?!" Ernie cried out. "Are we in some kind of tomb? Are we going to get cursed?"

"Hush, and no." Monet said with a sigh. "According to the three known myths surrounding the god Perseus's 'disappearance', Hesiod believed that Perseus had left his family behind to pursue a quest relating his heritage. He was the adopted son of Hestia, hence that reason. Homer on the other hand, believed that the god was sent down to Tartarus to dispel a monster on Zeus's command, and, was a son of Nyx in that iteration. Orphic myths don't really dwell on his disappearance at all."

"So…he disappeared according to mythology." Damian asked.

"Somewhat. He didn't play any active role in the Trojan war you know." Mr. Tartar said suddenly. "Though I presume those scholars made up the disappearance for tragedy. Bonus points that he had to leave a lover behind."

"Artemis." Monet whispered, rubbing the ground to reveal the symbol of the moon. "Some myths said she knelt at a temple of his every day awaiting his return. Though I'm not sure how true that is."

"Because she hated men?" Damian supplied.

Monet frowned. "She didn't hate all men. There were men in her hunt, and her romance with Perseus was quite prevalent throughout many other stories."

"Didn't they break up though because of the goddesses violent tendencies?" Mr. Tartar asked innocently.

Monet frowned. "That's false…I think."

"I thought she was a maiden goddess."

"She is, but not officially-"

Ernie groaned. "Oh who cares about this myth and that, they never existed. And I doubt there's some ancient god buried underneath that thing."

"Quick turnaround boy." Damian muttered but then paused, raising an arm up. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what? Is my son calling out?" Monet asked.

"No…I can hear humming. Like, machine humming." Damian said softly.

"Are the walls thin here to hear machinery above?" Mr. Tartar questioned, glancing up.

"I specifically told my men not to use any heavy machinery while we were down here. So where is this coming from…"

---

"After all these millennia, this power can finally be overcome." A male voice echoed throughout the world of all ends. From the mist, a white stream of energy slithered out, and made its way to a brown colored vortex. There was a golden barrier covering the eye of the vortex, and extending out of it, were golden streams of light that seemed to be solidified around a large cube. The cube had dark blue geometric patterns surrounding it, but remained still. Until it weakly pulsed when the white energy tendril hovered neared it.

"It has been far too long…but I'm not going to delay any further."

The white tendril poked around the barricaded cube, flickering as it made contact with it. The tendril then pulsed a couple of times and then lunged, sinking itself into the barrier covering the cube. The white tendril began to dispel however as it entered the barrier, leaving no room for the tendril to do anything.

"Only an oversight…only an oversight."

The tendril pulsed again as it pushed through, this time reaching the cube. While it wasn't able to enter the cube at first, the white strings of energy coming out of it instead began to cover the cube slowly but surely.

"Come on son…feel my presence. I can't resort to using my powers…"

The entire cube was now covered with the white energy, while the golden barrier surrounding it pulsed with a harsh light. The white tendril of energy almost dissipated there only, but it managed to keep its hold. The mist began to spread further as two more streams of white energy emerged out, penetrating the cube's barrier.

"Come on, wake up…break out from that cradle…" the voice echoed, as the cube began to pulse periodically as the other streams of energy came in contact with it.

"Oh marujha vilokui! This better work…Esdrelio!"

The streams of energy then began to pulse continuously while glowing a bright green. The cube then started to shake sporadically. The barrier looked like it was desperately trying to contain the reaction within it, but it proved futile with the numerous cracks forming like a spider web around it. The Tetreja symbol then formed, with the cube at the center. And then, the single sound of the barrier shattering broke out in the phantom world, sending a rippling shockwave that momentarily cleared away the mist, before it billowed back again. Simultaneously, the stem that was connecting the barricaded cube and the barrier surrounding the vortex began to break. Like a chain reaction, the stem broke and disappeared into vapor, until only the barrier surrounding the vortex was left. The Tetreja symbol then appeared on the barrier momentarily, and then shimmered, leaving behind a small glowing hexagon. More began to appear and surround it, until the entire barrier was covered with it. And then, the entire barrier slowly faded away, like a sand sculpture against the wind.

"That…wasn't supposed to happen. Vilokui…" the voice said softly. Suddenly, a loud roaring noise echoed out, drowning every other sound in the void. The voice seemed to originate far away, somewhere which even the twilight god hadn't explored yet. The object of origin, was a double helix shaped structure that extended infinitely upward and downward. In the center, was a floating platform shrouded with red mist. And within that mist, two pairs of glowing magenta eyes peered at the scene in front of it, a low hum emitting out of it.

---

Back on the Earth, in north east Greece, several excavators were scrambling around, looking fearfully at the tree like structure they had dug up long ago, letting out loud groans as a dark blue liquid leaked out of its gaps. While a team of men were desperately trying to enter the path they had dug up in order to warn the people inside, the tree structure began to shudder, and then sink into the ground. Beneath the chaos, Damian, Ernie, Mr. Tartar and Director Monet watched as the monument they were inspecting not to long ago began to glow weirdly, until a double helix shaped red beam shot out from the center of the platform, penetrating through the ceiling and then coming out of the surface into the air. Due to that phenomena and the one being caused by the tree, the entire cavern they were in began to tremble, with large chunks of rock falling from the ceiling as the cave began to fill in. One of the pieces fell directly on top of Ernie, crushing and obscuring his entire figure from a green Damian, who was torn between saving his own skin or the directors. Hesitation proved for naught as a sharp searing pain erupted from Damian's leg, which shook him out of his thoughts to find out that his leg was pinned, crushed, underneath one of the stone columns of the monument. Damian's thoughts drew to a blank as he laid down, his vision blurring with the last sight he could see before he slipped into an unconscious state was the director struggling to help Mr. Tartar to his feet.

"Come on Eustace, what is up with you." Monet shouted as Mr. Tartar slipped from his grip once more, falling to the ground with a yell as he clutched his head tightly. Before Monet could ask him if he was injured, a low rumble shook the partially caved in cavern, the front wall tumbling down to reveal the body of the tree structure from before, slowly making its descent. The air around it began to shimmer, the low hum from before now more prominent as pieces of the tree began to slowly expand, while more of the dark blue liquid spilled out. Monet watched with confusion and fear as Mr. tartar let out a low groan as he threw his head back, a white vapor escaping out of his face, and going towards the structure. Mr. Tartar then slowly brought his head forward, which made Monet yell in surprise as he took a look at it. For instead of two grey eyes staring back at him, there was just one grey eye underneath a bushy unibrow, and chapped skin around it.

"Eustace you're…what are you?!" Monet cried out, ignoring the word that popped in his head on seeing his colleague. Cyclops.

"What do you mean what am…wait." Mr. Tartar, or the cyclops said, feeling his face. "The Mist! But how, who took it away!" he yelled out.

"Eustace…you…you." Monet sputtered out.

"Silence mortal!" the cyclops screeched, lumbering around. He didn't seem to mind the falling debris, though he winced as much larger pieces began to fall.

"I hope my lord wouldn't mind this being destroyed, for I don't see any connection to that eclipse god over here. That area however." The cyclops said, muttering something. "Have to let those mages know soon, reversal effects won't be enough."

"Eustace…"

"For Tartarus's sake, my name is not some dipping sauce for fried fish!" the cyclops yelled out, backhanding Monet to the ground. "Oh what do I care, you're going to perish here anyway Monet. No amount of Mist, or Lethe water can save you sadly from possibly living."

"What…" Monet whispered as he watched the cyclops pick up a broken stone column.

"My lord Tartarus will be pleased to know my job has been accomplished though, thanks to you. I Kylotes, am quite indebted to you. Or not...you are a dead man after all."

Kylotes then swung the column on top of Monet's chest, making the latter howl with pain. The cyclops then trudged back from the gruesome mess he made, and tapped the ground once while muttering something. A small chasm opened underneath him, which he immediately got sucked in, the chasm then sealing itself shut. On the other side, Adrian was desperately trying to not let go of his grip on his father's shirt, while Jake tried to leave his son with the men who had come to rescue them.

"Adrian please! I need to go save my father, here just hold on to him-"

"Da- Dad!" Adrian sobbed, as he watched his father sprint to the narrow corridor, that was still blocked by the stone block which some people were about to remove. Jake had managed to climb on top of it, and was about to jump down from it when he was stopped by a blinding flash of light ahead of him. Unbeknownst to everyone underneath, the tree structure had started to glow brightly, until it disappeared into dust with a shockwave. A shockwave that caught Jake in the chest and sent him flying back, crashing into a wall. A shockwave, which only began to spread further and quicker, disrupting any underground workings that were happening. A shockwave that covered the entire surface of the earth, only to meet at a certain point, and then rebound back to where it came from, leaving the same destruction behind its path once again. And then, stillness, except for the choked sobs of a child coming from an underground temple, as he begged his father to wake up.

