Summary: Perseus, first-born child of Poseidon and Amphitrite, God of the Stars and Constellations, of Navigation and of the Astral Plane. Patron of Heroes and Mentor to the Goddess Artemis. Sitting upon the ruling council of the Gods for thousands of years – and now facing the end of Olympus.

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Discord server created for Astraeus – A place for Q&A, as well as general discussion of the story and somewhere I will be posting upcoming dates that I plan to update. I will also post there if there is a delay in my schedule, as well as try to take time to speak to people who enjoy the story so far, and even those who take issue with it.

Anyway, thanks to everyone supporting my work and on with the show!

Chapter Fourteen

Arc 1 Finale – Part 2

Heavy boots left deep impressions in the dust and the ash – all that seemingly remained of what was recently a battlefield on a divine scale. As the footfalls halted, Astrum knelt down and allowed his fingertips to brush through the charred earth. It had been quite some time since he was home, and the fact that the first place he arrived was the sight of a battlefield was hardly a coincidence.

The last time he set foot on the world that birthed him was when he laid the foundations for New Rome alongside Lupa, and he'd left it in her care ever since. From what he understood, she was doing a fine job with it. This place, though...somewhere close to the border of Utah and Colorado. This place was far more interesting than a city of mortals, even Rome.

For the first time in thousands of years, his counterpart – the other piece of himself – finally decided to do something worthwhile. A fight against Pluto, or rather, Hades, as well as the Titan whom the pair of them had once destroyed when they were still one being. Krios...he who thought he was allowed to encroach upon that which was not his to claim.

"This is now a restricted area. Lay down your weapons and place your hands behind your back."

The thought of the ancient Titan nearly forced a laugh from his throat. The weakling couldn't hold on to what was his, and he'd already lost a long time ago. His attempts to reclaim it, even from Astrum's weaker half were, quite frankly, embarrassing. The tiny fraction he claimed while working from the shadows was negligible, and if Astraeus didn't take it back soon, Astrum would for certain.

Having taken notice of one of the deeper craters just ahead, he rose to his feet once more and walked around the large vehicle placed in his way. There was some flat, brightly colored plastic stretched out to block his path as well, but he walked through it easily enough and, without hesitation, hopped down into the crater.

"I repeat, you are now under arrest. Don't move!"

Just as he suspected. Gold-colored dust, faint but still present. Remnants of the forces of Pluto. Likely hellhounds or the Furies, if he had to guess. Very useful to the elder God, but likely ineffective in a battle against Titans and Olympians. If his lesser half had fallen victim to them, the second-hand embarrassment would've been unbearable.

Separate as they were, he'd only witnessed flashes of the battle and was attempting to piece everything together through his own observations. Truthfully he hadn't paid it all very much attention until Astraeus began drawing partially on his strength to bring down fragments from the Astral Plane. That had piqued his curiosity, and he was beginning to be glad that it had. This was interesting.

Astrum felt pressure, a small nudge from behind, and then half a dozen more spread across his armored back, and yet another just to the side of his head. Frowning in annoyance, he was just about to turn when he caught sight of the tiny bone fragments. They looked like stone, but upon scooping them from the dirt, he nodded once as he recognized them. Drakon.

Pluto's work.

Grinding them between his fingertips, he allowed the battle to take shape within his thoughts. It had been swift and messy, no doubt. There were fewer signs of the Titan, which meant very little truth be told. He was an inferior being, and likely failed to make much impact when faced against both Astraeus and his uncle. Astrum stood, and was just about to hop out of the crater when he felt it.

Energy, bright and explosive, and very deep within his own territory. Glancing skyward, a frown tilted his mouth dangerously. It was coming from...but no…

"You're not that stupid…" he muttered. Surely not…

Divine energy, and Hydra was furious, as was Scorpius, his cries shrieking through the stars. A direct assault on the House of Light, so very close to his own throne, and to the Primordials themselves. This could not be allowed.

