Eventually, the darkness of the ocean was broken—a piercing pillar of light exploded outwards from somewhere in the distance. It pierced through the inky depths of the ocean like a shining sword.

"We're nearing the palace," Amphitrite said softly, her fingers still curled around my knee. Her finger traced it slowly, the edges of her manicured nails scratching the fabric of my, uh, trousers, we'll call them. "Now, is this truly out of your desire to visit, or is there something else going on?"

"Officially, I'm here to visit," I said meaningfully, and I felt her hand tighten slightly. She's perceptive. Somewhere in the back of my head, I made it a point to give my dad some kudos, when I saw him. Amphitrite, no pun intended, was quite the catch. "Unofficially, I need to seek out Carcinus' daughter to get some information about his illicit activities."

"I see," Amphitrite continued, her words still tumbling into each other, her voice as smooth as velvet. I felt a burst of heat against my neck. "Do what you must."

"I will," I promised. "I've heard he's a bad guy."

"He is," Amphitrite muttered. "For all his faults, he is not an unintelligent man. You would do well to not underestimate him. He can be dangerous."

"I know," I said simply, choosing to look away from her and back out to the ocean, which was getting brighter. We must be getting close. "I'm in danger at every moment, unfortunately. This means nothing."

"You don't have to be," Amphitrite's voice was closer, now. I could feel her body molding into my arm. "Stay with me. I'll protect you."

I ignored my arm, which was conveniently placed in the valley of her impressive chest. "I have a destiny to fulfill."

"So noble," Amphitrite said breathily, her nails scratching my hand lightly. Her mouth was on my ear again. "You don't have to let your life go to waste. I know you have potential. You could unlock it here, live the rest of your days in luxury. And, when the time comes, you could lead your people."

"I don't know if I'm cut out for that."

"No one is," Amphitrite muttered, her voice soft but laced with certainty. "At first."

Her words hung in the air like a mist, sinking into the cracks of my doubt. Her nails traced lazy patterns along my skin, her touch light but deliberate. I couldn't tell if she was trying to comfort me or keep me off balance. Probably both.

"You'd grow into it," she continued, her tone shifting to something smoother, silkier. "You've already proven what you're capable of. Defying gods, surviving battles you had no business winning. And yet, here you stand. You're more prepared than most would ever dream to be. All you lack is direction."

"And you're going to give me that direction?" I asked, pulling back slightly to meet her gaze. There was a challenge in my voice, though I wasn't entirely sure why.

Maybe I was testing her. Maybe I just didn't like how easily her words made sense.

Her lips curved into a knowing smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Perhaps. Or maybe I'm simply offering you a choice. A path forward. Here in Atlantis, you could have it all, Percy. Power, respect, loyalty. Anything you could desire. You could shape this city into your vision, lead it into an era of strength and prosperity. You could even have the greatest thing of all," She paused, her smile deepening, and the glint in her eyes turned sharper. "Me."

I blinked, caught off guard. "You?"

Her laugh was light, melodic, but with an edge I couldn't ignore. "Of course. Every great leader needs a partner. Someone to stand at their side. Someone who understands their struggles, who shares their goals. I could be that for you. Your consort, your confidante, your equal. And, in time, I would bear your seed. Together, we could create a family more powerful than anyone—especially those fools in court—could fathom."

Her words sent a shiver down my spine. The way she said it—so smooth, so certain—made it sound like a foregone conclusion. Like this wasn't just an offer but an inevitability.

"And what would you get out of all of this?" I asked, my voice quieter now.

Amphitrite leaned closer, her breath brushing against my ear, sending a wave of warmth down my neck. "In return," she said, her tone dropping to something almost conspiratorial, "I would have a leader. Someone who could fight for Atlantis, protect it, guide it. A prince willing to make the hard choices, who wouldn't shy away from what needed to be done."

I swallowed hard, her words pressing down on me like the weight of the ocean above us. "You're asking me to be a king?"

"I'm offering you a kingdom," she corrected, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes. "And everything that comes with it. Power, loyalty, devotion…and me."

The temptation in her voice was impossible to ignore, but so was the razor-sharp precision behind it. She wasn't just making an offer; she was trying to pull me into her orbit, bind me to her in a way that couldn't easily be undone.