---

Authorities aren't sure what to make of these tremors that have just been witnessed by the city, and there have been reports that this was not contained to just here. We just got word from KGO- TV in the Bay Area that San Francisco was also hit by these tremors, leading to mini tsunami to hit the coast. While nothing of that sorts seems to threaten New York, let's just hope that this year's Christmas and New Year's won't get dampened by these unseen natural occurrences.

---

It sounds like a hoax, but it seems like the entire nation of Greece is raving about this. Locals residing around the area of Mt. Olympus have claimed to see a golden flash appearing somewhere at the summit of the mountain, just after the first series of tremors hit there and every single landmass in the world. People were quick to start scaling the mountain even with the threat of another tremor taking place, and sure enough, the second wave had come and passed. But soon after that, more claims came in that they saw a bluish blur shoot out of the summit after another golden flash. On reaching the summit, there were reports of a sleeping human sized hole found ten meters below the peak, with smoke coming out of it. Last I heard, a team of scientists have been sent to investigate, but sticking here in Greece, let's cover a monumental, and tragic story involving a team of excavaters…

---

The world of all ends was in a peaceful state, but there was an abnormality within it. And that was the presence of a floating cube, that occasionally pulsed with a purple light. At first, it seemed though as if it was gravitating towards the brown colored vortex, but then stopped, and instead began to move away. It continued to drift aimlessly until it came across a black colored vortex, only to float upwards, passing by a couple of vortexes until it reached a swirling red vortex that seemed to be welcoming the cube as it swirled and glowed faster, with large tendrils closing around it. The cube was then sucked inside the vortex, with no traces of it to be seen at all. The cube then began to fall into an endless void, with no signs of it stopping, looking like it was going to be forever. As the cube continued to fall, it periodically pulsed with a purple light when suddenly, the tetreja symbol appeared in front of the spiraling cube, a faint glow within it. The cube then stopped midair like it hit an invisible barrier, and cracks suddenly began to appear below the cube, on the invisible like barrier. Like glass, the pieces forming fell off, revealing if looked closely, a barren wasteland tinted in red. The cube then fell into the newly formed opening, entering the new foreign world until it hit the ground with a thud. Up above, red colored lightning began to form around the opening, the glass like pieces repairing itself until there was no trace of whatever the cube had formed was left. Speaking of the cube, it continued to pulse weakly, with no movements coming out of it. However, something else was going on, as a few meters away, the air began to shimmer until three flashes of light were formed simultaneously, the light dying down to reveal three old women, armed with bronze clubs, and a black string with blue intertwined within it in their hands.

"Another precognition of this place." Atropos murmured.

"That wasn't related to our powers." Clotho supplied.

"And may or may not have been from Chaos." Lachesis said with a sigh, earning pointed looks from her sisters. "What, you heard Nyx. What she and we felt back then may not have been from the omnipotent one."

"I refuse to believe that." Atropos muttered glancing around. "What other being could have instilled that vision in our minds, plus a primordial."

"Probably whatever…" Clotho said, her eyes trained on the cube that was sitting idly at a distance. "He is."

Lachesis's eyes widened. "Is that actually him, after all these millennia? Why now?"

"We can't say for sure. But whichever higher deity had their play with this…it must be for a reason. Or perhaps, Lykofós Perseus knows the reason?" Atropos mused.

"Then let's wake him up." Clotho said, her grip tightening on her club. "We are in the pit after all, the sooner we get out of here-"

The cube shook once, and then twice, pausing the Fates from their discussion. It then pulsed again, prompting Lachesis to approach it, only to fall back when a hand broke out of the side of a cube. It was grey in color and coarse, with golden veins bulging out from it. The hand then twisted, showing the palm as well as the faintly glowing tetreja mark on it. The cube then shuddered once, and then began to disintegrate into smaller pieces, until a pile of miniature blocks were covering a vaguely resembling human shape. The Fates watched as the pile rippled, and another hand broke out from it, clawing the ground. The shape then began to rise, the pile falling down to reveal a man with messy black hair, and whitish pale skin. His left arm was fully grey and chapped, which seemed to extend to the beginning of his neck and a part of his left pec. Whatever clothes or armor he had once worn was now reduced to rags or was in shreds. The figure slowly raised his head to reveal white glowing eyes, and a blank expression.

The Fates simultaneously gulped as they took in the state of the god in front of them. Just like every single being, even they were in the dark of the state, or what even happened to Perseus after the end of the Gigantomachy. Even explaining sixteen times didn't seem to convince the Olympians that they didn't know where the god was. Their necks still ached with a ghostly pain, courtesy from Artemis and Hestia.

The Fates thoughts were broken when they saw Perseus sway in his place, speaking inaudibly. Before they could do anything, he took a single step forward, and fell on the ground. The Fates rushed forward to help him up, but Perseus himself beat them to it as he got up himself, mouthing a single word.

"Can you make out what he's saying." Clotho asked, looking confused.

"Άρτεμις… Άρτεμις… Άρτεμις…" Perseus whispered.

"Is he…is he asking for-"

"Vasaik…vasaik e Άρτεμις?" Perseus muttered.

Atropos frowned. "I caught that last word but the first ones…I never heard them in my entire life."

"Is he speaking gibberish." Lachesis wondered.

Perseus was breathing heavily now, a scowl etched on his face as he glared at the Fates. "Vosk…Vosk padali! Πού είναι η Άρτεμις!" he shouted.

"The hell are you saying!" Lachesis yelled back. "Either continue speaking Greek, or don't mix in that gibbe-"

In a blink of an eye, Perseus lunged forward, grabbing Lachesis by the neck and slammed her on to the ground. Atropos and Clotho gaped openly, but then immediately shook out of their stupor as they lunged at Perseus. But before they could even touch him, a burst of hellfire erupted from his body, catching the two Morai in the crossfire. Perseus then extended his arm out. The pile of Umbra Ore that was once the cradle, flew up in the air and into his hand, forming a claymore. However, before Perseus could do anything, Lachesis sent out a blast of energy at Perseus, sending him flying back, only for him to now float in the air.

"Πού είναι η Άρτεμις…" Perseus growled out, his eyes flickering from purple to white. Beneath him, shadows began to swirl around, and to the shock and fear of the Fates, hellfire wings formed behind Perseus's back, the fiery shape taking a more skeletal look. A dark blue aura enveloped Perseus, while his eyes began to flicker between white, purple and blue.

"B-But I thought he could only do that with an eclipse!" Clotho choked out.

"Well sister." Atropos said, her eyes momentarily glowing. "It seems like an eclipse is happening. The thing is…it's not naturally occurring. And neither of the twins are having a part with it."

"Oh…"

"Άγνωστα όντα… Πού είναι η Άρτεμις…" Perseus growled out, extending his left arm out. "Ή αφανισμός προσώπου."

"Pontus…ailment stone!" Atropos yelled out as Perseus made a grab for her, the sealing words at the tip of his tongue. "Maybe it can calm him, his mind seems messed up and he doesn't seem to recognize us or his surroundings- watch out!" Atropos shouted, crashing into Clotho and narrowly dodging Perseus's strike, who didn't seem keen on hearing his mind was messed up.

"What if he isn't where Nyx said he could be! Can we truly trust-"

"Now Lachesis!" Atropos screamed out as Perseus managed to catch her, by penetrating a shadow tendril through her shoulder. Clotho was once again caught in a crossfire from behind Perseus through waves of hellfire emitting from his wings, which slowly melted her club and began to blister her skin. Lachesis pursued her lips and then disappeared with a flash, leaving behind her sisters who looked like they weren't going to fare against Perseus any time soon.

"His string…" Clotho said weakly. "Maybe we could do something…"

"No…nothing can be done." Atropos gasped out as Perseus slowly brought her face to face with the shadow tendril.

"Αδύναμος… Πού είναι η Άρτεμις?" Perseus breathed out.

"How many times are you going to ask that damn question!" Atropos spat out. "I don't know where she is! Do you even know who she is?!"

"Η Άρτεμις είναι… Άρτεμις… αυτή." Perseus said slowly, blinking as his words broke. "Αυτή…είναι η δική μου-" Perseus gasped out, a worried look settling on his face. "Η Άρτεμις είναι δική μου… μου…"

"Does he truly not remember her?" Clotho questioned. "Do you know Hestia, or Apollo?"

"Clotho…"

"Pontus, Aphrodite, Hermes and Hecate. The hunt, what about-"

"Σταμάτα να μιλάς, απλώς σταμάτα να μιλάς!" Peseus yelled out. "Δεν γνωρίζω… ποιός είσαι… ο καθενας." He said, clenching his teeth.

