"Right, well that's what happened. The Titans came and we...we fought. It was a war," Percy flinched, "it was horrible."
"Ha!" Ares snorted, "that's because you don't have the stomach for it boy!"
Percy glared, "if I didn't have the stomach for it then how come I was able to send their asses packing?"
"Is everyone safe?" Athena asked, her face filled with worry.
Percy nodded, "yeah, Morpheus got everyone out in time. Don't' worry, no demigods died."
"See!" Eunomia hissed, "he is not a traitor!"
"Enough!" Zeus growled, he turned to Percy and glared, "so you won?"
"Of course we won, how else do you think I'm here talking to you?" Percy snorted.
Zeus glared carried hate, "you could have ran."
"We didn't have the luxury," Percy hissed back, "if we did then the Dreamworld would have belonged to the Titans, and who knows what they could do to us in our dreams."
"Percy," Eirene, the goddess of peace in her evry calming voice spoke up defusing the tension in the room, "what happened to Morpheus?"
Percy sighed, "when the titans attacked Morpheus realised his mistake and helped us fight back. But in the final moments in the battle Hypnos did something really, really stupid."
"What?" Athena asked curiously.
"He took over the Nightmare realm," Percy whispered, and yet everyone could hear him.
"He did what?!" Apollo yelled out growing pale.
"Are you certain Percy?" Poseidon asked hesitantly, praying his son was wrong.
Percy instead nodded, "yeah, I'm sure. He warped the Dreamworld, and Morpheus sacrificed himself to maintain the balance. He became the avatar of Dreams while Hypnos became the avatar of Nightmares. And he sent all home."
Eirene cried, Eunomia held her thigh as she cried into the goddess of good law's shoulder. The gods of the minor council all looked defeated, one of their own had passed, giving his life up to make up for his mistakes.
"Good riddance," Zeus spat, "he was a traitor, at least he proved himself loyal in his last moment."
"Father!" Athena hissed.
"Hold your tongue brother!" Poseidon joined, "don't find fault with an action you yourself would have attempted if you could."
"I have never betrayed Olympus! I have never forsaken the demigods!" Zeus roared.
"But you have acted rashly several times before," Hera quipped, "especially when it came to the question of an enemy attack. Or have you forgotten the attack on Mount Othrys?"
Zeus paused as he turned to his wife and growled, "I may have risked our lives in that attack, but I had a plan, and it was the only chance we had to defeat Kronos!"
Hera shrugged, not putting up a fight. Feeling justified Zeus turned to Percy once more and blinked in surprise, "Jackson, what is that on your head?"
The gods all looked in curiosity towards the young son of Poseidon and realised now that he did indeed have a new accessory on his brown. A golden laurel with a bright shining blue gem etched into the center.
Percy sighed, "it's....it's a long story."
"We have nothing but time," Zeus demanded.
Percy shook his head, "no actually we don't. I got a report from the Hermes Squad that Kronos' force are close to camp Jupiter, I'm assuming after the defeat he just suffered the crazy farmer is going to launch another one to try and catch in unprepared. We already contacted the romans and warned them, and as soon as we are done getting ready we are going to San Fransisco now."
The king of Gods growled, "fine, but I expect an explanation when you are done Jackson, don't think this is over."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Percy shook his head.
"Do you have a plan?" Athena asked, "how are you going to get so many demigods halfway around the country in time?"
"I'm going to use the labyrinth," Percy held up his hand stopping protests before they began, "don't worry, we have a way to navigate it. We'll be fine."
Poseidon sighed, "alright, if you're sure."
"Right, oh and another thing, thank you for your gifts," Percy smiled, "it meant the difference between victory and lose. I don't know what we would have done without them."
The Gods seemed pleased with Percy's gratitude, Apollo especially as his chest seemed to grow three times bigger along with his ego.
"Is there anyway you guys could help us more?" Percy pressed, "I know you can't get involved, but surely Kronos broke all sorts of rules when he invaded another God's realm and tried to take over? Don't that give you some kind of wiggle room?"
The gods looked at each other with knowing looks before Zeus nodded speaking up, "we will send whatever available troops we have to your aid Jackson. Artemis, are your hunters able to join with the demigods?"
"I have just been informed by them that whoever was forced asleep woke up a few moments ago, they should be ready within the hour father," Artemis nodded before she turned to Percy and smiled, "thank you for bringing them back to me Percy."