It made sense now. She wasn't just playing games for her own amusement—this was her gamble, her play for the future of Atlantis. She wasn't asking for love or devotion. She was asking for power, wrapped in the guise of partnership.

I didn't know whether to be impressed or unnerved. Probably both.

I tried to ignore the little nibble she gave my earlobe as she pulled away, her words lingering like a faint melody I couldn't quite shake. This woman was something else—dangerous in a way that didn't involve weapons or magic, but with a pull that could twist your thoughts if you weren't careful.

But…she wasn't entirely wrong. Her point made me hesitate, even if for just a second. Did I really have to keep throwing myself into the fire, risking my life over and over again? I could stay here. I could grow stronger, enjoy a life most demigods couldn't even dream of, and when the time came, maybe even lead Atlantis like she said.

Yeah, as if.

That thought didn't even have time to settle before I shoved it aside. I don't know why I'm this way, but there's no chance I'd ever let this prophecy fail—not when so much is riding on it.

My mom doesn't deserve to live under Titan rule. She's been through enough already. Hades might be shady, and I've got a complicated history with him, but I don't want him fading away. I don't want Hestia to disappear, either.

Even my dad…Poseidon may not be winning any Father of the Year awards, but I'd still fight for him. For Olympus. For everyone back at camp. I couldn't let them all be slaughtered just because I wanted an easy way out.

Amphitrite's words tugged at the edges of my mind, but my resolve hardened. This fight wasn't just about me—it never was. Every time I doubted myself, every time I wanted to run, I'd remind myself why I was doing this. For the people who couldn't fight back. For the ones I cared about, even if they drove me crazy sometimes.

I was broken out of my thoughts as I glanced at Amphitrite. She was still watching me, her expression calm, serene, but her eyes… those were something else entirely. There was a sharpness in them, a knowing gleam that told me she thought she had me cornered. That she could sway me.

This wasn't just about convincing me to stay. She was testing me, seeing if I'd bend under the weight of temptation.

"Nice try," I muttered under my breath, just loud enough for her to hear. Her smile didn't falter, but I could tell she caught the shift in my expression. Whatever game she thought she was playing, she'd find out soon enough I wasn't going to fold.

Not for the first time, I wished I had someone to bounce ideas off. Back at camp, I could throw half-baked plans at Annabeth all day, and she'd tear them apart and rebuild them into something practically unbreakable. She didn't just challenge me—she made me better.

And, well…I liked the company. Sue me.

But now? A grim reality settled into my soul like a heavy stone sinking into deep water: I can't trust a single soul down here.

My dad's been subverting my expectations at every turn, playing the role of a father I never really knew, but with enough ambiguity to keep me guessing. Delta is a wildcard—he's training me, sure, but there's an edge to his lessons, like he's trying to radicalize me or push me toward something I can't quite see. And Amphitrite? She's not even subtle. Every glance, every word, every touch is designed to pull me away from my destiny, to make me question what I'm fighting for.

I came to Atlantis expecting paradise. A utopia of crystal waters, gleaming towers, and endless opportunity. But now it feels like I've stepped into the opposite—a beautiful trap dressed up in the guise of perfection.

On the surface, it's easy to believe this is the dream. Hades, on paper, it is paradise: beautiful women, rigorous training, a superstar brother to spar with. People doting on me at every turn, offering me respect and adoration like I'm the heir to some grand throne. An entire city revering me—no, worshiping me—like one of the heroes of old. They watch my life like a blockbuster movie, cheering me on as if my victories belong to them.

But that's just the surface. That's the illusion.

Beneath the glimmering lights and polished smiles, something else is lurking in the shadows. There's a plot at work here—something I can't see yet. A hidden friend? A benefactor? An enemy, maybe. Or all of the above.

And somehow, I'm at the center of it. Not by choice, but by design. Maybe I always was, even back in the overworld. It's like this was set in motion long before I ever set foot in Atlantis, and now I'm just playing catch-up.

The thought made my stomach churn, but one thing was clear: I needed to figure out the truth, and fast. Because in this place, paradise or not, every step could lead to my downfall.

Anyway. Time to put my training to the test.

The first rule of information gathering is finding a way to get a steady stream of knowledge. That part's common sense, I'm sure.