Perseus then let out a piercing roar, swinging his claymore around as he tried to strike down one of the Fates. None of them could escape his blinding speed, leading them to only try and slow the god down, until Lachesis hopefully returns. It felt like hours until a dull grey flash of light and a bright orange one appeared in the area, revealing a frazzled looking Lachesis, and a sleepy Pontus.

"Morai, I don't take jesting with me too kindly, especially when it refers to…Perseus?!" Pontus cried out, eyes widening. "I'm definitely hallucinating from sleep, aren't I?"

"No, and you better give me that prime resource of yours quickly before I make you actually hallucinate." Lachesis grumbled, frowning when she felt something constrict her throat, leading her to fall down with a thump.

"You…can…ask…nicely." Pontus said, spitting out each word. His eyes softened on seeing Perseus, but then hardened with determination on sensing his confusion and fear. He swept across the area, summoning his staff and met Perseus's blade, bringing the god to a standstill.

"Perseus, please calm yourself." Pontus said slowly. "I can't help you if you continue to unnecessarily ravage yourself."

"που είναι…"

"Someone you once trusted, but I aim to earn that trust back so please control yourself and listen to me carefully!"

"που είναι…" Perseus muttered, narrowing his eyes. "φύγε μακριά μου!"

"Don't make this any difficult for the both of us!" Pontus grumbled out loud, trying to push Perseus back. Perseus changed his claymore to attached blades, flying above Pontus and then struck him from behind. The primordial winced and then swung around, deflecting another swing coming from Perseus. While Pontus had the god distracted, he summoned two ailment stones in his hand and threw them behind, which Lachesis and Atropos caught.

"On his head." Pontus supplied, falling behind. "Don't make me bring out my primal form boy!" Pontus yelled out, extending his arm out. A tentacle then sprouted out of his fingers, wrapping itself around Perseus. The god struggled briefly before he sent his shadow tendrils at Pontus, while simultaneously sending out more waves of his hellfire to disintegrate the tentacle. Pontus merely raised an eyebrow when he saw the tendrils moving towards him, his form glowing to reveal a water based body, which the tendrils passed through harmlessly. However, the tentacle from before disappeared when the form changed, but Pontus didn't let that happen for long. His form changed again, though no one was sure what it was as a burst of scalding hot water was sent towards Perseus, slowly bringing him down. The Fates jumped into action on seeing this, their clubs at the ready as they repeatedly brought them down on Perseus, only to notice that they were already destroyed with one hit. Shadow tendrils then sprouted out from where Perseus was, which prompted Atropos to place the ailment stone on Perseus's body, hoping it would still work. The tendrils didn't seem to die down, which kept the Fates and Pontus on guard, when suddenly, white streams of energy broke out from Perseus's form instead, making Pontus pause with fear while the Fates stared at them with apprehension.

"The other stone, hurry!" Pontus said quickly as he watched the streams slowly gravitate towards him. Lachesis gritted her teeth as she lunged forward into the mess of shadows coming out of Perseus, and placed the stone on something she knew was a part of his body. She was then sent flying back, barreling into the Fates with all three sprawled on the ground. Pontus clutched his staff tightly as he watched one of the energy streams hover above him, the power coursing through them pulsing as it threw itself back, like it was going to lunge at Pontus.

"Esdrelio…"

The energy stream stilled, and then dissipated with the other streams as well. The shadow tendrils also became smaller until they too disappeared, revealing Perseus laying on the ground, a blank look on his face. Pontus sighed with relief as he dropped to the ground, while the Fates slowly got up, peering down at Perseus.

"You reckon he's calmed down now?" Clotho asked slowly.

"I'm more worried if he has amnesia." Atropos answered. "This was not how I expected a reunion to go…"

Lachesis grunted. "Like there was going to be a happy reunion with us."

"Perseus." Clotho prodded. "Are you of sound mind?"

"… Ωχ…"

"Ouch? Why is he speaking in Greek?" Pontus mumbled.

"Well of course he's going to be speaking the one language he knows before he disappeared." Atropos said with a sigh. "He really wasn't around to learn Latin, German, French, Spanish and English now was he?"

"Ah yes, the moving of the flame of western civilization." Pontus mumbled. "To be fair, I really didn't pay attention to those places or languages after…them. Though Britain and the States intrigued me enough to learn their language and culture."

A distant roar of a monster was then heard, making Pontus frown. "Now that I think about, I didn't bother to check where we…Tartarus?! Why would you bring me to Tartarus, I'm not allowed!"

"Don't worry, we're at least near to where we have to go. And I'm sure she will allow you to enter her realm." Atropos stated, gesturing towards Perseus. "Someone pick him up, we have to move quickly."

Pontus glanced around nervously. "He's going to come, you three very well know it. Where are you all going to head now?!"

"The same place where we were given Perseus all those millennia ago." Clotho answered. "The nexus point of Tartarus, and Nyx. We are going to the mansion of the Night."

And as the Fates and Pontus began their journey to Nyx's realm none of them failed to notice a stone tablet lying on the spot where the cradle once was. Except for a hooded figure, that gingerly picked up the tablet, and immediately slipped inside a shadow, leaving behind a trail of cackles, and a greyish black liquid.

---

Kylotes watched with bated breath at a pool of Plegethon water, while behind him, monsters were scrambling to arm themselves. A burst of bubbles then erupted out on the surface of the fire water, as a large shadow began to form. The water then began to rise as a large humanoid shape broke out from the surface. The water then soaked into the body, revealing the reddish purple body of Tartarus, his glowing red eyes taking in the scene of preparation before him. A team of winged beasts broke out from a room, with parts of armor in their hands, and began circling around Tartarus. The primordial let out a sigh as he felt his armor assemble, and then flexed his stygian iron hand as he lumbered out of the pool.

"It has been a while Kylotes, how have things been while I slumbered." Tartarus said with a growl.

The cyclops gulped. "Fairly good my lord. I am pleased to report though, that I have found the site where Gaia had fought the phantom Olympian. Maybe if possible, we could wake her-"

"Leave it as it is." Tartarus thundered. "I want to know why the Morai…and Pontus, are scurrying on my body like hellhounds looking for food. And that other outwardly presence…what is that."

"My lord?"

"I see my army is being prepped up, good. Send three batches to tail the Morai, make sure they don't lose them. Do I have any double agents out on the field?"

"No, all have been killed."

"Hmm, a shame. Well then, prepare my steed, I need to-" Tartarus began to say, but then paused when he noticed the dark shadows casted in the room become larger. Kylotes cried out in surprise when a swarm of eidolons piled out of the shadows, followed soon by a horde of disk faced creatures, shadow beasts. Tartarus watched with a smile as the shadows then collected themselves into a swirling portal, a glowing set of purple eyes peering from it.

"Erebus…how foolish of you to do this." Tartarus said with a sneer. "Have you already forgotten your own words?"

"On no Tartarus, for you see, I'm acting on them." Erebus's voice echoed. "Call my actions foolish, but you and the others always told me I was indeed a fool to do whatever my beloved asked me to. After all, how can I say no to her."

Tartarus narrowed his eyes. "γλείφτης ποδιών." He muttered, the hilt of a sword appearing in his arms. A stream of green flames erupted out of the hilt which Tartarus swung ahead, already decimating the front lines of Erebus's makeshift army.

"Are you actually going to stop me from annihilating that forbidden being?!" Tartarus yelled out. "After everything they have done to us!"

"They Tartarus, not he." Erebus replied, a humanoid shape solidifying out of the shadows. And for the first time since Erebus's appearance, Tartarus looked apprehensive.

"Your physical appearance will not deter me in challenging you." Tartarus called out.

"Good, I was hoping for that." Erebus whispered as shadow tendrils erupted out from the portal making its way to Tartarus who also lunged forward.

---

Back with Pontus, the Fates and a semi-conscious Perseus, the group had managed to reach the edge of the pit, which overlooked a vast inky black landscape. The last time the Fates had been here, there was a war going on. The last time Pontus had been here, it looked more or less the same as it was now. As for Perseus, he slowly opened an eye, taking in the scenery.

"…Νύχτα." He murmured, the white glow in his eye disappearing to reveal his normal eye look.

Lachesis frowned. "Tartarus's forces inbound, ten-"

"I'll handle it, get Perseus to Nyx as soon as possible." Pontus replied, his hands glowing orange. The Fates nodded and then slowly crept towards the edge. The sound of wind blowing was then heard, and the Fates watched as a pack of Arai appeared, all of them armed with spears. Besides the Fates, bursts of fires broke out, revealing empousai, also armed with weapons.

"The phantom child returns." An empousa hissed gleefully. "Mistress will be happy to learn that."

"Do we have safe passage to enter the realm?" Atropos asked.

"If you agree to be Nyx's children." An Arai answered.

The Fates glared at the winged demon, making her squirm. "Yes, you have safe passage, now hurry. Who knows what sort of laws have been broken with Lord Erebus and the liquid primordial being here."