He felt Astraeus, still in Council upon Olympus, just about to intervene. No – a flick of energy across their shared bond stopped his other half from moving. If they wished to truly assault his territory, then they would have to be taught a lesson, and it was clear that Astraeus was failing to make the correct impression. With a single thought, his energy exploded from within as he assumed his divine form and launched himself toward the heavens.

The ruined forces he left behind were inconsequential.

Stagnancy and complacency had infected Olympus.

It was a truth that Athena had come to realize over the course of decades or perhaps even centuries. What was once a thriving place which moved with purpose had become instead an unchanging Pantheon with it's members merely going through the motions. The most recent conflicts, mostly centered around Perseus, had brought that fact into startling clarity, and she felt a very distinct weight pressing on her chest as she watched him face his enemies alone.

They'd known that a threat was at their very doorstep for some time now, and recently it was revealed to be an ancient one, and yet...nothing. Aside from Perseus, nobody was moving. They were attending to their duties as normal and almost pretending as if nothing had changed. The other Gods were watching him struggle – herself included, Athena realized – and still they remained unmoved.

The headstrong nature he'd always favored attributed to his current position heavily, she knew, and made the others somewhat wary of siding too closely with him. Perseus was challenging some of the most powerful immortals to have ever existed, and most of the Gods didn't want to be caught taking sides if everything went bad. While he likely didn't realize it, he was viewed in the same light as the Big Three themselves by most of the divine world, and very few were willing to involve themselves in such dangerous situations,

Perseus claimed to be lesser than them, and they sometimes treated him as if he were, but the truth was obvious to anyone with eyes and some small amount of intelligence.

Athena tried to imagine, for a moment, standing between Zeus, Poseidon and Hades. Standing there and telling them that she'd take them all on for the sake of mortal children…The very image felt flat and fanciful, and she would never. In an instant one of them or all of them would crush her like an insect, regardless of relation. Likewise, she tried to imagine facing Hades and a Titan in open warfare, without restrictions. The sour feeling that developed in her stomach at the thought told her enough on it's own.

While she'd heard Perseus lament over the years the fact that he couldn't stand equal to the Big Three, that was more his own insecurities showing themselves, rather than the actual truth. The truth was that the three brothers were just as wary of him as they were of each other, and while they never backed down from him – the weakness in such an action not something they could allow themselves – they also showed him a level of respect that the rest of the Gods would never likely receive.

Because of this, and despite their own disagreement with the conduct of Hades in recent weeks, when Perseus called for them to pass judgment on the Lord of the Dead there had been silence. They'd all waited for Zeus or for Poseidon to take up the call as well, and when they hadn't, Athena had felt her own throat tighten as she watched him realize that he was truly alone in this.

The others – aside from Artemis – wouldn't stand with him any more than they would stand with Hades, or with Poseidon, and her own fears placed her in the same position, as much as she didn't like to admit it even to herself. They didn't wish to side with him, just in case that meant siding against Zeus. She and Apollo had been willing to stand in the way of Thanatos to stop his interference, but would the same be true of it were one of the Big Three? Not a chance...

Athena rolled the silver coin between her fingers gently, her mind turning over the events which led up to the token finding itself in her possession. The meeting was still in full debate, despite the fact that Perseus had already sent his forces to begin what would be the first major operation in what was certain to be a historic and dangerous conflict between Olympus and her ancient adversaries.

The metal of the coin seemed to burn against her skin, a ridiculous notion which she knew to be entirely a product of her subconscious mind.

It was just another physical representation of public humiliation, and one that Athena found to be undeserved and unnecessarily cruel. She'd witnessed the reaction of Perseus when her father laid his sentence, the way his jaw clenched – the way his eyes flickered to her so very briefly. The knowledge that she, herself had proven so very long ago exactly how to punish him in the most effective way stung sharply. He no doubt remembered in that moment the last time he was humiliated so publicly.

The guilt she'd carried for that day still remained a heavy burden.

