Percy picked up the metal, it was twice the size of his fist. He then poured mana into the ring of Alcyoneus to gain control over the metal and manipulate it to clean it of all impurities. What remained was a rough vein of gold.
'Hm...I wonder if I can change the shape of the metal as well,' Percy wondered as he used the ring to do just that, transforming the rough looking pure gold ore into a bar like the kind Percy saw being stored in Fort Knox.
Percy smiled as he observed the gold he held in his hand;
Golden brick,
A brick of gold that is 99.999% pure. It weighs at 12.4 Kg and is worth 506,400 $ at the present moment.
Percy's eyes nearly flew out of his head when he read that. This one bar of gold was nearly worth everything he had in his inventory right now. Percy rarely ever spent money on anything, he had saved most of it up, and yet this one gold bar was almost valued at the same price!
Percy smiled as he put that away, this new skill he had was definitely going to be very profitable for him. All he needed now was someone to buy all of this gold. Maybe Edward knew someone.
That night Percy and Thalia sat around the camp hearth, all eyes were on them as they began to describe to everyone what camp Jupiter was like. Everyone was amazed by what they heard, this was a place where demigods could grow old and die, something which has always been more of a dream than a reality for the demigods.
After that Percy told them about the quest to retrieve their Eagle and how they faced a Giant. He skipped that part about him crushing him with a mountain and just told them that they brought the giant forth to the Gods and were rewarded for doing so.
"If you ask me these Romans are arrogant assholes," Lee Fletcher spoke out, "I mean come on, he Eagle was their symbol, it was their job to go get it. You think that if anything happened to the Golden Fleece we would ask them to go get it?"
"It was a test Lee," Annabeth said, "and it doesn't matter who went to get it, Percy proved to them that we are just as capable as they are. And their respect is exactly what we need."
Lee Fletcher nodded when Michael spoke up, "wait before anything else I have to ask. What the hell happened to your voice? You sound like fucking Mufasa man!"
Percy chuckled, "puberty my friend."
Michael grinned, "you know if you work on manipulating you voice a bite you can do a killer Darth Vader impression."
Percy grinned, "I know. Guess who I'm going as this halloween?"
Michael's eyes sparkled, "I'll get a Boba Fett costume, you get the Vader one"
Percy nodded, "now all we need is an old guy to play the Emperor," the two slowly turned to Lee Fletcher who immediately flipped them off, "someone else then."
Just then Clarisse spoke, "hey, I've been meaning to ask, ah did you guys get tattoos?"
Percy and Thalia blinked before they realised Clarisse was talking about their markings.
"Oh, right. Well these are kind of the Roman version of our clay beads," Thalia explained, "each line represents one year served or one act of noteworthiness. The symbol above the line represents your Godly parent and the words below show who you are aligned to. Most Romans have the words 'SPQR' written, meaning the Senate and Rome. But me and Percy got Olympus instead because we serve Olympus instead."
"And what about Percy's chains?" Annabeth asked.
Percy looked down at his hands and saw Annabeth pointing at his seal tattoos, "oh, I got these to seal away my strength. It's gotten out of hand lately and it's starting to bother me, so I use these to monitor them."
"And where is your, 'mark of service'?" Clarisse asked.
Percy pulled on his shirt collar revealing the symbol of Possession with the words OLYMPUS and 9 nines.
Annabeth whistled, "damn Percy. Nine lines. Impressive."
Percy grinned, "thanks," Percy let go of his collar, "now, we need to discuss about training. I heard you all have been slacking since I've been gone."
A cold wind blew up their spines. Every demigod there knew what came next
Percy grinned, "relax, training these days are going to be much more mild, I promise you." The demigods all smiled, while a few didn't quite want to believe what they were hearing. But it was true. After weeks of training under Percy and fighting zombies the average level of the campers was raised from 11 to 18. It didn't seem much, but it was extremely good considering how long they had been at this.
"So, ah....," Nina spoke up, "what exactly is a giant?"
Percy sighed as he told them what the Giants were and how they almost toppled Olympus the first time around. He also told them about how Alcyoneus promised the return of Gaea and a second Giant war.
"So we have another war coming at us right after this one huh?" Annabeth said frowning.