"Erebus is present upon Tartarus?" Lachesis asked, but didn't wait for an answer when she saw Pontus running towards them, motioning to keep on moving. The Fates let out a deep breath as they jumped into the inky darkness, gently floating downwards. But that didn't stop the raging emotions each person felt as they hit solid ground, the unknown feeling of what's to come regarding Nyx, and Perseus. The group slowly made their way ahead, the darkness surrounding them only getting thicker, which Pontus confirmed that it meant they were close. And soon enough, a large gust of wind appeared, prompting them to close their eyes. When they later opened them after the wind disappeared, and they were finally greeted with a sight they were waiting to see. A large gothic castle, with a towering tower behind it that was swarming with Arai. And, it was floating on a large deposit of Umbra Ore, suspended by large chains on the shadowy ground, and accompanied by a thick layer of magical mist. The Fates smiled on seeing the castle, while Pontus nervously gulped.

"I must say Nyx's home improvement skills have, well, improved." Clotho whispered.

"What happened to her actual mansion?!" Pontus sputtered. "This…this looks…"

"Shhh!" The Fates hissed, their eyes boring down on a chariot that was headed their way. The chariot then stopped midair, the rider leaning down and peering at them with a sickly sweet grin.

"Well look who we have here…the Morai. And…" the rider cooed, faltering on seeing the primordial accompanying them. "Lord Pontus, aren't you a sight for sore eyes. Literally."

"Well Eris." Pontus said, shrugging his shoulders. "Haven't been active for a while."

"So I heard." The rider, Eris, replied. "Who's the breathing potato sack?"

"Lykofós Perseus." Atropos curtly answered. "His state of mind is currently in question, so we were wondering if your mother's mages can-"

"BWAHAHAHA!" Eris cried out, doubling over with laughter. "That seriously cannot be my phantom brother, he's dead. Killed by Gaia's hand after she took him somewhere, that's what I heard. I think…" she said with a frown, raising an eyebrow. "Is that actually my supposed brother?"

"Yes!" Lachesis snapped. "And we just trekked through literal hell in order to being him to his mother after two millennia, so if you could kindly take us to have an audience with her, that would be greatly appreciated."

Eris glared monetarily at the Fate, but then tilted her head to the side like she was listening to someone. "Hmm…mother sure does sound weird." Eris muttered. "Well, she said to bring you up to her abode, and no dirty thoughts on the Umbra ore please. If I see one of you think of even touching it…"

"We won't." The Fates replied together, while Pontus nervously shifted his feet. "Well uh, would you even know if we had taken even a tiny piece-"

Eris raised her arm, which was then coated by Umbra ore and then turned into an intricate axe/spear hybrid, and pointed it at Pontus.

"I'm a primordial godling-"

"And I was one of the main instigators of one of the most bloody wars the Greeks had ever faced." Eris said with a smile. "I am not to be trifled with."

"Can we please go?! Pontus, if you're going to be picking a fight with every single being-"

Alright, I'm coming." Pontus grumbled. "Just because I'm a jolly good fella, doesn't mean I can get pushed around with no respect…"

Pontus's mutterings were then drowned out by Eris whipping the shadow horses, which buckled and began to gallop upwards. The chariot began to circle the entire castle, until it reached the back where it started to descend. Eris had left the reigns by then, and swept back to inspect the form of Perseus, who was still slipping in and out of consciousness.

"O-kay, yep. That's my brother alright." The goddess of strife replied, taking Perseus's face in her hand. "No one cannot have my mother's features, and not look this mysteriously beautiful…and delectable…"

"Hands off." Pontus muttered, which Eris complied with a huff. The chariot then finally touched solid ground, prompting the occupants to get up. The chariot had parked itself on a courtyard, which was highlighted by a rows of a blue colored fire, and a garden filled with different kinds of plants, most which weren't native to Gaia. The group trudged forward, everyone except Pontus being nonchalant of where they were heading, for Pontus was swinging his head left and right as he took in Nyx's abode.

"When was the last time you had come to Nyx's realm Pontus?" Atropos asked.

"Well…two millennia ago." Pontus answered. "Though the last time I can't really count since I didn't get to enter her mansion, when I went to give my condolences for Perseus's…you know."

"Oh yeah…that time period sucked for mother and us all." Eris said with a sigh. "It didn't help that those mongrels, only extended it tenfold with what they caused to us and Perseus."

"Please don't remind me off them." The Fates and Pontus said together with a wince.

"Oh well, as you will see, the front is the throne room and servant's quarters. The rooms and buildings after that will be the dining, recreation, training and potion dens. And then that final building, is the family quarters. And believe me, we need that big fat building with the amount of children my mother has…"

"You're saying she keeps all her Arai there?" Pontus said aloud.

Eris frowned. "No…only the first Arai resides there, her offspring, which is the rest of the Arai, they reside in the servant and army quarters."

"Um…"

"If you find anything wrong with that, bring it up with my mother please." Eris said with a sigh, coming up to a set of ornate doors. Instead of them swinging open, the doors rippled, and then like Perseus's umbra ore weapons, made an opening reminiscent of an open mouth for the group to enter. They entered a hallway, which was also lit by blue flames and gothic architecture everywhere.

"I've been meaning to ask…what is this mysterious blue fire Nyx has in possession?" Pontus asked.

"Hmm? Oh that's just regular fire, my mother had it dyed blue for charm." Eris replied

"Oh…"

The group continued to walk down the hallway, passing by the occasional Arai or empousa, who briefly stopped to curtly nod at Eris, and whisper about the floating body of Perseus. Eris also noticed this, and paused to check on the god.

"Why is he like this." Eris murmured as she traced his greyed arm, glancing at the Fates. "I can't show him to my mother in this state, what caused this?"

The Fates looked at each other and shrugged, making Eris sigh.

"I have another ailment stone in hand if that would help." Pontus replied. "But I already put two on him…"

"Please do." Eris replied, as she called over an empousa and whispered something to her. "I have asked for a rejuvenation bead, hopefully that can shake him out of his stupor."

Pontus sagely nodded, summoning an ailment stone which he then placed on top of Perseus's forehead. The stone glowed as it and its properties were absorbed into Perseus, making him hiss. The god then became restless as he moved about, while still suspended in the air. The Fates on seeing this broke the suspension, which made Perseus fall on the ground.

"Ωχ!"

Eris raised an eyebrow. "Greek?" she asked, thanking the empousa who handed her a green colored rock.

"Ah yes, the language problem." Clotho muttered, holding out his string which glowed. "There, I have added English, German, French and Spanish in him, and yes I made sure to leave out that dead language behind."

Perseus slowly got up, massaging his temples while he frowned lightly. "Τι είναι αυτές οι ξένες λέξεις στο κεφάλι μου?"

"Why don't you try speaking in those foreign words." Lachesis said with a deadpanned voice.

Perseus frowned. "Ces mots? Quel est ce langage?"

The Fates face palmed while Eris giggled. "The language we're speaking sweetie, why don't you try that?" she said, tapping Perseus's shoulder which made him swirl around. Perseus stared blankly at her with his head tilted, slowly opening his mouth. "…Is this…fine?"

"Congratulations, you just learnt the English language." Eris said with a cackle.

"Oh…" Perseus muttered, clearing his throat. "Ahem, hello, hello? Um...yeah, hello hi. Okay, this is very new." Perseus said, shaking his head. "Maybe I can get…a hang…yeah, a hang of this."

"Hmm, might need to lose that accent. Not permanently of course, otherwise your Greek will sound horrible." Eris supplied, handing over the bead to Perseus. "Swallow that little brother."

"Brother?" Perseus echoed, inspecting the bead in his head. "Now I'm wary."

Oh? So you would have trusted me if I didn't reveal our relationship?"

"…No. I would have only trusted you if you did something trustworthy enough in my eyes."

Eris grinned. "Then swallow the bead, it's a rejuvenating one. Promise."

Perseus raised an eyebrow, and popped the bead in his mouth. "Tastes like a rock."

"Which medicine ever tasted good." Eris mused. "Feeling better?"

"I'm more awake I guess. And aware." Perseus mumbled, looking around. "Are we in…Nyx's realm? Like, the Night?"

"That is correct Perseus." Pontus said, garnering the god's attention. Pontus hesitated when Perseus just stared at him blankly. "You…do remember me, my dear boy?"

"…Yes." Perseus said with a frown. "My memory is admittedly a bit hazy, but it seems like I'm getting everything back in chronological order. Though I'm not sure how I, or you really, feel about me I guess. Especially if I remember correctly, we didn't exactly part on the best of terms?"

Pontus nodded. "Our parting was certainly unexpected, but I assure you, I hold no ill feelings towards you. What happened was of course unintentional, no one can predict a domain overload happening-"

"I'm sorry, a domain overload? What are you talking about?" Perseus asked confused.