Athena thought for a brief moment about just casting the coin aside. Thought about refusing to participate in the foolish and cruel game her father decided upon...but she didn't. Just like before, her own fear of confronting her father, or of openly standing against him stayed her hand.

She wasn't sure where the fear originated from, exactly, only that it had been a part of her from the moment she was born. Perhaps it was the result of having lived within the head of Zeus as she grew, having witnessed all the things he thought about, but never acted upon. If people though he was a ruthless and commanding King by his actions, they would be surprised to know that his thoughts were much, much worse.

He tempered himself for the sake of not alienating the other Gods and turning them against him, but the truth was that he was an extremely powerful and dangerous immortal – far more so than anyone else likely knew. If he'd ever acted on even half of his thoughts….

Athena glanced across the room, ignoring Hera's useless complaints, and saw that her sister had yet to even take possession of her coin. Artemis was sitting upon her throne leisurely, and the coin which was supposed to be hers was still floating lazily in the air in front of her. The child-like Goddess was ignoring it's very existence.

Ever the supporter of Perseus, Artemis was far more likely to throw the object back at their father rather than use it as a bargaining chip. Even if she did take it, Athena had no doubt that she would hand it to Perseus the moment they left the room, just as Zeus likely did.

Athena often wished she had the strength to defy him so openly.

To be fair, Artemis only had that due to Perseus' own protection, and without it she would've bent to their father's will long ago. Zeus had tried, in the past, to come down on Artemis in the same fashion he did the rest of them. He was only met with his nephew standing firm in his way. The ability to assert his meaningless control over Artemis wasn't worth the trouble of facing Perseus, and so he relented. Another sliver of proof that Zeus respected the strength of his nephew.

His strength was just another reason Athena was hesitant to take the coin in the first place. This punishment would end, eventually, and when it did there was no doubt in her mind that Perseus would seek retaliation for those who went above and beyond to humiliate him.

With that thought, her eyes flickered over to her foolish older brother, Ares, who'd allowed his jealousy of Perseus to override his own reasoning. Ares was far from stupid, but Perseus had become a blind spot for him over the years, and it was as if every intelligent thought left his head when confronted with the one he considered his greatest rival. It was amusing, usually, but it was bordering on a hindrance now and with the stress he was currently under, Perseus was unlikely to keep allowing the younger God to take liberties.

The pair of them had held a rivalry since before she was born, though it seemed as if it were almost entirely one-sided. Ares was jealous of Perseus and the strength he held, jealous of the trust the elder Gods had for him. It was common knowledge that he was one of the few who were held in confidence by several of the Primordials, and in return he had the ear of Aether and Hemera. They were powerful allies, though they were unlikely to involve themselves in the warring of their younger descendants.

Zeus looked to him and often entrusted him with tasks he would ask of no other. The demigods looked to him as a leader and a protector, and he received likely ten times the amount of offerings from the mortal children than any other God. The humans now more than ever before looked to his realm of navigation in their daily lives, and they held a fascination with the stars that was quickly becoming all consuming – nearly every nation the world over looking outward for answers and knowledge.

He was, perhaps unknowingly, becoming one of the most worshiped Gods in human history, even amongst those who claimed a different faith.

Lost as she was in her thoughts, Athena shook herself as she barely caught the end of whatever Artemis was saying.

"-unters and I will strike out west this evening, and begin looping north toward the border of Canada. We'll start looking for signs of a gathering force, though it's just as likely we'll miss it if they're further south or west. Even so, the enemy cannot hide from the wild. Wherever they tread, the predators of the world will see them."

"We'll have to start monitoring the coastlines," Poseidon nearly growled, his features still set into the unhappy expression they were in when he arrived earlier in the day. "Oceanus is working in the deeper reaches, but it isn't impossible for him to hide a small force from my sight in the shallower coastal waters while my focus is elsewhere."

The idea was concerning to Athena, just as much as Krios taking a small portion of the stars for himself. They'd been under the control of Olympus since before she was born – she'd never known anything else – and she found discomfort in the thought of the forces of nature being taken from them.