It just makes sense. When you know nothing, the smartest and most logical thing to do is establish a channel of information—a means to tether yourself to some form of knowledge. Anything, anyone that can make the situation clearer.

I glanced at Amphitrite, who was applying some lipstick.

"How do I look?" She asked in a low tone of voice, smacking her lips a few times.

"Beautiful," I returned, smiling brightly at her. She seemed to revel in the attention, licking her lips slowly.

I steeled myself, the pleasant warmth of Amphitrite's hand on my thigh not as distracting anymore. I have goals. I have motivation. I need to do this. I will do this.

The easiest way for me to extract information is to take it from someone close to me, someone who likes me. Brute force is out of the question—I have too much heat on me at all times to use that sort of tactic without immediately being outed.

A pleasant tactic was just about the only way to go. I would have to be sneaky, still, but it was my best bet. Who to work on, though?

My dad? No, no. He seems like the most convenient person, but I don't think even he knows everything going on behind the scenes, here. If it was that simple, it wouldn't be a problem to start with.

Delta? No. Definitely not. I can't use that man's own tactics against him—that's like Harry shooting off a sectumsempra at Snape. Besides, I don't even fully trust him. For all I know, he's just as guilty as anyone else.

Amphitrite? My eyes widened as I snuck another glance at her, a small smirk forming on my face. That…just might work. She has no love for Poseidon, but her allegiance lies with the people of Atlantis. If something is going on, I might be able to get it out of her.

I took a deep breath, pushing all of my negativity back into my veins. By now, this was all too natural to me. I poked around in my own body a bit, slowly activating the mana flowing through my veins.

There were a few ways I could glean information from her. My methods were limited, seeing as she was a deity and the queen of the sea, but they weren't all shot out.

Fear wouldn't work. Violence wouldn't work either. Like I said before, a pleasant method was my best and only bet. The smartest thing I could do was use a method centered around flattery and seduction—a taste of her own medicine.

My veins came alive with power. It was intoxicating. Underwater, my mana refilled at a much faster pace. Every drop I expended was filled back almost instantly—accompanied by an electric feeling. It was like a waterfall of energy.

Seduction, then. She's already getting all kinds of touchy-feely with me, so as long as I operate within that sort of sphere, I can try to get bits and pieces of information from her.

— - —

[Serenity Inducement]

— - —

Oh, whoa. This felt much different. My hand buckled for a second, almost shaking with mana. Did I get stronger?

The mana toll was instantly negated by the fact that I was underwater, so I grinned to myself. This could just work!

She responded like I'd expected, lowering her head onto my shoulder and molding her body into my arm. "You're quite warm."

"I'll take that as a compliment," I muttered into her ear, squeezing lightly. Invisible strands of mana seeped out of my fingertips, flowing into her thighs. I ignored her breathy moan.

First question. "Do you know Carcinus well?"

"I do," Amphitrite answered, her voice trembling. I inwardly raised an eyebrow—I'd taken classes on seduction before, but I'd never put it into use like this. It seemed a lot easier than I'd expected. "He's one of the main men who serve in the court. Carcinus handles trade and exports."

Oh!

I felt like a fool.

I mentally commanded my skills menu forward, flipping through to one of my very first pickups.

— - —

[Perk]: Gilded Tongue

[Tier]: 2

[System Denomination]: Passive

[Attribute Group]: CHA

[Level]: N/A

[Description]: Your words weave magic and attraction. Gain [+5] [CHA] and a [1 x your current CHA]% boost to charm and persuasion when speaking. Your [CHA] has grown, and so has your command of human psychology. Gain a [+20] boost to your [CHA] while in physical contact with someone of the opposite sex!

— - —

I knew that perk was a good investment! I wondered how many more of my skills had upgraded without my knowledge, but I didn't have the time to check through it right now. I just needed to take a peek at [Serenity Inducement] super-fast. There had to be a reason it felt so drastically different.

— - —

[Skill]: Serenity Inducement

[System Denomination]: Active

[Attribute Group]: WIS

[Level]: 10

[Description]: Channel the calming essence of the Hearth Goddess to envelop those around you in a soothing aura. By focusing on tranquility, you can diffuse tense situations and bring about a sense of peace in allies and enemies alike.