"Ahem." Eris said. "Perseus, if you're ready, our mother would like to see you. Wait, you're not dressed appropriately." She said, snapping her fingers. A black t-shirt with silver print and a pair of denim jeans adorned Perseus's figure, which the god wasn't sure what to make of them.

"What…what are these clothes?" Perseus asked incredulously as he hopped around. "How do you fight in them?"

Eris sighed, snapping her fingers, and changed Perseus's clothes to a simple black chiton with silver trimming. "There, traditional. Now hurry, before mother comes here herself."

Perseus still looked unsure with whatever was happening right now, and neither Pontus or the Fates seemed to be of any help as they trudged along silently. Eris had already skipped up ahead to an even larger set of ornate doors, guarded by a pair of heavily armored empousai who seemed to have automatically taken a fancy with Perseus. But one glare from Eris kept them in their place.

"Quite glad mother never employed male personal." Eris mumbled, knocking twice on the door. The door rippled as it made an opening like the one before, leading the group to enter a large cavernous room, the ceiling stretching to amazing heights. The walls were made of solid obsidian, and the flooring black marble. Rows of Greek fire torches lit the room, and a large chandelier made fully of stars adorned the ceiling. The ceiling was also just the night sky, but much grander than what Olympus had in its throne room. Ahead of the room was a raised platform with large black drapes obscuring the section which Perseus guessed was where Nyx would have been, likely sitting on a throne. His mother, now that the realization that his birth mother was literally just some twenty or so meters away from him halted Perseus's pace, making his legs shake. His palms were already clammy, and his breathing was already getting heavier which Perseus didn't realize until Atropos snapped her fingers in front of him.

"Already getting the jitters boy?" she asked with a wry smile. "You weren't this bad when you were getting your domains."

"Hush Morai, outsiders cannot talk while mother prepares her entrance-" Eris began to say, but halted when the drapes shimmered away. And that was when, Perseus saw his mother properly for the first time in years.

Standing at forty feet/twelve meters was a black human like shape, which Perseus realized was her actual shape. The figure was wearing long satin black robes, the material falling off her arms to the floor. Her arms were clasped together from the palms and resting on her body, like she was praying, and as Perseus's gaze travelled up, he realized that the figures dress was low cut as well. But instead of seeing any resemblance of skin, he instead saw the night sky, blackish blue in color with twinkling stars dotted on it. Perseus thought he even saw a nebula somewhere in the sea of stars, but that thought and others came to a screeching halt when he finally gazed at her face.

A white, expressionless mask. Literally. That was what Perseus saw when he gazed at Nyx. A white expressionless mask, with regal features attached to a black void of stars. Bright blue orbs bored ahead from the mask of a face, like they didn't notice the occupants of the room. Perseus then noticed that she was also wearing a headdress, with drapes on either side of her head courtesy of the silver and black headdress, which more or less resembled an arch.

Nyx shifted a couple of times before she leaned down, sitting on a throne that was very likely made out of umbra ore, if the glowing blue geometric patterns had anything to say. Her eyes then dimmed like she was closing them, and then brightened again. She then turned to face the group that had come to see her, but her gaze was fixated on Perseus, making him tremble. Nyx immediately got up, but then seemed to compose herself as she took slow and steady steps towards Perseus, each one echoing. Behind Perseus, the Fates were already kneeling down, while Pontus and Eris regarded the primordial with a courteous nod. Perseus however was still stupefied, until Nyx diminished in size, still taller than Perseus by being seven feet with him six, and stood in front of the god. Perseus was then broken out of his stupor, taking a few hesitant steps back as he glanced up to meet Nyx's eyes.

"Lykofós…" Nyx whispered, her voice oddly soothing and motherly. "Is that truly you…my child?"

Perseus nervously gulped, but then straightened himself. He swept his hair back and showed his arms, the bands boring the symbol of Nyx clearly visible.

"I-I'm not s-sure wh-what would c-convince y-you." Perseus stammered out. "B-But this is what I could think of now. Unless…my powers of course-"

"Lykofós." Nyx interrupted, a smile adorning her face. "I don't need proof in order to recognize my own child. Gazing upon you, even though the last time I did was when you were a mere babe…I can never forget those eyes. You…I can never forget."

Perseus's mouth went dry as he heard this, while Nyx took his arms in hers which were still fully clothed. "After all these years…I actually have half a mind to berate you for not coming when you were still…around. But I understand what you have just experienced, and have arrived from a great ordeal. And, I'm not much of a 'mother' with what little involvement I have had in your life-"

"You had a lot." Pontus said with a pointed look, realizing everyone was staring at him. "I didn't ruin the moment…did I?"

"Yes, yes you did." Nyx said softly.

Pontus nodded. "I'll keep quiet now."

Nyx then let out a sigh, her attention back at Perseus. "You seem grown up, but not at the same time. And dear, what happened to your…" Nyx said on noticing Perseus's arm. Her eyes brightened on seeing the grey skin and golden veins, but they then dimmed when she noticed the dark blue mark etched on Perseus's palm.

"The Tetreja." Nyx murmured dropping Perseus's arm. She then walked back to her throne while growing and sat on it, her hand already moving to rub her forehead. "And here I hoped it was a dream when I first found out you discovered that cursed power."

Perseus's eyes widened. "That's right, you know about this! You told me the word that would break the sealing process."

"And I would very like to know the person who introduced you to this in the first place." Nyx said with a hollow tone. Suddenly, a rustling noise was then heard from the side. A shadow portal, much larger than any which Perseus could conjure appeared inside the room. Nyx stared at the portal curiously, from which a burly figure then appeared. It was a man, the same height as Nyx if not taller, with jet black skin that rippled with purple light. He had shortly cropped silver hair and beard, and piercing purple irises against a void of black eyes. Perseus was sure if it weren't for the shade of purple that dotted his face, he wouldn't have been able to make out any facial features with how black his skin was, it was like looking at an endless void. But what mostly caught Perseus's attention were the iron like gloves the man seemed to be wearing, as well as the metal fist he seemed to be carrying that had a bit of ichor coating the bottom.

"Hello my dear, I have returned." The man said, bowing down.

"Erebus." Nyx replied curtly, eyeing the separated iron hand. "I see that you have taken what was rightfully yours."

Erebus merely shrugged. "Tartarus had it coming, parading around with my prime resource for a couple of millennia as his body part. And of course, your boy had to be safely delivered to your realm without his interference."

"…You're Erebus?!" Perseus said out loud, his fingers twitching.

Erebus turned around to face the god, a smile on his face. "Indeed I am. Let's see, hmm, you do look very much like my lovely-"

Erebus faltered when he saw Perseus advance towards him, attached blades forming on either arm. Pontus and the Fates called out in surprise while Eris watched with amusement. Nyx tilted her head to the side while Erebus glanced at her and Perseus, and then glared at the latter.

"Because you are my consort's child, I am giving you a chance to explain your actions, and preferably redeem them."

"I doubt I will, provided if I use this!" Perseus growled out showing his mark, which made Erebus visibly flinch on seeing this. "Lady Nyx, you wanted to know who it was that showed me about this?" Perseus said, also showing Nyx the mark. "Regrettably, it was Pontus. But…I have been remembering, and Erebus may have had a hand in this for he was the first being to approach me when I unlocked this power."

"…Did he now." Nyx hissed out, her gaze directed at Erebus who looked ready to burst if the purple light overtaking his body was any indication. "No outside view." She then said, raising her hand. The Fates and Eris vanished in their spots.

"They are in their respective rooms. Pontus, step forward, it seems we have a lot to discuss." Nyx said, leaning back on her throne.

"We had to do what we needed to do my beloved." Erebus protested. "Gaia was rising; you knew what would have occurred if she overthrew the Olympians."

"No, no I don't know Erebus." Nyx replied. "Would it be one of your grandiose assumptions? Presumable, but not a possibility. There were other ways Gaia could have been taken care of, but you chose the most dangerous shortcut, wrapped Pontus into this, which I'm guessing by guilt tripping him with Thalassa, and endangering my son's life-!"

"Nyx!" Erebus shouted. "Control yourself-"

"Don't tell me to control myself you faceless cretin! Your primal form is more tolerable than this corpse void of a face."

"Ouch." Pontus murmured, while Perseus swiveled his head left and right between the arguing primordials.

"Oh, that's rich coming from you, have you looked at a mirror dear?"

"At least I'm visible in a mirror, I can't say the same for you my beloved!"

"I'm literally the embodiment of darkness!"

"How tragic!"

"These two can never be truly angry with each other." Pontus said with a sigh. Perseus instead narrowed his eyes, and shot a shadow tendril between Nyx and Erebus, gaining the couple's attention.

"I…am…STILL HERE!" Perseus shouted, gritting his teeth. "And not to sound entitled, but I have a hell lot of questions about me which I want answers to, that I would greatly appreciate."

