The Guardian of Atlantis - Old Gen
When they reached the dock to the Upper-world, Percy said his thanks before walking to the exit.
He smiled a little. But after thinking of what he could do and what he would do to Theater Queen and the rest of the Olympians.
His smile became a grin.
Percy punched another monster in the face. He was currently invading another monster camp. He had built a new reputation, a new name, and he lived to uphold it.
He was no longer Percy Jackson, the Hero of Olympus. That was a couple months ago. The Monsters gave him his new name. They gave him something to live for.
He was now known as Apoth, translated as demise or death in English.
Apoth wore a dark cloak and a hood that covered his face, but sometimes you could see his eyes. Red like blood they were terrifying. Of course, if you were close enough to see his eyes you're already as good as dead. He had black gauntlets that hid his blades similar to the ones in Assassin's Creed. He wore Stygian iron combat boots and a Stygian iron chest plate. A dark aura surrounded him.
A telekhine swung its sword at Apoth's neck. Apoth dodged before grabbing the telekhine's sword to block a sword swing directed at his back. He swung his elbow down onto the telekhines' arm, breaking it. He pierced the telekhines' armor and decapitated the monster behind him in a few swift motions.
His eyes glowed red through his hood as he controlled two dracaenae to stab each other. Apoth chuckled, motioning the monsters to attack him. An arrow whistled towards him, but Apoth simply raised his hand catching the arrow inches from his head. Apoth leapt forward. He was getting bored.
He crashed into a hellhound, bringing the arrow into its chest, ending another miserable life. Apoth charged forward, bringing his hidden blades into an empousa. He rolled over her fading back, dodging a spear by a few inches.
He used his momentum to crash into a dracaenae, bringing it down. His hands pulsed red as he clenched his fists. Apoth raised his left hand casually as he caught a spear. He snapped it in half using the two pieces to beat back the legion of monsters.
He jumped forward, thrusting the broken spear into a cyclops. The few remaining monsters fell till there was only Apoth and the Nemean Lion.
"Finally, a possible challenge," Apoth muttered, bracing himself for the monster of legends.
The Nemean Lion charged furiously. Its golden fur glinted in the sun as it's sharp claws tore through the terrain. Apoth slowly turned around grabbing two spears that laid on the ground. The Nemean Lion approached at speeds almost uncatchable to the eye.
Apoth took a deep breath, grounding his teeth. He flexed his jaw. He exhaled. Everything slowed. They locked gazes just as the Nemean Lion opened its jaw. Apoth leaped forward, crashing into the Lion. It wasn't fair.
Apoth flew backward losing the spears he had grabbed. He groaned, rubbing his head.
"Thank the Primordials I have that blessing of Achilles," he muttered, lifting himself up. The Nemean Lion seemed to mock Apoth as it circled the fallen boy.
All of a sudden it pounced. Apoth dodged right, but its claws clung to his back, cutting through his armor. He screamed in anger, not pain, clenching his fist. Apoth turned, and in one swift motion, he punched the lion to the ground. He spat the saliva out of his mouth, cradling his hand.
Apoth stalked forward, grabbing two short spears off of the ground. In a series of swift motions, he climbed up onto its back, knowing stabbing it would do nothing so he moved towards the eyes.
The Nemean Lion growled, raising itself off the ground. It roared attempting to shake off the extremely powerful demigod. He held onto its fur as it tried to shake him off. He flexed his fingers. He leaned forward, crashing the pair of spears into the Nemean Lion's eyes.
It roared painfully, and in response, Apoth jumped off. Midair he grabbed a spear out of the monster's eye and backed away. He then threw the spear into its mouth as it roared. The roar shook the trees and pushed Apoth backward, but it left the lion vulnerable.
Once the spear made contact the Nemean Lion's insides, burst into golden particles.
In its wake laid the Nemean Lion's claws. They were said to be able to cut through the toughest material and were more durable than any other known metal. Apoth grinned. He leaned down, attempting to lift the massive weight. He grunted in frustration when he wasn't able to lift them. Apoth leaned back up and took a step back, trying to use his brain for once.
He came to the conclusion of transporting the claws through the Earth. He walked backward enough to give him some room to operate on the "patient".
Apoth took a slow stride forward before gaining speed. When he neared the claws he vaulted upward, almost to the point where he could touch the top of the trees. His joy ride in the sky slowed and he started to descend towards the ground. When he landed he caused a massive earthquake and a crack swallowed the claws.
He cracked a grin at his work and sealed the earth back up with a flick of his wrist. Man, he could compete with Theater Queen with his own dramatics, "Watch out Zeus, you got competition," Apoth chuckled.
Apoth stood there, thinking of what to do with his lucky find. Many years later, but was actually only five minutes, he got an idea.
"Weapons," Apoth said gleefully, he didn't have any weapons, besides his hidden blades and throwing knives.
He left the forest in search of the best crafters, the Hecatonchires.
