( With Percy)
(Same Time to Thalia Leaving Hunt)
Percy quickly walked out of the shadows of a palm tree and back onto a familiar beach, the first rays of dawn coming over the horizon.
He didn't stop to admire the view though as he walked directly towards the hulking figure looking out over the sea, his trusty club at his side. Percy walked up until he stood at Hercules' side, looking out over the sea as well before beginning.
"So … you made a choice?" he asked.
"Hmm," was Hercules' reply without looking at him. "What is your goal in the end?"
"Removing the Olympian council and generally fixing all the shit they screwed up … and making them suffer but that's a little more personal," he answered with a shrug.
"And you don't think you'll become the very same thing in a couple of centuries?" Hercules asked dubiously.
"Who knows," Percy replied with a shrug. "Maybe we might turn out better, maybe not. The best I can do is try and I certainly won't remain silent while the Olympians keep running this show and their enemies keep coming back just to mess everyone up again."
"Considering their mostly immortal and or don't have souls and reform anyways, you'll face the same problem," Hercules replied.
"Oh I wouldn't worry about that," Percy replied slyly while not mentioning the Law of Succession.
Chaos made it only for the eyes of the primordial originally and it could be risky letting it become common knowledge to other immortals or demigods.
Last thing they needed was power-hungry gods and mortals alike challenging each other left and right for power and titles, luckily there were several safety measures in place meant just for that situation.
For one, power and domains taken would remain mostly dormant until the successor gained approval from the governing bodies.
In other words, a new primordial needed the approval of a protogenoi council to make a full claim, same with gods and titans though the protogenoi council supersedes all of them.
Hercules could technically duel him and challenge him for the right to become the heir of Night, but without Nyx's approval, Hercules would only gain a minor blessing's worth of power and control which Nyx could strip in a heartbeat.
Two is that a challenge can be denied but then again, with the pride of gods, who would? Not to mention if someone was already in a death match than the law could be called in mid fight to raise the stakes.
The only reason Percy himself had gained so much power when he defeated Gaea was that she didn't share her domain with anyone so there wasn't anyone to try and pry control from him or limit the power.
'Still … maybe later on he could earn the right to know as well,' Percy thought as he waited for Hercules to ask anything else. It took a few minutes but then Hercules snorted before asking, "So if I leave with you, what will you have me do?"
"Well, you are a powerful fighter but that wasn't my original goal," Percy answered while tucking his hands into his pockets. "I wanted you either out of the fight completely or on our side but not to fight for us."
"And why not?" Hercules asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I won't be starting this war for you so I don't expect you to put your life on the line for me," he answered with a shrug. "Personally I would have been happy fighting the entire thing alone."
"You have got to be kidding me?" Hercules said as he looked at Percy as if he was an idiot.
"Not really," Percy replied nonchalantly. "In terms of fighting skill I know the Olympians aren't a threat and with the power I'll gain soon, they won't be a threat even with their symbols of power … but a war fought by one man would undoubtedly take decades or even centuries.
Too many innocent lives could be dragged into it and I know the Olympians will use every bit of threats, favors, and blackmail they have to get their forces up against me for a war that is only aimed at them. That's why I'm not even bothering to raise an army … just a few trusted friends is all I need."
"And if you won, what of the surviving demigods and minor gods?"
"Well obviously oaths to not betray or try to create chaos but otherwise they can be left alone. This war isn't on them so if they just want to live out their days in peace, then by all means," Percy replied while giving Hercules a small smile. "So … any more questions?"
Hercules looked at him intently for a few minutes before smirking slightly. "Only one … when the Hades are we getting out of here?"
Percy grinned before responding, "Not to offend you big guy but I will need an oath on Styx to not run off or betray me the moment you're free."
Hercules didn't even hesitate, probably expecting just that. With his oath done and the thunder signaling the sealing of it Percy cheered.
"Now that's what I wanted to hear!" Percy said while clapping Hercules on the shoulder before walking further down the beach.
