A Wolf Lady Gets Me Blasted

I knew I had fallen asleep when I felt the crunching of grass underneath my feet and the heavy feeling of armor on my chest.

For starters, the last thing I could remember was nodding off next to Artemis, and even though the clothes she'd made for me were form-fitting, they were nowhere near as tight as the straps wrapping the armor around my chest.

Also, in my dream, I was somebody else, which was kind of a first.

Usually, when I have crazy dreams, they're weirdly abstract and symbolic, but at the least, I'm myself. Or a version of myself. Sometimes, I'm a disembodied spirit, but no, this time, I was in someone else's body.

I guess I'm long overdue for a weird dream, and now since I'm asleep outside of wards, the Fates have decided to send one my way.

Demigods—we don't get to rest, even when we, well, rest. Add it to the long list of downsides, I guess. It's right up there with not being able to play video games anymore, monster attacks when you're on the can, and the occasional god or goddess trying to kill you and everyone you care about. All of the basics, really.

Anyway, in the dream, I was wearing an old-fashioned Greek tunic, which was a little too breezy downstairs, and laced leather sandals which were way too tight around my ankles. There was a gigantic bow wrapped around my back like a cape, and I was running somewhere, being pulled along by a girl who was tightly gripping my hand.

"Hurry!" she said. It was too dark to see her face clearly, but I could hear a mixture of fear and excitement in her voice. It tickled the edges of my consciousness and sent jolts of electricity down my spine. "If we aren't quick enough, the harpy is going to get away!"

It was nighttime. A million stars blazed above. We were running through tall grass, and the scent of a thousand different flowers made the air intoxicating. It was a beautiful garden, and yet the girl was sprinting as fast as she could. All power to you, mystery girl. I don't like gardens either. Remind me to tell you guys about the time I accidentally massacred a butterfly population in Central Park, sometime. It's a good story.

Not that the girl's hatred of gardens or butterflies seemed to be the reason we were hustling so fast. I got the vaguest sense that dream-me and this random girl weren't supposed to be here.

Again, not that it seemed like that was stopping either of us.

"Arty, you need to slow down," I tried to tell her. I sounded exasperated, and a little tired. The words were spoken flatly, and I got the sense that it wasn't my first time saying them. The girl kept pushing on as if she didn't hear my words, even though I knew there was no way she couldn't have. "I'm not concerned about losing a simple hunt. It's a beautiful night. Shouldn't we just take a moment to enjoy it?"

"Well, you should be, Orion!" She said, pulling me along. She had long, silver hair braided down her back. Her silk robes glowed faintly in the starlight. She turned to face me, and my heart stopped for a second.

Artemis.

I almost didn't recognize her with the wide smile on her face. I didn't even know her facial muscles were capable of stretching that far. I felt like I was in one of those old Twilight Zone episodes, and I was looking at a doppelganger of the wet blanket of a goddess I'd gotten to know.

"We're trespassing onto someone's property," I tried to reason with her. My heart was hammering in my chest, and my mouth felt dry when Artemis paused for a moment and maintained eye contact with me. She let go of my hand and put both of her hands on her hips. "A goddess you may be, but I'm but a simple man. If Alexios finds us on his property, there will be all kinds of consequences for me and my family. I don't wish to—"

"Who's there?" A faint light blazed to life in the distance, followed by the baying of dogs. "This is private property! Do you know who I am? Show yourself, or I will send my guards to return with your head."

"Ugh, fine," Artemis grumbled, grabbing my hand again. Her hand was so warm, it felt like my hand had been encircled by a wildfire. Her hand was way bigger than mine. "Be that way."

We raced up the side of a hill nearby. At the top, there was a chainmail fence that looked sturdy enough to hold back a rhinoceros. Artemis simply raised a hand and blasted through with a column of silver energy.

"You better hope Alexios doesn't realize we were involved," I commented, stepping through the hole. The steaming edges of the fence made a slight whistling noise as a gust of wind traveled through the night. "The last thing we need is the whole town in an uproar. They're already on edge with your hunt passing through."

"You worry too much, Orion," Artemis giggled. She pulled me behind a thorn bush and we collapsed, breathing heavily. The flush on her face made my stomach do flip-flops. "If you'd listened to me from the start, we would've both caught the harpy and evaded Alexios."

"I suppose," I told her. My voice sounded lighter and much more nervous, all of a sudden. I felt nervous.

Why was I nervous?

This dream was all kinds of trippy. Even though I could kind of feel whatever Orion—whose body I assumed I was in—was feeling, it was kind of hard to figure out why I was feeling the way that I was.

Sometimes, I'd get glimpses of memories in my head, but all in all, the experience reminded me of grabbing the sand at Montauk as a kid—no matter how hard I tried to grab at the memories, like ephemeral grains of sand slipping, they'd just slip relentlessly through my fingertips.

Each time I thought I had grasped a thread of understanding, it dissolved into ambiguity, leaving me in a perpetual state of uncertainty. Orion's true thoughts remained tantalizingly out of reach.

Artemis seemed to pick up on the change, too. She frowned and moved a little bit closer, putting a hand on my shoulder. My eyes flicked down to her lips. "Are you alright, Orion? You seem pale."

"I think…" I trailed off. I licked my lips and took a shaky breath. The feeling was familiar enough for me to put two and two together. Orion had feelings for Artemis. "I think I'm in love with you."

"What?" Artemis all but yelled. She removed her hand from my shoulder and scampered backward. The barking dogs sounded like they were getting closer. "What are you saying?"

"I'm sorry," I whispered, craning my neck up to the sky.

A stabbing pain sliced into my gut, and it twisted so painfully that for a moment, I was convinced Artemis had tried to kill me. She hadn't, though. It was just the feeling of heartbreak.

The blanket of stars parted around the moon, which hung low in the sky, larger and brighter than I had ever seen it before. Its silver light spilled over the landscape like liquid mercury, casting long, eerie shadows that danced with every gust of wind.

I looked back at Artemis, who was giving me a look I couldn't read. I could tell she wasn't happy, though. This, more serious version of Artemis, reminded me more of the one I was used to. Orion should've stopped talking, but instead, he said, "I just…I needed you to know. I can't hold it back anymore."