[Leveling]: At [Level 1], you can induce a mild sense of calm within a small radius, affecting only a handful of targets at once. Its duration and potency depend on your emotional control and the targets' mental resilience. As you grow in skill, you'll expand the range, intensity, and duration of the effect, giving you the power to quell chaotic crowds or ease distress on the battlefield. At [Level 10], in addition to putting someone at ease, your mana gains a denser quality, igniting pleasant feelings and heightening already-present ones by [40%]!

[Mana Cost]: [200 MP/S]!

— - —

No wonder Amphitrite was getting hot and heavy—these two things together were probably making her feel really good. If she had any sort of real attraction to me, these two perks were probably boosting it into oblivion.

If my powers can influence deities, how powerful am I really going to be when I'm maxed out? It's a crazy thought.

I rubbed a little circle on her bare thigh. "Do you know anything about his not-so-legal activities?"

"No," Amphitrite moaned into my ear, her hands reaching up to grab my shirt tightly. I pumped more mana into the ability. "Perseus…you feel so good."

"You think so?" My mind was racing. I didn't want to open up a can of worms I was ill-equipped to deal with at the moment, but she was quickly dissolving in my hands.

I slowly started to cut off the skill I was using—I didn't need anything unforeseen happening. I felt something in the air change for a moment—the heavy feeling in my chest grew more pronounced for a moment.

I just needed to keep her comfortable, like this. That way, I could ask her all sorts of questions and she'd be more willing to give me the right answer.

"I know so," Amphitrite muttered, her eyes flickering with all kinds of emotions. She cupped my face and her eyes flicked down to my lips. "Interesting."

"What is?"

Amphitrite laughed. "You."

The chariot stopped, and the door was opened by a man with a round belly and a large mustache. He was dressed sort of like a waiter. He must've been eating a sub or something—I could smell the meat on him. "House of Poseidon—welcome to my lord's humble home! Let me lead you to the eating party!"

Humble? I smiled pleasantly at the man, but I was chuckling on the inside. There was nothing humble about the palace at all.

It was rising from the side of a gigantic cliff. White, shining pillars jutted out, adorned with jewels and crystals of all shapes and sizes. A dome made of sea glass rested on the top of the palace, glinting in the shine of an artificial moon that hung off in the distance.

"Thank you," I replied politely. "What is your name?"

"Aleous, my lord," Aleous replied, bowing his head. "May I assist you in finding the dining hall? We have some fine specimens out there tonight."

"You may," I allowed.

Aleous led us up the impressive steps, past the gargantuan pillars. "Aleous, how many people are in attendance tonight?"

"Quite a few, my lord," Aleous replied cheerily. He seemed entirely too happy for a guy standing outside in the dark, but hey. To each their own. "My lord, Carcinus, has invited friends and associates from all over the sea in your honor! It will be a feast like no other!"

I nodded to myself. That seems about right. Sneaking around here will be a bit tough, but if I can get to Carcinus' daughter, I should have plausible deniability. Maybe I can sneak in some food in between.

"Let me take you to my Lord," He continued leading us through the palace.

Annabeth would've loved this place. Large, marble columns rose out of the purple sand, framing a cathedral-like ceiling that stretched out as far as my eye could see. There were stained glass caricatures on it, renditions of some of the myths that I'd read about my father.

The rebellion against Kronos, the golden net with Zeus. I saw a couple of myths I didn't recognize—some sort of giants sitting around a table with a plate of bones. My dear old grandfather and what looked to be two other titans fighting each other.

My eyes followed the rest of the stained glass pictures. I repressed a wince at the depiction of Medusa. These artists must've had a field day with the amount of detail in that one. I almost didn't even want to consider how long it must've taken them to make it.

I scowled to myself, barely registering Amphitrite's stories about the various dinners she'd attended here. Olympus had enough dirty laundry to air out that I'd probably never sleep a day in my life if I knew it all.

It was very jarring to remember these things. I know the whole argument about how people can change, but those people are humans. Mortals.

Immortals don't change. Not based on what I've seen. The only one capable of any sort of change thus far has been Aphrodite, and we've all seen how that's been going.

I don't think they have the capacity to change unless they're forced to. Aphrodite, for example, is changing because of an external force- me.