"Apollo will watch for what he can observe by day, and Artemis by night," Zeus responded, his eyes somewhat unfocused as his thoughts seemed to race. "I'll have the Anemoi begin their vigil as well, though I find it very unlikely that they would seek refuge in the sky before they have a means to hide themselves from my sight. If they attempt it, they will only do so once."

"Anything my Guardians find will be relayed to the Council, though I expect it will take some ti-" Perseus was cut off mid sentence by something, his eyes raising as if he could look through the ceiling.

It was only a moment later that the rest of them felt the disturbance. Divine energy exploding through the heavens, and though it was distant, it was heavy and oppressive. Something was happening far, far above the world, and deep within Perseus' territory. The exact nature of whatever was occurring was shrouded from her senses, but Athena knew that if she could feel it then so could the rest of them.

Perseus scowled, a fierce expression that seemed to dominate his features more and more often recently, and he looked as if he were about to leave. However, a second later, he settled back into his seat and his expression smoothed.

"What is it?" Zeus asked sharply.

"Nothing to concern yourself with, for the moment at least," he said calmly, though there was still a ferocity behind his gaze. "It's being handled."

Then they felt it – a wash of energy that was so very much like Perseus himself, but so very different at the same time. It originated to the west and the south, and it flared across their senses like the beacon of a lighthouse. A searing, smoldering heat that belonged not to Greece at all, but to Rome. It was massive and terrifying and just barely leashed, and in the space of a heartbeat it was launching itself from the surface of the world to the heavens above it.

Astrum had returned, it seemed, and just the thought of him caused Athena's form to flicker within her seat. Minerva was almost there, but then she was gone and it was Athena once more.

Zeus' form never changed, but he was staring at Perseus now with an entirely different expression. A calculating, wary gaze that she was not used to seeing him wear. "What, exactly, is happening?" he questioned firmly.

Perseus almost smiled, but apparently thought better of it and shook his head, facing Zeus more fully. "You wanted a Titan at your feet? If I were you, I'd prepare to part with your coin."

Astrum's divine form tore through the heavens like a comet, and within moments he was within reach of the disturbance. His body formed with a thought, though he never slowed, and he bent the stars to his will, forcing both Scorpius and Hydra aside. He received the first glimpse of his enemy, a Titan as he expected, but he was moving far too fast for him to get an accurate look.

It didn't matter.

He slammed into the wounded Titan with an immense force, and hammered him straight through the sealed doors of the Palace, an earth-rending boom echoing as he broke through every layer of protection which kept the doors sealed tightly. The fool wished to breach the Palace and access the interior, and he'd gotten exactly what he wanted, but he'd soon wish he hadn't.

Surrounded by his own realm, the stars blazed to life even as his enemy was sent bleeding and skidding across the entryway. The repeated 'clank' as both armor and weapon bounced off the crystal floors echoed through the cavernous room, but Astrum gave his enemy no time to recover. He was a fool to reach so deep into the Astral Plane, and there would be no help for him here. This wouldn't be anything close to a fair fight, but he didn't much care.

Upon a raised dais at the far end of the room was a crystal throne – his throne – and the fact that this wretched creature thought that he could intrude here meant that he would be forced to paint the heavens with his essence.

'Zeus wants him alive,' a voice whispered across his mind. Astraeus.

'Very well, but he'll wish he wasn't,' Astrum replied, and then he severed their connection completely. This was no longer anyone's fight but his own.

"So-" his enemy tried to speak, but Astrum was already upon him as he attempted to stand. He recognized the armor, dark as it was. Stygian Iron, with a shining clear diamond in the breastplate and his helm in the shape of a bear's head. White hair and beard, and cold blue eyes – Koios, Titan of the North. If he were allowed to stand he would've reached roughly fifteen feet, but even as he attempted to defend himself with his massive broadsword, Astrum swept it aside with his armored forearm.