Erebus snorted. "And that would be."

"Who am I." Perseus whispered, making the primordials present shift nervously, even Nyx. "I very well know I am more than just a child of Nyx, I'm something that must be considered abnormal. Gaia even called me a 'forbidden being'…like that doesn't sound sketchy enough. And whatever I am, is connected to this power, to that world of whatever ends, to those voices, to…my father. All this connects to my father, doesn't it?"

Pontus and Erebus glanced at each other, and then at Nyx, whose face was expressionless. But those who really knew her, knew that there was apprehension and slight fear behind her cold façade…on whatever was about to be revealed.

"Yes…and no." Nyx said slowly. "While your father certainly comes somewhere in all this, there's also much where he doesn't. In order to answer that grand question, we have to go back. Go back to several million, no, billions of years probably, when we were just young beings honestly…newly created by the chaotic nature of our one omnipotent parent. Chaos."

"Nyx." Pontus said suddenly. "There's something else we would have to tell, or more appropriately, break to him regarding…beyond his disappearance."

Nyx sighed. "We'll do it with the Fates. For now, let's tackle this, shall we?"

Erebus grumbled. "This is going to be fun. And long."

Nyx's eyes dimmed. "Lykofós…your origin connects to billions of years ago, to us, the primordials. We, while not a lot in number, were still very much present. As you know, Chaos was the one true being that first emerged, and feeling lonely, decided to make…children you could say. Other beings. If you learnt your history, you know the omnipotent one created me and Erebus. Then after that, Gaia. Then came Ouranos after Gaia's wishful thinking, and then, Pontus and Tartarus. Other primordials also sprouted too, but not from Chaos. Hemera and Aether, who then got together, and had Thalassa. Moros, Akhyls. And then, the last batch from Chaos…Chronos, Ananke, and Eros. All of us, the primordials, the first beings to bear the golden immortal blood, ichor.

"Life…then continued. Keep in mind that the titans actually don't appear now, they come much, much later. Know, the primordials were the only conscious beings roaming about for a very long time. Sure, maybe some of us were creating smaller race creatures, like Gaia was the one who made dinosaurs. Wait, you probably don't know what they are. Anyway, Chaos got more chaotic. Not much of a big surprise, but it was more chaotic than ever before. For Chaos thought to itself, it had already so far created major beings flowing with ichor. Can it make other beings, but this time, they don't possess ichor?"

Perseus lightly frowned on hearing this. "So he made some other beings, like mortals. What about it?"

Nyx's eyes dimmed further. "Chaos didn't just make some 'other' beings. He created a new race of immortals, or perhaps, non-immortals since their immortality could have very well been unnatural. Those beings which Chaos created, they were referred to as 'forbidden beings'.

"Now the forbidden beings, to simply describe them in one word, were parasites. Chaos brought three of them to us, with the promise of another one on the way. And they…they were nice at first. Spoke a different language among themselves only, and each carried around a strange tablet. But once we started interacting, that's when the problems started."

"Tartarus was interested with what the forbidden beings could do, and goaded one of them to try their powers on him. They were hesitant, but soon complied with a promise of Chaos fixing it. Like I mentioned before, the forbidden beings were parasites. But not in sustaining themselves, but in strengthening themselves. They had the power to absorb the essences of any kind of being, and that mostly included powers and other character traits. They could probably absorb immortality too, hence my earlier comment. So a release of energy streams later, and Tartarus was lying down unconscious, while a forbidden being was standing next to him, radiating his power. Able to create pits, and increase fear to a tenfold. Don't take that lightly my son, as incompetent he may seem, Tartarus is a force and a danger to be reckoned with, especially once he sets his sights on something. And you, are definitely one of the beings he is bidding his time to unleash his wrath upon."

"Continuing on, seeing the forbidden beings powers firsthand and their capabilities led to the first sense of hostility us primordials felt, with anyone really. Even after Chaos learnt of what happened, it didn't do anything at all, neither even looked remotely concerned as it swept off, doing what the omnipotent one always does best. Creating."

"Soon enough, Chaos returned with the last forbidden being, forming the Forbidden Tetrad, and in their hands, had one piece of the Ordinal Tetrad. And of course, wanting to get away from us again, left a set of rules us primordials had to follow, the Ordinal laws. Beings birthed on a realm can't hurt the embodiment of that realm. There cannot be any overtaking of a realm, a fixed balance has to be maintained. And lastly, more than two beings cannot come together to create a living entity, unnaturally. Which, sounds vague on paper, but you'll get the gist of it soon enough.

Perseus slowly raised his hand. "I still don't see the what warranted you all to have this hatred against forbidden beings, no offense, because seeing that I possibly am one…makes me want to know the full side of your story at least. And you mentioned Eros, how is that possible when Aphrodite literally gave birth to him like a hundred or so years ago?"

Erebus frowned, but then groaned aloud. "We're not talking about that winged, baby-faced, nilly-willy-"

"Still jealous." Pontus muttered.

"We're talking about the primordial of procreation, who looks like…" Erebus said, faltering. "Like…dear help me out here."

"A swirl of magenta and pink glass?" Nyx answered.

"Orange for me." Pontus mumbled.

Erebus sighed. "Curse that abstract being. Anyway, that Eros, and the younger one, two different things. I suggest you only focus on the primordial Eros for now."

Perseus sweat dropped. "But why the same name…"

Nyx cleared her throat. "You want to know more about where our hatred for forbidden beings stem from? Then very well. Like I mentioned previously, those beings are parasites. Once they learnt they could have the same powers as us, it wasn't long before the beings hunted us down, trying to see how many essences they can absorb in their bodies, and if they were more versatile and powerful in using our powers. But then…the breaking point arrived. And it centered around, Thalassa."

Pontus visibly flinched on hearing the name, garnering forlorn looks from Erebus and Nyx. "Pontus, would you like to continue from here?"

Pontus clenched his staff tightly, nodding stiffly. "I suppose I should, after all…I still need to process it." He said, taking a deep breath. "Thalassa, was special to me. We made many abundant sea creatures together in our spare time, and I guess you could say she was my 'consort'…but we mostly had a sibling thing going on, which I frankly do not find strange at all. We even had a little rivalry, who could create the most majestic being out of the foam of the sea. Well one day, I started to take a fancy to Gaia you see, probably because she was desirable to Ouranos and Tartarus as well. Thalassa, didn't like that my attention was diverted to someone else, and further loathed that it was Gaia, a woman. So, in order to make me return my unfaltering attention towards her, she decided that it only made sense if Gaia wasn't in the picture. And to do so, she was going to 'drown' her, overcoming her basically."

"Thalassa gathered the sea inhabitants loyal to her, and declared a war against Gaia. And she was actually prevailing, thanks to her prime resource, the Call of the Sea. Large mollusk seashells the size of small boulders, that can either create a protective bubble of any type of water for any water based creature, or, create an endless supply of sea water wherever it's thrown, the intensity of it depending on the user. In no time flat, Thalassa had managed to flood an extra ten percent of Gaia's surface. We didn't dare interfere in case we made things worse, but word quickly got to Chaos on what was happening thanks to a forbidden being. But what happened afterwards…was something that was almost unexplainable to us for a long time, and it was only because of you Perseus, that we managed to understand what had happened. For you see, after the forbidden being returned, presumably after informing Chaos, we noticed that something was different about it. It was then that we noticed that the forbidden being had strange mark etched on the front of its neck, the same mark which you currently possess on your outer palm. The forbidden being then engaged Thalassa in a fight, and the last we saw of them, was when the forbidden being dragged Thalassa down into the sea, none of them reappearing for quite a long time. I…I refused to think of the worst that could have happened down there, after all, we were literally embodiments. But…after futile searching with even Nyx, Erebus, Aether and Hemera helping out, we just couldn't find Thalassa anywhere. What aggravated me the most was that I could sense her around me, but she was nowhere present. That was until I took my 'impromptu trip' across my realm, and, found that archaic megalith with that tree like structure behind it. I called Erebus over to inspect it, but he was as lost as I was with what it was. What both of us didn't realize, but you did Perseus, was that it was indeed connected to Thalassa. She was sealed by a forbidden being, just like you sealed Gaia, and left behind a similar looking tree like structure."

"I proposed that it could be a symbol of a primordial being sealed, the tree structure." Erebus stated. "I didn't give it a name though, because I'm pretty sure there is one lying around."

Perseus blinked a couple of times. "So you're saying…" he said slowly. "A primordial being was sealed a long time ago by another forbidden being, but you only came to that conclusion after I sealed Gaia?"

Nyx nodded. "That is correct my son. And now that you mention it, I wonder if Chronos and Ananke also suffered a similar fate, ironically. Not that we were close to them, but that fight they had with Chaos…"

"It's entirely possible dear." Erebus stated. "Where have they, and the other forbidden beings been seen since that battle."

