12th June 2005
Seattle
Gill's POV
"Come on, you sure you don't wanna put on this collar?" The woman, with long auburn hair and brilliant green eyes, asks me. She wears an orange sweatshirt and pants, with a logo on her chest, and a cap on her head. On one of her fingers, she holds a metal collar, and with my Observe, I can tell it's a shock collar designed to make the prisoner obey. "It would look really cute on you"
"I'm sure it would," I grin to the worker, and lean to her ear, "But alas, I'm more… dominant, than you Amazonians like." Ah, the Amazonians, fearsome warriors that can rival the Spartans, who also run one of the fastest growing online delivery services. Well, the mortal side isn't quite there yet, but their mythological side of business is really quite amazing. I've heard that even the Egyptian magicians have taken to buying materials from Amazon.
It seems however, that I caught the Amazonian off guard, considering how her face flushed with red. Kinda figured she could take more, considering that the Amazonians are meant to be the dominatrix queens of the Percy Jackson Universe. Although, there was some discourse as to whether their male slaves that they kept were there out of their own free will, so naturally I did some investigating myself.
Yeah, those guys are kinky as fuck. But at least they're kinky as fuck consensually.
"H-how about I just get you your package." She stutters before running out of the room. I am a little confused that she's so flustered, let alone flirted with me in the first place. I might be more physically fit than the average twelve-year-old, but I'm twelve regardless. Might have to check her hard drives. Or it could be because of my Charisma stat.
It was a pretty quick trip from New York to Seattle. Unlike the first time I went on a flight, there were thankfully no giant flying monsters' intent on destroying the plane. And the Amazon catalogue had their headquarters address on the back. Honestly, way easier than last time. I'm pretty glad that the Amazonians also do pick-up as well, though I suspect that might disappear when the internet really takes off.
A couple minutes pass by, and finally someone comes back, holding a box. Strangely, it's not the woman that had just left, but rather someone a little younger, maybe 18 or 19? She has a typical customer service smile, and has black hair tied in pigtails and freckles. "Here is your package!" She says with a smile, placing the box on the desk in front of me. She pulls out a clipboard from what I assume is a cupboard beneath the desk. "Just sign this please!"
As I sign the waivers and what-not, making sure I read every single word and not miss an ink of small-print, the Amazonian kept talking. "Hey, I couldn't help but look at what you ordered, and I've gotta say, it's super strange."
I look up to the girl, and ask, "How so?"
"Well, it's just that the item is really expensive, and frankly we barely know its functions." She comments, with a slight suspicious tone. "The only reason it cost so much is because we've had it in our stock for centuries. I'm surprised you even knew it existed. It's like in the back end of the catalogue."
I chuckle, as I lift the clipboard to return it to her, "Ah, well let's just say I know a guy" And that guy just happens to be me. Using my raven form, I snuck inside the Amazonian's warehouse and searched around for any good items that could help me and my little schemes. And let me tell you, I found some good shit. I mean seriously, the Amazonians have stuff from other pantheons! Annoyingly, I couldn't steal them. The security around the warehouse was far too tight, and I could sense some magic in the air which led me to believe that there could be some sort of silent alarm that would ring if something got stolen. Lucky for me, I have more than enough drachma to get what I need.
I take the box, and walk out, but before I properly leave, a funny little idea comes to mind. I open the taped box with ease and take out the item I had bought.
A necklace.
The beautiful piece of jewellery looked so refine and elegant that you wouldn't even be able to tell that it's nearly a thousand years old. It has a silver chain that seem to twist into one another like thread, and it's adorned with a silver portrayal of a woman, with blue jewels in place of her eyes. When I touch, I feel the calm tranquillity of a lake, I see flashes of legends, of a woman made of water giving a young boy a sword, of the same women giving a knight the very necklace I'm holding. I see another woman and the knight with the necklace fall in love. And then I see the knight, close to death by the hand of his friend, followed by his rescue by the woman made of water. And then, finally I see the knight and his saviour, holding hands in love, with the enchanted necklace thrown into a river, lost to time.
Until now.
I grin, as I put the necklace around my neck. I can feel the rivers of Britain flowing through my veins, a distant memory of what they once were. Pure and clean, and true beauty that is long forgotten by human memory. It's an invigorating feeling, as if I had a long day at the spa. I use Observe on the necklace and grin.
Name: Necklace of Nimue
Type: Accessories
Rank: S
Item Effects: +300% to Charisma stat, Ability to Breathe lakes and rivers, Upon the Destruction of the Necklace the user will gain Level 500 Hydrokinesis for 10 seconds.
Item Description: A necklace that was once worn by Nimue, one of the many water spirits who've taken the title of the Lady of the Lake.
This necklace was given to Sir Pelleas as a reward for assisting Nimue across a river, whilst she was in the disguise of an old woman. Using the power of this Necklace, Sir Pelleas used it to enchant a noblewoman into falling in love with him.
However, once he gave the necklace to the noble, her love for him disappeared, leaving him humiliated and heartbroken.