He didn't want to talk and he didn't really care what the Titan had to say. His intentions were obvious – destroy the throne and weaken Astraeus, allowing Krios the opening he'd need to take the stars for himself. Koios was the Titan of Farsight, Intellect, and Knowledge, and it's likely he would've succeeded in his plan if Astraeus and Astrum weren't separated as they were. Unfortunately for him, Astrum left all of his weaknesses behind when he left Greece, and his enemy had certainly never dealt with the likes of him before.

The broadsword of his enemy gave little resistance – he wasn't even standing fully enough to hold any leverage – and Astrum's free right hand pulsed with starlight as he hammered it into the diamond in the center of the Titan's chest. He could see the fountain of blood practically pouring out of his rib-cage from beneath the armor – a product of Scorpius' initial attack – and Astrum knew that this fight would not be a difficult one.

The searing starlight caused the creature to roar in agony as he was nearly launched away, but Astrum caught hold of his extended sword arm with his right hand and spun, bringing his left elbow into a brutal strike against Koios' extended one. The roar turned to a near howl as his arm gave beneath the forceful strike and bent too far in the opposite direction, forcing him to release his weapon.

Koios was becoming frantic, he could see, and swung wildly with his other hand. Astrum ducked, allowing the strike to sail overhead, and brought his right fist against the punctured ribs of his enemy. The choking gasp of what was no doubt horrendous agony was like music to the Roman God.

Disarmed and severely weakened, with only a single functioning arm, and ichor pouring out from his wound, he was no longer truly a threat, though in truth he never had been. Still, the Titan was immortal, and it would take more than that to bring him even close to death. He could take some more before Astrum ran the risk of defying his King.

A foot to his instep, forcing a stumble, and then a sweeping kick to take his legs from beneath him. The grunt as his back crashed into the floor was nearly swallowed by the howl as Astrum's armored boot crushed the Titan's left knee between it and the unforgiving floor.

Koios sucked in a gasping breath, crying "Please-"

He'd find no mercy here.

From deep within the Palace Astrum summoned a length of bronze chain, and before Koios could do more than scramble a foot or so backwards, Astrum was upon him once more. The first loop of the chain wrapped around his legs, and with a single thought Astrum tightened them until they were crushing muscle and bone. Koios tried to sit up and reach for his legs, but that action only allowed the God to immediately wrap them around his neck as well.

There would be no escape, he was now officially caught. The Titans cold blue eyes were wide and pleading, even as Astrum moved behind him and pulled. The chain snapped tight, and with a single motion it wrapped itself like a serpent around his arms and chest. Still he pulled more, his hands shaking as he attempted to pull the chain through the bastard's neck.

The stress of the past several weeks bled into him, the fights, the fury and the goddamn humiliation as the entire divine world seemed to turn upon him at once.

Hades

Hestia

Krios

Zeus

Ares

Fucking everyone thought that they could test him, that they could humiliate him. The stars themselves blazed with his fury and he pulled harder. His energy roared in his ears…

Suddenly it was gone, and there was a woman standing there with honey-blonde hair and eyes the color of sunrise. "Calm, child," Hemera whispered gently. "Now is not the time to lose yourself to your rage."

Astrum realized that he was panting, his breath heaving from his chest and his hands stained golden with his own ichor around the chain. His enemy was near catatonic, barely even breathing at all, and he'd very nearly killed the bastard.

"Go to the observatory and center yourself," she said calmly. "I'll summon Taurus to deliver your captive to Olympus."

Astrum nodded slowly, releasing the chain and allowing Koios to drop to the floor. With slow, measured steps, he exited the room through the door to the east, the crystal walls of the House of Light swallowing him whole once more.

Perseus opened his eyes slowly to a silent room, and it only took a single moment to realize everyone was staring at him. He didn't much care, though he did notice that harsh shadows were being cast across the room from the blazing light within his throne. A single breath, and he allowed the energy to dissipate.

Whatever that was had been...cathartic.