Immortals in general, though? Doubtful.

Here are my two cents: life is useless, more or less. Especially knowing what I know now. Life itself is cruel and unnecessary, but there are fleeting moments that can still make it enjoyable. That's what lends us the ability to grow and change—we have a grip on our mortality. We know that someday, despite how useless it all seems, everything we did will be all that we're remembered by—so we change and grow, ensuring that the best version of who we were is what people remember.

The gods care little for that. They're quite literally undying. Even if you destroy the essence of one, they'll just reform in a couple of years in Tartarus and boom—they're right back where they were before. As a result, they don't really have any use for morality or philosophy. They just do what they want.

Look at the myths or camp, even. All these children that are around the same age, coming from gods? Doesn't that trip anyone else out? How many times do the gods just come down to earth to have their way with mortals?

Another feeling of ice coated my insides.

And how much of it is voluntary?

Maybe there's a reason Hera dislikes so many of the male gods for having so many demigods. Not saying the goddesses are any better, but I'm pretty sure they more or less are. Athena and Aphrodite make asexual children, and Artemis is a virgin goddess, along with Hestia. Hera doesn't have demigod children. Demeter is the only one whose reproductive methods (or lack thereof) are unknown to me.

Boy, what a headache.

Someday, I'm going to fix all of this. I have to. I'm going to drag every Olympian out and make them repent for all the wrong they've done. I like some gods, I'm not saying I don't, but they will be made aware of what they've done. That's a promise.

For now, though, I can't. I'm not strong enough, yet, but even then, we have a common enemy right now: Kronos.

Once he's taken care of, we can work on it.

"Lord Perseus," I was broken out of my thoughts as a squeaky voice boomed loudly from in front of me.

Uh, wow.

The man in front of me was the perfect depiction of if the word cheeseburger was a person.

He was short, unbelievably so, and had a stomach that hung so wide he looked like he was a step away from falling over and rolling around like a bouncy ball. His tiny shoes were multiple shades of red that I couldn't place.

The suit he was wearing was holding on for dear life. The shiny buttons were straining, and one had popped out long ago. The white shirt underneath was smudged with cheese pizza, and his scratchy beard had sauce all over it.

I met his squinty eyes with my own. "Lord Carcinus. Thank you for your most generous invitation."

There was a scratching noise, much like the sound I remember our fax machine at school making after Tony Maguro hit it with his car as a joke. I realized, a moment later, that this was his way of laughing. "Of course! Amphitrite, my dear, you're looking positively scrumptious tonight! Look at you work that dress, girl! Meow! Meow!"

What?

I exchanged a look with Amphitrite as Carcinus dissolved into really loud and oddly wet mewling noises.

Amphitrite pressed her lips to my ear. "Carcinus has been a little…off…as of late…"

My eyes widened, and I had to stop myself from laughing.

What the hell is going on here? In the myths, Carcinus was a literal monster. He'd aided the Hydra of all things, in its fight against Hercules. He basically embodied the term menace to society and now, he's making cat noises to my step-mom?

The world of Greek mythology is a gigantic clusterfuck. I know better than to judge someone based on their appearance, though. There's a reason this dude was put into the sky.

— - —

{Carcinus}

[The Sea's Anchor]

[LVL]: 120

[HP]: 1,000,000/1,000,000 [resting]

[MP]: ?/?

[FEALTY]: N/A

[STR]: N/A

[VIT]: N/A

[DEX]: N/A

[INT]: N/A

[CHA]: N/A

[WIS]: N/A

[LUC]: N/A

[Info]: Carcinus was a giant crab that came to the aid of the Hydra in its battle with Herakles at Lerna. The hero crushed it beneath his foot but, as a punishment for its disobedience, the goddess Hera placed it amongst the stars in the constellation Cancer.

{Titles}

[The Sea's Anchor]

- Having been modified by [?] Carcinus has multiple forms he can take, though each heightens his weakness to fire.

— - —

Interesting. He wasn't too tough, but his title was still interesting to me. The Sea's Anchor? Clearly, that wasn't referring to my father, because he's the one who wants me to come over here and get him a reason to usurp his position. It must be some other sort of sea deity—knowing my luck, it's going to be Oceanus.