Percy nodded, "yeah. We might have not been able to fight them before, but now with the Roman's on our side we might just win."
"Are they really that good Percy?" Clarisse asked.
Percy sighed, "I hate to admit it, but yeah." The Greek campers groaned, to have their leader admit that they sucked hurt. "But," Percy continued, "they all have a huge stick in ass and are basically no fun. Plus while they are good in fighting with large numbers we are more of a one on one sort of deal. I would say individual everyone here is stronger than the average Roman."
That brought a little bit of cheer back to the campers as they all smiled.
"So ah, where's John?" Percy asked looking around, "I haven't seen him at all."
"You don't know?" Annabeth asked surprised, "Poseidon sent him on a quest, something about finding himself."
Percy nodded, 'John has been trouble adjusting lately. Maybe dad just wanted him to take a trip to clear his head. Hopefully by now John is strong enough to protect himself in case any monsters attack.'
Percy looked up, "did he take a weapon with him?"
Annabeth nodded, "yeah. A celestial bronze blade. Don't worry Percy, he'll be fine."
"So did you all get the Giant back to Olympus?" Michael asked shifting the conversation.
Percy nodded, "yeah. And after that we ah, we just came back."
Thalia smiled, "after a little drama. So you know, the usual."
Everyone nodded in understanding, after all they had a Greek god for parent, drama kind of came with the job.
"So what's this deal we made with the Roman's consiste off?" Clarisse asked.
"Well basically a small number of us will go to New Rome and will learn how to work as an army unit from them. While that happens I'll be training some of their troops in my ID."
The campers smiled at that, if Percy was busy that meant less work for them.
"Describe them Percy," Nina said.
"Yeah, what were they like?" Peter, the son of Ares asked.
"Well..." Percy then went into an in depth explanation about the camp and the people there. Nico and little Percy Decker loved the idea of meeting a ghost, as did Bianca, she just hide it better. They also loved the thought of Percy humiliating one of them in a trail, they found it hilarious anyone would ever doubt Percy's power. And in the end of the story the Greeks learn a few thing;
1— never let your gaurd down near a Roman
2— all Romans have a huge stick up their asses and are a stickler for the rules.
3— avoid insulting them, they tended to take things personally and the next thing you know you will be surrounded by an entire cohort.
Soon all the demigods went back to their cabin but Percy managed to get Thalia's attention and took her to the beach.
The couple sat down on the sand looking at the sea. Percy sighed, he was going to do something, something he hopped he wouldn't regret doing.
"So why did you call me Percy?" Thalia asked as she put her head on his shoulder.
Percy wrapped his hands around her hips, "I ah...look Thalia I....we need to talk."
Thalia immediately shot up straight, "you're not going to break up with me, are you?!"
Percy's eyes widened, "what?! NO! Why would you even think that?!"
"Well...I mean, that's just what people say, so I just kind of, thought.....never mind."
Percy chuckled as he pulled her close and kissed Thalia, "relax, I'm not trying to break up with you. I...I want to tell you a secret. Something I never told anyone and....I want you to promise me that you want say anything until I'm done."
Thalia looked at Percy, his eyes were serious, Thalia nodded, "I promise."
Percy sighed, "Gods...I don't' even know where to begin."
"Maybe at the beginning?"
Percy smiled, "alright then. Well I suppose it all really started for me when I woke up one morning with a box hanging over my head...."
For the next half hour Percy told Thalia his story. Of how he discovered this power of his. How he used it to become stronger to make his mom proud. How he found out he was a demigod and had to pretend and lie about it.
He told about how he kept his powers hidden because he was afraid people would hate him for it, after all this was something that helped him become as powerful as a minor God.
He told her everything, every single thing that the gaming powers did. How it gave him rewards for becoming stronger, how he used every trick he could to become stronger quicker. How he fought for everyone else using this power, and how he had to constantly lie to everyone about it.
At the end there was silence. Thalia had a blank look on her face as she looked at Percy. The sound of the waves crashing on the sand was the only sound that could be heard.
'Does she hate me now?' Percy wondered, 'does she want to kill me because of this? Would she be jealous? Would she call me a cheat and claim that I have accomplished was because of this power?'
"So....what do you say?" Percy finally mustered the courage to ask.