Nimue would later ask a knight known as Sir Gawain to bring Pelleas to his senses, but Gawain too would also fall in love with the noblewoman, and instead betrays Pelleas, leaving him on the brink of death. Nimue would save Pelleas, and the two fall in love.
They would later live in a hidden fairy city, where they would be happily married forever.
The last enchantment Nimue casted upon her necklace was for it to return to her upon its destruction, though also allowing the previous wearer gain her mastery over water for a limited time
I laugh at the ridiculously powerful necklace around my neck. To think, a relic from Arthurian legend was merely gathering dust in an Amazonian warehouse. I'd love to hear how they found the thing. Frankly, I had a straight up heart attack when I saw it. I thought I had finally lost my mind. And to think! It only cost 500 Drachma! Sure, that was around half of how much I had, but personally, I would've sold something like this for thousands!
My Charisma stat is now in the 5000's, and what better way is there to test it than with the nice Amazonian standing by the desk.
With a pleasant smile, I walk over to her, and immediately notice the blush on her face. "Hey, there was something I wanted to ask you, if you don't mind" I give her a wink, and relish at the sight of her blushing. I stifle a chuckle at her flustered reaction, thinking a thousand different things she wanted to say. I decide to save her the embarrassment. "It's just that, I'm a huge fan of gossip, y'know? And I've always wondered, what kind of secrets go about the Amazons…"
Still red, the woman looks around, as if to see if there was anyone peeping in. "I don't know… I shouldn't tell strangers stuff like that…"
"Aww, come on. Look at me, don't I look trustworthy?" When she turns to me, I give her a flirtatious wink. I could practically see the steam coming off her face.
"I-I well, I guess there's something I could tell you…" She answers, holding her left arm close to her body with her right, "We got a new shipment of items, and Aerie, our queen, has put it in top priority. Our best soldiers, the Senior Managers, are there, and we don't even know what's inside it. Only Queen Aerie. I did hear it was from outside America, but I can't be sure."
"Oh really?" I ask inquisitively, making sure to keep my pleasant demeanour. "I'm sure someone as beautifully intelligent as you would know where such an item is right now?" I was honestly more curious as to what such an item could be for the Queen of the Amazons to covet. Also, it's very interesting to finally know the name of the queen before Hylla.
Honestly, it's like colour theory doesn't exist, because I didn't even know it was possible to get even more red than this girl was 5 seconds ago, yet she stomps on my doubt. "I- I- I-" She stutters, before taking a deep breath, "I… Well, I don't think it would be in the warehouse because of how important it is. If I had to guess… It'd probably be kept near or inside the Queen's chambers."
"Huh, fascinating." I comment, before putting my hand on her shoulder, "Well thank you for delightful information. How about we keep this conversation our little secret" I give her another wink, just to make sure, and laugh internally when all she can do is nod her head.
She quickly nods her head, before running off. Though I do hear her quietly whisper, "Stay safe". Maybe it's a little cruel of me to toy with her like this. I'm trying to go for a noble hero archetype after all.
Well, with my necklace around my neck, I smirk to myself, holding a little golden key. It's time for a heist.
1 Hour Later…
No POV…
5 soldiers stand in front of a grand oak door, their spears at the ready, their eyes alert. They wear shining bronze armour in similar style to the Spartans of Ancient Greece. Every soldier wears a sticker on their breastplate, with a corporate-looking orange sticker with the words 'Hello! My Name Is…'.
They are the elites of the Amazonian army, powerful combatants that could rival the likes of Heracles and Achilles. They guard their queen's room, where lies inside numerous sleeping (consensual) sex slaves, and a treasure their queen seems to covet. They await her arrival diligently, lest the consequences be on their heads.
However, their minds that were once filled with the instruction of guarding the room are instead interrupted by a loud explosion to their north-east, where their warehouse is. The elite soldiers' glance at one another, but remain stalwart in their positions, as is their duty.
"Senior Managers!" They hear a shout, causing them to look to their right, to see a young girl, quite short and wearing full Amazonian battle armour along with a large helmet that obscured her face, rush into the corridor that's meant to be off-limits to Middle Management and below.
"Stop!" One of the Senior Managers commands, raising her spear as if to impale the little girl. "Explain why you approach our Queen's abode!"
The young amazonian raises her palm to show she meant no harm, "I-I came to deliver you orders, milady! From the great Queen Aerie!" The Senior Manager makes no move to lower her guard, "Sh-She wants all of you to head to the warehouse immediately! There's a monster of some sort attacking us! It's already incapacitated half of our on-base combatants! The Queen is in danger!"
The Senior Manager lowers her spear, and she inspect the girl closely. She's at least 13 or 14, judging by her build and height. Though her face is obscured, glimpses of golden blonde strands of hair could be seen. Her skin is brown, like that of an oak tree, with toned muscles and minor scarring that show signs of intense training. The Senior Manager opens her mouth, about to command the lone Amazonian to remove her helmet, that is until she notices a beautiful necklace with a depiction of a woman around the girl's neck.