I couldn't make a move on Carcinus yet. He'd done nothing out of the ordinary except make cat noises—he definitely hadn't committed any crimes.

Real crimes, anyway. His list of crimes against fashion, though, would've landed him a one-way ticket to the FBI's top ten most dangerous list.

Eventually, he stopped meowing. It took a lot longer than it should have if I'm being quite honest, but it is what it is.

"I'm sure me and your little miss delectable model of a step-mom have some yummy subjects to talk about," Carcinus continued, mouthing some words at Amphitrite that I couldn't make out. "Go frolic around. Meet some people. Eat some apps. Save space for the main course, though!"

"By all means," I declined my head, my eyes making contact with Amphitrite's for a brief moment. She was led away by Carcinus.

"Drink?" One of the merpeople that were serving the event found his way to me, giving an exaggerated bow.

He was holding a pretty tray, but I noticed that the glasses were just that—glasses. Some sort of red-stained sea glass, yeah, but just that. No actual liquid was in them. He must've seen me staring. "Simply speak, and any drink you want will appear!"

Not bad. I grabbed a glass off the platter, just as a rather plump woman started talking to the server about where the bathroom was.

To his credit, Carcinus knows how to throw a party better than most of the rich people I know. That drink thing was a nice touch, and I'd never met waiters as eager and happy as these. Maybe it's just a Greek thing.

Looking around for the first time, I noticed that the room I was in was positively gigantic. I'm pretty sure I've seen gymnasiums that are smaller than this.

Circular tables adorned a diamond-like outline inside of a buffet-style dinner. Merpeople were smiling behind the trays, loading plates full of all kinds of different food.

I exhaled slowly, looking around the room. Meh. Nothing much to really be seen around here.

There were some interesting names around, sure. I saw Aithousa, my half-sister from the myths, cozying up to some random dude. Some telekhines were lounging around, eating crystallized seaweed. I walked by a gaggle of little kids wearing shirts with Triton's face on them.

Disturbingly enough, one even had a shirt with my face on it.

Trying to shake my mind off of that weird thought, I continued walking further down the room. Strobe lights and smoke machines caught my eye—this must be the dance floor.

I hadn't been to any crazy dances before, but even I knew this was something else. First off, the dance floor had levels.

Yeah. Levels. The dance floor was vaguely rectangular but divided into thirds, more or less. Each floor was separated by an elevation change, and the only way up and down from these floors was the main staircase.

On the top level, you had your adults, more or less. Aside from a couple of grandmas, I'd say the average age over here must've been forty. A few people were slow-dancing, a couple were doing the robot, and a surprisingly high amount of them were doing the Single Ladies dance. It looked like there were a lot of drunk women and men, most of whom were reliving their childhoods on that dance floor—I decided to move on when I saw one particular man doing the sprinkler, though.

I don't need to scar myself too much, here.

The second level, in contrast, had a bunch of little kids running around. It looked like all the parents from the first level had just let their kids run loose in this second one. That's actually probably what it was—good call on Carcinus' part.

Wow. I'm gaining some respect for this guy—people should take notes on how he throws parties. Bad guy or not, these parties are definitely nice.

As you can probably guess, there wasn't really anyone dancing on this one, except for a few little kids who were positively tearing it up on the Cotton-Eye Joe. I stepped in for a few rounds, much to their delight, but I didn't stay there for too long, either.

I was looking for Carcinus' daughter—and trust me—she wouldn't be on either of those levels if she's really my age.

I'm pretty confident about that. The first level was the parents, the second one was the little kids, but the third one?

The third one looked like it was something straight out of a movie. The other two seemed tame and mellow, but this last one was brimming with the electricity of being alive—the dance floor itself looked like it was vibrating—which it basically was.

Over the roar of music, I could easily make out that anyone between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five was here.

Unlike the other two floors, this one was themed, too. Monoliths of ice rose over it, their insides defrosted and filled to the brim with luminescent jellyfish that flashed different colors to the beat of the music.

Icy smoke machines spewed plumes of bulbous smoke, bathing the floor in a hazy light.

Beneath the dry-ice smoke swirled an array of blues, acid greens, hot pinks, and gold—even more jellyfish. The music played over the dance floor as if had fused with the bodies themselves, and the people were loving it if their screams were any reaction.