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I couldn't hold them back any longer. They spilled down my cheeks, shimmering like liquid silver in the moonlight.

My chest ached with the weight of all the emotions Orion was feeling, and I found myself seriously concerned for his health. The man felt like he was about to keel over and die.

I fell to my knees in the cool grass, my hands reaching out and grabbing clumps. Artemis kept backing away from me. "I've tried…Arty, I really have. To hide how I feel. I just…I can't. You're so perfect."

"Why would you say that?" The hurt in her voice surprised me. It splashed over me like a bucket of cold water. Artemis hadn't ever gotten half this vulnerable with me outside the dream. "You know I can't."

Anger rippled underneath my skin. It was white-hot; a combination of embarrassment, hurt, and disbelief. Almost like a reflex, I snarked, "What, because some god tried to fuck you once?"

"Orion!" Artemis snapped, her shadow rising over me as she stood up. The moon grew behind her, and her figure turned dark as the moonlight intensified. I flinched as her eyes blazed angrily. "What has gotten into you?"

"I want to be with you!" I screamed back. My throat ached from the yell, and I dropped my eyes back to the ground. "You…you said we could be—"

"I said I would think about it!" Artemis cried out. The air grew thick and heavy with tension, and I could feel my heart quicken in response. Artemis was hunched over as if trying to shield herself from the world. Her chest rose and fell erratically. The lines of her face were etched with distress, her eyes wide and unseeing, lost in the whirlwind of her own thoughts. "You told me you would give me time! This isn't giving me time, Orion. This is trying to…trying to make me answer."

"How much longer will you need?" I muttered. "I'll wait forever for you."

"This isn't…you can't put a timer on these things," Artemis said after a while. The shadows shifted around us. I watched as her fingers clutched at her hair, pulling at the strands as if trying to anchor herself to reality. Her words spilled out in fragmented sentences, "You…I…this is so much. This…why can't you let me think? You're asking me to give up everything I've ever known. Everything I am. You can't expect me to make that decision lightly. And you especially can't go around saying…saying…"

Even though Orion clearly didn't see anything wrong, I knew exactly what was happening.

I'd never expected to see this happen to a goddess, but I was pretty sure Artemis was in the midst of having a full-blown panic attack.

The signs were all there. [Eidetic Memory] quickly pulled up an image of a pamphlet I'd once read in a doctor's waiting room somewhere, and I ran through all the signs.

You'll see it in their eyes first, a wild and desperate look, like a trapped animal searching for an escape. Depending on the severity of the attack, their breath may quicken, coming in short, shallow gasps that barely sustain them.

I snuck a glance at Artemis, who looked like she was a cornered animal.

Their chest may begin to rise and fall rapidly. If they reach this stage of the attack, their hands will begin to tremble uncontrollably, with their fingers clenching and unclenching. It's best to stay away, as they may try to find something to hold onto, something to anchor them. If that something is you, depending on the severity of their attack, you may be seriously injured.

Artemis had the wild look, the shallow breaths—everything. She was checking almost every box there was to check.

"What, that I love you?" I was broken out of my thoughts as I, well, Orion replied nastily. My face contorted into an expression that was somewhere between a sneer and a pout. "Right, because the great goddess Artemis is so afraid of being loved. Your huntresses love you, how's that any different?"

"You're a man," Artemis returned simply. Her breathing grew louder and harsher, and a crescendo of panic filled the dream. "A man! And the kind of love you have is a lot different. Your love would result in me losing my huntresses. My father wouldn't allow me to keep them."

I growled, "Oh, so that's it? You're afraid to love me because you think you might lose your huntresses? That's so rich. I left behind everything to come with you, but no, if you had to do the same thing for me, oh, that would be the end of the world. I guess I mean less to you than you mean to me."

I turned and began running away from Artemis. With every stride, I could feel the weight of Orion's emotions threatening to drown him. The hurt and embarrassment were so potent, so real, it felt physically suffocating.

The hill's gentle slope urged me onward. The wind whispered through the trees, their leaves rustling. The moon, now lower in the sky, cast long shadows that stretched out before me.

The hurt began to transform into anger, even as I heard Artemis calling after me. "Where are you going? Orion!"

"Orion!"

"Oreo!" I gasped awake, sitting straight up as Artemis sat a few feet away from me. The dream was still ever-present in my mind. I felt a weird sense of deja vu that was so powerful that my head spun. Noticing my discomfort, Artemis placed a hand on my shoulder, dangerously close to the base of my neck. My skin tingled. "We're here."

"Okay," I inhaled and exhaled a few times. I risked a glance at Artemis, who was still holding my shoulder, and giving me a concerned look. The Artemis in front of me was so different from the one I'd originally seen in my dream. This Artemis, despite looking the same age, felt much older. Her eyes were less bright, and her body language was more tense. What did Orion do to her? "Sorry, I'm a little out of it. I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"That's alright. I finally got some peace and quiet without your yapping," Artemis gave me a wry smile. I returned her smile. She let her hand linger for a moment, before standing up. I went to stand up, but she shook her head. "Stay. It's not advisable for you to show your face in front of…my associate. We're at our location. Before I go, I trust you're aware of the pantheons after your excursions last year?"

"I am," In all honesty, I'd never taken the time to fully comprehend what the fact that Greek and Roman gods coexisted meant for me, but I figured I was about to find out. Artemis gave me an intense look again as I asked, "Why?"

"Just making sure," Artemis mumbled after a while. The silver fire in her eyes died out a bit, and she pointed outside of the chariot.

I peered over the side, at a shack. It kind of looked like what a billionaire lumberjack would build. Artemis' hand brushed my shoulder again, and she continued, in a low tone, "Stay hidden. I have a cordial relationship with Lupa, but I can't guarantee that she'll extend the same goodwill to you. I can't ensure your safety, and I'd much rather not have to explain to your father why you've been exploded like a pinata."

"Like a pinata," I repeated. "You have a heart somewhere in there after all. Thanks for the heads up."

"Besides, you should see how much it costs to detail my chariot," Artemis continued with the same wry smile from earlier on her face. "Mortal guts are hard to clean."

"Right. Sorry on our behalf."

I heard a creaking sound from the house and decided it was in my best interest to hide and start paying attention.