She looks back to the lone soldier, and sighs. "I'm getting too paranoid these days" She thinks to herself, as she turns to her fellow Senior Managers, "You heard the child! We must go defend our queen!" She commands her sister-in-arms. "And you! Stay here! Let none through these sacred doors!" She says to the messenger, before running off away from her post.
As she runs, with her comrades, the elite soldier fails to notice the grin on the messenger's face.
And when she finally reaches the outside, the Senior Manager takes a step back in shock at the sight that had befell her eyes. She has served almost 40 years amongst the Amazons. She has fought beneath two queens and fought countless foes in their names, and yet, she has never seen this.
The Main Headquarters of the Amazonians, one of the most securely guarded places in the mythological half of the world, is flooded. Not in water, but in fluffy, fluffy, pink wool. The warehouse itself was filled to the brim with the wool, but more interesting was the person on top of it, reaching out her palms as more pink wool flies out from her. She is an odd creature looking almost human, albeit with very gracious curves, were it not for her hair pink as candy floss, and small horns growing out of her head.
None of the Amazonians could think of any monster or god that this creature could be. But now isn't the time for analysing. Now was the time for protecting their queen…
If only they knew where she was.
In Front of the Queen's Chambers…
Gill's POV
I take off the bronze armour I had stolen and throw it onto the floor. Frankly I didn't really need it for anything apart from tricking the guards. Honestly, it was surprisingly simple. All I had to do was change my voice a bit, which is really easy as the Son of Apollo, and then apply some Mist over myself to hide my face. And thanks to my little necklace, the guards had no issues with believing my words. Hopefully, Aries had bought me enough time with her wool for me to steal whatever this queen is keeping from the world. With about half my MP gone thanks to Aries, I mentally command her to return to the Celestial Spirit Realm. There should be enough wool there to keep the Amazonians to busy to come back here.
I give one glance to my sides, before I open the door. The first thing I notice about the Queen Aerie's bedroom is how Spartan it is, and I mean it in the most literal sense. Weaponry adorns the walls. From spears to swords, from halberds to glaives, from tall stands of ancient armoury to the shields displaying arms of fallen kingdoms, I had a sneaking suspicion that this queen really loves fighting.
The second thing I noticed was the woman sitting on the bed. Honestly, calling her beautiful is an understatement. Her black hair that's cut short in a pixie cut with faint signs of greying, her luscious lips painted in black, her roaring muscles that look like they could crush a watermelon by accident, and scars that only added to her warrior-queen aesthetic beauty. She covers herself (unfortunately) with studded black armour, obviously with an added orange Amazon logo on the breast, with a black leather skirt and knee-high boots. The only way to describe this woman is Olympian, and that's coming from some who has actually met an Olympian!
Next to her on the bed is a giant battle axe, with a blade made of a black metal that could only be Stygian Iron, a metal that not only attacks the body, but a person's very essence. How curious for someone not a child of Hades to have access to the metal, and what's more fascinating is that Queen Aerie isn't even the child of a Greek God! To think, a child of Ishtar is right in front of me.
There is a silence between us, the thief and the queen. I feel unnerved by her wicked a smile, like a cat who has found its prey.
"So, the Gods of Mesopotamia are still kicking, huh?" I say, breaking the uncomfortable quietness.
Another momentary silence, before she laughs. It's admittedly quite a beautiful laugh, like velvet to my ears, "Ha! Indeed, they are, though they are still quite quiet… Gilgamesh." I tense up surprise, as the woman gets up from the bed, and that is when I realise just how tall this woman is. How the fuck did Hylla beat her in one-on-one combat? Does Aerie get cancer or something in the next year? "What? Did you not think my people wouldn't do a background check on a customer baring such a… distinguished name."
She walks over to a grey dresser, opening the top drawer, and pulls out a manilla folder, throwing it to my knees. I glance between her and the folder, and she beckons me to pick it up. I shrug and do so, and once I open it, I instinctively take a deep breath of air.
Person of Interest #7055
**X-RANK CLASSIFICATION. MATRIARCH AND AUTHORISED PERSONELL ONLY **
Name: Gilgamesh Ashford
Sex: Male
Age: 12 (*)
Lineage: Pantheonic – Greek – Apollo
Legacy: Unconfirmed
Threat Level: S (Non-Hostile) (Potentially SSS or X)
Place of Residence: Camp Halfblood
Mental Stability: 29.701
Abilities: Full Apollo Kit, Wind Manipulation, Shinseina Kenjutsu, Self-Duplication, Teleportation, Mind-Manipulation (**), Extraplanar Summoning (***), Shapeshifting, Dimension Creation (****), Future-Sight, Mist-Manipulation, Animal-Speech, Regeneration
Weaknesses: Unknown. Does not display ADHD or Dyslexia
Agent's Notes: POI is DO NOT ENGAGE. POI has close bonds with three Threat Level X entities. POI has a magical bond with phoenix (*****). POI is constantly growing in power. Has surpassed 60% of Ancient Heroes in a matter of few years. Mortal Parent is unknown, DNA sample required. Seemingly appeared out of nowhere, first eight years of life completely unknown. MOST IMPORTANTLY, GILGAMESH ASHFORD IS UNCHAINED BY THE FATES.