Briares stood guard outside of Poseidon's palace, he was appointed as the head guard of defenses of Atlantis. He had been recognized during the second Titan war and Poseidon himself asked of Briares to accept the duty.
But as much of an honor it was, it was rather boring to him. He didn't get the feel of the sea waters flowing across his arms in battle. No, that was for the army themselves, not him, the guard of Atlantis, not the warrior. He hated protecting that palace, there was no excitement in it.
His adrenaline never pumped and he never had the opportunity to fight since he pummeled that giant crab back in the second Titan war. He played with his many fingers as he sat outside of Atlantis. He sighed as he stopped his form of enjoyment, getting bored of it.
He cleared his throat in boredom and sighed once more. He closed his eyes and started to sleep on the job. Almost immediately after he closed his eyes the sound of conch horns being blown disturbed him. He dashed to his feet and prepared for the possible threat approaching the sea city.
Atlantean Guards poured out of the city walls and swam in formation more out to sea. As Briares started to follow the soldiers, the commander, who marched at the back, stopped him, "Guardian, stay and protect the city, this could be a possible diversion."
Briares saluted in understanding and went back to his original spot.
"We have the rest of the army on the East and West side, we will go to the South of the city and you will protect the North," the commander commanded.
Briares nodded before putting on his Atlantean Gold helmet that had red feathers sprouting from the back of it. He proceeded to put the rest of his Sea gold armor on, starting with his chest plate than moving over to the armored leggings. By then the army was at a rather large distance away from the North side, where Briares was protecting.
After about an hour and no attacks, Briares began to wonder why the horns were blown if no danger had occurred. He turned towards the city of Atlantis expecting it to be in greek flames but the city wasn't touched.
His eyebrows scrunched up in puzzlement, 'what is going on?'
Briares turned back to the open sea, the army was long gone towards the South side. Briares turned to the East and West side, they were still in guarding formation, waiting for the attack. He turned back to Atlantis and then to the sea. He narrowed his eyes and leaned forward in an attempt to see something but nothing appeared.
He un-scrunched his eyes and leaned back into a comfortable position, waiting and waiting. His eyes snapped open and his muscles tensed as he felt something in the water. It wasn't large, no it was actually as small as a mortal.
He couldn't see it but it was definitely there, somewhere in the sea, somewhere outside of Atlantis, somewhere in front of him. Briares then started to see the presence of the figure's effect on the sea. The sea turned a darker shade of blue even for the bottom of the ocean.
The ocean's currents stopped and the seaweed stood still. The figure didn't swim but rather walked across the sea's surface. It was cloaked in a black cloak and when the cloak parted you could catch a glimpse of black armor.
The cloak had a hood that covered the face of the stranger and the figure smelled of the ocean, but also of death. No, the figure couldn't smell of death because the scent was too strong of it. Even if it were Hades the scent of death was too much.
Briares growled and got into a fighting stance, "Who are you, and what business do you have in Atlantis."
The cloaked warrior chuckled and moved the cloak out from in front of him to reveal his set of weapons.
Throwing knives and daggers galore, metals he hasn't seen except when he was in Tartarus. "Well Hecantonchires, I have come for you, not for the destruction of this wonderful city." the cloaked man snarled when he said the word wonderful.
Briares took a step back at the sound of the voice. Familiar, yet it wasn't. "Who are you?" Briares demanded.
The figure smirked, "Apoth, my name is Apoth and nothing else," Apoth said smirking.
Briares snarled and slashed his arms up causing the sea to start towards Apoth. Apoth, not seeing it coming, looked down and held his arms in front of his face in a way to protect himself.
The sea swirled around Apoth's body and made his hood fall off his head. When the water stopped its movement, Briares prepared to unleash another wave of water.
Apoth let his arms fall back to his sides and looked up at Briares. Briares took a step back and gaped at the person he saw.
"Perseus," Briares gasped out. But the Perseus he knew wasn't the one in front of him.
The Perseus he knew didn't have pale skin. The Perseus he knew didn't have bloody red eyes. The Perseus he knew didn't have red streaks in his hair. And the Perseus he knew didn't reek of death.
Apoth narrowed his eyes at the Hecantonchires, "That is not me, I am Apoth, Death, and destroyer of monsters."
Briares didn't notice the way he capitalized the D on death. Briares kept his guard up but asked his question in a relaxed tone, "Of what assistance do you need of me Pers-Apoth?"
Apoth grinned as Briares called him by his name, "I need you to make weapons for me."
Briares' muscles relaxed and his posture formed into one of confusion. "Why?" Apoth's grin remained as Briares asked that question.
"I need the best weapons and I need the best to make the best," Apoth praised.
Briares thought of the pros and cons of the option he was presented with. He came to the conclusion that he still owed Perseus.
"Of course, Apoth."
Apoth's grin formed into a genuine smile, "Thanks, Briares."
Briares nodded. "So when and where will we be creating these weapons of yours?" Briares questioned.
Apoth smirked, "Now, we will be visiting the wondrous Mt. St Helens."
Briares nodded, and the two set off in the direction of the surface.