For a short period of time he'd stared through the eyes of his other half, and he'd released some of the pent up rage and helplessness that seemed to plague him night and day. The constant losses, one after another, and all the while it seemed like someone was there to kick him while he was down.

The low blow by Hades, when he was trying to combat an assault on his realm…

The betrayal of Hestia, when he had his enemy all but destroyed…

The attack by Zeus, which nearly killed him…

The way Krios cornered and attacked his daughter…

Hades, interfering once more and allowing his enemy to escape, without the good manners of at least dying for it…

And then Zeus, once more trying to humiliate him with his fucking coins. All the while, Ares taunted him for the sidelines. He'd had enough of it all, and something had to give. He wasn't just going to become the punching bag for every immortal who thought they could get away with it.

Even with all that aside, however, he wasn't sure exactly what happened moments ago. He and Astrum had always been linked – they began as one being – but they'd never done more than share small amounts of energy between one another. Whatever that was, it was something new. It had taken Hemera to separate them once more, which was somewhat worrisome.

Perseus wasn't really sure if it was himself who'd decided to remove his worst qualities, or if it was Astrum who'd decided to remove what he saw as weakness. Either way, they were separate for a reason and he didn't want to get stuck as some hybrid of the two, out of control and allowing his emotions to consume him.

"The hell crawled up your skirt, punk?" Ares finally asked, the first to break the silence with his normal tact.

"Shut up," Perseus responded, in no mood to deal with the child.

He could feel Taurus approaching, Hemera being true to her word, and he slowly rose from his throne. The others were still watching him warily, and he noticed Hestia staring up at him from her hearth, but he ignored them all and walked toward the door. It opened at his approach to reveal a wash of starlight in the shape of a massive bull.

There was a bronze chain wrapped around his horns, and tangled within it was the broken form of a Titan, slumped against the floor and appearing as if he were dragged behind the bull all the way to the throne room. Golden ichor stained much of his dark armor, his helm was gone, and Perseus saw for the first time just what Astrum had done to the ancient immortal. Both his arm and leg were bound awkwardly, clearly broken, and a steady stream of ichor was still pooling from beneath his breastplate. His neck was mangled beneath the chain, and his face swollen and bruised with thick, bulging veins visible from having been nearly beheaded by such a blunt object.

Uncaring of his enemy, Perseus was just relieved that for once he'd be taking the win. Koios didn't know it, nor did Zeus, but within the next several moments the Titan was going to serve as a message for the rest of those gathered, as well as his other enemies who hid themselves from his sight.

Perseus took hold of the chain from Taurus, and a single thought sent his subject back to his rest. Meanwhile, heedless of the whispered mutters he could hear from the Council, he began walking back into the throne room – the Titan's armor along with the chain creating a distinct sound as the metals scraped against marble and dragged behind him. The doors closed once more with a grinding whisper.

He had his eyes locked with his King, and he didn't allow them to stray as he approached. Zeus was silent, he noticed, staring at him just as intently. When he'd finally approached his uncle's throne, Perseus gave a sharp pull against the chain, and the limp, tightly bound form of his enemy rolled to a stop in front of him.

"I present you Koios, Titan of the North," Perseus said firmly. "You asked for a Titan at the foot of your throne, and you have it. I'll take that coin now, Uncle."

Zeus held his stoic expression, though his eyes were slightly narrowed as if in thought. Perseus knew he'd surprised him this time. Only hours ago he'd made what should have been an unreasonable demand, and to see it fulfilled so swiftly likely had the King flat-footed. It didn't matter. Perseus completed his task, and he would accept no less than Zeus promised him.

Scorpius had hunted the intruder for weeks, and this time the Fates smiled upon him and allowed the hunt to finish just as he was in need of it. Though likely not what he expected, there was no argument Zeus could give for the completion of his demand.

Slowly, the King nodded, and flicked the silver coin across the empty space between them. Perseus caught it easily, and nodded in return.