*Mental Age may be higher. Current leading theory is that he is a reborn soul from Elysium who managed to resist the power of the Lethe
**Seems to be passive and not an active decision. Seems to be only used to make people like him more. ADDENDUM: Ability seems to also effect X-Level Threat Entities.
***Unknown where these creatures come from. Only two have been seen. One is a creature with a body of grandfather clock. Is able store living beings inside and has a potentially indestructible outer shell. The other takes the form of a young woman with a white fleece sweater, bright pink hair, and small ram horns. This creature has the ability to manipulate a pink wool-based substance that has been seen to have taken down Ladon, Guardian of the Golden Apples. POI uses ornate keys as medium for summoning. Unknown which mythology or religion these summons come from.
****Only used for storing items
*****Unknown which mythology or religion this phoenix comes from. Very young but is highly powerful. Sees the POI as a father. See File: Creature of Interest #300-Q
The rest of the folder is filled with photos of me using my powers or interacting with gods. There were some photos of me with my friends at Camp. Hell, they even had a photo of me with Aries and Horologium. How long have they been following me? Some of the photos could've only been taken in Camp Halfblood. By a camper… Of course! It's-
"Nashota" I mutter aloud. It explains a lot. Why she's so secretive, why she has such abnormal stats, why I never saw her in the canon books, and why she's so forgettable! She must be some sort of agent trained by Amazons to spy on their 'People of Interest' AKA ME! Finally, an answer!
"Wrong." Aerie interrupts my thoughts, and I look at her in shock. I thought I had just found an answer, "She's also a POI like you." Dammit, then who's their spy? "And no. I'm not telling who our agent is."
"Fine. You're amazing stalkers. Now what do you lot want?" I ask her, an annoyed tone clear as day in my voice. I knew that as I got more powerful, more people would be keeping their eyes on me, but fucking hell the Amazonians did an unfortunately good job. Honestly though, I have a lot more prowess than what the folder contains. It severely underestimates my Heliokinesis and Photokinesis. I suspect what gives me my S-Class Threat Level, is my ability to defy Fate itself.
"Come now, Gilgamesh" She placates with a sly smirk. She walks up to me, her very shadow wrapping me like a blanket. I wonder if this is what David felt like when he met Goliath. Except my Goliath is the daughter of Ishtar, Goddess of Love, Sex, and War. She places her hand beneath my chin, they're surprisingly smooth, and she lifts my head to face her, my eyes of blue skies meeting her green eyes that remind of a farmer's fertile fields. She pulls my head closer, till there's but an inch between our lips. It's times like these that I thank the gods that puberty hasn't hit me yet. "You make it sound like I'm threatening you! I'm just giving you an offer with… consequences. All you must do is become my personal bodyguard, use your body as my shield."
I resist her charm, her laughter. I try to detect if she's using something akin to Charmspeak like Piper, but no. This is pure, natural charisma. And I have to overcome it. Thank the gods that I have Nimue's necklace, or else I might've said yes here and now. "Lemme guess, if I say no, you'll disseminate this information to every possible enemy I may gain in the future."
"Hmm… Perhaps." She seemingly ponders, but I can tell she's just putting on a show. "Or… I could finally launch an attack upon your home, that little camp of yours." No. That's impossible.
"You wouldn't dare" I say, pretending to notice that the hands that were under my chin had now slowly moved around my neck. "No matter how tough the Amazon's are, they'd never dare to risk the wrath of an entire pantheon." With her other hand, Aerie caresses my check. I'm gonna be honest, this encounter has quickly turned from hot into very creepy.
"Normally, yes." She admits, before a cruel grin graces of her sculpted face, "But I've got a very, very strong benefactor. Honestly, I was going to reject them, that is until they offered you as a prize. And frankly, I can't resist the chance to have someone who can break Fate itself as part of my army. Though here you are, right in front of me of your own volition. So, make the choice, Gilgamesh. Will you serve Queen Aerie, the greatest child of Ishtar, and thus giving me no reason to join my benefactor or will you let your precious home burn out of your own selfishness?"
Her hand holds my neck tighter, as if to let me know of how much she holds over me. I suppose she knows how much I value my friends. Honestly, I should be frightened, I should be worried, but… Nah. She may have a pretty cool mother, but in the end she's mortal, and is nothing compared to the challenges ahead.
"In my life, I've seen many things. Many futures and many fates." I whisper with a dulcet tone. She can hear me easily, I can see that she is apprehensive as to what I have to say to her, "I've watched the deaths of many, and saved them all, for I see a light of mercy in their fate. A chance for them to survive. I have conquered fate, and thousand of paths are open beneath my feet, and my eyes are graced with thousands of futures. Yet, when I look at your own fate, the only thing I see is… Doom" And with that, I turn myself into a raven, and I drop down from her titan grip.