"Wait a minute." Perseus said with slight surprise. "Chronos and Ananke actually existed at one point?! And what battle did they have?"

"A losing battle." Nyx answered. "One that wasn't even decisive at all. The reason for the battle was that Chronos believed he and his consort Ananke, should be the supreme rulers of the cosmos, because time is eternal and so is necessity and fate or some propaganda which I have long forgotten. But yes, they believed that they were the archetype rulers of the universe, and that they existed before Chaos itself. They lost…horribly from what Chaos's herald said. We've been told they went underground…but that's likely false."

"Who would have thought that we will be here, discussing about forbidden beings like they were some lost part of civilization." Erebus muttered, pointedly looking at Perseus. "With one also present within our midst as well."

Nyx's eyes brightened. "About that, Perseus isn't a proper forbidden being."

"…What?!" Pontus, Erebus and Perseus shouted together. Erebus growled out something and struck Perseus on the face, sending the god flying back. Pontus cried out in rage but before he could do anything, Nyx raised her arm, staring pointedly at Perseus who was quickly getting up. The god glanced up, glaring hatefully at the primordial of darkness, while ichor leaked out from a cut on his head.

"Ichor…" Erebus murmured, leaning back. "I don't see any traces of that blue blood."

Nyx's eyes visibly twitched, and Perseus immediately sunk into a shadow when he saw Erebus thrown towards him, the latter crashing into the wall. Perseus then slowly emerged next to Pontus and glanced at Nyx, an enraged look on her face while she tucked her skeletal white arms back into her robe.

"I'm not going to lie, that felt oddly satisfying." Nyx hummed, settling back on her throne. "Have you seen traces of gold in a demigods red blood my dear husband?" Nyx called out to a groaning Erebus. "The answer is a negative, the same case applies to Lykofós. His blood may be gold, but he very well has properties of the dark blue blood which the tetrekar's call traesto. Lykofós if you haven't figured out, is half god, half tetrekar. He is not unlike those four."

"So damn sure about it, aren't you…" Erebus snarled. "Why don't you tell us then how he came to be in the first place!"

Nyx opened her mouth but faltered, a pensive look settling on her. "…Very well, I have already explained what you need to know about tetrekar's and our relationship with them. It's time to move on."

"Tetrekar is another word for forbidden being." Pontus whispered to Perseus, who sighed in response. "This better be good." He muttered.

Nyx huffed, but then sighed. "It was a while after the titans had fallen, when the Olympians had just established their rule. Gaia called upon some primordials she was familiar with. Me, Erebus, Pontus, Ouranos, and Tartarus. She proposed a sentiment to the five of us, where she was worried that her grandchildren, who were currently ruling over her realm, would fall into the same mindset as the titans once did. Which is why, she wanted to create something that could prove to be able to annihilate not just any threat Gaia perceived, but whatever we did as well. A joint project, to make a weapon all of us could use. She wanted to make…a being that would even excel higher than us potentially. A being…that was forbidden in nature."

Perseus's eyes widened as a thought crossed his mind, making him feel strange. "I…I wasn't…was I?"

Nyx nodded sadly. "You were that 'forbidden being' Lykofós, Gaia's 'god slayer' as she called you. While she wasn't really aiming to make a forbidden being, she was certainly aiming for something of that caliber. Tartarus was automatically on board with the project. Me and Erebus were wary, but curios to see where it would go. Pontus and Ouranos needed more convincing, which led to Gaia in the end taking it upon herself to convince Ouranos…ah…personally. As for Pontus, Tartarus guilt tripped him with Thalassa. You could guess how that went."

Pontus chuckled weakly while Perseus gave him a sad look. "I have to stop falling for that trap." He muttered.

Nyx then let out a heavy breath. "With all of us onboard, the project had commenced. Gaia provided the clay for the body, imbuing it with partial properties of hers in order to mold the perfect body. Erebus and Pontus were tasked with setting powers, the former imbuing umbrakinesis, while the latter settled for a medium grade of healing magic. While Pontus left his impression on you, and would have wanted to add more, Tartarus came in the way, with either the most genius, or stupidest idea we had ever heard. He wanted to imbue you with spirit, and wanted the 'weapon' to mostly answer to his beck and call only. And thus, thought that no better way to have that, was by imbuing you…with hellfire."

Perseus visibly leaned back, staring at his arm which automatically lit with the greyish white flame. He then extinguished it, oblivious to the longing looks on two of the primordials faces.

"So…he gave me hellfire?"

"Oh no, he didn't just give you hellfire." Nyx said with a smile. "A fact about our prime resources is, they weren't just gifts from Chaos. We had to earn them, earn their bond and prove we could be worthy wielders of them. I earned my worth by fashioning my entire home with Umbra Ore. Gaia earned her worth by forming the first ever weapon to be created in any realm out of the celestial bronze, the same weapon she bestowed upon her son. And while most of us bonded with our resource, some like my dear husband and Tartarus, either didn't bother, or couldn't find the way to do so."

"They still serve the purpose I want them to do." Erebus said sullenly, raising his arms which were still had the iron, stygian iron, gloves on them. "And I took whatever Tartarus was hoarding."

"Dipping your fists into molten stygian iron, waiting for it to cool and then cracking them to use as 'gauntlets' is not an effective purpose." Nyx snapped.

Erebus grumbled while Perseus looked slightly revolted. Even Ares wasn't that crazy with going hardcore.

"Coming back… Lykofós, you were imbued with hellfire, and were bonded with it. I'm not sure what allowed that to happen, but our prime resources are partially sentient. It must have sensed something within you worth being with, thus giving you the power of a primordial. You became, the embodiment of hellfire in a way, and were starting to become Gaia's vision of the weapon she desired. As for Ouranos, he didn't provide anything since he was only there to be with Gaia. But Gaia, had started to take a fancy to Tartarus while on the project, and in no time flat, a romance brewed between them. Meanwhile I, only provided an incubator to store and develop your body, though I did work on your physical features and attributes when no one was looking. Since we were working primarily in my realm, the task of watching over the body fell to me as well, and since no one outside could know what was happening, it fell on only me to be your...caretaker you could say. And admittedly…I grew attached. I grew attached to an incomplete body, a sense of motherly care overtaking me, that wanted to see that you were nurtured, and built properly. But, as things continued on, we started to face problems regarding you, and outside."

"You having a lot of power imbued within you, umbrakinesis, terrakinesis, hellfire…it was too much for the body Gaia had provided to handle. We tried experimenting then with other alternatives, seeing if other materials could possibly work. Shadows were plausible, but that failed. Not to mention, there was a greater tension brewing within us as well. Ouranos couldn't handle seeing Gaia with Tartarus together, and the recent humiliation he got from her and the destruction of his earthy body which Gaia provided him prompted him to leave the project. Pontus had long left by then as well, seeing that his only involvement was enough. Gaia was getting frustrated day by day with the slow, or no progress with you, and had already come up with a backup plan she wanted to execute with Tartarus's help. The Giants. Individual beings that would be the banes of the Olympians, and expertly trained to be the perfect opposite match. And before I knew it, I was the only one left with you. Erebus had also given up on the idea, which was surprising with how much of an opportunist he is. As for me, I wasn't sure what to do with you. I wasn't willing to let you go, after you had so much to offer. But keeping you here was going to be problematic, I was even sure we had broken the third ordinal law and Chaos would come, possibly with a forbidden being in tow. So…I did what I would probably view as cowardly. I sealed the incubator you were in shut…and threw it into the abyss of chaos. Incubator, body, everything."

Erebus and Pontus looked slightly surprised on hearing this, while Perseus slowly turned pale and took a step back.

"So you're saying…I was created as a weapon to destroy the Olympians, and technically not even supposed to exist. Then on top of that, I'm not even actually your son because…because of all these…" Perseus said, his voice slowly raising before he let out a yell. "What the hell am I?!"

"You're my son." Nyx said with absolute conviction. "If I had the chance, I would have found a way to actually give you proper life, sustain you. But fate had other plans it seems, not just for me…but you as well. For you see, just a mere month later, I became pregnant."

"Without my involvement." Erebus supplied.

"Like that's something groundbreaking. I have had children just by myself." Nyx said with a sneer. "But yes, I fell pregnant. Which I didn't think much of at first, though I had this nagging feeling that this was different. For I usually 'wished' for children in order to get pregnant. But that didn't occur, nor did I copulate with Erebus, or any other being if you were wondering." She said, the last part directed at Erebus with a pointed look, who just raised his arms in surrender. "That nagging feeling only increased when I crossed three months in my pregnancy, because that's around the time my children would be born. This child…I was pregnant with this child for fifteen months."

"Out of those fifteen, I had seven horrible months." Erebus whispered to Pontus while glaring at Perseus.

