"Why didn't you flash back to your hunter's camp?" Percy asked.
"I needed a few moments to myself," Artemis sighed, "this battle we face....I'm nervous."
"You have every right to be," Percy smiled as he placed a comforting hand on the Goddess shoulder, "don't worry so much Arty, I'm sure you do well."
The moon goddess raised an eyebrow, "really? Because you might be the only one who thinks so Percy. I have been tracking the Ophiotaurus for months now and I have come no closer to it's location, the other Gods have lost their trust in my abilities, I fear that I won't be able to find the wretched creature."
Percy smiled, "it sounds to me like you have a lot of pent up stress."
The goddess nodded, "yes. It's times like these that I wish I could go and kill something, but with the way things are going I doubt I could find anything that could appease my anger."
Suddenly a lightbulb went off in Percy's head, "I have just the thing."
"What do you mean?"
"You know I have powers right?" Artemis looked confused, "I mean the power to create pocket dimensions with monsters filled inside?"
Artemis nodded, "yes and....?"
Percy sighed, "Artemis, I can create worlds filled with monsters to kill.....do you understand where I am going with this?"
Artemis blinked once, twice and then a smile came on her face. Percy grinned, "you have some time to kill?"
"Yes, usually the meetings on Olympus don't end so quickly, the hunters will not expect me for some time now."
"Great, then you and I can go dungeon crawling," Percy said as he opened up his ID creations skills looking over the list of dungeons he had access too;
ID Create, Lv-25 (12%)
Used to create Instant Dungeons. Higher the level, stronger the dungeon.
Current list—
Empty Dungeon— no monsters.
Monster Dungeon— Zombies
Monster Dungeon— Goblin Camp
Area Dungeon — Mountain/ Island/ Swamp/ Forest/ Plains
Empty Dungeon — Time dilation (1/5)
Monster Dungeon— Parademon invasion
Percy quickly found one, "okay so your options are this, a dungeon filled with zombies, a goblin army, a mountain range, an island, a swamp, a forest, a large plain or a city infested with interdimensional monsters."
Artemis blinked, "I see....what would you recommend?"
"Well I've spent a lot of time in the zombie dungeon, it's okay, if you're a demigod. It's kind of easy for a Goddess though, won't really give you a challenge."
"Alright, then what else?"
"Well there is the Goblin camp, and I have fought in it once before. There is one insanely strong enemy there, but again I wouldn't recommend it for a Goddess. Plus he's kind of a perv and I don't want you destroying everything there by going nuclear."
"Percy why do you assume I am so easy to upset?"
"Because you are."
"I don't like your tone Jackson," Artemis growled.
"See, you're upset, you just proved my point. Thank you."
Artemis opened her mouth to argue but huffed in annoyance. She just grumbled and crossed her arms, "fine, what else?"
"Well I haven't really explored any of the mountains, swaps, islands, forest or plains yet, so maybe that?"
"I see...very well then how about the forests?"
"Okay," Percy held Artemis hand as he put his other up in the air, "ID Create: Area Dungeon: Forest!"
The world shifted from under their feet. Everything around them flashed red. Artemis grabbed Percy by the arm and moved closer to him, she wasn't used to this. The marble city of Olympus melted away, Artemis now found herself and Percy standing in the middle of a very dense forest with a full moon shining down on them through the tree leaves.
You have entered a forest!
+5 to all stats!
Percy grinned as he turned to look at Artemis, "you can let go now."
Artemis blushed as she immediately did so, "I-apologize. Your abilities surprised me. I didn't realise you could do....well this."
Percy nodded, "yeah it's a pretty unique ability. It creates this whole nother world for me to explore. Kind of like....well like a pocket dimension. You know what that is right?"
"You can create your own realm?" Artemis asked in amazement, "how did you obtain such an ability?"
Percy shrugged, "didn't my dad tell you?"
Artemis blinked before slowly nodded, "yes....he mentioned something about the Fates."
Percy shrugged, "basically that," Percy didn't really know what to say. He would rather avoid talking about the Fates, last time he saw one of them....well let's just say he didn't enjoy it.
Artemis looked around, the forest looked generic, pine trees with shrubs all around. The ground was covered with dead leaves and dirt. If she was to guess she would say it was somewhere between spring and summer in this world, if such a thing even existed here.
"So what can you tell me off this place?" Artemis asked.