"So....video game powers huh?" Thalia said scratching her head, "that's-ah, that's new."
Percy lowered his head, "yeah. I know."
"That's...kind of cool," Thalia said with a smile.
Percy's head shot up, "what?"
"I said that's kind of cool," Thalia smiled, "so the ID you can make is kind of like creating a level with monsters to fight, very cool."
Percy blinked, "y-your not mad?"
"Mad? Why would be mad?"
"Well it's just that...I kind of thought you would be pissed because I got this power."
"Why would I ever think that?"
"Because...well...I'm not really sure," Percy scratched his head, "I just thought that you would think that everything I was is because of the game, and I didn't want to seem like th-"
"-Percy," Thalia cut him off, "I would never think that. From what I understand this power of yours simply tells you your power level yes?"
"Well it's a lot more complicated, but..ah, yeah."
"Percy everyone one has something going for them, you have this game, I have my powers, the Gods, well they are the Gods. Everyone is different, and you....your powers may make you different, but that is not what matters. I now bad people in this world Percy, if they ever got the power you had I am sure this world would be doomed. But they don't, you have this power, you, and no one else. And you have done so much good with it. As far as I'm concerned this power and you aren't two different objects, they are the same thing."
Percy looked at her with tears in his eyes, "thanks."
Thalia smiled, "stupid boy," she smacked him up the head, "did you really think I would hate you for being powerful?"
Percy blushed as he wiped his tears, "well I just....you know."
"Stupid boy," Thalia said with a smile, "I am jealous true, who wouldn't be, but you deserve it Percy. I have always considered you as special person, a cut above the rest. And I have seen you when you are normal, just a normal human and even then I can't help but think you are above me, above all of us. There is something inside of you that makes you better than us Percy, and I love that about you."
Percy smiled, "I love you Thalia Grace."
The daughter of lightning smiled as she jumped on Percy pushing him down on the sand, "I love you Percy Jackson."
Percy lifted his head up and kissed his girlfriend. Thalia kissed back and raised her head up, "I still can't believe you thought I would hate you for that."
Percy smiled, "all my sense of reason tends to go out the window when it involves you."
Thalia chuckled, "good, nice to know that Gamer's mind doesn't make you completely inhuman."
Percy smiled, "Thalia....I have been meaning to ask you....what did Artemis call you out for."
Thalia sighed, "you really want to do this now? We were kind of in the middle of something you know."
Percy rubbed his neck, "I know, and I'm sorry. But....I held back as long as I could. I want to know Thalia, why did she call you you?"
Thalia sighed as she got off of Percy and curled on the sand, "she offered me a place in the Hunt."
"The Hunt?" Percy blinked as he slowly realised what she mean, "you mean her Hunt? The kind that forbids relationships and would basically force you to stay away from me and camp?"
Thalia sighed, "yeah. I refused immediately....but she said the offer was still on the table. I think it was her way of telling me that I don't have to be the child of the prophecy, the immortality being a Hunter would grant me would make me no longer a viable candidate for the prophecy."
Percy stared, "so....do you want to?"
"I said no Percy," Thalia told him a low tone of voice.
"Yeah, but I know you Thalia Grace," Percy told her and he wrapped his hands around her, "you were distracted the whole day. The offer must be tempting, I get it. You would effectively become immortal and....you won't have to die.....so I get it if you want to leave-"
SLAP!
Percy blinked as he hand went to cheek that had a bright red handprint on it.
"Don't you dare," Thalia hissed out with tears in her eyes, "don't you dare tell me to go. The only reason I didn't accept is because of you. You and your promise to protect me. I believe in you Percy Jackson, and if you tell me to leave....I will."
Percy looked at Thalia and he felt his heart panged with guilt. How could he ever ask her to do something like that, his brain was kicking him over and over and his heart threatened to tear itself out of his chest and walk away in protest.
"I'm sorry," Percy said with a shallow voice, "I am so, so sorry. I don't want you to leave me," he held her hands tightly, "I never want you to leave me."
Thalia wiped away the few tears that came out of her eyes, "then don't ever say anything like that again, you hear me? Never again."
Percy nodded, "I promise. You'll be stuck with me forever," Percy kissed Thalia and the daughter of lighting kissed him back.