Free, I turn back into a human, and since I have her caught by surprise, I use my Blackblood Tracer's ability, and cover my hand with a grim-looking claw that comes out of the black and red cloak. And in a flash, I pierce Aerie's lower torso with my claw, and with my inherent knowledge of the human body, I avoid hitting any vital organs, though she'll definitely need to get medical attention. With my cloak's claw inside her, I take the chance to use the chance to use her blood to regain the MP I lost from summoning Aries.
However, I only manage to take a small amount, as Queen Aerie, grabs my arm with fury written upon her face. "I shall raze your pathetic camp to the ground. This is not a threat but an oath that I swear upon the first Queen Otrera's name! And I will start my conquest with your corpse!" She pulls my arm out of her body, as she looks down at me with a cruel sneer. With ease, she lifts me off the ground, and as if I were a limp toy, she throws me across the room, and into a wall, making the spears the decorate it fly off or cut my back.
I fall to the ground, noticing the crater in the wall where I had crashed into. I groan as I get up, wincing from the slight pain. Thankfully, my endurance made sure nothing inside my body cracked or anything, though I did take about 100 or so damage.
I look to Queen Aerie, who seems to not be bothered at all by the bleeding would next to her stomach. She's holding a velvet box, and as she opens it, she speaks, "You came here seeking the weapon I had brought in, didn't you? Well, here it is." From the box, she picks up a ring, made of iridescent yellow metal, that seemed to flicker like a broken lightbulb. At the top of the ring, is a silver engraving of a sword wrapped in lighting that seems to twist around it. As Aerie slips it onto her right index finger, electricity circles around her right arm, before dissipating. She holds up her hand, showing the ring off, "This, is the Ring of Indra, a relic that once belonged to the God himself. I had my people fish it out of the Ganges River, looking for it for the past 30 years."
I marvel at the ring that radiated power. Indra is the Hindu god of lightning, and the king of the most powerful pantheon on the planet. "And… What does it do exactly?" I ask wearily. Normally I'd use Observe, but Aerie is an experienced combatant, and her stats are up there with Sasaki. I can't risk getting hit because spent a fraction of second by reading an item description.
Queen Aerie looks at the ring affectionately, as if it was simply another bit of jewellery. She chuckles, as she says," Funny, I'm not exactly sure," And in a single, quick turn, she draws back her arm, as electricity flickers around her fist, and then-
BOOM!
With the sound of lightning, Aerie releases a punch in my direction, and a bright yellow lightning blasts from her hand. It's ginormous and is about the 2 metres large, like Kamehameha made out pure lightning. Frankly, it reminds of the bolt fired at Percy by Zeus last week.
Before it could hit me, my body moved on its own, as I closed my right hand into a fist, and see a light glowing upon Queen Aerie's bed, courtesy of the Blink skill. And then in all but a moment, I'm standing on her bed, a safe distance away from her lightning fist attack. I feel the whole building shake from blast, and I turn around, to see that the attack had blasted right through several walls and into the outside, completely scorching and electrifying everything in its wake. I'm unsure that even with my high endurance as to whether I could survive such an attack.
"HAHAHA!" Queen Aerie laughs madly, clearly noticing that I haven't been burnt into a crisp. I take the chance and use Blink once more, and teleport right beneath her nose, and quickly grab her hand, surprising her once more. Using all my strength and activating Boon of the Mountain Ape, I pull upon the ring, and yet… and yet, it remains firmly upon Aerie's index finger. She looks down upon me, a look of superiority on her face, "Foolish boy, you didn't think that such a weapon could merely be removed by such mortals means. What would happen if my index finger was wet, and the ring slipped off?"
"What? Why would only your finger be wet" I asked, a bit confused.
She simply smirked.
…
…
OH!
"Fucking gross, dude. I'm 12!" I shouted, a little annoyed. I mean, not about the implication, but rather the fact she was doing it whilst trying to kill me. I mean, I do it sometimes to emulate Spider-man, but that's because it helps my opponent underestimate me and get confused or aggravate enemies into making foolish mistakes. Or to lighten my nerves. Although I suppose I this has given me a chance to surprise her. "Also, thanks for letting your guard down and leaving your back open" And then with a quick movement of my hand, I teleport.
Immediately, the Queen of the Amazon spins around, grabbing her battleaxe with her right hand. And as divine lightning begins flicker around the weapon's blade, she lets loose a horizontal slash that fires line of pure electricity that burns through the stony walls like a knife to melted butter. Yet despite her attack, the queen finds no child cut in half. No corpse with a look terror on his face.
She looks around quickly, and then a look of realisation comes onto her face, as she sees me flying down from the ceiling, my fists covered in the flames of the Sun itself. A move I made a year ago called Helio-Fist. She's unable to react quickly enough, and my right fist connects with cheek, I smell the scent of human flesh burning, something I'm familiar with due to my own accidents when experiment with my Heliokinesis.