"Honestly? Nothing. I have no idea what this place holds," Percy chuckled as he took out Riptide, "I didn't really have enough time to explore this place. I just know the basics, find a monster, kill it, take the loot and then move on. Simple as that."
Artemis frowned, "so this is a place filled with monsters, monsters which, I remind you, you have no idea what they look like or can do. And you thought it would be a safe to bring me here?"
Percy shrugged, "you're the goddess of hunting, I don't see what the big deal is, I mean, do you want everything served to you on a silver platter? Learn to go with the flow Arty."
Artemis huffed, she snapped her fingers summoning a bow and quiver out of thin air. "I assure you Percy I can go with the flow," Artemis put on the quiver and readied her bow, "it would have just been nice if you knew what we were hunting."
"I promise, we'll know when we find it," Percy grinned and turned around, "now come on! Adventure awaits!"
Artemis rolled her eyes but followed the demigod. They went through the forest, pacing their steps, keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary, like a monster charging at them with a giant sword.
'Hm, that's strange,' Percy thought to himself as his internal clock quickly hit the 5 minute mark, 'by now a monster would have shown up. It would have also tried to kill me. Hm...,maybe my high level is affecting the spawn rate? No, that's not possible, I mean it never happened before, why should it now?'
Just then Artemis grabbed Percy's shoulder and pulled him backwards. "Hey what-" Artemis hushed him by placing a hand over his mouth. She squatted lower, telling Percy to do the same. The two hide behind a bush as Artemis stared into the distance.
"There," she said pointing at a small clearing a few feet in front of them, "do you see it?"
"What do you-" Percy stopped, he immediately activated his 8.0 Eyesight and looked at where the Goddess was pointing. Immediately he saw it, and he couldn't help but gasp at it's beauty.
It was a silver stag. Silver like Artemis's eyes. It's horns were gold and it's hooves were black like coal. An aura of blueish silver light crowned it as it walked from shrub to shrub eating its fill.
"What is that?" Artemis asked in a tone of wonder, "I have never seen a deer like that in my life."
Percy quickly used Observe on the creature;
Majestic Hind
Lv— 25
HP: 2,500/2,500
MP:900/900
Str— 23
Vit— 45
Dex-21
Int-2
Wis-1
Luc-32
A creature born out of purity and good will, it represents the embodiment of how pure a creature of the wild can be. It's hooves are made of black diamond, it's fur of silver, it's horns of gold and it's blood of liquid platinum. Truly it is a valuable creature, but not because of it's body.
Kill to gain— 300 Exp
"It's called a majestic Hind," Percy supplied, "it's supposed to represent the purity of the wild."
"How did you know that?" Artemis asked looking at Percy in wonder.
Percy cursed, 'damn it! I got used to talking fo freely to Thalia! Think Percy think!' "I ah, well I kind of just made up a name for it. Thought Majestic Hind sounded cool."
Lie succeeded!
"And the purity of the wild statement?" Artemis raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry have you seen this thing?" Percy pointed, "it looks like a fucking angel come to life. If it wasn't a symbol of purity then you're not a virgin goddess."
Lie Failed!
'Damn it!' Percy cursed, 'guess it was a little too much to ask for!'
Artemis looked confused before realization dawned on her. She sighed, "sometimes Percy I feel like you keep a lot of things hidden from me."
"What ah, what do you mean Arty?"
Artemis formed, "I may not be the God of truth, but I have picked up a few things by watching my brother."
Percy sighed, "look it's....I can' talk about it. I'm sorry, but I can't."
Artemis nodded, "I understand that Percy, I too have secrets....ones that I do not share with anyone, not even my brother. But that is not what I meant, you don't' have to bear these secrets alone, you can trust me Percy, I'm on your side."
The son of Poseidon smiled, "thanks Artemis." The two looked into each other's eyes and suddenly Percy remembered the image of Artemis he saw in Clotho's vision. The image of Artemis grabbing him and kissing him.
Percy blushed and turned away, Artemis was confused by this action but said nothing.
"So ah-," Percy cleared his throat, "what exactly are we going to do about the deer?"
"Well we aren't going to hurt it if that's what you are asking," Artemis put away her quiver as she stood up, "your powers are interesting to say the least Percy. To be able to create something of this beauty....tell me have you ever created something like this before?"
Percy forced, "no...not that I remember anyway. Nothing as amazing as the Hind, maybe....no, definitely not."