The house itself was a grandiose log cabin, but to call it a mere cabin would've been the understatement of the century. Towering cedar logs formed its walls, their deep, rich brown hues aged to perfection. Each log was meticulously handpicked to showcase the natural beauty of the wood, with knots and grains telling stories of centuries past.

They stood like sentinels, holding up the colossal structure with an air of majesty. The roof was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, adorned with intricately carved wooden shingles, each one unique in design. They created a mosaic of patterns that played with the dappled sunlight filtering through the surrounding trees. Massive stone chimneys on either side of the house reached toward the heavens, their imposing presence softened by the ivy that clung to their surfaces. The front of the house featured a grand, sweeping porch; its wooden beams polished to a high sheen.

Enormous, hand-carved wooden doors stood as the gateway to this woodland palace, inviting visitors with an air of rustic elegance. Overhead, a balcony extended from the upper floor, providing a panoramic view of the forest beyond.

What really caught my attention was the figure on the porch.

She stood at an impressive height, well over six feet tall, with a commanding presence that immediately drew my attention. Even though she was clad in a purple gown, I could tell her body was sculpted with lean, powerful muscles.

I looked at her stats.

[LUPA]

[HUMAN FORM]*

[WILD GUARDIAN]

[MATRIARCH]

[SAGE]**

[FERAL]***

[TRAINER]****

[LVL]: 200

[HP]: 500,000/500,000

[SP]: INF/INF

[MP]: INF/INF

[FEALTY]: ROME

[STR]: 1500 (+300)(-130)

[VIT]: 350

[DEX]: 2000 (+221)(-130)

[INT]: 325

[CHA]: 1300 (+225)

[WIS]: N/A

[LUC]: N/A

|| Because of her status as being in [HUMAN FORM]*, some of her stats may be subject to change based on a variety of factors. If she begins to transform, or channels some aspects of her wolf form, her stats are capable of increasing and decreasing, though, notably, her physical stats take some time to change, as her transformation takes a while. ||

|| The title [SAGE]** passively grants the user [HP] and [MP] regeneration as long as they're in their designated element. ||

|| The title [FERAL]*** corresponds to Lupa when she's in her [HUMAN FORM]* and allows her to maintain some of the aspects of her wolf form, like her elongated canines, and [Wolf Stare] ability. ||

|| The title [TRAINER] increases [INT] and [CHA] by a base of 15% while teaching or supporting a student and increments upward by 1% for each student actively learning. ||

[…] Lupa…huh. I haven't heard that name in a long time. I don't get out to the Roman side of stuff too often, but from what I remember, she's pretty cool. Kind of intense. Oh, I know! She's like the Roman version of Chiron! […]

[…] You're treading dangerous waters, son. You need to be careful around the Romans. While Romulus and Remus were saved by Lupa and she did raise them as her own, she would have just as easily cast them out to sea, had they not been strong. Romans respect strength and power. […]

[…] Lupa! Hmm…she's super nice, don't get me wrong, but totally not prominent on the dating scene. If she wasn't handed those two kids, she would've been alone forever. She isn't close with anyone platonically, either. For all intents and purposes, the Wolf House is like a tether for her. She never strays too far. [...]

Lupa's eyes were a striking shade of deep, icy blue, possessing an intense, almost otherworldly gaze that seemed like they were capable of seeing straight through to a person's soul. They radiated both wisdom and fierce determination and they were partially covered by her hair—a wolf cut, of course.

I stayed out of sight, as I'd been instructed. See that? I can follow instructions, sometimes.

"Diana," She smiled, showcasing elongated canines. Is it bad that I found that kind of hot? I'm not saying I have a type because I definitely don't, but there's something about muscular, slightly feral women that just…I should focus. "I was hoping to see someone come to collect your runaway animal."

I turned back to Artemis, only to find her in front of Lupa, looking completely different. She was a foot taller, and her face was harsher and sharper. The soft swell of her jaw was square, and she, too, was wearing a purple gown. "Lupa, a pleasure as always. Yes, I apologize for taking some time."

"No need to apologize," Lupa returned respectfully. She ran her tongue over her leftmost canine. Yep, definitely hot. "How goes the hunt?"

And then, they both switched languages and began speaking animatedly. To me, it sounded a bit like muffled television noises at first. I focused intently for a while, and the Game pinged.

|| By eavesdropping—yes, you're eavesdropping right now—you've managed to learn a new skill. ||

[PASSIVE][INT]-[Latin]-[LV: 1]-[PROG: 55%]

|| The ancient tongues whispered secrets, and now they sing in harmony with your mind. ||

|| You possess the ability to understand and decipher Latin with unparalleled proficiency. The intricacies of this ancient language are an open book to you, allowing you to read, write, and comprehend Latin texts of all complexities, though it will take some time for you to do so effortlessly. ||

[LV: 1] You can recognize basic Latin phrases and words, with some difficulty in comprehension.

"—beast—hunting—" Artemis nodded. She bit her lip. "—get—traitors."

Lupa pondered whatever it was that Artemis said for a while, with her chin resting on her open palm. "—well—Feast—praetor—come!"

She raised an arm, and an animal came trotting out of the cabin. Its body stretched to an astonishing length, coiled like a serpent, yet robust like a bull. Scales, glistening like polished obsidian, covered its serpentine form. These scales seemed to absorb the faintest glimmers of light in the moon.

The Game rippled to life around the animal.

|| In the ancient myth, it is said that this creature emerged from chaos with Gaea and Ouranos. It was slain by an ally of the Titans during the first Titanomachy, but its entrails were retrieved by Zeus' eagle before they were burned. Afterward, the gods kept it in the heavens in the combined constellation of Taurus and Cetus. It must have escaped somehow, though, it's far more likely that someone freed it. ||

As the Ophiotaurus moved, its body rippled with sinuous power, undulating with the grace of a snake, but underlain with the muscular strength of a bull. The serpentine tail tapered into a vicious barbed tip, gleaming like a dagger's edge. "He was very confused."

"Understandably so," Artemis, or rather, Diana's harsh expression softened as she looked at the animal. She held out her hand, "Here, boy."

The Ophiotaurus bobbed by her, and made a beeline to me, for some reason. I ducked back into the chariot, but it was too late.