The attack sends her flying, but she managed to catch herself before hitting a wall, so I decide to make the most of it, and gather the flames around my hands, and centred it into ball, creating a Heliosphere. However, I didn't fire it, instead I kept in my hands, and charged at her, with the Heliosphere in my left palm, like a fiery version of a Rasengan from Naruto. I hit Aerie direct upon the gaping wound I left earlier. Honestly, I made that wound initially because I figured she'd get medical attention immediately, not continue fighting like a berserker. And since I'd rather not kill her, my Heliosphere cauterised the wound, whilst also making her feel immense pain. Pretty sure that's gonna leave one hell of a gnarly scar.
She lets out a scream of pain, and I can only admire her resolve as she grabs my throat and lifts me off the ground as smoke emanates from her flesh. "How about a little story before I snuff out those flames of yours." I ignore her, simply thinking to myself. Hmm… I only need a minute or so, I suppose I can let her buy me some time. I nod to her, though I think she'd probably tell me regardless.
"Well, there was once a girl, who lived with her father, but was still alone in this world" Ah, a tragic backstory. Classic. "One day, her father came home drunk, after getting fired from his job again, so he saw his little daughter, playing with her toys, and decided that if he had to feed her, he might as well squeeze what little uses, she had." I can see her pupils trembling, as if the memories were playing right in front of her. At first, I was going to say my condolences, that she had to experience such a thing as a child. But, from the Empath ability from my Furies Gauntlet, I could sense the emotion she was feeling right now. It wasn't sadness, or rage, like I thought it would be. Nah, the emotion Queen Aerie is feeling is-
"Pure Ecstasy. That's what I felt as I plunged a knife down into his heart." Aerie boasts with a crazed look in her eyes, and a murderous grin taking over her face. "But it wasn't killing him that made me feel that joy, no. It was when he tried to get away from me! It was when he tried to uselessly punch me with those weak fists of his! I am the Daughter of Ishtar! Star of Venus! The Lioness of the Battlefield! THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN! So, stop teleporting like pussy, and GIVE ME A TRUE FUCKING FIGHT!"
And then, her entire body begins to light up with the Divine Lightning of Indra, I can feel its power running through her arm and into my body, and I can feel every nerve in my body screaming in pain. I've actually experienced a sensation like this before. Several times actually. My first time was when Thalia threw her lightning at the Baby Hydra we fought when we first met. Another time was when I told her to do it so that I can power up my Heliosphere. But Thalia could never hope to match even a fraction of this raw power, and even then, something in my gut told me that this wasn't even an eighth of Indra's true lighting power.
I bite my lip, drawing blood as to stop myself from screaming. And then, with a fearsome roar, Aerie throws me, pure electricity jumping at every movement and completely surrounding my body. As the pain of the lightning shocked my nerves, I feel my body crash through a wall. And then another wall. And another. And then, I'm outside, the divine lightning dissipated, and my body laying on the ground, smoke coming from my flesh.
I use Full Body Healing on myself as I get up, alleviating myself of the burnt flesh and fried nerves. I watch as Aerie comes closer her battleaxe in hand. I stand tall, ignoring that my shirt had been completely fried, and held my sword in my right hand. I only needed half a minute before this fight was over.
I lower my sword, pointing it to the ground, and turned the blade horizontally. And then, I made five rapid movements, which ended when I stabbed the ground. Suddenly the earth in front me began to shake, and giant rock spikes shoot up following a path towards Aerie. I grin, proud that my attack had worked. It's a long ranged Shinseina Kenjutsu technique called "Kageyama's Rampaging Bear". It's one few techniques that took me longer than a day to learn, as part of it required me to make thirteen twists of the blade whilst it's embedded into the ground, so it was hard to get it precise enough since I had very little line of sight on the blade.
Aerie roars as she smashes her battleaxe down to the earth, crushing the incoming rock spike in one fell move, but I take the opportunity and make my way to her, leaping upon the giant spikes like they were gym equipment.
Aerie charges through the rocks, ignoring the damage being done to her as the spikes shatter. Is it me, or was she sweating a lot? That shouldn't be happening… Unless the ring had a cost. Fascinating.
Lightning began to swell up around her, and in all of a sudden, she leaps to me with astronomical speeds. Amazing! She can use the lightning to increase her physical performance as well! But it's definitely not suited for someone like her. She's too rash, too quick to use the power. She's a berserker, but the ring belongs in the hands of a mage or an archer.
And it's clear she's learnt nothing from the entirety of this fight, as she completely misses her target, me, as I disappear by using Blink to appear right on top of her. Now midair, she's prone, and I have the advantage. With a mere twist of my left hand, the Guardian Shield pops out, shining in its glory. Honestly, I haven't used it much, since my fighting style mostly focuses on wielding a sword with two hands, or one-handed wielding a sword, whilst using the other for magic.
Before Queen Aerie could react, I bash my shield into her back, making yelp in pain. I'm 70% sure I didn't paralyse her. She lands face first onto the ground, whilst I use her as a little landing pad. Hmm… It should almost be time now.