Percy grinned, "not a problem. Anyway I need to get everything in order, oh and Ares," the god of war grunted in acknowledgment, "we could really use your help in this."
Ares grinned devilishly, "are you asking for my help kid?"
"Yes, I am."
The god of war meet Percy's eyes and froze at his blunt honesty, he was about to make a quip on Percy's groveling when he noticed several eyes glaring a hole into his figure. So instead he just sighed and waved his hand, dismissing Percy's worries.
Percy nodded and swiped his hand across the message dismissing it. That was exhausting, he had to tread on eggshells to avoid talking about his 'coronation', Zeus wouldn't be able to think straight if he thought Percy was going to unify the demigods against Olympus, which was utter garbage.
The son of Poseidon climbed the rock formation and sat down, he opened his skill tab and clicked on the first one he saw.
Water Control (29/50)
Allows you to control any form of water from any source of water.
Cost-1 MP per minute
58% efficiency
Percy grumbled as he pinched the bridge of his nose, 'this is such a major pain in the ass.'
The changes CHAOS made to the gamer system was vast, the obvious thing was the look of the interaction screens, blue with greek runes running along the side. Appropriate.
But as Percy soon discovered that wasn't the only new changes.
His skills now had limits, which is frustrating. Before he had no limits, he could theoretically reach level 100 for any skill, but now...
Percy sighed, 'I suppose it is for the best, too much power and all that, but then again I really do need all the help I can get,' Percy moved to dismiss the screen, but before he could even think it the screen disappeared on it's own.
The demigod blinked in surprise, 'that's new...maybe it's reactive? Knows when it's not needed?' Percy wondered how advanced this type of magic was, he would wager it was more advanced than anything else in the known world, considering who made it.
Putting the curious thoughts to the side Percy got up from the fist of Zeus and walked out of the forest. He looked upon camp half-Blood just as the first rays of the morning sun began to bath the camp in a warm light.
Percy looked down at his clothes, he was still wearing his school uniform, which was actually kind of funny. He basically just fought the devil in a blue sleeveless vest and brown slacks, isn't that underwhelming.
Percy opened his inventory and took out an orange camp half-blood t-shirt and a pair of jeans. He quickly changed into them, putting his uniform away for later. His gauntlet slipped back into his left forearm, flashing in the morning light, ready for round two.
Just then he heard the marching of over a hundred boots hitting the ground as soon the greek demigods stepped out from behind the trees surrounding him.
Thalia and the other head counselors stepped up to him and nodded. Percy nodded back and looked around, "alright, Castor and Katie are going to pass you a long stretch of rope around to you all. I want you to wind this around your arm and do not let go. The way we are going to travel is going to be messy, and if you get lost we will not be able to find you. Got it?"
No one said a thing. Percy nodded as he quickly got everyone in line. He pressed his hand against the glowing blue delta symbol causing the choice menu to pop open:
Ping!
Do you wish to fast travel to another known Labyrinth location?
YES/NO?
Percy pressed yes and quickly selected the camp jupiter location causing the door to slide open. Percy lead the demigods inside, each crawled in one by one as they soon came upon the more open corridors of the labyrinth and followed Percy as he guided them through it.
He walked for five minutes before reaching the other side, opening the door and slipping out into the entrance tunnel on the other side.
Immediately Percy realised he wasn't alone as several legionnaires turned around at him, lowering their spears in a threatening manner.
Percy put his hands up, "relax guys, it's me."
The legionnaires' eyes went wide as they realised just who they were talking to. They immediately lowered their weapons. One spoke up performing a low bow, "we are sorry ah, your majesty, we didn't know it was you."
Clarisse snorted from behind, "holy shit, they are actually going to call you 'your majesty', this is hilarious!"
The romans glared at the daughter of Ares, whether for disrespecting their 'king', or their behaviour Percy didn't know, nor did he care. He quickly spoke up defusing any tension that was building up.
"Where's Julia? Or Rob? I thought they would be here?" Percy looked around and realised that the entire service tunnel was filled with demigods in line, the tunnel entrance had opened up in the middle of the platoon, hence their startled reactions.
"Praetor Julia is back at the fort while Praetor Rob is up front," the legionnaire pointed out, "should we tell them you're here?"
Percy nodded, "yeah. Go tell Julia we are here, I'll take care of Rob."