It all but teleported into my arms, and its weight pushed me back a little. I winced as the creature opened its mouth, and I caught a whiff of dead animals and mud, "Moo!"

"Yeah, uh, nice to meet you too, buddy," I looked at the creature's big, innocent, brown eyes. It nudged my face with its tail. "Glad we could find you."

"You're traveling with a man?" Lupa's icy blue eyes flicked to mine. Her lip curled, and she gave me a half-lidded stare. "I see. Come out here, boy. Allow me to test your mettle,"

"Thanks, Bessie," I couldn't summon any real anger as I stared at the Ophiotaurus. I put it down on the chariot, next to Bartholomew. Hopefully, they'd get along. "Now you got me spotted."

I hopped over the side of the chariot. "Lady Lupa."

The Game pinged:

[SIDE][STORY] Quest Alert!

{A Roman Holiday!}

|| In the midst of your quest with Artemis, you've tracked the Ophiotaurus down to the Wolf House, where you've been spotted by the wolf-goddess, Lupa. Lupa has been known to test and train demigods, so your appearance alongside Artemis has garnered her interest. In Roman society, power was a fundamental aspect of governance, military leadership, and social influence. You've got a lot of it. Use it to pass her test and gain her respect. ||

{Objective:}

- Get Lupa to yield!

{Rewards:}

- [+] 4,000 REP with [Lupa]!

- [+] 100,000 EXP!*

- [+][1] perk point!

- [+][15] skill points!

-[+][Wolf Stare]!

{Failure:}

- [-] 1,000 REP with [Lupa]!

-[-] 3,000 REP with [Artemis]!

- [+][Curse of Janus]!**

[YES/NO]

*Note that the [EXP] provided for this quest will be doubled upon completion, as per your title of the [Divine Consultant].

** [Curse of Janus] is a temporary debuff, lasting a few days. When afflicted with the Curse of Janus, your vision becomes disoriented as if you're seeing two conflicting perspectives simultaneously. This can lead to confusion and difficulty in judging distances and directions. At random intervals, your vision may rapidly alternate between these two conflicting views, making it challenging to navigate, aim accurately, or react to threats effectively.

Huh, I didn't even know I had 3,000 [REP] to lose with Artemis. Maybe it just goes into the negative numbers if I don't have enough.

ZIP!

Lupa appeared in front of me, growling.

I rolled under a strike from Lupa and threw my fist forward. She caught it and tried to kick me back, but I wrapped her leg with both of my arms and squeezed, trying to throw her off balance. She corkscrewed backward and pulled out two daggers. "Impressive."

"You are too," I ducked under a slash and slapped her wrist away from me.

"You've never seen me fight, boy."

[Flirt] rippled to life in the rightmost corner of my vision. I caught her next kick and smiled, "I wasn't talking about the fight."

Somewhere to our left, Artemis groaned loudly.

TWANG!

I deflected her daggers with Riptide and smashed my foot on the ground, twisting, and throwing Riptide at her as hard as I could.

"You should never let go of your weapon," Lupa scoffed, but I just grinned.

[Death Leap!]

I flipped through the air behind her and smashed my leg downward. She whirled with inhuman speed and tried to block the kick, but my leg smashed through her guard and sent her stumbling backward. I caught Riptide out of the air and twirled it in my hand.

That's one hit.

Lupa advanced on me again, her daggers a whirlwind of gold that reminded me of Ilvis. Lupa was fast and deadly, but I'd been training with Triton for two years. I was used to the speed of a minor god.

My body thought for me. My legs tensed, and the ground underneath me rumbled for a second. The earth seemed to push me into the air and I catapulted over her again, slashing as I came down.

Lupa grunted. She twisted, and the strike that should've carved down her shoulder was deflected off the end of her daggers. I pushed more strength into Riptide, and our blades struggled against each other as we faced off.

"You're strong, for a mortal," Lupa complimented. Her eyes bore into mine. "Most would be tiring by now."

"I have a lot of stamina."

I flipped my stance and kicked at her oblique. Lupa shifted around my kick. I saw her muscles tense, and she broke free from our deadlock. I had maybe a moment to think before she was upon me again.

Her slashes grew wilder and more animalistic, and I frowned as I was pushed back by her relentless onslaught. I used the Viper Beheading strike I learned to jab through her defense, and she flipped backward through the air and held both of her daggers behind her back.

Another stance? Already?

"Two reverse grip daggers? You fight like a Greek," I called out as I eyed her stance. "What's a Roman goddess doing learning Greek forms?"

"Knowledge doesn't have to be restricted by pantheon," Lupa replied back, sweat glistening on her forehead. "It's in the nature of a warrior to learn and grow."

"I can't argue with that."

All in all, I was pretty impressed by Lupa so far. She wasn't a pushover by any means. If I'd fought her last year, I probably would've lost in the first few moves.

It's just that, well, Triton was a general for a reason. And I was a lot stronger now.

There is a lesson somewhere in here, though, and it goes back to what Lupa said. As a warrior, an experienced one at that, knowing forms is important.

For one, different forms often involve specific patterns and sequences of movements. By mastering these patterns, you can quickly identify them when used in combat. This skill enables you to anticipate an opponent's defensive actions based on the forms they employ, giving you a strategic advantage.

It's kind of like when I used to play chess with Malcolm. The more strategies you consume, the more you can use. And they all have slight advantages and disadvantages that can make all the difference in some situations.

And then, once you're proficient in multiple forms, you can easily switch between offensive and defensive tactics. If you're fighting someone who reacts perfectly to your first stance, bam, switch it up. Being able to change gears like that helps put you in a position to catch them off guard and exploit weaknesses in their defense.

Now let's focus a bit on Lupa. Specifically, how she's constantly shifting the way she's using her daggers.

You see, there's this subtle art to wielding daggers, and within that art lies a hidden advantage, a secret that seasoned fighters know all too well—the power of tempo.

Think of a fight like a symphony. For all intents and purposes, it's kind of the same idea. I mean, sure, fights end with dead people sometimes…but anyway, just bear with me.

In a symphony, you have your instruments, each with its unique sound and role to play. Some are loud and jarring—your French horns, your tubas. Others are more subtle, like the flute. Maybe even the triangle.