Business concluded, he slipped the coin into his belt line – his armor didn't have pockets – and dragged the bound form of Koios closer to him. He twisted him, pulling him up until he was in a semi-seated position, and watched as the Titan's head seemed to roll loosely upon his shoulders. Perseus slapped him lightly, twice, trying to gain his focus.

He wasn't dead, just likely wished he were, as Astrum promised.

He received little more than a groaning whimper, and Koios' head rolled forward once more, unresponsive.

"What are you doing?" Zeus questioned quietly.

"I've presented him to you, as promised, but he's still my prisoner," Perseus answered, shaking the Titan slightly. "He was caught in my territory, trying to usurp my rule, and thus he is mine to deal with."

Another shake, and a light slap, and Perseus finally saw him blink ever so slightly. "Hey, asshole, wake up!" Koios seemed to draw in a rattling, shaking breath, but when he tried to respond it sounded more like a sob. Disgusting. He should know better than to display such weakness to his enemies. "Wake up and answer me, or I'm going to hang you from that chain off the edge of this city!"

Once more, he groaned weakly, a huff of breath escaping his damaged body, and Perseus saw from his peripheral that some of the council were shifting uncomfortably. Demeter, he saw, had her head turned away and her eyes closed. She'd never been particularly comfortable with violence. To his left, he could see his own father watching on silently, unmoved by the wreckage he'd dragged into the room.

"Wake up, Koios, you useless shit!" Perseus demanded. "Right now, you're going to contact your brothers, and pierce the defenses surrounding them so we can have a little chat."

The Titan moaned in agony, attempting to shake his head negatively. In response, Perseus tightened the chain around his throat, and suddenly Koios seemed to come to life, his eyes wide as he gasped and struggled against his bonds with as much strength as he could muster, "Please, please…" he rasped, his damaged throat twisting his voice into something scratchy and broken.

Perseus would have no pity for him, and he'd just given him all he needed. He showed his fear, his terror, and that was all the God would need to make him comply. "If you don't contact them, right now, I'm going to squeeze this chain until I rip your fucking head off. Do it, now!"

"Perce-" Hermes began, clearly attempting to intervene, but Perseus cut him off. "Stay out of this, Hermes."

He stared into the bright, terrified eyes of Koios, and tightened the chain just slightly more, making clear that he certainly wasn't joking. Perseus saw as the sense of defeat finally overcame the captive immortal, and Koios nodded his head sharply. "The-" he choked a cough once more. "The charm, on my neck."

Perseus released the chain, tugging it to the side to reveal a thin golden necklace, smashed from the rough treatment, and dangling innocently from it was a bent golden charm that was once in the shape of a scythe. The symbol of Kronos...fucking hell…

"This is what allows you access through the defenses?" Perseus demanded, ripping it off his neck. Koios nodded again sharply, his mouth pressed firmly closed. "Then don't move."

Perseus released his hold on Koios, and snapped his fingers to summon a thin, falling mist. "Iris, show me the Titan stronghold in Alaska," he commanded, flicking the charm through the mist, which consumed it immediately.

"At once, Perseus," the disembodied voice answered. Technically, while she called herself a Goddess, Iris was a Titan and still had access to the forbidden land. The charm would, theoretically, allow her access to their enemies.

"Astraeus, what is the meaning of this?" Zeus asked, his eyes narrowed as the mist darkened under Iris' control.

Perseus ignored him, watching as the darkness cleared to show a room that would be familiar to the others from Thalia's vision, but which Perseus only knew of by its description. There were three immortals seated around the long table, one of which he recognized as Krios, while the other two were Perses and Prometheus, none of them a welcome sight to the Gods.

"Koios, it's about time you-" the voice of Prometheus was cut off as they no doubt saw that they were faced with the Olympian Council, and a chair clattered harshly as Krios stood immediately.

"You and your worthless kin have declared open war for control of the world. Your cowardly attacks and underhanded tactics have exposed you, and we accept your challenge." Perseus declared harshly. "First blood goes to Olympus."