"And before I knew it…my child was finally born." Nyx said with a sigh, staring lovingly at Perseus. "You were such a beautiful baby, if only photos existed back then. But, I knew who you were once you opened those midnight black eyes which I created…and, had a ring of dark blue circling the pupil. Which wasn't there before. After I slit open your neck to inspect the blood, my fears were confirmed. You indeed had traesto mixed with your ichor. You were half tetrekar.

"You…" Perseus muttered, sub consciously massaging his neck.

Nyx looked nonchalant. "Once again, I knew I had to send you away. But I doubted throwing you into the abyss was going to be plausible, seeing how you returned so easily, in my womb that to-"

"You were going to throw me into the abyss?! Again!"

"I contemplated it." Nyx shouted. "I then thought that perhaps, it would be safer to just dissect your pieces, and sprinkle them-"

"I'm sorry, what?!"

"It's not as bad as it sounds!" Nyx snapped, sighing ruefully. "However, an answer came to me in the form of a vision. Mt. Olympus, the throne room with the gods assembled. I figured that whoever sent that vision, certainly not Chaos I thought later on, they probably wanted to see your safety as well. But before I could make any plans, I learnt I had been double crossed. Apparently, Tartarus had a double agent planted in several realms, mine included. And after he got wind of the baby being born, that was already spitting out embers of a mysterious grey white fire, Tartarus immediately connected the dots. He declared war on my realm, though I was able to hold him off with help from my husband for a few days. By that time, I had received another vision strangely depicting the Fates, and had put an untraceable power block on you that would only break as you mentally aged. Can't have you turning into a teenager in a week without proper maturation, and already radiating an out of control prime resource."

Perseus massaged his head, letting out a big sigh as he began pacing around, muttering to himself. "This is too much…this is way too much…nothing makes sense anymore…the bloody townsfolks theories were much better than this…"

"So my father...he-"

"Only one person could have made you a partial forbidden being, and no, it's not Chaos. Your father, is very much a forbidden being himself. I'm surprised by that implication, since they are missing in action, and could have possibly come across you at some point while in hiding. And who knows what other powers they could possess, possibly one that could sustain you. The only question, is who? Because from what I am guessing, your father may have already spoken to you, and is very much male..."

"Two guesses." Pontus supplied. "Since there were only two males out of the four."

"Great, so I still don't know who exactly my father is." Perseus said with a huff, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Can't anything in my life make sense?"

"You expect something to make sense in this world boy." Erebus said with a laugh. "Tough luck with that-"

"You don't get to say anything regarding me, especially with what you tried with me back in the throne room!" Perseus shouted, clenching his fists tightly.

"Hey, no hard feelings now." Erebus said with a glare. "We are more or less on the same side here, and why bring up what happened like two millennia ago? What's in the past is gone, water under the bridge as the mortals say."

Perseus was about to retort something back when something stuck with what Erebus said. "Wait…what do you mean by 'what happened two millennia ago'?"

Erebus frowned while Pontus swore loudly. "Exactly what I mean boy. I tempted you with overthrowing Zeus two millennia ago. Honestly, should have gone with it, that god has become more pompous as the centuries passed by."

Erebus was distracted with his musings to not notice Pontus and Nyx watching Perseus like a hawk, while the god himself was trembling all over, a purple aura covering him. He then turned around, and a shadow portal appeared on the other side of the room. Perseus quickly made his way to the portal but was stopped by Nyx herself, her shrunken but imposing figure blocking Perseus's path.

"Let me go." Perseus whispered.

"I am afraid that isn't possible for a multitude of reaso-"

"I SAID LET ME GO!" Perseus yelled, shadow tendrils breaking around him. "I have entertained this charade for far too long, I want to see my family! I want to see Άρτεμις!"

"Morai!" Nyx shouted, raising her hand. Perseus summoned a sword and shield, while the Fates appeared behind Perseus with confused looks, which then changed to determination as Nyx's voice echoed inside them. They each pulled their hand back and then threw it forward, a golden rope coming out from it and binding a limb of Perseus's. The god let out a growl as he tried to sense for something earth based, but couldn't pick up anything. Pontus and Erebus had come by Nyx's side while all this was going on, the former having a worried look on his face.

"Lykofós, I know this seems impossible to grasp. And frankly, you have every right to go out there and see for yourself to seek the truth or not. But trust me when I say that you can't now. Just not now, please. Hear the Fates out, they have everything you need to know regarding what you seek." Nyx said softly

"I know what I want to seek Nyx." Perseus growled out as he tried to send his shadow tendrils out, only to see they were slowly diminishing. His gaze turned towards Erebus, who merely shrugged in response.

"I don't see why we should hold him here. Let him go out, see the world." Erebus mused.

"That is not possible Lord Erebus." Atropos called out. "Perseus, while we understand what you may be experiencing, you can't reveal yourself to the Olympians or the mythical Greek world due to the simple fact that there is an enemy lurking around right as we speak. And if it's set path is as it is now, then it's integral that you stay hidden and unknown. They think you're faded for crying out, don't ruin this for the Olympians."

"And pray tell, what is this enemy you are so worried about that I can't even go and meet my family." Perseus snarled.

"…The titans are rising once again." Clotho replied. "And so is their leader, slowly, but surely."

Perseus stilled on hearing this. The primordials slightly relaxed on seeing him calm, but then jumped when they saw Perseus tremble, expecting an outburst. But instead, soft laughter poured out of Perseus, which only increased in intensity as he threw his head back, slightly freaking the Fates out.

"Don't jest with me Morai!" Perseus said with a chuckle. "The titans? Kronos?! My grandfather has been decimated by Zeus himself, his hacked pieces scattered across the realm of Tartarus. The fact that he's reforming is already absurd, especially with how long it's been-"

"Two millennia." Lachesis said slowly. "You have been presumed deceased for almost two millennia Perseus. And yes, that is surely enough time for an immortal as powerful as Kronos to reform. Especially when time itself is involved."

Perseus was still grinning as he stared at Pontus, wanting to ignore the silent confirmation on his face but couldn't. Perseus chuckled again, which once again turned into full blown laughter as he fell limp against the Fates bonds, which they hesitantly released. Perseus then fell to his knees, still laughing as he gazed at the ceiling. He slowly raised his deformed arm, the tetreja symbol staring back mockingly at him. A testament of his power. A curse.

Tears began streaming down Perseus's face as silent sobs wrecked his body, a smile still plastered on his face. And as his vision blurred, a single image burned itself in his mind, the only thing he could properly grasp. Red flowing hair, pale skin, and striking silver eyes that had flecks of yellow in them when viewed in the moon light. A bright smile, that seemed to call out to him as the person extender her hand. But seemed so far away as she crept closer.

"Άρτεμις…"

---

Bloody finally! I can talk to you guys now, I promise I wasn't enslaved by some robot that thought writing 15k+ chapters were the norm, I swear. So…Arc II begins! And I'm thankfully back in my writing space so I'm well in form to write chapters. But yeah, how have you guys been, any of you guys celebrated your respective December festivals happily, or had a great New Year's? Or just chilled normally, but hopefully had a great time which matched your pace regardless? I hoped you guys did.

But yeah, I took a bit of an unannounced break (kinda deserved it if you saw the length of that last chapter) but now I hope to bring the next phase full speed ahead. And no, I'm not going to let Percy and Artemis meet in Titans curse, that's stupid :P So don't worry, a reunion is going to happen (hopefully not as violent as the Fates) Also…Perseus's father has been revealed! Kinda. I'm pretty sure no one would have guessed it from the beginning of this story, but probably did during the end. I hope you guys like the pick though, really bit my arse if I should take that forward or no T_T Though shoutout to that one reviewer who said Perseus's father could be a forbidden being XD.

Also, I'm putting up a discord link in my profile, that would take you to a server which is mine. And KloseKoms as well. You all can talk to me there if you want, and get some cool updates on my writing and boring life, and cryptic pictures that tease upcoming events in my fic ;) So join if you all want to. Also, I'm not in the pertemis server anymore because of…dumbass stuff from my end. But I'll still keep that link up if you all want to join there too.

Okay, enough talking. Hmm, what else what else…I can't think of anything else to say. Oh wait, right. So, while you guys know or not, I give shoutouts to certain people and authors for helping out my story here and there. But this arc…Arc II…is fully dedicated to TheFourthFate4Ever. You my good sir, have helped me shape the future of this arc so much, a thank you isn't enough. I'll still do shoutouts but this arc, this one's for you Fate. (Side note, Arc I is dedicated to those people I've mentioned in my first chapter of my bottom A/N, in case you all were wondering :) ) Thank you too all my readers who have stuck around to see this next saga unfold, and buckle up. Cause it's only going to get wilder from here. See ya in the next update which is coming this month. Bye!...\/