Percy dreamed of strange things.
He was in a breathtaking landscape: gigantic mountains surrounded the horizon, their peaks so high they seemed to touch the sky. A crystal-clear river ran through the trees of a dense forest, the sound of water crashing against the rocks was almost hypnotic. The air there seemed purer, more vibrant, as if the place belonged to a different reality. But what stood out the most to Percy was the feeling of familiarity, though he couldn't remember from where.
Soon, the scene changed.
Now, he saw a bald, gray-skinned man, with red markings standing out on his skin. The man had a large, thick beard, and beside him stood a boy with a serious expression. Despite the apparent calm, Percy felt a threatening aura around the man, as if he knew that this person was capable of violent and ruthless acts. The contrast between his peaceful expression and what Percy instinctively knew about him was unsettling.
It was like observing a sleeping beast — peaceful for now, but about to erupt in fury.
The man's face was blurry, but even so, Percy managed to make out a single word that floated in the air, almost like a whisper in the wind.
"Atreus…"
The word echoed in his mind, but before he could understand what it meant, everything changed again.
He was now in a simple, dimly lit room, and in front of him sat a woman. She looked at him with a soft smile, but there was something in her eyes that didn't match the sweetness in her voice.
"Hello, little one," she said gently, but Percy sensed a certain indifference in her words, as if it were merely a formality.
"W-where am I?" Percy tried to ask, but his voice came out hoarse and weak, which only added to the discomfort.
The woman observed him in silence for a moment, her gaze distant, as if deciding how to respond — or perhaps, calculating the best way to handle him. Percy could almost swear that, for a brief second, he saw something dark in her eyes. "I hope she doesn't want to hurt me," he thought, feeling a hint of fear.
Finally, the woman spoke. "This place… has been called many names. Beginning, end, Big Bang, heaven, hell…" She paused, her soft tone contrasting with the strangeness of the situation. "But for you, Percy, this is just a dream."
Percy blinked, confused. "A-a dream? But how am I talking to you so… clearly?"
She tilted her head slightly, as if his question held some merit. "It must be your father's blood. He's always so unpredictable…" Her voice sounded as though she was toying with him, but soon her tone changed. "But we're not here to exchange pleasantries. There are more important things to address."
"W-what?" He stammered, his nervousness evident.
"I'm here to give you something," the woman said, finally adopting a more serious tone. "Something that will help you face what's to come, Percy Jackson."
Percy looked at her, intrigued. "What… thing?"
She smiled, a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Well, you tell me. What do you want? Three wishes. That's what I can offer you."
Percy blinked, trying to absorb what he had just heard. Three wishes? What did she mean? "A-anything?"
The woman nodded, looking slightly bored. "Yes, anything. Don't rush. Here, time flows differently. You can think carefully. Even your emotions are more controlled, can't you tell?"
Percy hesitated, but as he focused, he noticed something alarming — he was incredibly calm. It was as if all the emotional turmoil from before had been swallowed by a strange sense of peace. He knew he should be freaking out, especially after everything he had been through, but there, in that place, everything seemed… distant.
His thoughts were clear, as if the pressure of dealing with the revelation of his existence had been filtered by the atmosphere of the place. This left him uncomfortably at ease, but he didn't know how to react to it.
"So…" Percy began, his mind working quickly. If he had three wishes, he needed to think strategically. He remembered the events to come, the dangers he would face.
"I'd like to have Ban's regeneration, from The Seven Deadly Sins. Before he sacrificed his immortality for Elaine," Percy said, determined.
The woman raised an eyebrow. "I don't know who this Ban is, but I can see your memories and understand what you wish for." Percy grimaced; he didn't like the idea of someone rummaging through his memories, but he nodded. There was no other way.
She looked into his eyes, and for a moment, Percy felt as if he was being deeply examined. Then, she closed her eyes, and when she opened them, tiny golden particles began to shimmer around him. The sensation of rejuvenation was almost instant. He felt more… whole.
"Done. What's next?" Her voice sounded impatient, as if she was tired of the process.
Percy paused to think again. He already had regeneration, which meant it would be much harder to kill him. The next step should be something that made him even stronger.
"I'd like to have a system. The player system from The Gamer."
Once again, the golden particles surrounded him, and he felt a new strength taking over his body.
"Done. And the last wish?"
Percy bit his lip, thinking. This was his last chance. He needed to choose wisely, but before he could speak, he felt something shift in the atmosphere. The woman's impatience was almost palpable now, and he knew he was running out of time.
"I want…"