I hated it, but I was instantly recognized the very moment I got down there. Some of the girls went crazy, and I had a bunch of the guys clapping my shoulder as I passed, too. The crowd parted to let me in, and then instantly closed behind me.

A couple of nymphs were dancing towards the middle of the dance floor.

"Come join us," One of them yelled, gesturing towards me flirtatiously. One pulled her skirt up a little. "Come on!"

I'm not usually a huge dancer, but something about the vibe of the night was getting me to feel some type of way. The music was blaring loudly in a pleasant way, my soda tasted perfect, and there were cute girls! If there was ever a party I was going to dance at, it was going to be this one!

Come on, you already know I started going crazy on the dance floor. I'm not sure how, but they were playing all the music I liked.

Songs blended together before I knew it. Mr. Saxobeat went into a few usher songs, that then went into a couple of Justin Bieber songs—I'm talking the oldies, too. The DJ here must really know what's up.

The nymphs and I danced for a few songs, and then I danced with some random girls, and then I ended up in one of those dance circles for the first time in my life, squaring off in a dance competition with some random dude.

It's what I always imagined it would be. Surprisingly, even the crowd's yells did little to deter me. I was feeling like a million bucks.

A while later—I couldn't tell how long it had been—I excused myself from the dance floor in search of food. One of the waiters gave me a slice of pizza, with a stern warning to save room for the main course.

Yeah, okay. I'd probably burn the rest of this off in a second once I got back on that dance floor.

I annihilated that slice and downed the rest of my soda. The pleasant feeling from before seemed to heighten, and I mentally slapped myself.

I got complacent. I wasn't here to dance; I was here to find Carcinus' daughter. I'd danced with basically everyone there, and a quick little peek with [Observe] showed that none of them were the girl I was looking for.

Something was wrong, now. Seriously wrong. My senses were addled.

I excused myself from the dining room and shimmied over to the bathroom, where I splashed some water on my face.

"Focus, Percy, focus," I reminded myself of my mission forcefully. Carcinus' daughter. Right. Let's go.

I exited the bathroom a few seconds later, but I stopped myself from returning to the party floor. My senses were going haywire. My hand tensed.

I turned, and a girl was standing right there.

I almost took her head off when she lunged forward and grabbed my arm, pulling me into a janitor's closet.

I wasn't asking any questions.

I grunted, instantly grabbing her by the neck and holding her up against a wall. She slapped my arm painfully.

"No...help...you..." Having confirmed that she was too weak to be a threat, I decided to check her out. Oh, oops. This was his daughter! I dropped her to the ground, instantly turning on my healing powers. I massaged her throat gently. "Sorry about that. I had to be sure."

"It's fine," Malia replied quietly. "I should've been clearer. I'm glad you're here, though. I knew you were powerful but leaving that dance floor just shows it. We need to move fast."

"What's going on?" I said lowly, matching her volume. "What do you mean by leaving the dance floor? What is your father planning?"

"He's been doing this for months," Malia's bottom lip trembled, and I activated [Serenity Inducement] for a few short bursts.

"Doing what?" I slapped a hand on her mouth as some people walked by. I whispered in her ear, "And why has Lady Amphitrite not lent you aid?"

We paused for a few minutes, as the sounds of footsteps echoed down the hallway. She blinked a few times. "He always waits for her to leave. I'm sure you've noticed how hard it is to get off the dance floor—for almost anyone who isn't a goddess, it's impossible. There's compulsion magic that keeps people from leaving."

"Malia, you need to tell me what he's planning," I warned. "I'm here to help. I can't help if you don't let me."

"It's so horrible," Tears leaked down Malia's face, and I held her comfortingly. "He…he…"

I had to cut her off again, as voices started speaking loudly in front of the closet. It was Carcinus, I think, but it sounded nothing like the weirdo from before—he sounded mean and angry. A lot more like what I expected him to sound like. "The boy. Find him. We don't have much time before she wakes up."

"Yes, my lord."

As they disappeared again, Malia looked at me with eyes widened in fear. "This isn't a dinner party, it's an eating party."

"That's what the servant said, from outside," I remembered. "What does that mean?"