I actually played the flute for a while at Yancy. I mean, until some of the kids told me it was a girly instrument, and I got all self-conscious, but that's neither here nor there. I was pretty good, though.

Let's just say that if Kronos was particularly weak against Snake Charmer, the war would be over already.

Anyway, weapons behave the same way.

Each weapon, like each instrument, has a different kind of effect on a fight. Warhammers, like Jason's, are disruptive and slow. They cover the area in a battle with broad slashes and glancing hits. They're not made for speed, and they don't have to be. If you're hit by one of those, you're probably down for the count.

And, on the other hand, just like you have the subtle, intricate instruments, you also have weapons like daggers and knives. Agile and quick weapons, perfectly suited for lightweight, finesse fighters. They rely somewhat on the element of surprise, the change in tempo.

They're like the antithesis of warhammers. You could be hit by a dagger and not even fully realize it in the heat of the battle. For a dagger to consistently deal damage, it needs to hit you more than once, and fast.

Not that damage and power are everything. In a fight, just like in a symphony, it's not just about the strength of your instruments; it's about how you conduct them. You set the tempo and dictate the rhythm of the battle.

With something balanced, like a sword, there's only so much you can do to change your tempo. Even if you have fast slashes, or jabs that no one can react to, you're still relatively limited when it comes to switching things up.

Take [Moon's Dance] vs. [Atlantean Swordsmanship], for example. [Moon's Dance] is graceful, fluid, and revolves around the idea of a series of twirls, slashes, and jumps.

[Atlantean Swordsmanship] is more rigid, and strict. The style works better underwater, as there isn't much defense built into it. It's more of a jabbing, fencing style that makes use of the latent boost all Atlantean soldiers get underwater.

At the end of the day, though, despite the stark differences in the two styles, their tempo isn't that drastically different.

Sure, there's a difference, but with a sword, that difference isn't as pronounced as you might think. A pro could point it out, but your average Joe wouldn't even be able to see the subtle change.

Daggers are different, though. They're well-known tempo changers. Whereas something like a sword gives you an advantage in its reach and power, the advantage of using a dagger lies in its speed and flexibility.

They dart in and out, like quicksilver, catching their opponents off-guard, and making them stumble in the dance.

It's all about timing, about knowing when to strike a high note and when to dip into a low, eerie melody. They thrive in close quarters, where reach becomes a liability. With every step, every twist, they change the tempo, forcing their foes to adapt to their rhythm.

Now, what Lupa's doing? She's taking that whole analogy and taking it a step further.

She's attacking in varying tempos. No two slashes have been the same. Her feet shuffle differently with each movement. It's like every time I deflect one of her attacks, her entire body and stance shift to something else completely different.

For a mortal, this sort of constant change would exhaust them instantly, and leave them open to being smacked in the face. With Lupa, who's immortal and has probably hundreds of fighting styles committed to memory, it works.

And, on the other hand, for anyone else, this would've been a death trap. They'd be gassed from the constant change-up, and a few different stances would have them scratching their heads and open to a death blow.

I'm not anyone else, though. I'm Percy Jackson.

My eye, especially in this second level, dissects her forms the moment she pulls them out. The branching decision tree in my head is capable of shifting, and [Gamer's Mind MK2] keeps my brain from overheating.

Long story short? She can pull out whatever form she wants, and I'll know how to exploit it every time.

Lupa shifted her leg backward and held one of her daggers behind her back. I waited for a moment before exploding toward her.

I moved like lightning, my instincts and training merging into one fluid motion. I'd never actually tried this move in real life, but it was one of my favorites back when I played Smackdown vs. Raw as a kid.

My ring burned, and it emitted a powerful strobe of light that was so bright, it seared my eyelids even though my eyes were closed.

With a powerful step forward, I closed the distance, my leg sweeping low, targeting that precarious foot. As my Lupa's balance wavered, I seized the moment, my grip unyielding around her waist, and with a sharp, forceful push, I slammed her into the ground below us.

She whirled in place and blurred toward me, but I simply reached out and grabbed her neck. Riptide rested underneath her chin. I could feel the heat of her body burning underneath me; her chest rose and fell slowly.

"You're well-trained," Lupa growled out. She was still holding out her daggers threateningly, but the look in her eyes had changed. There was a bit of surprise and respect simmering in there, barely under the surface. "Your reflexes betray you. You've fought a goddess before."

"Maybe," I said as her hot breath tickled my face. I smirked at the scowl on her face.

"I see," Lupa replied, a few moments later. She twisted her daggers, and they vanished out of her hands. She raised her hands. Her eyes were half-lidded. "You win."

"Tremendous," I grunted, getting off of her and offering her a hand. She took it and I pulled her up.

"You've chosen well, Diana. It's not your style to consort with male companions…or is he something more?" Lupa muttered, looking me up and down. There was emotion building in her eyes, but she just gave me a fang-toothed smile and began walking back into the Wolf House. "I'll see you around sometime. Bring your friend around more."

Diana nodded stiffly, and we both got back in the chariot and blasted back into the sky.

"Well, that was easy," I said, my voice muffled as the Ophiotaurus nudged me again. It floated onto my lap again. I patted its cheeks and said, "Who's a good boy? Who's a good, world-altering little monster? You are!"

"Stop playing with it," Artemis snapped from the front of the chariot. I frowned. That felt a bit uncalled for. "It's not a toy."

"Yeesh, fine," I said, gently placing Bessie down and standing up. "What's next?"

"For you, nothing," Artemis continued in the same waspish tone. Her shoulders looked tense. Her chest was rising and falling. "You're done here."

"What are you talking about?" I stepped closer to her. From where I was standing, I could see her fingers clenching and unclenching on the side of the chariot. Was she having another panic attack? I dropped my tone to something more comforting and blasted [Serenity Inducement] into the air around us. "Artemis, this is just step one. We rescued the Ophiotaurus, yes, but there's still—"

"That's enough," Artemis turned around, and her hair was completely red. Her eyes, a glowing maroon, glittered like rubies in the night sky. "I said you're done here. What do you not understand about that?"

"I think we should both breathe," I raised my hands but stood my ground. "It's been a long day, and I don't think we should make any bad decisions."