"Damn you, Gilgamesh! I will tear you apart limb from limb!" She proclaims, as she gets up. As she puts her palms onto the ground to lift herself up, she begins to wobble, and subsequently collapse. "What?!" She tries to move her legs, but it's clear she can't feel anything. "What did you do to me!?"
I chuckle, as I walk in front of her scarred face, "A little something I've been cooking up for a while in the Camp you threatened to destroy." I don't bother crouching down, and instead look down upon her with superiority. By now, she had lost the ability to talk. "Don't worry, you're not dying. It's simply a fast-acting paralytic agent shoved in your body thanks to my little gifts from Apollo." I show her my hand, glowing a very, very pale green. "All I had to do was touch you once, and now you're like this." Of course, that's because of several factors, such as Indra's Ring weakening her physically, and the fact that my cloak's claw was covered in the Paralysing Glow when it was straight up inside her. Under normal circumstances, and at the level that skill is currently at, even Annabeth would manage to overcome it.
But I got lucky. Really lucky. And Aerie probably knew it.
I can't allow that.
"You should know," I start, as I lift her head with my left hand, "That the only reason that you managed to hurt me is because I gave you mercy. Do not think otherwise." I could see the fear in her eyes, as she looked at the miniature sun that was growing bigger and bigger behind me. Its heat was scorching, and even though I wasn't looking at it, I could see how big it was simply by the shadow I cast. "Should you ever come near Camp Halfblood, ever come near my friends, then I will redefine the meaning of Scorched Earth." My eyes glowed a violent white, an illusion I made with some minor Photomancy.
I raise my free hand and point to where I had been thrown out of earlier, the Queen's bedroom. "Now watch and witness the reason why humans once worshipped the Sun" And in a flash, the giant version of a Heliosphere, which I call Eye of Helios, fires off, leaving a trail of flames behind it.
BOOOOOM!
A deafening explosion of pure heat ravages what was the most secure part of Amazon HQ, and a miniature mushroom cloud rises from the destruction. I could see the fear in Aerie's eyes, and I did feel bad. Truly I did. I don't take joy in causing fear, I hate myself a little a bit when I create unneeded destruction, but I do not regret it. So long as friends, my family, and those I consider my heart, then I will become a monster in the eyes of my enemies.
Still, mercy is a benefit of the strong.
"Don't worry, nobody died." I whisper into the paralysed queen's ear, as I continued to let her look at the destruction. I had Icarus keep a constant eye around the building, and he'd able to tell me if there was anyone in the danger zone. "I'm no murderer… But I'm willing to become one, and if I murder again, I'm not too sure that I'd be able to stop. Are you willing to test that?" Of course, she couldn't answer the question, but I could sense the fear in her. My goal is complete.
Though… there was just one thing left.
I place Aerie's body on the ground, and then grab her right hand, the one with Indra's Ring. With a small bolt of light, the finger is cleanly sliced off. I could feel pure dread and fear from Aerie as the severed finger lands in front of her face. "Oh, calm down. You didn't feel shit. I numbed all feeling in your hand. So long as your medics are actually qualified at their job, it'll be good as new." I say rolling my eyes.
I grab the finger and slide off Indra's Ring. Another powerful item in my collection.
In the distance, I hear the shouts of a stamped of Amazons, charging towards me with their spears. Took them long enough! I know Aries's wool is super thick, but they could've totally been here quicker with their numbers. "Well, I suppose it's time I take my leave!" I shout, as I run off and, in a jump, I turn into my white raven form and fly off. A few arrows did come my way, but the air is my natural habitat at this moment, and no arrow is going to pierce the son of an Archery God.
Having a quick glance at my notifications when I'm high enough, I smile at the sight of reaching level 86. It's rough, levelling these days, but I'm glad to get the levels.
I take one last look at the Amazonian's Main Headquarters, now a mess of pink wool and blazing flames.
I do hope Hylla doesn't hold a grudge against me for this.
1 Day Later…
Somewhere else in Seattle
No POV
The crowd was lively, smiles on their faces. There's about two hundred or so people here, all from different walks of life. There was some commonality, but not enough for a full trend.
They stand within a large hall, a stage at one end of the room that could be seen from whatever position in the hall a person stood. There were decorations, from ballons to golden banners and elegant lights. More importantly were the banners, that displayed the face of young boy, with clear bronze skin, and silky golden hair along with beautiful blue eyes. He wore a smile on his face that could ease a war veteran, and it does, for there some in the crowd, who look the boy in the poster with adoration.
Suddenly, a white bird flies into the room, no one sure where from, but the ray light that trails behind its wings made the audience cheer in joy, for it was their leader. The bird transforms mid-flight, landing on the stage, but in the form of a boy. The same boy on the posters.
The crowd- no, the worshippers, could feel that there was something different in the boy. He felt greater. His very presence made them want to drop to their knees and pray to him. They didn't notice the beautiful necklace he wore.