"Then this warrants further investigations," Artemis walked forward, "coming?"
"You want to just go up to it and talk?" Percy asked surprised.
"Yes."
"You think it will listen?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I'm Artemis, the Goddess of the moon, and deers are my sacred animal," Artemis smirked, "although maybe it would be best to introduce another fellow deer to the Hind when me meet. So as to not spook it."
"But we don't' have a deer with us," Percy said as he put away his weapon. Suddenly his eyes popped open, "wait....you don't mean....your weren't planning on turning me into a deer were you?"
Artemis blinked, "what? No!"
Lie detected!
"You were?!" Percy shouted, "I can't believe this! Ten minutes! It's been ten minutes and you are already thinking about turning me into a deer! Again!"
Artemis rolled her eyes, "fine," she grumbled, "I won't turn you into a deer. Do you have an apple? If we can't make him like us by showing a fellow deer," Percy huffed, "then we need to feed it something."
Percy opened his inventory and pulled out a fresh apple. He threw it to Artemis, "here. Still can't believe you wanted to turn me into a deer. I thought we moved on from that phase of our relationship."
Artemis chuckled, "you certainly can whine a lot Percy. Now come, there is a Hind I wish to seduce."
The two walked to the clearing carefully. Percy drew back, he let Artemis take the lead. The goddess obviously had more experience with this than him.
Artemis looked at the Hind, and the moment they came close enough, it noticed them as well. Immediately Artemis bent down extending an open palm to the Hind, "my name is Artemis oh pure one, I assure you, I mean you no harm."
The Hind looked at her and then to Percy. The demigod stiffened, he was unnerved by how intelligent those eyes locked, it was almost like the Hind knew what they were saying. Taking a chance Percy reached out with his mind and felt the emotions of the Hind, instead of fear or surprise he felt calmness and a sense of wonder.
Percy walked up and bent next to Artemis, "I think it knows we mean it no harm."
Artemis nodded, "yes, I sensed its intelligence as well," she took out the apple from before and presented it to the Hind, "here, for you."
The silver fur deer smiled as it quickly approached the two. It smelt Artemis's hand and slowly closed it's mouth around the apple grabbing it and chewing the red fruit.
Artemis smiled as she ran her fingers through it's long silver fur, it felt warm to the touch. The Goddess of the hunt sighed in happiness as she felt a feeling of calmness take over her body.
"This truly is a spirit of purity," Artemis whispered as the Hind finished eating, "it is as calming as a bottle of nectar."
Percy smiled, "you know if you want you could take it."
Artemis blinked, "really? Is that possible?"
Percy scratched his chin, "well honestly haven't really tired...there is only one way I know for sure that it will work, but that would involve killing it temporarily."
Artemis shook her head, "no. I love the Hind true, but that doesn't justify me taking it out of it's natural habitat. My selfish desires must not be put above the life of this beast."
Percy smiled, "you know I kind of had a feeling you were going to say that."
The two stepped back and watched in silence as the Hind slowly walked away searching for more berries to eat in the forest. A sense of calm settled over them, Percy was honestly surprised, this was probably the first time he didn't kill something he meet in his ID's.
He turned to Artemis, the Goddess was amazing to say the least. There was this innocence about her, a sense of purity. Maybe it was attributed to the fact that she was a virgin, or maybe it was something to do with her domain. But Percy thought different, he didn't see it that way, she was just naturally so nice, it honestly disarmed Percy to see her this way. He realised that for the first time he might have just gotten a look at the real Artemis.
Crash!
A tree crashed in the distance. Percy and Artemis tried to look at what caused it, but the moment they turned away the Hind started to run away. The noise came again;
Crash!
This time is was closer. Percy turned to the Hind, "it must have sensed something was wrong." He pulled out Riptide and Waverider, "we need to alert."
"Understood," Artemis snapped to attention. The soft features on her face were locked away as she took on her 'Huntress' persona once more. She drew her bow and nocked an arrow, they stood side by side ready for anything.
CRASH!
"MEH!" The Hind shrieked as the trees in front of it exploded outwards. A giant monstrous figure jumped out from the trees, splinters rained across the air. It grabbed the Hind with arms as big as a full grown human and ripped the deer in half. Platinum blood poured down, the monster raised the dead body to it's lips hungrily drinking the precious liquid.