He could hear Hercules follow behind him but at the moment he wasn't focused on him. Instead he spread his senses as far as he could around the island, looking for the focus point of the island's enchantment meant to keep Hercules here.
Sure, the Olympians could erect barriers with their power but to contain strong immortals or gods it would require constantly fed power from the gods so they usually focused the barrier to a point with a rune of some kind connected to an alternate power source or domain.
These runes were usually invisible and hard to reach but with his shadows, he could search and contact the rune.
It took him a few minutes but soon he found the rune, this one formed of constantly shifting wind a hundred or so meters above the center of the island.
He grinned as he reached forward as if grasping a lock, his shadows mirroring his action as they contacted the winds forming the runes.
Had it been night it would have been all too easy to break the rune but with the sun rising he had to generate the darkness rather than control what was available.
So with that he focused his shadows while his hand slowly closed. He could feel the rune resisting as if in his hand as his power faced off against the godly signature of several Olympians.
'I'm impressed it took this much to contain Hercules,' he thought as he brought his second hand up and grasped it as well.
He started to flare his power to the point he was radiating darkness as the wind picked up around him and the sand below him was blown back. He actually felt a slight sweat form as he started to pry his hands apart, imagining his shadows doing the same to the rune.
The wind around the entire island picked up and the ground started to shake but he wasn't deterred as with a final roar, he ripped his hands apart. Following that he felt the rune break along with the sound of shattering glass ringing around the island.
"Damn," Percy sighed as he let his arms fall to his sides before taking a look around him.
He scratched his neck sheepishly as he noticed that he was in a crater now and a good portion of the beach looked chewed up and was steaming slightly … odd considering some bits of sand and palm trees were froszen.
"Note to self, practice flaring power and not destroying everything around me."
He then searched for Hercules and found him on his ass a few meters away with his hair all messed up and blown back along with frost on his beard. Percy had the decency to look sheepish before offering the famous hero a hand up.
Once they were both up and Hercules fixed his face as best he could with his hand Percy looked around, feeling several godly signatures focusing on the island and moments away from arriving.
"Get ready to jump," he said.
"Wha—"
Hercules didn't get a chance to speak as they shadow traveled before any god could arrive. Percy could have sworn he caught Hercules nearly shriek in surprise but he didn't let the thought bother him for now as they soon arrived at their destination.
They both materialized out of the shadows into Nyx's grand meeting room. It was basically a mini throne room in a U shape facing a large set of tables in the center so that everyone could speak.
And the room was currently in use with most of the forces currently allied with Percy aside from those that may be summoned to Olympus with the current breakout of Hercules.
Several sets of eyes focused on them before widening comically as most recognized Hercules standing beside him. Hercules shuffled under the attention before glancing to Percy to see what he was supposed to do.
Percy couldn't really answer him since at the moment he had a very angry ex-hunter to deal with. The moment his eyes locked with Thalia's, who was sitting beside Jason and Nico at the tables, Hades broke loose.
Thalia shot up while looking at him with a glare to rival Nyx (damn terrifying) before she rushed at him with a lightning coated fist. He knew dodging would not help him in the end so he maned up and took it.
It stung like a bitch but he didn't say anything as several more fists followed until Thalia was panting while looking at him, the skin of her knuckles torn with possibly fractured or outright broken bones but she seemed to be ignoring it for now.
He could taste the coppery tinge of blood in his mouth from having a split lip but he still smiled before speaking.
"Hey Thals," he said warmly, much to the incredulous looks or in the case of the protogenoi present, amusement.
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AN: first off, this isn't a romance story so pairings won't have much building unless crucial to the story.
Like Percy with Rhea/Hestia. That affects the story alot so I'll give chapters to build them up. If it is a harem member, I might just show up with them suddenly being together or a little exposition, just don't expect the whole courting and all.
On that note, for Percy. He is going to be king with Rhea/Hestia as queens. It isn't Percy's harem but their harem (if someone wants to please the king, they need to please the queens too). It won't be big though but I will try to make it satisfying.
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Don't forget to throw some power Stones, to keep the story going.
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