"The only bad decision was me letting you come here," Artemis replied scathingly, gulping in deep breaths. She raised a hand at me, and her fingertips began sparking with power.

A smart person would've stopped talking. A smarter one probably would've run. Unfortunately, no matter how many points I shove into my [INT] stat, I don't think I'll be either of those people.

I kept talking. I shouldn't have, I can tell you that for sure, but, I don't know. I guess I have a soft spot in my heart for the women of the Greek world.

And, well, it's in no small part because when I look at these ancient Greek myths, I can't help but notice a recurring pattern—a pattern that paints a bleak picture for the women of those times.

It's almost like the cosmos conspired against them, pushing them into roles of suffering, submission, and silence. Take Sephy, for instance. A young goddess, her life snatched away by Hades, the Lord of the Underworld. Locked away in his dark realm, her voice silenced, her autonomy stripped away. She's nothing more than a pawn in the cosmic power struggle between gods.

And, hey, did you forget about the woman in my head? Well, one of them, anyway—Medusa. What, my dad can't keep it in his pants, so Athena punishes her with a monstrous form turning her into a symbol of blame for the actions of others. She's hunted down and slain by a so-called hero, a chilling reminder of a patriarchal world's cruelty.

These myths, they're not just stories, and most of the time, they're even worse than you'd expect. In a lot of ways, they're mirrors reflecting the harsh realities of that ancient era. Women were often silenced, objectified, and scapegoated. Their narratives are windows into the misogyny of their time.

The worst part is that they're just the first examples that came to mind. I could choose at random and find more. Hera. Hestia. Aphrodite.

And, now, Artemis. I can't prove it for sure, but I'd feel comfortable guessing that the dream I had was the start of the end of her relationship with Orion. He left her in a random place, hyperventilating and freaking out, just because she wouldn't reciprocate his feelings.

I wanted to break that cycle. Not just for her, but for everyone.

"Artemis," I said firmly. I kept my hands raised, though. "We're on the same side here. Let's just go back to your camp, deposit the Ophiotaurus in a safe location, and then I'll leave. That's what you want me to do, right? I can do that."

"What do you know about being on the same side?" Artemis shuddered and lowered her hand. "You're just…just some boy!"

"Alright," I muttered gently. "You're right. I'm just some boy. What I do know, though, is that your hunters are waiting for you. So…why don't we go back to them, and I'll leave you alone?"

"My hunters," Artemis forced out, and the red glow in her eyes faded. She swallowed and nodded, "Yes. Secure the Ophiotaurus. We're going to move faster than before."

I nodded and turned back to Bessie. I knelt next to him. "Alright, boy. We're going to move pretty fast so just—urk!"

Let this be a lesson to you all: never turn your back on a goddess that's in the middle of freaking out. It's not going to end well for you.

I knew I was in trouble the moment that pillar of godly energy struck. It was like being hit by a freight train made of pure celestial force, and I was the unlucky hitchhiker in its path.

One second, I was standing confidently at the side of the chariot, whispering words of encouragement to a mythical creature.

The next, I was airborne, sent hurtling into the abyss of the night. I think I might've blacked out for a second or two, too, because when I opened my eyes, the chariot was nowhere to be seen.

The sensation was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. It was as if every atom in my body had decided to go on vacation without me, leaving me to fend for myself against the unforgiving forces of the cosmos. It was numbing and painful, like a hopped-up version of [Zeus' Vitriol].

The world around me became a blur of stars, and I struggled to catch my breath as the wind rushed past me like a merciless hurricane. My fingers clawed desperately at the air, seeking some semblance of stability, but there was nothing to hold onto.

For a second, it was beautiful, if hauntingly so.

The brilliance of the stars enveloped me like a shimmering cloak, their radiant light casting a kaleidoscope of colors upon the dark canvas of space. I could see the delicate lacework of constellations above, a celestial map that had guided explorers and dreamers for millennia—one that I was now plummeting through.

Panic set in as I realized I was plummeting into the infinite darkness, with no guarantee of ever finding solid ground again.

At that moment, I couldn't help but wonder if this was how I would meet my end – not in some grand battle against ancient titans or vengeful deities, but by being unceremoniously flung off the side of a divine chariot like a ragdoll.

My first thought was to pull out my key to the Underworld and just teleport back to Sephy. The only reason I didn't do it, though, was that I wasn't sure if my momentum would carry with me or not. The last two times I'd been teleported, I'd been moving at the exact same speed I'd been moving before I teleported.

So, there was a chance that even if I got taken to the Underworld—and I wasn't sure if this would even work with me flying through the air—I'd just get crushed under the force of my fall and explode into a tangled mess of blood and guts.

As I tumbled through the night sky, I couldn't help but curse my luck. Of all the ways to go, this was certainly not what I had in mind. I really should've packed some points into my [LUK] stat.

Wait! That's it!

[Time Dilation] blared to life around me, and my descent slowed. I knew, even with its upgraded levels, I wouldn't have that much time.

I frantically flipped through the screens of the Game and went straight to the search feature on the perk page and typed in: flying.

The perk page had evolved again—this time, it was a complex tapestry of luminescent threads woven into an ethereal canvas. The interface glowed with an otherworldly light, casting intricate patterns of light and shadow across the expanse.

It seemed to stretch infinitely out now, with trees upon trees of hexagonal perks I could buy. At the top of the page, there was a radiant banner, shimmering with symbols representing the different perks I'd purchased already.

Beneath the search bar, a constellation of perk icons sparkled like stars in the night sky.

As I hit the search button, the entire page seemed to ripple, responding to my request. It rearranged itself, aligning the perk icons in a mesmerizing pattern, highlighting those most relevant to my query. These chosen perks radiated with a brilliant, inviting aura as if beckoning me to select them.

"I don't have time for this!" I yelled frantically as the Game zoomed in. "Heket, I need to do this fast! Show me the names! Give me a light description!"

The icons rippled again, and letters blazed to life on top of all of them. My eyes blurred through the words hungrily, and my boosted stats made decisions in brief moments.

[Pegasus' Soar:] Gain the legendary equine's swiftness and agility in the air, allowing you to navigate the skies with grace.