The boy gives the crowd a gentle smile, and they cheer, some proclaiming their admiration and adoration. He raises a single palm, and the room falls silent.
And then, he speaks. "My people!" He calls out, undeterred by every eye on him, "I thank you all for coming here today! I know many of you have been anticipating my arrival for a long time, perhaps even jealous that your brothers and sisters in the other states got to hear me speak before you all!"
"We could never be jealous, Joy-Bringer!" One the women in the crowd shouts, getting affirmations from the rest of her siblings in faith, "We are happy that they got such an amazing experience!"
The boy chuckles, "It's okay, child." His tone is soft, his voice Is svelte and warm, "Jealousy is a perfectly fine emotion! It is a human emotion! It is what gives people the drive to pursue their happiness, so long as you indulge in jealousy and envy in moderation! Too much will consume your life and take away your smiles. But never let anyone tell you that it is wrong to be jealous!" The crowd claps at the advice, truly taken by the words. "Now does anyone have any questions? There is no such thing as a dumb question, for all questions are valid if they are in the pursuit of happiness."
The boy looks to around the room, and picks out a young man, early 20's with his hand raised, adoration in his face and respect in his voice as he asks his question, "Joy-Bringer, I've been trying to get my mom and sisters to come to this sermon, but they kept refusing. Is there any way I can help them see your light?"
"Aaron," The boy says, making the questioner, Aaron, gasp in shock that the boy knew his name, "If they say no once, there is no need to press them. They are able to make their own choices. This goes for everyone! If someone wants to see what your faith is about, then welcome with open arms! But even if they don't, just show them how amazing this life can be! Just be happy and help them to be happy. Even if they desire to keep worshipping whatever religion they were born into, just make sure that they keep being a good person. That they walk their life with a smile!"
The crowd claps and cheers, some even tearing up a bit. The boy continues to answer questions, helping understand how to deal with their problems. As the boy speaks, some of the people reminisced how they met him and saw the truth.
Take Bailey Goldsmith, a 34-year-old housewife, mother of two, for example. A year ago, she was in a hospital bed, counting down her final days with Stage-4 Cancer. And then, one fateful day, someone knocked on her hospital window. Her 5-storey high hospital window. There, a boy was sitting on a golden cloud, and there was something about the boy himself, that looked eerily familiar to her. She would later ask her family, and they would say the same thing. Like they had seen him once, in their mind. Bailey's daughter let him in, though she suspected he could've gotten in himself.
He introduced himself as Gilgamesh, and with warm smiles that soothed her heart and pain better than any medicine, he asked her if she wanted to live. Though nervous at the time, Bailey said yes, much to the worry of her husband. But the boy held her arm, and suddenly, a warmth filled her body, and a golden glow surrounded her. When the boy let go, she felt… amazing. Like a new woman.
"Who are you?" She had asked once more, whist hugging her family who were crying tears of joy and stroking her hair that had somehow returned immediately despite the chemotherapy.
With a charming smile, and quickly chuckle, he said, "Well, I suppose I'm God!"
He then told them of his story, of how he created the universe, and humanity eventually. But, he grew tired of being an Omnipresent being, and decided to descend upon his creations, and entered a cycle of constant reincarnation. He told them that he'd thousands of people that made their mark upon history. Saints, Prophets, and Heroes from Legends. He had been them all through reincarnation. He told them that he was tired of seeing humanity so despondent and dour, so he wanted to spread a message.
His message.
To live life to the fullest. To laugh every fleeting moment they can. And to love every person and teach that love to the next generation.
It was something that Bailey would've once thought was from a cult, but she had seen his powers. Seen his smile. And she had seen the way people were drawn to him, as if an instinctual desire to worship their creator.
That was the day she and her family joined the Gaudium Temple.
There are many other people in the Temple that had the same experience. They were saved by their god.
"GILGAMESH! GILGMESH! GILGAMESH!" The crowd chant, full of adoration for their God.
Gilgamesh smiles to his children, "Now let us say the words this sacred temple is built on!" He shouts with reverent passion!
The worshippers smile, and they say the sacred words that changed their lives for the better.
"LIVE! LAUGH! LOVE!"
"LIVE! LAUGH! LOVE!"
"LIVE! LAUGH! LOVE!"
"LIVE! LAUGH! LOVE!"
Praise be to the Joy-Bringer
Author's Notes: Bloody hell, that's Chapter 33 done!
I do hope you all like, since we get some action! But don't worry, we'll be back to canon next chapter, and in chapter 35, we'll be seeing something very exciting!
Make sure to review! I love hearing your thoughts!
Here are Gill's stats:
Name: Gilgamesh Ashford
Age: 12
Level: 86
Title: Apollo Cabin Councillor
HP: 18190/18190
MP: 26098/26098
Stats
Strength: 1000
Agility: 1000
Endurance: 1000
Charisma: 1285 (5140 with Necklace of Nimue)
Intelligence: 950
Willpower: 900
Luck: 1000
Stat Points: 0