"My father doesn't bring people here to feed them for the joy of it—he's fattening them up," The realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

The smell around the servant. The butcher room with the crates. Fuck, even what I thought was pizza sauce on Carcinus' chin. His shoes. The multiple portraits of the giants with the bones—those bones weren't animal bones.

The red glasses. The merpeople insisting on drinking whatever that stuff was—the compulsion magic Aphrodite had warned me about!

Unable to keep her emotions in check, Malia wailed, "The guests here aren't just guests—they're the main course!"

[Original Author's Note]

AN: Well, then! This is probably the largest chapter I've written for this story, and I didn't mean for it to come out that way, but I had a lot I wanted to fit in. As you can tell, Percy is definitely starting to get disillusioned with the world he was so in awe by at first. Out of curiosity, did anyone see that cannibalism plot twist coming before Malia outright said it?

Anyway! I'll see everyone in the next chapter!

N3XT: Hahaha, no can do! Percy needs that luck more than Piper!

OhJustReadIt: Thank you, it means a lot! I'm still going to be updating, so no worries there!

Aidan Stone: I like the way you think. Of course, I'll neither confirm nor deny that statement, so do what that what you will.

KanatiWaya: Thanks! It's definitely the vibe I was going for!

OoOXylionOoO: I'm of a pretty neutral take on that scene. It was necessary for future events, for one. At the time, though, I wrote the scene intending to convey to the readers that Percy just doesn't want to use the eye, but he doesn't want the eyepatch, either. Mix that in with that weird feeling he's having about gods, and what do you get? Restrictions that buff the eye but also make it so that he won't accidentally use the power. I'm planning on improving the starter chapters after I finish this arc, so I'll look into that scene specifically sooner rather than later.

Silly Thoughts: I actually didn't know that about pizza- I'd always thought it was Italian in origin! Also thank you for your interesting take on that scene, I don't think anyone's phrased it like that before. That gives me a better idea of how I can improve on it- so thank you!

Darquesse8512: Good catch! I'll fix the Hitler thing soon, but your catch with the Reaper really helped me out- thanks!

The Exiled Darkness: I aim to please.

TheWritingFreakIsBack: That's actually really high praise, and I'll definitely take it! Plus, 10/10 description with the clown analogy.

CrookedPizza: That's a good take. I like writing stories in ways that people can feel different ways about something, and you're one of, if not the first, person to not implicitly love Delta, and your deductions are correct. Maybe something about his past…

Han Is DEAD: I do agree with you. If that happened to me when I was twelve, I would've cried myself to sleep.

Posaitan: I always love hearing from you! It's crazy how long you've been reviewing my story, I think you were like one of the first ten way back in the day. I appreciate you, and you know I love being different! Maybe a little too different, but I digress.

Koper: No comment. He's very different from Canon, and that's where I'll leave it.

surya25addanki: They're definitely on his shit list- and that beatdown will come someday. He needs to get strong first though.

Percykirito4: You're fine! I get what you mean, and you're not too far off from the truth. I haven't fully worked out the quest mechanic, but it'll work similarly to what you just described!

Mreeeh: I agree! Triton is actually one of my favorite characters in the story!

Burning Moonlight: Damn it. I was trying to hide that plot twist.

BJack12: The idea interests me, but I feel like for this story it just wouldn't work. Maybe I can write another sometime.

NydelokMan: I hadn't considered that, but now, for sure. I plan on this story being a good blend of comedy and adventure and romance, so you can rest assured that it will come at some point.

Also, got a couple of reviews about this: this story will not feature a harem. I struggle enough with writing one romantic interest- if I get much better, though, I could consider writing a side-along story, sort of like a Flip Of A Coin Omake series where Percy gets with all kinds of other women.

Just a thought, though.

See you guys next chapter!

-Maroon

[Patch Notes]

[04/20/21]: Numbers!

[01/21/25]: Changed the conversation with Amphitrite. Since Aphrodite isn't going after Percy as intensely, she has no reason to infiltrate Atlantis and take over Amphitrite. This means that the seduction attempt will continue in a different manner, and her intentions will become clearer to Percy. Lastly, because Aphrodite isn't there to warn Percy about the weird vibe at the party, Percy will be forced to rely more on his instincts this time around, but he'll also get caught off guard since no one warned him.