Without warning, Perseus summoned Tmima, and even as Zeus stood to call for him to halt, he brought it screaming down toward the kneeling, wide-eyed form of Koios. The blade cut through chain and bone easily, singing with his own power, and there was a massive flash of golden light as the Titan was destroyed utterly.

"Brother!" Krios roared, just as the backlash of energy released from an immortal dying rushed through the mist and cut off the connection.

For just an instant there was silence in the throne room, and Perseus glanced around at the wide-eyed and shocked faces of his family. "You all have your coins, spend them wisely," he remarked seriously. Assuming his divine form, Perseus took his leave of the Council for the day. He needed to seek answers which only Hemera could seemingly give.

He barely heard the question from Ares at the last possible moment, apparently directed toward Zeus. "Does that count as fighting in the throne room again?"

As night draped itself across the world and the trees began to swallow the group of young maidens beneath her care, Artemis halted and turned her eyes toward the stars above. For the first time in a very long time she felt content, even despite the dangers that awaited them in the coming months and years.

She could feel his gaze looking down upon them, the one who'd always looked out for her and was finally beginning to emerge once more. That unbreakable strength, that overpowering figure which would not be moved was slowly showing himself to the world again, and she was glad.

The man who executed his enemy and stood firm against the foes of Olympus – that was a true look at the one who raised her. The one she'd looked to as a father and mentor in her early days. The one who taught her what it meant to be a Goddess, and what it meant to take her place in the world. It was just a glimpse, but it gave her hope for the future that, one day, she would stand alongside Astraeus once more.

He wasn't there yet, and just before he left Olympus, she'd seen the regression into the one who was only Perseus, but it was enough. In the same way he supported her so long ago, she would return the favor and stand by his side as he figured out who he truly was again. He was her father, mentor, and friend, no matter the form he took. She'd stood at his side when he was Astraeus, and even when he called himself Perseus. When they left for Rome, Diana stood at the side of Astrum with just as much loyalty. This would never change.

Ahead of her, her lieutenant lead the girls deeper into the wood and away from Camp Half-Blood, and she was happy that once more her Hunt was complete. The addition of Bianca and Clarisse was very pleasing to her, and for the moment, it felt like the Fates were standing firmly beside her.

Hardship would come, but for now the Moon and the Stars were once more in alignment.

Author's Note: So, this is Chapter 14, and the end of Arc 1.

I've written and re-written a dozen scenes for this, trying to make it perfect. And then I realized I didn't have to make it perfect. There is still a large majority of the story to get through, and not everything has to be tied into a neat bow with this one chapter.

I do hope some readers will be happy to see Perseus finally take a real W for once, though you can be certain the future holds a mix of highs and lows. I also understand that Koios wasn't a fleshed-out character, and so his death doesn't really mean much, but it was meant more as an opening to the larger war to come, and he never played a part in the Titan war in canon, aside from a minor mention if I remember right.

I also wanted to give some insight to Astrum as a character, though he isn't likely to be a main focus for a little while. That could change, depending on how my outline for the next Arc stands up to my writing. Sometimes I make a decision and scrap half of the outline to go in a different direction.

Arc 2 will see a small time-jump, though not anything too drastic.

Arc 2 will return to the normal format, and Thalia will play a larger role. It will be mostly from her and Perseus' viewpoint, with the occasional interlude. The other Gods will only be given scenes from their viewpoint rarely, such as they have in the two finale chapters. I'd like to keep the story consistent.

Coming soon, we will take a dive into Atlantis, and it wouldn't really be a true section of the story without a demigod Quest as well.

Hope you are all still interested in the story, even after the break I took. I don't know if I can ever go back to updating every week / 2 weeks, as that was taking all of my free time outside of work and isn't really sustainable for me. I will continue the story, though, and it will not be abandoned unless I say that it is. Even if I take a break for a while.

I also have another project that might steal my focus for a bit, but I will still return to this one.

As always, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed. Review if you want to, don't if you don't.