[Dragonrider's Mastery:] Unlock the secrets of ancient dragon-riders, enhancing your ability to control and communicate with winged serpents.

[Valkyrie's Valor:] Embrace the bravery and strength of the Valkyries, enabling you to wield a celestial spear while in flight.

[Harpy's Agility:] Acquire the aerial grace and speed of the Harpies, enhancing your ability to swoop and dive during flight.

[Griffin's Aegis:] Channel the protective instincts of the Griffin, granting you heightened defenses against aerial threats.

[Roc's Majesty:] Command the majestic presence of the Roc, allowing you to carry heavy loads or even structures in flight.

[Garuda's Gaze:] Gain the piercing sight of the Garuda, enabling you to spot hidden truths and weaknesses from great heights.

[Thunderbird's Roar:] Harness the elemental power of the Thunderbird, creating sonic shockwaves while in flight.

[Simurgh's Wisdom:] Attune to the ancient wisdom of the Simurgh, granting you unmatched insight into the world while soaring above it.

[Quetzalcoatl's Radiance:] Evoke the radiant presence of Quetzalcoatl, which illuminates the skies and inspires awe in those who see you.

"These aren't good," I said quickly. "I need a true flight perk. Something that can keep me alive. Show me those ones!"

The screen rippled again, and more perks showed up.

[Tengu's Ascension:] Channel the spirit of the tengu, the mythical crow-demon, to grant yourself temporary flight. Your path will be guided by the winds, and your agility in the air will rival that of these supernatural beings.

[Kami's Embrace:] Seek the blessings of the kami to become lighter than air. You'll float effortlessly, moving with grace and serenity through the skies, a living embodiment of the harmony between humans and the divine.

[Amaterasu's Radiance:] Harness the radiant power of the sun goddess, Amaterasu. You can summon her divine light to create solar wings, allowing you to soar across the heavens with unrivaled speed and brilliance.

That one!

BEEP!

Of course.

[Time Dilation] stopped working, and I went back to hurtling through the night sky. There were more perks listed at the bottom, but I wasn't too keen on finding out just how close I was to the ground.

|| Are you sure you want to purchase [Amaterasu's Radiance] right now? This perk will cost fifteen [15] perk points. ||

[YES/NO]

YES! YES! YES!

[Amaterasu's Radiance!]

In an instant, golden rays of sunlight cascaded around my body, smothering my vision and infusing my system with a searing hot feeling.

The sensation coalesced into something more tangible, more extraordinary. I could feel it, like a pair of ethereal hands crafting delicate feathers. They sprouted from my shoulder blades, each feather forming and sparkling like tiny lightbulbs.

The golden wings unfurled with a majestic rustle, and I could hear the faint whisper of feathers brushing against each other.

The wings were magnificent, bathed in a warm, radiant light that seemed to shimmer with a life of its own.

"Had to use fifteen perk points for this," I grumbled. I could feel the pressure of air under my feet like I was balancing at the top of a geyser. I ruffled around my pocket for my key to the Underworld. "I'm getting out of here."

"She did what?" Persephone yelled. Once I was teleported back to the Underworld and hightailed it to Persephone's garden, where I found her knitting a sweater. Interestingly enough, Hades was nowhere to be seen. "You're kidding, Percy. She actually blasted you out of the chariot?"

"Sephy, I swear! Lupa said something about her choosing well and she just laced me," I complained as I took a seat next to Persephone.

Multicolored mushrooms, poisonous shrubs, and weird luminous plants grew without sunlight. Precious jewels made up for the lack of flowers alongside piles of rubies as big as my fist, and clumps of raw diamonds that were just scattered all over the place.

"Figures. She's got so many problems, you could fill a whiteboard with them and still be going. She's the emotional equivalent of a scavenging sewer rat," Persephone replied, scowling. Her knuckles turned white on her needles. "Still, though. I'm really happy you came back."

"Well, of course. I said I would," I smiled up at her, and she smiled back, her face illuminated by orange by the pomegranate tree in the center of the garden. "This garden is different. You have another one, too, right?"

"Mm," Persephone hummed in response, gently placing the sweater down beside her. She dangled her feet over the ledge and sighed. "I do. This garden was a gift to me, from my husband. A reminder," She waved her hand, and one of the neon-orange pomegranates appeared in it. The tart smell of it was almost overwhelming. I had a sudden desire to eat them, but then I remembered the story of Persephone. One bite of it, and I'd be stuck here forever. "Of our love."

I glanced at the pomegranate. Did my uncle really think it was a good idea to have reminders of Persephone's imprisonment lying around as a gift, of all things?

"Yes, he's ever the romantic," Persephone noticed my expression. Her nails cut crescent moons into the fruit as she rotated it in her hands. "He came to speak with me, you know."

"And you heard him out?" I asked, and Sephy shrugged nonchalantly. "Sephy…"

"He told me you gave him some advice," Persephone continued in the same nonchalant tone, but her eyes glittered.

"He listened?" I asked, getting up to my feet. Persephone nodded, her eyes filling with tears, and I shot forward, wrapping her in a bear hug. "Sephy! I'm so happy for you!"

"I have you to thank for it, Percy," Her muffled voice said. I felt some of her tears soak through my shirt, and just stayed quiet and let her get it out of her system. I couldn't even begin to imagine what that sort of freedom would feel like. "I…I don't even know what I'm going to do."

"You should sample the city," I said, resting my head on her chin. "That's what Aphrodite did. She got an apartment near Olympus and explored."

"I don't go out much," Persephone denied at first. I felt her shift in my arms. "It wouldn't be the worst idea in the world, though. I could surprise my mom in her palace."

"Right," I agreed, as Persephone pulled back. She gave me an appraising smile. "I think she'd like that. You should sneak up on her."

"Maybe," Persephone's smile widened. She waved her hand, and two suitcases appeared next to her. "There's so much to do. Do you think they still have those sculptures of ice up?"

"The ones at Rockefeller?" I asked, and she nodded. A half-smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. "Sephy, it's like mid-October. Those don't come out until, like, after Thanksgiving. Oh, I know, you should go Black Friday shopping!"

"Is that the one where they trample each other?"

