The sun rose high over Mount Olympus, casting golden light over the gleaming temples and the divine courtyards where mortals and gods trained side by side. Harry and his companions had been here for what felt like months, yet thanks to the time dilation between realms, scarcely a moment had passed in the mortal world.
This was their proving ground, a crucible where mortals would forge themselves into something greater.
Harry stood before a colossal amphitheater, Zeus towering over him. Surrounding them were the other Olympians, each watching intently as Harry's training commenced.
"Divine magic," Zeus began, his voice a low rumble, "is not like mortal magic. It doesn't rely on wands, incantations, or learned spells. It's raw power, tied to the very essence of your being. For you, it stems from your connection to Death itself."
Harry nodded, his expression resolute. He had already displayed his connection to deathly power, but control was another matter entirely.
Hades' appearance takes the form of a tall and handsome man with a specially-designed eyepatch on his right eye and long, stylish silver hair that spikes up at various spots on his head. He's shown with a leaf-like pattern tattooed across his forehead, a spiked choker necklace lined, and a bead-like earring on his left ear with many smaller piercings. His attire is shown to be quite formal and extravagant, with a collar that spans all the way to his upper chest, and badges decorated on the left and right side of his coat. Finally, he wears long white jeans and a pair of shoes filled with square patterns.
stepping forward, his handsome form emanating an oppressive aura. "Your deathly aura can consume, destroy, and transition souls. But to wield it effectively, you must balance its hunger with your will."
With a snap of his fingers, Hades conjured a skeletal figure from the ground. Its bony limbs crackled with energy as it lunged at Harry.
"Subdue it without destroying it," Hades commanded.
Harry's hands ignited with black energy, the shadowy tendrils swirling around him. He struck out, his aura weaving around the skeleton like chains. But the more he tried to contain it, the more it resisted, pushing against his control.
"Not brute force, mortal," Hades said, his tone sharp. "Death is subtle. It waits. It whispers."
Closing his eyes, Harry took a deep breath. He let his aura soften, the tendrils slowing their frantic movement. When he opened his eyes, the skeleton knelt before him, subdued without a single fragment of its essence lost.
Zeus clapped, the sound echoing through the amphitheater. "You're learning."
While Harry was under the tutelage of the gods, his companions were not idle. They were deep in training of their own, led by the Olympian goddesses.
Fleur sparred with Artemis in a dense forest conjured by divine magic. The goddess of the hunt was relentless, firing arrows that Fleur barely deflected with her spells.
"You rely too much on elegance," Artemis critiqued, letting loose another volley. "Combat is not always graceful. Adapt."
Fleur narrowed her eyes, conjuring a swirling vortex of wind that deflected the arrows. She dashed forward, closing the distance between them. Artemis smiled approvingly as Fleur's wand shot a burst of magic at her chest, stopping just short of impact.
"You're improving," Artemis said, lowering her bow. "But you have far to go."
Nearby, Hermione and Daphne sparred under the watchful eye of Athena. The goddess of wisdom drilled them relentlessly, her sharp mind finding flaws in their strategies at every turn.
"You have intelligence," Athena said, gesturing at Hermione, "and you have instinct," she added, pointing to Daphne. "But neither is enough alone. Combine them."
Hermione and Daphne nodded, their teamwork improving with every clash. Hermione's strategic mind anticipated Athena's moves, while Daphne's quick reflexes executed counterattacks with precision.
Tracey, meanwhile, trained with Aphrodite, though their sessions were less about combat and more about confidence and resilience.
"Strength isn't just about power," Aphrodite said, her voice soft but firm. "It's about knowing your worth and standing unshaken."
Tracey nodded, her cheeks flushed. She had always been the quietest of the group, but under Aphrodite's guidance, she began to find her inner strength.
Back in the amphitheater, Harry faced a new challenge. Poseidon stood before him, his trident gleaming as he conjured waves of water that crashed against the arena floor.
"Control isn't enough," Poseidon said, his voice as cold as the ocean's depths. "You must also command respect."
The sea god thrust his trident, sending a torrent of water toward Harry. Without hesitation, Harry raised a hand, his deathly aura manifesting as a wall of shadows that absorbed the attack.
"Impressive," Poseidon said, a hint of a smirk on his otherwise stoic face. "But can you adapt?"
The water reformed into serpentine shapes, striking at Harry from all sides. He moved fluidly, dodging and countering with strikes of his own. His aura shifted, not just as a defensive shield but as a weapon, lashing out like whips.
Finally, with a surge of power, Harry's aura enveloped the water serpents, dissipating them into mist. Poseidon lowered his trident, nodding in approval.
"You've done well, mortal," he said.
As weeks turned into months, the group's progress was nothing short of astonishing. Harry had mastered his deathly powers to the point where even a single aspect of his skills—be it hand-to-hand combat, magic, or aura control—was enough to surpass even the likes of Dumbledore.
The girls, too, had grown immensely. Fleur's control over elemental magic rivaled that of ancient sorcerers. Hermione's strategic brilliance shone in every duel, and Daphne's instincts made her a force to be reckoned with. Even Tracey, once shy and uncertain, carried herself with newfound confidence and poise.
The Olympians were impressed, and though they rarely admitted it, some were even humbled.
One evening, as the group gathered under the stars on a marble terrace, Harry looked around at his companions.
"We've come a long way," he said, his voice filled with pride. "But this is just the beginning. There's so much more to learn, and we can't rush it."
The girls nodded, their eyes shining with determination.
"We'll stay," Hermione said, her voice firm. "As long as it takes."
The gods watched from a distance, their expressions a mix of respect and curiosity. They had taken these mortals under their wing, but they knew the time would come when Harry and his companions would surpass even their wildest expectations.
For now, though, they trained. They grew. And they prepared for the battles yet to come.