"Yes, ah, your majesty," the legionnaire said the title with an uncertain tone before he marched off towards camp.
"Thalia," Percy turned around to face the demigoddess, "take our demigods into the fort and wait outside for Julia to come meet you. I know the Romans are our allies, but I don't want to spok them by marching an army into their camp. I'll join you as soon as I can."
"Got it," Thalia nodded, "alright everyone, follow me!" A stream of greek demigods came into the service tunnel, Percy made sure they wouldn't be harassed by any of the romans there before he quickly rushed to the front lines in a blur of speed, seemingly disappearing to the mortal eye.
"Woah," a female legionnaire gasped, "that is so cool!"
"Man I'm glad he's on our side," a man said with a gulp.
"Did you see the way he fought Kronos?"
"It was like out of a movie! Man I wanted to help me out, but it was like everything around them was being turned to dust! That's some next level shit right there!"
The legionnaires all began to buzz around, recalling the tiny glimpses they managed to glance at the their mysterious new 'king', some accepted the demigod to that position, while others wondered what right he even had.
With Percy:
Percy appeared in front of Rob startling the the romans at the front. The were going to attack when Rob put up his hand ordering them to hold.
"Damn it Percy you're not supposed to do that!" Rob hissed, "what if one of us got you?"
Percy rolled his eyes, "well then I doubt it would hurt." Immediately the romans began to whisper in hushed tones, pointing and staring at Percy. Percy noticed this, narrowing his eyes at the whispers, while Rob just looked uncomfortable.
"Alright, anyway, I assume you brought the greeks with you?" Rob asked glaring the legionnaires around him into silence.
"Yeah, they are going to meet Julia now," Percy nodded, "oh and Rob I would recommend you push the army back a few paceses."
"What? Why?"
"There's an entrance to the Labyrinth back there, one which I used to bring everyone here. And if I can use it to bring a small army into the middle of your ranks..."
"Than Saturn can use it too" Rob nodded in understanding, "will do Percy, now get going, Julia needs to talk to you...it's urgent."
"I'm assuming it's about," Percy trailed off, pointing to the crown on his forehead.
Rob sighed as he nodded, "yeah, it is. The senators are....well they are freaking out to be honest. It's a mess, look Julia will explain to you better than I can."
Percy nodded, "right, if anything happens don't be afraid to Iris me, I'll be here in a flash."
Rob nodded, "right, oh and Percy, can I keep this?" Rob pointed at the flaming greatsword he had strapped to his back, Hyperion's sword.
Percy shrugged, "sure. But be careful, Kronos is sure to be pissed at you waving around his brother's weapon like that. Plus it's bound to bring attention to yourself."
Rob shrugged, "that's a good thing. Keep them directed at me, away from any weaker joints in the front lines. That was basically the Golden Eagle's job, but now..."
Percy nodded, "I'm sorry we couldn't do anything about that."
"It's fine," Rob waved him off, "Jason and Thalia did a great thing with it, and in the end it broke fulfilling it's purpose, I suppose."
Percy sighed, he saw the arc of lightning shot out, he felt the raw mana they were churning out of it, the pure energy. It was a surprise it didn't break sooner to be honest. Percy was distracted by the fight, but even he felt the rod snap in half.
He waved at Rob before disappearing in a gust of wind. He reappeared before Thalia and the others who had just arrived to the gates of the fort. The moment Percy arrived the gates opened and Julia, along with Edgar and Octavian, the people Percy least liked in the entire camp.
"You arrived faster than expected," Julia commented as she fixed her hair in a ponytail, nodding at Thalia and then turning to Percy. Her eyes traveled to the crown he wore and she smiled, "I'm not going to call you 'your majesty'."
Percy shrugged, "would be weird if you did."
"And neither is the rest of Roman!" snapped Edgar in a furious tone of voice.
Percy shrugged, "don't care. Look man I'm assuming right now the senate is tearing itself in half trying to figure out how to get rid of me. So I'll save you the trouble, I promise you I have no intention of trying and ruling ever you lot, frankly it would be a pain in the fucking ass and I have no intention of listening to you people whine all day. Okay? Can we just pretend nothing happened and try to survive Saturn's next attack?"
Edgar and Octavian looked surprised, before matching pleased smiles adorned their faces. Julia on the other hand groaned, but didn't say a thing in protest.