"If that's your mindset going in, you're probably going to do very well," My half-smile exploded into a full-blown grin, and Persephone beamed at me in return. "You should let me know. I kind of want to see you fight someone for a box set of plates, or a sweater, or something."

"There won't be a fight," Persephone shook her head. She rested her hands on her chest. "I'm a goddess."

"You clearly have a lot to learn about the city," I said, stretching out some of the sore spots in my back. "Well, Sephy, as glad as I am to hear you're free now, I should probably get back."

"Get back?" Persephone's brow furrowed. "Percy, the woman blasted you off her chariot."

"She still has the Ophiotaurus," I replied instantly. "And she was clearly having some kind of a panic attack. I feel like I can't hold that against her. Weren't you the one who told me helping people in the middle of a mental crisis was the right thing to do?"

"I also told you there's a limit to how much help you can give someone. She tried to kill you. I doubt she had any way of knowing you had a key to the Underworld," Persephone said firmly. She reached out and grabbed my arm, and her nails dug into my skin. "You told me that your Mom was worried about you."

"What's that have to do with anything?"

"She told you that your greatest power was your humanity," Persephone reminded me calmly. Her eyes looked a bit sad. I could almost see my reflection in them. "You're losing it, Percy."

"I think you're looking into all of this a bit much," I chuckled, placing my hands on her shoulders. "I'm fine, Sephy. Sheesh. You, Silena—"

Persephone's eyes hardened, and she straightened a little. "When was the last time you showered?"

"Why, do I smell?"

"When was the last time you had a full night's rest, in a real bed? The last time you sat down for more than five minutes?" Persephone kept rattling off questions, her voice growing more and more hoarse. "There's monster blood on your shirt. Your jacket is in tatters, and you want to go back out there? You tell me what's human about that."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Persephone always had a knack for overthinking things. She was the kind of person who could find a hidden meaning in just about anything, and while that could be admirable, sometimes it was just plain frustrating.

Like, on my second day here, she gave me one of those inkblot tests and drew some wild conclusions from them. Like, seriously, seeing an ice cream cone in a sea of white and black shapes doesn't mean I have attachment issues!

I mean, I might have attachment issues…but I fail to see what that has to do with anything!

"Look, Sephy," I began, trying to keep my tone light, "I appreciate your concern, I really do. But this is the life I've chosen, you know? We don't get to take breaks, not when there are monsters and gods causing trouble all over the place. I hardly think wanting to finish what I started makes me less of a human."

Persephone's gaze remained unwavering, and I could see the worry etched into her features. "Percy, it's not about taking breaks. It's about remembering why we're doing this in the first place. It's about holding on to what makes you human."

I sighed, knowing this was going to be one of those long, philosophical conversations that I never really had the patience for. I figured if I just repeated some of the stuff told me earlier, she'd drop the subject. "I get it, Sephy. We're demigods, and we've got these crazy powers and responsibilities. But that doesn't mean we have to give up our humanity. I'll do better."

"Percy…I'd like to wager I'm more empathetic than most people, given what I've seen here. Even with that, I'd be pissed if someone attempted to kill me. I wouldn't go out of my way to help them," Persephone shook her head, her dark hair swaying with the motion. "You've been pushing yourself to the brink. You've been relying so much on your powers that I'm not sure you remember what it's like to be just a regular guy."

I opened my mouth to protest, but she held up a hand to silence me. " Your humanity is your greatest strength. It's what sets you apart from the gods and the monsters. But it's slipping away, Percy, I can tell. You already seem different, and I last saw you three days ago! At this rate, I'm afraid that one day, you'll wake up and not even recognize yourself."

I was starting to feel frustrated. I didn't want to have this conversation. I didn't want to confront the possibility that I was losing myself, and I couldn't very well explain my hyperfocus on finishing the quest without telling her about my powers.

But I also knew that Persephone was right, at least to some extent. I glanced down at my torn and bloodied clothes, realizing that maybe I had been neglecting the basic things that made me human. Maybe I had been too caught up in being a hero, too determined to save the world, that I had forgotten to take care of myself.

Persephone's voice softened, and she reached out to touch my cheek. "Percy, I'm not saying you have to stop being a hero. I'm just saying that it's okay to take a step back sometimes, to remember who you are beyond the battles and the quests. This isn't okay. I don't like seeing you like this."

"Well, what do you want me to do? Artemis is somewhere out there with the Ophiotaurus."

"She's a goddess. You're not going to be able to hunt her down and catch her," Persephone pointed out, and I had to admit she was making sense. "Just wait for her to simmer down a little bit. In the meantime, just relax. You could come with me."

"Go with you?" I repeated.

"Yes. I don't know the first thing about buying apartments, or city life. You can help me, and in turn, I'll make sure you're decompressing," Persephone said excitedly. "Besides, when was the last time you visited your Mom, hmm?"

"Um," My mind instantly supplied the answer for me. I tried to play it off, "I don't have to answer that question. My lawyer isn't here."

"That's what I thought," Persephone said with a smirk. Her eyes brightened. "Oh, and we can finish watching Suits! Come on, then. Let's get out of this hellhole."

"Ha, ha."

Welcome. Sorry for the wait, but I'll explain why in a second:

This wasn't originally meant to come out when it is. I originally planned on releasing all four parts at once, to really give you guys something to sink your teeth into, but I've since decided that I'll do two and two.

"Wait?" You might be asking yourself. "Four parts to what? Two and two of what?"

Well, I'll tell you what. Percy Jackson and the Multiverse of Madness, baby, that's what!

As you guys know, I like to have small interludes between big chunks of the story, something to kind of take the edge off and help transition the story. At the current stage we're in, I've finished the first half of the Titan's Curse. Mine was a bit different, but as you may or may not remember, it's already been quite a few chapters in. A lot happened, too. MJ's death, meeting Sephy, the construction of Eden, Khione...so much has happened, and so much is yet to happen.

So, before we get to part 2, this interlude will help us transition. It'll tie up some loose ends, get Percy's mentality right before beginning Part 2, and it will have a lot of growth for him and Artemis. You'll see.

Also, it's kind of a thank you from me to you. You guys are awesome, and you deserve a treat for supporting me through almost 500k words. So, just know, there are a lot of surprises waiting in this interlude. Including some...cameos.

That's all. Sorry for the wait!